Watching Yan Shaozhe's figure disappear into the distance, Xu Zihuang didn't rush to leave. Instead, he supported Elder Mu by the arm and walked toward the Sea God Pavilion.
His current identity was that of a citizen of the Heavenly Soul Empire. Before the collision between the Sun Moon Continent and the Douluo Continent, the original Douluo Continent had long maintained a tripartite balance among its three empires. People's sense of national allegiance was still strong.
Princess Weina of the Heavenly Soul Empire was gravely injured, and if he appeared too indifferent, it would seem inappropriate.
From his memories of his past life, he knew that Princess Weina was a possessor of twin martial souls. Her primary martial soul was the healing-type Snow Lotus, while her secondary martial soul was the top-tier spiritual attribute Body Martial Soul—Brain.
In the future, she would become a crucial link between the Heavenly Soul Empire's royal family and the Body Sect, serving as both a disciple of the Body Sect and a member of the royal family. She was not only a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire but also the fiancée of Long Aotian, the young master of the Body Sect.
However, based on Xu Zihuang's speculation, Princess Weina likely hadn't yet made contact with the Body Sect at this point.
Whether Princess Weina lived or died wouldn't stir any emotions in his heart. But if she survived, given her status and position, if utilized properly, she could potentially bring him more benefits in the future than Ning Tian could.
After helping Elder Mu settle back into his recliner, Elder Mu gazed kindly at Xu Zihuang, who was deep in thought.
"Tianhuang, you're also from the Heavenly Soul Empire, aren't you?"
Xu Zihuang nodded.
"Ten thousand years ago, after Ancestor Tang San crushed the ambitions of the Martial Soul Empire, the Heavenly Dou Empire splintered into the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire because several kingdoms and duchies had grown too powerful to control. Back then, the Heavenly Soul Empire provided significant support for the academy's development. Even today, most of the students studying at the academy are from the Heavenly Soul Empire. For various reasons, we must do our utmost to save Princess Weina. However, Shrek Academy's neutral stance has never wavered. Shrek Academy is, and always will be, the Shrek Academy of the Douluo Continent," Elder Mu said with a gentle smile.
"Alright, you don't need to stay here with this old man. Go on. No need to rush into training today. Rest well and reflect on the insights you gained from your recent deep meditation."
"Yes, Elder Mu." Xu Zihuang gave a slight bow before turning to leave.
Though Elder Mu had told him formalities weren't necessary, he still showed the respect that was due.
Xu Zihuang's expression remained calm, but a strange feeling stirred in his heart. How could he not see that Elder Mu was subtly instilling his own ideals in him?
While Elder Mu claimed he wouldn't restrict his freedom, it was clear he hoped Xu Zihuang would stay at Shrek Academy in the future, perhaps even inherit the position of Sea God Pavilion Master.
Compared to Yan Shaozhe's earlier attempts at persuasion through benefits, Elder Mu's methods were undoubtedly more sophisticated, appealing to emotions with sincerity.
But it was precisely this behavior from Elder Mu that reassured Xu Zihuang. After all, no one showed kindness without reason.
However, the Yu Tianhuang you know never existed from the start.
Xu Zihuang's eyes flickered as he stepped out of the spacious hall on the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion.
On Sea God Island, aside from the northern side, the other three sides were lined with rows of two-story wooden buildings along the lake. The western side housed the female inner court disciples, while the eastern side was for the male inner court disciples. Typically, each wooden building was occupied by two inner court disciples.
Of course, if a building was vacant and a disciple preferred solitude, they could apply to live alone.
The southern side of Sea God Island had a much smaller cluster of wooden buildings, with only a dozen or so scattered about.
This area was reserved for guests. Only royalty from the three original empires of the Douluo Continent or descendants of top nobles and soul master families, like the White Tiger Duke, were invited to stay on Sea God Island.
Thus, this guest area had always remained this size, never expanded.
The clear, azure waters of Sea God Lake rippled under the gentle breeze, the shimmering light reflecting through the balconies of the wooden buildings into the rooms.
