"Young man, do you truly wish to leave Shrek? But if you leave Shrek, where will you go? Sun Moon? Star Luo? You'd best reconsider. Since Shrek is willing to compensate you, I believe Xuan Zi wouldn't lie about that here." Wang Xian'er looked at Yuwen Tuo.
Although she knew Yuwen Tuo's background, she was different from others. She neither wished for Yuwen Tuo to go to Sun Moon nor to Star Luo, because in both places, they would only seem to treat him well, but few would genuinely care for him.
"Senior, thank you for your concern. I have my own path. I still ask senior to be my arbiter," Yuwen Tuo requested again, this time more sincerely than before.
Because he knew that Medical Immortal Douluo was truly kind-hearted. If she advised him to go to Star Luo, then she would be no different from the people of Shrek. Instead, advising him not to return to Shrek was a sign of true concern. Indeed, if he stayed at Shrek now, Xuan Zi would certainly try his best to compensate him and give him many good things, even if it was just for appearances to salvage Shrek's reputation.
However, he would not compromise for benefits. From now on, Shrek and he would only have an unceasing hatred.
"Hey, Wang Xian'er, what are you refusing for? My Body Sect invited Huo Yuhao, and you told me to respect his own wishes. How come when it's this Yuwen kid, you're advising him to stay at Shrek? Do you look down on my Body Sect, or does your 'respecting wishes' only apply to that Huo Yuhao kid?" Dui Busu said with some dissatisfaction.
Urged by him, Wang Xian'er could only sigh helplessly and look at Xuan Zi, saying, "Xuan Zi, since this child does not wish to remain at Shrek, and Shrek truly owes him, just let him go."
Xuan Zi knew that the tide had turned. If he persisted, it would only tarnish Shrek's reputation even further. "Fine, let him go then."
Yuwen Tuo smiled, "That's not enough. Xiao Xiao, Sister Luochen, come to my side!"
He called out to the two. Originally, he only planned to take Xiao Xiao today, but Ling Luochen had openly defied Shrek for him. He worried that she wouldn't fare well if she returned, so he hoped to take her with him.
Didn't Wang Xian'er say it? One must respect the student's own wishes. This rule didn't just apply to Huo Yuhao and Yuwen Tuo, but of course, to everyone.
Xiao Xiao joyfully jumped onto the stage and threw herself into Yuwen Tuo's arms. "Mmm, Tuo Tuo, I'll follow you wherever you go!"
Seeing this, Wang Xian'er felt a bit helpless. This child had taken the casual remark she made to appease Dui Busu and used it to its extreme. But she couldn't retract her words now, or Star Luo would lose all face, and Dui Busu would not let the matter rest.
Since she had sided with Shrek for fairness earlier, she now had to side with Yuwen Tuo for fairness as well.
Seeing Yuwen Tuo and Xiao Xiao hugging tightly under everyone's gaze, Jiang Peng, the big man, cried with snot and tears. "Brother, this is great. You've finally overcome your hardships. Don't worry, Big Brother will protect you from now on. No one can bully you anymore."
A younger subordinate handed him a tissue. "Boss, you truly are a man of strong emotions."
Ling Luochen also walked onto the stage. She nodded to Yuwen Tuo, then looked at Wang Xian'er and said, "Senior, Luochen wishes to apply to join the Star Luo Empire's Hall of Offerings after graduation, to become a disciple within the Hall and learn from you. I wonder if senior would permit this?"
Ling Luochen and Xiao Xiao had two major differences.
Firstly, she wasn't as emotionally detached from Shrek as Xiao Xiao. She had studied at Shrek for many years. If not for Yuwen Tuo's matter, Shrek would have been her second home in her heart. Today, she exposed Shrek's actions towards Yuwen Tuo in front of everyone. She felt she had done right by her conscience, because these events had indeed happened, and she had not fabricated anything. However, she had indeed wronged Shrek.
So she couldn't follow Yuwen Tuo. She knew that Yuwen Tuo would become an enemy of Shrek in the future, and she couldn't help Yuwen Tuo fight Shrek, nor did she want to help Shrek continue to bully Yuwen Tuo. Thus, she could only remain neutral.
Secondly, she was not a rootless drifting weed like Yuwen Tuo before. Because he had no powerful backing, Shrek could manipulate him at will. Ling Luochen, however, came from a noble background, known as the "Princess of Snow" in her homeland. In the past, when there were still duchies and kingdoms on the continent, she was a royal descendant of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow.
It was only later, due to continental wars, that all duchies and kingdoms were incorporated by the major empires. From then on, the continent was left with only these four great empires, with no more subordinate kingdoms or duchies.
However, Ling Luochen's family was still enfeoffed as a Grand Duke by the Star Luo Empire's royal family, which had incorporated them, with hereditary succession.
In other words, Ling Luochen's status in Star Luo was basically equivalent to Dai Yaohang's. It was logical for her to wish to join the Star Luo Hall of Offerings for further study and serve the empire in the future.
Yuwen Tuo understood Ling Luochen's thoughts and her background, so he no longer pressed her, only wishing her a lifetime of happiness.
Wang Xian'er nodded. "Child, you are of noble birth and possess astonishing talent. If you are willing to join my Star Luo Hall of Offerings, this old woman will personally teach you without reservation."
"Thank you, senior!" Ling Luochen said gratefully.
With Medical Immortal Douluo's words, her graduation from Shrek should be no problem. After all, no matter how powerful Shrek was, on the surface, it was just an academy that educated people. If students, having achieved success, wished to return to their country to serve, would they still obstruct them? Then which country would dare to send their geniuses to Shrek to study in the future? They would likely be like throwing meat buns to a dog, gone without return.
"Enough, then this matter ends here." Xuan Zi suppressed his anger and said to Xu Jiawei, "Your Majesty, please continue to preside over the award ceremony." He now only wanted to quickly claim the rewards and leave.
Xu Jiawei nodded. Regardless of anything, it was a fact that Shrek had won the championship of this competition.
Soon, three beautiful palace maids came out carrying three golden trays. These were the championship rewards for this competition.
Three soul bones.
Seeing this, many people suddenly remembered that the biggest event today was supposed to be the award ceremony for the Soul Dueling Competition. The previous dispute had been so complex that they had forgotten this matter that should have been done long ago.
"These three soul bones are: a plant-type ten-thousand-year Purple Vine Right Arm Bone, a strength-type ten-thousand-year Frenzied Beast Torso Bone, and a speed-type Desert Ostrich Left Leg Bone. Now, I bestow these upon the champion team of this convention, Shrek!" Xu Jiawei announced.
In the past, at this moment, thunderous cheers and support for Shrek would have erupted.
But now, due to the previous farce, everyone was greatly disappointed with Shrek and for a moment didn't know whether they should continue to support them.
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