Chapter 198: Views on Shrek (Part 1)
Furina walked up before Elder Mu, tilted her head, and asked, "What is it, Elder Mu? You were looking for me?"
Hearing this form of address, Elder Mu paused briefly, then chuckled softly and reached up to stroke his beard.
"It seems you knew who I was from the very beginning." His smile was very kind. "No wonder you gave this old man such a precious gift back then."
Yan Shaozhe, standing behind Elder Mu, furrowed his brow slightly.
No wonder Elder Mu thinks so highly of Furina—so there was this connection as well. I just wonder exactly what Furina gave that could make Elder Mu value it so greatly.
Furina didn't stand on ceremony either. She directly found a step to sit down on and crossed her legs: "Of course! Who do you think I am? Don't underestimate my intelligence network!"
She said this with full confidence and righteous conviction.
If this were one of those scheming, intrigue-riddled cultivation worlds, she might have had to be evasive and secretive. But this was the Douluo Continent—there weren't that many complex worldly calculations. Aside from guarding against evil soul masters, there was basically no need to worry about murder for treasure or things of that sort.
Elder Mu nodded: "Mm. Then I have indeed somewhat underestimated you. I imagine you know quite a few things. For instance, about Xuanzi."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Elder Xuan, who was still lecturing at the center of the Spirit Arena district.
Furina followed his line of sight for a glance, then withdrew her gaze, her tone casual: "Of course I know. That incident he just mentioned—the teacher in question was himself."
She paused and tilted her head: "I do rather admire that he could bring himself to tell that story. But that conduct of his—I don't think much of it. What's the point of wallowing in self-abandonment all day? If he truly feels he was wrong, then change. Find a way to make amends. Don't let the same thing happen again."
"Mm. Well said." Elder Mu nodded repeatedly, a glint of approval flashing in his eyes.
Yan Shaozhe stood silently at the side, but his heart was churning like a stormy sea.
Although Elder Xuan's words just now did indeed sound like a personal experience, someone who didn't know the inside story would never make that connection. Yet Furina had only listened once and immediately pinpointed it.
He couldn't even help but think a step deeper—perhaps when Ma Xiaotao went berserk, Furina had also known in advance that it would happen? Knew at what time, in what place?
The moment this thought surfaced, Yan Shaozhe was even startled by himself.
If that were truly the case, it would be far too terrifying. Such a thing—even a god couldn't do it, right? After all, this already counted as foretelling the future.
Elder Mu paid no mind to Yan Shaozhe's wild thoughts and continued asking: "Then, what are your views on Shrek as it stands now?"
His tone was very calm, but the question he asked was very weighty.
This was the matter he cared most about right now.
He had an intuition that Furina's views on Shrek were of paramount importance to the academy's future development. If Shrek wanted to go far, it had to take her opinions seriously.
Furina paused for a moment.
She had originally thought Elder Mu would ask about the cooperation between the Water God Church and Shrek, or about things like artificial soul bones. After all, artificial soul bones and soul rings were priceless treasures. Whoever mastered this technology—growing rich and prosperous would be the least of it; they could even possess a transcendent status.
Even if Shrek Academy couldn't fully master it, as long as they became the first to benefit from it after the Water God Church, it would be enough to maintain their position as the number one academy.
She hadn't expected Elder Mu to ask such a question.
But on second thought, this truly fit Elder Mu's style. He was the only person in Shrek with the most far-sighted vision, the one who saw things most clearly.
Furina raised her eyes to Elder Mu and confirmed, "Do you truly wish to hear it?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Yan Shaozhe beside her.
Elder Mu nodded, his tone frank and open: "Naturally. Let Shaozhe listen here as well—let him learn more. These old bones of mine, even propped up by the things you gave me, won't hold out for many more years."
He paused, then added: "If it's truly inconvenient, Shaozhe can also excuse himself..."
"No need." Furina waved a hand dismissively. "Let him listen."
She adjusted her sitting posture, her expression growing a touch more serious.
"Then I'll speak frankly."
"My view on Shrek is very simple—if it doesn't reform, ten thousand years from now, Shrek will inevitably suffer a great calamity. If no one is there to lend a hand, Shrek will cease to exist. And that's the most optimistic estimate."
Yan Shaozhe's pupils contracted slightly, and he nearly blurted out a retort.
How could Shrek Academy possibly be destroyed?
They had the Golden Ancient Tree protecting them! That was a divine object planted personally by the Sea God Tang San! As long as the Master of the Sea God's Pavilion connected with the Golden Ancient Tree, they were the most invincible existence on the entire continent—even the Beast God Di Tian could be matched if he came!
Ten thousand years from now, what could possibly exist that could annihilate Shrek?
But he held back and didn't speak.
Elder Mu showed no expression of shock whatsoever. He simply gazed quietly at Furina, waiting for her to continue.
Furina paid no attention to Yan Shaozhe's reaction either and continued speaking on her own: "Your Shrek, on the surface, is merely an academy, not under the jurisdiction of any nation. But you have Shrek City, with absolute administrative authority over the entire city, and your own armed forces. You have the highest number of Titled Douluo on the entire continent, and can even mobilize a portion of the three great empires' powerhouses."
She extended one finger: "And there's the Shrek Inspection Corps. On the surface, they deal with malignant forces and evil soul masters, but its authority operates independently of the three great empires—it can even ignore the laws of the three great empires and directly enforce its own justice."
She shrugged: "To put it bluntly, this is a small, independent nation outside the four great empires—a nation so ridiculously powerful it defies reason."
"Right now, the three great empires need you to counterbalance the Sun Moon Empire, and the Sun Moon Empire also fears your strength and dares not act recklessly. Everyone needs each other, everyone checks and balances each other—so peace is maintained."
She paused, her gaze directly meeting Elder Mu's: "But the day will come when, if a certain empire truly unifies the continent... take the Sun Moon Empire, for example. Because, in my view, it's the most likely candidate."
"At that time, will Shrek still be able to maintain its independence?"
She tilted her head, a mix of curiosity and earnestness in her tone.
"An independent power wielding formidable military force, entrenched in the very center of a unified continent. If you were the emperor who unified that continent, could you tolerate such an existence?"
At the center of the Spirit Arena district, Elder Xuan's lecture had already concluded. Only Elder Xuan and the seven—Huo Yuhao and his group—remained on the field.
Over on this side, the three sat quietly. No one spoke.
Yan Shaozhe wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say. Furina's words truly made sense. If it were himself, he might not necessarily be able to tolerate a power like Shrek existing in perpetuity either, even with its title as the continent's number one academy and its countless glories.
After a long while, Elder Mu finally spoke slowly, his voice somewhat hoarse: "...Continue."
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Thanks for reading the chapter!
I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a crossover based on Mondaiji (Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?)
This story has a somewhat similar style to my other translation for this fandom (same author, after all), but it's completely different from any other fanfic I've come across for this fandom! It's set thousands of years before the original novel/anime, and the MC literally plays a part in shaping the backstory of this world. I really enjoyed it—hope you will too!
Mondaiji: I Really Didn't Want to Become God https://www.webnovel.com/book/36945944200410205