Yan Shaozhe fell silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping twice on the table before he looked up.
"Cooperation. We must cooperate."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "There are no grievances or gaps between Shrek and the Axis Cult. They hate Evil Soul Masters, and so do we. In this regard, we are on the same side."
He leaned back, his tone relaxing slightly. "Besides, we can provide them with talent. Don't they lack manpower? Shrek has plenty of talent if nothing else. Especially Advanced Soul Engineers; they seem to be lacking there, while we have three solid Eighth-rank Soul Engineers."
At this point, he specifically turned to look at Qian Duoduo.
Qian Duoduo was the Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department and an Eighth-rank Soul Engineer. Xian Liner was also an Eighth-rank, as was Fan Yu.
Although Shrek's Soul Engineers weren't as strong overall as the Sun Moon Empire's, and they didn't have as many people, distant water doesn't quench a nearby thirst, does it?
Qian Duoduo stood up, pressing his palms onto the table. He didn't rush to speak but first stroked his beard as if organizing his thoughts.
"Fan Yu mentioned to me before that he wanted to get in touch with the Axis Cult," he began slowly. "To be honest, if we can cooperate, it would indeed benefit the development of our Soul Tool Department."
He changed the subject, his brow furrowing slightly. "However... I'm afraid those people from the Axis Cult have more ambition than just that."
A grey-haired Elder nodded. He was old and spoke slowly, but every word was clear. "Helping commoners with their Martial Soul Awakening, providing subsidies, distributing Cultivation Techniques... this pattern reminds me of the Spirit Hall from ten thousand years ago."
He lifted his eyelids and looked at everyone present. "We all know what happened to the Spirit Hall."
The atmosphere in the meeting hall froze slightly.
Ten thousand years ago, the Spirit Hall had destroyed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in history and nearly uprooted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Clan. Later, it even established the Spirit Empire in an attempt to unify the continent. In orthodox history books, it was almost defined as an evil organization.
But it was undeniable that in the hearts of Spirit Masters at that time, it was indeed a Holy Land. Helping commoners with Martial Soul Awakening and giving subsidies to every Spirit Master... to the common people, it was a very warm organization.
The current Axis Cult's actions were somewhat similar to the Spirit Hall's. It even believed in a "god," except this god was their Pope herself—a gifted young girl around fifteen years old.
Another Elder waved his hand, his tone somewhat impatient. "What's the point of talking about those useless things? They have a Limit Douluo backing them now and haven't done anything out of line. If we're going to cooperate, then cooperate. What can be achieved by being so hesitant?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the others fell silent.
Having a Limit Douluo backing them was the ultimate logic. No one dared to offend them easily.
Yan Shaozhe looked toward the head seat, his tone respectful. "Elder Mu, you see... everyone is inclined toward cooperation. What is your opinion?"
Everyone quieted down, waiting for the old man lying on the lounge chair to speak.
Elder Mu didn't speak immediately. He closed his eyes, his finger lightly tapping the armrest as if he were thinking about something.
After a moment, he spoke slowly, "Cooperate."
He opened his eyes, his gaze calm. "Not only must we cooperate, but we must also cooperate well and learn those good things from them. At the same time, don't hide anything; give what should be given, and let them see Shrek's sincerity."
He paused, his tone becoming heavier. "Shrek needs to change."
Yan Shaozhe was stunned for a moment, and Qian Duoduo also stopped stroking his beard.
Elder Mu ignored their reactions and continued, "In terms of teaching, we should change. Those old ways that are repeated over and over make students fall asleep; what's the use?"
He gave a soft huff. "Especially those things in the Martial Soul Department; it's just the same old content over and over. What about spirit tools? What about assessments? Still the same old rules. Even ordinary people in the Axis Cult can use spirit tools now, yet we're still debating whether freshmen should use them?"
He waved his hand. "Relax the rules, let the freshmen use them. They can be used during assessments too."
Yan Shaozhe frowned and spoke hesitantly, "Elder Mu, this... won't this affect our judgment of the freshmen's strength?"
Elder Mu smiled, a smile that was a bit helpless and a bit like he was watching a show. "Affect what? Being able to win using a spirit tool is also a skill. Do you think future battlefields will be the same as they were ten thousand years ago, relying solely on Martial Souls hacking at each other?"
