Zhu Ziyang walked out of Sunset Forest and happened to run into Xian Lin'er, who had come to deliver supplies for him.
"Senior Sister!" Zhu Ziyang called out.
"Ziyang, you've finished your retreat?" Xian Lin'er looked surprised, but then smiled warmly. "That's great. Let's return to the academy. Teacher has really missed you."
"Alright!" Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile. "Senior Sister, has anything happened at the academy these past six months?"
"Not really. Nothing major has occurred," Xian Lin'er said, though her eyes flashed with something unsaid and her smile appeared slightly forced. "The academy has decided to initiate an exchange program with the Royal Soul Tool Academy of the Sun Moon Empire. Most of those selected are from the Soul Tool Department. Xiaotao left the academy to travel the continent after obtaining her Spirit Soul. Nannan, on the other hand, often came to ask me about you. She's made good progress over the past half year. And also…"
Xian Lin'er hesitated, then exhaled deeply and said, "Ziyang, you need to be mentally prepared. Teacher… he doesn't have much time left."
"What? How can that be?" Zhu Ziyang's expression shifted to shock and worry as he stared at Xian Lin'er. "Half a year ago he was still fine! How did this happen so suddenly? Did Teacher get into a fight with someone?"
"I don't know either," Xian Lin'er replied, filled with helplessness and sorrow. "Teacher said it was an old injury flaring up, but why would that happen out of nowhere? Meier and Duoduo tried asking, but he wouldn't say. Even Huo Yuhao and the others came up empty."
"Ziyang, you're the disciple Teacher loves the most. You must find out what's going on!"
"Senior Sister, you don't have to say it. I will!" Zhu Ziyang's heart grew heavy. All he could think about now was returning to Shrek Academy and seeing Mu En. He had a vague feeling that Mu En's condition might be related to him. "Let's head back to the academy first. I'll go see Teacher!"
"Alright!" Xian Lin'er nodded and took his arm. They soared into the sky as a streak of green light, vanishing from Sunset Forest.
The two quickly returned to Shrek Academy, landing directly on Sea God's Island beneath the Golden Ancient Tree.
Zhu Ziyang didn't rest. He immediately ascended Sea God's Pavilion, pushed open the doors to the main hall, and saw Mu En.
To be honest, Zhu Ziyang froze at first glance. Even an ordinary person with no cultivation could tell that Mu En didn't have long to live. Zhu Ziyang still remembered what Mu En looked like half a year ago—though filled with an aged aura, he still had a spark of vitality, like a regular elderly man.
But now, deathly gloom hung over him. It was a clear sign of impending death. Mu En's face had become dull and lifeless, as if he might turn into wood at any moment.
"Teacher, you…" Zhu Ziyang's voice trembled.
"Ziyang, you're back!" Mu En smiled with relief. "It seems things went well for you. Good, good!"
"Teacher, how did your condition become so severe?" Zhu Ziyang rushed to his side and held his hand, only to find it ice cold. Not physically cold, but the cold that pierced into the soul—the chill of death.
"Hehe, just a small accident." Mu En laughed lightly. For some unspoken reason, he hadn't told anyone about what happened. He had been waiting for Zhu Ziyang. But now that he saw him, he hesitated. Although Mu En didn't know why that person wanted to kill Zhu Ziyang, he did know one thing—that person had been a god for ten thousand years!
If that person was determined to kill Ziyang, could he really survive?
Mu En's heart was in torment. Never had he imagined that, in his final days, he would encounter something that shattered the belief he had upheld all his life.
"Teacher, what kind of accident was it?" Zhu Ziyang sensed the pain flashing through Mu En's eyes and made a guess. "Could it be… Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui?"
"Haha! Don't guess wildly. It had nothing to do with them," Mu En smiled, forcing himself to seem energetic. "I can still hold on for another year or two. In that time, Ziyang, whatever you want to do, just tell me—I'll do my best to pave the way for you!"
