Sea God Island, Sea God Pavilion
The Sea God Pavilion was built on the Golden Ancient Tree.
Huo Yuhao and his group arrived here. Apart from Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei, everyone else was quite surprised, since not everyone could come here.
Yan Shaozhe faced the entrance of the Sea God Pavilion and bowed respectfully. "Teacher, they've arrived."
It was a three-story building, but it shone with a brilliant golden light, like a pure gold pavilion.
The golden light emanating from the Sea God Pavilion contained an aura of light that nourished everyone's bodies. After being cleansed by this aura of light, everyone's Soul Power was also enhanced. At this moment, Huo Yuhao skipped four levels and reached the level of level forty-two. (Here, only levels are mentioned because with the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, the limitation of not being able to level up without Soul Ring can be ignored.)
Everyone was shocked; the light they had just received contained life force, and their injuries had healed considerably.
For some reason, after being bathed in the aura of light, the small building appeared much larger. Upon entering, the furnishings were very ancient. In the hall, there was a long table with four deans and Xuan Zi. Sitting at the head of the table was an old man, Mu En other than Mu En, the Sea God Pavilion Master.
Yan Shaozhe said with a smile, "Children, welcome back. I'm sure you all know where this place is, so I won't go into too much detail."
"First of all, I want to thank you all for the honor you have brought to the academy. Of course, the most important person is our classmate Huo Yuhao. Your deeds are being talked about throughout the entire academy. Also, the reason for bringing everyone here today is to present you with your awards. I hope you will all continue to work hard in the future."
Everyone bowed to the elders, while Huo Yuhao simply stood indifferently to the side, lost in thought.
"Teacher Wang Yan, "Yan Shaozhe called out.
Wang Yan responded: Dean Yan.
Wang Yan, standing at the front of the line, straightened his back instantly, his usually gentle face now tense.
Yan Shaozhe said, "Teacher Wang Yan, you also made a significant contribution to this competition. Therefore, from now on, you are promoted to a special-grade teacher of the academy, teaching in the Inner Court. In addition, the Sea God Pavilion Library will be open to you for one year."
In the first half of the speech, Wang Yan also said, "Actually, all of this is due to the children's own efforts; I was just doing my job."
In the latter half, Wang Yan was practically bursting with excitement upon hearing about the Sea God Pavilion's library. "Thank you, Dean."
Yan Shaozhe looked at the students and gave them rewards one by one, but when it came to Huo Yuhao, he only accepted the Gold Soul Coin as a reward. He was not in the mood to listen to Yan Shaozhe's words of thanks for his contributions to the academy.
Saying things like "your deeds will be recorded in history" and "you are the true heroes of the academy" is just easy for them to say.
When Yan Shaozhe said, "We'll engrave your names on Shrek's monument," he even gave a soft scoff—he was no longer as naive as he had been in his previous life, no longer bound or constrained by honor.
Wang Dongning, Tian Beibei, and others were all awarded the title of the new generation of Shrek Seven Devils. Everyone was quite surprised and moved, and bowed to the elders.
Huo Yuhao's gaze swept over the seven trembling, excited figures, his eyes as calm as the surface of a lake in the Far North Ice Plains, utterly indifferent and unconcerned. Yan Shaozhe walked up to him and specifically asked, " Yuhao, we can make an exception for you and add one more person to the team. Are you really not going to join? This is an unprecedented honor!"
"I have absolutely no interest in titles or anything like that." Huo Yuhao raised his eyes, his pupils reflecting the shocked faces of the elders, but he remained completely unmoved.
The deans and elders present felt a mix of disappointment and emotion. They couldn't believe someone was uninterested in the legendary title of Shrek Seven Devils; it was unheard of. How many Shrek Academy students could only dream of such a thing being so easily rejected?
"Alright,"
Yan Shaozhe waved his hand and gave Huo Yuhao a deep look. His eyes held disappointment, regret, and a hint of barely perceptible admiration.
At this moment, Mu En, seated at the head of the table, also spoke up, "If he doesn't want to join, then he doesn't have to. In any case, Huo Yuhao is a student of the Shrek Academy, and that will never change."
Huo Yuhao took a few steps forward until he stopped in front of Mu En. After seeing his face clearly, he said:
Grandpa, it really was you.
The Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, the Dragon God Douluo who is on par with Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao, is Elder Mu En.
Mu En's fingers, which were resting on his knees, twitched slightly. He chuckled softly, a bellows-like sound emanating from his chest. "Little fellow, you're quite perceptive. When did you figure out my identity?"
Huo Yuhao looked down at the old man, his tone carrying a hint of certainty. "Well, when I first met you, I noticed an aura of light emanating from you, Grandpa. From that moment on, I began to have some doubts about your identity."
"After my investigation, it's not impossible to find these clues. Why would an old man guarding the dormitory have such a powerful aura of light? It was only after coming here that I truly confirmed your true identity."
"As expected?" Mu En was also impressed by Huo Yuhao's wit. Suddenly, Mu En brought up another matter. "Little guy, your Golden Dragon Martial Soul Golden Dragon Martial Soul possesses elemental properties, right?"
That's why you can use such powerful Soul Skill.
