Once everyone had calmed down, Elder Lin and Qian Duoduo finally learned the details from Huo Yuhao's heavy-hearted account.
After Huo Yuhao took Bi Ji hostage and forced the beast tide to retreat to the Great Star Dou Forest, the savage beasts generally kept their word and let him go.
But did Huo Yuhao leave just like that?
Of course not.
As the good student he was, Huo Yuhao waited near the direction of Shrek City, hoping to reunite with Mu En, who had also entered the forest, so they could return together.
Fortunately, they met on the forest's outskirts.
Unexpectedly, Mu En had only a short time left to live and appeared deeply shaken.
Through their conversation, Huo Yuhao was shocked to learn that Di Tian had broken into Sea God's Pavilion and taken Jin Qiu'er — whose true identity turned out to be the Imperial Auspicious Beast, the most revered entity in the Great Star Dou Forest!
According to Mu En, although no one knew why Jin Qiu'er chose to assume human form and join Shrek Academy, something had gone wrong — she had fallen into a coma and could not wake up on her own.
This aroused Di Tian's suspicion. He began to believe that Shrek Academy meant to harm her. Coupled with the recent deaths of many soul beasts and beast kings in the forest, Di Tian concluded that Shrek was to blame.
Thus, the beast tide began.
Di Tian wasn't just seeking justice for the fallen soul beasts — he came to retrieve Jin Qiu'er, who was vital to the forest's future.
When Mu En learned the truth, he blamed himself entirely. He believed it was his own fault for rashly taking Jin Qiu'er as a disciple — a misjudgment of character — and more so, for failing to protect her, which brought disaster to Shrek.
The guilt hit him hard.
Ashamed, he felt unworthy to return to Shrek Academy.
His battle with Di Tian had left the Golden Tree damaged, countless casualties in Shrek City, and Mu En himself with only days to live.
So, upon meeting Huo Yuhao, Mu En made a decision: to pour all his cultivation and essence into the dragon pill he had acquired in his youth. He purified the hostility within the pill and refined it further, leaving it behind for Shrek Academy.
It could be used in two ways:
To help restore the Golden Tree.
To aid future generations of Shrek students.
With this pill, students could rapidly grow in strength. Even Yan Shaozhe and Xuanzi might break through to Super Douluo and even Limit Douluo levels.
As for choosing the next Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion, Mu En left that to the others, believing he had no right to decide anymore.
He felt that his involvement with Shrek Academy had always been limited, and even if he were gone, others would step up to lead — the Academy would carry on.
In his final message, Mu En left two final requests:
He hoped Shrek would continue searching for Bei Bei. If Bei Bei could use the dragon pill, he might evolve his martial soul into a Radiant Holy Dragon, and even become a Limit Douluo.
Mu En had investigated the mountains where the soul beasts and beast kings had died and discovered traces of evil soul masters and soul tools. He suspected another powerful soul master faction was involved — possibly linked to evil soul masters. He urged Shrek to remain vigilant and be on guard.
When Huo Yuhao finished recounting the story...
Even Elder Lin couldn't hold back his tears. "Mu Lao… How could you be so upright? No one blames you for what happened with Jin Qiu'er."
"Damn it! So this is the reason Shrek had to suffer such a senseless disaster?" Qian Duoduo was gritting his teeth.
None of the reasons behind Di Tian's actions were truly the Academy's fault.
At that moment, Qian Duoduo loathed Di Tian, the savage beasts, Jin Qiu'er, and even that mysterious faction of evil soul masters.
And he knew once this story reached others, they would feel the same.
Nearby, the unconscious Xian Lin'er was resting on a rock, using Qian Duoduo's coat as bedding.
Huo Yuhao said nothing. He just sat quietly beside Mu En's gravestone, hugging his knees — a picture of sorrow and helplessness.
Seeing this, Elder Lin and Qian Duoduo's hearts broke for him.
"Don't worry, Yuhao," Elder Lin said after a deep breath. "What happened to Elder Mu, and to Shrek — justice will be served!" He shot a fierce glare toward the depths of the forest, then turned back to Yuhao, voice softening. "Come. Take your teacher's belongings — let's go home."
Huo Yuhao wiped his tears, stood up, and his expression grew resolute.
"Yes. I will get justice for my teacher — and for the Academy!"
