Dragon God Douluo Mu En, Jian Mu Douluo Zhou JiRen (Part 2)

"So that was it. The academy and Jian Mu Douluo shared such a connection."

Yan Shaozhe understood. The great war between Shrek Academy and the Body Sect had taken place in the previous era. Back then, he had been young and unremarkable in strength, knowing nothing of the inner secrets.

"You just said that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and JiRen had staked everything on Ling Bai, didn't you..." Elder Mu suddenly asked.

"Yes, Teacher." Yan Shaozhe smiled bitterly. "I have to admit that not even the academy could possibly give more than the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has. That Ming Huang Pill alone, with a hundred-thousand-year light-type soul beast's inner core as its main ingredient, is beyond the ability of anyone in Shrek Academy to refine. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has practically gone mad. Ling Bai is only a child who has yet to grow!"

Yan Shaozhe truly could not understand why the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was in such a hurry.

"Yes, they have gone mad..."

Elder Mu actually agreed with Yan Shaozhe's somewhat exaggerated words. A trace of sorrow could not help but seep from his aged face, hidden in the darkness. "The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's actions have already made one thing clear. Zhou JiRen's...

time is running out!"

Yan Shaozhe froze, then hesitated. "You mean Jian Mu Douluo has reached the end of his lifespan? That can't be, can it? Although plant-type soul masters are generally weaker in battle than other soul masters, they have always been synonymous with longevity on the continent. Jian Mu Douluo is a senior from your era. Even if his cultivation is not as profound as yours, he should not be leaving so early."

"That is not without reason." Elder Mu sighed. "But you have forgotten something. After my battle with Du BiSi, I was left with only one spinal vertebra and have been unable to stand upright for the rest of my life. How much better could Zhou JiRen, who fought Du Busi alone, have fared? The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Body Sect are both within the Heaven Dou Empire. The pressure on them..."

Elder Mu did not finish, but Yan Shaozhe understood in an instant.

When the Body Sect had emerged in high spirits back then, intending to sweep across the Douluo Continent and establish itself as the supreme power, who had ultimately forced them to swear an oath—the people they hated most?

Shrek Academy's Dragon God Douluo Mu En!

The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's Jian Mu Douluo Zhou JiRen!

The former had Shrek Academy behind him. Sea God Pavilion was no weaker than the Body Sect, and Shrek had cultivated countless powerful figures over ten thousand years. If the Body Sect insisted on fighting Shrek to the death, those powerhouses would inevitably intervene. By then, the Body Sect would be in serious trouble.

Zhou JiRen and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, comparatively speaking, were far easier to deal with. The two sects were both located within the Heaven Dou Empire. As an auxiliary-type sect, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's combat strength relied almost entirely on external enshrined experts. The Body Sect had countless ways to harass and target them.

It was no exaggeration to say that if Jian Mu Douluo Zhou JiRen passed away in the morning, Du Busi could lead the Body Sect's many powerhouses to wipe out the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—man and dog alike—before noon that same day!

They would not wait even half an hour!

"No wonder... No wonder... No wonder..."

Yan Shaozhe said "no wonder" three times in a row. Compared with Shrek Academy, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was the sect that desperately needed a Six-Winged Angel Titled Douluo to stand guard!

"It is good that you understand."

Elder Mu said, "Have Ling Bai's room in the Golden Tree carved out beside Bei Bei's. They are close in age, so they can look after one another to some extent in the future."

There were over a thousand students in Shrek's Inner and Outer Academies combined, yet only two had rooms within the Golden Tree.

The first was Zhang Lexuan, the Eldest Senior Sister of the Inner Academy. Her talent was exceptional, her character excellent, and she had been designated as a reserve member of Sea God Pavilion. The entire Sea God Pavilion council had unanimously approved establishing a room for her in advance, helping her use the Golden Tree's abundant light energy to break through to Titled Douluo sooner.

The second was Bei Bei from the Outer Academy, who had benefited from Elder Mu's favor. As Elder Mu's direct descendant, Bei Bei had lived on Sea God Island since childhood and had practically been raised under the watchful eyes of Sea God Pavilion's elders. They had turned a blind eye and allowed him to stay in the Golden Tree.

Ever since he began dating Tang Ya, Bei Bei rarely returned to Sea God Island and had remained in the Outer Academy dormitories.

No one was perfect. Elder Mu had his own selfish motives in arranging Ling Bai beside Bei Bei. He hoped the two could be like himself and Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao—both the best of friends and the best of rivals.

With god-tier martial souls, it could only be a good thing for Bei Bei and Ling Bai to form a bond.

"Yes, Teacher."

Yan Shaozhe agreed to each request.

Elder Mu lowered his eyes, seeming somewhat weary. "All right, if there is nothing else, you may go back."

Yan Shaozhe bowed deeply and quietly left the room. Only after departing Sea God Pavilion did he turn to look in Elder Mu's direction and murmur:

"Teacher, you were right. In this life, my vision will never reach even half of yours. Shrek Academy is an existence above the three great empires. It must have a sufficiently powerful Master of Sea God Pavilion presiding over it. Jian Mu Douluo's lifespan is nearing its end, and so is yours.

"Your disciple knows he cannot fill your position, and neither can Elder Xuan. Therefore, the academy needs an heir! I will use my own methods to keep him in Shrek..."

Inside Sea God Pavilion, Elder Mu turned over and smiled helplessly. "Silly child, when will you learn to be more broad-minded..."

Early the next morning, Ling Bai awoke from meditation. After putting on Shrek Inner Academy's red uniform, he "crossed mountains and rivers" to reach the cafeteria and ordered a free breakfast. Amid Uncle Mo's repeated cries of, "Is that enough, child?" he successfully ate double the usual portion.

Standing before the cafeteria doors, Ling Bai could not help sinking into thought. It seemed that an overly enthusiastic cafeteria uncle was not necessarily a good thing!

Yesterday, Han Ruoruo had taken him around Sea God Island. He had already experienced the Soul Arena and Simulated Cultivation Ground, and he had glanced at the teaching building without finding any courses that interested him.

"Let's take a look at the Shrek Inner Academy Library."

After considering it, Ling Bai thought of a destination. The Shrek Inner Academy Library housed all sorts of strange books, many of them lone copies from across the continent. Perhaps he could find some useful ancient texts.

The Inner Academy Library had two floors. Its oak bookshelves nearly reached the ceiling, and the books filling them were all genuine stores of precious knowledge—the crystallization of human history.

Quiet. Unexpectedly quiet. There was not a single person in the library.

Ling Bai asked in surprise, "Do Shrek's students and teachers not read?"

He recalled the university library from his previous life. Though books were everywhere, occupying seats, at least people there had the right attitude toward studying.

Shrek was not doing so well!

Ling Bai moved between rows of bookshelves, but regretfully, he did not find the book he wanted on the first floor.

He slowly climbed the stairs, intending to look on the second floor. A moment later, he arrived before a door made of yellow rosewood. A soul-tool access control system was installed on the doorframe, indicating that the second floor was a restricted area requiring a certain level of authorization.

Ling Bai took out the school badge he carried with him and lightly brought it close.

"I'm sorry, your authorization level is insufficient."

A clear, pleasant, and somehow familiar female voice spoke especially cold words.

"...All right."

Ling Bai withdrew his badge and turned to leave. At that moment, a large black book carrying a faint elegant fragrance landed in his hands.

A woman's relaxed, slightly teasing voice rang by his ear. "Hold this for your senior sister. Don't drop it on the floor."