"A Sea God Pavilion Meeting? It's not time for the annual regular meeting yet, is it? Did Old Mu request this emergency meeting?"
Old Xuan, his hair a disheveled mess like a bird's nest, sat on the steps, gazing up at Yan Shaozhe, who looked utterly drained. A flicker of clarity finally appeared in his muddled eyes.
The Sea God Pavilion Meeting was Shrek Academy's highest council, deciding all major matters. Hearing those words, even a drunken Old Xuan sobered for a moment.
But it was only for a moment. Before Yan Shaozhe could answer, his gaze returned to the chicken leg and wine gourd in his arms. He lifted the gourd and took a huge swig, then bit off a large piece of meat, as if only that could make him feel better.
"Yes. I heard from my teacher that this meeting is being held for Le Xuan, Bei Bei, and the others, to discuss the cultivation of the Sea God Pavilion's reserve forces."
Yan Shaozhe looked at the second strongest person in Shrek Academy, who had almost completely fallen into disarray, with a pained expression, and replied in a low voice.
How much time had passed? Just two months ago, when Old Xuan went to the Star Dou Great Forest, he was full of vigor and drive, the undisputed top genius of Shrek Academy, the Gluttony Douluo who shook the continent, and the uncontested successor to the Dragon God Douluo.
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After that mission concluded, he was supposed to inherit his teacher's position. If nothing unexpected had happened, he would now be the new Sea God Pavilion Master, and his teacher, who had toiled for half his life, could finally lay down his burdens and rest.
But now, everything had changed...
He didn't hate Old Xuan. He only hated that hateful Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast for being so blind. It could have stayed in its own territory and eaten whatever Soul Beasts it wanted, so why did it attack their Shrek Inner Courtyard disciples?!
Every Inner Courtyard disciple was Shrek Academy's most precious asset. Although their own carelessness played a large part in this incident, the outcome of eight dead and four injured was something he, as the head of the Martial Soul Department, absolutely did not want to see.
Among those people, except for one Soul Tool Department disciple, the rest were all elites of his Martial Soul Department! Among them were two generations of Shrek Seven Devils members he was proud of!
Eight people died tragically, and the remaining ones were all bedridden. Two of them were missing limbs, and only Zhang Lexuan, who had consumed the Black Tortoise Divine Pill, was in slightly better condition.
The only thing worth celebrating was that Zhang Lexuan had absorbed that beast's Soul Ring and Soul Bone, becoming the youngest Soul Douluo in Shrek Academy's three-thousand-year history, and was clearly a promising candidate to become a Limit Douluo.
Even if she couldn't break through to Limit Douluo, she could at least cultivate to rank 98 in the future, which would ensure the orderly succession of Shrek's strong cultivators.
However… as soon as Zhang Lexuan's Hundred Thousand Year eighth ring came to mind, Yan Shaozhe immediately recalled the greatest humiliation he had suffered in his life just a while ago, and his eyes instantly darkened.
That old bastard also had a Hundred Thousand Year eighth ring. He couldn't seek revenge immediately, but he wanted to see if the Xuanming Sect would have any new powerful figures emerge after that old bastard passed away.
To bully him like that, just because his cultivation was high, was utterly shameless, hmph!
Old Xuan, engrossed in his food and drink, naturally didn't notice the change in Yan Shaozhe's expression. He quickly devoured the chicken leg in his hand, then unceremoniously patted his sleeves with his greasy hands, and with droopy eyelids, he swayed to his feet and walked towards Sea God Lake.
Having set aside the wine and chicken leg, he seemed to have finally regained some of the demeanor of a continental top-tier expert. After walking for a while, he turned to Yan Shaozhe and said:
"Le Xuan and Bei Bei are children we've watched grow up. They are true Shrek Academy people, deeply rooted and loyal, and they are the present and future pride of our Martial Soul Department. Since this matter concerns them, we must secure the greatest benefits for them."
"That's natural. I believe my teacher thinks so too."
Yan Shaozhe said respectfully, following closely behind Old Xuan. They walked for a while until they reached the shore of Sea God Lake, where Sea God Island, appearing and disappearing in the mist, came into their view.
