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"Let's go in, don't keep the Sea God Pavilion elders waiting."
The group, who had just awakened, already knew the identity of the person waiting for them inside the Sea God Pavilion.
So upon hearing Chen Junting's reminder, they dared not delay, filing through the door one after another.
Just entering the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion, they saw a long table in the center of the spacious hall. The four deans and Elder Song were already seated.
Besides them, several elders sat on both sides of the long table—all were Titled Douluos without exception.
Just as they stood still, whether or not they had heard of the Sea God Pavilion elders before, Yan Shaozhe introduced them again. This made everyone immediately bow respectfully to the elders.
However, what puzzled the Shrek team members was—where was Elder Xuan Zi, who was also a Sea God Pavilion elder?
But soon, under the gazes of all the elders, their newly risen doubts instantly vanished, replaced by an invisible pressure in their hearts—indescribable yet undeniable.
Similarly, facing so many powerful experts in the Sea God Pavilion, Ning Tian was shocked after bowing!
She knew these Titled Douluos weren't even Shrek Academy's full strength. Because their age was basically at the grandfather generation.
At least not a single middle-aged generation powerhouse was present here.
She was now pondering—if Shrek Academy had so many hidden experts, then what about the Body Sect, which was comparable to Shrek Academy? It probably wasn't much different.
If that's the case,
then their Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect becoming number one in the world...
Seemingly sensing Ning Tian's emotions, Chen Junting subtly gave her a reassuring look.
What about Shrek?
What about the Body Sect?
Both were facing the dilemma of lacking successors.
So just wait, wait until we grow strong ourselves!
At this moment, Yan Shaozhe stood up. After smiling, he continued to announce.
"This time, despite encountering unexpected situations, you still represented the academy with unstoppable momentum to win the All Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Fighting Tournament championship. I feel very gratified. I hope you can continue to work hard in the future and not become complacent because of this."
"Now, I announce the rewards and... punishments."
When the final two words "punishments" were spoken, Yan Shaozhe's gaze turned to Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng, his expression perfectly matching the solemnity of his words.
"Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng! As captain and vice-captain of the main team, you were so negligent or rash during the execution of the surveillance team mission that you suffered severe injuries yourselves. This is truly unacceptable! Therefore, you two will each receive one minor demerit!"
Minor demerit!?
Ma Xiaotao and the other's expressions changed instantly!
But the reason for the demerit truly left the two unable to argue back. Fortunately, Yan Shaozhe suddenly changed his tone next.
"But this championship victory wouldn't have been possible without your efforts, so this minor demerit won't be recorded in your files. Besides, rewards are rewards, punishments are punishments. You and the other four main team members can now come forward to receive the academy's rewards."
"Thank you, Dean!" ×6
The six Shrek inner court students immediately rejoiced!
Then under others' guidance, they left one by one.
However, this departure wasn't leaving the Sea God Pavilion.
After Elder Mu had earlier overruled objections, they all headed to rooms inside the Sea God Pavilion.
This left only the outer court students and Wang Yan.
"Alright, now it's time to announce your rewards." Yan Shaozhe looked at Wang Yan and called out.
"Teacher Wang Yan."
"Dean Yan."
Wang Yan stepped forward, bowing slightly.
Yan Shaozhe smiled and said: "Wang Yan, as the team leader teacher for this fighting tournament, the academy's championship victory owes much to your efforts. Therefore, starting now, you will be promoted to teach in the inner court, and as a special-grade teacher of Shrek Academy. Additionally, the Sea God Pavilion library will be open to you for half a year. During this period, you can borrow any books from the library, but you must remember one thing—you cannot take any internal collections out of the library."
Half a year!?
Wang Yan instantly became ecstatic!
What was the most valuable thing in the entire Shrek Academy?
Talents?
No, that could only rank second.
Shrek's most precious wealth was actually the knowledge in the Sea God Pavilion library. It contained Shrek's precious research on martial souls over ten thousand years, notes from Titled Douluos, Super Douluos, and even Limit Douluos, as well as most of the accumulations obtained after the Martial Soul Hall's destruction ten thousand years ago.
Facing the excited Wang Yan, Yan Shaozhe didn't say more, only comforting him briefly before letting him head to the library.
