After symbolically reprimanding a few inner courtyard students, the reward distribution concluded, and the Sea God Pavilion meeting drew to a close.
"Dismissed."
The gentle yet authoritative voice resounded once more, carrying an air of unquestionable finality.
All the elders of the Sea God Pavilion and the four deans rose to their feet, bowing respectfully to Mu En, who reclined lazily on the main seat, before dispersing.
Ma Xiaotao led the students out of the pavilion.
As they walked, Dai Yuheng sighed. "The academy is being quite generous this time."
Originally, the champion's reward for the tournament was one million gold soul coins and three soul bones—naturally belonging to the Shrek team that had contributed the most.
As the reserve team captain, Dai Yuheng had only received 50,000 gold soul coins.
In addition to the monetary reward, the main team members also had the privilege of distributing the soul bones. This time, however, the opportunity was given to the reserve team.
Shrek had even gone the extra mile, allocating nearly two million gold soul coins in total, granting each reserve member 300,000.
This windfall greatly replenished Dai Yuheng's depleted treasury, which had suffered from his soul tool bidding spree.
Though he couldn't help but envy the three soul bones, he had enough self-awareness to accept reality.
Even if the reserve team hadn't intervened, those soul bones were reserved for Shrek's own people—certainly not for someone like him, who was about to graduate and leave the academy.
Still, he couldn't help but curse inwardly:
'Damn those evil soul masters! If not for that death messenger's interference, if he had performed better in the tournament… maybe I would've had a chance.'
'Hmph! I will never reconcile with evil soul masters! Never!'
The other inner courtyard students, however, were unbothered.
Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen had already obtained soul bones during the tournament and were satisfied.
Xixi, ever the earnest one, was busy reflecting on his mistakes.
'I really was too careless during the last surveillance mission…'
The five reserve team members felt the pressure of the early inner courtyard assessment looming over them.
Among them, one seemed particularly unsettled—Jiang Nannan.
Having struggled financially for years, the sudden announcement of a 300,000 gold soul coin reward nearly made her faint on the spot.
If not for Tang Ya steadying her, she might have collapsed right then and there.
Even now, she hadn't fully recovered, still dazed with joy.
'With this much money, I can bring Mother to Shrek City and take better care of her!'
What she didn't know was that a certain professional turtle had already taken action—secretly relocating her mother to Shrek City and ensuring she received the utmost care.
As considerate as if she were his own mother-in-law.
Such was the power of wealth.
Xu Sanshi smirked. 'This is what Yuhao calls taking the roundabout route!'
…
The Sea God Pavilion's ceremonial hall was now silent.
Only Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Mu En remained.
Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao couldn't help but feel nervous.
The Sea God Pavilion Master—who had yet to make an appearance—was not just Dean Yan Shaozhe's teacher but the true authority behind Shrek Academy!
To be honest, the two of them felt a little awkward.
Receiving rewards alone like this… feels inappropriate.
After all, no reward should come without merit.
Thinking back, they hadn't played pivotal roles in many of the tournament's key matches. Most of their contributions had been during the round-robin stage, where they'd mostly coasted along.
Even so, they were still granted 300,000 gold soul coins and a shot at precious soul bones.
They weren't greedy—this was already an incredible reward.
Beibei and the other five had contributed more, and their early inner courtyard assessment was due to their age and soul power level.
Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao had no complaints.
'It's not like we could take the inner courtyard assessment now anyway, right?'
'That would be suicide.'
They weren't freaks like Huo Yuhao, who could leap levels as easily as breathing.
If Huo Yuhao knew their thoughts, he'd simply shake his head.
'Just take what's given to you.'
'And isn't it possible that I was the one carrying the key matches?'
'Aside from me and Ma Xiaotao, everyone else performed about the same.'
The reason Mu En was giving them special treatment wasn't just their youth—it was their talent!
A twin martial soul, a rarity even in a decade!
Even Xiao Xiao, whose martial soul was slightly less impressive, still had the potential to reach Super Douluo status.
While Shrek wasn't always benevolent, it knew how to nurture its own geniuses.
Just as Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao were lost in thought, Mu En beckoned them.
"Kids, come here."
Huo Yuhao led them around the long table.
When they saw the frail yet kindly smiling face, Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao gasped.
