After Mu En issued his first command, much of the gloom and unease accumulated in his heart dissipated, and his gaze softened considerably.
"Second, after my death, Xuan Zi will temporarily act as the Sea God Pavilion, no, the Tian Yuan Pavilion Master. When Ziyang reaches the Titled Douluo realm, he will immediately assume the position of Tian Yuan Pavilion Master." Mu En issued his second command, which could be considered his last will.
Everyone had anticipated this last will from Mu En; in fact, they believed it should have been his first.
"Elder Mu, I, Xuan Zi, swear to the heavens that I will protect Ziyang with my life!" Xuan Zi declared.
"Mm! I believe you!" Mu En said with satisfaction.
"Third, from today onwards, Shrek Academy will fully develop the Soul Tool Department, promoting the integration between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department. Given the high demand for resources by the Soul Tool Department, fifty percent of all academy income in Shrek City will be allocated for its use. If, in the future, the Soul Tool Department can produce a Level 10 Soul Engineer, then the position of Tian Yuan Pavilion Master will be inherited by him." Mu En finally announced his last will, his voice, like his first command, echoing throughout the entire Inner Courtyard.
"Yes—" The few individuals with decision-making power in the hall respectfully responded in unison.
"Hahaha," Mu En let out a hearty laugh after delivering his final will, saying, "Ziyang, help me up. I want to take one last look at Shrek Academy!"
"Mm!" Zhu Ziyang's voice was slightly choked. He stepped forward, took Mu En's arm, and then gently helped him up from the rocking chair.
Supported by Zhu Ziyang, Mu En slowly walked towards the outside. The elders and students spontaneously formed two rows, creating an aisle, their gazes following Mu En's movement.
Soon, they reached the door. The door opened automatically. Mu En made no move; this door, carved from the Golden Ancient Tree, expressed the Golden Ancient Tree's thoughts. As the symbol of Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard, and the place where Mu En had spent the longest time in his life, it seemed to be bidding farewell to its old friend, who was both young and old, in its own way.
Outside the Sea God Pavilion, Zhang Lexuan, Jiang Nannan, Han Ruoruo, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Xue Weiwei, Dai Yueheng, and all other Inner Courtyard Disciples who had not gone out and returned, were kneeling, respectfully sending off this guardian of Shrek Academy.
"Elder Mu..." When Zhang Lexuan saw Zhu Ziyang assisting Mu En out, she immediately moved forward a few steps. Tears streamed down her beautiful face, and her eyes were filled with sorrow and pain.
"Girl, don't cry." Mu En chuckled, reached out, and pulled Zhang Lexuan closer, gently wiping away her tears. He said, "You are destined to be an Empress; how can you cry so easily?"
"Elder Mu...Woo, I, I will definitely fulfill your wish!" Zhang Lexuan choked out.
"Mm! I believe you; you have never disappointed me!" Mu En said cheerfully, then looked at Jiang Nannan. "Nannan, from now on, you must help Ziyang more."
"Elder Mu, I will!" Jiang Nannan's eyes were also red, clearly having cried. Because of Zhu Ziyang, Mu En had taken special care of her, so Jiang Nannan's feelings for Mu En were also quite deep.
"Children, this old man wishes you all well!" Mu En finally looked at the Inner Courtyard students, his kind voice making many female students sob.
"Ziyang, the future is in your hands!" Mu En finally gripped Zhu Ziyang's hand tightly, his eyes filled with profound hope and worry.
"Teacher, I will!" Zhu Ziyang replied with a solemn and sad expression.
However, Mu En's trembling lips instantly made Zhu Ziyang freeze.
Having made all his arrangements, Mu En finally felt relieved, a liberated, affectionate, almost childlike smile appearing on his face. He called out, "Ancestors of Shrek, Mu En has arrived."
With this last sentence, Mu En seemed to have used his last ounce of strength. A powerful golden light suddenly erupted from his body. He released Zhu Ziyang's hand and slowly walked towards the Golden Ancient Tree. Two yellow, one purple, three black, and three red spirit rings, a complete set of nine, slowly appeared around him. An incredibly resonant dragon's roar suddenly rang out.
The entire space instantly turned a brilliant gold. A massive golden light pillar, centered on the Golden Ancient Tree, shot into the sky, enveloping the entire Shrek Academy. Mu En's stooped, aged body bathed in this brilliant golden light, slowly beginning to grow younger. His old body was re-infused with vitality. As the golden light grew denser, Mu En's appearance also grew larger, finally transforming from an old man into a young man.
He turned around, casting his final gaze upon everyone, his eyes filled with hope and reluctance. His gaze finally settled on Zhu Ziyang, an unspoken look that made Zhu Ziyang understand what Mu En was worried about.