"Teacher, you really won't tell me the truth?" Zhu Ziyang asked with frustration and worry.
"Sigh… If you want to know, just wait a bit longer. This old man will tell you before he dies," Mu En replied.
"Alright then." Zhu Ziyang had no choice but to give in. "Let me think for a moment."
"Hehe, no rush." Mu En smiled kindly.
After a brief pause, Zhu Ziyang collected his thoughts and asked, "Teacher, do you think it's better for the continent to be unified or divided?"
"Unified, of course!" Mu En answered without hesitation. This was a shared belief among soul masters. A unified Douluo Continent would be best for the development of soul masters—just like ten thousand years ago, when the Spirit Hall unified soul masters into one alliance, leading to an explosion in soul master numbers.
This ideal had taken root since ancient times and had long permeated every soul master organization. Ten thousand years ago, the Spirit Hall had the greatest chance to unify the continent, but the selfishness of its Pope led to failure. Powerful individuals with narrow perspectives allowed the two empires to stand side by side.
Now, four empires coexisted on the continent. Each dreamed of unifying the land and establishing a great empire. Naturally, each nation hoped it would be their own to accomplish this dream. As a result, true unification could only be achieved through overwhelming strength.
"Then, Teacher, among the four empires—Star Luo, Heaven Soul, Dou Spirit, and Sun Moon—which do you think has the best chance to unify the continent?" Zhu Ziyang asked.
"Hehe, as much as I hate to admit it, the Sun Moon Empire has the best chance," Mu En replied with a meaningful smile. "Though their unification doesn't align with Shrek Academy's interests, if any of the other three empires were to unify the continent, would they leave Shrek Academy alone?"
"So, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, "since the Sun Moon Empire is the most likely to unify the continent, why resist them? Wouldn't it be better to use them to eliminate the conservative forces on the continent?"
"Looks like you've come up with a way to protect Shrek's interests during unification." Mu En sighed with admiration. "Then stop keeping me in suspense. Let's hear it."
"Take a look at this!" Zhu Ziyang took out a jade seal engraved with a moon and a beautiful woman.
"This is…" Mu En squinted, the seal seeming oddly familiar. He let out a puzzled sound.
"This is the Moon Emperor's Imperial Seal," Zhu Ziyang explained.
"So it is!" Mu En immediately recalled its origin. He was surprised. "How did this end up in your hands? This is a symbol of royal authority for the Sun Moon royal family!"
"I bought it at an auction at the Treasure Pavilion," Zhu Ziyang replied.
"An auction?" Mu En was stunned, then suddenly realized, "I see. The Moon lineage must have truly fallen if they even gave up the Moon Emperor's Seal. What a joke!"
"The Moon lineage?" Zhu Ziyang looked to Mu En with questioning eyes.
"Yes. A bunch of failed descendants hiding in the Southern Moon Islands. They once sought help from Shrek Academy to overthrow the Sun lineage, but I refused." Mu En smiled. "They didn't even inherit the royal Martial Soul. How could they expect to be acknowledged by the Sun Moon nobles? If they could, the Sun Moon Empire wouldn't deserve to be our main enemy."
"I see!" Zhu Ziyang's expression turned thoughtful, then he smiled mysteriously. "Teacher, what if we send them a true heir of the Moon lineage?"
"You mean…" Mu En's eyes lit up with a golden gleam. He immediately understood and exclaimed, "Lexuan?"
"Exactly!" Zhu Ziyang nodded. "Teacher, haven't you ever suspected Sister Lexuan's origins? A Moon Martial Soul—that's something our original Douluo Continent has never seen before!"
"Actually, I did investigate," Mu En said. "Lexuan's family does have ties to the Sun Moon Empire. But she was the only one left, and just a child of eleven or twelve back then, so the trail went cold. If you're proposing she pretend to be a direct descendant of the Moon lineage... it might just work! But first, we must get her consent."
(End of Chapter)
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