The dome of the Sea God's Pavilion shimmered with a faint golden hue under the twilight.
Xuanzi's fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest—each soft tap landing like a hammer on the hearts of those present.
Before this Level 98 Gluttonous Douluo, an opened admissions report lay flat. The enrollment figure was marked in glaring red cinnabar: "173"—this was the first time in Shrek's millennium-long history that new student numbers had fallen to just three digits.
"Clang!"
Suddenly, Xian Lin'er slammed a soul tool longsword, entirely silver in color, onto the meeting table. The nine core formations engraved on its blade were emanating terrifying energy fluctuations.
"Everyone, look! This is what our Soul Tool Department has been developing for the past three years: 'Skysplitter', the continent's first Level 9 melee-type soul tool!" Her long hair danced with her excited tone. "With this weapon equipped, even Beibei can challenge a Super Douluo across levels—it's no longer a dream!"
As the Soul Tool Department's dean raised her head proudly, she seemed eager to prove that the Academy's investment in her department hadn't been in vain.
And indeed, this 'Skysplitter' was symbolic—it was forged for Shrek Academy's last hope, Beibei, and its name clearly implied: to shatter the Sun-Moon Empire's blockade, and restore Shrek's former glory.
Qian Duoduo, sitting beside his wife, shifted uncomfortably.
This newly-promoted Level 9 soul tool engineer still had smears of metal slag on his uniform. He noticed Elder Lin's pained expression when her eyes swept over the sword—Shrek had sold off its last three 100,000-year soul bones from the Treasure Pavilion to fund the creation of this ultimate weapon.
Now, what treasure remained in the Treasure Pavilion?
Nothing. The entire foundation had been gutted for the Soul Tool Department.
Of course, if they won the Continental Soul Master Tournament six months from now, and defeated Xu Cheng, then maybe—just maybe—there was hope.
After all, just a few days ago, the Academy's higher-ups received a top-secret message that invigorated everyone's spirits.
The ancestor Tang San had noticed Shrek Academy!
And had personally spoken to them, stating that the Divine Realm would not intervene in mortal affairs for now, but Xu Cheng—and the domineering Sun-Moon Empire behind him—couldn't be allowed to rule Da Luo Continent with an iron fist. As the Asura God and divine enforcer, Tang San would not let that happen easily.
He had even bestowed a series of divine artifacts, and allowed Shrek to enter divine trials, akin to a god-level assessment, to elevate their strength.
The divine gifts were delivered through Senior Ah Yin, who watched over the Academy.
Naturally, these gifts were funneled into Beibei, and a few selected students participating in the tournament.
Among the main team members, the weakest were all Soul Saints.And the strongest, Beibei, had—with Tang San's divine aid—been nurtured to Titled Douluo level!
The rest included three Contra-level and three peak Soul Saints.
"Dean Xian sure picked a fine moment to show off."Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Cai Mei'er, sneered, running her fingers along the account book before her."Do you even realize how much you've overspent this month? Inner court students can't even afford to maintain their simulation training grounds…"
Winning six months later was one thing.
But right now? That was another matter entirely.
Currently, Shrek Academy was severely overdrawn. The Martial Soul Department had practically been bled dry in recent years, yet the Soul Tool Department still acted independently. If this continued, the Academy might not survive long enough to see the tournament—bankruptcy would come before victory.
And now the Divine Realm intervenes, and you're using that chance to fund soul tools?
Couldn't they hear Tang San's disdain for soul tools in his tone?
"Enough!"
Xuanzi's sharp gaze swept the room."I didn't summon you to argue. Beibei, tell us about the outer court."
His meaning was clear:
Continue the path that Elder Mu left behind.
Besides, the Soul Tool Department had begun to show progress—it was time to encourage, not suppress.
A blue-haired young man stood from the far end.
Three years had passed. Beibei's eyes now held traces of age, but his presence as Thunder Douluo had only grown steadier. As the successor of the Sea God Pavilion, he was entitled to sit at the table's edge:
"Among the current students, only seven possess top-tier martial souls. This year, the Heaven Soul Empire had six recipients of the Purple Emblem of Honor—and all six chose the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy."
