Chapter 90: Sea God Pavilion Meeting: Jinshui Xianghan, the Silver Dragon Dragon Core, and the Emperor

“Hey, is this right?”

Inside the car, everyone exchanged uneasy glances; even Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue paused their holiday planning to stare at the broadcast footage on the soul-tool TV.

The turn of events came without warning—they had been told by the commentator that Shrek Academy was certain to win, so how had it suddenly jumped to the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy giving their victory speech!?

The Shrek team members lay scattered across the ground; Tang Wulin, gritting his teeth against his wounds, slowly rose, clutching his blood-soaked chest, his eyes filled with defiance and despair.

Xie Xie and Xu Lizhi trembled violently; they represented Shrek—they had lost, on a battlefield broadcast live across the entire Federation, defeated by their archenemy, the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy!

Xu Yucheng, Luo Guixing, and Zheng Yiran turned pale as death, their hearts hollow; the consequences of this Shrek Academy defeat far surpassed those of the Four-Year-Old Heaven-Sea Alliance Tournament.

The Heaven-Sea Alliance Tournament was merely a soul master celebration among cities under the Heaven-Sea Alliance, its influence dwarfed by the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy, the continent’s second-ranked academy; moreover, the team that defeated Shrek back then was the East Sea Academy squad.

East Sea Academy had never held any grudge against Shrek; in fact, they shared deep ties—their instructor was Wu Changkong, a former inner-cadre disciple of Shrek, and over half of Gu Yue, Tang Wulin, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xie Xie had once been students of East Sea Academy’s Class Zero.

Combined with the heavy cost paid to secure Zhao Xuanzhen’s trio’s cooperation, Shrek’s public relations had remained manageable.

But the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy and Shrek Academy were ancestral enemies; their hatred had festered for ten thousand years and grown fiercer with time—there could be no reconciliation, only relentless propaganda to smear Shrek’s defeat and shatter the first academy’s ten-thousand-year prestige, ensuring every soul on the Douluo Continent knew of it!

As Shrek’s competing members, these six would be forever nailed to the pillar of shame; even seppuku could not atone for such a colossal crime!

The six staggered off the field; Wu Changkong, assigned to protect them, wore a grim expression—his instructor bore equal blame.

In stark contrast, the audience seats erupted in wild jubilation; in the center of the massive arena, the two martial soul fusion techniques remained active, the tiger’s roar thundering, the Snow Goddess dancing, drawing wave after wave of deafening cheers.

Media crews raised their long lenses and short cannons, scrambling to interview the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy’s dean, the Golden Toad Douluo Mo Hongchen.

Mo Hongchen, his belly swollen, addressed countless cameras with fiery passion: “Today was an ordinary day—until six Shrek students came here to challenge us, making it extraordinary!

Our outstanding students lived up to expectations and defeated Shrek!

I believe Shrek Academy’s teaching methods are no longer suited to this era; history’s wheel rolls forward, and new things must replace the old—today, the new era of the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy has arrived!

We are the continent’s number one academy!”

“Royal Moon forever! Royal Moon forever!”

Mo Hongchen’s impassioned speech ignited the blood of the Moon students—they had been suppressed by Shrek for far too long; now, the serfs had risen and sung their song. Passion and frenzy were the only fitting words.

Flashbulbs snapped incessantly; reporters grinned ear to ear. The hotspot was unstoppable—they had already drafted headlines: “The Old King Is Dead, the New King Rises! The Battle for the Continent’s Number One Academy—Royal Moon Emerges!”

A luxury SUV parked by the roadside; outside, Yang Nianxia craned his neck to watch the soul-tool TV, angrily defending his six classmates:

“Too arrogant! This guy isn’t just damaging the academy’s reputation—he’s trying to kill Lao Luo and Lao Yi’s lives!”

Shen Yi stepped out, face dark, delivered a spinning kick that sent Yang Nianxia tumbling back into the driver’s seat, and said coldly:

“Just drive. The rest is the academy’s problem.”

Shrek Academy, Sea God Island.

