"Then why didn't you…"
Wang Dong'er looked at Jiang Qingtong in surprise.
Since she had already known her identity all along, why hadn't she exposed it?
Jiang Qingtong smiled and said:
"This is your secret. I respect anyone's secrets. Since you've chosen to disguise yourself as a man, you must have your own reasons. Why would I need to tear that open?"
Hearing this, Wang Dong'er was a little moved. She said softly:
"Qingtong, you're really kind!"
Mu En also turned to look at Jiang Qingtong. He said:
"Qingtong, you are someone with strong convictions! Before long, you will enter the Inner Court to study. Your elder brother will also come here. This old man hopes that you both will come to cherish this academy."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingtong responded with a gentle "mm," and said to Mu En:
"Please rest assured, Elder Mu. I will tell my brother how wonderful this academy is."
Mu En went on speaking many words of care and encouragement to the four of them. Unknowingly, the sunlight shining into the Sea God's Pavilion from outside gradually turned into a blood-red sunset, blazing clouds filling the sky—burning hot and magnificent—as if a grand radiance had come to welcome Mu En himself.
Turning his head to look at the slanting sun in the distance, Mu En murmured:
"The sun is setting… and this old man must also depart! But the sun will rise again tomorrow, just as you will… Children, I shall be within the Golden Tree, watching as you step by step ascend toward the summit."
After saying these words, he let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
In the next moment, his body burst forth with dazzling white brilliance. Wrapped in that radiance, Mu En rose up into the skies outside the Sea God's Pavilion.
At the same time, a gentle force pushed Jiang Qingtong and the others backward. Golden light surged skyward, and within it Mu En's figure reappeared. His body transformed into the youthful form of his prime—just as brilliant and resplendent as in the days when he had once stood as Shrek Academy's peerless genius.
Behind him, the majestic Light Holy Dragon spirit manifested, its white dragon head raised proudly.
In the face of such radiance, even the setting sun lost its brilliance!
Above Shrek City, it was as if a new blazing golden sun had risen into the heavens!
Not every student of Shrek Academy knew of Mu En's existence. To most, the sudden occurrence seemed only shocking and bewildering. Yet, under the guidance of their teachers, they stood quietly and solemnly, not making a sound.
From afar, Mu En gazed in the direction of the Star Dou Forest. Even now, in this final moment, he still could not see through the depths of the forest's core region.
Lowering his eyes, he looked upon the Sea God's Pavilion elders below, his gaze lingering upon Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, and the others. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly, before fusing his very soul into the Golden Tree.
After Mu En's departure, the brilliance above Shrek City slowly dimmed, leaving behind only a single Soul Contract Pearl.
This crystalline bead would forever hover above the Sea God's Pavilion, symbolizing the pact established with the soul beasts. Out of respect for Mu En—and under the supervision of the Soul Contract Pearl—at least for the foreseeable future, Shrek Academy would uphold the agreement.
But how long they could truly abide by it… no one could say.
The sun at the horizon had set.
Stars began to sparkle across the night sky.
Darkness fell, but this night was destined to be a sleepless one for Shrek City.
All who looked upward toward Mu En's departure carried their own thoughts. Yet perhaps only Jiang Qingtong felt no sorrow. What she held was not grief—but a burning hunger for strength!
So this was an Ultimate Douluo.
Even at the very end of life, the power an Ultimate Douluo could unleash was enough to suppress the entirety of Shrek City—to awe and command millions.
With the strength of one alone, to dominate countless others!
In comparison, Xuan Zi, only one rank below, was far inferior. Even if one day he were to break through and reach the Ultimate Douluo realm, he would still remain a vast distance beneath Mu En.
Deep within the core of the forest, after sensing the power Mu En had released in his final moments, the Bear Lord asked:
"That Shrek Ultimate Douluo… has he died?"
"Mm. He has," Bi Ji nodded.
The Myriad Demon King sighed:
"It's only been half a day since we negotiated with him, hasn't it? And already he's gone? Though I could see then that his vitality was in decline, I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Human lives truly cannot withstand the least bit of strain."
At once the Bear Lord growled:
"He's dead, and yet he dares to act so arrogantly? He never placed us in his eyes to begin with! Di Tian, let us seize this chance—unleash the beast tide, destroy Shrek City, and reclaim a world where soul beasts may live freely once more!"
"He may be dead, but his soul still resides within the Golden Tree. To reclaim our living world, there is no need for haste." Di Tian shook his head, rejecting the Bear Lord's suggestion.
"You even fear him when he's but a soul? Di Tian!" the Bear Lord demanded.
At that instant, Di Tian appeared before him. Golden pupils radiated nothing but cold authority. The Bear Lord felt an immense pressure crush upon his shoulders, his body forced downward, his legs sinking deep into the earth.
"I have tolerated your insolence time and again. But do not take an inch and demand a mile, Bear Lord!" Di Tian's voice was calm, yet unshakably heavy.
Clenching his fists, the Bear Lord gritted his teeth to withstand the weight. Yet the difference in power between him and Di Tian was simply too great. Even relying on the physique of the Darkgold Terror Claw Bear, he could not break free of Di Tian's suppression.
Di Tian seemed even stronger than the last time they had crossed hands!
The Bear Lord's eyes flickered with unease.
After watching him for a moment, Di Tian turned back to Bi Ji and the Myriad Demon King:
"I will go and find that girl's elder brother. In my absence, Bi Ji, you will take charge of our affairs."
"Yes, Di Tian." Bi Ji bowed her head.
Several days later, Shrek Academy had already begun to emerge from the shadow of Mu En's departure. Yan Shaozhe assigned several Soul Douluo instructors from the Martial Soul Department to help Xiao Xiao reforge her soul rings.
Though the elders of the Sea God's Pavilion and Bei Bei still grieved deeply, the academy itself had to continue its normal operations.
Under the leadership of Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe, the students selected to travel to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy for exchange had been finalized.
Fan Yu and Wang Yan were chosen as the leading teachers. Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Dai Huabin, and Xu Sanshi would serve as representatives from the Martial Soul Department, along with a number of students from the Soul Engineering Department.
Just as Shrek Academy wished to keep talents such as Jiang Shengyu within its fold, Yan Shaozhe and the others also worried whether their own students might be lured away by the Sun Moon Royal Academy. For this reason, they carefully selected only those they were certain would not be tempted.
Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao's loyalty and character were clear to see—nothing the Sun Moon Academy offered could sway them. As for Dai Huabin and Xu Sanshi, there was even less cause for concern.
Both hailed from powerful families within the original Three Nations of the Douluo Continent. Dai Huabin, in particular, was the son of Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger Duke's lineage. There was absolutely no possibility of him ever remaining in the Sun Moon Empire.
Originally, He Caitou was to have been among the exchange group as well. But, out of concern for his ties to the Sun Moon royal family, Xian Lin'er worried his identity might put him in danger, and so he was excluded.
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