Then, he tore apart his damaged uniform to make rope, tied it around Mu En's gravestone, and hoisted it onto his back. The dragon pill was tucked safely in his chest pocket.
"Teacher… we're going home."
Step by step, Huo Yuhao walked steadily toward Shrek City, dragging behind him the massive stone marker.
The young man, carrying a gravestone almost as tall as himself — the scene was heartbreaking yet deeply moving.
Elder Lin and Qian Duoduo simply watched with aching hearts. They knew this was what Yuhao needed to do. No one said a word to stop him.
"Duoduo, carry Lin'er. Let's walk back together," Elder Lin finally said.
"Yes, Elder Lin," Qian Duoduo nodded firmly.
How did Huo Yuhao know that Di Tian had taken Jin Qiu'er?
He simply asked Mu En.
Though Mu En's consciousness had been shattered by Huo Yuhao's Devil's Descent, his memory remained intact, and his mind was still clear.
Unable to resist, Mu En answered whatever Yuhao asked.
After learning the truth, Yuhao added some artistic embellishments — crafting the version of the story Elder Lin and Qian Duoduo had just heard. They carried that tale back to Shrek Academy.
Once the senior leaders heard it, they were furious. If not for the power imbalance, they might have marched into the forest to fight Di Tian themselves.
No one blamed Mu En.
The gravestone Huo Yuhao carved himself was placed in the Academy's cemetery, receiving the highest honor.
Yuhao, of course, was "moved to tears."
Three days passed quickly.
Shrek Academy had managed to clean up most of the aftermath of the beast tide. But dealing with the broader consequences would take months.
The big question was how to handle the fallout.
Once the lockdown on Shrek City was lifted, news of the conflict with the Great Star Dou Forest spread across the Douluo Continent — even the Sun and Moon Empire heard of it.
The three former Douluo empires all sent envoys to offer condolences — and substantial aid.
The Sun and Moon Empire sent no support, but they had something else in mind: They wanted to know just how much power Shrek Academy had left. Further investigation was needed.
In truth, the three empires and all major powers shared this thought.
Shrek's remaining strength would determine how they treated the Academy going forward.
Thousands of years ago, if Shrek suffered such a catastrophe, those nations would've offered full support. Shrek had been a cradle for genius — and backed by the divine.
But now?
They were lucky others weren't taking advantage of their weakness.
The empires increasingly viewed Shrek as a threat. And the divine figure behind Shrek had not been seen in a very long time.
The Spirit Hall, once built upon faith, was still attacked by rivals. So how could Shrek be any different?
Amid this ambiguous political climate, Shrek Academy convened the first Sea God's Pavilion meeting since the beast tide ended.
Although Shrek City had faced a beast tide, the beasts had not truly broken into the city. Only the four outer walls had sustained varying degrees of damage.
The damage to three of the walls wasn't too severe and could be repaired relatively quickly. Only the southern wall had nearly collapsed entirely and needed to be fully dismantled and rebuilt from scratch.
Fortunately, soul masters would be involved in the reconstruction, so it wouldn't take too long.
Outside the city walls, the bodies of both humans and soul beasts had already been cleared away. All that remained were bloodstained soil and still-unfilled trenches—silent evidence of the brutal battle that had occurred.
No one ventured into the battlefield beyond the southern wall. Even traveling merchants made detours to avoid it.
Only a few hyenas and crows, drawn by the scent of blood, prowled the area, digging through the blood-soaked earth as if hoping to find scraps of flesh to eat.
The entire southern wall area was desolate and bleak.
Only the clusters of yellow and white flowers placed at the ruins of the wall and along the battlefield's edge brought a trace of color to the scene—a sliver of warmth to the battlefield.
Though Shrek had paid a heavy price, Shrek City had not fallen. Shrek had preserved its final dignity!
While the city had lost its former prosperity due to the beast tide, it was far from desolate and remained relatively intact.
The residents' faith in Shrek had grown even stronger. In every street and alley, people sang the praises of heroes—especially the tales of "Hero Huo Yuhao."
The City Lord's Mansion had returned to normal operations, with some Shrek Academy instructors now assisting in city management part-time.
Shi Xing had recovered enough to move and had been officially appointed City Lord, taking charge of the City Lord's Mansion.
To stabilize the situation in Shrek City, Shi Xing implemented strict and decisive measures. As of now, no chaos had broken out.