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, not a sound could be heard. Ten elders sat around an oval wooden table—they were the Sea God Pavilion’s senior elders, the true pillars of Shrek Academy.

Whenever Shrek Academy faced a major upheaval, the Sea God Pavilion convened a meeting; thus, the Sea God Pavilion Meeting was also called the Academy’s Highest Leadership Meeting, deciding the academy’s future by show of hands.

There were two ways to convene the Sea God Pavilion Meeting: one, the annual regular meeting; the other, an emergency meeting.

The regular meeting aside, every emergency meeting signaled a critical turning point for Shrek Academy. Historically, several emergency meetings had even altered the Douluo Continent’s trajectory—such as resisting the Moon Empire’s invasion, or confirming Huo Yuhao’s central status…

Cloud Ming, the Pillar Douluo, sat at the head of the table; to his right and left sat the Light-Dark Douluo Long Yeyue and the Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li, followed by the Silver Moon Douluo Cai Yue’er, the Crimson Dragon Douluo Zhuo Shi, the Blazing Dragon Douluo Feng Wuyu, and other senior elders.

Most elders looked bewildered, utterly unaware why Cloud Ming had hastily summoned this emergency Sea God Pavilion Meeting.

“Elders.”

Cloud Ming’s face was grim as he briefly outlined the situation: “It is currently the end-of-term examination period for the outer academy. Wu Changkong, the first-year homeroom teacher and team instructor, sent an urgent message.

Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Lizhi, Zheng Yiran, Xu Yucheng, and Luo Guixing—six first-year Shrek students—voluntarily challenged the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy, and ultimately lost to their two martial soul fusion techniques.

After their victory, Dean Mo Hongchen gave interviews to numerous media outlets, viciously slandering Shrek Academy and declaring that Moon was the continent’s number one academy.

They bought massive amounts of paid articles, relentlessly promoting their victory and smearing Shrek Academy; public opinion on the soul-net has already spiraled beyond control. The academy faces its most severe public relations crisis in history.”

Two dozen Supreme Douluos simultaneously drew in sharp breaths; the Sea God Pavilion seemed engulfed by a hurricane, howling through and refusing to subside.

The next instant, Silver Moon Douluo Cai Yue’er slammed her fist on the table, her face twisted in rage: “Expel them! Expel all six!

No—seven! Include Wu Changkong too! Make them pack their things and leave Shrek City!”

“Who dares expel my disciple and grand-disciple!”

“No, we can’t expel them!”

The Shrek Twin Sacred Dragons stepped forward in unison to oppose; Crimson Dragon Douluo Zhuo Shi, his beard bristling, glared—three of the seven were his disciples or grand-disciples; the notoriously protective Zhuo Shi could never agree. Blazing Dragon Douluo Feng Wuyu simply wanted to protect Tang Wulin, the forging prodigy.

“Zhuo Shi, how dare you speak!” Cai Yue’er launched straight at him. “Your grand-disciple brought shame upon himself—Shrek Academy’s face is utterly ruined. As his ancestral master and outer academy dean, do you think you can escape blame?”

“You—”

In verbal sparring, ten Zhuo Shis couldn’t match Cai Yue’er’s sharp tongue, and her words held undeniable truth.

“Calm down. The focus now isn’t on assigning blame—it’s on how to resolve this.”

Ya Li’s gentle voice calmed the elders’ turbulent emotions.

“Little Li is right.”

Long Yeyue’s face was grim: “I have a plan. I will personally go to the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy, slap that Mo family brat across the face, force him to hold a press conference, and make him kneel and publicly apologize to Shrek Academy.”

“Sis Yue, please rest for now…”

Cloud Ming rubbed his forehead, sighing wearily, suddenly regretting calling this meeting—what kind of precious, unreasonable creatures were these people!

He’d rather discuss this privately with Ya Li!

“Ming-ge, I have an idea,” Ya Li said slowly. “The root of this public opinion crisis is the academy’s defeat. To resolve it, we first need a victory.

The six challengers are first-years. Let’s select a few more first-years, form a second team, and challenge the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy again—to restore our honor. Then this crisis will vanish.”