A small boat was already docked there. The two stepped onto it with ease, and Yan Shaozhe gently activated his Soul Power, causing the boat to steadily move towards Sea God Island.
Seeing that Old Xuan was still in low spirits, Yan Shaozhe sighed deeply and softly advised,
"Old Xuan, this accident isn't your fault, so don't blame yourself too much. Didn't Le Xuan, on behalf of the children, ask you to pull yourself together and remain in the Sea God Pavilion? No one wanted this to happen."
Old Xuan's figure was desolate, and he shook his head with a pained expression, saying, "Shao Zhe, you don't need to comfort me. Now, every time I see Le Xuan, I'm reminded of that nightmare two months ago.
Eight Inner Courtyard disciples, tempered through long years, died right before my eyes. Two disciples were left permanently disabled, and Le Xuan and another disciple were also severely injured."
"Shrek spent countless resources and effort to cultivate them. Some of their families also had strong backgrounds. The loss to the Academy this time is too great. Only I can bear this responsibility, and I can't bring myself to forgive myself."
Yan Shaozhe's expression changed. He grabbed Old Xuan's hand, his face agitated, and said:
"But Old Xuan, no one can guarantee they won't make mistakes! Those disciples should have been prepared to disregard life and death the moment they entered the Inner Courtyard. Every year, some of their classmates suffer misfortunes while carrying out Supervision Group missions. Can you blame yourself for all of that?"
"What's more, the responsibility for this isn't entirely yours. It has a lot to do with Xi Yue-jie and Le Xuan's carelessness, and that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast was incredibly powerful. Even two Titled Douluo might not have been able to take it down. This just means those disciples had bad luck."
"You've already paid a huge price for this. If it weren't to give an explanation to those families and disciples, why would you have refused to take over as the Sea God Pavilion Master from my teacher? Old Xuan, you are the pillar of the Academy, you must pull yourself together!"
Old Xuan sighed and said,
"Shao Zhe, you don't need to say anymore. Since Le Xuan has knelt for so long, how could I bear to hurt that child's heart again? Don't worry, this old bone of mine can still fight. I can support you until you grow up and take over as Sea God Pavilion Master."
"All I can do now is to keep this sinful body and contribute more to Shrek and the new disciples in the future. Only then can I make up for the mistakes I've made."
"It's great that you think that way!"
Yan Shaozhe was overjoyed. Mu Lao no longer handled specific affairs, and Old Xuan was the face of his Martial Soul Department. As long as Old Xuan, the second strongest person on the continent, was in charge, no matter what internal or external challenges arose, they couldn't shake the position of his Shrek Martial Soul Department!
As for Old Monster Xu, he was, after all, from a wild background. How could he be a match for Shrek's top genius, Old Xuan?
Old Xuan had been personally taught by Mu Lao for many years, nurtured by Shrek's ten-thousand-year legacy, and his Godly Taotie Bull Martial Soul could never lose to their Divine Beast Black Tortoise!
And that kid Xu Tianxi... Bei Bei was a few years older than him and had been cultivating with his teacher since childhood. Now, he already possessed two-tenths of his teacher's former brilliance. His brother, Xu Sanshi, had only just managed to rival Bei Bei after cultivating here for a year.
I hope that kid has some self-awareness and doesn't foolishly dream of stepping into this supreme Soul Master holy land. Otherwise, he will surely realize how pale and ridiculous his words questioning Shrek's glory are...
From Xu Xiaoyun to Xu Tianxi, looking at the Sea God Island so close at hand, a hint of mockery appeared on Yan Shaozhe's sallow face. Summer insects cannot speak of ice; such a young child truly doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!
However, for him, as the dignified head of the Martial Soul Department, to argue with such a young child would be a bit beneath him. Perhaps he could ask Du Weilun to inquire about his news; that kid should be awakening his Martial Soul by now...
Meanwhile, deep within Sea God Island, in the three-story building that was the Sea God Pavilion.
Zhang Lexuan, whose complexion was much better than half a month ago but still sickly pale, knelt respectfully, speaking softly to the white-haired elder who was half-reclining on a golden long chair beside her.
