Outside Shrek City.
The cold wind was like a blade, swirling the withered leaves on the ground and making a rustling sound, appearing exceptionally desolate.
Xuan Zi stood before the giant rock engraved with the five gold-leafed characters "Shrek Academy," remaining motionless for a long time.
His habitually messy hair now looked even more gray and disheveled. The wine gourd that usually never left his hand was nowhere to be seen, likely tucked away. He seemed to have aged a dozen years, his back hunched, exuding an indescribable sense of dejection.
Behind him, Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, and the others also stood with their heads bowed, their faces as pale as frost-bitten eggplants.
They still bore unhealed injuries on their bodies, but the deeper wounds were in their hearts.
It was the sense of shame from ten thousand years of glory being lost in a single day.
"Elder Xuan..."
Ma Xiaotao opened her mouth, her voice dry and raspy. She wanted to say something to break the suffocating silence, but found she had no idea what to say.
Xuan Zi took a deep breath, a flicker of pain and resolve crossing his cloudy old eyes.
"Let's go."
His voice was muffled, as if squeezed from his chest. "Whether you stretch out your neck or pull it back, the blade will fall. Things have come to this; there is no hiding."
"When you're being beaten, you must stand tall."
With that, he took heavy steps and led the way toward the city gate that once symbolized supreme glory but now felt unbearably painful to look at.
...
Inside Shrek City, it was as bustling and lively as ever.
As the Holy Land for Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent, merchants and Spirit Masters from all over the world gathered here.
But today, as Xuan Zi led this defeated remnant down the street, the atmosphere became exceptionally eerie.
The originally noisy street actually fell silent for a moment upon their appearance.
Then, fragments of whispered discussions buzzed through the crowd like flies. Although kept low, to the sensitive senses of Spirit Masters, every word was like a needle, piercing deep into their hearts.
"Look... isn't that the Shrek Team? They're back?"
"They look so miserable, all dejected... Is that red-haired girl Senior Ma Xiaotao? How did she get injured like that?"
"Sigh, how could they not be? I heard they didn't even make it to the top eight this tournament; they were eliminated in the top sixteen! It's an absolute disgrace!"
"Top sixteen?! For real? Isn't Shrek undefeated for ten thousand years? How could they lose so badly?"
"How could it be fake? News from Star Luo City has already spread like wildfire! I heard someone named Liu Yuan took down the entire Shrek Team by himself! Shrek wasn't even a match for them!"
"Hiss—really? That's terrifying. Doesn't that mean the number one academy is now the Sun Moon Royal Academy..."
"Shh! Keep it down! Can't you see Elder Xuan's face is as black as a pot bottom? Don't go looking for trouble!"
Those discussions, though quiet, were like countless loud slaps across the faces of everyone from Shrek.
Ma Xiaotao bit her lip hard, her nails digging deep into her palms, unaware that blood was seeping out.
Once upon a time, walking down this street, they received only worship, envy, and cheers.
That was the glory of the Shrek Monsters, the capital of their pride.
But now, those gazes had changed.
They had turned into doubt, disappointment, and even... ridicule.
This immense sense of disparity made these usually high-and-mighty geniuses nearly collapse.
Xuan Zi kept his head down the entire time, neither scolding the gossiping students nor turning back to comfort his team members.
He just moved his legs mechanically, step by step, passing through the Outer Court and the Inner Court like a walking corpse, finally arriving at the shore of the Sea God Lake.
A small boat was already waiting quietly at the pier.
...
Sea God Island, Sea Gods Pavilion.
Inside this pavilion, which represented Shrek's supreme authority, the atmosphere was currently oppressive to the extreme.
In the dim hall, the long table was lined with white-haired elders.
They were the Elders of Shrek, the true foundation of the academy. At this moment, their faces were as grim as water, their eyes fixed intently on Xuan Zi and the others who had just entered.
And at the head of the long table, a reclining chair sat quietly.
Lying on the chair was a small, frail old man who looked to be at death's door.
It was the Pavilion Master of the Sea Gods Pavilion, the Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
"You're back?"
Mu En's voice was very soft and flat, showing no hint of joy, anger, or sorrow.
But those three simple words made Xuan Zi tremble all over, and he fell to his knees with a thud.
"Pavilion Master..."
Xuan Zi's voice choked up as he slammed his head heavily against the floor. "I have failed the academy, I have failed your trust, Elder Mu!"
Seeing this, Ma Xiaotao and the others behind him also knelt down, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Mu En slowly opened his eyes. Those seemingly cloudy eyes now appeared to contain endless depth as they looked directly at the kneeling Xuan Zi.
"Xuan Zi."
Mu En spoke, his tone still calm. "Regarding this tournament and your performance leading the team, what is your view?"
This question was like a sharp knife, slicing directly into the bloodiest wound in Xuan Zi's heart.
Xuan Zi's body stiffened. He gave a miserable laugh and looked up, his face filled with regret and self-reproach.
"Terrible."
"Absolutely terrible."
Xuan Zi gritted his teeth and said word by word, "It was my stubbornness, my underestimation of the enemy, and my failure to protect the children. Furthermore, my poor command at the critical moment led to this unprecedented crushing defeat!"
"I am a sinner! A sinner of Shrek for all eternity!"
"All responsibility lies with me alone! Whether I am to be killed, carved up, have my cultivation crippled, or be expelled from the academy, I, Xuan Zi, will not utter a single word of complaint!"
After speaking, he kowtowed heavily again. The dull sound of his forehead hitting the floor moved even the Elders present.
They all knew that although Xuan Zi was usually sloppy and gluttonous, his loyalty to the academy was beyond doubt.
For a Rank 98 Super Douluo like him, this failure was undoubtedly a devastating blow.
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
After a long time.
Mu En let out a soft sigh.
"It is good that you know."
"There is no greater virtue than recognizing and correcting one's mistakes. But this is not a reason to shirk responsibility, nor an excuse for you to give up on yourself."
Mu En slowly sat up, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling students before finally resting back on Xuan Zi.
"Failure is not scary; what is scary is losing the courage to stand back up."
"This lesson is too heavy. It's a wake-up call not just for you, but for all of Shrek."
"We have been comfortable for too long, proud for too long. So long that we've forgotten there is always someone better, and a higher heaven beyond this one."
Mu En's voice was aged, but filled with an unquestionable majesty.
"Xuan Zi, since you admit your poor command, you must accept punishment."
"Effective immediately, you are removed from your position as the lead teacher."
"Go to the Cliff of Reflection on the back mountain of the Sea Gods Pavilion and stay in solitary confinement for one year. During this year, reflect well on your mistakes and your character flaws."
Speaking to this point, Mu En paused, his tone becoming a bit more severe, "Additionally, during this year, no alcohol! And, one hundred lashes!"
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