Chapter 34: Dragon God Douluo Mu En, Jianmu Douluo Zhou Jiren (I)

"The Ancient Golden Tree? That's the residence of the elders of the Sea God Pavilion, and you want me to arrange a room there for you?!" Yan Shaozhe exclaimed in exasperation. Years of cultivated composure were undone by Ling Bai's request.

The Ancient Golden Tree was an ancient tree imbued with the aura of light and life. It was situated at the center of Sea God Island. Without harming the life essence of the tree, the predecessors of Shrek Academy carved the Sea God Pavilion using it as the foundation.

Asking for a room in the Ancient Golden Tree was effectively equivalent to asking for a room in the Sea God Pavilion. It would directly make Ling Bai a neighbor to the Sea God Pavilion's elders!

Although Yan Shaozhe held the esteemed position of Dean of the Martial Spirit Department at Shrek Academy, within the Sea God Pavilion, he ranked only at the very bottom. He had no authority to make such a decision!

Elder Xuan's heart also skipped a beat. Not only Yan Shaozhe, even he didn't have the authority to place Ling Bai into the Ancient Golden Tree.

Within Shrek Academy, only the Master of the Sea God Pavilion, Dragon God Douluo Mu En, had the final say in such matters.

"Dean, is it possible?"

Ling Bai looked at Yan Shaozhe's slightly contorted expression. In fact, Jianmu Douluo had no choice but to pay a huge price to refine the Bright Emperor Pill, because back when Ling Bai first killed a spirit beast and saw blood, it triggered the evil nature of the Death Abyss Spider Emperor. Jianmu Douluo had combed through ancient texts and found that only the Bright Emperor Pill, refined from various light-attribute Heaven and Earth Treasures, could suppress it.

Now that the Death Abyss Spider Emperor was resurging, Jianmu Douluo's body could no longer withstand the strain of refining another Bright Emperor Pill. Following Electrolux's suggestion, Ling Bai had to harness the power of the Ancient Golden Tree!

"This..."

Yan Shaozhe let out a long sigh, finding himself at a loss for words for the first time in a century.

"I'll help you request permission from the Sea God Pavilion Master, but I can't guarantee that it will be granted."

In the end, Yan Shaozhe decided to meet with Elder Mu, not only for the Ancient Golden Tree but also because the appearance of a God-level Martial Spirit in the academy was of great significance. Moreover, since Ling Bai steadfastly refused to become Shrek's successor, the academy's attitude toward him needed to be determined by Elder Mu.

"Thank you, Dean Yan."

Ling Bai bowed to Yan Shaozhe and then turned to Elder Xuan with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, Elder Xuan. I cannot become your disciple."

"No matter, no matter."

Elder Xuan waved his hand, pulled out a chicken leg, and began gnawing on it while muttering, "It seems there's no fate between this old man and you little monster. You'd better go back and rest early!"

With that, he transformed into a brownish-yellow streak of light and soared into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Elder Xuan will probably feel down for a while," Yan Shaozhe said with a helpless smile. "It is not every day you come across a genius qualified to inherit your mantle, only to have someone else get to them first."

Ling Bai smiled but didn't say anything. Anything he said now would come off as insincere.

"Focus on cultivating well in the academy in the future; don't waste your talent. I'll go and speak to the Pavilion Master on your behalf."

Yan Shaozhe encouraged Ling Bai with a few words, then proceeded toward the center of Sea God Island.

…

Sea God Island had many buildings, but only one could be considered tall—the Sea God Pavilion.

The Sea God Pavilion had three above-ground floors, each exceeding ten meters in height. It was the most important place in the entire Shrek Academy. It contained many secrets unknown to outsiders, including some priceless treasures.

Yan Shaozhe landed in front of the Sea God Pavilion's main entrance and walked upstairs to the top floor. The top floor was the room of the Sea God Pavilion Master, and it was where the light power of the Ancient Golden Tree was most concentrated.

