At that moment, after hearing Mu En's question, Yan Shaozhe answered immediately.
"Reporting to Teacher, Elder Xuan hasn't sent back a handwritten report yet."
Yan Shaozhe bowed slightly, his demeanor respectful. As the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, he was imposing and authoritative before others, but in front of Mu En, he always acted like a well-behaved junior.
"However, as you know, the academy has long maintained the practice of secretly dispatching intelligence personnel to Star Luo City."
"They not only record the full details of the tournament, but also collect the latest intelligence on every championship contender, which is then reported back to the academy as soon as possible."
As he spoke, Yan Shaozhe took an urgent confidential report from his robes and presented it with both hands.
"This is the intelligence that just arrived. In yesterday's first elimination round, our Shrek representative team faced Qingyu Advanced Soul Master Academy."
Mu En did not immediately read the report. Instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a calm voice,
"What was the result?"
"Naturally, a complete victory."
Yan Shaozhe's tone carried a trace of pride, but then his brows knit together, and he hesitated.
"It's just that…"
"Just what?" Mu En asked.
Yan Shaozhe sighed helplessly.
"It's just that the report says Elder Xuan seemed… a bit too ostentatious."
"He appeared to have been provoked before the match. Not only did he forbid the children from conserving their strength, he even ordered them to go all out despite the overwhelming gap in power, and to use high-consumption Spirit Skills purely for show."
"The intelligence personnel specifically mentioned that many of Shrek's trump cards were exposed during yesterday's match. Even Dai Yueheng's and Ma Xiaotao's core Spirit Skills were seen clearly by everyone."
Hearing this, Mu En, reclining in his chair, raised a hand to massage his temples, a headache showing on his face.
"This Xuan Zi…"
Mu En let out a long sigh, his voice filled with disappointment.
"At his age, he's still this unreliable."
"That was a competition—a rehearsal for life-and-death combat—not a stage for him to show off! Going all out against a weak opponent only satisfies his vanity and lets others see through our hand in advance. What benefit does that bring?"
Mu En shook his head, clearly dissatisfied with Xuan Zi's command decisions.
But he also knew Xuan Zi's personality all too well—stubborn, opinionated, and obsessed with face.
For someone like him, only a major setback might finally teach him a lesson.
"Forget it. We'll deal with this after he returns."
Mu En waved his hand, temporarily setting Xuan Zi's matter aside, then asked,
"What about the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?"
His tone grew heavier.
"As the only force in thousands of years that can truly threaten Shrek, how are they doing this year?"
When it came to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Mu En had never shown the slightest contempt.
In this era of rapid soul tool development, although Shrek still held a clear advantage in pure Spirit Master strength, the Sun Moon Empire's technological progress had always been a thorn in his side.
"The intelligence includes detailed information on the Sun Moon team as well."
Yan Shaozhe quickly handed over another document.
"Their overall lineup this year is extremely strong. In particular, the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen are said to be exceptionally talented."
"And their captain…"
Yan Shaozhe paused, hesitation flickering across his face.
Mu En took the document, lifting it with some effort, his gaze slowly sweeping across the page.
At the very top, a name was written clearly:
Captain: Liu Yuan
Mu En's eyes lingered on that name.
"Liu Yuan…"
A flicker of recollection passed through the old man's cloudy eyes as he murmured the name softly.
It sounded familiar.
Very familiar.
And when his gaze moved to the brief description beneath it—
Originally from the Douluo Continent, formerly a student of Shrek Academy, left Shrek for unknown reasons and joined the Sun Moon Royal Academy—
That sense of familiarity intensified.
Suddenly, Mu En remembered.
Last semester, Xuan Zi had expelled a student for refusing to join the Shrek Supervisory Group.
Mu En clearly recalled that after hearing about it, he had personally summoned Xuan Zi to question him.
But Xuan Zi had offered countless excuses.
And since the student had already been expelled and left Shrek—and given Xuan Zi's extremely high status within the academy—Mu En ultimately chose not to pursue the matter further.
But now…
Mu En pointed at the name on the list, his finger trembling slightly. He turned to Yan Shaozhe, his voice dry and strained.
"Shao Zhe."
"This Liu Yuan… is he the child that bastard Xuan Zi forcibly drove out of the academy back then?"
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head, not daring to meet Mu En's gaze, and answered heavily,
"Reporting to Teacher… yes. It is indeed him."
Boom!
A terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Mu En. Though it lasted only an instant, it made the air within the entire Sea God's Pavilion feel as though it had frozen solid.
"Xuan Zi, that idiot!!"
Mu En slammed his hand onto the armrest of his chair. Normally gentle and composed, he was now so furious that his beard trembled.
"Fool! An absolute fool!"
Mu En cursed without restraint.
"Such a seedling—no matter which academy had him—would treat him as the finest treasure and nurture him with utmost care!"
"And yet he forced such an outstanding genius into becoming our enemy!"
"Is there something wrong with his head?!"
Staring at the words Sun Moon Team Captain on the document, Mu En felt them burn his eyes. He wished he could immediately drag Xuan Zi back from the Star Luo Empire and beat some sense into him.
A student who could become the captain of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy after only a single semester—what kind of genius was that?
This should have been Shrek's pride.
Shrek's future pillar.
The greatest hope for leading Shrek Academy's soul tool technology to an entirely new height!
And now?
Not only had he become the captain of their greatest rival, he would soon be leading others to stand against Shrek itself!
"Blind! Stubborn!"
Mu En's chest heaved violently with rage.
"He was truly blind!"
"To personally hand such a sharp blade, aimed straight at Shrek, over to the enemy—Xuan Zi really has some nerve!"
"Once this tournament is over, I will absolutely teach him a proper lesson!"
-------------Author---------------
Read 50 advanced chapter
👉 patreon.com/Master_fic
U can read 10 chapters ahead just for 5$