"...Mu Lao, Le Xuan swears on her Martial Soul that everything I just said is true. Although Xi Yue-jie's child disrespected his elders and hit Dean Yan, perhaps Dean Yan's words to that child were also a bit excessive."
"Le Xuan wouldn't dare to criticize Dean Yan's actions to uphold the Academy's honor. It's just that Le Xuan feels that these sacred things are probably incomprehensible to a child who has just lost his mother. It's understandable that he would do such a thing in a fit of rage."
"Le Xuan has long sworn to protect Shrek Academy for life, but during our trip to Star Dou Great Forest, if Xi Yue-jie hadn't desperately protected me, I might have already died in the mouth of a Soul Beast. Therefore, Le Xuan dares to plead with Mu Lao on that child's behalf."
"Mu Lao, Le Xuan begs you, please don't direct your anger at a child who doesn't yet understand things. If Dean Yan has any objections, Le Xuan is willing to bear the burden for Xu Tianxi!"
Having said that, Zhang Lexuan was about to kneel before Mu En without waiting for his response.
However, before her knees could touch the ground, a gentle Light Soul Power lifted her body, preventing her from kneeling and guiding her to stand up.
Mu En's half-reclined body also trembled slightly under the influence of the Soul Power, revealing a face that showed the ravages of time but was filled with a gentle smile.
"Child, where did your thoughts go? This incident truly makes us deeply ashamed. My sending Yan Shaozhe to apologize in person was precisely to appease the resentment of the Xuanming Sect. How could I blame a child who has just experienced such a great tragedy in life?"
"When your senior sister Xi Yue first came to the Academy, the Xuanming Sect's patriarch specifically greeted me. Looking back now, I truly feel sorry for them. I couldn't go apologize in person because I'm not well enough to move around. Otherwise, never mind Shaozhe being beaten; even if that child were to beat me, there would be nothing to say."
Mu En's voice was gentle and warm, each word imbued with deep concern, giving a sense of cleansing to the soul. It brought tears to Zhang Lexuan's eyes, and she choked out, "Mu Lao, how can you blame yourself for this? No one expected such a thing to happen…"
"Alas… I won't deny it, the primary responsibility for this lies with Xuan Zi. It was his complete dereliction of duty as the team leader that led to this misfortune. It's just that I no longer have the time or means to severely punish him. I truly am powerless…"
Mu En sighed deeply, a wistful expression on his face, then raised a hand and said, "Le Xuan, help me up."
Zhang Lexuan quickly stepped forward to support Mu En's hand. Mu En's movements were slow, not much different from an elderly person in their twilight years. He slowly stood up from the wheelchair, though his back remained hunched, nearly at a ninety-degree angle.
Mu En gazed quietly out the window into the distance, as if he could see Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, and the other Elders and deans rushing towards them. He whispered, "Le Xuan, my time is truly running out. In at most twenty years, I may have to depart. When that time comes, the only one in the Sea God Pavilion who can inherit my position and protect Shrek Academy will be Xuan Zi."
"If the heavens could grant me another fifty years, allowing me to cultivate Shaozhe, you, and Bei Bei, I would never condone the grave mistakes Xuan Zi has made. But fate is not so kind. Shrek Academy must now rely on his strength."
"I'm sorry, child…"
Zhang Lexuan wept uncontrollably, simply burying her face to wipe away her tears.
Mu En sighed and continued, "At this Sea God Pavilion Meeting, I will propose that you become a candidate member of the Sea God Pavilion. Once you reach the nine-ring Soul Ring rank, you will formally enter the Sea God Pavilion to be groomed as a prospective Pavilion Master. You and Bei Bei are my dearest children, and I anticipate your growth more than anyone."
"When you become the Sea God Pavilion Master, and possess strength surpassing Xuan Zi, you can recount his past mistakes—that will be up to you. But for now…"
"Mu Lao, please don't say anymore. I understand, I understand everything. I will certainly cultivate diligently and protect Shrek Academy…"
Mu En lovingly stroked Zhang Lexuan's forehead and sighed, "Child, push me to the meeting."