Long Xiaoyao's gaze swept across the long table before him, carefully scrutinizing Yan Shaozhe's appearance.
The more he looked, the more he felt a resemblance to Ye Xishui in the other's features.
"A coincidence?"
"Probably."
"I remember he's Mu En's top student, the dean of Shrek Academy."
"Yan Shaozhe, the Bright Phoenix Douluo."
"The Bright Phoenix..."
"It can't possibly be related to Ye Xishui."
"It's definitely just a coincidence."
Long Xiaoyao withdrew his gaze. He had no doubt that the other was Ye Xishui's descendant.
In his eyes, Ye Xishui's martial soul was the Blood Soul Demon Puppet; no matter how it mutated, it could never mutate into the Bright Phoenix.
This was even more absurd than a dog suddenly mutating into a Five Elements Qilin.
At least a dog could be somewhat related to a Qilin, but the Bright Phoenix and the Blood Soul Demon Puppet were truly incompatible.
Mu En watched as the people around the table whispered among themselves.
Elder Song and others, contemporaries of Long Xiaoyao, made no attempt to hide their scrutiny of the current Long Xiaoyao.
Although Xuanzi was unreliable, he was indeed the closest to becoming a Limit Douluo among everyone present, besides Mu En.
"You've already broken through level 99?"
Long Xiaoyao looked at Xuanzi's disheveled appearance and said,
"Yo, Xuanzi."
"You look so unkempt, I almost didn't recognize you."
"How come you're still at level 98?"
"You've been stuck at this level for a hundred years, haven't you?"
"Hahaha, Mu En and I probably became Limit Douluos around the same time."
Long Xiaoyao said a few words to Xuanzi, who didn't refute them; he had indeed been stuck at level 98 for a long time, that was a fact.
Mu En shook his head helplessly, his gentle voice accompanied by the light of his soul power resonating in the ears of those around him.
"Stop for a moment, everyone."
"I doubt many of you here recognize Long Xiaoyao, so let me introduce him."
"This old fellow was once my equal, the Dragon Emperor Douluo, and is now a level 99 Limit Douluo."
"From today onwards, he is also a guest elder of our Sea God Pavilion."
Hearing this, Xuanzi and the others all looked at Long Xiaoyao.
They hadn't expected their former enemy to be willing to join the Sea God Pavilion, even if only as a guest elder, a mere figurehead.
Lin Huiqun, sitting on the right side of the long table, stood up and applauded to welcome Long Xiaoyao's arrival.
She hadn't had any conflicts with him when she was younger.
With Lin Huiqun leading the way, continuous applause followed in the conference hall on the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion.
Even Elder Song and the others were no exception.
In any case, Long Xiaoyao's joining would greatly strengthen the Sea God Pavilion's power, a great thing for Shrek Academy.
As the applause gradually subsided, Moon addressed the crowd:
"I imagine everyone is curious as to why I brought Xiaoyao along."
"Haha, it's because the upcoming reforms at Shrek Academy will be a major undertaking."
"Shrek Academy will likely be weak for a long time."
"During this period, I alone will probably be unable to cope with the challenges from old friends like the Sun Moon Empire and the Body Sect."
"But with Xiaoyao, the two of us combined are confident that no one on the continent can defeat us!"
Long Xiaoyao stroked his silver beard beside Mu En and nodded.
With their level of teamwork, coupled with their Limit Douluo-level Martial Soul Fusion Skill, even if Di Tian came, he would have to prepare the Heart of Chengdu to prevent it from being breached.
All the elders present sat up straight, their gazes sharpening, understanding that what followed was likely a crucial event that would determine the future of Shrek Academy.
Mu En looked around at the elders, all of whom were full of fighting spirit and ready for battle.
"Shrek Academy has endured for ten thousand years, but no one knows if we will still exist in the next ten thousand years."
"The emergence of the Sun Moon Empire and soul tools has shaken the status of soul masters on the continent."
"Gentlemen, soul tools are developing rapidly, while the development of us soul masters is far behind."
"You all have the Magic Network, which is indeed a good thing.