The aid delegations and supplies from the former three Douluo nations had not yet arrived, but spies from all major powers—including the Sun Moon Empire—had already infiltrated Shrek City.
Due to Shi Xing's hardline policies, the spies didn't dare act recklessly and could only observe in secret.
The tiger may be wounded, but its majesty remains.
At this moment, no one dared to provoke Shrek. Its reputation had been forged in battle.
Within the Academy, the outer court students were almost entirely unaffected. If not for the sight of the battlefield beyond the city, many wouldn't even have felt the reality of the beast tide.
However, many familiar instructor faces from the outer court had vanished forever, never returning to the Academy.
Other instructors had suffered injuries to varying degrees.
Even Director Du Weilun had returned to work with a bandaged head and a sling on his left arm.
Fortunately, instructors like Huang Tao, Wang Yan, and Mu Jin were unharmed. Due to their lower combat strength, they had been assigned to the city walls to assist with defense. They expended much energy but were never in mortal danger.
The inner court also suffered injuries among its instructors, but fortunately, none of the students were harmed. However, the beast tide had left many inner court students shaken, prompting them to train even harder.
Among them were Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, and Wei Na, who had been specially promoted to the inner court.
They had all waited for Huo Yuhao's return. But they no longer wanted to experience the helplessness of watching him risk everything alone while they could do nothing.
Mu En's death and Yan Shaozhe's serious injuries deeply affected Ma Xiaotao.
Zhang Lexuan, too, was hit hard by Mu En's passing. She became increasingly withdrawn and silent.
Having endured tragedy since childhood and lost her family, she had agreed to Mu En's terms to gain strength for revenge. She had long since regarded Mu En and Bei Bei as family.
But now, Bei Bei had disappeared, and Mu En was dead. Once again, she was alone—so much so that her mind began to falter, unsure of her reason for living.
Only the uncertainty of Bei Bei's fate gave her a sliver of hope—just enough to keep cultivating.
If Mu En had died of old age, it might not have hurt so much.
Despite the retreat of the beast tide, the atmosphere on Sea God's Island remained tense. Each day, more inner court disciples returned to bolster the Academy's defenses.
The damaged Sea God Pavilion stood as a testament to the terrifying clash between Mu En and Di Tian.
Built into the ancient Golden Tree, the Pavilion could only be restored as the tree slowly healed. No one knew how long it would take for the wound left by Di Tian's Dragon God Claw to fade.
Fortunately, only a small portion of the Pavilion was destroyed, so its operations were unaffected.
The first Sea God Pavilion meeting after the beast tide was officially convened.
The chamber was filled with Shrek's top leadership.
Present were the deans like Yan Shaozhe, elders like Xuanzi, and the newly appointed City Lord, Shi Xing.
All were Title Douluo-level powerhouses.
Only Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan, attending as observers, were not Title Douluo.
Two reclusive elders had also returned upon hearing the news and now sat in their usual seats.
In truth, Shrek Academy still had the strength to deter external forces. Though many were seriously wounded, no Title Douluo—aside from Mu En—had died.
Mu En's loss was painful, but even when alive, Shrek didn't rely solely on him to intimidate the outside world. Thus, his death didn't greatly weaken Shrek's deterrence.
What truly sustained Shrek's might were its elders at the Super Douluo level—and Xuanzi, who was a level 98 powerhouse.
No—Xuanzi was now at level 98.5.
Once he succeeded in forming a second soul core, he would break through to level 99 and reach the Limit Douluo stage.
However, in his current condition, Xuanzi was unlikely to progress further.
The chair at the head of the table—reserved for the Pavilion Master—was left empty.
Xuanzi now sat in the first seat on the left. He wore clean white robes, and his once greasy and unkempt appearance had been tidied. The ever-present chicken leg was gone.
But his right arm was missing. Though his silver hair had been neatly combed, it bore an unmistakable withered look. His eyes had become cloudy, eerily similar to Mu En's in his final days.
Xuanzi had less than five years left to live.
Losing an arm hadn't diminished his strength, but it seemed to have awakened him. He had become clear-headed—perhaps even mature, for the first time.
It was a sobering transformation.
Elders like Song Lao, the former City Lord, Elder Zhuang, and Yan Shaozhe had also awakened thanks to the Golden Tree's power, though only Yan Shaozhe had mostly recovered.
