Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Illustrious Virtue Hall.
This was a spacious hall. The decoration of the entire main hall was actually all of a metallic style, with a pale golden tone as the main theme. It was not luxurious, but it was full of texture. A plaque hung high above the entrance of the hall. The dark golden large characters had a feeling of intimidating the crowd: Illustrious Virtue Hall.
"So you're saying, for Little Meng to follow Huo Yuhao is, on the contrary, her fortuitous encounter?" Jing Hongchen sat upright on the chair in the very center of the inner hall. It was impossible to see what expression was on his face.
"The investigation is clear. Including the two who fused with Huo Yuhao, it was all because they had met him that they had improved to today's strength," Old Ma prostrated on the ground before him, his hands tightly gripping a stack of documents.
"Hall Master, this time our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy has defeated Shrek Academy and won the final championship. We should be celebrating."
"Do you think we should be happy?" Jing Hongchen didn't even raise his eyelids, but instead looked at the wanted notice for Huo Yuhao and the others on the tabletop.
The Illustrious Virtue Hall Master's indifference made Old Ma somewhat shocked. In his memory, the temper of this Hall Master had always been very strange! He looked up quietly and found that the Illustrious Virtue Hall Master's fat face carried a faint sorrow, as if somewhat vexed.
"Hall Master," Old Ma replied with trepidation, "This subordinate does not understand your worries."
The Illustrious Virtue Hall Master's mood seemed not very good. "Do you know what our biggest gain was this time?"
Old Ma said probingly, "Is it the matter of that monster Huo Yuhao announcing his joining of our Sun Moon Empire?"
The Illustrious Virtue Hall Master shook his head and said, "No. Although Huo Yuhao is a monster, he clearly also came with a purpose. It can only be said to be an equal exchange. Of course, for such a genius to be able to join our side is indeed a good thing."
The Illustrious Virtue Hall Master continued, "Shrek Academy has really made a grand gesture. For a batch of students, so many Super Douluos were dispatched all at once. Originally, Shrek Academy had already agreed to conduct a student exchange with us, but yesterday, news came that because of Shrek Academy's internal reasons, this exchange study would be postponed. As for how long it will be postponed, they still have to study and decide. It seems they are afraid that we will make a move on those students! I have to say, in terms of finding soul master talent, the entire continent really has no one who can surpass this Shrek. It's truly a bit of a pity. However, this is still not the biggest achievement of your trip."
Old Ma was somewhat at a loss. He looked at the Illustrious Virtue Hall Master with confusion.
The Illustrious Virtue Hall Master slowly stood up. His height was not yet one and a half meters, but his waistline was definitely over one and a half meters. His two hands were behind his back, and a black robe with a gold thread pattern covered his round belly.
He slowly walked before Old Ma, suddenly lifted a foot, and kicked Old Ma into a somersault.
"The reason this Hall Master is not killing you is because you let that little bastard Xiao Hongchen feel a sense of crisis in this competition, witness a true genius, and know that he should settle down! After he came back, he proactively requested to go into seclusion. This is the biggest gain of your trip. Get lost! At least don't let me see you in a short period of time. Otherwise, I will surely remember the few children who died, and have you go down to be buried with them."
"Yes, yes..." Old Ma was not angry but happy instead. He knew that this old life of his was finally saved. He didn't even get up, but just lay on the ground like that and really rolled out.
Looking at his rolling appearance, the Illustrious Virtue Hall Master frowned.
"So many Super Douluos actually went to Star Luo City personally to hold the line. Good! Five years later, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament. At that time, I'd like to see if you old undying ones can hold down this toad of mine. Hmph!"
And on the other side, Shrek Academy.
A group of Sea God Pavilion elders personally led the participating team members back to the academy. And a small boat had long been waiting by the shore of the Sea God Lake.
The crowd looked at each other, somewhat surprised as they looked at the various deans.
Yan Shaozhe smiled faintly and said, "You have paid so much for the academy. Although you did not win the final championship in this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, this merit will still be forever recorded in the history of Shrek Academy. After the decision of the Sea God Pavilion meeting, your rewards will be distributed in the Sea God Pavilion on Sea God Island."
Bei Bei and Wang Dong did not know what the Sea God Pavilion was, but Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen knew very well. They couldn't help but be greatly surprised.
