Two days later, Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, Wang Yan, and the others returned to Shrek Academy.
Everyone was summoned to Sea God Pavilion.
Inside the Sea God Pavilion, aside from Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, and Wang Yan, there were also Elder Lin, Elder Song, Elder Zhuang, and other Sea God Pavilion Elders — and of course, Mu En was present as well.
Xian Lin'er represented the academy in reading aloud the rewards the academy had decided to grant. For core team members like Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Ma Xiaotao, the rewards were mostly verbal promises. After all, as inner court disciples, they were already receiving many benefits.
As for older students from the outer court like Beibei, Tang Ya, He Caitou, and Xu Sanshi, they were granted a special exemption from the complex graduation requirements of the outer court and were allowed to directly take the inner court examination. This was a very generous reward, considering the outer court's graduation requirements typically took at least half a year to complete.
For the three younger ones — Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao — their age and strength were still lacking, though all three possessed twin martial souls. The academy made an exception and permitted them to enter the underground world of the Golden Ancient Tree to cultivate once. They were also promised that, once they reached the four-ring level, they could enter the inner court directly without examination.
As the team's supervising teacher, Wang Yan also received a reward — permission to access the Inner Court Library and read all its collected works. For a theory-type soul master like Wang Yan, this was even more precious than a soul bone.
After Xian Lin'er finished reading the academy's decisions, it was Mu En's turn to speak.
"Alright, Lin'er has announced the academy's rewards. Now it's time for us old fellows of the Sea God Pavilion to give ours," Mu En's voice rang out. "These rewards are specifically for the seven members of the reserve team. Over the next six months, each of you will receive personal guidance from one of us."
His words sent a wave of excitement through the reserve team. Although they were curious about who this elderly man was — whose appearance they couldn't see — at this moment, he was their angel. After all, guidance from the Sea God Pavilion Elders meant personal instruction from Title Douluo. This was the real reward!
Mu En paid no mind to their reactions and continued naming assignments. "Lin'er, Beibei will be taught by you. Duoduo, Xu Sanshi is yours. Little Zhuang, you take Tang Ya. Little Ning, He Caitou will be under your guidance. As for Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, I will personally instruct them for now."
Mu En's assignments were clearly well thought out. Beibei and Xian Lin'er both possessed dragon-type martial souls, and Xian Lin'er had mastered Mu En's techniques for training such souls. Xu Sanshi and Qian Duoduo were both defense-type soul masters using shield-type martial souls — a perfect match. Tang Ya's Blue-Gold Silver Grass and Elder Zhuang's Life Tree were both healing-type life-attributed martial souls, which made them highly compatible. Elder Ning, who was assigned to He Caitou, was a Rank 93 food-type Title Douluo. Although He Caitou was a soul engineer, Mu En was more interested in his Cigar martial soul.
As for why Mu En would personally guide Huo Yuhao and the others — it was likely due to their talent and the fact that all three had twin martial souls.
"Yes, Elder Mu!" all those named responded together.
"Good. Since everything has been arranged, the meeting is adjourned," Mu En said. "Ziyang, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, stay behind."
Almost instantly, all the Sea God Pavilion Elders vanished. The instructors assigned to the students left with their charges. Soon, only Zhu Ziyang, Mu En, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao remained in the grand hall.
"You're all probably very curious right now, aren't you?" Zhu Ziyang smiled at the three bewildered youths. "Don't worry. You'll understand soon enough."
He led the three of them forward a few steps. As they approached, Mu En's true appearance came into view, and the three youths gasped in shock. They couldn't believe that the elderly dormitory caretaker they all knew was actually the legendary Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion. The revelation left their young hearts reeling.
"Ha ha, surprised, kids?" Mu En laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying their reactions like a mischievous child who had pulled a prank.
"You… you…" Huo Yuhao could barely get the words out.
"Teacher, stop teasing them and get to the main point," Zhu Ziyang chuckled, clearly knowing what Mu En had planned.