The former City Lord had retired completely. Song Lao and Elder Zhuang were present at the meeting, both still wrapped in bandages.
Yan Shaozhe looked a little better physically, but he too had suffered greatly.
A room full of strong warriors sat in uncharacteristic silence.
The one who used to preside over the meetings would never return.
Xuanzi had no choice but to speak. His voice was hoarse and low.
"The Sea God Pavilion meeting... begins."
After Xuan Zi announced the start of the Sea God Pavilion meeting, Elder Lin began to speak. She carefully explained the entire cause and effect of the beast tide, the losses Shrek suffered, and the message Mu En had asked Huo Yuhao to relay.
This was to ensure that everyone present who wasn't fully aware of the situation could understand everything in detail. After all, not everyone there had experienced the entire course of the beast tide. Elder Lin was one of the few who had been involved from beginning to end and was also among those who had brought Huo Yuhao and Mu En back from the Star Dou Forest.
As for the gains—those soul beast corpses and soul bones could be considered rewards, but clearly, this was not the time to talk about such things.
However, Huo Yuhao noticed that Elder Lin, either intentionally or unintentionally, did not mention the dragon pill Mu En left behind after his death. Qian Duoduo also did not interject.
After Elder Lin finished her account, the atmosphere in the meeting room, already heavy and repressed, became even more emotionally charged.
Some were angry, some were sorrowful, and some were in pain.
Xian Lin'er's eyes were red with tears.
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head deeply.
Most of the elders' faces were filled with murderous intent, consumed by fury.
Unexpectedly, Xuan Zi remained calm. He suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to everyone. "I apologize. This disaster happened because of my incompetence! If I hadn't been captured by the fierce beasts… If only I had been more cautious, or if I hadn't wasted time these past years and had a stronger cultivation…"
By the end of his speech, Xuan Zi was in tears.
"Xuan Zi, that's enough! Cough, cough!" Elder Song interrupted angrily, but the intensity of her tone triggered her unhealed injuries, causing her to cough uncontrollably.
Elder Zhuang hurriedly went over to support her and help ease her breathing.
Xian Lin'er looked at her mother in concern. "Mom, are you alright?"
Elder Song kept her mouth shut, forcefully suppressing her discomfort, and waved her hand to indicate she was fine.
Once she calmed down, Elder Song continued, "Xuan Zi, the beast tide wasn't the fault of anyone from Shrek. The blame lies with the despicable Di Tian, the traitorous Jin Qiu'er, and the evil soul masters who massacred countless soul beasts and beast kings!"
Her voice grew fiercer with each word. Everyone else present was also filled with righteous anger.
Thanks to Mu En's final message and Elder Lin's account, everyone now realized that Shrek had once again taken the fall for others!
And honestly? This wasn't even the first time.
Last time, the Body Sect had hunted beast kings in groups and triggered a beast tide.
But back then, Shrek was well prepared and didn't suffer nearly as much. In fact, they gained more prestige, drew back many powerful alumni, and officially established the Sea God Pavilion. The Body Sect also paid a heavy price—they had just started to emerge, only to be forced back into seclusion. Still, they earned some renown.
But regardless, remaining hidden from the world limited their reputation and made recruiting new disciples difficult, severely curtailing their development.
This time, the beast tide was caused by a double blow—Jin Qiu'er's betrayal and the slaughter of soul beasts.
Shrek paid a devastating price, and bore the consequences alone. Even though the three major empires offered generous aid, was Shrek short on resources?
Can material wealth ever replace lost lives?
Worse still, the real culprits behind everything hadn't paid any price.
"Elder Song is right. What we need to discuss now is—who is the true culprit!" Elder Lin added in support.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Not a single person blamed Xuan Zi.
Xuan Zi's lips trembled. He wanted to speak, but in the end, he only said two words, "Thank you."
But those words were spoken with deep sincerity.
Now, both the Star Dou Forest and Jin Qiu'er had become Shrek Academy's enemies.
Once he sat down, Xuan Zi declared, his cloudy eyes turning sharp, "I have less than five years left to live. In these five years, I will train with all my strength and aim to break through to Ultimate Douluo. When my time comes, I will enter the Star Dou Forest again and fight Di Tian and those fierce beasts!"
"Elder Xuan! You're going to challenge Di Tian and the fierce beasts?" Qian Duoduo cried out in shock. He couldn't help but feel that Xuan Zi was headed for certain death.
