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This sentence left everyone in shock, and the entire arena fell into an eerie silence so profound that even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.
For many Title Douluo, the Sea God Pavilion was a place of mystery—more intriguing and coveted than the legendary Federal Council.
It was the true core of Shrek Academy, accessible only to the strongest elites. It was said to house countless secrets accumulated over ten thousand years of Shrek's history, and each Pavilion Master had been the strongest of their era.
Cai Yue'er stood at the forefront, her usually cloudy eyes now bright as she stared intently at Gu La. This wasn't personal—it was about the Abyss Plane, and caution could never be excessive.
Her aged fingers unconsciously rubbed against her sleeve, betraying her inner turmoil. As an Elder of the Sea God Pavilion, she understood better than anyone the horrors of the Abyss Plane—a disaster capable of annihilating the entire Douluo Continent.
The shock on everyone's faces deepened.
Gu La raised an eyebrow, his usual composed smile still firmly in place. "No problem, Elder Cai, please lead the way."
He casually spread his hands, a flicker of curiosity and exploration flashing in his eyes. 'Could this be an opportunity to squeeze some more resources out of the Sea God Pavilion?'
It wasn't greed exactly—but who could resist when Shrek Academy had stood strong for twenty thousand years, accumulating treasures that even he, a dual-divine martial soul wielder, couldn't help but covet?
Cai Yue'er gave a slight nod. When she had reported earlier, the Sea God Pavilion had shown great concern. The Abyss Plane had invaded the Douluo Continent over five thousand years ago, causing countless talented individuals to perish. As the continent's top academy, Shrek had recruited and nurtured countless prodigies, making it impossible to remain uninvolved.
During every large-scale Abyss invasion, without needing a federal call to arms, Shrek would send its most elite teachers and students to the frontlines. The names of those who sacrificed themselves were still engraved on the monument in the pavilion's rear courtyard.
Cai Yue'er exited the training hall, her figure flashing as she levitated into the air and flew directly toward Sea God Island.
Behind her, Gu La manipulated telekinesis to maintain a perfectly measured distance as he followed.
From high above, Sea God Island appeared like a verdant pearl embedded in the heart of Shrek Academy. The ancient wooden pavilion on the island shimmered with a faint golden glow under the sunlight.
Today, the Sea God Pavilion did not appear as plain as usual. The ordinary wooden structure now radiated brilliance, exuding an invisible field of immense light that nourished the Elders residing within, slowing the passage of time.
The air around the pavilion subtly distorted—a special field formed by the natural overflow of powerful soul power.
Gu La followed Elder Cai through Shrek's inner court, passing several forbidden zones along the way. He could sense several powerful presences hidden in the shadows, observing him.
When they arrived at the ancient and solemn Sea God Pavilion, the faint golden glow surrounding the structure suddenly intensified, as if countless powerful spiritual forces were scrutinizing him from the shadows.
Gu La inwardly chuckled but showed no outward reaction, appearing completely unfazed.
The instant he stepped into the Sea God Pavilion, an invisible wave of pressure abruptly descended upon him! The air seemed to solidify into palpable weight, causing the bones to creak under the strain.
The piercing gazes of several Elders felt like swords stabbing into him, their overwhelming spiritual force pressing down like a mountain, attempting to destabilize his mind.
These formidable beings, each possessing godlike abilities after centuries of life, collectively unleashed a soul power pressure that could have forced even an ordinary Title Douluo to their knees.
However, Gu La merely raised an eyebrow, his expression remaining calm, his breathing undisturbed.
With an air of leisure, he walked to the center of the hall. His robe fluttered without wind, and a faint green aura swirled around him, effortlessly dispelling the oppressive force.
"Hmm?" An elderly Elder with snow-white hair narrowed his gaze, clearly surprised that this young man remained unfazed under their collective spiritual assault. He exchanged a meaningful glance with the other Elders.
Yun Ming finally spoke, his voice gentle yet imbued with undeniable authority: "Alright, Gu La, there's no need to be nervous. We've called you here simply to ask a few questions."
He sat in the main seat, his silver hair cascading like a waterfall, his handsome face revealing no trace of emotion.
As the current Master of the Sea God Pavilion, he had to balance various opinions. Privately, he was already feeling a headache—Gu La had come to stir up trouble, but given the Abyss issue, Yun Ming, as the Pavilion Master, had no choice but to demand an explanation from Gu La.
And if it weren't for his restraint, a few hot-tempered Elders would have already moved to suppress Gu La outright.
Elder Cai took her seat, her deep-set eyes fixed on Gu La. Her voice was raspy but carried weight: "Your martial soul is… unusual. Even somewhat… unlike typical soul master abilities."
She deliberately emphasized the word "typical," given how absurd Gu La's soul skills seemed, far exceeding their understanding of martial souls.
Gu La glanced around, meeting the serious or probing gazes of over a dozen Elders, and suddenly let out a soft laugh: "Are the Honorable Elders worried that I might be associated with evil soul masters?"
Cai Yue'er paused, a hint of mockery curling her lips. "No, evil soul masters don't deserve such credit."
"Uh…"
This blunt denial caught Gu La off guard. He hadn't expected such a straightforward dismissal.
Cai Yue'er didn't beat around the bush. With a single swipe of her emaciated finger across the conference table, a holographic projection of Gu La's Abyss Avatar in battle materialized.
In the image, the fearsome three-headed avatar opened its massive maw, voraciously devouring nearby soul power and vitality as if it could never be satisfied. Wherever it passed, even the light itself twisted.
"Your three-headed avatar, parasitic seeds, and even your ability to create multiple clones—especially the former—easily evoke associations with certain taboo entities."
Another Elder, clad in dark green robes, spoke gravely. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, producing a dull thud. "The Abyss."
He whispered the two words softly, yet they struck everyone present like a heavy hammer blow.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly froze, and everyone held their breath.
The Abyss—that forbidden term represented the deepest nightmare of the Douluo Continent over the past five thousand years.
Gu La could sense that, at the moment the word was spoken, at least three Elders' auras fluctuated violently—a mix of deep-seated hatred and fear.
This made Gu La take the Abyss Plane slightly more seriously than before. Previously, in his mind, the Abyss Plane was just "food" designed by Tang San to boost the essence of the Douluo Plane.
Now, it seemed he had underestimated it based on mere theory.
Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the gazes of the twelve Elders pressed down on Gu La like a tangible force.
Outside, the golden tree's leaves rustled softly, further emphasizing the stifling stillness of the air inside.
Standing in the center of the circular conference hall, Gu La could clearly feel those scrutinizing gazes scanning every inch of his skin, especially the subtlest changes in his facial expressions and occasional fluctuations in his spirit energy.
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