The Sea God Pavilion was not only the highest place of discussion in Shrek Academy, but also the true treasure house of Shrek Academy. All the secrets belonging to the academy were there. On normal days, besides the Sea God Pavilion elders and the four great deans, no one could enter there. To be able to enter the Sea God Pavilion was a remarkable honor. At least Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen had never heard of any student who had been allowed to enter before. Even the seniors who had represented the academy and won the championship of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament last session were also the same.
The crowd all boarded the boat. Yan Shaozhe personally inspected Xu Sanshi's physical condition. He immediately said that he would have him stay on Sea God Island to recuperate.
Although Tang Wutong had also heard of the Sea God Pavilion, she didn't have much of a concept of it. But to be about to land on Sea God Island, her mood was still tense and excited. On Sea God Island, named after a certain someone's divine position, was the inner court of Shrek Academy, which was known as the cradle of the strongest soul masters on the entire continent!
For them, at the age of her, Cao Jinxuan, and Xiao Xiao, to be able to land on Sea God Island was already enough to make them excited.
The area of the Sea God Lake was very large, much larger than all the other places in Shrek Academy put together. After the boat had traveled for more than a quarter of an hour and had passed through the water mist, only then did they gradually see the appearance of this island.
Sea God Island looked to be only about two square kilometers in size. It was not flat on top, but rather looked like a small mountain. Various pavilions and towers were built upon it. These buildings, which were usually hidden in the mist and were only faintly visible, when they truly appeared before the eyes of the outer court disciples, the excited look in their eyes couldn't help but become a few points stronger.
Although all of this was unfamiliar, for them, it was also legendary.
Yan Shaozhe did not have someone first take Xu Sanshi to rest, but instead led them along a stone slab path towards the depths of Sea God Island.
Sea God Island was very quiet, as if no one lived here. Everything was so peaceful and comfortable, like a paradise. The pavilions and towers hidden among the various tall vegetation were beautiful and elegant. Although it was only their first time here, Tang Wutong immediately fell in love with this place.
The vegetation here was almost at least a thousand years old. Some large trees were even as tall as a hundred meters. Walking between the small paths, not only was the air fresh, but it also blocked the line of sight of the crowd, with a great feeling of not knowing the true face, only because one was in this mountain.
Not long after, they had already followed the small path to a position close to the mountain top. A pavilion then appeared in the sight of the crowd.
It was a three-story small building. The body of the building itself was brown, all made of wood, with a bit of a vicissitude in its simplicity. If one looked carefully, one could find that the wood of the small building's body had a luster similar to that of grease.
The three-story small building was only about ten meters high. There was no sense of magnificence or grandeur at all. However, right above the entrance on its first floor, there was a black plaque hanging on it. Three large, gold-stamped characters indicated its identity: Sea God Pavilion.
Seeing these three large characters, everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of solemnity. Calculating by distance, the location of the Sea God Pavilion was not only close to the mountain top, but also at the very center of the entire Sea God Island.
Yan Shaozhe stopped his steps in front of the Sea God Pavilion door, turned around, and looked at the members of the Shrek team with a smile on his face.
"The reason I didn't have Xu Sanshi go to rest first was because I hoped he could also have this experience of entering the Sea God Pavilion."
After giving an explanation, only then did he turn to face the Sea God Pavilion, bowed, and said, "Teacher, they have returned."
Hearing the two words "teacher," everyone was greatly surprised. Even Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen, who were inner court disciples, had looks of shock on their faces.
Yan Shaozhe, as the dean of the martial soul department, in the hearts of the inner court disciples, his status was also very lofty. Even Elder Xuan, because of the difference in his own position, was not as important in the students' eyes as their Dean Yan. But they had never expected that Dean Yan's teacher was actually still alive.
"All of you, come in," an old voice sounded. Immediately after, a scene that shocked everyone beyond words appeared.
Right before them, the three-story small building of the Sea God Pavilion, which had been completely unremarkable a moment ago, suddenly lit up without any warning. A brilliant golden light instantly bloomed, turning the entire small building completely golden, as if it were a pavilion built from pure gold.
A thick and soft golden light gracefully fell, enveloping everyone within. A warm, heavy aura of light nourished each of their bodies. The fatigue from their journey was actually swept away in an instant. Even the sleeping Xu Sanshi's body trembled slightly, and he slowly woke up.
