Shrek Academy, Tianyuan Island, Tianyuan Pavilion, Main Hall.
Upon returning to the academy, Zhu Ziyang immediately convened a Tianyuan Pavilion meeting with the elders. Also present were Huo Yuhao, Fan Yu, and He Caitou. The agenda was simple: to hear the reports of Yuhao and the others regarding the gains and results of the exchange program.
After Yan Shaozhe had personally brought Yuhao back early, the boy had no chance to visit Tang Ya, Bei Bei, or even Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao. Instead, he was dragged straight to the pavilion. Standing before the towering Golden Ancient Tree, Yuhao's heart surged with emotion. Memories of Mu En—who had treated him like family—overwhelmed him, and he collapsed to his knees, weeping bitterly.
By the time Zhu Ziyang and the elders arrived with Fan Yu and He Caitou, Yuhao had composed himself once more.
The meeting began. Zhu Ziyang sat at the head of the hall, the elders lining either side, while Yuhao, Fan Yu, and Caitou could only remain standing for the time being.
Seeing Zhu Ziyang seated as Pavilion Master shocked Yuhao, Caitou, and even Fan Yu. Though the teacher of the Soul Tool Department managed to mask his reaction, the two young men could not. Yuhao's jaw dropped as he stammered, "Senior Brother, you…"
He had long suspected his senior brother's cultivation had advanced rapidly—after all, he had single-handedly faced the Dragon Emperor Douluo. But never had he imagined that Zhu Ziyang had already ascended to the position of Pavilion Master. Was this truly the same senior brother he had once known?
"Don't be surprised," Xuan Zi chuckled. "Ziyang has already reached the Titled Douluo realm. According to Elder Mu's will, he has succeeded him as Pavilion Master. You'll need to adjust to his new identity."
"Yes!" The three of them straightened at once, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Pavilion Master!"
"Don't be so formal," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "Come—tell us about your experiences at Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Teacher Fan Yu, you start."
"Yes!" Fan Yu stepped forward, bowed to Ziyang and the elders, and began recounting his observations and insights. He shared his experiences, as well as suggestions for Shrek's Soul Tool Department. One by one, the elders raised questions, and Fan Yu answered carefully. His words left Zhu Ziyang and the elders deeply satisfied.
"Well done, Teacher Fan," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "Senior Sister, announce the Pavilion's decision."
"Mm." Xian Lin'er rose. "Fan Yu, by decision of Tianyuan Pavilion, you are hereby appointed Vice Dean of Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department, responsible for the department's growth and expansion. You are also formally admitted into the Pavilion."
"Yes! Thank you, elders, and the academy for your trust!" Though Fan Yu had already heard whispers of this, hearing the appointment officially announced filled him with irrepressible joy.
"Very well, Teacher Fan. Go and rest for now," Xian Lin'er said gently.
When Fan Yu left, all eyes turned to Huo Yuhao. Zhu Ziyang smiled. "Yuhao, it's your turn."
"Yes!" Yuhao straightened, still slightly dazed, then began narrating his own experiences and lessons from the exchange. Though he had no role in planning the Soul Tool Department's future, he did have other matters to report.
"For example," he said, pulling out a soul tool storage ring, "this is what I extorted from Jing Hongchen. I'm handing it over to the academy."
Qian Duoduo received the ring and passed it to Zhu Ziyang. With a sweep of his divine sense, Ziyang saw its contents clearly.
"No wonder the Sun Moon Empire tried so hard to intercept you. You really do know how to bargain, kid!" Ziyang laughed. With a casual flick, he tossed the ring back. "Thirty Silver Dragon Scales—better they stay with you than with us."
"This… is that alright?" Yuhao asked hesitantly.
"There's nothing wrong with it," Ziyang assured him. "The sooner you reach rank nine as a soul engineer, the greater your contribution to the academy. Junior Sister, announce his appointment."
"Mm!" Cai Mei'er stood. "Huo Yuhao, in recognition of your contributions to the Soul Tool Department, by decision of Tianyuan Pavilion, you are granted early admission into the Pavilion."
"I… me? Into the Pavilion?" Yuhao was stunned, staring at Zhu Ziyang as though seeking confirmation.
"Don't be surprised," Ziyang said warmly. "You deserve this—not only because you brought back over a thousand designs, but because of your talent. And most of all, because you are Teacher's disciple."
"I… I understand!" Yuhao's shock slowly settled into determination. His voice trembled slightly as he bowed again.
"Good. I suspect you're eager to see your friends, so we won't keep you. Go—Tang Ya has been waiting for you," Ziyang said.
"Yes!" Yuhao's face lit up with longing and anticipation. He bowed to Ziyang and the elders before hurrying out.
Now only He Caitou remained. He shifted nervously under their gazes. Then Zhu Ziyang smiled faintly and said something that nearly made Caitou collapse on the spot.
"All right, it's your turn, Caitou—or should I say Xu He? Xu Tianhe?"
"I…" Caitou's face turned ashen. His body trembled uncontrollably, words failing him.
The elders chuckled at his reaction. Xian Lin'er stepped in gently. "Enough, Ziyang, don't tease him. Caitou, there's no need to be nervous. Your identity was reported to the academy by Fan Yu when you first enrolled. If we truly cared that you are a prince of the Sun Moon Empire, we would have acted long ago. Do you think we'd wait until now to reveal it?"
"R-really?" Caitou's color returned slightly. He realized the truth in her words. There was no way the academy would have remained unaware of his heritage.
"Haha, Caitou, forgive me," Ziyang said lightly. "We've revealed it now because we have a request of you."
"A request?" Caitou blinked, then grew solemn. "If the academy needs anything of me, I will not refuse. Since the day Teacher adopted me, Shrek has been my only home. Whatever the academy requires, I will give everything I have."
"It's nothing so grave," Xuan Zi said. "You should know of Princess Xu Tianxuan of the Sun Moon Empire?"
"Yes. She's said to be a direct descendant of the Lunar line, paraded as a puppet by that old thief Xu Jiusong to quell disputes within the royal family," Caitou spat bitterly.
"She is, in fact, our Senior Sister of the inner court," Xuan Zi revealed.
"What? Senior Sister?" Caitou was dumbstruck. He had long suspected Zhang Lexuan carried royal blood, but never had he dreamed she was actually the princess of the Sun Moon Empire. To think he was not the only imperial heir at Shrek—strangely, that thought filled him with joy.
"The reason we tell you this," Xuan Zi continued, "is because of the academy's plan for the coming 'Empress' Ascension.' In the final stage, we will need your help."
Caitou agreed without hesitation. To him, the Sun Moon Empire had become his enemy ever since Xu Jiusong staged his coup, murdering his father and family while the people stood by in silence.
Now, to aid Shrek in overthrowing the Xu clan's rule and bringing salvation to the empire's citizens—what reason could he possibly have to refuse?
In his eyes, this was a blessing for the people of the Sun Moon Empire.
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PD:New novel: Douluo: Ascending to the Peak from the Sun and Moon, 91 chapters already available on Webnovel.