After all, even Mu En had failed. What chance did Xuan Zi have?
"This blood debt must be repaid!" Xuan Zi said coldly. "Besides, I'm a dying man anyway. If I can take down a few fierce beasts before I go and rid Shrek of some threats, why not?"
Clearly, Xuan Zi had resolved to die.
Elder Song nodded firmly. "Good! When my own time comes, I too will enter the Star Dou Forest and challenge the fierce beasts!"
"So will I!"
"Count me in!"
The elders all began speaking up.
The scene turned unexpectedly noisy.
Even though many of them had decades left to live, they had already made up their minds. This beast tide had caused them unbearable pain.
Pain—unbearable pain!
Seeing all the elders make such declarations, Yan Shaozhe and the younger generation could only sigh deeply. They didn't try to stop them, but they etched this hatred into their hearts.
To Shrek, there is no such thing as "forgotten hatred washed away with a smile."
This grudge will not fade—it will continue, passed down to future generations.
The fierce beasts of the Star Dou Forest… are doomed.
One day, all of them will be exterminated.
Zhang Lexuan's expression remained calm, but her clenched fists showed she had her own thoughts. It simply wasn't her turn to speak yet.
Huo Yuhao remained composed, but found the elders' uproar unsettling.
To stop them from dying in vain, Huo Yuhao could only choose to ensure that they wouldn't live long enough to reach their natural ends.
Xuan Zi was the same.
Mu En had already succeeded—the next would be Xuan Zi.
The Taotie bloodline… is truly delicious.
"Elder Xuan, Elder Lin, should we issue a Shrek bounty on Jin Qiu'er?" Yan Shaozhe suddenly asked.
Now that Jin Qiu'er had taken human form, she might appear again on the Douluo Continent.
A Shrek bounty was far more terrifying than a national one. It would attract hordes of powerful soul masters eager to hunt the target. Some were Shrek alumni; others were strong individuals or factions hoping to earn Shrek's favor.
And no faction or empire would dare to shelter a Shrek fugitive—for fear of offending Shrek Academy.
In short, once someone was on the Shrek bounty list, they could hardly find a place to live in the original three Douluo nations.
Yan Shaozhe once thought highly of Jin Qiu'er—but now hated her just as deeply.
After all, Jin Qiu'er had been his junior.
However, Elder Song shook her head at his suggestion.
"Shaozhe, not yet. Cough cough." She coughed again. "Jin Qiu'er—no, the Imperial Auspicious Beast—has a special significance to the Star Dou Forest. Hurting her might trigger another beast tide, and cause the fierce beasts to tear up the treaty again."
To target the Imperial Auspicious Beast would mean facing fierce retaliation. Until they had the power to face that, they had no choice but to back down.
"But we may not need to harm her directly," Elder Lin said, drawing everyone's attention. She continued, "Over the past few days, I've been searching the library for records on the Imperial Auspicious Beast. And I actually found something. In an ancient text from the distant past, it said: 'Where the Auspicious Beast resides, all beasts are protected. It is of the highest order and may be guided by humans. With its blessing, the future is limitless.'"
"Though the rest of the text is vague, it implies that soul masters may be able to form an elemental connection with the Imperial Auspicious Beast. Does that mean a soul master could inherit the beast's ultimate attributes?"
The elders' eyes lit up.
Huo Yuhao: Issue a Jianghu "kill on sight" order for Jin Qiu'er!
The library of Shrek Academy is a wondrous place.
Specifically, this refers to the secret library housed within the Sea God Pavilion of the inner courtyard.
It contains countless strange and rare ancient texts, things that ordinary people would never have access to—or be able to verify—yet they are recorded here.
For example, the map of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, or records related to the Imperial Auspicious Beast.
Even the successive Pavilion Masters of the Sea God Pavilion couldn't say exactly how many "secrets" were stored within.
There's a kind of quantum mechanical beauty to it.
It's as if anything unknown somehow has a corresponding entry inside. And someone always happens to have read it at just the right time.
Upon hearing Elder Lin's speculation, the other elders grew intrigued.
Extreme attribute Soul Masters are of great significance to Shrek Academy!
Xuan Zi nodded in agreement. "I've read that ancient text too. It does say that. But whether one truly gains an extreme attribute… that remains uncertain."
