Long Xiaoyao looked at Mu En in the wheelchair, waiting for his follow-up.
Mu En did not speak immediately; he slowly extended his hand and took out a small object from his Spirit Tool.
The item was not large, only the size of a cherry, completely round, and emitting a faint golden light.
The light was very soft, not blinding, yet it carried an aura that made one feel relaxed and happy.
Long Xiaoyao's pupils constricted slightly.
He could feel that the small bead contained a type of energy that was extremely pure and extremely powerful.
That energy caused his Dark Sacred Dragon Spirit to produce a slight tremor.
"This is..." Long Xiaoyao's brows furrowed slightly.
"Dragon Core." Mu En spoke, his voice very light, sounding as if it did not have much strength.
"Dragon Core?"
"That's right." Mu En nodded, his gaze falling on the golden bead, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes.
"This is something I discovered by chance years ago in an ancient ruin."
"It was the corpse of a Bright Sacred Dragon. I don't know how many years it had been dead; the body had already decayed, leaving only a Dragon Core."
"This Dragon Core was formed by the condensation of that Dragon's entire essence, containing an extremely vast amount of energy."
Mu En's gaze remained on the Dragon Core before him, and then he slowly spoke.
"When I first obtained it, its power was quite tyrannical. Ordinary Spirit Masters could hardly withstand it. Even I injured my Origin because of this thing, but... fortunately, I placed it within my own body to nourish it for over a hundred years, finally wearing down its sharp edges and making it gentle."
Upon hearing these words, Long Xiaoyao fell silent, but he soon spoke again.
"So, you brought me here for the sake of this Dragon Core?"
"Correct, Xiaoyao. I hope you can do me a favor."
He raised his head, looking at Long Xiaoyao, a flash of clarity passing through his cloudy eyes.
"At the appropriate time..." Mu En handed the Dragon Core to Long Xiaoyao.
"Give this Dragon Core to Bei Bei."
Long Xiaoyao was slightly stunned.
"Bei Bei?"
"My great-great-grandson." A faint smile tugged at the corners of Mu En's mouth.
"He is also the one I have set my sights on, the future Sect Leader of Shrek Academy."
"This child has good talent and good Heart-Nature, it's just..." He paused, his tone filled with a bit of heartache.
"It's just that his strength is a bit weak."
"He did not inherit my Bright Sacred Dragon Spirit, nor did he inherit my talent. His Cultivation speed is far inferior to mine back in the day."
"But he is very hardworking, more hardworking than anyone else."
"It's just that... in this world, relying on hard work alone is not enough."
Mu En's voice grew lighter and slower.
"Therefore, I want to give this Dragon Core to him."
"The power of the Dragon Core can purify his body, elevate his Bloodline, and strengthen his bones."
"After his body is strengthened, even when he reaches the level of a Limit Douluo, he won't have to worry about being unable to withstand the power."
"This is the last thing I can do as his Ancestor Mu, and it is also the most suitable successor I have chosen as the Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy."
When Mu En said these words, Long Xiaoyao listened quite quietly, not interrupting Mu En's words. From Mu En's words, Long Xiaoyao did not hear the slightest resentment, nor did he vent any dissatisfaction from the past.
Long Xiaoyao did not ask why Mu En trusted him so much, not fearing that he would kill for the treasure. In the past, Mu En was indeed stronger than him, but now, Mu En was old and frail, his bodily functions far inferior to what they once were.
If he wanted to, he would only need to pay a little more of a price.
However... Long Xiaoyao ultimately chose not to act. Just as Mu En trusted him, he would not make a move against Mu En.
Long Xiaoyao reached out and solemnly accepted the Dragon Core.
The golden light pulsed slightly in his palm, as if responding to his touch.
"Very well." Long Xiaoyao nodded and stored the Dragon Core in his Spirit Tool.
"I will give it to Bei Bei at the appropriate time."
"Thank you." Mu En let out a long breath, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.
"Are there any other arrangements?" Long Xiaoyao asked.
Mu En shook his head.
"No more."
"That you were able to help me with this matter is already enough."
Long Xiaoyao looked at him in silence, not speaking. A complex emotion welled up in his heart.
