"Shaozhe…"
Mu En's voice was drawn out and weary as he called to his personal disciple.
"Here, Teacher. Shaozhe is here."
Yan Shaozhe bowed deeply — nearly ninety degrees — his expression deeply respectful, as if afraid of incurring his teacher's displeasure.
"How is your recovery from the incident at the Xuanming Sect?" Mu En asked in a faint voice.
"The external wounds have been healed by Elder Zhuang, and the seal from that old freak Xu was removed with your help, Teacher. I've basically recovered, though Elder Zhuang advised I rest for another ten days or so."
Yan Shaozhe replied with utmost deference.
After experiencing such a humiliating defeat, he had gained a clearer understanding of the power of a Rank 98 Super Douluo. Such a being could crush him effortlessly.
And his own teacher, the Dragon God Douluo Mu En, was not just a Super Douluo — he was a Limit Douluo, the strongest on the continent, standing at the absolute peak of the Douluo Realm.
Even if he spent his entire life cultivating, Shaozhe wasn't sure he could ever reach such a height.
Mu En gave a faint nod and said quietly,
"Good. You are, after Elder Xuan, the most likely in the Academy to reach my level. Your potential even surpasses that of many elders. Do you understand my expectations of you?"
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head and cupped his fists.
"Disciple understands. All these years, I've never slacked in my cultivation. Before Elder Xuan retires, I will reach a level high enough to guard the future generations — for Lexuan and Beibei's sake."
Mu En nodded slowly, but then his tone turned more stern.
"But Shaozhe… since breaking through to Rank 95, how many years has it been without progress? With your talent, this shouldn't be the case."
Yan Shaozhe immediately broke into a sweat. His mind raced.
"Teacher… I've spent too much time handling affairs within the Martial Soul Department and haven't been able to fully devote myself to secluded cultivation. But I promise — I'll make a breakthrough within ten years!"
Mu En replied slowly,
"I don't doubt your determination…"
He looked at Shaozhe with a complicated expression and continued,
"But Shaozhe, could departmental affairs really take up so much of your energy? I was once the Dean of the Martial Soul Department too, yet it never delayed my cultivation. Or is it that you've focused more energy on your petty rivalry with Lin'er and Duoduo from the Soul Tool Department?"
"I…"
Yan Shaozhe couldn't respond. Sweat dripped from his forehead. He knew — in front of Mu En, there was no use lying.
Mu En sighed.
"Perhaps I've been too lenient all these years. I thought competition between departments would bring growth, but after what happened with Elder Xuan, I've realized how serious our succession problem has become."
With a flicker of soul power, Mu En slowly stood up from his golden chair.
"Teacher, there's no need— Disciple is unfilial!"
Yan Shaozhe rushed forward, heart racing.
"Shaozhe, your martial soul is the Radiant Phoenix. The essence of radiance is grandness and clarity. Only those with broad, noble hearts can truly harness the full power of light."
"But your temperament lacks that magnanimity, which is why your control over light-type soul power has always been lacking."
"Were it not so, you would already have reached the peak of Rank 96, and a breakthrough to Rank 97 would be within reach in a decade."
"If that were the case, even against someone like Elder Xuan, you wouldn't be helpless."
"Don't forget — you were once the top genius of the Golden Generation. You trained under me for years, possess ten-thousand-year soul rings and soul bones, and are over ninety years old now."
"Yet your current cultivation is merely on par with Lin'er — perhaps slightly stronger."
"But in terms of dedication and pure pursuit of power, she may surpass you. At least, she truly enjoys combat and puts her all into it."
"I…"
Shaozhe's head hung even lower. He didn't know how to respond. The pressure he felt from this conversation was even greater than when facing a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
Mu En sighed once more.
"This is just an old man offering some honest advice. Whether you listen is up to you."
He had no choice but to speak bluntly. Whether Shaozhe could understand and act on it was another matter.
After a moment, Mu En's tone softened.
"Shaozhe, you've worked diligently all these years and cultivated many excellent students. The Academy's present prosperity owes much to your leadership."