In response, Zhu Ziyang could only return an incredibly resolute look.
Mu En smiled. His body had completely turned golden, and golden dragon scales began to grow from beneath his skin, quickly covering his entire body.
He spread his arms, and the intensely brilliant golden light in the air successively transformed into crimson gold, orange gold, golden gold, green gold, cyan gold, blue gold, and purple gold. The moment the final purple gold turned into platinum gold, Mu En leaped, an incredibly resonant dragon's roar erupting from his mouth. He shook his body, transforming into a white dragon emanating a powerful golden light. After circling above the Golden Ancient Tree for a moment, he plunged directly into the Golden Ancient Tree.
This scene was visible even a hundred miles away. The white dragon fell, the sky dimmed, and resonant dragon roars continuously echoed in the air. Intense golden light continued to emanate, and the terrifying aura of a demigod's demise constantly spread outwards. Rich, magnificent golden light descended from the sky, enveloping the entire island.
All living beings on Tian Yuan Island—Spirit Masters, Spirit Beasts in the lake, insects in the trees—all received this baptism of light. Their bodies emitted a faint golden mist, and everyone clearly felt the pure power of light cleansing their bodies, expelling impurities, and compressing their spirit power, making it more refined.
"Everyone, sit cross-legged and meditate." Xuan Zi's voice resonated across the entire island. Although his voice was filled with a choked quality, at this moment, it was exceptionally majestic. This was Mu En's last gift to Shrek Academy!
One of the three Limit Douluo of the current era, the Light Holy Dragon, Dragon God Douluo, the last Sea God Pavilion Master, Mu En, had fallen!
His life was glorious and brilliant enough. He may have let down many people and many things, but he never let down Shrek Academy, the place he guarded his entire life. He might not have been a good person, a good husband, or a good friend, but he was definitely a qualified teacher and a qualified Sea God Pavilion Master!
Mu En's demise was bound to cause dramatic changes throughout the Douluo Continent, and the first to be affected was, without a doubt, the Star Dou Great Forest, closest to Shrek Academy.
When the Light Holy Dragon circled above Shrek Academy, in the core of the Star Dou Great Forest, by the Lake of Life, a golden-haired young man stood, his gaze piercing through endless trees, meeting the Light Holy Dragon's gaze. A giant dragon's phantom, black as ink, emerged from behind him, and a dragon's roar echoed across the sky, as if responding to the Light Holy Dragon's provocation.
Suddenly, an inexplicable fluctuation appeared. The man immediately knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "My Lord, you have awakened?"
"Heh!" A female voice passed through the calm lake water, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, saying, "I was just attracted by the aura of that white dragon. Heh, this human is one of the most talented in ten thousand years, yet he died just like that. I thought he could inherit the light!
Heh, it's hilarious; those high and mighty false gods are truly laughable!"
The voice, filled with endless mockery, gradually faded away.
In Shrek City, Qian Lingyi, who was out shopping, naturally also witnessed the miraculous sight of a super Douluo's demise. Although she was unaware of the internal details, the rich aura of light made her rush towards Shrek Academy without hesitation. Since Mu En's demise had seized the hearts and minds of everyone in Shrek Academy at that moment, Qian Lingyi, a mere Spirit King, actually managed to break in, reaching the forest by Sea God Lake. She absorbed Mu En's residual essence and immediately sat down to meditate.
At this time, all students on Tian Yuan Island had entered a meditative state. Only Zhu Ziyang and the elders remained standing, their gazes fixed on the Golden Ancient Tree, which was absorbing the golden light. Mu En had chosen the same end as previous Sea God Pavilion Masters, integrating half a lifetime of cultivation into the Golden Ancient Tree, nourishing this miraculous plant of heaven and earth.
Zhu Ziyang's heart was still replaying Mu En's last words to him: "Be cautious of the future, beware of Sea God!"
Beware of Sea God? Was this why Mu En chose to shed his Sea God identity before his death? Was Mu En's so-called relapse of old injuries actually due to Sea God's influence? But why?
Zhu Ziyang couldn't understand why Sea God Tang San would attack Mu En. Was it because he and others had interfered with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? Or was it because of the God Position inheritance he had received?
He recalled the events of his first entry into the God Position inheritance grounds, and a thread seemed to appear in his mind. Grasping it, he felt he could understand everything.
If it was truly because he had received the inheritance of the God Position of Death, and Sea God wanted to stop him, then why didn't Sea God directly attack him, but instead chose to attack Mu En?
No matter how much Zhu Ziyang racked his brains, he couldn't ascertain Sea God's motive and reason, but one thing was certain: Sea God stood on the opposite side of him!