He extended a finger and tapped the table. "In the Axis Cult, people are already researching spirit tools for ordinary people. If you don't let go and act now, whether Shrek can keep its title as the number one academy in a few years is debatable."
He withdrew his hand and leaned back on the lounge chair, his tone carrying a hint of self-mockery. "Even an old man like me knows the times have changed, yet you young people can't get over it?"
Qian Duoduo's eyes lit up, and he stood up directly. "I like what Elder Mu said!"
He was so excited that his beard was shaking. "Fan Yu recently used the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons methods to develop some new things. If we can get those 'pistols' from the Axis Cult to study, the progress of the Soul Tool Department could be pushed forward by a huge leap!"
Yan Shaozhe didn't speak; he just lowered his eyes, his fingers lightly rubbing the edge of the table.
He was thinking about Elder Mu's words.
Artificial Soul Rings, artificial soul bones, and methods for Self-condensing Soul Rings—even if they were only in the beginning stages, they were world-shaking things. What about their side? They were still researching cultivation methods for Ultimate Martial Souls. In comparison, it really wasn't enough.
If they didn't learn and catch up, forget about the Axis Cult; in a few years, they might not even be able to compare to their own Soul Tool Department.
Seeing his expression soften, Elder Mu continued, "There is one more thing."
Everyone pricked up their ears again.
"The Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department should communicate more in the future," Elder Mu said slowly, but every word was clear. "Students with good talent can study in both departments simultaneously. Study in the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department."
As soon as these words were spoken, the meeting room immediately erupted.
Yan Shaozhe looked up, his face full of disbelief. "Elder Mu, this... there's no precedent for this! Studying in both departments, how can students have enough energy?"
Qian Duoduo also rarely stood on his side, shaking his head repeatedly. "Yes, Elder Mu, this matter is too big. If students try to balance both, they'll end up learning neither well. Wouldn't that be harming them?"
Several Elders also whispered among themselves, their faces filled with hesitation.
Elder Mu only smiled.
That smile held a bit of nostalgia, a bit of sentiment, and a bit of... an air of watching a play.
"You all."
He slowly sat up straight.
This movement made everyone subconsciously straighten their backs. Elder Mu hadn't sat up like this in a long time.
"What is Shrek called? Monster Academy." His voice wasn't loud, but every word was crystal clear. "Since they are monsters, what's wrong with learning more? What's wrong with putting in more effort?"
He glanced at the people present, his gaze calm but making it hard for anyone to look him in the eye. "No precedent? Then create one. What thing doesn't start from a first time? If you don't even dare to take the first step, what future is there to talk about?"
He paused, his tone softening slightly but becoming even heavier. "If you don't dare to change, then just be straightforward and give up all this glory and reputation accumulated over ten thousand years to others."
The meeting hall was so quiet that one could hear breathing.
No one responded.
Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth to say something but swallowed it back down.
Qian Duoduo slowly sat back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously twirling his beard.
After a long while, a grey-haired Elder finally spoke slowly. His voice was raspy, yet it held an indescribable calmness:
"Elder Mu is right."
He looked at the people around him and smiled, a smile full of sentiment. "We people have guarded Shrek for most of our lives, fearing that something might happen to it. But in guarding it, we've instead guarded ourselves into becoming old fogies."
Another Elder also nodded and sighed. "Yes... a ten-thousand-year foundation is both a glory and a shackle. We always think about guarding and forget that we still need to move forward."
Yan Shaozhe was silent for a long time before finally speaking. His voice was low, but his tone was sincere:
"I was too conservative."
He looked at Qian Duoduo and rarely showed a bit of a smile. "Old Qian, let's interact more in the future."
Qian Duoduo was stunned for a moment, then also smiled, stroking his beard and nodding. "Sure, if there are good prospects, send them over; I'll teach them personally."
The two looked at each other, both feeling a bit sentimental.
After fighting for so many years, they were actually forced to shake hands and make peace by a little girl.
Elder Mu watched this scene, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
He leaned back on the lounge chair again and closed his eyes, his tone returning to its usual casualness. "Then it's settled. You can discuss the specifics of how to negotiate and how to change. This old man won't get involved."
Inside the meeting hall, everyone began to discuss enthusiastically.
Sunlight spilled through the window frames, casting long shadows of everyone.
Shrek Academy, the number one academy on the continent that had stood for ten thousand years, finally took its first step toward change today.
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