Cloud Ming’s furrowed brow instantly relaxed. A wise wife—what more could a man ask for!

“The Holy Spirit’s plan is excellent.”

“But who to choose…”

“Who can guarantee success? Moon has two martial soul fusion techniques.”

The elders exchanged glances; a single figure surfaced simultaneously in their minds—the one who, four years ago, shattered Shrek Academy’s twenty-thousand-year undefeated record, creating an unprecedented impact—he was universally recognized as the outer academy’s number one.

“I’ll call Xiao Yi,” Zhuo Shi said. “She’s his team instructor.”

“Teacher.”

Shen Yi’s voice came through the soul-tool communicator; Zhuo Shi handed it to Cloud Ming, who said gravely: “Shen Yi, this is Pillar Douluo Cloud Ming. Give the communicator to Zhao Xuanzhen—I need to speak with him alone.”

On the other side, the soul-tool car came to a halt. Zhao Xuanzhen opened the door, took Shen Yi’s soul-tool communicator, and walked to a secluded spot, enveloping himself in a Spirit Abyss realm spiritual force barrier to prevent eavesdropping.

“Hello, Elder Pillar.”

Cloud Ming cut straight to the point: “Did you see the top headline on the soul-net?”

“Yeah. This one’s even bigger than mine back then. Ten thousand years of sharpening the blade—Moon will never shake hands with Shrek.”

Cloud Ming’s third eye throbbed. “You’re right. This is a war between academies. We’re currently at a disadvantage—we need someone to turn the tide.

The Sea God Pavilion has decided to select a first-year student: one with exceptional talent, outstanding combat ability, leadership, and perfect demeanor—someone who can help the academy through this crisis.”

Wait, why not just read my ID number?

Twelve military rolls, each bearing his name—Zhao Xuanzhen held the soul-tool communicator, his expression indescribably complex.

Cloud Ming, sensing his own obviousness, cleared his throat: “The Sea God Pavilion unanimously agrees—you are the most suitable candidate.”

“What’s the reward?” Zhao Xuanzhen smiled sweetly.

Watching the show brought no profit; stepping in meant he could demand anything.

“Be direct. What do you want?”

Cloud Ming didn’t waste time with empty words like “you’re a Shrek student”—he asked bluntly.

“Jinshui Xianghan.”

At this, Cai Yue’er in the Sea God Pavilion flew into a rage—Jinshui Xianghan was the rarest metal in the world, rarer than a hundred-thousand-year soul bone; Zhao Xuanzhen had opened with a lion’s demand!

“…Fine. One piece.”

Cloud Ming agreed calmly—he understood Zhao Xuanzhen’s unique status meant he was beyond Shrek Academy’s control; a heavy cost was expected.

Zhao Xuanzhen, surprised by Cloud Ming’s swift agreement, marveled at the first academy’s wealth—Leng Yaoju had spent fortunes across the continent trying to acquire Jinshui Xianghan with no luck; Shrek clearly held more than one piece!

“And one more thing,” Zhao Xuanzhen continued. “The former Moon Empire killed a Silver Dragon and obtained a dragon core imbued with its bloodline power. I want that dragon core.”

“What did you say!?”

Even Cloud Ming’s century of composure cracked—he nearly shouted at Zhao Xuanzhen. The elders’ faces twisted, their temples twitching—Zhao Xuanzhen wasn’t just making a lion’s demand anymore; he was greed incarnate!

A dragon core was a condensed energy body formed by a mature dragon, holding the primal power of its bloodline, akin to a soul master’s soul core.

How rare was it? Look at Shrek’s twenty-thousand-year history: only one dragon core had ever been obtained—by Longshen Douluo Mu En, a thousand years ago, a white dragon core of light attribute.

Humans could not withstand the dragon core’s ferocious aura. Mu En kept the white dragon core nurtured within his body, using his Limit Douluo-level Light Sacred Dragon soul power to refine it, slowly smoothing its edges over a hundred years—until finally, Ling Bing Douluo Huo Yuhao successfully absorbed it.

