As his voice fell, Xuan Zi's eyes brimmed with unquestionable expectation.
His cloudy gaze shone with unusual brilliance, as if it had already pierced through the ceiling of the Sea God's Pavilion and seen that youth standing outside—waiting with excitement and reverence under Dai Yueheng's guidance.
In Xuan Zi's mind, there had never been a possibility of failure.
How could it fail?
Who was he?
He was Xuan Zi—the Gluttonous Douluo of Shrek Academy, a revered elder of the Sea God's Pavilion, the second strongest existence in the academy!
An invitation personally issued by him—
Who on this continent could refuse it?
Not to mention the younger generation—even seasoned Spirit Masters would find it impossible to decline!
And Shrek Academy?
That was the supreme holy land in the hearts of all Spirit Masters!
Compared to it, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was nothing!
Countless geniuses fought desperately just to earn the qualification of an auditing student at Shrek.
And what he offered was far beyond that—
Core Disciple status.
Access to Sea God's Pavilion resources.
Even his personal guidance.
This wasn't just an invitation.
It was a blessing from the heavens!
In Xuan Zi's imagination, the youth should have been overwhelmed with gratitude, eagerly accepting, and rushing back without hesitation to kneel before him and pledge loyalty.
That was the only reasonable outcome.
If he refused?
Then there must be something wrong with his mind.
So Xuan Zi wasn't even asking about the result—
He was simply asking why the person hadn't arrived yet.
---
But standing before him, Dai Yueheng felt cold sweat seep down his back.
Reality… was nothing like Xuan Zi imagined.
He hadn't brought the person back.
Faced with that burning gaze of expectation, Dai Yueheng's throat went dry. It felt as though something was stuck there, preventing him from speaking.
How was he supposed to say it?
How could he tell this man—who valued Shrek's honor above all else—that the academy's "grace" had been rejected so casually?
That everything Shrek prided itself on…
…was seen as worthless?
He didn't dare.
Not yet.
Beside him, the scout didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
The silence stretched on.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Finally, the expectation on Xuan Zi's face faded, replaced by impatience.
He frowned.
"Why aren't you speaking?"
"Where is the person?"
Dai Yueheng trembled.
He knew he couldn't delay any longer.
Taking a deep breath, he lowered his head even further and forced the words out:
"Reporting to Elder Xuan… we… failed."
"He… refused."
---
"Buzz—!"
It was as if thunder exploded inside Xuan Zi's mind.
His entire body froze.
The light in his eyes vanished instantly, like a candle extinguished by a violent wind—leaving behind only shock, disbelief, and suppressed fury.
"What… did you say?"
His voice was hoarse.
"Impossible!"
Xuan Zi suddenly stood up.
A terrifying aura erupted from his body, causing the entire Sea God's Pavilion to tremble violently.
"This is absolutely impossible!"
"Is he insane? Or a fool?!"
His gaze locked onto Dai Yueheng like a blade.
"Did you tell him everything I said?!"
"Core Disciple status! Sea God's Pavilion resources! My personal guidance!"
"Did you say all of it?!"
In his mind, there was only one explanation—
Dai Yueheng had failed to convey his sincerity properly.
Faced with that overwhelming pressure, Dai Yueheng gritted his teeth and nodded.
"We did."
"Every condition… word for word."
He paused.
Then, with difficulty, added:
"But… he didn't care at all."
---
"Didn't… care…?"
Those words struck Xuan Zi like a series of invisible slaps.
His expression twisted.
The aura around him surged violently, pressing down on Dai Yueheng and the scout like a mountain.
Their faces turned pale, their bodies trembling under the weight.
"Good… good!"
Xuan Zi laughed in anger, but there was no warmth in his voice—only cold fury.
"I want to know…"
"Why he didn't care!"
"Dai Yueheng!"
"Tell me everything—from the moment you found him to your entire conversation!"
"Not a single detail may be omitted!"
"Otherwise… go to the Hall of Punishment yourself!"
"Yes!"
Dai Yueheng didn't dare hide anything.
He immediately recounted everything in full detail.
From tracking the clues near the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy…
To heading toward the Extreme North Land…
To meeting Xi Xi…
To finally encountering Liu Yuan.
He described how they presented themselves.
How they revealed Shrek's prestige.
How they conveyed Xuan Zi's "generosity."
And finally—
How Liu Yuan calmly refused.
Without hesitation.
Without regret.
As if everything meant nothing.
---
The temperature in the room seemed to drop to freezing.
Xuan Zi's expression darkened further with every word.
From disbelief…
To anger…
T
o a rising, uncontrollable killing intent.
His face turned ashen.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
His fists clenched so tightly that faint cracking sounds echoed.
By the end—
His expression had become terrifying.
------------Author---------------
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