He had originally thought that Mu En brought him here to entrust him with the care of Shrek Academy.
After all, in Mu En's entire life, apart from the bond between the three of them, what he valued most was the honor of Shrek Academy.
Back then, for the sake of Shrek Academy, Mu En could risk his own life.
Now that he was about to pass away, was he not worried about the future of Shrek Academy?
But Mu En did not; he did not ask Long Xiaoyao to take care of Shrek Academy, not even mentioning a word of it.
He only entrusted the future of his great-great-grandson.
Long Xiaoyao took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
"I understand."
He paused and added.
"Brother Mu, take care."
Mu En smiled.
"You take care too."
Long Xiaoyao turned around, his feet lightly tapping the ground, and his entire body soared into the air. The silver moonlight spilled onto him, stretching his back silhouette very long. He did not look back, just quietly hovered in mid-air, and then turned into a streak of light, disappearing into the night.
Long Xiaoyao knew clearly that this Dragon Core was originally something inside Mu En's body. Mu En had spent a hundred years nourishing this Dragon Core, and in turn, the Dragon Core had provided feedback to Mu En, maintaining Mu En's life.
Now... with the Dragon Core in his hands, the lifespan Mu En had left was likely even shorter than the few months he had initially mentioned.
On the roof, only Mu En was left. The moonlight remained bright and clear, and the night remained cold and quiet.
Mu En sat in his wheelchair, watching the direction where Long Xiaoyao had disappeared, silent for a long time.
It was not that he did not want to entrust Long Xiaoyao with the care of Shrek Academy.
Rather... he could not.
Their stances were different. If he intervened in the affairs of Shrek Academy, it would only make things more complicated.
By then, not only would there be panic within Shrek Academy, but those forces outside eyeing Shrek Academy covetously would also seize the opportunity to make trouble.
Perhaps... even the one or two things he originally wanted to accomplish would be ruined because of it.
Mu En shook his head and gave a bitter smile.
He thought of Elder Xuan, and he thought of those old veterans of the Sea God Pavilion.
Each and every one of them gave him a headache.
"Forget it..." He whispered to himself.
"Let this matter be as it is."
Mu En drove his wheelchair and slowly descended from the roof.
The wheelchair landed on the corridor, making a slight sound.
He pushed open the door and returned to his sickroom.
In the sickroom, the lights were bright.
Elder Xuan was sitting on a chair to the side; seeing Mu En enter, he hurriedly stood up.
"Elder Mu, you went out?" His voice carried a hint of concern.
"Yes." Mu En nodded, not saying much more.
He drove his wheelchair back to the bedside and slowly lay down.
Elder Xuan looked at him, opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but didn't know if he should ask.
Finally, he couldn't help but speak.
"Elder Mu, what... did you go out to do?"
Mu En glanced at him and said indifferently.
"Nothing."
Just two words, understated, without any emotion.
Elder Xuan's heart sank sharply.
He could feel Mu En's alienation towards him.
A sense of indescribable grievance welled up in Elder Xuan's heart.
Wasn't everything he did for the sake of Shrek Academy?
When Mu En was in a coma, the Sea God Pavilion was leaderless, and it was he who stood up to preside over the overall situation.
He tried his best to stabilize the situation of Shrek Academy.
Even if the result was that Shrek Academy was on a downward slope, he had been trying to find ways, trying to find ways to rebuild the honor of Shrek Academy.
Even if the final result was not good, his original intention had never changed.
He loved Shrek Academy no less than anyone else.
But now... Mu En did not trust him.
Elder Xuan took a deep breath, suppressing the grievance in his heart, and looked at Mu En's aged face.
He did not explain, nor did he argue.
Because he knew that explanations were useless, and arguing was also useless.
Trust is the kind of thing that, once lost, is very difficult to regain.
But... he could not give up.
Even if Mu En did not trust him now, he still had to continue working for Shrek Academy.
He had to use his actions to regain Mu En's trust.
Not to prove anything, but because... he was a person of Shrek Academy.
Born a person of Shrek Academy, die a ghost of Shrek Academy.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
1 Review = 1 Bonus Chapter
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