"But…"
Cai Mei'er furrowed her brows, wanting to dissuade Mu En from taking such a risk, but in the end she couldn't bring herself to speak further.
All of the Grand Elders knew full well that Mu En was the pillar of Shrek Academy. If something were to happen to him, it would mean that Shrek would lose its only Limit Douluo!
For a long period of time afterward, the Academy would fall into a vacuum of ultimate strength, bringing with it countless unnecessary dangers.
And yet, precisely because Mu En was the strongest in the Academy, though they all understood his importance and wished he would not put himself in jeopardy, not one of them could bring themselves to openly oppose his decision.
"Qingtong will not die. In the future she will undoubtedly become a Limit Douluo—and it won't take long! A three-spirit Limit Douluo, with one of those spirits being an Ultimate Martial Soul… that is invincible beneath the heavens! With her at the helm, the glory of the Academy will only reach greater heights."
Mu En spoke softly as his eyes swept across those gathered before him.
Between his brows lingered an inextinguishable trace of disappointment and helplessness.
The vision of Shrek's younger generation truly was lacking. Millennia of comfort and strength had made them forget how to lay down long-term plans for the future.
And the silent elders standing before Mu En—how could they not understand this truth?
It was only that…
Yan Shaozhe finally spoke: "But if something were to happen to you, during the time before Qingtong matures, what if the Sun Moon Empire stirs up trouble? And what of Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao? He is also a Limit Douluo… His abduction of Xiao Tao means he stands opposed to the Academy."
"That's right. If we cannot even ensure the Academy's safety in the present, how can we speak of the future?" Cai Mei'er nodded, echoing her husband's concern.
Mu En looked at the couple and let out a long sigh.
It seemed that losing Ma Xiaotao truly had left Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er stuck in a dead-end of thought.
"To resolve this matter, I have already decided—I will go speak with Di Tian. Rest assured, keeping me in the Star Dou Forest won't be so easy, not even for him."
"Elder Mu…"
Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er frowned slightly, but Mu En continued:
"Shaozhe, Mei'er, you must believe in yourselves. Believe that even after I am gone, you will be able to uphold the Academy!"
His tone this time carried weight, and hearing it, the couple fell silent. They no longer argued, tacitly acknowledging his decision.
Mu En then gave some final arrangements and asked Elder Song to accompany him to meet Di Tian.
Song, titled Divine Eagle, was the fastest among the Elders aside from Mu En himself. Should anything go awry in this meeting with Di Tian, with Mu En drawing attention, Elder Song could at least guarantee that Qingtong and Xiao Xiao would be taken away to safety.
Once everything was settled, Mu En set out for the Star Dou Forest with Elder Song at his side.
Elder Song pushed Mu En's wheelchair as the two of them left Shrek City and made their way toward the forest.
Only halfway there did Elder Song finally speak: "Elder Mu, though I said nothing earlier, I too do not agree with you going. These fierce beasts are unpredictable—there's no guarantee something unexpected won't happen. And I don't say this because I fear the Academy losing a powerhouse. I worry for your safety."
Mu En smiled, nodding. "I know your heart. But I must go. Apart from me, there is no one in the Academy who can converse with Di Tian on equal footing."
Even so, Mu En knew that in the eyes of that Beast God, he was hardly equal.
To Di Tian, a human Limit Douluo was nothing more than a somewhat powerful short-lived creature. In the course of his hundreds of thousands of years, how many human Limit Douluos had Di Tian seen come and go?
At last, Elder Song pushed Mu En to the edge of the Star Dou Forest. Gazing at the warning sign erected on the boundary, Mu En spoke in a deep voice:
"Di Tian, this old man has come. Come out and meet me."
His aged voice spread forward, carried far by soul power, resounding deep into the forest.
A flock of startled birds rose into the sky.
Not long after, a reply came from within the forest:
"Come inside."
But Mu En refused Di Tian's demand. "No. We'll meet here. I have come representing humanity, representing Shrek Academy, to negotiate with you soul beasts. Meeting here is more appropriate."
After his words, the forest fell silent for a time. Then, a heavy aura emanated from within. The trees on either side slowly parted, revealing a path that extended out before Mu En and Elder Song.
"Negotiation also requires sincerity. Mu En, you refuse to enter—are you afraid?"
Though Di Tian remained far away, his voice rang clearly in Mu En's ears.
Mu En's reply was sharp: "Then may I ask, Beast God, are you afraid of us humans, that you refuse to come meet me at the edge of the Star Dou Forest?"
"…Then let us speak across this distance. Whatever we say, we can both hear."
Di Tian paid Mu En's retort no mind. Since the old man would not enter, he would not force him.
But for him to step out to Mu En instead?
Impossible.
No matter what, he still bore the pride of the Beast God.
Mu En did not press further. He inclined his head slightly. "So be it. Beast God Di Tian, during the last beast tide, your kind signed a covenant with Shrek Academy—to not intrude upon each other. The Academy also promised never to interfere with the Star Dou's core region. Yet now, our people were only in the outer areas hunting for spirit rings, when your fierce beasts struck at them without warning. That is a violation of the covenant! As Beast God, to break your word—does that not harm your own cultivation?"
The covenant between Shrek Academy and the soul beasts was only words written on paper. Yet since its signing, both sides had by and large adhered to it.
For cultivators at their level, a mere written oath might seem meaningless, but every true powerhouse carried pride. They would not easily violate a promise. The deeper their cultivation, the more sensitive they became to the subtle laws of the world, and the less they would dare to act against their heart, lest it harm their own path.
But in response to Mu En's questioning, Di Tian remained composed as he said:
"It was your people who struck first! Bear Lord, step forward and explain the situation to him."
A towering man strode out to stand before Di Tian—this was the Bear King. He looked down on Mu En with disdain.
"One of my clan was scouting when your people captured him, intending to take his spirit ring! I don't care what happens to other beasts, but in front of me, to dare touch a Dark-Gold Terror Claw Bear? That so-called Glutton Douluo of yours must be tired of living!"
Pls drop some power stones supper me at my
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