Chapter 189: The Sea God's Pavilion Conference (Part 1)
While Furina and her group were on the journey back to Shrek Academy, undercurrents were surging within the Holy Spirit Cult.
They had discovered that the Eighth Elder was missing.
Every possible method of contact had been tried, but all attempts sank like stones into the sea—no trace of him could be found anywhere. The Holy Spirit Cult had begun searching in secret early on, yet their efforts yielded nothing.
By all logic, a Titled Douluo-level evil soul master, and a powerhouse of the spiritual control type at that, could not simply vanish without reason. Even if he had clashed with a formidable enemy, he shouldn't have disappeared without a sound, unless his opponent was a Limit Douluo like the Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
But Mu En never left Shrek Academy. According to their intelligence, that old Dragon God, plagued by hidden ailments, had long since retired into seclusion to recuperate. It was fundamentally impossible for him to leave the academy, travel to a place like Heaven Dou City, and kill a Titled Douluo.
And even if Mu En truly had nothing better to do, how would he have known that a member of the Holy Spirit Cult was there? Besides, the Sleep Demon Douluo was no fool. The moment he sensed even a trace of an expert like Mu En's aura, he would have immediately fled. How could he have been killed without making the slightest sound?
The final trail of clues pointed to Heaven Dou City. Yet Heaven Dou City showed no anomalies whatsoever. The only thing even worth mentioning was that an insignificant little sect had been destroyed. Strictly speaking, it couldn't even be called destruction—just that the sect master had died and the sect had disbanded.
In its place was an organization called the Tang Sect. The Tang Sect, once renowned across the continent, had long since fallen into decline. It did have some grudges with that little sect, so wiping them out was plausible enough.
The Holy Spirit Cult investigated to the very end and, finding absolutely no leads, could only choose to give up.
Losing a single elder was no great matter to them. They'd simply replace him with someone else. After all, there were no true feelings among evil soul masters—whoever took the position was all the same.
Since they couldn't find the killer, they could only let the matter drop.
Just consider it divine retribution.
In any case, having done so many evil deeds, it was only right that they suffer karmic consequences. Though they didn't actually care about any divine retribution—after killing that many people, if retribution were coming, it should have arrived long ago.
...
After returning to Shrek Academy, the days resumed their former rhythm.
Cultivation, classes, day after day.
Those students to whom Furina had previously extended an olive branch all secretly sought her out in private to talk, expressing their willingness to join the Water God Church. Furina naturally welcomed them with open arms—after all, this was exactly why she had come to Shrek in the first place.
Following that was the advancement assessment.
The so-called advancement assessment was simply going to the Beast Fighting Zone to engage soul beasts in combat. For Furina and her group, this was nothing but a trifle, passed with effortless ease.
In the assessment, Dai Huabin still made another bet with Huo Yuhao, just as in the original story.
The result was, of course, still his loss, and in accordance with the terms of the wager, he had to kowtow and apologize to Huo Yuhao.
Watching from the side, Furina could only shake her head.
She truly wondered if this guy had some kind of masochistic tendency. Last time, he had clearly already seen the gap between them. Did he really think that just because the fight had switched to battling soul beasts, he wouldn't lose? Ah, far too naive.
...
Meanwhile, on Sea God's Island within Shrek Academy, an important conference was being convened.
Inside the great conference hall of the Sea God's Pavilion, there was solemn silence.
Around an oval-shaped long table sat nine people. On the innermost main seat of the long table was placed a reclining chair, and the person reclining upon it was none other than the Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, Qian Duoduo, sat at the far-right end of the long table. Originally, the Dean of the Soul Tool Department, Xian Lin'er, should have been seated beside him, but because she had taken Ma Xiaotao to train in the Far North and had not yet returned, that seat remained empty.
The Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe, and his wife, the Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Cai Mei'er, sat at the far-left end.
Seated in front of these three were all white-haired elders. Each and every one of them exuded an unfathomably profound aura. Elder Xuan was also among them, holding a chicken leg in his left hand and a wine gourd in his right, alternating between bites of meat and swigs of wine, eating with greasy lips and looking thoroughly at leisure.
"Everyone is present." Mu En's voice was calm and aged. "Then let the conference begin."
Everyone straightened their posture, their gazes turning toward the old man in the main seat.