A heavy silence descended.
If it were the Star Luo Empire's medalists defecting, that wouldn't be surprising—after all, Star Luo was essentially a province of the Sun-Moon Empire now.
But the Heaven Soul Empire represented the original continent's power…
And its medal bearers—under ten annually—were the crème de la crème of young talent. For six of them to choose the Sun-Moon Empire?
Only a few who remained likely had royal ties…
"What about Di Tian?" Xuanzi asked abruptly.
Elder Song's hologram changed to a full map of the Star Dou Forest. Its core was marked in red. Twenty-seven glowing dots represented soul master teams attacked by beast tides in the last six months.
When the map zoomed into the buffer zone, everyone gasped—
The formerly scattered yellow safety zones had shrunk to narrow strips hugging the forest's edge.
"Ten-thousand-year soul beasts are patrolling."Elder Song's voice was cold."Three days ago, a hunting team led by Hunter Douluo was intercepted 30 li from the buffer zone—by the Emerald Swan."
They were guarding the place like a fortress.
As for Di Tian's "ban"?
No way they were obeying it quietly.
Small tricks were constant—but the soul beasts' vigilance had grown to the point of deploying multiple 100,000-year soul beasts.
"Damn it, it's like guarding against thieves," muttered Xuanzi.
Everyone: "…"
You think?
Suddenly, Xian Lin'er laughed mockingly:"That's why I keep saying—Soul Tools are the future! Look at the Sun-Moon Empire. They even have artificial soul rings…"
"Enough of that nonsense!" Elder Song interrupted impatiently.
She unfurled a scroll."Three days ago, a letter arrived from the Clear Sky Sect."
Silence fell.
On the letter, five golden words burned bright:
"Advance together. Fear not."
"So, what do we all think?" Xuanzi scanned the room.
Beibei suddenly stood up and saluted:"Student requests to restart the 'Ultimate Soldier Project'."
He spread out a blueprint—Fan Yu's plan to merge soul tools and martial souls.
"This tournament is only my beginning. The start of Shrek's revival! After that, I'm willing to shoulder—"
But before he could finish, two voices rang out in unison:
"Absolutely not!" said Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er together.
They looked at each other, then turned away.
"You're the Academy's future! The Ultimate Soldier Plan is far too risky!" Xian Lin'er insisted.
Ever since the last Sea God Pavilion heir was lured away by the Sun-Moon Empire, they'd learned their lesson.
Now, Beibei and all inner court students were forbidden from leaving Shrek.
The Supervision Squad? Long disbanded.
"Tang San cannot interfere due to divine laws. Right now, the continent belongs to the Sun-Moon Empire. You're just a Titled Douluo—even with Qian Duoduo's soul tool, you're barely at Super Douluo level. That's not enough. You must become an Extreme Douluo—like Elder Mu—before you can lead Shrek into the future!"Xuanzi slapped the table.
Beibei sat back down, fists clenched tightly.
In six months…Xu Cheng, Xiao Hongchen, Ji Juechen—I'll defeat each one of you and trample you beneath my feet!
"Hmph, soul beasts will eventually become soul rings and bones beneath human feet," Xuanzi sneered."Even Tang San himself said it—he knows of the Divine Realm's plans."
His eyes gleamed coldly.
"Right now, the Sun-Moon Empire is riding high. But don't worry. Shrek's current low point is temporary. When Tang San prevails in the Divine Realm, Shrek will be number one again—and the Sun-Moon Empire will be swept into the trash heap of history!"
"Only then will they understand: all mortal struggles are nothing but a joke in the eyes of gods."
When Mu Jin pushed open the classroom door, morning sunlight slanted across mostly empty desks. Out of 32, only 9 remained.
The former prosperity had already faded like a mirage.
"Good morning, Teacher."A few students greeted her from the back.