Princess Weina, her face pale, lay on a wooden bed. The cold and aloof girl, Mu Xue, who had carried Weina out of the Star Dou Forest, stood by the bedside, her expression filled with concern and anxiety.
Yan Shaozhe, the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, was also present, underscoring the importance the academy placed on Princess Weina.
Beside Yan Shaozhe stood an elderly man with white hair and beard. This was Elder Zhuang, another elder of the Sea God Pavilion. His martial soul was a unique plant-type martial soul, and he was the only healing-type Titled Douluo in Shrek Academy.
Mu Xue bowed solemnly to Yan Shaozhe and Elder Zhuang.
"Dean Yan, Senior, thank you for your help."
"No need for formalities. We'll do our best," Yan Shaozhe said, using his soul power to gently lift Mu Xue before nodding to Elder Zhuang.
Elder Zhuang understood and sat by the bedside. As he raised his hand above Weina's body, soul rings rose from his feet.
Two yellow, two purple, and five black—nine soul rings rhythmically pulsed around him, yet they lacked the terrifying aura typical of a Titled Douluo.
Vibrant green vines extended from his body, enveloping Weina. In no time, they completely covered her delicate frame.
Elder Zhuang's first, second, and third soul rings glowed, and a rich aura of life blossomed. The originally lush vines began to shimmer with different colors.
Moments later, the vines retracted, and Elder Zhuang's brow furrowed.
Yan Shaozhe asked in a low voice, "How is it? Can she be healed?"
Elder Zhuang shook his head.
"My healing primarily relies on infusing life force, and her physical injuries have already healed under its nourishment. However, a foreign, peculiar energy lingers around her heart meridians—cold and sinister. I've never encountered such energy in my life. I tried to dispel it with life force, but it had no effect. This energy seems to surpass even life force in its level. I'm afraid I'm powerless here."
Noticing the intense emotional fluctuations in Mu Xue's eyes, Elder Zhuang continued, "She's not in immediate danger. But to wake her, this peculiar energy must be completely removed."
Hearing this, Mu Xue's expression softened slightly. Though she was less panicked than before, her heart remained anxious. The Heavenly Soul Empire's royal healing soul masters could arrive in time, but the strongest among them was only an eight-ring Soul Douluo.
If even Elder Zhuang, a Titled Douluo-level healing soul master, was helpless, what hope did the royal healers have?
A shadow of despair crept into her heart.
At that moment, a knock came at the door. A young man in white, appearing to be in his late twenties, entered and respectfully saluted Elder Zhuang and Yan Shaozhe.
"Teacher, Dean Yan."
He was Elder Zhuang's direct disciple, possessing the Life Tree, one of the pinnacle plant-type martial souls.
He had graduated from Shrek Academy's outer court in the same year as Zhou Yi and Mu Jin, but his talent far surpassed theirs. Not only did he successfully enter the inner court, but he also became Elder Zhuang's direct disciple. At just twenty-nine, he was already a Soul Saint.
For a healing soul master, whose cultivation was far more challenging than that of a battle soul master, reaching Soul Saint at twenty-nine was remarkable. Though he wasn't among the absolute top of the inner court disciples, he had the potential to become a Titled Douluo.
Elder Zhuang looked at the young man in white with a serious expression.
"How's the situation?"
While Elder Zhuang treated Weina, the young man had been sent to heal Mo Feiyun's injuries.
The young man replied solemnly, "His bones are fractured in multiple places, but I've stabilized his condition. He'll need several more treatments and a long period of rest to fully recover."
Finally, Mu Xue heard some good news. But she was puzzled—why didn't Mo Feiyun have the peculiar energy Elder Zhuang mentioned?
Recalling the events of that day, her body trembled as if struck by lightning, her expression turning grim.
"Dean Yan, Senior, the peculiar energy in Weina's body might be the evil qi from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger."
Mu Xue hailed from the Snow Demon Sect, a top-tier sect on the continent with Super Douluo-level powerhouses. As the sect leader's daughter, she knew about the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
Mo Feiyun had indeed shielded Weina from the impact of the battle between the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and the Crimson King, but he was knocked away. Only Weina was enveloped by the gray-black aura emanating from the tiger—the so-called evil qi.