Through the Magic Network, you should all have seen the extent of the Sun Moon Empire's research on soul tools."
"You should all have seen
the experimental explosion of the Level 9 fixed-position soul-guided cannon that was once very popular on the Magic Network, right?"
"What are your thoughts on its power?"
The surrounding elders all nodded, even Yan Shaozhe, who had always opposed the development of the soul tool system, lowered his head.
The public detonation of that Level 9 fixed-position soul-guided cannon was suggested by Otto and carried out by Xu Tianran, with the aim of deterring the Douluo Three Kingdoms.
At the same time, it was intended to give the Douluo Three Kingdoms a boost in their soul tool revolution.
Since that video, the three kingdoms have become even more eager for soul-guided machine tools; a single soul-guided machine tool could fetch an astronomical price at an auction.
The Soul-Guided Machine Tool Factory in Xilu City was coveted by countless forces.
However, their spies and agents couldn't escape the web woven by Adam, the Root Group, and the Combat Maid Corps.
It was either death or becoming a member of the maid café, offering their loyalty to Huo Yuhao.
It's worth noting that most of the maids at the maid café, after staying for a month, would pledge their loyalty to Huo Yuhao, enthusiastically providing him with a wealth of intelligence about their former forces and how to deal with their former colleagues.
Looking at the silent crowd, Mu En nodded slightly and said,
"It seems everyone has seen it."
"That level-nine fixed-position soul-guided cannonball is certain to kill anyone below level 95!"
"And how many of these soul-guided cannonballs does the Sun Moon Empire have? Nobody knows."
"Nobody dares to gamble on whether the Sun Moon Empire will actually launch a few at Shrek City."
"Duo Duo, Lin'er, tell me, when will our Shrek Academy have a soul-guided device that can effectively counter them?"
Xian Lin'er thought seriously for a moment, then said to Mu En in a deep voice,
"In the past, it wouldn't have been guaranteed to appear even in a hundred years."
"But soul-guided machine tools have appeared, and the soul-guided device revolution has also broken out in the Heaven Dou Plain."
"Ten years! At most ten years, we can conquer level-nine soul-guided device technology!"
Mu En looked at everyone and said,
"Ten years."
"But the Sun Moon Empire won't stop moving forward; this is a race against time."
"Soul-guided machine tools and the soul-guided device revolution…"
"Everyone, our Shrek Academy was once a guide for the continent."
"If it weren't for the fact that Xilu City is so close to us, and that the relationship between the Academy and Shrek isn't so good..."
"We can't even get a whiff of this Soul Tool Revolution."
"No matter how glorious our millennia-long history or how lofty our status,
the fact remains that the Soul Tool Revolution erupted in the outside world, and Shrek Academy was almost abandoned by the times!"
Mu En's gaze pierced the hearts of everyone present like a sharp sword
. Xian Lin'er and Yan Shaozhe both lowered their heads, unable to meet Mu En's eyes.
Because what he said was true, Yan Shaozhe didn't know what to say; he could feel the gaze primarily fixed on him.
However, to Mu En's surprise, Xian Lin'er actually raised her head and retorted.
"Teacher, Shrek Academy won't be abandoned by the times!"
"Our students and teachers are all working hard; we've just taken the wrong path!
It's not that we lack ability!"
"As long as we correct our course, we can still lead the continent."
Seeing his daughter's courage, Elder Song's mouth slightly opened, as if he wanted to say something, but seeing her resolute eyes, he swallowed his words.
He gave his daughter a supportive look.
Mu En was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, giving Yan Shaozhe a look of utter disappointment!
Even Xian Lin'er, weaker than him, dared to contradict him, and his eldest disciple was acting like an ostrich at this moment!
"Hahaha!"
"Good!"
"Really good!"
"Wrong road, no! We've definitely taken the wrong road!"
"Old Song, your daughter is much smarter and braver than you were back then."
Mu En looked at Xian Lin'er with admiration, as for Yan Shaozhe, he couldn't be bothered with him.
Old Song also smiled, pride shining in his eyes.
"Lin'er is right! Shrek Academy is on the wrong path."
"Completely wrong!"
