Mu En's breathing suddenly became rapid and violent, and his eyes, which had been shining with wisdom, gradually lost focus, becoming empty and unfocused.
As if he had burned out the last embers of his soul, he slowly uttered his final farewell in a barely audible voice.
" Shrek's ancestors, Mu En... have arrived!"
The moment the words fell...
An indescribable, dazzling golden light suddenly erupted from Mu En's aged body!
His withered body floated slowly up on its own from the Golden Tree chaise lounge that had held him for countless years.
Following that, two yellow, one purple, three black, and three red—a total of nine Soul Ring symbolizing the pinnacle of Soul Master —rose one by one from beneath his feet, carrying unparalleled majesty and power, and slowly circled around him!
"Roar!!!"
A deafening dragon roar, shaking the entire universe, exploded without warning!
The entire interior space of the Sea God Pavilion was instantly rendered into a pure and vast brilliant gold. An incredibly thick golden pillar of light, containing light and sacred energy, forcefully broke through the dome of the Sea God Pavilion and pierced straight into the sky!
The golden light not only enveloped the entire Shrek Academy but also spilled over the city walls, making the whole Shrek City look as if it were cast in gold!
Within the pillar of light, Mu En's body, which had been hunched over and curled up for over a hundred years, suddenly straightened up completely!
The deep wrinkles on his face seemed to have been smoothed out by the hand of time, and his aged appearance quickly transformed, restoring him to the handsome and dashing look he had in his youth, with an air of arrogance and majesty that looked down upon the world!
"Roar!!!"
Another, even more stirring and resolute dragon roar resounded through the sky!
Mu En's body transformed into a white dragon radiating pure light and divine aura amidst endless golden light!
The dragon was surrounded by golden light, and the terrifying pressure of Level 99 Limit Douluo surged and spread in all directions like a tsunami, causing the world to lose its color!
However, this ultimate brilliance lasted only a moment.
The majestic and sacred dragon circled once in the air, as if gazing one last time at the academy it had protected its entire life, before letting out a soft, satisfied murmur.
The massive dragon body collapsed with a deafening roar, transforming into a shower of warm, soft golden light that blanketed every inch of the Shrek Academy's land, every blade of grass, and every student...
This is his final and most precious gift to the academy, to which he, Dragon God Douluo Mu En, poured his life's blood and sweat.
Sea God Pavilion, the golden light gradually faded, leaving only a Jiujiu, warm aura.
The Golden Tree lounge chair was now empty.
Everyone was immersed in immense grief, their expressions filled with an overwhelming sorrow.
They all knew clearly that Mu En, the Sea God Pavilion Master who had silently protected the academy for over a hundred years despite his severe injuries, was truly gone forever.
In the heavy, almost suffocating atmosphere, Xuan Zi suppressed his turbulent emotions and broke the silence. " Mu En is gone, but we must not forget his will and his instructions."
He surveyed each of the elders present, his gaze solemn. "From this day forward, carrying on his legacy and protecting Shrek is the task we must accomplish."
As he spoke, he looked at Lin Huiqun beside him, his expression solemn. " Elder Lin, Mei'er and I need to set off immediately to return to Mingdu to find Yan Shaozhe's whereabouts and uncover the truth behind it. There are many matters both inside and outside the academy. I'll be entrusting these next few days to you."
Lin Huiqun met his gaze and slowly nodded. "Go with peace of mind. Although my old bones are not as strong as Mu En's, I can still support the academy for several more decades without any problem."
At the very moment his Life burned out, Mu En transformed his life's cultivation into a " Rain of Light," returning himself entirely to the academy he had dedicated his life to protecting.
Each drop of golden light carries the final blessing and gift of the Dragon God Douluo.
All the teachers and students who were fortunate enough to be bathed in it felt that their Soul Power flowed more smoothly and their minds were clear, as if they had received a sacred baptism, which would be of great benefit to their future cultivation path.
Because he poured everything into this sacrificial rain of light, no trace of his remains remains in the world.
In accordance with his wishes, Shrek Academy did not hold any form of funeral ceremony.
That very afternoon, Xuan Zi and Cai Mei'er quietly left Shrek Academy and headed once again to Mingdu where powerful figures gathered.
The second stage of the round-robin tournament has concluded, with eight of the strongest teams emerging.
The organizing committee granted a precious day of rest before the even more brutal and intense battle for the quarterfinals.
As the students of the Shrek Academy awoke one after another in the early morning, the atmosphere remained somber.
After yesterday's incident where they voluntarily admitted defeat, they have become the focus of discussion throughout Mingdu, objects of ridicule, and topics of conversation for others. This invisible pressure has made everyone feel depressed.
When Bei Bei stepped out of the room and into the suite that was temporarily serving as a conference room, she immediately saw Cai Mei'er. She hadn't expected her to be back so soon.
Then he noticed the tall, imposing old man sitting on the other side.
" Xuan Zi?!"
Bei Bei's exclamation broke the morning silence and attracted the attention of the team members in the other rooms.
Upon hearing the commotion, everyone rushed to the conference room. When they saw the level 98 Taotie Douluo Xuanzi appear, the gloom that had been hanging over their faces was immediately dispelled, and their eyes regained their brilliance.
Of course, Xu Sanshi was the only exception among them.
His expression did not brighten like his companions'. Instead, when he saw Xuan Zi, his eyes dimmed almost imperceptibly, and he subconsciously looked away.
Xuan Zi's gaze slowly swept over each student present. He had already learned from Cai Mei'er about the difficult choices the team had made in the round-robin competition, and he was even more aware of the external pressure and inner torment these children were currently enduring.
He showed no sign of reproach; instead, a kind and gentle expression appeared on his face as he said, "Children, you are all excellent."
"In a major competition, weighing the pros and cons and making the choice that is most beneficial to the team is the right decision."
"Let bygones be bygones; there's no need to dwell on them."
"Now, everyone, get your act together! Forget all that nonsense, your battleground is the ring, so focus on the matches ahead!"
" Shrek's backbone isn't defined by winning or losing a single game, but by its never-say-die spirit!"
His words, like the resounding toll of a bell, dispelled the gloom that permeated the conference room.
After he finished speaking, his gaze lingered on Bei Bei for a moment, seemingly casually yet meaningfully.
He and Cai Mei'er had already reached a consensus that the shocking news of Mu En's death must be suppressed for the time being.
He didn't want this message to affect the students' upcoming competitions; everything would be explained to the students after the competition was completely over.
Encouraged by Xuan Zi's words, everyone's spirits rose noticeably, and they all went to cultivate.
Only Cai Mei'er and Xuan Zi remained in the conference room. Cai Mei'er then suggested, " Xuan Zi, should we inform Kong Deming of Yan Shaozhe's message in the Worship Hall now?"
He thought Xuan Zi would agree immediately, but to his surprise, Xuan Zi shook his head. "Don't tell him yet."
Upon hearing this, Cai Mei'er's expression changed, and she quickly said, " Xuan Zi, this was Mu En's arrangement before his death..."