At her words, both Yan Shaozhe and Elder Zhuang's expressions shifted slightly. They had their suspicions but had refrained from jumping to conclusions out of caution.
Yan Shaozhe made a swift decision. "Take Princess Weina to the Sea God Pavilion."
His original plan was to have Elder Zhuang stabilize Weina's condition before bringing her to the Sea God Pavilion for Elder Mu to examine her personally.
In the Sea God Pavilion's quiet room, Weina lay silently on a lustrous white jade bed, enveloped by a layer of golden light. Under this gentle golden glow, her pale complexion visibly regained color.
Two figures stood quietly by the bed. On the left was Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul Department. Beside him was an elderly man, hunched at a ninety-degree angle, supporting himself with a cane.
It was Elder Mu, the strongest figure in Shrek Academy today.
Not just anyone could enter the Sea God Pavilion. Tang Ya had been allowed in previously due to Elder Mu's sense of debt toward the Tang Sect. Weina's special status warranted an exception, but Mu Xue was not permitted.
This wasn't just about the pavilion's rules—it was to keep Elder Mu's existence hidden from too many people.
Elder Mu's gentle gaze remained unchanged. Sensing the faint aura stirred by the Ten-Thousand-Year Mysterious Ice Bed within Weina, he murmured to himself.
"An ice-attribute martial soul, but this child's martial soul aura isn't singular. Another twin martial soul—truly a time of great contention."
Yan Shaozhe asked gravely, "Teacher, even with the Ten-Thousand-Year Mysterious Ice Bed and your light power, we can only suppress it temporarily. Is the evil qi of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger really this overbearing?"
Elder Mu shook his head and explained, "No, it's not just ordinary evil qi. It's the original evil qi of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. This original evil qi embodies the extreme evil attribute of the tiger, completely countering my light power."
Yan Shaozhe's expression shifted. "Teacher, even you can't do anything?"
Elder Mu glanced at Yan Shaozhe, frowning. "You're nearly a hundred years old, yet you still can't stay calm. Your abilities are outstanding in every way, except your temperament. If not for that, I wouldn't have had Lin'er restrain your authority."
His tone was filled with frustration at Yan Shaozhe's shortcomings. He couldn't help but compare him to Yu Tianhuang. Though their cultivation levels were worlds apart, Yu Tianhuang possessed qualities Yan Shaozhe lacked.
He did not doubt that Yu Tianhuang would one day reach his level, or even surpass it. But if Yan Shaozhe didn't change, he would likely remain stuck at rank 95 for life.
Yan Shaozhe's heart tightened, and he said respectfully, "Teacher, I was wrong."
Elder Mu said calmly, "It'd be good if you truly realized your mistake. Stay composed in all matters. Though my light power is countered by the extreme evil attribute of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, there's someone in the academy capable of contending with this attribute."
"You mean…?" Yan Shaozhe's eyes lit up with realization.
Elder Mu merely waved him off, his gaze falling on Weina's faintly trembling eyelashes.
"Go now."
"Yes, Teacher."
Meanwhile, Xu Zihuang was dining in the central cafeteria of Sea God Island.
The number of Shrek Academy's inner court disciples was kept below a hundred, and many were often away on monitor missions, so the cafeteria exclusive to inner court disciples was as quiet as ever.
However, the variety of dishes offered was exceptionally wide, all provided free of charge.
A plate of charcoal-grilled century-old ice bear paw, a large bowl of century-old black-scaled chicken noodle soup, and a platter of fresh mixed fruits.
Ice bears lived only in the Far North, their paws tempered by years of cold, resulting in an excellent texture. The soup made from century-old black-scaled chicken was incredibly savory, paired with chewy, hand-pulled noodles infused with the chicken's flavor, creating a delightful taste.
After the meal, Xu Zihuang felt warm and comfortable, an indescribable sense of ease washing over him.
At that moment, Elder Mu's voice suddenly rang in his ear without warning. Though his expression remained unchanged, a subtle depth flickered in his eyes.
He had been pondering how to make contact with Princess Weina of the Heavenly Soul Empire, and now an excellent opportunity had presented itself.
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