"Stop! This is Shrek Academy. Unauthorized persons are not permitted inside!"
Qian Chen had only just reached Shrek Academy's gates with Bing Ling and Yan Feng when they were stopped. He was not annoyed, and smiled at the gatekeeper. "My name is Qian Chen. Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi personally invited me to enroll. Sorry for the trouble, but please announce our arrival."
"What? You're Qian Chen?" the gatekeeper cried out in surprise.
"Why? Is there a problem?" Qian Chen asked curiously.
"No, no, no! The academy specifically instructed us to take you inside immediately upon your arrival!" the gatekeeper stammered excitedly.
"All right. Lead the way."
With that, Qian Chen took Bing Ling and Yan Feng straight toward the Inner Court on Sea God Island, following their escort. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect disciple who had been gathering information at Shrek's gates heard that Qian Chen had arrived and immediately dashed back to report to Sect Master Ning Yuan.
Meanwhile, inside the Sea God Pavilion, the Martial Soul Department and Soul Tool Department were locked in a furious argument over the Shrek Seven Devils' places. Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er were arguing the fiercest. They were the dean and vice dean of their respective departments, and also had an emotional entanglement that could not be clearly explained. Now, both had opened fire at full force.
Despite Mu En's age and considerable ability to maintain his composure, even he was struggling to hold himself together in the face of the Inner Court students' casualties, the Shrek Seven Devils' reduced numbers, and the conflict between the two departments. His eyes snapped open, and he slammed a palm onto the table before him.
A thunderous bang rang out.
"Enough."
Mu En's angry shout instantly cut off the argument inside the Sea God Pavilion. His gaze swept over the Sea God Pavilion Elders and his disciples seated there. Thinking of his injured body, of how much longer he could hold on, and of what Shrek Academy would do afterward, his heart could not help sinking.
At that moment, Yan Shaozhe said quietly, "Teacher, I'm sorry. We shouldn't have argued inside the Sea God Pavilion."
Mu En glanced at Yan Shaozhe. Of all his disciples, this one was the most talented and the most diligent. Unfortunately, he was narrow-minded, forgetting greater principles for petty gains, which would limit his future achievements. In truth, like Xuan Zi, he was someone with flaws in his character.
Just as Mu En was about to speak, he sensed a Soul Saint teacher flying up outside the Sea God Pavilion.
The Soul Saint called out loudly, "Reporting to Mu En and the elders! The specially invited students Xuan Zi invited, Qian Chen and Bing Ling, have entered Shrek Academy with a youth named Yan Feng. They are heading toward the Inner Court on Sea God Island."
"Hahaha! Qian Chen has finally arrived."
Upon hearing the report, Xuan Zi burst into laughter on the spot. Shrek Academy was surely going to win this Soul Master Tournament again. Moreover, he was the one who had personally invited Qian Chen to enroll. This achievement made him feel that he had made an enormous contribution to Shrek.
Zhang Lexuan also breathed a sigh of relief. Now they no longer needed to argue over the Shrek Seven Devils' places. The eyes of the other elders and the members of both departments lit up as well, and they all began calculating how to claim a share of the soup from this matter.
The next moment, everyone turned toward Mu En in unison, waiting for Shrek Academy's actual ruler to speak.
"Come. Let us all go to the Inner Court and meet this sixteen-year-old Soul Douluo genius," Mu En said as he looked at their expectant expressions.
"Yes," everyone answered in unison.
Soon, Qian Chen was led to the Inner Court's entrance on Sea God Island, where more than a dozen people were already standing. At their head stood a hunchbacked old man. Even Super Douluo Xuan Zi could only stand beside him in attendance.
Qian Chen immediately realized that this had to be the legendary Limit Douluo, Dragon God Douluo Mu En. He simply had not expected that Mu En had long since lost the splendor of his prime. He was old and decrepit, and his signs of life were not strong.
Judging by Mu En's condition, Qian Chen estimated that he had ten years left to live, perhaps even less. Qian Chen calculated that this was best: it gave him time to establish himself in Shrek without having to worry about this rank ninety-nine Super Douluo living for too long, forcing him to wait decades or even a century before taking control of Shrek.