"In any case, it's worth a try. There's clearly some benefit to be had," Elder Song agreed with a nod.
"From now on, treat Jin Qiu'er with a focus on investigation and capture alive," Yan Shaozhe decided.
No one objected.
Killing Jin Qiu'er wasn't necessary—extracting benefits from her would be just as good. No one would say no to such gains.
"The premise is that Jin Qiu'er regains consciousness and manages to leave the Star Dou Forest," Elder Zhuang added.
Next came the matter of appointments within the Sea God Pavilion, which would also determine the future leader of both the Pavilion and all of Shrek.
The management of Shrek City would remain in the hands of Shi Xing. As a Title Douluo, he was more than capable.
The Sea God Pavilion Master position would remain temporarily vacant.
Only an Acting Pavilion Master would be chosen for now.
Xuan Zi declined the position in order to focus on his cultivation.
The elders would not participate in the selection.
In the end, the role of Acting Pavilion Master was unanimously given to Yan Shaozhe, with Qian Duoduo and Cai Mei'er assisting.
Xian Lin'er had other missions to carry out.
So who would be the future official Pavilion Master?
Naturally, the choice would come down to either Huo Yuhao or Zhang Lexuan.
Both possessed great talent and proper lineage. Yan Shaozhe and the others lacked the qualifications in terms of talent to hold the role.
It would be a disgrace for Shrek if their future Pavilion Master never surpassed the Super Douluo level and remained at Rank 96 or 97.
Only those with potential to reach Rank 98 or higher were qualified to lead the Pavilion.
If Zhang Lexuan's ninth spirit ring turned out to be a suitable hundred-thousand-year ring, then her reaching Rank 98 would be no issue.
As for Huo Yuhao—there was no doubt. As an extreme attribute Soul Master, as long as he didn't fall, he was destined to become an Ultimate Douluo.
Once both reached Title Douluo level, the formal selection process would begin.
At least, that was the general plan.
But Elder Lin suddenly spoke up, "I support Huo Yuhao as the future Sea God Pavilion Master."
His words stunned Yan Shaozhe and the other deans.
Wasn't it too early to make such a declaration?
"I choose Huo Yuhao as well," Elder Song followed without hesitation—she had always favored him.
"I abstain," said Elder Zhuang. "Both are rare talents. I can't choose."
Xuan Zi also abstained.
The remaining elders began to express their votes as well.
Some supported Huo Yuhao, some Zhang Lexuan, and others abstained.
Shi Xing, who also had voting rights, chose to abstain due to his unfamiliarity with the two candidates.
It was only then that Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and the others realized—
The elders weren't planning on waiting for a future competition. They were deciding the successor now!
Clearly, the elders had already come to a private consensus.
Those old men and women had made plans—without even involving them!
Soon, the votes were tallied.
Huo Yuhao won by a landslide.
There were three main reasons for his overwhelming support:
Talent – Extreme attributes, a 13-year-old Soul Emperor; unheard of, far surpassing Zhang Lexuan.
Battlefield performance – Though he only acted twice, both moments were decisive. He ended the beast tide himself—brave and strategic.
Potential – Both were rare talents, but Huo Yuhao had taken immortal herbs, ensuring he would outpace Zhang Lexuan in the future.
Most importantly, his rapid cultivation speed meant his overall growth wasn't far behind Zhang Lexuan.
How could she compare?
Those who supported Zhang Lexuan did so because they'd watched her grow up, and naturally felt more attached.
As for the candidates themselves—Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan both fell silent.
Huo Yuhao, however, looked uneasy, often glancing at Zhang Lexuan with embarrassment. She, by contrast, remained calm.
The elders smiled knowingly at Huo Yuhao's awkwardness. They didn't mind that he wasn't yet mature—there was time to mold him into the perfect Pavilion Master.
Then came the votes from the four remaining people: Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, Xian Lin'er, and Cai Mei'er.
Their votes could still overturn the results if they all chose Zhang Lexuan.
Her future now rested on their shoulders.
All four were frustrated.
Why hadn't anyone consulted them beforehand?
That way, they would've been prepared.
But after some thought, they reached a conclusion—Zhang Lexuan would have to be the one to yield.
