The moment the news of Mu En's death reached them, Huo Yuhao froze in the middle of the secret chamber. The bandage wrapped around his hands slipped loose as his fingers trembled uncontrollably.
"Teacher... is dead?"
His voice was hoarse with grief.
No matter how many dark secrets Liu Yuan had just revealed about the God Realm, Mu En had always been different. To Huo Yuhao, Mu En was not only the pillar of Shrek Academy but also the mentor who had truly guided him onto the right path.
The bond between master and disciple had never been an illusion woven by the God Realm. It was genuine care, guidance, and trust.
He suddenly looked at Liu Yuan, his eyes filled with urgency.
"Big Brother Liu Yuan, I have to go back immediately. Even if Shrek has already fallen into chaos, I must see Teacher one last time."
Wang Donger also rose to her feet.
Although her emotions were still in turmoil and the truth Liu Yuan had revealed continued to shake her heart, she looked at Huo Yuhao before silently nodding to Liu Yuan, making it clear that she would accompany him.
Liu Yuan calmly looked at the two of them.
He understood better than anyone what Mu En's death represented.
It marked the end of Shrek's old era and the collapse of Tang San's strongest pillar of influence in the Douluo Continent.
"Go."
He answered with only a single word.
"Some things can only be understood after witnessing their ending with your own eyes. Only then can you truly step off the chessboard."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Donger bowed deeply once more before immediately leaving the secret chamber. Their figures turned into two streaks of light that vanished into the night above the Duke's Mansion.
Only after their auras had completely disappeared did Liu Yuan return to the large metal chair in his study.
Closing his eyes, he summoned the System interface within his mind.
A glowing screen illuminated his Sea of Consciousness, followed by the familiar mechanical notification.
«[Successfully rescued Huo Yuhao and Wang Donger. Tang San's plan has been initially exposed.]
[Mission Evaluation: Perfect]
[Reward Obtained: Mega Rayquaza's Eighth God-Bestowed Soul Ring (200,000 Years)]»
As the notification sounded, an incomparably pure emerald energy poured out from the void and directly entered Liu Yuan's body through his spine.
His Twin Soul Cores immediately erupted with dazzling brilliance, greedily absorbing the immense power contained within the soul ring.
The crimson 200,000-year soul ring, engraved with dark-red patterns, slowly manifested within his Sea of Consciousness before finally settling around the phantom of Mega Rayquaza.
«[Congratulations, Host. Absorption successful. Spirit Power has broken through to Rank 90.]
[Congratulations. You have obtained the Eighth Soul Skill: Dragon Ascent.]»
Liu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.
Two emerald beams burst from his pupils, blasting the heavy metal bookshelves in the study backward several meters.
He could clearly feel the transformation within his body.
His spirit power had undergone a qualitative evolution, stepping into an entirely new realm governed by the Laws.
His gaze settled upon the description of his newly acquired ability.
«[Dragon Ascent]
Mega Rayquaza's ultimate finishing move. Upon activation, all spirit power is compressed into a single point before launching an ultra-high-speed piercing strike through either the user's body or weapon.
The attack possesses absolute physical penetration priority, completely ignoring any physical defense or energy barrier below the Divine level.
Its destructive force is capable of tearing apart planar space itself while inflicting severe, irreversible Law-based injuries upon divine bodies.»
"So... Dragon Ascent has finally arrived."
Liu Yuan looked down at his hands as a faint smile appeared on his face.
If G-Max Impact represented overwhelming large-scale destruction...
Then Dragon Ascent was the ultimate single-target killing technique.
Even if Tai Tan and Niu Tian unleashed every defensive ability they possessed, they would not be able to stop this attack for even an instant.
This was Mega Rayquaza's true trump card.
Just then, the System interface flashed once again.
«[New Mission Released: Condense the Third Soul Core]
[Mission Reward: Primal Kyogre's Seventh Soul Ring]»
Liu Yuan's pupils narrowed slightly.
"A third Soul Core..."
Throughout the entire history of the Douluo Continent, possessing Twin Soul Cores was already considered the symbol of a Limit Douluo.
A third Soul Core...
That belonged to a realm no one had ever reached.
Each additional Soul Core increased the burden on the body exponentially.
Yet Liu Yuan understood one thing perfectly.
If he wished to one day stand against the God Realm itself, he would first have to surpass the limits of the Douluo Plane.
Without the slightest hesitation, he entered the gravity cultivation chamber deep beneath the Duke's Mansion.
Sitting cross-legged, he allowed the azure radiance of Primal Kyogre and the emerald brilliance of Mega Rayquaza to alternate around him.
Gathering every strand of spirit power he possessed, he attempted to open a brand-new energy node at the exact center of his already balanced Twin Soul Cores.
It was akin to forcibly intertwining three completely different Laws into one.
Tiny spatial cracks continuously appeared around his body.
Sweat poured from his skin, only to evaporate before it could reach the ground under the violent energy surging around him.
His muscles repeatedly tore apart and regenerated beneath the overwhelming pressure, while his bones emitted harsh grinding sounds that echoed throughout the chamber.
Could...
...a third Soul Core truly be created?
---
Meanwhile...
Huo Yuhao and Wang Donger crossed the border at top speed before finally arriving back at Shrek City.
The entire academy had been draped in white mourning banners.
Inside the Sea God's Pavilion, every Elder, department head, and core disciple had gathered.
Mu En's body rested quietly in the center of the first floor, surrounded by countless pure white flowers.
Huo Yuhao knelt before the memorial hall, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
Looking at the familiar old man who would never awaken again, the grief and conflict within his heart reached their peak.
Yet before the funeral had even concluded...
The struggle for power within Shrek had already begun.
Mu En had passed away without naming a successor.
Although Yan Shaozhe was the Dean of Shrek Academy, his prestige alone was insufficient to command the entire Sea God's Pavilion.
"Shrek cannot remain leaderless."
An Elder spoke in a low voice while looking toward Yan Shaozhe.
"We must decide upon the next Pavilion Master as soon as possible. Otherwise, with the continent's current instability, Shrek will lose its leadership."
As heated arguments filled the Sea God's Pavilion and the atmosphere became increasingly tense...
An overwhelming wave of spirit power suddenly swept over from the academy's main gate.
Along with the strong scent of alcohol and heavy footsteps...
A disheveled yet imposing figure pushed open the doors of the Sea God's Pavilion.
He carried an enormous wine gourd.
His clothes were dusty and travel-worn, but his sharp eyes remained as intimidating as ever.
"So Old Mu has just passed away..."
"And you're already fighting over power?"
Xuan's deep voice echoed throughout the hall.
After disappearing for so long, he had finally returned to Shrek at the very moment of Mu En's funeral.
His appearance instantly silenced the entire Sea God's Pavilion.
Without another word, Xuan walked over to Mu En's body and bowed deeply three times.
Only then did he slowly turn around.
His sharp gaze swept across everyone present like a drawn blade.
"As for the position of Sea God's Pavilion Master..."
"This old man will take it—for now."