Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
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Three days later, in the early morning, sunlight filtered through the windows of the Sea God Pavilion, spilling onto the Golden Ancient Tree and making those golden leaves shine brilliantly.
Mu En sat in a wheelchair, and Bei Bei pushed him, slowly entering the Sea God Pavilion.
The Sea God Pavilion was vast and quiet; the air was filled with an ancient and sacred aura.
The Golden Ancient Tree stood in the center of the hall, its trunk thick and its branches lush. Golden light spilled down from the canopy, illuminating the entire hall.
Bei Bei looked up at that towering ancient tree, a sense of inexplicable awe rising in his heart.
"Ancestor Mu, you brought me here..."
"Do not speak."
Mu En waved his hand, signaling Bei Bei to push him to the side of the Golden Ancient Tree.
Bei Bei did as he was told. The wheelchair stopped beside the ancient tree, and the golden light shone upon Mu En's pale face, making his wrinkles appear even clearer.
Mu En looked up at the Golden Ancient Tree and remained silent for a moment.
Then, he turned his head to look at Bei Bei.
"Bei Bei."
His voice was soft and slow, carrying a hint of apology.
"These past years... as your Ancestor Mu, I have truly given you too little guidance."
"Ancestor Mu!"
Bei Bei hurriedly shook his head.
"Please do not say that. The guidance you have given me is already enough."
"Enough?"
Mu En gave a bitter smile.
"How is it enough?"
"I taught you combat techniques, taught you to Cultivate, taught you how to conduct yourself in the world... yet I have never truly spent time with you."
"I have not been... a qualified Ancestor Mu."
Bei Bei opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was stopped by Mu En raising his hand.
"Enough."
Mu En took a deep breath.
"At the very end... let me do one more thing for you."
Bei Bei was slightly stunned.
"Ancestor Mu, you..."
"Do not ask."
Mu En shook his head, then reached out a hand and placed it gently on top of Bei Bei's head.
That hand was light, thin, and bony, yet it carried a temperature that put one at ease.
"Bei Bei, you possess the Bloodline of the Bright Sacred Dragon within you."
"It is just that... it has always been in a semi-mutated state and has not fully undergone Awakening."
Bei Bei's pupils contracted sharply.
"So..."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Mu En's mouth.
"Today, Ancestor Mu will help you finish this path."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mu En closed his eyes.
A massive surge of Spirit Power gushed from his body, flowing through his palm and into Bei Bei's body.
At the same time, the Golden Ancient Tree suddenly lit up.
Intense golden light poured down from the canopy like a golden waterfall, enveloping both Mu En and Bei Bei!
The entire Sea God Pavilion lit up in that instant!
The golden light flashed and vanished, but Bei Bei clearly felt that some kind of earth-shattering change had occurred within his body.
His Spirit... was evolving!
His original Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit, under the power of Mu En and the blessing of the Golden Ancient Tree, began to transform!
Thunder and light intertwined; blue light and golden light underwent Fusion!
A brand new power awakened within him!
In just a fleeting moment, the golden light slowly dissipated.
Bei Bei slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if he had been reborn.
He could feel that his Spirit was no longer the original Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
It was...
"Blue Lightning Bright Tyrant Dragon."
Mu En's voice rang in Bei Bei's ears, carrying a hint of exhaustion and a hint of gratification.
"Blue Lightning... Bright... Tyrant Dragon?"
Bei Bei muttered to himself, feeling that brand new power within his body.
"Correct."
Mu En nodded.
"Your Spirit has completed its mutation."
"From now on, you are the wielder of the Blue Lightning Bright Tyrant Dragon."
Bei Bei's eyes were full of shock. He instinctively looked at Mu En, but was completely stunned.
Mu En's complexion was even paler than before, almost like that of a dead person. His already gaunt face was now sunken, his eye sockets hollow, and his cheekbones prominent.
It was as if that single moment had consumed his life force.
"Ancestor Mu!"
Bei Bei's voice was trembling.
"You... what is wrong with you?!"
"It is nothing."
Mu En waved his hand, his tone casual.
"I just... expended a little bit of strength."
"A little bit of strength?"
Bei Bei's eyes turned red.
"You are lying! Your complexion..."
"Bei Bei."
Mu En interrupted him, his voice carrying a hint of sternness.
"Do not cry."
"I was already at the end of my rope; that just now only accelerated things by a few days."
"No..."
Bei Bei's tears could no longer be held back, rolling down his cheeks.
"Ancestor Mu, please do not go..."
"Silly child."
Mu En looked at him, his eyes full of kindness.
"Birth, old age, sickness, and death are the natural order of things."
"I have lived for so long; it is enough."
He paused and then added.
"Besides... to be able to help you complete your Spirit mutation before I leave, I have no regrets in death."
Bei Bei gritted his teeth, trying desperately to hold back his tears, but he could not stop them.
"Alright, stop crying."
Mu En took a thick book from his Spirit Tool and handed it to Bei Bei.
The book was very old; the cover had yellowed, and the edges were worn.
But the pages were well-preserved, filled with dense writing.
"This is everything I have learned in my life."
Mu En's voice was very soft.
"Spirit Ability, combat techniques, insights on how to Cultivate, combat experience... it is all in there."
"Take it back, study it well, and learn well."
Bei Bei took the book with trembling hands and nodded vigorously.
"Combined with the combat techniques I taught you before... Cultivate well, and do not let them go to waste."
"Yes..."
Bei Bei's voice was choked with sobs.
Mu En looked at Bei Bei, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke slowly.
"There is one more thing."
"Please speak."
"Luo Chen, you should know her, right?"
Bei Bei was slightly taken aback and nodded.
"I know her."