He gently knocked on the door, counted to three, then pushed it open. The Pavilion Master's room was very simple. A wooden bed, a wooden table, and a wooden rocking chair were placed in the innermost area. The spot where the rocking chair was located was very dimly lit, and a person seemed to be reclining on it.

"Teacher."

Yan Shaozhe bowed respectfully toward the direction of the rocking chair.

"No need for formalities, Shaozhe. What brings you here?"

From the rocking chair hidden in the shadows came a soft voice that betrayed no age. One couldn't help but feel as if one's very soul was being cleansed upon hearing it.

Yan Shaozhe straightened his posture, and pure reverence was reflected in his eyes. The Sea God Pavilion Master, a Rank 99 Limit Douluo, one of the Twin Holy Dragons of Black and White—all of these titles belonged to his teacher, Dragon God Douluo Mu En, whose name echoed throughout the Douluo Continent. His lifelong wish was to become someone like Elder Mu, but he remained far from that goal. He began:

"Teacher, a Seraphim has appeared in the academy. He..."

He then briefly explained the situation to Elder Mu, emphasizing Ling Bai's talent, age, and his connections with Jianmu Douluo and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

"So that child last night was Jiren's direct disciple."

Elder Mu's tone carried a hint of a smile. Jianmu Douluo Zhou Jiren, the continent's top plant-type Spirit Master—they had been friends for a hundred years.

"Teacher, regarding Ling Bai, what do you think we should..." Yan Shaozhe tentatively asked.

"Tell me your thoughts."

Elder Mu threw the question back, intending to test his eldest disciple.

Yan Shaozhe pondered for a moment before speaking in a serious tone, "Teacher, I maintain my original intention to bring Ling Bai into our Shrek Academy. With his monstrous talent and the academy's resources dedicated to his cultivation, he will undoubtedly become a Titled Douluo within twenty years and a Limit Douluo within fifty!

You also understand what a Seraphim Limit Douluo represents—invincibility, unrivaled in the world!"

His face flushed with a layer of fervent excitement, and his fists unconsciously clenched as he spoke passionately, "The Sun Moon Empire is developing too rapidly nowadays, but with a Seraphim around, the Sun Moon Empire and the Illustrious Virtue Hall will be nothing to fear. The glory of Shrek Academy will last at least another three hundred years!

And if his children inherit the Seraphim bloodline, Shrek...

Will be worry-free for millennia to come!"

"Sigh, you... when will you learn to broaden your perspective?"

"Teacher?" Yan Shaozhe was puzzled.

Elder Mu shook his head and sighed again, "Shrek Academy has never cared about its own glory, because the academy is a place to cultivate Spirit Masters. It stands firmly on the side of the Douluo Continent, maintaining absolute neutrality in the disputes between the three great empires and the major sects. Let me ask you, where is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan located?"

"In the Heavenly Soul Empire..." Yan Shaozhe seemed to grasp a hint of understanding.

"Exactly. Ling Bai is a disciple of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, a genius belonging to the Douluo Continent. Whether he becomes the Master of the Sea God Pavilion or the Protector Douluo of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan in the future, as long as the Sun Moon Empire dares to invade the Douluo Continent, who do you think he will support? Broaden your perspective, and you'll find that things are quite simple. As for the Ancient Golden Tree..."

Elder Mu slightly lifted his eyelids and said slowly, "If he wishes to come, then let him come..."

Yan Shaozhe was astonished. He admitted that his perspective was narrow, but Elder Mu's was too broad! The Ancient Golden Tree and the Sea God Pavilion were one, yet Elder Mu was actually allowing an outsider to stay long-term!

After a pause, Elder Mu continued, "Zhou Jiren has never been one to follow rules; he acts according to his heart. Back when the two brothers of the Body Sect wreaked havoc across the continent, the major sects avoided them like the plague. The first time the academy faced the Body Sect, we suffered a great loss.

It wasn't until Jianmu Douluo Zhou Jiren stepped in and single-handedly held off Dugu Busi that we were able to finally triumph over the Body Sect and force them to swear an oath. Both I and the academy owe him a debt. Now his direct disciple has a request.

The academy should grant it!"