"Today's lesson is on martial soul simulation theory."Mu Jin placed her lesson plan on the podium—only for a slip of paper to flutter out:[Notice: Salary Delay This Month]
She quickly crumpled it in her palm, but a snicker rose from the back row.
"Wages delayed again?"A noble student crossed his legs, smirking."My father said the Martial Soul Department is doomed. He's already pulled strings to transfer me to the Soul Tool Department. What about your dad?"
Snap—Mu Jin's chalk broke in half.
As a Soul Emperor, how could she not hear such whispers, no matter how quiet?
Three years ago—
No one dared speak like that to her.
The Martial Soul Department used to be Shrek's signature division.
But now… after Xian Lin'er split the inner court from the Martial Soul Department, folding all its students into the Soul Tool Department, the decline was real.
With classes shrinking, many Martial Soul teachers had defected to the Soul Tool Department.
Now, if they could recruit even one-third of past numbers, it was a miracle. And the few students left were clearly unqualified—all the top talent went elsewhere.
Outside, the roar of a soul tool test site shook the building—Level 9 energy waves were causing the entire structure to tremble.
Mu Jin clenched her teeth. She couldn't even focus on the second half of class.
By the bell, the aroma from the Soul Tool Department's cafeteria was wafting into the halls.
"Miss Mu!"In front of the administration building, a Martial Soul teacher was ripping down a notice.Veins popped on his hand.
"Look what Xian Lin'er's done!"
The gilded sign nearly blinded her eyes:
[Congratulations to Vice Dean Qian Duoduo on Becoming a Level 9 Soul Tool Engineer]
Below, the banquet menu:Deep-sea devil whale oil-fried cod, millennium earth dragon tendon stew...
Mu Jin suddenly recalled the cheap tea leaves in the outer court lounge.
Because the Academy couldn't afford anything else.
What could she do?
Backed by the Star Dou Forest, what was once luxury now became tragedy.
Shrek had a treasure trove—yet not a drop could be used.
Once-proud Martial Soul teachers were now barely scraping by.
Mu Jin sighed deeply.
"I heard they demolished the simulation training grounds on Sea God Island's west side," the teacher scoffed."Just to make room for that Level 9 soul tool."
"Bunch of lunatics."
"Quiet down!" Mu Jin warned.
The Martial Soul Department's downfall felt like it happened overnight.
Only now did people understand why Dean Yan had fought so hard—even resigning from her post in protest.
Mu Jin made her way to the finance office.
"Elder Xuan! They cut our experimental funds by another 30%!"Cai Mei'er's voice quivered.
"Lin'er needs the resources."Xuanzi's sigh reeked of wine.
"Just hang in there. Once we win the tournament in six months, we'll have money again. Get through this, and things will look up."
"But…" Cai Mei'er tried to argue.
Xuanzi shook his head and stumbled away, drunk.
Mu Jin quietly left too.
At the hallway's corner, she saw Mr. Li from the Soul Tool Department loading boxes onto a carriage.
Through a crack, she saw rare metals inside—the top labeled:[Used for Simulation Core – Starfall Iron]
"Miss Mu?"Li scratched his head awkwardly."These materials just arrived…"
Mu Jin's lips twitched.
She recognized the price. Even a pinky-sized piece cost tens of thousands of gold soul coins.
Now there were boxes of it?
The rich get richer. The rest starve.
She could only shake her head.
She was just a teacher. What could she say?
The Martial Soul Dean had already been forced out.
Now, it was completely the Soul Tool Department's world.
Mu Jin looked up at the dark sky.Above Shrek, shadows loomed in the clouds.In the distance, from Star Dou Forest, eerie purple light flickered.
It was the Abyssal Demon Dragon patrolling, forbidding anyone from harvesting soul rings.
With time…
What used to be a few secret soul beast hunts to make ends meet was now gone.
The soul beasts were forcing Shrek to a dead end.
Today—
Almost all inner court students, even new ones, relied on artificial soul rings from the Sun-Moon Empire.
And though the empire had kept prices stable…
Still…
Mu Jin let out a long, weary sigh.
(End of Chapter)