"That old gatekeeper!?"
Mu En chuckled but didn't explain. Instead, he raised a hand, and a rich golden halo enveloped them.
In a flash, they found themselves in a vast hall with multiple passages branching out on either side.
Mu En explained, "The Sea God Pavilion was carved from a rare golden tree, one imbued with the essence of light and life. The elders constructed it without harming the tree's vitality. Beneath the pavilion lie 108 chambers, each simulating environments suited to different martial souls."
"Every inner courtyard disciple gets a chance to meditate here. Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao—your entry into the inner courtyard is only a matter of time. Given your tournament experience and twin martial souls, I've decided to grant you this opportunity early."
"Training here will yield twice the results for half the effort. But more importantly, it will help you find your own path."
"Our… path?" The two were puzzled.
Mu En smiled. "When you emerge from meditation, the answer will come to you naturally. Wang Dong'er, take the first passage on the right. Ten meters in, push open the door and meditate on the futon inside. Xiao Xiao, take the third passage on the left, second door. You may return to the outer courtyard once you awaken."
"Yes, thank you, Elder!" They bowed deeply.
Mu En's smile deepened. "My surname is Mu. You may call me Elder Mu."
"Understood, Elder Mu." With that, the two departed.
Once they were gone, Mu En stood silently, lips moving as if murmuring something.
Huo Yuhao remained still, awaiting further instructions.
In truth, this was only his second formal meeting with Mu En in the Sea God Pavilion.
The first had been when he secured his spot on the main team—a meeting where their minds had connected, and Huo Yuhao had fully grasped his own path.
Thus, he didn't need the golden tree's guidance to find his way.
But Mu En surely had deeper intentions in bringing him here.
'He wouldn't have called me just to watch, right?'
…
Mu En had chosen the most suitable training environments for them.
Wang Dong'er's chamber brimmed with liquid light energy, while Xiao Xiao's room housed a massive bell.
Huo Yuhao's, however, was similar to Wang Dong'er's.
Unlike in the original timeline, his mental power no longer required the Fear Dragon Room's trials. Instead, Mu En had prioritized what he needed most—soul power enhancement.
At the end of the passage, he pushed open the slightly ajar wooden door.
An overwhelming surge of light energy greeted him.
Inside was a small room, no more than ten square meters, its walls and ceiling entwined with golden roots.
At that moment, Electrolux's voice sounded in his mind.
"Yuhao, this world's top expert isn't bad. Your honorary teacher is nearly at the level I once was. If not for your formidable mental power, he might've even detected me, Big Bug, and Little Scorpion."
Huo Yuhao didn't refute the term honorary teacher.
His relationship with Mu En was one of mutual benefit—a tacit understanding between teacher and disciple.
Still, Huo Yuhao replied respectfully, "Elder, you are my true teacher. As for how close you say he is…"
'The universe at his fingertips, right?'
Electrolux chuckled. "I don't mind. Specialized knowledge requires specialized teachers. As a wisp of spiritual consciousness, I can't teach you much in this regard."
Then, his tone shifted.
"His cultivation is indeed close, but I sense it was forcibly elevated through some fortuitous encounter. Worse, his origin has suffered severe damage—not only stunting his growth but drastically shortening his lifespan. Barring a miracle, this is his limit."
The truth was laid bare.
...
Electrolux saw through Mu En's true nature at a glance.
Mu En's cultivation as a Limit Douluo had indeed been elevated through external means—specifically, the Dragon Pill he obtained from ancient ruins.
However, the energy within the Dragon Pill was far too violent for direct absorption by a human body. Instead, Mu En kept it on his person, relying on its immense power to accelerate his cultivation speed.
Yet, the Dragon Pill was both his salvation and his downfall.
After his battle with Du Bi Si, Mu En—then at Rank 98—chose to refine the Dragon Pill to heal his injuries and push his limits further.
Unexpectedly, the pill harbored a hidden murderous aura, which erupted when Mu En was at his weakest.
Though he eventually used the Dragon Pill's energy to form a second soul core through isotopic resonance, successfully breaking through to Limit Douluo, the backlash left his origin damaged and his body permanently paralyzed.
From then on, Mu En was locked in a constant struggle against the pill's lingering malevolence.
Even the tragedy that befell him in the original timeline could be traced back to this very corruption.