Just before they could speak, Zhang Lexuan stood up and calmly addressed the room:
"Thank you, deans and elders, for your faith in me. But I understand my own talent and potential, and I cannot compare with Junior Yuhao. Therefore, I voluntarily withdraw from the selection. I wish to devote myself to cultivation, to carry on Elder Mu's legacy and protect Shrek. I've interacted with Junior Yuhao, and I believe he's more suited for the role of Pavilion Master."
"Lexuan, you… sigh." An elder who had supported her grew anxious, but quickly sighed—he knew her temperament well.
Once Zhang Lexuan made a decision, she would not go back on her word.
"Senior Sister Lexuan—" Huo Yuhao quickly stood, wanting to protest.
But Zhang Lexuan gently pressed his shoulder and said seriously,
"Junior Yuhao, I believe in you!"
In her eyes, Huo Yuhao saw only sincerity.
Zhang Lexuan wasn't pretending. She wasn't putting on a brave face.
She had long known this was coming—Elder Lin had told her before. She was mentally prepared.
More than the title of Pavilion Master, she desired to find her own purpose.
Being Pavilion Master wasn't her destiny. She wanted to train and search for Bei Bei in Elder Mu's place, and bring him back to Shrek Academy.
If she failed to find him before her death, she would enter the Star Dou Forest and challenge the savage beasts one last time—repaying Elder Mu's kindness with her life.
Huo Yuhao seemed deeply moved by her heartfelt words. He nodded firmly.
"Alright! I will definitely protect Shrek Academy!" he promised.
And just like that, Huo Yuhao officially became the Sea God Pavilion's successor.
The day he becomes a Title Douluo will be the day he takes over the Pavilion.
At that moment, a vast amount of fate and fortune belonging to the Sea God Pavilion began to pour down upon Huo Yuhao's head.
Fate: Pouring~~~ down~
Huo Yuhao: Protect my dinner tray!
After confirming Huo Yuhao as the heir to the Sea God Pavilion, Zhang Lexuan chose to take her leave. The Elders didn't stop her but retained her position as an observer.
Zhang Lexuan still held the right to attend Sea God Pavilion meetings as an observer.
Even though she no longer had a chance to compete for the position of Pavilion Master, she was still fully capable of becoming an Elder in the future and was bound to become a high-ranking figure in Shrek Academy.
Moreover, due to her voluntary withdrawal, the Elders either felt a stronger fondness for her or a sense of guilt. As a result, they began considering ways to let Zhang Lexuan become familiar with the reins of power at Shrek Academy ahead of time.
But such matters required private discussion, and none of the Elders spoke further. The Sea God Pavilion meeting continued.
Huo Yuhao sat quietly in his chair, but he was fully focused on absorbing the Pavilion's fortune.
The fortune he had received from his status had already been completely absorbed. Now, using that as a foundation, he began to plunder more of the Sea God Pavilion's fortune.
The aura hovering above the Pavilion wasn't unclaimed—it was the fortune of Shrek itself, suppressed and contained by the Golden Ancient Tree!
Now that Huo Yuhao had been named the heir to the Pavilion, stealing this fortune had become even easier—like upgrading from a single-core to a sixteen-core processor.
The auspicious cloud of Shrek that floated above his head grew significantly larger.
The Sea God Pavilion meeting continued.
The next topic of discussion was their approach to other powers—this was the most important agenda of the meeting.
It would determine Shrek's future stance on the continent, as well as their alliances and enemies.
After deliberation, Dean Yan Shaozhe and the Elders decided:
They would maintain a normal relationship with the Three Nations of Douluo. No excessive friendliness, no overt caution. The key was not to let them suspect any weaknesses in Shrek Academy.
This was especially the case with the Star Luo Empire, which had once "provoked" Shrek Academy.
As for the forces that helped Shrek resist the recent beast tide, their attitude would be one of friendliness. If any had suffered losses or made sacrifices to aid Shrek, the Academy would offer compensation.
In the future, Shrek could establish closer cooperation with those groups.
The core of Shrek remained Shrek Academy itself, which depended on quality sources of talented students.
A special emphasis was placed on matters concerning the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
It was Elder Lin who raised the issue.
Elder Lin stated that while the sect should be treated more amicably, caution was still necessary.
Because the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had gradually grown distant from Shrek.
Of the once-renowned Seven Great Sects—
Among the Upper Three Sects, the Clear Sky Sect, though no longer sealed off, had become a hidden sect in practice. Its disciples were rarely seen in the outside world. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, under Mu En's line, had effectively been wiped out, and the clan's name was now inherited by the Tianlong Sect, which remained modest and low-profile. Only the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect continued to grow in fame and power.
