Chapter 278: Xuan Zi on a Dog Leash, Bibi Dong's Domineering Authority
"The woman who looked similar to Zi Ji wanted to let that hundred-thousand-year soul beast go. At that moment, Elder Xuan appeared. He wanted to avenge us."
"But Elder Xuan was no match for them. One of his arms was crippled with ease, and his soul power level dropped drastically. In the end, the three of them instructed me to return to Shrek Academy and ask Elder Mu to redeem Elder Xuan."
As Zhang Lexuan finished speaking, silence fell over the room.
Mu En remained silent, lost in thought.
Finally, he let out a long sigh.
"Troubled times indeed."
"Can Shrek Academy continue to survive through this era of change?"
Mu En was deeply worried.
Far away, the Sun Moon Empire watched them like a tiger eyeing its prey.
Nearby, the Star Dou Great Forest posed a constant threat.
Most importantly, he didn't have much time left.
At most, he had only a few years to live.
Once he died, Shrek Academy would lose the trump card capable of intimidating the entire world.
The only remaining deterrent would be Xuan Zi, a level ninety-eight Peak Douluo.
Now that Xuan Zi had been captured, no matter what, Mu En had to bring him back.
"Lexuan, I understand the situation. Return to the inner courtyard and recover properly. I will bring Xuan Zi back."
After comforting Zhang Lexuan, Mu En arrived at Yan Shaozhe's office.
"Shaozhe, take one-tenth of Shrek's resources, store them in a storage soul tool, and then head to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Mu En instructed Yan Shaozhe.
"Teacher, what happened?"
Seeing Mu En's grave expression, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help asking.
"Xuan Zi has been captured. They want us to exchange resources for his release."
Mu En replied calmly.
Hearing this, anger immediately surged within Yan Shaozhe.
"This is going too far, Teacher! Are we really going to accept this? That's one-tenth of the resources Shrek has accumulated over ten thousand years. Surely it doesn't take that much just to redeem Elder Xuan!"
In response, Mu En merely looked at Yan Shaozhe coldly.
"Shaozhe, I'm already asking for less than what they could demand. The other side has at least one expert on my level, and they also have ties with the Star Dou Great Forest."
"There's no need to discuss it further. Prepare the resources and come with me."
Understanding his teacher's meaning, Yan Shaozhe could only sigh helplessly.
"Teacher, I understand."
After replying, Yan Shaozhe immediately began preparing the resources.
As time passed...
Star Dou Great Forest.
The agreed location for the exchange.
Bibi Dong released Xuan Zi from a spatial divine artifact. After waking him up, she fastened a dog leash around his neck and tied him to a tree.
Humiliated in such a manner, Xuan Zi immediately flew into a rage.
"How dare you humiliate this old man like this! A true man may be killed but not insulted! If you have the guts, then kill me!"
Xuan Zi roared, venting all of his fury.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue let out a cold snort and said,
"Old man, don't think we don't dare kill you. The only reason we've spared your life is to exchange you for Shrek's resources."
Hearing that, Xuan Zi shouted even louder, attempting to provoke Bibi Dong and the other two.
He could die.
But he could not become the sinner of Shrek Academy.
Not long afterward...
Mu En and Yan Shaozhe finally arrived.
Seeing Xuan Zi below, tied to a tree with a dog leash around his neck, both of them felt deeply distressed.
Even Mu En, who was normally calm and composed, felt his anger rising uncontrollably.
"The three of you have gone too far. To humiliate Shrek Academy in this manner..."
Yan Shaozhe was even more furious and immediately stepped forward.
"Shrek cannot be humiliated!"
"Our Shrek Academy has the protection of the gods—"
Before he could finish speaking, a heavy slap landed squarely on the right side of Yan Shaozhe's face.
His entire body was sent flying several hundred meters.
"How noisy."
Bibi Dong spoke in an icy tone.
A mere level ninety-five Super Douluo wasn't even qualified to make her look at him directly.
At the same time, that slap also served as a warning.
When Mu En saw Yan Shaozhe being sent flying while he himself hadn't even been able to react in the slightest...
He immediately realized that today's situation was far more troublesome than he had imagined.
Including Zi Ji, whom Zhang Lexuan had described to him earlier, and the queen-like, overbearing Bibi Dong before him...
He was facing two Limit Douluo of the same rank as him.
Moreover, both of them were stronger than he was.
"Mu En, control your subordinate's mouth. This discussion is between us. This nobody has no right to interrupt."
Bibi Dong looked at Mu En, her words filled with unquestionable authority.
At this point, although Mu En was furious inside, he could only endure it in silence.
"Shaozhe, come back and stand behind me. Speak less."
Mu En called out to Yan Shaozhe in the distance.
With the right side of his face swollen like a pig's head, Yan Shaozhe was filled with resentment, but he still obediently returned to stand behind Mu En.
"As requested, I've brought one-tenth of Shrek Academy's resources to redeem Xuan Zi."
As he spoke, Mu En glanced at Xuan Zi's severed arm.
"Return Xuan Zi's arm as well."
If they didn't retrieve Xuan Zi's severed arm, then bringing him back would be meaningless.
In Mu En's eyes, a Xuan Zi who no longer even possessed the cultivation of a Titled Douluo was nothing more than a consumable.
"One-tenth?"
"Mu En, you truly underestimate our appetite."
"I'll give you a number."
"Thirty percent."
Bibi Dong raised three fingers as she looked at Mu En.
Hearing that, Mu En's heart sank once again.
If Shrek lost thirty percent of its accumulated resources, the academy would undoubtedly suffer a devastating blow.
Just as he was considering his options...
Yan Shaozhe spoke again, having learned absolutely nothing from what had just happened.
"Thirty percent is absolutely impossible! One-tenth is already an enormous amount. That's the foundation our Shrek has accumulated over ten thousand—"
Before he could finish speaking, another slap landed heavily on his left cheek, sending him flying several hundred meters once again.
This time, after being slapped on both sides of his face, Yan Shaozhe had completely become a giant pig's head.
However, the one who struck him this time wasn't Bibi Dong.
It was Zi Ji.
"How annoying."
"You people from Shrek are truly full of yourselves. You never learn your lesson."
Zi Ji said with undisguised disgust.
"We... Shrek Academy agrees."
Mu En slowly raised his hand and accepted Bibi Dong's demand.
At that moment, he seemed to have aged several years instantly.
Still tied to the tree with a dog leash around his neck, Xuan Zi burst into tears upon witnessing the scene.
His tears and snot dripped onto the ground.
"Elder Mu... just let me die."
"I'm the sinner of Shrek."
"Shrek Academy must not hand over thirty percent of its resources..."
However, Xuan Zi's tearful plea earned him no admiration from Mu En.
Instead, Mu En felt even more helpless.
"Xuan Zi, if you simply die, then what will become of Shrek?"
"This era is filled with uncertainty. The Sun Moon Empire is watching us like a tiger eyeing its prey."
"Only by staying alive can you continue leading Shrek Academy into the future."
"Resources can always be earned again."
"But if the academy is gone..."
"Then it's truly gone."
Mu En looked at him with disappointment.
If only Shrek had a worthy successor, he would never have been forced into such a passive position today.
After redeeming Xuan Zi, Mu En had already made up his mind.
No matter the cost, he would nurture Young Master Wu into Shrek's next pillar.
What Mu En didn't know...
Was that the Young Master Wu in whom he had placed all his hopes...
Was actually an undercover agent.
End of Chapter
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