The Holy Dragon fell, and Shrek lost its protective umbrella.
At this moment, the entire Shrek Academy was shrouded in a thick layer of gloom.
Mu En could have performed one final Light Baptism at the end of his life, aiding the cultivation of those present and exerting his last bit of usefulness.
However, he did not do this.
He saved all his power and integrated it into the Golden Ancient Tree.
Then, using ten percent of the power he had saved, he attempted to leverage the Golden Ancient Tree to sprinkle down a Life Baptism.
Using only ten percent, utilizing the power of the Golden Ancient Tree, he achieved an effect equivalent to the Light Baptism he could have performed himself.
The remaining ninety percent would settle, assisting in his final act of protecting Shrek later.
After the Life Baptism, everyone in the Sea God Pavilion seemed to be reborn. Even Xuan Zi changed from being listless to having a radiant spirit.
Of course, his numb gaze remained unchanged.
Staring blankly as Mu En departed, Xuan Zi felt a complex mix of emotions.
Suddenly, for a moment, he felt he had grown up.
He no longer had Elder Mu, who had always tolerated him.
In the future, if he made mistakes, there would truly be no one to cover for him or help him remedy the situation.
The Pavilion Elders did not absorb too much of the Life Baptism's power, leaving it for the younger generation present.
The selection of the Shrek Seven Monsters, i.e., the team members for the Soul Fighting Grand Prix, had been completed ahead of time. This was a decision Mu En made when he felt his end was near; he wanted to witness the selection of the Shrek Seven Monsters for these two sessions with his own eyes.
Huo Yuhao successfully made the selection.
Whether it was his Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Wang Dong, the functionality of his Spirit Eyes' Mental Detection Sharing in team battles, or the strong support from Qian Duoduo, the Dean of the Spirit Tool Department, all left others with nothing to say.
Even Dai Huabin could only feel resentful.
Because Mu En had explicitly supported the development of the Spirit Tool Department, this selection of the Shrek Seven Monsters required that two spots must come from the Spirit Tool Department, which allowed Qian Duoduo to strongly endorse Huo Yuhao.
Not convinced? Then you join the Spirit Tool Department too and show talent in Spirit Tools.
At this moment, both generations of the Shrek Seven Monsters, fourteen people in total, were bathed in the Life Baptism. The older generation, like Dai Yueheng and others, only showed some changes in aura without a Spirit Power breakthrough, while Huo Yuhao's group of seven all collectively rose by one level.
Huo Yuhao even broke through to Level 20 on the spot, feeling both shocked and delighted.
The grief over Mu En's passing lasted for a long time.
Leaving a shadow in everyone's hearts.
Confinement Area.
Wang Yan came before Xuan Zi, his face hesitant.
"Elder Xuan, Elder Mu just passed away and instructed that you must continue your confinement, I..."
"Elder Mu didn't say I had to continue abstaining from food, you fool. Didn't you hear Elder Mu tell me to gradually master my Martial Soul's instincts?"
Xuan Zi wore a disdainful expression.
"And you research Martial Souls! The instinct of my Martial Soul is to eat. The old me couldn't control my eating. Elder Mu's meaning was for me to control my appetite, not to fast."
The corner of Wang Yan's mouth twitched.
He felt Elder Xuan was sophistry, but he had no evidence, and didn't know where to submit evidence even if he did.
"Alright, quickly bring the chicken legs to this old man. No, this time I want a whole roast chicken. By the way, I heard that kid Huo Yuhao is quite skilled at grilling fish. Get me seven or eight to try."
Xuan Zi listed many dishes, and Wang Yan's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Elder Xuan, don't you need to master it gradually? Eating so much at once will waste the entire half-year of fasting."
"Stop blabbering, this old man knows his own limits."
Xuan Zi waved his hand grandly, directly pushing Wang Yan out.
"Hurry up and bring it to me."
Wang Yan looked helpless.
What else could he do? He could only let Elder Xuan have his way.
Now that Elder Mu was gone, who in the entire academy could forcefully suppress Elder Xuan?
If they really drove Elder Xuan mad, who in the academy could stop him if he went on a rampage?
If Elder Xuan then left the academy and complained that Shrek wouldn't even give him a full meal, that would be utterly embarrassing.
Wang Yan studied theory, and precisely because of that, he was more apprehensive. He could vaguely sense the issues with Xuan Zi's Martial Soul; if mishandled in the aspect of eating, it could very likely mutate into an Evil Martial Soul.
Blacksmith Association.
"Teacher, what brings you here?"
Su Ming was surprised by Du Busi's appearance at the Association.
"You had a conflict with the Holy Spirit Cult here. Your teacher was worried something might happen, so I came to oversee things."
Hearing this, Su Ming was deeply moved.
It was important to know that the Sun Moon royalty had not yet clearly stated the legal status of the Body Sect. Currently, only the Blacksmith Association was legal, while the Body Sect existed under the identity of the Association's core members.
For Du Busi to come into Sun Moon territory, especially to the Sun Moon Imperial Capital, was a considerable risk. Once his whereabouts were exposed, he could very likely be targeted by concentrated fire.
"Alright, just act as if I'm not here. Continue with the normal construction."
Du Busi waved his hand, instructing Su Ming and the others not to give themselves away.
Su Ming took a deep breath and didn't continue being sentimental.
Originally, he had set aside forging, but since Du Busi had come here for their safety, he also had to ensure the safety of his teacher.
"Elder Yi, how far is my teacher from a breakthrough? Can you tell?"
"I don't understand the cultivation of you Spirit Masters, but your teacher is currently in a state of spiritual fullness and physical vigour, all aspects are saturated. He is at least capable of冲击 (impacting/attempting) the Ninety-Ninth Level," Electrolux said objectively.
"What if I help my teacher with Fusion Forging again? Nether Iron plus Blue Pregnancy Copper – one assists his poison skills, the other nurtures new life. After Fusion Forging these two rare metals and then performing Spirit Refinement, infusing them with the Body Sect's faith, can it increase his chances of a breakthrough? Not necessarily a normal breakthrough, I mean a breakthrough encountered in a life-or-death battle crisis."
"Ninety percent."
Electrolux gave the answer.
"If your teacher enters closed-door cultivation to attempt a breakthrough, his success rate might only be forty or fifty percent. But if he encounters a desperate situation in battle, his breakthrough success probability is over ninety percent."
"Given his condition, if he truly achieves ultimate sublimation, he can reach the Ninety-Ninth Level. The problem is how to break through safely and maintain that state, rather than having a brief moment of glory."
"The Body Sect's fortune is expanding, currently in an upward trend. If you bind the Body Sect's faith to your teacher, once he is suppressed in battle, the entire Body Sect's fortune will be the first to react, bestowing its blessing upon him."
Electrolux marvelled.
"Your idea is indeed very ingenious. Your teacher also seems to have sensed something; instead of entering seclusion, he is moving towards dangerous places."
It could be said that the current Du Busi was like a porcupine.
If you don't hit him, he will come out to cause you trouble.
If you hit him, once you push him into a corner, he can break through.
Su Ming spent five days successfully forging a piece of Nether-Blue Pregnancy Copper at the Spirit Refinement level and gave it to Du Busi.
The establishment of the Blacksmith Association proceeded without causing any waves. The entire Sun Moon Imperial Capital was unusually quiet. The Holy Spirit Cult also seemed to have swallowed this grievance, offering no retaliation whatsoever.
***
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(Chapter 174 - End)