The many faces of Shrek Academy: regret? Frustration? If only they hadn't expelled Lu Cheng back then...
Shrek Academy.
Sea God Pavilion.
Outside, the Sea God Lake rippled and surged, and inside, the atmosphere was just as turbulent and turbulent as an undercurrent. All the elders were present, and not a single one was absent. Even many unfamiliar faces who had already laid down their responsibilities at Shrek Academy and had been traveling outside for years were all called back by Mu En.
"Yan Shaozhe, tell me."
Mu En sat at the head of the table. Compared to his former hunched and withered appearance, his body was now more robust, no longer a parched ancient tree. The Soul Power within his meridians flowed like a gentle stream, and the flaws in his body were roughly plugged, so that his Life no longer drained away as before. Shrek Academy, with its resources, naturally couldn't achieve this; all they could do was...
But half of his hair was dyed white overnight, giving him an aged and desolate look that saddened many of the elders.
"The Body Sect launched a surprise attack on our academy yesterday, forcibly taking away the exchange student disciples from the Sun Moon Empire... Xiao Hongchen." Yan Shaozhe's expression was equally solemn, lacking his usual warm and gentle demeanor, and instead filled with anger and hatred.
"The Body Sect, it's the Body Sect again!"
Xuan Zi slammed his fist on the table and stood up, crushing the chicken bones in his hand into dust. He roared, "It must have been that little beast's idea! Otherwise, given how well I know that old monster, he certainly wouldn't have acted so decisively!"
"That little bastard left our Shrek Academy, so he knows the layout of the city..."
"Shut up," Mu En said softly. "You're completely wrong. Let Yan Shaozhe finish."
"Yes..." Xuan Zi sat down awkwardly, scratched his head, and took another swig of gourd wine. He felt a little depressed. He happened to be away when the Body Sect attack yesterday. When he rushed back, the other side had already made a clean retreat. It was said that when they left, they saw two female students from the outer courtyard whose Martial Soul were hair, and they even snatched them away.
Lin Huiqun and Song Yunzhi had no time to tease Xuan Zi at this moment, but instead kept their eyes fixed on Yan Shaozhe.
The latter sighed softly, "Esteemed elders, the pressure Shrek Academy faces at this Sea God Pavilion Meeting is unprecedented."
"Because according to my teacher's and my deductions, the scene we least wanted to see has happened. That little beast... has already distributed all the Immortal Herb to the top experts of the Body Sect. Judging from the strength of those Body Sect experts who recklessly broke into the Shrek Academy... at least most of the immortal Immortal Herb in the Immortal Herb Garden have been absorbed by them." Yan Shaozhe looked around, his face filled with grief and indignation.
"What?!" Song Yunzhi, who always had a fiery temper, glared angrily. "He actually gave all the Immortal Herb to the Body Sect? What an ingrate! The academy gave him plenty of benefits back then. Yan Shaozhe also said that the early stage was for his training, and after he officially Shrek, how could he not receive benefits? It's really... a case of good intentions being wasted."
"..."
The elders were all indignant, cursing Lu Cheng for being ungrateful and forgetting who had nurtured him and brought him to the competition.
As for the sensitive issue of Zhang Lexuan, it was simply ignored. After all, everyone knew that this was done by Mu En, but Shrek Academy was the number one academy on the continent, a place of righteousness and integrity. Wasn't this all for the sake of the continent...?
"In short, Du Busi has already advanced to the Limit Douluo," Mu En continued, picking up where Yan Shaozhe left off.
"..."
The scene suddenly fell silent.
The combat power of a Limit Douluo is Destruction across the entire continent, let alone the fact that the Body Sect possesses such power, and this Immortal Herb Garden should rightfully belong to them...
I got even angrier.
That was clearly a treasure left to them by Tang San's ancestors, yet it was usurped by others. It's truly despicable and a terrible waste!
"I thought that little beast was raised on stone and had no heart, but he's all over the Body Sect, acting like he'd give them his heart and soul." Lin Huiqun mocked in a sinister tone.
You must understand, those Immortal Herb gave them far more than just a slight boost to their combat power; they were treasures that could enhance their talent and aptitude, defy fate, and even offer the hope of reaching Mu En's realm and extending their lives by over a hundred years!
Who wouldn't be angry in that situation?
Even Yan Shaozhe's face darkened. He suddenly thought, if he hadn't been so perfunctory and hostile towards Lu Cheng back then, and had been more patient and sincere, would things have turned out differently?
But soon, he shook his head, banishing all those distracting thoughts.
He forced a smile, "However, the reason I summoned you all here is not to be so melancholic. Things haven't gotten that serious yet. It's just that I'm worried about the Body Sect invading again, so I've called you elders back to the academy to take on the responsibility of protecting it."
"Gentlemen, don't forget, we still have..."
As he spoke, he pointed to the sky with a rather mysterious air.
"As for Xiao Hongchen's abduction, let's keep it a secret from the Sun Moon Empire for now. Otherwise, if they really investigate, Bei Bei and the others will probably suffer as well," Yan Shaozhe concluded.
"Teacher."
Top floor of the Sea God Pavilion.
A storm is brewing.
After seeing off the many elders, Yan Shaozhe returned here. He suppressed his smile and looked at the old man who had left behind only a weathered back. Even though he had been healed by the Golden Ancient Tree for a long time and the leak of his Life had been temporarily filled, he was still like a candle in the wind.
"Yan Shaozhe, do you think... I did something wrong?"
Mu En's tone was somewhat forlorn.
"Teacher is right." Yan Shaozhe with a firm gaze, "The world is wrong. Shrek guards the border of the Star Dou Great Forest, protecting the people of the continent from the invasion of Soul Beast for generations. Located at the heart of the three kingdoms, we restrain them from fighting each other. At the same time, we also bear the responsibility of resisting the covetous Sun Moon Empire. We did nothing wrong. Shrek cannot fall."
Even if it comes at a price...
Mu En sighed softly and changed the subject, saying, "About... God, do you believe in Him?"
"What does the teacher mean?" Yan Shaozhe's pupils dilated, and he looked around.
"Speak." Mu En slowly closed his eyes, his tone calm and composed.
"I believe it, but it's difficult..."
Yan Shaozhe bitterly.
It's fine to boost morale and inspire people on a regular basis, but you can't keep fooling yourself until you start deceiving yourself too.
The so-called gods of the upper realm spoke of it all with flowery words, constantly painting a rosy picture, but what did they actually do? Their only help to Shrek was bestowing upon them a "promising" son, whose talent was actually inferior to some of the top inner court geniuses, especially those like Lu Cheng who had previously left. They also used Golden Ancient Tree to help their teacher replenish some of his physical deficiencies, allowing him to barely no longer rely on a wheelchair, but...
To be honest, it looks like a miracle on the surface, but what's the reality?
Having only taken one hit from the Du Busi, Mu En was already like a candle flickering in the wind, half of his hair turning white.
It should be noted that when Mu En was young, his combat strength was absolutely at the peak of his age group on the continent. His dominance was so strong that no one except Long Xiaoyao could match him. Logically speaking, in his normal state as Limit Douluo, he could at least fight Du Bu Du Busi to a draw, if not completely overpower him.
However, the help that the so-called ancestors of Tang San can provide them now is almost non-existent.
Is the Divine Realm... truly as optimistic as it seems?
not necessarily.
Especially now that Shrek Academy is facing a generational gap, with the older generation nearing their end and the younger generation indeed being the strongest in Shrek for a century, or even a millennium, but they've all been fooled away by that little brat.
But even if I regret it now, I can only swallow my anger and bear it.