Chapter 131 Moon: This will be handled according to the rules of the cabinet!
Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the air seemed to be sucked out by some invisible force.
Moon sat in the main seat, his eyes never opening, but the aura emanating from him, as deep and boundless as the ocean, rippled slowly throughout the conference hall.
His face was extremely gloomy, and his hands, hidden in the shadows, were slightly curled, leaving a tiny dent on the mahogany armrest with his fingertips.
At this moment, Moon was in a state of extreme inner conflict and anger.
Seeing Xuanzi kneeling on the ground, tearfully demanding to "disable his martial arts," Mu En's first reaction was to completely strip him of all his privileges.
As the actual leader of Shrek Academy, Mu En knew better than anyone the extent of the trouble Xuan Zi had caused this time.
Losing the championship, forcing away a genius, kneeling in public—each of these crimes alone would be enough to make any veteran disappear from Shrek's ranks.
He really didn't want to let this colleague who kept making mistakes off so easily.
But Moon had to face a stark reality: Shrek Academy was truly in a state of transition, lacking a clear generation of talent.
This situation also occurred in the original work.
For example, in the original story, when facing the Grim Reaper, Xuanzi also suffered heavy losses. He also committed an unforgivable sin, but in the end, he still managed to overcome the difficulty using the same method.
So at this moment, Moon also realized that he was trapped in a vicious cycle:
If Xuanzi's resignation is indeed approved, looking across the entire Sea God Pavilion, there is no other top-tier combatant with a cultivation level of ninety-eight who can represent the academy on the continent at any time.
Yan Shaozhe is still young, while Song Lao, though strong, is old and doesn't usually manage affairs, and Xian Lin'er and the others each have their own duties.
Ultimately, if Shrek Academy doesn't continue to painfully utilize Xuanzi, it will truly face a crisis of a gap in high-end combat power.
But if we continue to use it...
well....
Moon slowly opened his eyes, his gaze revealing a weariness and disgust that seemed to see through everything.
He stared at Xuanzi's seemingly humble yet calculating back, finally breaking the deathly silence with a cold voice:
"Who approved your resignation? Xuanzi, do you think Shrek Academy is a place you can come and go as you please? You've made such a big mistake, and instead of thinking about how to make amends, you're just thinking about packing your bags and running away?"
Moon's voice echoed in the hall, carrying a heavy sense of oppression.
Upon hearing this, Xuanzi's expression remained one of heart-wrenching sorrow, and he even managed to squeeze out two tears, but deep down he felt a great sense of relief.
"It's done!" Xuanzi was overjoyed. He knew that as long as Mu En had spoken, it meant that his old life and his status as a senior elder were temporarily saved.
But he showed no joy; instead, he pretended to raise his head and continued acting, his voice choked with emotion.
"Elder Mu! Please let me go! I, Xuanzi, have never suffered such humiliation in my life, nor have I ever caused the academy such injustice. I... I have no face to stay! Please grant my request and let me become a janitor!"
"Enough!"
Mu En slammed his hand on the armrest, his voice laced with genuine anger. He was furious at Xuan Zi's hypocritical act.
"Stop with your act. Xuanzi, let me tell you, I'm not keeping you here for nothing, just to let you occupy this position."
Moon stood up. Due to his physical disability, his movements were somewhat slow, but his imposing presence caused all the elders present to lower their heads.
"Shrek's reputation has been ruined, and it must be reclaimed by the people of Shrek. I'll give you a few more years. In the next few years, your only task is to devote all your energy to training the next generation of disciples."
Mu En slowly walked up to Xuan Zi, looking down at him with a gaze so cold it held no warmth whatsoever.
"In the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, you will still be the team leader. I want you to lead the new generation of Shrek Academy to win back the championship trophy that you lost, completely and without any loss."
At this point, Moon's tone suddenly became sharp:
"If you lose again next time, or if you cause another scandal by kneeling and kowtowing, then I will truly cripple all your cultivation and banish you from Shrek City forever. Do you understand?"
Xuanzi was stunned on the spot.
He originally thought he would only suffer some physical pain or be confined to his quarters for a period of time, but he did not expect that Moon would directly impose such a heavy military order on him.
He screamed inwardly, "No way, Elder Mu, are you serious? Win it back next time? That's no small feat! Does that mean his crisis isn't over yet?"
Xuanzi's expression became incredibly complex in that instant, shifting from relief at surviving a disaster to bewilderment at immense pressure, almost causing him to lose his composure and feigned sorrow.
But he has no way out now, and no room for negotiation.
He knew very well that this was Moon's last chance to save his life, and Shrek's last pardon for him.
Xuanzi took a deep breath, pretended to bow his head again, his hands trembling as he supported himself on the floor, and loudly declared:
"Rest assured, Elder Mu! Xuanzi will certainly repent and dedicate all his knowledge to nurturing the next generation. If I fail to win the championship in the next competition, Elder Mu need not lift a finger; I, Xuanzi, will commit suicide under the Golden Tree! There will absolutely... there will never be a next time!"
After Xuanzi finished speaking, he thought the trial was coming to an end and was even ready to stand up and quietly leave.
However, Moon's next words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing all his hopes.
"Now that you've stated your position, and we've finished discussing the important matters, it's time to talk about the punishment."
Moon returned to the main seat, his tone calm yet chilling.
"You may be spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment. Your kneeling on behalf of Shrek Academy in Star Luo Square was your personal choice, but the disgrace it brought to the academy must be punished. Otherwise, I cannot answer to the ancestors of the Sea God Pavilion, let alone to all the teachers and students of the school."
Moon turned his head and gave a slight nod to the elder law enforcement officer beside him:
"Next, the matter will be handled according to the rules of the Pavilion. Xuanzi, you should have no objections, right?"
Xuanzi's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
Although the punishments imposed on the elders in Shrek Seagod Pavilion's rules are rare, each one is extremely cruel.
Looking into Moon's still tightly closed eyes, which seemed to see right through people, he knew that this punishment was unavoidable.
Xuanzi gritted his teeth and replied in a hoarse voice:
"Xuanzi…accept the punishment."
As soon as he finished speaking, the light inside the Sea God Pavilion dimmed abruptly, and the heavy clanging of chains echoed slowly in the void.
(End of chapter)