"This old man has summoned you all here for only one purpose." Mu En spoke slowly. "For the future of Shrek Academy."
At these words, the hearts of everyone present clenched.
The weight of these words was far too heavy.
Taken at its most severe, it could mean that Elder Mu was about to step down, or even... that he might soon pass away. Taken more lightly, it could also refer to a major plan concerning the academy's subsequent development. Whichever possibility it was, for Elder Mu to personally raise this topic, the matter was by no means simple.
Mu En slightly raised a hand and called out: "Bei Bei, come out."
Bei Bei answered and walked out from a side door, arriving beside the long table. He bowed respectfully: "Yes, Great-Grandfather."
The gazes of the assembly instantly shifted from Elder Mu to Bei Bei, carrying scrutiny and curiosity.
Those who could attend the Sea God's Pavilion conference were either the deans and vice-deans or the venerable elders of the Sea God's Pavilion. Ordinary people had no right to set foot in here, even their own direct disciples were no exception.
"Cough, cough..." Mu En coughed lightly twice. "Bei Bei, you speak. Tell the esteemed elders and deans everything you saw and heard in the Water God Church, in full detail."
Bei Bei nodded, drew a deep breath, and began to recount the experiences of this holiday.
With appropriate balance between detail and conciseness, he narrated all that he had seen and heard in the Water God Church.
About its vast organizational structure, about its astonishing financial foundations, about those miraculous cultivation techniques, about that distinctive Canaan Academy.
But regarding core secrets such as artificial soul bones and artificial soul rings, he did not disclose everything, only touching upon them briefly. He had told the complete intelligence only to Elder Mu alone.
Even so, the content he related was enough to shock everyone present.
"A Limit Douluo stationed there?!" One venerable elder couldn't help but exclaim. "No wonder they've been able to develop so quickly, and even got the Star Luo imperial family to declare it a state religion—even though they themselves haven't acknowledged it."
Qian Duoduo furrowed his brow, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop: "In terms of soul tool development, it sounds like they're moving faster and more aggressively than we are..."
Although Shrek did provide support to the Soul Tool Department, this support fell far, far short compared to that of the Sun Moon Empire. And now, it seemed even the Water God Church was about to overtake them.
"Researching soul rings and soul bones?" A light of incredulity flashed in Qian Duoduo's eyes. "This is something unprecedented in all of history! If they truly succeed in their research, it will inevitably change the very dynamic between soul masters and soul beasts, and even propel the development of the entire soul master world!"
Yan Shaozhe was similarly tight-browed, his tone grave: "They also possess techniques superior to the Mysterious Heaven Technique, and can even allow ordinary people to cultivate... this is simply unheard of."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the seated venerable elders: "If these techniques truly spread and become widespread, the boundary between soul masters and ordinary people will be completely shattered."
The venerable elders murmured among themselves in low discussion.
"Canaan Academy is no ordinary place either. Given time, those little geniuses will surely achieve great things. It's just that the time has been too short; otherwise, they would truly become our formidable rivals."
"The Four Protectors are only at Soul Sage strength? That's a rather large gap in levels... though it's understandable. After all, for a newly established sect, the focus is not on quantity, but on quality and loyalty. Besides, their soul skill fusion technique can even contend against a Titled Douluo—they certainly have real strength..."
"The Water God Church's financial resources are not to be underestimated. Although their talent pool is still small, developing at this rate, surpassing our Shrek... seems to be only a matter of time."
Elder Xuan set down the chicken leg in his hand and, with rare solemnity, spoke: "That little girl Furina—this old man has seen her, and Shaozhe has as well. Setting other things aside, her talent alone shows she is indeed extraordinary."
He took a swig of wine and added: "That Limit Douluo—no one knows what his background is either. I have never once heard of a person named Neuvillette."
A brief silence fell over the conference hall.
Mu En slowly spoke, his voice as calm as ever: "So, in your opinions... how should our Shrek respond?"
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Thanks for reading the chapter!
I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a crossover based on Mondaiji (Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?)
This story has a somewhat similar style to my other translation for this fandom (same author, after all), but it's completely different from any other fanfic I've come across for this fandom! It's set thousands of years before the original novel/anime, and the MC literally plays a part in shaping the backstory of this world. I really enjoyed it—hope you will too!
Mondaiji: I Really Didn't Want to Become God https://www.webnovel.com/book/36945944200410205