As for Electrolux's remark about going one step further, he was referring to the realm beyond Limit Douluo—Demigod combat prowess.
This is the true pinnacle a soul master can reach without divine intervention.
Every Limit Douluo's rise hinges on talent, strength, and sheer luck.
Had Mu En's origin remained intact, he might have glimpsed that transcendent realm—much like Yun Ming in Douluo III.
In the original Douluo III, reaching Title Douluo required one's mental power to attain the Spirit Abyss Realm. To surpass Limit Douluo, the Spirit Domain Realm was necessary, followed by the Divine Origin Realm.
However, during Douluo II, where mental cultivation was less emphasized, there were only four stages:
Formless and Intangible,
Tangible and Intangible,
Tangible and Tangible,
Demigod.
These two era's mental power systems cannot be directly equated, but a rough comparison can be made:
Spirit Abyss Realm (Title Douluo) < Tangible and Intangible < Tangible and Tangible ≈ Spirit Domain Realm (Limit Douluo).
Beyond that lies the Divine Origin Realm (Divine Consciousness)—a god-tier mental power without a god's authority. This was the level Huo Yuhao achieved in the original work as a Demigod.
For someone like Mu En, who forcibly broke through using the Dragon Pill and suffered lasting consequences, his mental power had clearly not reached the Tangible and Tangible stage.
Without the Dragon Pill's corruption, Mu En's talent might have allowed him to ascend further once his mental power solidified.
Huo Yuhao sought godhood for two reasons: immortality and power.
In a world of extraordinary abilities, eternal life becomes the ultimate pursuit, while strength ensures the preservation of that existence.
The three pillars of godhood are: Divine Consciousness, Divine Power and Divine Body.
Huo Yuhao had no concerns about the first. However, achieving the latter two on Douluo Continent was far more challenging due to the world's restrictive laws.
Typically, one needed a god's seat to convert soul power into divine energy and temper the body.
For long-established gods, their divine seats were more of a shackle than a boon. Having honed their strength independently, they often sought successors to pass their authority onto.
Alternatively, faith-based ascension relied on the collective power of belief to forge a divine seat.
Huo Yuhao had no interest in either path.
With the right timing, he could leverage his Demigod-tier mental power and the Wisdom Gu's assistance to achieve true godhood in a single step.
But for now, he had to take things one bite at a time.
Huo Yuhao's current mental power was only comparable to an average Title Douluo's, barely at the threshold of Tangible and Intangible.
"This place truly is a treasure trove. Focus on your cultivation."
After a few idle remarks, Electrolux's voice faded, and Huo Yuhao began absorbing the golden tree's gifts.
In this vast world, cultivation was paramount.
For now, his primary goal was raising his soul power. Godhood could wait.
Bathed in the tree's pure light and dense worldly energy, his soul power flowed effortlessly, pulling him into deep meditation.
Unlike the empty trance of ordinary meditation, his mind was hyperactive—clearer than ever, brimming with inspiration.
It was as if he were rubbing the Wisdom Gu's radiance.
Though not quite that extreme, accumulated doubts were resolved in an instant, and his knowledge began to synthesize seamlessly.
Meanwhile, the Knife of Life Watch's green sphere trembled in his sea of consciousness, releasing life energy that synergized with the golden tree's gifts to nourish his body.
The two soul beasts within him awoke simultaneously, startled by the tree's overwhelming power.
"Such a boon? Bingbing, let's absorb it together!"
Skydream took the lead, and the Ice Empress joined in.
Bound to Huo Yuhao, their fates were intertwined. If there was energy to accelerate cultivation, they wouldn't hold back.
"Hmm? Is this kid really only a Soul Ancestor?"
Elder Mu, who had just returned to the Sea God Pavilion, raised an eyebrow toward Huo Yuhao's training room.
"Well, just this once. The golden tree won't miss this energy."
During the Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament, Elder Mu had secretly observed Shrek's team in Star Luo City.
Huo Yuhao's brilliance was undeniable.
Setting aside Huo Yuhao's absurd soul skills, Huo Yuhao's mastery of Ice Soul Sword Domain allowed him to dominate despite being a mere Soul Ancestor.