"She has now joined that Shrek Academy in the sky."
Mu En paused.
"If there are no surprises, that girl Lexuan should have joined as well."
Zhang Lexuan, Bei Bei certainly knew her—the Senior Sister of the Shrek Academy Inner Court, gifted and powerful.
At the same time... she was also his fiancée, though that was a betrothal Mu En had foolishly set years ago.
"Ancestor Mu, what do you mean..."
"If you meet Lexuan in the future, tell her that she need not care about our thoughts."
Mu En's voice was very calm.
"Since she joined that academy, she should just stay there and not feel guilty."
"She has given too much to Shrek Academy over these many years; she has long since repaid what happened back then."
"The betrothal I established back then... is also void."
"Now that she has accepted the favor of that academy, she should work for that academy."
Mu En looked at Bei Bei and said every word clearly.
"The current Shrek Academy has nothing to do with her anymore."
Bei Bei was stunned. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found he could say nothing.
He understood Mu En's meaning.
Zhang Lexuan had given her youth, her sweat, and countless efforts to Shrek Academy.
She no longer owed Shrek Academy anything.
Now that she had found a better place, Shrek Academy should not be a burden to her.
At the same time... it was also giving the current Shrek Academy a chance.
"I understand."
Bei Bei nodded, his voice low.
"Ancestor Mu, if I meet her, I will convey your words to her."
"Mm."
Mu En nodded with satisfaction.
"Also."
Mu En spoke again.
"Bei Bei, after I die, all the Spirit Bone on my body... will be left to you."
Bei Bei's pupils contracted sharply, and he hurriedly shook his head.
"No! Ancestor Mu, how can this be?!"
Mu En interrupted him.
"Bei Bei, if you want to become stronger, you cannot lack these things."
"Even as the Sea God Pavilion Master, a corpse can still be repurposed rather than simply buried in the earth; that would be too much of a waste. Rather than letting these Spirit Bone accompany me into the darkness forever, it is better to let them stay with you to aid in your growth. Perhaps... these Spirit Bone fused within my body can help your Spirit further evolve into a Bright Sacred Dragon."
"And..."
Mu En paused, his tone becoming a bit heavier.
"Shrek Academy, needs you."
Bei Bei gritted his teeth, tears surging out again.
He did not want to accept it, but he could not refuse.
Because... this was Ancestor Mu's final wish.
"Yes..."
Bei Bei knelt down and kowtowed deeply to Mu En.
"Ancestor Mu, I... I will certainly not fail your expectations."
"Good child."
Mu En reached out and gently patted Bei Bei's head.
"Get up."
Mu En took Bei Bei back to the hospital room.
Then, he had Bei Bei notify all the elders of the Sea God Pavilion to come to the room for a meeting.
This was the first time the Sea God Pavilion had held a meeting in a hospital room.
Seeing Mu En's pale face, the elders all felt a sense of foreboding.
Elder Xuan walked at the very back; his gaze landed on Bei Bei, then looked at Mu En, and he vaguely guessed what was happening.
"Everyone is here."
Mu En leaned against the head of the bed, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces.
"I called you here today to announce something."
"Old Mu, please speak."
Elder Xuan said.
Mu En nodded, then reached out a hand and pointed at Bei Bei, who was standing to the side.
"From today on, Bei Bei is the next Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy that I have designated."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room was in an uproar.
"What?!"
"Bei Bei? How old is he?"
"Old Mu, this..."
The elders murmured among themselves, their faces full of confusion.
Elder Xuan's brow was also tightly furrowed.
Bei Bei was indeed Mu En's great-grandson, and his talent was good, but... he was only a teenager!
To let a teenager manage the entire Shrek Academy?
This...
"Quiet."
Mu En's voice carried an unquestionable majesty.
The hospital room instantly fell silent.
"I know what you are thinking."
Mu En spoke slowly.
"Bei Bei is young, his strength is not yet strong enough, and his experience is not rich enough."
"But... he has a sense of the big picture, a sense of responsibility, and he is dependable."
"Moreover, he is my great-grandson, and I watched him grow up."
"I trust him."
Mu En's gaze landed on the face of every elder.
"Therefore, I also hope you will trust him."
"From today on, all matters of Shrek Academy shall be decided by Bei Bei."
"Whoever does not listen..."
Mu En paused, his tone becoming a bit sharper.
"will no longer be a part of Shrek Academy."
The elders looked at each other, and no one dared to speak.
Mu En's gaze finally landed on Elder Xuan.
"Elder Xuan, especially you."
Elder Xuan's body trembled slightly; he had actually been singled out by name by Mu En.
However, he also knew that with Mu En in this state, no matter what he said, he would not be allowed to object.
"Yes..."
Elder Xuan could only concede.
"Huiqun, I hope you... will not let me down again."
Mu En's words were meaningful; those cloudy eyes swept across all the elders of the Sea God Pavilion present.
"Yes!"
Three days later, early morning.
Mu En lay on the hospital bed, his breathing faint, his face like paper.
Bei Bei kept watch by his bedside, never leaving his side.
"Bei Bei..."
Mu En opened his eyes, looked at Bei Bei, and a faint smile appeared on the corners of his mouth.
"Do not cry."
"After I am gone, you must take good care of yourself."
"Cultivate well, manage the academy well..."
"Do not fail my expectations."
Bei Bei desperately held back his tears and nodded vigorously.
"Ancestor Mu, I... I certainly will."
"Good."
Mu En smiled, slowly closed his eyes, and his breathing grew weaker and weaker.
Finally... it stopped completely.
The hospital room was silent, and the elders of the Sea God Pavilion looked solemn.
Bei Bei knelt before the bed, tears sliding down silently.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
1 Review = 1 Bonus Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.