"Alright," Mu En nodded, raising his hand. Zhu Ziyang understood and stepped forward to support him.
With Zhu Ziyang's support, Mu En lifted a hand. A golden light flared, and everything around them grew hazy. The thick golden radiance enveloped Huo Yuhao and the others. Their vision blurred, and they quickly closed their eyes. A moment later, the sensation of solid ground returned, and when they opened their eyes, the golden light had vanished.
The Sea God Pavilion was gone. They now found themselves in a massive square hall, nearly a hundred meters wide. Several corridors branched off to unknown places. The room had no windows, yet the air was fresh and clean.
"Where are we?" Wang Dong asked in a daze.
"Do you remember the reward the academy promised you three?" Zhu Ziyang asked with a smile.
"One cultivation session in the underground world of the Golden Ancient Tree…" Xiao Xiao muttered.
"Correct. This is that very place," Zhu Ziyang nodded and looked at Mu En. "Teacher, I'll leave the rest to you."
Mu En chuckled as he pointed out directions for each of the three youths. Following his instructions, they entered separate tree hollows. Once they began meditating, Zhu Ziyang and Mu En were left alone in the main hall.
"Ziyang, do you know why I'm personally instructing these three?" Mu En asked.
"I don't," Zhu Ziyang replied. He could guess, but he intentionally left the question open. After all, if a student could guess everything, what purpose would a teacher serve?
"You rascal," Mu En chuckled, knowing exactly what Zhu Ziyang was thinking. He patted him lightly and explained, "Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao all possess twin martial souls. As someone with twin martial souls yourself, you should know how powerful that makes them. These three will be your greatest allies in the future!
"Huo Yuhao's main martial soul is his eye, paired with the Ultimate Ice martial soul. Lin'er also mentioned he has great talent in soul tool research and is deeply loyal to the academy. He'd make an excellent candidate for the Soul Tool Department's Dean or Deputy Pavilion Master — and through him, we may gain insight into the Body Sect.
"Wang Dong has the Light Butterfly Goddess and Clear Sky Hammer martial souls. Though she's a descendant of the Clear Sky Sect, she's a girl — and I think she and Huo Yuhao have a future together. If so, she'll likely stay with the academy. We may even influence the Clear Sky Sect through her.
"Xiao Xiao's Phoenix Melody Flute and Tranquil Three-Life Cauldron are not particularly dazzling, and her talent is the weakest of the three. But she's still a twin martial soul holder. With the right guidance, she'll become a solid support.
"Ziyang, you're very young — even younger than your four senior brothers and sisters. And they're already the youngest in the Sea God Pavilion. In the future, they won't be able to help you much.
"You must rely on yourself. Lexuan, Ruoruo, Xiaotao, Nannan, Beibei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou — all of them are outstanding young talents. They will form your core team in the future.
"And Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao — they will be your Xuanzi and Lin Huiqun!
"I'm thinking of taking them as disciples. That way, with the bond of fellow disciples, you'll be able to guide them even better."
"Teacher, I understand," Zhu Ziyang nodded solemnly. Deep down, he felt a sense of unease, as if Mu En was giving him final instructions. It left him unsettled, but he firmly committed every word to memory.
Truth be told, Mu En's assessment and plans for the three students closely mirrored Zhu Ziyang's own — over 80% similarity. What surprised him was Mu En's intent to absorb the Clear Sky Sect. That… well, Zhu Ziyang could only admire it. As expected of his teacher — they truly thought alike.
In Zhu Ziyang's eyes, there only needed to be one transcendent organization in the world. Everything else was unnecessary.
"As long as you understand," Mu En said, clearly satisfied. His disciple had talent, ambition, strategy — everything needed. The only thing he lacked now was strength. But that was just a matter of time. Zhu Ziyang was the perfect heir — the one who would take Shrek Academy to even greater heights.
Mu En eagerly looked forward to that day, even if he might not live to see it.
(End of Chapter)
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