The one who felt it the most was Tang Wutong. Her entire body emitted a transparent golden color, complementing the suddenly appearing golden light. Especially her left arm, it had completely turned a brilliant gold. The pure gold actually had a feeling of being fresh and dripping.
Bathed in this golden light, the team members of Shrek, including Wang Yan, all unconsciously closed their eyes.
Bei Bei's expression was somewhat strange. Vaguely, his soul power was released from his body. The blue-purple lightning light disappeared. A faint golden light, with a light dragon's cry, sounded.
Everyone who had closed their eyes had a different feeling. Cao Jinxuan's reaction, although not as big as Tang Wutong's, his shock was not small at all. This... is this the true core place of Shrek Academy? It is truly a great opportunity!
After everyone had woken up, only then did they enter the Sea God Pavilion in single file. After the baptism of light just now, this three-story small building had become incomparably majestic in their eyes, so much so that when they entered it, they even had a bit of a pilgrimage mentality.
Walking into the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion, everything was so simple and ancient. It seemed that here, whether it was the furniture or the decorations, all the materials were the same as the strange wood of the Sea God Pavilion itself.
In the center of the spacious main hall was a long table. Xian Lin'er had been captured. The remaining three deans were already sitting at the table. And Fan Yu was standing behind Dean Qian Duoduo. It was clear that there were no seats for them here. Besides them, on both sides of the long table were also sitting the elders who had previously escorted them back to the academy. Regarding these elders, only the inner court's Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen knew a few of them.
Tang Wutong and the others stood before the long table, unable to help but be a little nervous. But besides nervousness, there was also a bit of excitement. This was the Sea God Pavilion. The various elders before them should be the strongest power of the academy. Especially when they saw that the three deans were only sitting at the very end of this long table, the feeling of shock became even stronger.
There were rules inside the Sea God Pavilion. To be able to let Tang Wutong and the others come here was already an exception. It could be said that everything in the Sea God Pavilion was a core secret of Shrek Academy. Non-Sea God Pavilion members were not allowed to know the exact situation inside the Sea God Pavilion.
Yan Shaozhe smiled faintly. "Children, welcome back. Whether you have heard of it or not, I must explain it to you once. The Sea God Pavilion is the highest place of decision-making in the academy. The Sea God Pavilion meeting decides the future direction of the academy. Here, besides the three deans of us present, every one of them is an elder of the academy. They have all made great contributions to the academy."
"This time, although your preparatory team, representing the academy, only won the runner-up in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, and we have already heard about the entire process. The problem does not lie with you, but that Huo Yuhao's strength is too off the charts. Today, to have you come here is to announce the academy's kind intentions and your rewards. I hope that in the future, you will know shame and then be brave, and not be discouraged by the failure before you. With the current age of your preparatory team, you can still reclaim the glory belonging to Shrek for the academy in the next tournament."
"Yes!" A mist of water couldn't help but well up in the eyes of all the participating members. They had clearly all failed, yet the academy was still willing to give them comfort and encouragement, and bestow upon them rewards that were unimaginable to the outside world.
Only Ling Luochen, at the very end, her heart turned cold. Yan Shaozhe only mentioned the preparatory team. It is clear that the subsequent rewards have nothing to do with them, the official team members. Using a few insignificant words of comfort and encouragement, plus taking out some soul bones that their inner court students had obtained by risking their lives, to win people's hearts—among the many academies on the continent, they are the only one.
See, even if our Shrek loses, we are still willing to take out benefits to reward the participating preparatory team members. What a broad mind this is. So five years later, for the glory of the academy, please go through fire and water for us!
"Next, I will announce the rewards," Yan Shaozhe said in a deep voice.
"Chen Zifeng, Xixi, Ling Luochen, Gongyang Mo, Yao Haoxuan, Qi Zhu."
"Disciple is here," the six official team members, including Ling Luochen, respectfully saluted.
Yan Shaozhe said in a deep voice, "You and Dai Yueheng, as inner court disciples, failed to protect your teammates well when carrying out your supervision mission. After Ma Xiaotao's betrayal, it caused your teammates to be heavily injured, and in turn affected the initial schedule of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament. A major demerit is recorded once."
"Ah?" The group of official team members had not expected this kind of result at all. For a time, they couldn't help but be greatly shocked.