During the nurturing process, Mu En was severely damaged by the core’s malevolence, his injuries worsening and hastening his death—yet even that was possible only because the Light Sacred Dragon and White Dragon shared the same light attribute, and only after a Limit Douluo’s century-long effort.

That silver dragon core’s attribute, bloodline, and malevolence far surpassed the white dragon’s. Legends claimed it contained the vengeful soul of the Silver Dragon—impossible for any human to absorb. Yet even so, it remained the Moon Empire’s priceless treasure.

After the Moon Empire reformed into the Moon Federation, the imperial family hid within the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy, and the silver dragon core became the academy’s supreme symbol.

As the Sea God Pavilion fell into silence, Zhao Xuanzhen’s clear voice drifted calmly: “I’m not asking Shrek Academy to cut off its flesh—I propose an exchange: Shrek offers an artifact of equal value to gamble against the Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy’s silver dragon core. Winner takes all.”

“If you lose, Shrek Academy will suffer catastrophic losses—its prestige will plummet to the abyss!” Cloud Ming’s voice turned icy.

“Elder Pillar, you came to me because you believe in my ability. I wouldn’t gamble my entire lifetime’s reputation.

Think differently: if I win, Shrek doesn’t just recover everything lost these past days—it gains even greater prestige.

Elder Pillar, you once swept through Ming City as a mighty force. Is your old edge still sharp?”

Under the stunned gaze of the Sea God Pavilion elders, Cloud Ming made his final decision, laughing aloud: “Fine! You suit my taste. The academy will gamble with you!

Under the utterly shocked gaze of the Sea God Pavilion’s elder, Xiang Yunming made his final decision and laughed loudly: “Good! You’re right up my alley—the academy will gamble with you!”

…

Royal Moon Soul Engineer Academy, Dean’s Office.

Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy, Dean’s Office.

Mo Hongchen put down the soul tool communicator and murmured, “Has Shrek gone mad? Sending students to challenge us a second time is one thing, and live-streaming it across the Federation I can understand—but they’re betting the Hanhaiqiankun Crystal against the Silver Dragon Dragon Core?!”

“Director Hongchen, don’t rush.”

The young man leaned back against the sofa, his deep purple irises edged with the faintest gold, his high nose bridge carved like brushwork, his thin lips curled in a barely-there smile, his shirt collar undone at two buttons, exuding a dangerous elegance.

“Who’s challenging? Did Shrek say?”

“According to our investigation, it’s almost certainly the current No. 1 on the Youth Genius Rankings—Taiji Zhao Xuanzhen, leading the team.”

“If you count it up, he should be the next-next No. 1 after me.”

Mo Hongchen nodded: “Yes. Ji Bing Tang Dong succeeded you as top rank; Zhao Xuanzhen defeated Tang Dong at age ten, who was just one month shy of eighteen.”

The young man mused: “Extreme Ice slows cultivation speed. Tang Dong had to choose between soul power and Doukai advancement—he chose to focus on cultivation, leaving his Doukai progress behind.”

Times have changed. A Soul Master without Doukai is nothing.

Zhao Xuanzhen rose to power by trampling Shrek Academy’s invincible reputation and Tang Dong’s face—so my approach is simple: crush him until he can’t resist, then step on his head with my foot.”

Director Hongchen, this is the chance for the Imperial Soul Mechanic Academy of Ri Yue to utterly destroy Shrek Academy—you cannot miss it, I cannot miss it, our families cannot miss it.”

Come, let’s not show weakness.”

Soon after, the official account of the Imperial Soul Mechanic Academy of Ri Yue posted a short video: the young man smirked wickedly, made a throat-slitting gesture, and taunted:

“Taiji Zhao Xuanzhen, are you watching?”

“I’m Xu Tianzhao. Imperial Dragon Xu Tianzhao.”

“I will personally shatter Shrek Academy’s dying illusions—and your pitiful pride. No matter how many they send, I’ll face you alone. One-on-one, I’ll show the world who the true genius of this era is!”

“They say you are the future—but let me tell you one thing.”

“Survive me, then talk about the future!”

(End of Chapter)