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"No, wait—how long was I unconscious?"
Su Wen instinctively touched his head. His hair had grown noticeably longer than before he passed out—this had to have been at least a month!
"Jiji~"
A nimble, white-furred baboon suddenly leaped through the wooden window. Upon seeing Su Wen awake, it cried out joyfully.
"Shhh…"
Su Wen quickly gestured for it to be quiet.
From the looks of it, Ma Xiaotao probably hadn't had a proper night's sleep in ages. She must have stayed by his bedside this whole time. He didn't want to wake her just yet.
But things rarely go as planned.
Ma Xiaotao's sleepy eyes fluttered open. Her striking red hair was slightly disheveled, cascading over her shoulders. When she saw Su Wen sitting up, she was stunned for a moment. Then, rubbing her eyes, she cried out in delight.
"Su Wen, you're awake!"
She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Mmgh…"
Su Wen was nearly overwhelmed as two newly developing 'headlights' swayed right into his face. He struggled to breathe beneath the waves.
"Right, I need to tell Elder Mu!"
Ma Xiaotao quickly released him and rushed out in a flurry.
"I didn't even get to ask how long I was out…"
Su Wen sighed helplessly.
"Jiji~"
Hurricane—his soul beast—excitedly gestured, trying to share something with Su Wen through animated movements.
"You're saying the environment outside is incredible? Ancient trees everywhere, rare and exotic herbs, and the whole place feels comfortable to you?" Su Wen paused, then stepped down from the bed and looked out the window.
A wave of humidity hit him, followed by a stunning aerial view of an enormous academy complex. The vantage point allowed him to take in the entire campus below—proof of just how high up and central his current location was.
"This place… could it be…"
Su Wen froze.
The Sea God's Pavilion?
"You're correct. This is the very heart of Shrek Academy—the Sea God's Pavilion. From now on, it will also be your home."
A warm voice spoke from behind him.
Su Wen turned around in surprise.
Ma Xiaotao was pushing a wheelchair, giving him a playful wink. Sitting in it was a hunched, thin elder whose frail form belied the depth and kindness in his eyes.
"Elder Mu."
Su Wen nodded respectfully, his expression calming slightly.
This place truly lived up to its reputation as the academy's most secure location. Even Huo Yuhao had only seen it once before a tournament in the original story. The Golden Tree at its center was one of Shrek's deepest secrets.
And now, Su Wen stood within that very Golden Tree.
No wonder his soul power had surged so rapidly. The surrounding spiritual energy was unnaturally dense. He could cultivate even while lying in bed.
"Child, since you've joined Shrek Academy, consider this your home. The failure of the last operation lies entirely with Xuanzi. I will personally see that he faces serious consequences. But I hope you won't lose faith in the academy because of this," Mu En said earnestly.
His tone and manner made it clear—if not for his physical condition, he might have stood up and bowed right then and there. The sincerity in his words was undeniable.
After all, Mu En had investigated Su Wen, only to find no trace of his background. It was as if he had appeared out of thin air in the Star Dou Great Forest. But that didn't matter. As long as Su Wen wasn't from the Sun and Moon Empire—and even if he was—Mu En was confident he could make the boy fall in love with Shrek Academy. The most important thing now was ensuring this child didn't become disheartened.
Furthermore, Su Wen had risked his very martial soul to buy a critical minute for the inner court students—a child with such a kind heart, exceptional talent, diligence, and courage… he was a gift from the heavens, a born successor to the Sea God's Pavilion. Ma Xiaotao had already told him how, at the last moment, Su Wen's eyes had shown utter determination, holding on until the spirit ball shattered. How many adults could show that kind of willpower? (In truth, Su Wen had simply passed out from the pain and wasn't even conscious enough to release the beast.)
At the mention of Xuanzi, Mu En's expression darkened slightly.
"Xiaotao, go inform Yan Shaozhe—we're convening a Sea God's Pavilion meeting."
"Yes!" Ma Xiaotao turned and left.
"Is your martial soul alright?" Mu En's wheelchair glided forward slowly on its own. He looked Su Wen over kindly, his eyes full of warmth. Gently gripping Su Wen's arm, he checked the boy's internal flow of soul power and meridians. The more he observed, the more relaxed he seemed.
"It's fine now, Elder Mu."
Su Wen opened his palm. The small white orb disappeared from his spiritual sea and materialized in his hand.
"Good, very good."
Mu En smiled and wrapped Su Wen's hand in his own withered one, gently squeezing the orb before giving Su Wen's shoulder an encouraging pat.
"Good child. Now, push me to the meeting room. I'll direct the way."
"Alright…"
Su Wen took a deep breath. At last, things were getting back on track.
In a quiet corridor, Su Wen pushed Mu En along as they chatted leisurely. The mood was calm and comfortable.
Still…
Su Wen knew full well that Xuanzi wouldn't actually be dismissed or severely punished. Mu En would play the role of the stern elder, scolding him harshly, while Yan Shaozhe and the others would provide excuses, gently placing a ladder for Xuanzi to climb down. In the end, there would be a light reprimand, and that would be it.
In the original story, fifteen students were reduced to just four survivors, and even then, nothing significant happened to Xuanzi. This time, with Su Wen present, there were zero fatalities. There was no way the academy would truly go after him.
Su Wen understood this perfectly. If they did hand down a severe punishment, he'd be the one left baffled, questioning the sanity of the academy's leadership and whether it was worth staying.
Xuanzi was the second strongest individual in Shrek after the now-critically injured Mu En—a Level 98 Super Douluo, Vice Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion, and next in line to lead once Mu En passed. Expelling him for one act of negligence? If Mu En were in peak health, perhaps. But in his current fragile state—like a leaf ready to fall in autumn—cutting off one of their strongest arms would be pure folly.
Xuanzi couldn't be allowed to leave. Unreliable or not, the old man's combat power was undeniable.
Su Wen had come to Shrek for its strength and resources. That strength provided a safe environment to grow—something incredibly rare in the Douluo world. If Xuanzi were gone, the whole academy could begin to crumble. The Holy Spirit Sect might seize the chance to target Ma Xiaotao or even launch a few "recruitment drives" at Shrek. Su Wen might even get snatched up in the process.
Before he knew it, they had reached the end of the corridor. An ancient, weathered door blocked their path.
"Push it open," Mu En said with a soft smile.
"Okay."
Su Wen stepped forward and pushed gently. The door creaked open with ease. Inside was a meeting room, already filled with people. Dozens of elders turned to look at him—their eyes filled with hope, benevolence, kindness, affection… and guilt.
Xuanzi, upon seeing Su Wen, opened his mouth slightly, then lowered his head in silence.
Su Wen raised an eyebrow and signaled that it was fine.
Scolding Elder Xuan now might make him feel better, but it would serve no real purpose. It would only erase any lingering guilt the old man held—a loss that would far outweigh the gain. Letting things slide, allowing Yan Shaozhe and the others to pave the way for Xuanzi, was the way to maximize his own long-term benefit.
Of course, at the root of it all, he was still too weak, forced to consider every move carefully.
But once his strength was sufficient… he would shape Shrek Academy in his own image.
In his eyes, though Shrek had shone brightly for millennia, the roots buried deep beneath the surface were beginning to show signs of rot…
(End of Chapter)