Chapter 156: Shrek Academy's God-Creation Project!
"What should our Shrek Academy do now?"
On the Star Luo Continent—
It was yet another day of Yun Ming sighing in frustration.
The Sea God Pavilion's meetings, which in the past were convened only once every few months or even years, had now become absurdly frequent. The number of meetings held just this year already exceeded all the ones he had attended from the time he became Pavilion Master until last year.
The agenda was always the same—how to nurture more geniuses, and how to obtain more resources from the Star Luo Empire to fund them.
Not a single discussion concerning the development of soul tools, the rebuilding of the Soul Guidance Branch, or even technological advancement.
Despite being the strongest man on the continent, Yun Ming found himself powerless—he couldn't even push through a single initiative of his own. Every step was blocked by politics and factions.
It was incomprehensible.
Technically, he possessed veto power.
But what could he veto?
A unanimously approved plan to "heavily fund inner court talent cultivation"?
The moment he exercised his veto, Long Yeyue would personally show up to challenge him.
And to make matters worse, his own disciples—"Na'er" and "Dai Lingyu"—were among the key individuals in this plan.
"The God-Creation Project."
But could gods really be artificially created?
As someone standing half a step away from divinity himself, Yun Ming understood better than anyone how vast that final gap truly was.
That step was despair itself—a distance that sheer power could never cross.
One needed an external medium, an opportunity, something beyond mortal control.
And he knew he could no longer change his path.
Perhaps his wife, Ya Li, had a better chance than he did of reaching godhood. Yet she refused to pursue glory, choosing instead to remain with him quietly for life.
Moreover, Ya Li, once a member of the Spirit Transferring Tower and the Federation, was still viewed as an outsider within Shrek despite having long sworn loyalty to the academy.
Thus, she avoided interfering in internal politics.
Yun Ming's limited authority was another legacy of Shrek's outdated internal structure—
Even as Pavilion Master, he couldn't fully control the academy or its Sea God Pavilion.
The greatest reason for that was the presence of another pillar of Shrek—
the wife of the previous Pavilion Master.
Long Yeyue.
Over two hundred years old, she was among the oldest living soul masters on the continent.
Her title: "Light and Darkness."
Her twin martial souls: the Holy Light Dragon and the Dark Dragon.
At her peak, even Yun Ming doubted he could defeat her.
"It's a pity," Yun Ming sighed. "Even I cannot change the direction this academy is taking."
"Na'er is suited to inherit my strength, but not this seat as Pavilion Master."
With her unparalleled talent, becoming a Limit Douluo—or even a quasi-god—was only a matter of time under his careful guidance.
But her temperament was too gentle.
She lacked the commanding authority required to become Pavilion Master.
If not for the ancestral rule that only the strongest could assume that position, Yun Ming himself would step down happily.
Would it not be better to simply live out his years peacefully with Ya Li?
"Shrek has countless students, yet none worthy to inherit such a vital responsibility."
Staring into the newly rebuilt Sea God Lake, he could see his reflection ripple across its pristine surface.
He sighed softly. "Lan Muzi and Tang Yinmeng are both strong enough to serve as Pavilion Elders, but to lead the Pavilion? They're far from ready."
This era marked a critical juncture for Shrek Academy.
Just as in the past—ten thousand years ago—it all came down to whether they could endure.
If they survived, Shrek would remain the continent's foremost academy.
If not—they would fall from divinity.
Lan Muzi's martial soul was the Yang Wood Blade, unique in its property, already a qualification of a future powerhouse.
He was also the honorary disciple of Light and Darkness Douluo, Long Yeyue.
Among the inner court, he was known with respect as "Senior Brother."
And he was the most favored candidate for future Pavilion leadership.
However, compared with Wu Zhangkong, though Lan Muzi's raw power was greater, Yun Ming placed higher hopes on Wu Zhangkong.
Not out of favoritism, nor any slight against Long Yeyue—
but Wu Zhangkong had the heart of a true teacher and warrior.
Unfortunately, wounded by love, Wu Zhangkong had chosen to leave Shrek Academy willingly.
As for the announcement that he had been expelled… that was nothing more than formality to save face.
How could anyone "expel" the personal disciple of a Pavilion Elder? Not even the Pavilion Master himself would dare!
Wu Zhangkong had deliberately departed, but to preserve Shrek's reputation, his teacher, Zuo Shi, had personally approved the "expulsion"—for the honor of the academy above all else.
"Na'er, Dai Lingyu, Wu Duosi, Yuanen Yehui, Long Yue, Dai Yueyan, Ye Zhi."
Before Lan Muzi and Tang Yinmeng stood seven young men and women.
They were the principal candidates unanimously approved in the Sea God Pavilion meeting—
the official members of the newly sanctioned "God-Creation Project."
They were also the predetermined successors—the next generation of "Shrek's Seven Monsters."
Since Shrek Academy's move to the Star Luo Continent, the Star Luo Federation had shown complete loyalty and cooperation.
They had even merged their own famed "Monster Academy" with Shrek.
Politically, Shrek had accepted, knowing it would secure powerful federal support for their eventual reconstruction.
Of course, they didn't merge completely.
Shrek founded an outer court using Monster Academy as its foundation—
only those who passed inner court examinations could enter the true Shrek.
Students who qualified would then receive access to the academy's elite training and resources.
Dai Lingyu, Wu Duosi, Long Yue, Dai Yueyan, and Ye Zhi—
these five came directly from Monster Academy.
Dai Lingyu, a dual martial soul bearer—the Star Luo Empire's little princess.
Wu Duosi, also a dual-soul genius, born of the Zhu family.
And Long Yue—
the foremost of Monster Academy's Eight Heavenly Kings, known as "Mad Dragon."
His martial soul: Mountain Dragon King.
Such a martial soul was extraordinary beyond words—he was unbeatable during his time at Monster Academy.
When Shrek's students first arrived, only the advantage of age and superior cultivation prevented him from overwhelming them outright.
Otherwise, the so-called glory of Shrek might have been shattered that very day.
True to his nickname, "Mad Dragon," Long Yue fought without restraint, caring for nothing but combat.
He almost single-handedly humiliated Shrek Academy before Na'er stood forward and defeated him, restoring their honor.
The Mountain Dragon King martial soul was simply beyond comparison.
Known as the first among the Nine Dragon Kings, the Mountain Dragon shaped the world itself, forming the landmasses upon which the dragons flourished.
As the Dragon God had once declared: "The Mountain shall forever be King."
In terms of martial soul potential, very few could rival such a being—
none of the other Dragon Kings could match it, save for the Golden Dragon King and Silver Dragon King.
Na'er, likewise, was no exception.
(END CHAPTER)
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