Shaozhe finally let out a breath and bowed again.
"I dare not accept such praise. It is my duty."
"But Shaozhe, part of your success comes from your long-term suppression of the Soul Tool Department. Perhaps this was acceptable as a department head…"
"But one day, you will become the Pavilion Master — a position that cannot be bound by small gains and losses."
"And like Lin'er has said — you're too petty, too focused on minor disputes. If you become Pavilion Master with this attitude, won't the Soul Tool Department be reduced to a vassal of the Martial Soul Department?"
"Over the past few generations, have we seen any Soul Tool Department disciples among the Shrek Seven Devils? All have come from the Martial Soul Department."
"If this continues, how can the Soul Tool Department survive?"
Yan Shaozhe didn't attempt to argue. He bowed his head and responded seriously:
"Understood, Teacher. I will change. I'll ease up on the interdepartmental rivalry and act with broader vision."
Mu En silently watched him for a while, then sighed.
He had once considered using the recent tragedy — the loss of twelve inner court disciples — as a catalyst to push for more support for the Soul Tool Department. But ultimately, the engineers couldn't even provide advanced weapons.
Qian Duoduo's "half-step Rank 9" claim was clearly self-consolation. Compared to true Rank 9 soul engineers in the three great empires, he was clearly lacking.
As for Dean Xian Lin'er, though titled Wushen Douluo, she was still a soul master at heart, not a true engineer.
Seeing Shaozhe's attitude now…
"You may go. Reflect on what I've said. I look forward to your progress."
Mu En waved his hand and closed his eyes, reclining once more into the golden chair.
"Yes."
Shaozhe bowed and backed out. Only once he reached the door did he turn to leave.
Inside the Pavilion, Mu En sighed deeply:
"Once I'm gone… who knows what Shrek will become. Beibei… if only you had been born a few decades earlier…"
Outside the Pavilion, Yan Shaozhe unfolded his Radiant Phoenix wings and soared across Sea God Lake, the sound of his cry echoing like a streak of fire.
Landing on the shore, his gaze flickered several times before settling into calm. He took out a soul communicator from his robes and pressed a button, injecting soul power.
"Du Weilun? It's Yan Shaozhe."
The voice on the other end responded quickly:
"Dean Yan, it's me. Do you have instructions?"
"I do. It's a small matter. I want you to activate our agents in Xuanming City. Investigate the third son of the Xuanming Sect leader — Xu Tianxi. I want to know what martial soul he awakened, and what his innate soul power level is."
"Understood. Once confirmed, should we recruit him as usual?"
"No. If he awakened the Xuanming Tortoise, and his innate soul power is high, leave him be."
"But if he failed to awaken it — or his innate soul power is low — then reach out to the Sect Master's wife, Princess Xue Lingxun of the Dou Ling Empire. Tell her I'd like to… make a deal."
There was a long pause.
"…Dean, wouldn't that be inappropriate? Shrek is supposed to be neutral…"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Shaozhe said coldly.
"All I'm asking is for her to fulfill her duties as a noble mother — to keep her illegitimate son in line. I'm not asking her to kill anyone."
"Do you think Shrek's blessings come for free? Her son became a pre-selected member of the Seven Devils — that's an honor beyond compare."
"Besides, I hear Xu Sanshi himself is barely respected in the sect. Could Xu Tianxi really be more talented?"
"…Understood, Dean. I'll handle it."
"Move quickly. I'm counting on you."
Shaozhe hung up and let out a long breath. The weight on his shoulders finally felt lighter.
Looking back toward the Sea God's Pavilion, his gaze firmed up.
"Teacher… maybe you were right. Maybe it's my lack of vision that's stalled my cultivation."
"But I've always believed: if something belongs to me — or to the Martial Soul Department — or to Shrek — it must remain in our hands. Until I release this anger, I won't be at peace."
"As long as I, Yan Shaozhe, draw breath… I won't allow anyone to damage Shrek's pride or interests. No one."