Elder Mu couldn't help but sigh: "In my 200 years of traveling the continent, I've seen countless soul masters and martial souls. But a monster like Huo Yuhao? This is a first."
A prodigy with: Twin martial souls, Spirit-attributed body martial soul, Ultimate Ice and Innate Domain.
To verify Huo Yuhao's second martial soul, Mu En had even ventured to the Extreme North, capturing an Ice Jade Scorpion for study.
He noticed that the stronger the scorpion, the greener its tail. Thus, Huo Yuhao's martial soul was likely the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress—one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts.
But Mu En wasn't certain.
After all, Huo Yuhao's second soul also bore the Innate Domain, a uniqueness beyond comprehension.
Still, everyone had their own fortunes.
Mu En wouldn't pry.
Moreover, Huo Yuhao's integrity and loyalty—especially his refusal of the Body Sect's recruitment—cemented his place as the next Sea God Pavilion Master in Mu En's heart.
As for the Dragon Pill's ownership…
"Sorry, Beibei. You'll have to endure a little."
…
A Month Later
Huo Yuhao's eyes snapped open, golden energy rippling around him.
Thanks to the golden tree's energy, his soul power had surged two levels, from 43 to 45.
"Skydream, how long was I cultivating?"
"About a month," Skydream replied.
The Ice Empress's crisp voice interjected: "Thirty-four days, to be exact. That powerful human checked on you once."
"Good thing Electrolux warned us. Otherwise, your 'teacher' might've noticed us siphoning life energy," Skydream muttered.
"He's a Limit Douluo. Be more careful next time," the Ice Empress chided.
Even in her prime, she'd have been wary of such a human.
Huo Yuhao ignored their bickering, stretching before exiting the room.
It was a shame this deep meditation was a one-time effect. Otherwise, he'd have stayed indefinitely.
Outside, he found Mu En reclining in the hall, while Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao sat cross-legged, absorbing soul bones.
"Elder Mu, what's this?"
"They've found their paths. Consider this a small reward."
The bones were from the academy's collection—not tournament prizes—but perfectly suited for the duo.
"Yuhao, half the credit for Shrek's victory belongs to you. The academy won't shortchange you."
Originally, Mu En had considered granting Huo Yuhao the title of Shrek's Seven Monster for life, but he knew Huo Yuhao cared little for fame.
"So, I've prepared an extra reward. It's with Shaozhe. Collect it after eating."
"Understood."
After a month of fasting, Huo Yuhao was ravenous. The golden tree's energy couldn't fill his stomach.
A lesson from the Immortal Gu: Vitality isn't food!
"By the way, Yuhao, what are your thoughts on the Body Sect?"
Mu En expected their Sect Leader to visit soon and wanted Huo Yuhao's opinion beforehand.
"The Body Sect? I've no interest in people who can't even 'draw a pie' properly."
Mu En chuckled. "Not even their secret techniques? Your Spirit Eye is innately awakened—a spiritual martial soul well-suited for their qi and blood arts."
"Elder Mu, you know me. I didn't join the nearby Tang Sect, let alone the remote, destitute Body Sect. Unless they make me their leader and let me loot their treasury, I'll pass."
"Typical of you." With a smile, Mu En let him go.
…
Yan Shaozhe's Office
Huo Yuhao's reward was a 100,000-year Water-Attributed Right Arm Bone—a high-grade piece from Shrek's reserves.
Though inferior to his Ice Scorpion Left Arm Bone, it would bolster his physique, preparing him to withstand a 100,000-year soul ring in the future.
Huo Yuhao knew leading Shrek to victory wasn't worth such a treasure, but given his status, this was only natural.
Yan Shaozhe had once promised him all soul bones and rings to secure his loyalty.
But promises were just that.
This bone was tangible proof of Shrek's sincerity.
'I might not fuse it, but you'd better give it!'
Yan Shaozhe warned him to keep it secret and save the torso bone for last—preferably a 100,000-year one.
Huo Yuhao nodded perfunctorily.
'Joke's on you—the 400,000-year Ice Jade Scorpion Empress is already my torso bone.'
"Yuhao, will you remain in the outer courtyard or advance to the inner?"
Given Huo Yuhao's performance during the corpse explosion incident and his mastery of outer courtyard basics, staying in the small pond seemed unnecessary.
The choice was his.
…
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