Even though the rise of other empires and powers had limited the sect's influence on imperial affairs, it still held a transcendent position.
In the present era, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect commanded massive wealth and boasted more than two Title Douluo within its ranks—it had a deep foundation.
When Elder Lin pointed this out, the other Elders became thoughtful. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect often spoke of maintaining the bond formed by the "Seven Monsters of Shrek" from ten thousand years ago, constantly invoking the phrase "branches of the same tree." Yet in truth, only they had been growing stronger all this time.
Why hadn't they acted like true kindred branches and offered help to their old friends?
They had been making huge profits through Shrek City, yet had never suffered any real losses!
Even the Treasure Gathering Pavilion had shares owned by the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
What was their endgame?
Back when the Star Crown Sect replaced the White Tiger lineage and became the royal family of the Star Luo Empire, could it be that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was planning something similar?
One must be wary!
Especially since the recent developments in the Star Luo Empire had made the Elders lose faith—it was no longer as reliable under new leadership.
In truth, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had already begun struggling to keep up. After all, the growth of modern empires and their ability to recruit talent far outpaced what the sect could manage.
Not only had the sect reached its expansion limits, but it had begun to decline.
Even if they harbored no ulterior motives, Elder Lin was a Shrek insider—the Elders would naturally side with him.
Looking at others through tinted lenses meant that even if your pants were clean, they'd still say there was filth.
As for the Lower Four Sects, they weren't discussed. Most had already perished, and those that survived had become hidden sects.
The prestige of the Seven Great Sects had long become a thing of the past.
Then came the discussion on the Sun and Moon Empire and the Sun and Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.
The conclusion: adopt an unyielding stance.
The exchange program would not only continue—it would be accelerated.
Xian Lin'er would still lead the team.
But their mission had changed.
Xian Lin'er now had to investigate the cause of Jin Qiu'er's coma and seek justice on behalf of Shrek. She also needed to look into whether the slaughter of soul beasts and the fall of the Beast King were connected to the Sun and Moon Empire.
Mu En had discovered traces of soul tools in the mountain range. Soul tools capable of harming a Beast King? Not even Shrek Academy or the original Three Nations of Douluo had such weapons.
Most likely, it was the work of soul engineers from the Sun and Moon Empire! Just like the Body Sect once tried to trap Shrek Academy.
If evidence was uncovered—then the Sun and Moon Empire would face dire consequences!
The Meeting Was About to End
Suddenly, Huo Yuhao stood up and said he had something to share, drawing everyone's attention.
"Yuhao, is something the matter?" Elder Lin asked warmly.
At this point, Elder Lin was so fond of Huo Yuhao that he practically regarded him as a grandson.
Huo Yuhao nodded seriously, then looked toward Xuan Zi and spoke earnestly, "Senior Brother Xuan Zi, when Teacher passed away, he left behind an item that may help you break through to Limit Douluo more quickly."
"What?!"
The crowd's expressions all changed upon hearing his words.
Only Elder Lin and Qian Duoduo showed a subtle reaction—they had already guessed what it was.
Naturally, it was the Dragon Pellet!
Although Xian Lin'er had been present at the time, she had fainted from grief and didn't notice the pellet.
To maintain secrecy, the two of them never mentioned it to her.
Qian Duoduo even slapped himself twice in bed for keeping secrets from his goddess—feeling like absolute scum.
Privately, Elder Lin and Qian Duoduo had already agreed:
The person most suited to use the Dragon Pellet was Huo Yuhao.
His unique Frost Jade Centipede Martial Soul carried dragon blood and light attributes, perfectly suited to absorb the pellet's power. He also cultivated incredibly fast. With the pellet, he might become a Title Douluo within five years!
By then, Shrek Academy would possess a soul master with ultimate attributes, comparable to a Super Douluo.
Even if Xuan Zi passed away, Shrek wouldn't be weakened significantly.
That's why Elder Lin had kept silent about the Dragon Pellet—and so had Qian Duoduo. But neither expected Huo Yuhao to reveal it himself.
Sure enough, the next moment, in full view of everyone, Huo Yuhao retrieved a red brocade box from his storage soul tool, opened it…
Inside, lay the Dragon Pellet Mu En had left behind.