"As expected of Mu En, you noticed that."
Yan Shaozhe almost exclaimed in surprise, "You haven't mentioned before that your Second Martial Soul, which controls elements, is the Golden Dragon? That's impossible! As the ancestor of power, how could the Golden Dragon possibly use elemental power?"
Huo Yuhao shrugged and said, "Who knows? It's innate, what can you do?"
" Mu En is truly terrifying. He could see through this kid's trump cards in an instant. He truly deserves to be one of the three strongest Limit Douluo of this generation."
Mu En said, "Little guy, there's no need to flatter me so much. I'm just a decrepit old man now."
Mu En's withered fingers tapped lightly on the armrest in front of him, his cloudy yet deep eyes fixed on the young man before him. " Huo Yuhao, would you be willing to cultivate with this old man for a while?" His aged voice echoed in the empty pavilion—this Sea God Pavilion Master, one of the few Limit Douluo on the continent, was now extending an invitation to a young man to take him as a disciple.
Huo Yuhao, would you be willing to cultivate with me for a period of time? Or rather, would you be willing to become my disciple?
"I don't want to."
The three words were resounding.
Yan Shaozhe, Yan Shaozhe beside Mu En, was so shocked that his pupils shrank dramatically. The dean of the Martial Soul Department at the Shrek Academy screamed inwardly, "That's Mu En! The Sea God Pavilion Master, one of the strongest Limit Douluo, Yuhao! He actually refused! This world must be insane!" His gaze swept over the boy's calm profile, and he felt the surrounding air freeze at this absurd rejection.
Mu En's wrinkled eyes twitched slightly. "Oh? Why don't you want to?"
Huo Yuhao's gaze fell on Mu En, and he said, "No time." His Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed the words he was about to say. (Sorry, old man, I no longer want to have anything to do with Shrek Academy.)
In fact, Huo Yuhao really didn't have time for this. First of all, he had a teacher, Electrolux was still in his Sea of Consciousness. How could he possibly acknowledge another teacher in front of Elder Yi? He definitely couldn't do that.
First, we need to go back and help Ice Empress successfully absorb the Soul Bone. Second, we're about to go to the Star Dou Great Forest again to replenish the Soul Ring and configure the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Soul Bone. Third, and most importantly, we need to find the Silver Dragon King to discuss cooperation, and also to see Qiu'er.
Finally, I haven't been back to the Lotus Sea of Consciousness for the past few days. Our Third Prince Nezha is going to eat grilled fish again. It seems we'll have to drink some wine tonight.
These words caused everyone present to gasp in astonishment. It was too arrogant. They had never seen anyone so arrogant before. Facing the Limit Douluo without any fear, he refused without hesitation. Apart from Huo Yuhao, there was absolutely no one else like him on the entire continent.
Huo Yuhao lowered his gaze to Mu En, who sat high in the main seat, his blue eyes seemingly sinking to the bottom of the sea. "You should take good care of your health, old man. As for cultivation, I can manage on my own. If I can't become stronger through my own efforts, then this strength is false."
The moment the words fell, the air seemed to freeze.
Wang Dong and the others were filled with admiration, their mouths agape in astonishment. Sometimes, the gap between people is greater than the gap between people and Soul Beast.
The old headmaster of the dormitory was dumbfounded.
Mu En said, "It seems I am indeed unqualified to be your teacher, the foremost among the younger generation."
Huo Yuhao said, "You flatter me, you flatter me. I just got the title by chance."
He continued, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Huo Yuhao walked outside.
"He... he just left like that?" Xian Lin'er murmured to herself. As the vice dean of the Soul Tool Department of the Shrek Academy, she had seen countless genius teenagers, but she had never imagined that someone could make Mu En say "unqualified to be a teacher".
Xuan Zi, unable to contain himself any longer, abruptly stood up from his seat. "That little brat Yuhao is truly foolish! Following Mu En to cultivate is such a tremendous opportunity, yet he actually refused it so easily!"
"Alright, Xuan Zi, sit down." Mu En's voice, hoarse with the patina of years, strangely calmed the restless air. He watched the boy's figure disappear through the archway, a complex light flashing in his cloudy eyes, " Huo Yuhao's talent... has long surpassed the realm of 'genius'."
"Even without my guidance, with his comprehension and temperament, his future achievements might not be inferior to mine." He paused, a hint of barely perceptible melancholy in his aged voice, "It's just that this child... ultimately lacks a sense of belonging to Shrek."
Yan Shaozhe said, "After all, Yuhao hasn't been here long, so he might not know much about the academy."
Before the words were even finished, the young man had already disappeared from the crowd, shutting out the astonishment and discussion in the room. Only Huo Yuhao's words, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now," lingered, like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, stirring up ripples in the hearts of every elder.
As Huo Yuhao's footsteps faded at the end of the corridor, Mu En suddenly chuckled softly, his withered fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair. A relieved smile appeared in his eyes, "So be it... This lone wolf will never be confined by a cage."
At this moment, Huo Yuhao, who had just stepped out of the Sea God Pavilion, looked up at the sky. A gentle breeze lifted the long hair on his forehead, and a faint but firm smile appeared on his lips.