"What are your thoughts on Shrek Academy?"
Hearing Mu En's question, Huo Yuhao was slightly taken aback but quickly regained his composure. He had expected this question, though he didn't think it would come so late.
Mu En had summoned him to the core of the Golden Tree, not for a casual chat, but with a specific purpose in mind. To Mu En, his own life wasn't of paramount importance, nor was the so-called Holy Dragon legacy. The most crucial thing was the future and legacy of Shrek Academy.
Despite Mu En's frail and aged appearance, exuding an aura of dusk and decay, if anyone tried to destabilize Shrek Academy's legacy, even the other two of the three Limit Douluo would have to be prepared to perish with him.
It was precisely because of his existence that the Holy Spirit Cult, despite their strength rivalling that of the Sea God Pavilion, didn't dare to invade Shrek Academy en masse. Both Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao considered Mu En to be an honest person, but in reality, Mu En's wisdom far surpassed theirs.
Even the entanglements among the three of them back then likely had Mu En's subtle influence behind them. If either Ye Xishui, his old flame, or Long Xiaoyao, his old friend, had tried to invade Shrek Academy, Mu En would have ruthlessly struck them down without hesitation, and his success rate would be over eighty percent.
Reflecting on this, Huo Yuhao found it odd that every Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy, like the emperors in the world of "Covering the Sky," treated the preservation of Shrek Academy's legacy as their top priority, even willing to sacrifice their lives for it. He couldn't believe there wasn't some influence, even brainwashing, from Tang San.
Over millennia of legacy, was there not a single corrupted Pavilion Master? Statistically, it didn't make sense. Coupled with the fact that every Pavilion Master sacrificed their soul to the Golden Tree for Tang San's mother to devour, the answer became obvious: Tang San had left behind some subtle methods at play.
"Shrek Academy is the number one academy on the continent, a holy land for soul masters. Even the Sun Moon Empire cannot deny this. If not for the strained relations, the Sun Moon Empire would certainly send many students to study at Shrek Academy," Huo Yuhao said with a smile.
Seeing Huo Yuhao casually conversing with him while resisting the immense pressure of the mental prison, and sensing the ferocious, exotic fire-infused mental fluctuations emanating from Huo Yuhao's body, even Mu En was extremely surprised.
"I can feel that you're speaking sincerely, but this can't be all of your thoughts. I hope you can directly answer my question," Mu En said.
"I am indeed telling the truth. Shrek Academy is now the holy land of the soul master world, much like the Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago."
Hearing this, Mu En's voice carried a hint of surprise: "You mean to say—"
"Old Mu, I'm just a child. I hope you won't take my honest words to heart," Huo Yuhao said with a faint smile. "Shrek Academy's current teaching model isn't fundamentally flawed. Aside from Zhou Yi, who is a tumor, most of the teachers possess a certain level of teaching capability, deserving the title of the continent's number one soul master academy.
"But now, Shrek Academy's teaching philosophy is more akin to a sect or a soul master force than an academy.
"Admittedly, Shrek Academy has a millennia-old legacy and was the main force in defeating the Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago. Thousands of years ago, Shrek Academy united countless strong individuals who graduated from the academy, and with the help of the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, they defeated the invading Sun Moon Continent, which is an indelible achievement.
"Because of this, the original Douluo Three Kingdoms realized Shrek Academy's immense influence. If Shrek Academy could rally such support to defeat the Sun Moon Empire, then it's not impossible for it to someday unify the world.
"But Shrek Academy is just an academy with no such ambitions."
Mu En hurriedly tried to refute, his voice urgent and tinged with anger.
"The important thing is not what you think, but what others think," Huo Yuhao said with a chuckle.
"Back then, the Spirit Hall, seated in Spirit City, had countless Titled Douluo under its command. Eventually, the Spirit Hall Pope, Bibi Dong, united all kingdoms and duchies, attempting to conquer the entire Douluo Continent, forging an unprecedented empire of faith.
"Of course, the Spirit Hall failed in the end, but that was because that generation of Shrek Seven Monsters filled the high-end combat power gap for the original Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires.
"But now, Shrek Academy, like the Spirit Hall back then, sits in a city not under the jurisdiction of any power. Today, Shrek Academy's number of strong individuals surpasses that of the Spirit Hall from ten thousand years ago. Even though the original Douluo Three Kingdoms now have some Titled Douluo, could they, combined, withstand a slap from you, Old Mu?
"Back then, the Spirit Hall was also a holy land for soul masters, with unparalleled prestige and reputation. In the end, the Spirit Hall took that step, attempting to unify the world. How can you assure the emperors and ministers that Shrek Academy won't take the same step?
"Moreover, although you believe Shrek Academy is just an institution for educating people, what is Shrek Academy's current teaching method?
"It's fine to have age and cultivation requirements for enrollment, but requiring a letter of recommendation from the city lord excludes soul masters from commoner families, giving them almost no chance to enter Shrek Academy.
"After entering the academy, there is a brutal elimination system and the so-called Shrek honor education, instilling a pathological admiration and submission to Shrek Academy into the students, deeply embedding these unhealthy thoughts.
"As an academy, it should educate gifted students to become elite and those with average talent to become normal people, which is the true essence of teaching according to ability. But Shrek Academy selects the best students, and only those who most align with Shrek Academy's values get to graduate.
"Imagine, one day, if a future Sea God Pavilion Master calls for action, those graduates could overthrow the royal families of the three empires. The conflict between Shrek Academy and the imperial families is already on a countdown!
"When all the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the cunning hare is dead, the hounds are cooked. Faced with the Sun Moon Empire's pressure, the three empires won't break ties with Shrek Academy now. But if the Sun Moon Empire is truly defeated, the next target of their blades will be Shrek City!"
Huo Yuhao's voice wasn't loud, but it resonated like a great bell, echoing in Mu En's ears. After a long silence, Mu En's weary voice sounded again by Huo Yuhao's ear.
"Young man, thank you for enlightening this old man. You've spoken well and boldly, showing me things I hadn't seen before.
"But I have an unreasonable request for you. If one day you truly become an enemy of Shrek Academy, I hope you will spare a spark for Shrek, for this old man's sake."