Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
============================
The pillar of light soaring into the sky on Sea God Island vanished, and the dazzling golden radiance slowly dissipated into the sky like a receding tide.
The previously trembling Golden Tree also regained its tranquility; its golden leaves no longer rustled, and the entire tree returned to silence, like a giant falling back into a deep slumber.
At the edge of Sea God Island, the last few wisps of golden light merged into Huo Yuhao's chest, and everything around seemed to have returned to normal.
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was naturally Gu Yue's concerned gaze in front of him.
He first offered a smile, signaling that there was no need to worry. Subsequently, he also instantly sensed the changes in his surroundings. Without even needing to look up, the powerful auras in the sky around him naturally could not escape his perception.
Although his consciousness had been immersed in the World constructed by the Golden Tree earlier, and he knew almost nothing about the changes in the outside World.
However, he could guess that the Golden Tree's abnormal movement had likely caused a significant phenomenon; otherwise, the powerhouses of Shrek Academy wouldn't be "loitering" around him.
As the Master of the Sea God Pavilion, Yun Ming was the first to speak. "Yuhao, do you know what just happened?"
Although Huo Yuhao was only thirteen now, under the tutelage of Leng Yaozhu, he was no longer a clear-eyed student who knew nothing of the World.
His mind raced as he considered how to answer this question.
A moment later, he raised his head, a trace of confusion flickering within his Spirit Eyes. "I'm not quite sure what happened either."
Although the God Realm of Ten Thousand Years later had disappeared and Tang San should be unable to contact Shrek Academy, but Huo Yuhao had not yet exposed Old Jin's existence; after all, Shrek Academy didn't know he existed in the first place. He had to keep this secret.
Yun Ming's expression was solemn, and no emotion could be seen on his handsome face.
A flicker of contemplation passed through his deep eyes, and then he said, "Come with me to the Sea God Pavilion; I have some things to ask you."
There was no room for negotiation in his tone, only a firm resolve that brooked no refusal.
As the words fell, Huo Yuhao felt his body rise into the air uncontrollably, as if lifted by an invisible giant hand. He did not struggle, allowing the force to carry him behind Yun Ming toward the center of Sea God Island.
The other Elders followed closely behind, different glints shimmering in their aged eyes.
Clearly, everyone knew this matter would not end so easily.
The Golden Tree's abnormal movement had never occurred in Ten Thousand Years; they had to find out exactly what had happened.
In the blink of an eye, only Gu Yue, Na'er, and Xu Xiaoyan remained at the edge of Sea God Island.
A hint of nervousness flashed across Xu Xiaoyan's face, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.
She looked at Na'er, her voice trembling slightly. "Na'er, Yuhao won't get into any trouble, will he?"
The display just now had truly frightened her; in all her years, this was the first time she had seen so many Titled Douluos.
Na'er's exquisite face had also become uncharacteristically serious. In her silver eyes, the usual playfulness was gone, replaced by a calm light.
"Shrek Academy is reasonable; they likely just want to understand what happened. Yuhao won't be in danger."
Hearing this, Xu Xiaoyan felt somewhat relieved.She breathed a long sigh of relief, her tense nerves relaxing slightly as the nervousness on her face gradually faded.
Beside her, Gu Yue remained silent, a flash of determination in her purple eyes. Then, a streak of cyan light instantly enveloped her. She controlled the Wind Element, flying toward Sea God Lake.
Seeing this, Xu Xiaoyan quickly asked, "Gu Yue, where are you going?"
Without looking back, Gu Yue's voice drifted from the wind: "Back to the Spirit Pagoda!"
She didn't have much trust in Shrek Academy. This matter had to be reported to her teacher, Leng Yaozhu.
The Sea God Pavilion was the core of Shrek Academy; countless major decisions of the academy over the past twenty thousand years had been made here.
Normally, those below the level of Titled Douluo could essentially not enter the Sea God Pavilion. That was the rule and the tradition. But today, Huo Yuhao, a Spirit Emperor, had entered.
On the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion, a long table stood in the ancient hall. The long table was carved from a single piece of Golden Wood, with clear grain and a warm color.
Gentle afternoon sunlight spilled through the window, painting half of the space inside the Sea God Pavilion in a brilliant gold.
At this moment, the long table was almost full of people, each one an Elder of Shrek Academy and a powerhouse of the Titled Douluo level.
Some had white hair and beards, some had resolute faces, some appeared kind and benevolent, and others were as cold as frost.
Yun Ming, the Master of the Sea God Pavilion, sat at the head of the long table, while directly opposite him, at the end of the table near the door, sat Huo Yuhao.
Now, the gazes of all the Elders in the Sea God Pavilion were focused on Huo Yuhao. Those gazes held scrutiny, curiosity, suspicion, and a certain indescribable complexity. They were all observing the youth who had triggered the Golden Tree's abnormal movement.
Facing the gazes of so many powerhouses, Huo Yuhao's expression remained calm, his handsome face showing not a hint of panic.
His voice was steady and clear as he recounted what had happened.
He concealed Old Jin's existence, only saying that he had arrived in a golden space and felt comfortable all over, knowing nothing else.
Although many Elders weren't sure if he was telling the truth, Huo Yuhao's composure had already made many of them look at him in a new light.
To remain so composed in such a setting and before so many powerhouses—this youth was not simple.
"Yuhao, you go out first; stay nearby, don't go far. We need to deliberate." Yun Ming's voice rang out.
Huo Yuhao nodded and stood up, turning to walk out of the Sea God Pavilion. After leaving the Sea God Pavilion, he didn't go far, standing right by the entrance.
He was also quite curious about what these academy Elders would discuss next.
What judgment would they make regarding the Golden Tree's abnormal movement?
How would they treat him?
After Huo Yuhao left, Yun Ming's gaze swept over the crowd.
He then spoke, "What thoughts does everyone have? Speak up."
Since Yun Ming asked, the various Elders naturally began to speak their minds freely. Their voices rose and fell, surging like a tide.
"The Golden Tree has never had such an abnormal movement; I feel this matter is not simple."
"Exactly. The Golden Tree is one of the academy's Foundations and legacies; it absolutely cannot be compromised. This matter must be investigated thoroughly."
"I don't think the boy looks like he's lying; perhaps he truly knows nothing."
"Regardless of whether he knows or not, I believe we should carefully inspect the Golden Tree—and this Huo Yuhao!"
The Elders spoke one after another; some supported an investigation, some advocated for leniency, some suspected Huo Yuhao, and others believed him. All sorts of opinions intertwined like a complex web.
Yun Ming remained silent throughout, simply sitting there and listening to everyone's statements.
He could tell that the vast majority supported a thorough investigation.
Probing the Golden Tree was easy enough to say, but the youth Huo Yuhao was a difficult problem.
Even as teachers, it wasn't appropriate to pry into a student's secrets, let alone the fact that Huo Yuhao was also part of the Spirit Pagoda.
As the voices gradually subsided, Long Yeyue, who was sitting to Yun Ming's left, spoke up.
---------------------------------------------
A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.