"Based on our assessment, you likely possess a third martial soul besides Spirit Eye and Evil Fire Phoenix. During your test, the aura you simulated of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast may have triggered that martial soul's awakening—leading to your sudden collapse."
Elder Mu explained the situation gently to Jiang Qingtong.
"Qingtong, try to sense your condition and release your third martial soul."
Everyone fixed their eyes on her. Faced with this, Jiang Qingtong understood—if she denied having a third martial soul, Elder Mu wouldn't believe her. Worse, Elder Zhuang might subject her to a full-body inspection.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Jiang Qingtong had no choice but to release her third martial soul.
She knew as long as Mu En believed she might be won over to Shrek's side, she would remain safe. Until he fully gave up that notion, she had nothing to fear.
A chilling aura began to spread from her body as she released the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor martial soul—though she kept all her soul rings hidden.
The instant that aura of absolute cold emerged, Yan Shaozhe's eyes lit up with excitement:
"Ultimate Ice—this is the aura of Ultimate Ice!"
Ma Xiaotao, bathing in the cold air, felt her whole body relax. The accumulated evil fire within her was soothed, if only slightly. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at Jiang Qingtong.
The other elders could no longer sit still. They surrounded her, inspecting her closely with awed amazement. Though they didn't yet know what exactly her third martial soul was, the fact that it emitted Ultimate Ice alone was already astonishing enough.
Having a third martial soul with the Ultimate Ice attribute meant she could potentially purge the influence of the evil fire within her Evil Fire Phoenix and evolve it into a true Ultimate Fire martial soul.
Three martial souls—two of them possessing extreme attributes!
Such a talent, once grown, would become virtually unmatched beneath the level of Ultimate Douluo. Some elders speculated that once she reached the Soul Douluo stage, few Titled Douluo would even be her equal.
Mu En, his expression solemn, looked straight at Jiang Qingtong and said,
"Qingtong, I must ask you a very serious question—one that could affect the future balance of power across the entire continent. Please answer with utmost sincerity."
Jiang Qingtong straightened up in response to his seriousness and nodded,
"Please go ahead."
Mu En's aged eyes reflected her image as he asked gravely,
"Are you willing to stay at Shrek Academy?"
"You mean… you want me not to return to the Sun Moon Empire?" Jiang Qingtong blinked, feigning innocence despite clearly understanding his intentions.
Mu En nodded,
"That's right. The Academy belongs to no nation. If you stay, everything you do must place the Academy's interests first. Several of the elders here were once students from other nations. Upon choosing to stay, they severed ties with their homelands."
Hearing this, Jiang Qingtong found it deeply ironic. A place that claimed to be just and impartial, always acting in fairness—yet repeatedly emphasized its own interests above all else.
In times of real conflict, "fairness" clearly didn't exist.
That was her internal thought. On the surface, she furrowed her brows and murmured hesitantly,
"Break off ties with the Sun Moon Empire? But…"
Mu En interjected,
"Of course, I'm not asking you to completely sever ties. If you have family or friends you care about, they're welcome to move here as well. Shrek City is large enough to accommodate them."
Jiang Qingtong fell silent.
Seeing her pensive reaction, Mu En added another condition:
"If you choose to stay, I promise this—Shrek Academy will nurture you all the way to Ultimate Douluo. We will provide a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for each of your martial souls… and a complete set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones."
Gasps rang out around the room.
Even Xuan Zi, ever calm, was visibly stunned. A full set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones? Even they had never possessed such a luxury!
Shrek didn't have that many soul bones in reserve. That meant the Academy would need to hunt multiple hundred-thousand-year soul beasts on her behalf.
But soul beasts of that level weren't something you just found lying around.
Most such creatures lived under the rule of Di Tian, the Beast God of the Star Dou Forest. If he learned Shrek intended to nurture another human powerhouse, would he simply stand by?
But Mu En wasn't finished.
He looked at her again and said,
"Furthermore… the position of the next Sea God Pavilion Master will be yours."
The entire room exploded in astonishment.
"Mu En, this is…"
The elders looked at him in disbelief. Elder Song's expression grew even more grave, but seeing Mu En's resolve, she ultimately said nothing.
As an Ultimate Douluo, Mu En's word within the Pavilion was law.
This wasn't the first time Mu En had tried to win over Jiang Qingtong, but this time was clearly different.
Last time, it was a private conversation.
This time, he was serious—public and absolute.
Jiang Qingtong took a deep breath and offered a respectful but firm reply:
"I'm sorry, Elder Mu. I cannot accept. The Sun Moon Empire is my birthplace—it raised me. I cannot betray my homeland."
Her refusal shocked everyone once again.
With such immense conditions on the table—how could she say no? Was she some kind of saint untouched by worldly desires?
Mu En looked at her silently for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"I understand. Elder Zhuang, please escort Qingtong back. Xiaotao, you may leave as well."
"Yes, Elder Mu." Ma Xiaotao bowed and left after bidding farewell to the other elders.
Elder Zhuang responded promptly, guiding Jiang Qingtong and Ma Xiaotao out of the Sea God Pavilion.
Once they were gone, Xuan Zi finally spoke,
"If even those conditions weren't enough… she truly can't part with the Sun Moon Empire. Elder Mu, if we let her keep growing, she'll become a dangerous threat to us—and to the original Three Kingdoms."
"Not necessarily."
Mu En shook his head.
"If she had agreed without hesitation, I'd be far more concerned—wondering if she only wanted the power, or if she was sent as a spy for the Empire. But her refusal shows she's a person of loyalty and integrity."
The others nodded slowly, absorbing his reasoning.
"Elder Mu is right."
Mu En continued,
"Someone like her—if she ever chooses to belong to the Academy—will give her all for it. So from this moment, treat her as one of our own. Regard her as you would a beloved junior. Only then will she come to truly belong here."
"Yes!" the elders responded in unison.
Outside the dormitories, Elder Zhuang said to Jiang Qingtong:
"This old man won't intrude any further. Be careful, girl. If anything happens, come find me right away. You have permission to enter the Inner Court and Sea God Pavilion at any time."
PS: Access advance chapters at
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