The Sea God Pavilion meeting ended quickly. The proposal put forward by Mu En in his dual capacity as Pavilion Master and leader of the Shrek Inspection Team passed unanimously.
One elder after another left with solemn faces, each pondering how to infiltrate the Sun Moon Empire.
"Le Xuan."
Zhang Lexuan had also risen to leave when Mu En suddenly called her back.
"Elder Mu?"
"Come walk with me."
"Yes." Zhang Lexuan nodded, stepped forward, and gently supported Mu En.
"Child, how many years have you been at the academy?" Mu En asked softly, his hunched back swaying as he walked out of the meeting hall.
"Thirteen years already," Zhang Lexuan answered, keeping pace beside him.
"Yes, thirteen years. You've been like a daughter to me. In the blink of an eye, you've grown so much." Mu En let out a long sigh. "I've known this day would come, yet there are still so many things I can't let go of. One of them is you."
"Back then, right after Bei Bei's parents died, my heart was filled with grief and rage. All I could think of was how to take care of Bei Bei, so I made that unreasonable demand. I've said it before—you don't need to keep that promise."
Zhang Lexuan froze for a moment. Her expression grew complicated. After a long silence, she slowly shook her head.
"Sigh." Mu En sighed softly. "This is my fault. Feelings can't be forced. Dragging it out like this will only bring you pain. You must understand—love doesn't follow reason."
His voice was gentle, as if recalling distant memories. "You cannot force yourself to love someone. But when someone truly touches the deepest part of your heart, you will never forget them."
"Neither time nor circumstances can erase it. No matter how many times you tell yourself to forget, in the end, you only remember them more clearly."
Zhang Lexuan's heart jolted. She thought of something and unconsciously stopped walking.
"What is it?" Mu En stopped too and looked at her, but she kept her head lowered, eyes fixed on the ground.
"Are you surprised that an old man like me would talk about such things?" Mu En smiled. "I was young once. And this matter… is the other thing I cannot put to rest."
"The person Xuan Zi described reminds me of many people I met in my youth. His martial soul resembles that of an old friend—someone I once loved deeply."
"It's laughable, really. That person clearly became an evil soul master, yet Dragon God Douluo, who spent his life opposing evil soul masters, could never raise a hand against her. Even now, I still remember."
Zhang Lexuan said nothing. She simply stepped forward and gently took Mu En's arm again.
"You may not understand yet, but one day, when you truly meet the person who touches your soul, consider that promise never to have existed."
Mu En said no more. He lifted his head slightly and gazed toward the Sun Moon Empire.
I hope… none of this began because of her…
"Cult Master."
Near the Sun Moon Empire border, Zhang Peng and Nangong Wan carried the unconscious Ma Xiaotao back to Zhongli Wu.
"Brought her back?"
Zhongli Wu raised his head slightly. Beneath his cloak, his face looked pale.
"Yes." Zhang Peng nodded excitedly. "As expected of the Holy Maiden. After her evil fire fully erupted, her soul power jumped straight to rank 70."
"Her flames are approaching the ultimate fire. This subordinate feared harming the Holy Maiden, so we waited until her soul power was exhausted before bringing her back."
"Well done. My personal intervention was not in vain." Zhongli Wu looked at Ma Xiaotao, his voice low. "Shrek Academy is indeed troublesome."
In his battle with Xuan Zi, he himself had taken no serious injury, but the bone dragon he had nurtured for years had been shattered. Reforming it would cost untold time and resources—how could his heart not ache?
Fortunately, the trip had not been wasted.
At that thought, Zhongli Wu suddenly turned and looked toward the mountain range. Lin Xiao's figure was approaching swiftly, flitting through the shadows of the trees.
"How is the situation in the Star Luo Empire? Any movements?" Zhongli Wu asked gravely once Lin Xiao stood before him.
"Reporting to the Cult Master: the Fifth Elder has returned to Star Luo City." Lin Xiao clasped his fists. "The Star Luo Empire has made no unusual moves. However, on my way back, I spotted people from Shrek Academy. They seem to be searching for traces of the Holy Maiden."
"Hmph." At the mention of Shrek Academy, Zhongli Wu's expression darkened further. "Let them search."
"With the Holy Maiden returned, the great cause of the Holy Church advances another step. Crow has already gone back. Inform the other branches: in half a month, we will hold the Holy Maiden's Return Ceremony. Every disciple who can attend must be present."
"Yes, Cult Master!"
"Let's go. We return."
Several streaks of light cut across the night sky. Zhongli Wu and his group carried Ma Xiaotao toward the Evil Forest. Lin Xiao did not follow them. After flying a short distance, he changed course and flew toward Mingdu.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
At the gates of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Lin Xiao had barely approached when he was stopped.
Though he had already noticed the unfamiliar guards, he hadn't expected them to block him.
"I'm a student here," Lin Xiao said calmly, stopping without revealing his unease.
The two guards exchanged a glance, then looked back at him. "Student ID?"
"I have it. Let me find it." Lin Xiao pulled his identification from his storage soul tool. As he did, he casually studied the pair and frowned slightly.
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was never this strict. Moreover, these two guards' cultivation surpassed his own.
Even for an institution as prestigious as this, assigning two level-eight soul mentors to guard the front gate was unheard of. Not even the Illustrious Virtue Hall received such treatment.
Had something happened inside the academy? Or…
"Where have you been these past days?"
The guard flipped through Lin Xiao's ID but showed no sign of letting him pass.
These past days?
Lin Xiao instantly understood: these two had been stationed here for more than a day or two.
Suppressing his thoughts, he answered truthfully, "I had business in the Star Luo Empire."
"Related to the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition? According to our records, you were neither a contestant nor a team instructor. And why didn't you return with the others?"
Lin Xiao's frown deepened. "I'm sorry, but that involves academy arrangements. I cannot disclose it. If you doubt me, you may verify with my teacher, Director Lin."
The two guards stared at Lin Xiao, trying to judge the truth of his words. But before they could decide, a figure suddenly shot into the sky from within the academy.
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