Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's terrified voice rang out—clearly, he had sensed Mu En's aura.
Facing Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's panic, Huo Yuhao burst out laughing.
"You're a million-year soul beast, and you're this cowardly?"
"Relax. Nothing's going to happen."
Only after Huo Yuhao's reassurance did Tianmeng Ice Silkworm finally calm down.
Huo Yuhao had met Mu En several times before, but on those occasions Mu En had merely been lying there basking in the sun, without releasing his soul power at all. Naturally, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm hadn't sensed anything.
Now that Mu En's soul power was being released, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm felt as though he had fallen back into the Star Dou Great Forest, once again plunging into that endless hell he had barely escaped.
Fortunately, reassured by Huo Yuhao, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm soon fell back into a deep sleep.
It felt as though only a minute had passed—yet also like an entire century. Gradually, the warm aura of light faded away.
One after another, everyone awakened from that wondrous sensation.
The first to wake was Wang Dong. Her face was filled with delight. As the same light-attribute power resonated with each other, in just this short moment, Wang Dong had already reached Rank 40 and was now able to hunt for her fourth soul ring!
Not only that, she felt as if her soul power had been thoroughly cleansed, becoming even purer.
The golden light on her left arm was still flickering, not fading away immediately.
After Wang Dong, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luocheng, and the others also awakened one after another.
Once everyone had fully awakened, they filed into the Sea God Pavilion.
Stepping into the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion, everything appeared ancient and simple. Whether it was the furniture or the decorations, all the materials seemed to be made from the same unique wood as the pavilion itself.
In the center of the spacious hall stood a long table. The four deans and Elder Xuan were already seated beside it.
Besides them, a number of elderly figures were seated on both sides of the table. Huo Yuhao was unfamiliar with many of them—after all, some of these figures hadn't even appeared in the story before.
However, Huo Yuhao keenly noticed that there was a single empty seat reserved at the front of the long table.
"Strange. I don't remember this being mentioned in the plot at all?"
Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted slightly as he analyzed who that chair might be for.
Before long, Yan Shaozhe provided the answer.
"Huo Yuhao, come and sit. This seat was specially prepared for you!"
"Right now, you are the Shrek Academy's number one prodigy, renowned across the entire continent!"
"You deserve to have a seat arranged just for you!"
As he spoke, Yan Shaozhe gestured for Huo Yuhao to take his seat.
The girls standing behind Huo Yuhao didn't find this inappropriate at all—in fact, they felt happy for him.
At this moment, the glory of the Sea God Pavilion seemed to converge upon Huo Yuhao alone. As they looked at him, for reasons unknown, their hearts began to race.
Once Huo Yuhao was seated, Yan Shaozhe smiled and said:
"Children, welcome home! This time, you represented the academy in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament with a severely incomplete lineup, yet still claimed the final championship. We've already heard about the entire process."
"Calling you here today is to announce the academy's rewards and goodwill toward you. We hope that in the future, you will continue striving forward and not grow arrogant because of your current achievements."
Everyone behind Huo Yuhao hurriedly bowed to the elders present.
"Next, I will announce the rewards," Yan Shaozhe said solemnly. "Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luocheng!"
"Yes!"
Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luocheng stepped forward first.
Yan Shaozhe said in a deep voice, "As inner court disciples, you failed to properly protect your teammates while carrying out a supervision mission."
"This led to your teammates being severely injured, which in turn affected participation in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. You are each given a major demerit!"
"What?" Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luocheng never expected such a result. They were instantly shocked.
Seeing the two of them, Yan Shaozhe's expression darkened.
"What? Do you have objections?"
"Ma Xiaotao, as the team's main assault-type battle soul master, what is the role of an assault-type soul master? Charging head-on and protecting teammates. Did you do that?"
"And you, Ling Luocheng— as the main control soul master, did you provide sufficient control in that battle?"
"Don't forget, you were already dead! It was Huo Yuhao who spared no cost to revive you!"
"From the circumstances at the time, the team's casualties were the result of your collective carelessness and underestimation of the enemy. As inner court disciples of Shrek Academy, is that the level of combat power you should have demonstrated?"
"It was precisely because of your arrogance that Dai Yueheng was completely reduced to a cripple!"
"Even outer court students know the principle that a lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit. What about you?"
Under Yan Shaozhe's scolding, Ling Luocheng couldn't help but lower her head. Only Ma Xiaotao wore a puzzled expression.
"Teacher, Dai Yueheng became a vegetable?"
"By all logic, he shouldn't have been reduced to a cripple, right?"
At that, Yan Shaozhe almost jumped up in fury.
"You still have the nerve to ask?!"
"Dai Yueheng didn't just become a vegetable—he completely lost a man's symbol!"
"From now on, how is he any different from a cripple?!"
...
Given her many interactions with Huo Yuhao, how could Ma Xiaotao not understand? She immediately shut her mouth and lowered her head in silence.
Even the others present had pale expressions.
Reduced to a cripple… that was simply too terrifying.
Looking at the silent, downcast crowd, Yan Shaozhe's tone finally softened a little.
"Faults are faults, and merits are merits. Your rewards will not be revoked. However, they will be reduced accordingly, so that you may learn from this lesson."
"Remember this well: life is precious. No one gets a second chance."
"Thank you, Dean."
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's heartfelt words and his tireless admonitions, Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luocheng nodded firmly in response.
Yan Shaozhe nodded and said, "You've worked hard as well. Go back and rest. Remember—everything you've seen in the Sea God Pavilion must remain confidential."
"As for Dai Yueheng, it's no longer appropriate for him to remain at Shrek. I will arrange for him to take the inner court graduation assessment. From now on, unless there's something necessary, it's best that you don't go see him."
"After all, given what happened, there's no guarantee he won't blame you for it."
"Losing a man's symbol could very well cause hatred to erupt in his heart. Right now, he's essentially a ticking time bomb."
"Yes."
After respectfully bowing once more, Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luocheng withdrew from the Sea God Pavilion.
Only after leaving the small building did both of them let out a long sigh of relief.
Although they hadn't received any significant rewards, at least they hadn't truly been punished.
At the very least, this tournament mission could be considered successfully completed. With that thought, Ling Luocheng spoke first.
"Xiaotao… should we go visit Dai Yueheng?"
~~~
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