"Elder Mu… do we really have no way out?"
Elder Song sighed deeply. Her once sharp, eagle-like brows and eyes had lost all their former majesty, replaced by nothing but a dim, hopeless gaze.
Her question was not just her own; it echoed the hearts of all the elders, teachers, and inner court disciples of Shrek Academy gathered within the Sea God Pavilion's council chamber. All of them hailed from the Three Kingdoms of Douluo. Was there truly no way to prevent their homeland from falling to the enemy? Was Shrek Academy truly powerless to turn the tide?
Mu En's hunched figure seemed even more ancient. He probably would never straighten his back again.
"There is no way out," Mu En said heavily. "Submitting to the Sun Moon Empire is our only choice."
"Why... Why must we swallow such humiliation from that damned Sun Moon Empire!" Elder Xuan pounded the table angrily.
Mu En shot Elder Xuan a cold look, and under the oppressive weight of Mu En's aura, Elder Xuan immediately fell silent and sat upright.
"Why? Because you, who should have been our pillar, were crippled by the Holy Spirit Cult! Because I, with my lifespan nearly exhausted, cannot possibly resist the five great ultimate Douluo now standing with the Sun Moon Empire: Di Tian, the Snow Empress, Kong Deming, Ye Xishui, and Long Xiaoyao!"
Mu En's voice, filled with rare fury, silenced the room. Everyone inhaled sharply in fear and disbelief. Even knowing the truth, hearing it aloud again chilled them to the bone — five ultimate Douluo now stood with the Sun Moon Empire. How could they possibly resist?
Elder Xuan's gaze dimmed. He lowered his head, a faint trace of resentment flashing in his eyes. It seemed Shrek no longer needed him.
He recalled his past departure from Shrek Academy… and the promises whispered to him by a cloaked figure. Mu En's words had finally shattered his last lingering attachment to Shrek.
"In order to preserve the legacy of Shrek Academy, I have no choice," Mu En said bitterly. "After the exchange students returned, Fan Yu also reported the development of the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool technology. It has advanced beyond anything the Three Kingdoms can resist. The gap between us and them is now unimaginable."
Hearing this, Fan Yu solemnly nodded.
"The Sun Moon Empire's declaration of war should come at any moment," Mu En continued. "To minimize casualties, I will personally go to the Heavenly Soul, Star Luo, and Dou Spirit Kingdoms to persuade them to surrender."
A series of weak sighs filled the chamber.
"If surrender succeeds, that would be best. If not, and war breaks out…"
Mu En hesitated but then spoke gravely:
"All of you, teachers, students, and elders of Shrek — if you cannot bear the humiliation of national defeat, you may go to the front lines. But if you do, you must sever all ties with Shrek. This isn't cruelty. If the treaty is broken, Shrek's millennia-long legacy will be utterly destroyed, never to recover. I hope you all can endure this humiliation to preserve Shrek's legacy."
His words were full of helplessness.
"That is all. Dismissed. There's nothing more to say."
Leaning heavily on his cane, Mu En rose and, under the heavy, sorrowful gazes of the crowd, slowly hobbled out of the meeting hall, leaving behind a stooped, fragile figure.
Meanwhile, in the Star Luo Empire's capital, Star Luo City, chaos reigned.
"Extra! Extra! The Sun Moon Empire declares war against the Three Kingdoms of Douluo!"
News spread from Mingdu, the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, like wildfire across the continent. Xu Tianran had declared war.
Ever since Xu Tianran's ascension, tensions had been high, and all the kingdoms had been bracing for conflict. But no one expected he would strike so soon, even canceling the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament scheduled for next year.
Inside Star Luo's royal palace, an emergency meeting was underway. All officials and nobles gathered to discuss the sudden war declaration.
But just as they nervously debated their response to the Sun Moon Empire's aggression, an unexpected event occurred—
"Your Majesty, this old man begs your pardon."
The palace doors burst open, and an elderly, hunched figure stepped forward, illuminated by the golden sunlight outside.
Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei's eyes widened in astonishment when he recognized the newcomer.
"Who dares intrude upon the royal court!?" a general barked angrily.
Xu Jiawei quickly rebuked him.
"Silence! Do not disrespect Elder Mu, the Sea God Pavilion's master!"
Shock rippled through the hall. The intruder was none other than the legendary Elder Mu, the Pavilion Master of Shrek's Sea God Pavilion, an ultimate Douluo!
Few in Star Luo's court had ever seen this mythical figure, apart from Xu Jiawei and some of the elder Title Douluo present.
Xu Jiawei immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong.
"Elder Mu, please, be seated and tell us what brings you here."
Mu En shook his head.
"No need. Today, this old man does not deserve to sit among you. I have failed my homeland and the Douluo Continent."
The entire hall gasped.
"Elder Mu... what is the meaning of this?" Xu Jiawei asked, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"Your Majesty, I urge you to surrender to the Sun Moon Empire. They are no longer an enemy we can resist. Unnecessary bloodshed must be avoided."
"What!?"
"You're talking nonsense!"
The court erupted into chaos.
Xu Jiawei furrowed his brows and raised his hand, calming the room with a gesture.
"Elder Mu, I demand an explanation. Do you mean for me to become a king who surrenders without a fight?"
Mu En bowed his head, unable to meet anyone's gaze.
"Explanation? If I told you that Emperor Xu Tianran has allied himself with the Holy Spirit Cult, commanding over a dozen evil soul masters, including several Super Douluo, and that two former friends of mine, Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao, have also joined him as ultimate Douluo… would that be explanation enough?"
(End of Chapter)
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