What Mu En didn't say was—
This kind of situation was not limited to Cheng Ju alone.
All the elders of Seagod Pavilion were in the same boat, so his disciple would most likely never become the Pavilion Master in this lifetime. With Yan Shaozhe's strength, wanting to suppress all the elders—hard!
So, even if Xuan Zi is unreliable, he's still the first successor to Seagod Pavilion, bar none.
With peak power at Rank 98, he could indeed keep the elders in check.
Of course, there was another reason.
Behind Yan Shaozhe, two figures were already catching up.
Zhang Lexuan and Su Wen.
Especially Su Wen.
At only eleven years old, with talent nearing Rank 40—forget Yan Shaozhe, even he, having lived so long, had never seen anything like it. This was clearly a seed for an Ultimate Douluo! And once he advanced, with eight soul beasts of the same level... it would be heaven-defying!
His cultivation speed was so fast it left even geniuses like him dumbfounded.
He even faintly sensed—
By the time his own end came, this child might grow to heights even he could not imagine...
"Where's Fan Yu?"
Mu En asked softly.
"He wanted Elder Zhuang to treat Zhou Yi, but Elder Zhuang refused, so he got Wang Zhi from the inner courtyard to keep Zhou Yi alive."
Wang Zhi was a healing-type Soul Douluo, martial soul Hundred Immortal Grass, but could barely keep Zhou Yi alive. To recover her meridians, they'd need someone of Elder Zhuang's caliber.
"Send someone to watch him. If there's even a hint of trouble..." Mu En said softly.
"Yes!" Yan Shaozhe nodded.
If Fan Yu faced Su Wen, the result was obvious. The only difference was that Fan Yu was still useful for now; otherwise, he would have been dealt with already.
"Go prepare."
Mu En waved his hand.
"Yes!" Yan Shaozhe bowed and left.
Mu En looked up at the sky. Under the pitch-black night, only the stars flickered. Time seemed frozen, with only him deep in thought.
…
The next day.
Noon, the sun blazing.
In a tavern somewhere in Shrek City—
"I was first in the new student assessment that year, teacher!"
"First..." The short, chubby middle-aged man in a teacher's uniform looked puzzled.
"Oh, right, it was the three-thousand-year Fire Lizard soul bone my dad gave me." The boy patted his head and whispered in his ear.
"Zhang Yang, the teacher can't forget that!" Yang He clapped the boy's shoulder. "You've grown so tall."
"My mom gave me a million gold soul coins," another boy said proudly.
"Bai Miao, still so outstanding!" Yang He beamed.
"Teacher, I gave you grilled fish," said a shy, simple boy, scratching his head.
"Grilled fish... I forgot about that." Yang He rubbed his nose.
"But the teacher doesn't hold grudges!"
"Since it's a class reunion, why not share where you're working now? So the teacher can... cough, cough, come visit you in the future."
As everyone chatted happily and caught up—
The door was suddenly pushed open.
Several figures filed in.
Yang He was just drinking, and suddenly felt a chill down his back. Annoyed, he turned around, ready to use his Shrek Outer Court teacher identity to kick out the intruders—but paused in shock when he saw who it was.
"The Inspection Team?!!"
Dark green masks, dark green robes.
And the rings on their fingers made him freeze.
Why was the Inspection Team here? Weren't they out hunting evil soul masters?
"Yang He, take him away!"
The masked leader's voice was crisp and clear, obviously a woman. Yang He even found it a bit familiar, but her words chilled him to the bone.
"Why are you arresting me? I'm a Shrek teacher! Let me see Director Du! I want to—"
Slap!
With several crisp sounds, Yang He's jaw was dislocated, his limbs went limp, and he was swiftly subdued by the Inspection Team. His Soul Emperor strength was useless before them. The surrounding people fell silent; the once lively scene now had everyone eating with heads down, afraid the fire might spread to them.
They dared not get involved in Shrek's internal affairs.
Many here had already left Shrek. They'd come for the reunion to network with old classmates or use Yang He's connections to help their brothers.
Who could have expected a simple meal would bring such a big surprise?
After the Inspection Team left, they exchanged glances, seeing the shock in each other's eyes... Something must be wrong inside Shrek.
"Several Outer Court teachers were absent today. Heard they were transferred out..."
"What about that old witch Zhou Yi?"
"No idea. Probably afraid to show up after being crippled by the boss?"
"..."
New Class Two.
The students were chattering.
Though the elimination rounds started that afternoon—
Su Wen's defeat of Zhou Yi had already overshadowed the tournament, spreading wildly among all new and even old students in the Outer Court.
As for the Inner Court... nothing but calm.
They'd already experienced Su Wen's ferocity.
Especially the Soul King who'd been beaten by Su Wen—he was now no longer silent, going around telling everyone: "It's not that I'm weak, that guy's just a monster!"
"In the elimination, our boss will definitely be number one, so I'll just barely settle for second!" Xie Huanyue said proudly.
"With Wang Dong, whose second soul ring is a thousand-year one, that's for sure!" Xue Ling cheered.
Only Dai Huabin, off in the distance, heard this with a gloomy gaze.
He never accepted authority, not even his Inner Court brother Dai Yueheng, let alone Su... cough, Xie Huanyue.
He glanced at Su Wen.
The terrifying power Su Wen had shown truly unsettled him.
"In that case, I'll take out that little bastard first." Dai Huabin's eyes were cold.
Huo Yuhao, don't think I don't recognize you just because you changed your surname.
A bastard is still a bastard. You dare to compete with me?
…
Teacher's dormitory.
These were all small villas.
Fan Yu and Zhou Yi lived in one of them.
Inside—
Huo Yuhao looked at Zhou Yi, who was sick in bed, crying uncontrollably. He blamed himself for hurting Teacher Zhou Yi—if only he hadn't tattled...
Fan Yu's face was grim.
He didn't blame Huo Yuhao; after all, who would have thought that kid was such a monster, and even his sneak attack hadn't done anything.
To go up against such a monster—what rotten luck.
He'd warned Zhou Yi not to provoke him, but...
"Sigh, Yuhao, go rest early. I'll take care of your teacher," Fan Yu sighed.
Outside the door.
Huo Yuhao wiped his tears, determination growing in his eyes.
"Brother Skydream, I want to become stronger!"
"You... sigh!" In his spiritual sea, Skydream helplessly shook his head. He knew this kid had it out for Su Wen now.
But with his stubbornness, it'd be hard to change.
Still, that might be a good thing.
"All right, since that's what you want, let's try our luck in the Extreme North this winter break. If you want to gamble, Brother Skydream will go with you."
"Mm!" Huo Yuhao was full of anger.
"If he dares hurt Teacher Zhou Yi, I'll make him pay in blood!"
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