Douluo: I am the True Master

Beside him, Ju Zi feigned indifference, but her mind was racing at full speed. 

It didn't take long for Ju Zi to identify who Xu Tianran's cryptic "you" referred to. The coldness in her eyes deepened further. 

"An ant trying to shake a tree—overestimating its own strength," Ju Zi inwardly mocked. However, she had no intention of reporting Xu Tianran's plans to Ye Wen. His schemes to disrupt the balance of power on the Douluo Continent were laughably simplistic and ultimately futile given the vast disparity between Tian Xing Academy and Shrek Academy. 

Moreover, this situation could serve as the spark for future plans. 

Not long after, within a few months, Xu Tianran organized a large group of talented students from the Sun Moon Empire to study at Shrek Academy. During this time, he even dispatched an elder to negotiate cooperation with Shrek. 

Xu Tianran offered to provide Shrek Academy with the blueprints for ten Level 9 soul-guided devices and assist in developing their soul-guidance department in exchange for guidance from Shrek's Inner Court. His goal was clear—to cultivate the future hope of the Sun Moon Empire. 

To those in the know, this "hope" referred to a 95th-level Super Douluo. 

The Sun Moon Empire, whose 94th-level experts combined with Level 9 soul-guided tools could already rival 98th-level Super Douluos, would stand a chance against unparalleled Douluos if they could produce a 95th-level soul master supported by Level 9 soul-guided technology. 

Though not as formidable as Ye Wen's four-word battle armors, this was still a theoretically viable method to cultivate unparalleled strength. 

The emergence of a 95th-level Super Douluo in the Sun Moon Empire was something no faction on the Douluo Continent wanted to see, given the four-thousand-year history of enmity between them. 

However, though Shrek Academy was in decline, it was still not a force that could be easily meddled with. Other factions could only watch silently as the once-preeminent power of the Douluo Continent made its decision. 

This matter naturally fell under the purview of Xuan Zi, the current head of the Sea God Pavilion. 

Xuan Zi's expression was grim as he glared coldly at the grinning elder from the Sun Moon Empire before him. 

"Lord Taotie, may I ask what your thoughts are on this proposal?" the elder asked. 

Xuan Zi ignored him, took another bite of his chicken leg, and downed a swig of strong liquor. Then, he turned to the deans of the Martial Soul and Soul Guidance departments seated beside him. 

"Shaozhe, Lin'er, what do you two think?" 

The two exchanged glances. One, raised in Shrek Academy since childhood and a disciple of Mu En, felt little emotional attachment to the Douluo Continent. Moreover, Mu En had repeatedly emphasized the importance of developing the soul-guidance department before his death, so Yan Shaozhe was somewhat inclined to agree. 

Xian Lin'er, on the other hand, furrowed her brows deeply. Unlike Yan Shaozhe, she was not an orphan but a native of the Tian Hun Empire and still harbored feelings for her homeland. She also held a natural aversion to the Sun Moon Empire. Even as the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, she was unwilling to accept their offer. 

At this moment, their roles seemed reversed—those with no direct stake in the matter cared deeply, while those directly involved began to resist. 

Seeing their silence, Xuan Zi added, 

"This is your call. If you want to proceed, then do it; if not, don't. I'm just a simple man—I can't manage all these details. After all, you're the experts." 

The two exchanged another glance and voiced their decisions. 

Yan Shaozhe agreed, while Xian Lin'er opposed. Their spouses, naturally, followed suit, supporting their respective positions. 

The two had unresolved emotional disputes from their youth, and now, with opposing stances, their tempers flared. They immediately began arguing heatedly in the small meeting room. 

"Xian Lin'er, what do you mean!? Everything I'm doing is for the sake of Shrek's Soul Guidance Department!" 

"Mind your own business, dog meddling with rats! I'm already a Level 9 soul mentor! Even without the Sun Moon Empire's help, it's only a matter of time before Shrek's Soul Guidance Department rises!"

"You make it sound so easy! Anyone can see that your so-called expertise is a sham! How long will it take you to catch up to the Sun Moon Empire on your own, let alone Tian Xing Academy?!" 

"Bastard, how dare you belittle me!" 

"Xian Lin'er, stop being unreasonable! I'm speaking the truth!" 

Their voices grew louder, their anger reaching a boiling point. Strong fluctuations of soul power began to sweep through the meeting room. 

The Sun Moon elder wiped his sweat nervously with a handkerchief. Both parties were over 95th-level powerhouses—untouchable figures he dared not offend. 

"Bang!" Irritated, Xuan Zi slammed his wine gourd onto the conference table and barked, 

"Enough!" 

Instantly, the tense atmosphere in the room subsided. Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er exchanged disdainful glares, then both turned away with a huff. 

Watching this scene, Xuan Zi felt utterly exhausted. He was once just a carefree man who enjoyed eating and drinking, so why did he have to endure such confrontations? 

Though apathetic, Xuan Zi recognized that letting this argument drag on would only lead to endless deadlock. After a moment of contemplation, he declared, 

"Let's follow Lin'er's suggestion. After all, she's the expert." 

With that, Xuan Zi took another swig of alcohol. Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe immediately grew anxious and tried to interject. 

But Xuan Zi transmitted his voice telepathically using soul power. 

"That's enough, Shaozhe. Though we are merely an academy, remember—we belong to the Douluo Continent. No matter what, never forget your roots." 

Yan Shaozhe's face darkened, and he fell silent. 

Looking at him, Xuan Zi shook his head in disappointment. Though Yan Shaozhe was Mu En's disciple, Mu En himself had once told Xuan Zi that Yan Shaozhe would never ascend to the level of a Limit Douluo. His narrow-mindedness and selfishness were incompatible with the grandeur of his Radiant Phoenix martial soul. 

The younger generation had failed to grow—or rather, they were incapable of reaching unparalleled heights. This realization left Xuan Zi, who yearned for retirement, feeling even more weary. Turning to the Sun Moon elder, he said, 

"You heard her. We welcome students seeking knowledge, but deeper cooperation is out of the question." 

The Sun Moon elder showed no irritation, bowed respectfully, and departed to deliver the news. 

Upon hearing the outcome, the various factions of the Douluo Continent breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, the Sun Moon Empire continued to frequently interact with Shrek's Inner Court students, giving off the impression that something was brewing. This caused unease among the major powers. 

Once a seed of suspicion was planted, irreparable cracks began to form. 

Even though Shrek had rejected the Sun Moon Empire's proposal, their actions still left others wondering if Shrek might betray their side. As the saying goes, "A wise man does not stand beneath a crumbling wall." Gradually, Shrek Academy saw its enrollment dwindle. 

This development only added to Xuan Zi's growing stress, making him feel as though his hairline was receding faster than ever. 

Time passed, and three years flew by. By this time, Ju Zi had completed her preparations.

------------------------------------------------------

400+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow

There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)