Then he turned his gaze to the remaining few people.
"Alright, children, now only you remain."
Yan Shaozhe's tone seemed much gentler. "In this tournament, although the main purpose of letting you compete was for training, you all performed very well. Especially Chen Junting..."
As he spoke, he looked at Chen Junting.
"After Yao Haoxuan was unable to participate in the tournament, you took up his position. Therefore, the academy will give you a separate soul bone reward."
Chen Junting's heart stirred—he had indeed noticed earlier when Wang Yan was selecting three soul bones, he had deliberately chosen a golden attribute left leg bone. Now he understood the reason was for this reward. If that was the case, then the remaining two...
At this moment, Yan Shaozhe continued: "Besides this, you and the other outer court students will receive the same reward as the main team members—that is, one chance to close the Golden Ancient Tree, and the academy will also be responsible for obtaining your next soul ring."
Everyone was delighted, hurriedly bowing respectfully to thank him.
At this moment, Yan Shaozhe stepped aside,respectfully saying to the front of the long table: "Teacher, do you have anything else to instruct?"
Everyone's gazes turned to the other side of the long table.
An aged voice chuckled warmly, "These were all pre-arranged, what does this old man have to say? However, there is one thing—you children whose cultivation has exceeded Soul Ancestor level can more or less take the inner court examination."
These words made everyone understand the elder's meaning.
What did "more or less" mean?
It was clearly special permission!
But this indisputable tone left no room for anyone to object. Only Chen Junting's eyes flickered at this moment—because the outer court truly held little meaning for him now.
With a "meeting adjourned," the Sea God Pavilion elders instantly disappeared. Because their attendance was already time snatched from their busy schedules. So this was something Yan Shaozhe and the others had long grown accustomed to.
"Alright, you may leave too. This old man would rather be alone with these children—it's much more comfortable than having you around."
Seeing that Elder Mu had issued a dismissal, Yan Shaozhe and the others gave Chen Junting and the others an encouraging look before respectfully departing.
The entire hall was left to them.
"Ancestor."
Bei Bei was the first to step forward, walking to Mu En's side.
Everyone hearing Bei Bei's address was instantly dumbfounded! Ancestor?
So this Sea God Pavilion Master was Bei Bei's ancestor!
"You actually have this identity?"
This unconscious remark slipped out from Xu Sanshi's mouth.
Jiang Nannan hearing this, stepped hard on his foot!
The pain on his foot instantly made Xu Sanshi realize his mistake. Covering his mouth with one hand, he looked at Bei Bei who was rolling his eyes at him.
At this moment, Bei Bei had already placed his hand on the armrest of Elder Mu's recliner. Slowly pushing it forward, Elder Mu's true appearance was revealed to everyone.
His happy expression clearly showed he was in a good mood.
"You're the dormitory supervisor elder!?"
Seeing the Sea God Pavilion Master's appearance, Wu Feng exclaimed in shock!
But not to mention Wu Feng—even those present except for the already-informed Bei Bei and Chen Junting, and He Caitou who had never seen this elder before, all showed surprised expressions.
They never expected that
Sea God Pavilion Master = Dormitory Supervisor Elder?
Ning Tian recalled her vacation when she mentioned the dormitory manager to her father, and his knowing smile. She immediately understood—he had clearly been looking forward to this moment!
Not telling her was precisely for this moment!
Elder Mu smiled slightly and said: "What? Can't believe it? This old man stayed there precisely to feel your vibrant youthful energy. This way, my heart also becomes young, letting this old man live a few more years to continue protecting the academy."
After saying this, he seemed to remember something, joking.
"Don't laugh at this old man for being a dormitory manager—you might even see a broom-sweeping uncle when you return this time."
This inexplicable remark left everyone momentarily confused.
Fortunately, Elder Mu seemed to have mentioned it casually, continuing to the main topic. "Just now, your reward included a chance for closed-door cultivation, right? This old man will now take you to that place."
Then he had Bei Bei support him, leading the way.
Soon, in a dazed state, they arrived at a hall that was both long and wide, with an area as large as the tournament fighting platform.
On both sides of the hall were several corridors.
Each corridor led to a closed-door cultivation place.
Ma Xiaotao and the others had previously gone here.
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