At the same time, Mu En released his spiritual power to sweep over the three of them, instantly grasping their ages and strength.
Qian Chen truly is a genius! Mu En thought. He really did reach Soul Douluo at sixteen. His cultivation speed is considerably faster than even Sea God Tang San's back then. His appreciation for talent grew stronger still.
Bing Ling, who stood beside him, had broken through rank fifty and become a Soul King after half a year of desperate cultivation. He had also absorbed a fifth Soul Ring beyond the age limit, bringing his Soul Power to rank fifty-three.
A fourteen-year-old super Soul King, at least ten ranks above where Shrek Inner Court disciples had been at fourteen-he could be called the second-greatest genius Mu En had ever seen, after Qian Chen.
A moment later, Qian Chen came before Mu En's group with Bing Ling and Yan Feng. He bowed to Mu En. "Junior Qian Chen pays his respects to Your Excellency Dragon God Douluo."
Seeing how courteous Qian Chen and Bing Ling were, Mu En was truly delighted. For the first time, he felt that Xuan Zi had handled this matter beautifully.
Mu En smiled in praise. "Young friend Qian Chen, not only are you talented enough to reach Soul Douluo cultivation at such a young age, you are also so knowledgeable. Indeed, I am Dragon God Douluo Mu En. Come, children. I will personally take you into the Inner Court." With that, he finished speaking.
Just then, Mu En noticed a strange, evil presence about Yan Feng as he approached. He asked, "Qian Chen, what is the situation with this young friend?"
Qian Chen said, "This is Yan Feng. His Martial Soul is the Bone Dragon, the same Martial Soul as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Bone Douluo Gu Rong, who died saving Sea God Tang San ten thousand years ago."
He turned to glance at Xuan Zi before continuing, "Half a year ago in the Star Dou Great Forest, Miss Ning Ke'er of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect spoke out for me in the name of justice, saving me from harm. On my trip home this time, fate brought me across Yan Feng. His Martial Soul is the Bone Dragon, and his Innate Soul Power is rank nine and a half. I heard that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is looking not only for an inheritor of the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul, but also one with the Bone Dragon Martial Soul. I intend to send him to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect later, which would also repay a favor I owe them."
After hearing Qian Chen's words, everyone's gaze fell on Yan Feng. Sure enough, there was not the slightest trace of an Evil Soul Master's presence about him. That dark, evil feeling came primarily from his Bone Dragon Martial Soul.
Just like that, Qian Chen established the nature of the Bone Dragon Martial Soul. It was the same Martial Soul as the Bone Douluo who had saved Sea God Tang San-who would dare question whether Yan Feng was an Evil Soul Master now? Coupled with his Innate Soul Power of rank nine and a half, the Bone Dragon was clearly a top-tier Martial Soul, making him unquestionably a super genius.
Mu En was delighted. Qian Chen was someone who remembered kindness and repaid it. The more he valued bonds and loyalty, the more ties he would develop with Shrek, provided Mu En bestowed enough favors on him in the future. When that time came, he would be unable to leave even if he wanted to.
A thought stirred in Yan Shaozhe's mind, and he said, "Ah, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is still rather lacking when it comes to nurturing students. Moreover, this Martial Soul has an evil attribute, so he needs especially careful nurturing. Succeed, and he will soar into the sky; fail, and he will plunge into the abyss! Why not leave this child with our Shrek Outer Court's Martial Soul Department for now?"
"Yan Shaozhe, what are you saying?!" Xian Lin'er had only just spoken her first sentence.
"Enough." Afraid that the Martial Soul Department and Soul Tool Department would start arguing here, which would be far too embarrassing, Mu En immediately barked, "Yan Feng is still so young. How could he go to the Outer Court? He is the same age as Bei Bei, so let him keep Bei Bei company for now. Since Qian Chen intends to send him to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, notify their people and ask what arrangements they wish to make. Once this child turns twelve, we can hear the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's opinion."
With that, Mu En circulated his Soul Power and called out, "Bei Bei, where are you? Come to the Inner Court's main entrance." His words instantly spread across all of Sea God Island.
When Zhang Lexuan heard Mu En suddenly summon Bei Bei, her heart could not help trembling, and a feeling of embarrassment involuntarily rose within her.