The world doesn't stop turning for anyone, and the same goes for Shrek Academy.
Lin Yun's departure didn't cause any significant changes at Shrek. In fact, even his arrival didn't change the original story's trajectory much.
The 'exchange student program' was still proposed by Mu En in the end.
This time, Jing Hongchen didn't come to Sea God's Pavilion to offer a sky-high price for a ticket, because with Lin Yun dominating the competition, the soul tools didn't have a chance to shine.
However, advancing Shrek's Soul Tool Department was still on Mu En's mind.
Or rather, the development of soul tools was an unstoppable trend, and their progress was the ultimate answer for the current era.
Any person with common sense could see this clearly.
And without Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe, those two golden-plated troublemakers, stirring up trouble at Shrek, Mu En's plan to develop soul tools went much more smoothly. After all, Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe were the strongest opponents of the Soul Tool Department's development at Shrek Academy.
The 'exchange student program' was placed before all the members of the Sea God's Pavilion.
The happiest ones were none other than Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er, a couple in name only. For the sake of the Soul Tool Department's development, these two deans had racked their brains and had to constantly outwit Yan Shaozhe.
After Yan Shaozhe was gone, Xian Lin'er suddenly realized that everything could be so smooth.
After deciding to fully develop the Soul Tool Department and push for the exchange student program, Qian Duoduo, under Mu En's orders, went to the Sun Moon Empire alone. He was heading to Mingde Hall to find Jing Hongchen and discuss the feasibility of the plan.
If everything went as expected, Jing Hongchen would agree.
After all, this program was originally promoted by Jing Hongchen himself, and now that Shrek Academy was coming to him, Jing Hongchen needed such an opportunity.
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were not traditional soul engineers. The brother and sister also had outstanding talent as soul masters. Even if Jing Hongchen wasn't thinking about himself, he had to think about his grandchildren.
Furthermore, the fallout from the "Secret Transmission of the Grand Elder" had eased the war tension between the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire. The Sun Moon Empire needed more time to observe the situation, and this program happened to help them stabilize things slightly.
It was a win-win situation.
The only thing was, in this plan, Miss Meng coming to Shrek might be abducted by a certain blonde-haired person...
Soul Master Department, Dean's Office
Two beautiful women were sitting at the desk. One was a charming middle-aged woman, and the other was a gentle and quiet young girl in her twenties.
Cai Mei'er and Zhang Lexuan.
They were the current Dean and Vice-Dean of the Soul Master Department. They naturally needed to privately discuss their opinions on Shrek Academy's plan to develop the Soul Tool Department.
Cai Mei'er also intended to mentor Zhang Lexuan.
She was no longer young, and her cultivation was sufficient. Yan Shaozhe had already resigned from his position as the Dean of the Soul Master Department, and while Mu En was a factor, it also meant that in a few years, she might have to step down and join the Sea God's Pavilion.
The future belonged to the younger generation, and as an 'old-timer' who was about to be phased out by the era, she felt it was very necessary to hear the younger generation's views.
"Lexuan, what do you think of Elder Mu's exchange student program?" Cai Mei'er asked softly.
"Dean Cai, I think Elder Mu's plan is very necessary," Zhang Lexuan replied after some thought.
"The development of the Sun Moon Empire is something we've all witnessed. With the development of the times, soul tools are becoming more and more powerful. Although soul engineers can't completely replace soul masters, in the future, it will definitely be a major direction of cultivation for soul masters, just like the classifications of our traditional soul masters into the attack, defense, and support systems."
"We are already too far behind the Sun Moon Empire. The current Douluo Continent is already full of undercurrents. Perhaps this is another generational turning point. I think Shrek shouldn't miss this opportunity. It would be best to use this chance to vigorously develop the Soul Tool Department and catch up with the Sun Moon Empire as much as possible."
There were some other thoughts and guesses in Zhang Lexuan's mind that she didn't voice.
It was strange. She had grown up in Shrek Academy and should have been against soul tools, but Zhang Lexuan found that she wasn't as repulsed by them as she expected. Instead, she had some unique ideas about them.
Why should a soul master have to reject soul tools?
Why should soul masters and soul engineers be treated separately?
Soul engineers can use soul tools, but do soul masters have to stay away from them? Couldn't they just learn to use them without wasting time on making them?
After all, aren't soul tools just tools?
Zhang Lexuan had a vague idea in her mind but no clear direction. She couldn't articulate her thoughts in an organized way, so she could only state her general attitude.
This was understandable. Zhang Lexuan had never systematically studied soul tools, and Shrek didn't have the advanced soul tool concepts of the Sun Moon Empire for her to learn.
As a result, she didn't even know the soul engineer classification of 'real-time control soul engineers'.
In contrast, after asking the question, Cai Mei'er listened silently to Zhang Lexuan's answer, and the look of appreciation in her eyes grew.
Cai Mei'er and Yan Shaozhe were different. Yan Shaozhe suppressed the Soul Tool Department to ensure the status of the Soul Master Department at Shrek Academy and to ensure that it received the most resources.
The more peaceful Cai Mei'er, while still holding the prejudice of traditional soul masters looking down on soul tools, believed that if developing soul tools was the right path for Shrek, as a member of the academy, she shouldn't and couldn't stand in the way.
Zhang Lexuan's answer greatly satisfied and comforted this beautiful dean.
It was a good thing that the younger generation wasn't too constrained by the old-fashioned ideas of their elders. They could still have their own thoughts and opinions.
This was very good.
"I'm very comforted that you have this idea," Cai Mei'er said with emotion. "We old-timers are too old after all, not as flexible as you young people. The future ultimately belongs to you."
"Dean Cai, you're not old at all. I wouldn't feel out of place calling you my sister," Zhang Lexuan said with a slight smile.
"Oh, you..." Cai Mei'er shook her head helplessly, then said seriously, "Since you also have this idea, then our Soul Master Department will fully cooperate with the Soul Tool Department to promote the exchange student program."
"I'll put you in charge of this matter. Is that okay?"
"Don't worry, Dean Cai, I will take the exchange student program very seriously," Zhang Lexuan said earnestly.
(End of Chapter)
────────────────────────────────────
"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [One Piece: General Blue]."
"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [Naruto: Starting with Tsunade-san]."
"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [Battle Through the Heavens: Heavenly comprehension]."
"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [Marvel: The Fantasy Crystal]."
"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [Marvel: Hades]."
"If you want early access to nearly 60+ chapters, join my patreon:- patreon.com/BaDwYGaMeR"