"From the teachers to the academic affairs office to the teaching methods, we've made a complete mess of things."
"Today's meeting is to correct Shrek Academy's course and bring it back to the right path."
"This requires the joint efforts of all of us!"
Mu En paused, giving the crowd below time to think, and then continued:
"First, we need to reform the Soul Guidance Department."
"Last time, Xian Lin'er, Qian Duoduo, and I went to Xilu City to see their education."
"They've subdivided the Soul Guidance Department:
Soul Guidance Device Design, Soul Guidance Device Manufacturing, Soul Guidance Device Analysis, Mathematics, and Core Magic Array Analysis."
"Traditional Soul Guidance Departments are now divided into several disciplines, each training specialized talents.
These talents work together to create various new types of Soul Guidance Devices."
"This is also one of the main reasons for the Soul Guidance Device revolution in the outside world."
"Shrek Academy wants to learn this educational approach."
"Lin'er, what do you think?"
Xian Lin'er had planned to bring this up at the Sea God Pavilion meeting from the beginning, so of course she had no objections.
"I fully support you, teacher."
"Duoduo and I have the same idea. Shrek Academy's Soul Guidance Department can't continue down the traditional path of Soul Guidance Masters; it will only fall further and further behind the Sun Moon Empire. We must take a different approach!"
"The specialization of Soul Guidance Masters must be put on the agenda."
Among the disciplines of Soul Guidance Master system defined by Xilu City, Soul Guidance Device Design, Soul Guidance Device Analysis, and Mathematics, ordinary people can also study them."
"I propose that the Soul Guidance Department can recruit some ordinary people who are exceptionally talented in calculation."
Xian Lin'er's words were like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples.
A heated discussion broke out in the Sea God Pavilion.
Yan Shaozhe looked at Xian Lin'er in shock, his voice trembling slightly as he said,
"Ordinary people?"
"Lin'er, are you sure?"
"They..."
Yan Shaozhe was about to speak when Xian Lin'er interrupted him.
"What's wrong with ordinary people?"
"Also, don't call me so intimately."
"When did Shrek Academy's definition of monsters become so shallow?"
"Soul Masters are indeed stronger than ordinary people in every aspect, but aren't there monsters among ordinary people?"
"Mental power can make you calculate faster, but it won't make you smarter! Yan Shaozhe."
Mu En smiled, pressed his palm down, and said to Qian Duoduo:
"Duoduo, what about you?"
"What do you want to say?"
Qian Duoduo stood up, straightened his back, and said to Mu En:
"Elder Mu."
"Lin'er is right."
"I think so too. At first, I wasn't very interested in ordinary people."
"But in the Soul Guidance Machine Tool factory in Xilu City, I saw that almost half of the people were ordinary people without soul power."
"They are in no way inferior to any Soul Master in terms of relevant knowledge."
"Many of them are extremely innovative, and then each performs their own duties, and their inspirations begin to collide, giving birth to the Soul Guidance Machine Tool, a treasure that can be called the 'crown of soul tools'."
"Facts don't lie!"
"Xilu City's path should be on the right track."
Mu En gestured for Qian Duoduo to sit down and said to everyone:
"I think the two deans of the Soul Guidance Department make a lot of sense."
"Shrek Academy seems to have never opened its doors to ordinary people."
"We've overlooked many monsters from other fields among them."
"Xilu City is a good example; ordinary people can also participate in soul tool research."
"Since Xilu City has already paved the way, why don't we follow their example?" "
I agree to the Soul Guidance Department's proposal."
"Does anyone have any objections? Please raise them."
All the elders pondered, and finally nodded in unison.
After Xian Lin'er's explanation, it indeed made a lot of sense.
The weakest among those present was a Title Douluo; they knew all too well that mental power didn't actually make people smarter, at most it would dramatically increase calculation ability—a certain Silver Dragon King was the best example.
They might indeed be inferior to some ordinary people in terms of innovation.
Moreover, even Mu En had nodded; the elders of the Sea God Pavilion all admired this old man, who had almost dedicated everything to Shrek.
He was the undisputed Shrek weightlifting champion!
(End of Chapter)
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