Bei Bei paused slightly when he heard Mu En's question, a flicker of surprise passing through his usually gentle eyes.
He hadn't expected that, at a moment like this—right after a brutal "cleansing" and "lesson," with the faint scent of blood still lingering in the air—
that Progenitor Xuan had kept him behind alone… for Liu Yuan's sake.
"Yes…" Bei Bei fell silent for a moment before answering in a low voice.
"Liu Yuan and I… did have a good personal relationship. When he was still at Shrek, we got along very well."
As he spoke, Bei Bei gave a bitter smile.
"It's just a pity that fate likes to toy with people."
Mu En reclined in his chair. In eyes that seemed to have witnessed the rise and fall of countless ages, a rare trace of deep regret and desolation surfaced.
"Indeed, fate toys with people… but this fate was brought upon by ourselves."
Mu En let out a long sigh, his voice sounding as though it had aged ten years in an instant.
"Bei Bei, do you remember? Not long after Xuan Zi expelled Liu Yuan… you came to the Sea God's Pavilion in the middle of the night to look for me."
"I remember." Bei Bei lowered his head, his voice dry.
"At that time, for the sake of the bigger picture, I stood on Xuan Zi's side."
Mu En stared at the ceiling, murmuring softly,
"But looking back now, the one who was truly confused and blind to the situation… was me."
"I was wrong."
These four simple words, spoken by the Dragon God Douluo—
a figure who had shaken the continent for more than two hundred years and was once hailed as the strongest in the world—
felt unimaginably heavy.
Bei Bei looked up abruptly, staring at Mu En in shock. He had never seen Progenitor Xuan admit fault, nor had he ever seen him look so dispirited.
"Progenitor Xuan, you—"
"There's no need to comfort me." Mu En waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Wrong is wrong. If I had sent someone to bring him back as soon as I received your message… perhaps things would have taken a different turn."
"But now… it's already too late."
Mu En closed his eyes, concealing the pain within them.
The hall fell into silence.
After a long while, Mu En opened his eyes again and looked at Bei Bei with an intense gaze.
"Bei Bei, I kept you here because there's something I'd like to ask of you."
Bei Bei's expression turned solemn. He bowed deeply.
"Please speak, Progenitor Xuan. Bei Bei will not hesitate."
"It's not that serious." Mu En shook his head, his tone earnest.
"I hope that in the future, if you have the chance to see Liu Yuan… you can try to mend the relationship between Shrek and him."
Bei Bei froze.
"Mend the relationship? But Liu Yuan—he already…"
"I know. A broken mirror is hard to make whole again."
Mu En sighed. "After experiencing something like that, anyone would harbor resentment."
"Wanting him to return to Shrek, or to truly forgive Shrek—that's impossible. That's just my own wishful thinking."
"What I want is this… at the very least, don't let him become Shrek's mortal enemy."
Mu En's gaze deepened.
"Liu Yuan's growth is too fast—so fast that even I feel fear."
"If this hatred is allowed to fester, then one day, when he truly grows into a Titled Douluo… or even a Limit Douluo… Shrek may face a catastrophic disaster."
"You are his former friend, and among Shrek's younger generation, the only one who can still speak to him."
"I don't ask that he hold any goodwill toward Shrek. I only ask that you ease some of the hostility in his heart. Tell him that what happened back then was due to my poor oversight—it was my fault."
"If he must hate someone, let him hate this old man, Mu En. Don't let his anger fall upon the other innocent students of Shrek."
Listening to this nearly humble request, Bei Bei felt a storm of emotions churning within him.
Once upon a time, the lofty and unshakable Shrek Academy… now had to bow its head and seek peace with a student it had expelled.
But this was reality.
A reality forged by strength.
Bei Bei took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
"Progenitor Xuan, I understand. If I meet Liu Yuan again, I'll do my best to resolve this grudge."
"Good… good child." Mu En nodded in relief, as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted from his heart.
He then changed the subject.
"One more thing. Regarding this tournament—what do you think of the spirit tools used by the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy?"
At the mention of this, Bei Bei's expression immediately grew serious.
He recalled the artillery fire crisscrossing the arena, the endless defensive shields, and the bizarre attack methods that traditional Spirit Masters struggled to counter.
"Very strong," Bei Bei answered honestly, without the slightest contempt.
"Extremely strong. In the past, we always thought spirit tools were just external aids—mere tricks—and that only one's own Spirit was the true foundation. But this time… we paid a heavy price."
Mu En nodded slowly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
"You're right. To fall behind is to be beaten—this is an eternal truth."
"Shrek has been stagnant for far too long. We've been guarding the glory of ten thousand years ago, while ignoring the changes of the era."
"The rapid development of spirit tools has already reached the point where they can threaten the status of traditional Spirit Masters."
"This failure, though painful, has allowed us to clearly see the gap."
Mu En tapped the armrest lightly, making a decision.
"Soon, the two great empires and Shrek Academy will conduct an exchange program with the Sun Moon Empire."
"In the past, we usually sent only ordinary Inner Court disciples to fill those exchange quotas. No one wanted to go to the 'enemy camp' to suffer, and they looked down on what was taught there."
"But this time—"
Mu En looked directly at Bei Bei.
"I plan to send core disciples."
Bei Bei's pupils shrank slightly.
"Progenitor Xuan, you mean…"
"Only by truly understanding the opponent and learning their strengths can we defeat them," Mu En said firmly.
"I want you to go to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. See it with your own eyes. Learn with your own hands the spirit tools we once dismissed."
"It won't be easy. You'll endure many slights. Over there, you won't be Shrek's favored genius, but a seeker of knowledge in foreign territory."
"But for Shrek's future, someone must take this step."
"Bei Bei—are you willing to lead the way?"
Bei Bei didn't hesitate for even a moment. He straightened his back and spoke loudly,
"I am willing! For Shrek's sake, to reclaim our glory—let alone learning spirit tools, even if I had to climb a mountain of blades or dive into a sea of fire, I wouldn't hesitate!"
"Good!"
A faint smile finally appeared in Mu En's eyes.
"Go. Prepare yourself well. When the exchange begins, I hope to see a more mature you."
"Yes! Take care, Progenitor Xuan!"
Bei Bei bowed deeply, then turned and left.
Watching the door slowly close, Mu En shut his eyes in exhaustion and murmured softly,
"Liu Yuan… I only hope this move of mine can still remedy things before it's too late…"
---
While Shrek Academy was immersed in heavy reflection and reform—
Far away, tens of thousands of miles away, within the Sun Moon Empire, in Bright Capital.
Inside a high-security secret chamber of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.
The atmosphere here was completely different from the oppressive heaviness at Shrek.
Brilliant spirit tool lights illuminated the room like daylight. All around stood precise and costly spirit tool instruments, radiating the beauty of technology and power.
Liu Yuan sat cross-legged in quiet meditation upon a cushion made of ten-thousand-year cold jade.
Before him rested the Soul-Eating Fierce Blade.
After receiving Liu Yuan's request, Jing Hongchen had immediately gathered five Ninth-Rank Soul Engineers. Working together, they finally succeeded in dispersing all the violent, malevolent energy within the blade.
What remained now was the purest Gold of Living Beings.
Liu Yuan was fully prepared.
Absorbing the Gold of Living Beings would not only bring a massive enhancement to his physical body and spirit power—
more importantly, it would allow him to obtain the god-bestowed spirit ring of Primal Kyogre.
Two birds with one stone.
And so, at this moment—
Liu Yuan began absorbing the Gold of Living Beings.