"In the next match, the most important thing is to promote our Shrek Academy's teaching philosophy, to spread the spirit of Shrek, and to publicize the deeds of our Shrek Academy ancestors."
In the conference room, Xuan Zi sat at the head of the table. As he gnawed on a chicken leg, he sprayed bits of saliva while addressing Wang Yan and the other Shrek Academy students sitting below him.
"Our Shrek Academy ancestors have contributed greatly to the Douluo Continent! The Shrek Academy Inspection Team oversees all injustices in the world. We represent fairness and justice; we are the role model for the entire continent!"
"Everyone on the Douluo Continent, including the Sun Moon Empire, should be grateful to Shrek Academy. They should revere Shrek Academy and long to be part of it!"
"Shrek Academy is the holy land of Spirit Masters, the backbone of the Douluo Continent, the most sacred place on the continent, it is—"
Before Xuan Zi could finish, the conference room doors silently swung open.
"Which blind fool dares to interrupt us during a Shrek Academy meeting? Do they have a death wish? Oh, Elder Mu, it's you..."
The previously arrogant Xuan Zi instantly deflated like a balloon the moment he saw Mu En standing at the door. It was like a grandson seeing his grandfather.
Mu En's face still carried his usual gentle expression, and Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and Ning Tian immediately recognized him. Wasn't this the old man they saw every day, always lying on a recliner by the dormitory entrance?
Who could have imagined that this seemingly ordinary old man, who appeared to be nothing more than a dorm keeper, was actually the true number one of Shrek Academy?
The reason Mu En stayed by the dormitory every day was that he enjoyed watching the outer court students, feeling the youthful energy emanating from them. Only this could dispel the loneliness that filled his heart due to his old age.
After all, at his age and status, there were very few old friends left with whom he could still converse.
Among those few, Xuan Zi was an incompetent fool, and Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui were people he couldn't even meet—if he did, it was uncertain if he would come back alive.
As the strongest force in Shrek Academy, Mu En knew he couldn't leave the academy under any circumstances.
Looking at the now-cowering Xuan Zi, Mu En's gentle gaze grew cold, a rare sight. However, when he turned to Wang Yan and the students, his expression softened once more.
"Teacher Wang Yan, could you take these young ones outside? I have a few things to discuss with Xuan Zi," Mu En said with a smile.
"Beibei can stay. The others can go enjoy some free time. It would be a waste not to explore Star Luo City while you're here. When I was young, I could play so wildly that I wouldn't even want to go home for a day."
Although Wang Yan didn't know Mu En's identity, hearing him address Xuan Zi by name without any objection from Xuan Zi made it clear that Mu En's status in Shrek Academy was anything but ordinary.
Wang Yan nodded obediently and led Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and the other students out of the conference room. Now, only Mu En, Xuan Zi, and Beibei remained in the room.
"Elder Mu, you...?" Xuan Zi's heart sank, and he had a bad feeling.
Boom!
Without a sound, Mu En struck with a palm, and the air in the entire conference room seemed to be sucked away.
The once brightly lit room instantly plunged into darkness, as if all the light elements had been absorbed by Mu En, infused into that single palm strike.
"Elder Mu, you..."
Xuan Zi, caught off guard, didn't have time to gather his strength to resist. Mu En's palm landed squarely on his chest, sending him flying backward.
The entire room seemed to be sealed by an invisible energy barrier, and Xuan Zi slammed hard against it, feeling a surge of blood churn in his chest.
"You were the one who suspended Huo Yuhao from the competition?" Mu En asked coldly. "And what about Ling Luochen?"
The Dragon God Douluo, one of the strongest beings of his time, unleashed a fury that could change the very weather.
Beibei was stunned. It was the first time he had seen his usually gentle grandmaster become angry, let alone strike someone.
"I..." Although Xuan Zi could put on airs in front of Wang Yan and the students, he didn't dare hide anything from Mu En.
He explained everything that had happened, looking somewhat indignant as he spoke.
"Elder Mu, don't you think Huo Yuhao is a bit ungrateful? He's a student of our Shrek Academy, yet he's constantly trying to promote the Body Sect, even using his position in the competition to advertise for them.
"If this continues, won't Shrek Academy become the laughingstock of the other major forces on the continent?"
"And as for Ling Luochen, her severe injuries are partly due to her own lack of strength. I guarantee that if Ma Xiaotao or Dai Yueheng were leading the team, this wouldn't have—"
Boom!
Before he could finish, Xuan Zi was sent flying again. This time, Mu En didn't hold back. Even though Xuan Zi had summoned his spirit power to defend himself, he couldn't withstand Mu En's palm strike, which was infused with powerful mental energy.
In an instant, Mu En returned to his original spot, his already hunched back stooping even further.
As for Xuan Zi, his appearance was now somewhat comical. His face was swollen like a bun, with a black eye on each side, making him look like he was cosplaying a panda—a rather adorable sight.
"Xuan Zi, you can return to Shrek Academy now. From this moment forward, you will stay in the inner court, and you won't be teaching students anymore," Mu En said coldly.
"I also agree with everything you proposed in the Sea God Pavilion meeting. However, you will still remain the deputy head of the Shrek Inspection Team. If you want to go out and eliminate evil spirit masters, go ahead. If not, you can just be a layabout at the academy. I won't care."
"Elder Mu, you can't do this!" Xuan Zi panicked.
He had only intended to play a little game of resignation with Yan Shaozhe to avoid becoming too passive after the incident at the Ming Dou Mountain Range.
But now, Mu En had used his authority as the head of the Sea God Pavilion to actually make him a layabout. This severely wounded his already fragile self-esteem.
"If you continue messing around like this, the millennia-old honor of Shrek Academy will be destroyed by your hands," Mu En said with a sigh.
"I know you're not convinced by what I'm doing. But let me ask you this: now that Huo Yuhao is suspended, Ling Luochen is in a coma, and the Shrek Academy team is short of seven members, who do you plan to send to compete?"
"I..." Xuan Zi's eyes darted as he quickly said, "Give me one day. I can airlift some talented students from the inner court using flight soul tools. The soul engineer who was replaced by Ma Xiaotao can go on the field. Fan Yu's disciple is also good, and..."
"And send them into the competition to pour their hearts out for Shrek Academy, risking their lives like Ling Luochen did, only to be criticized by you afterward?" Mu En said coldly.
"This..." Xuan Zi hesitated.
"Enough. Beibei, go find Huo Yuhao and bring him to me. From now on, the command of the Shrek Academy team is in his hands."
...
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