Douluo, my clone Groudon

Chapter 370 Punishment, Star Luo City
Xuanzi returned to Shrek Academy in a daze and barged straight into the Sea God Pavilion.

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the light is soft, and the branches of the golden tree grow into it, radiating pure light. The layout is not much different from that of the Dragon King Legend period.

Beside an ancient round table sat several elders of the Sea God Pavilion with profound auras. At the head of the table was none other than the Dragon God Douluo Mu En, whose aura was faint yet still exuded supreme majesty.

Although Mu En was nearing the end of his life, unlike Yun Ming, the future Sky-Supporting Douluo, who was hampered by the older generation, he held absolute authority in the Sea God Pavilion and his word was law.

When Xuanzi, his voice hoarse with the heavy stench of blood and grief, finished reporting the tragedy in the border cave—Yao Haoxuan died on the spot, Xixi lost a leg, Gongyang Mo lost an arm, and Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and others all suffered internal injuries; if Gula hadn't killed the evil soul master at the crucial moment, the consequences would have been unimaginable—the entire Sea God Pavilion fell into a deathly silence.

In Moon's murky eyes, which seemed to see right through people, came an unbelievable shock and deep sorrow.

“Xuanzi! It’s like this again, you…” Mu En’s voice was filled with barely suppressed anger and disappointment.

Last time, due to your negligence, seven or eight elite disciples of the inner court were lost. The Sea God Pavilion, mindful of your hard work and merits, considered your mistakes offsetting your losses and, despite strong opposition, spared your life! And how long has it been?!

"You were negligent again, causing such a tragedy. Yao Haoxuan... and Xixi and Gongyang Mo, they've been crippled. This is even more cruel than killing them outright. How is the academy supposed to explain this to their families?!"

Mu En's question was like a heavy hammer, striking Xuanzi's heart as well as the hearts of the other elders.

Yan Shaozhe immediately chimed in, his tone heavy but intended to change the subject for Xuanzi: "Yao Haoxuan comes from a humble background and his family is not powerful, so he can be appeased. But Xixi and Gongyang Mo... their families have considerable influence in the Heavenly Soul Empire. This matter must be handled properly, otherwise it will be detrimental to the academy."

"What else can we do?!" another elder sighed. "We can only announce that they were killed by evil spirit masters. We'll give their families the highest level of compensation and resources... Besides that, they died fighting evil spirit masters; they are heroes of Shrek Academy. Can we really make Elder Xuan pay with his life?"

These words reveal the helpless reality of the Sea God Pavilion. Xuanzi, a level 98 Gluttonous Douluo, is someone Mu En cannot easily take action against. He is the strongest person in Shrek Academy on the surface, and after Mu En, he is the only one who has the potential to reach the Limit Douluo level and shoulder the responsibility of the Sea God Pavilion.

With Mu En nearing the end of his life, Shrek Academy is in a period of transition, and even if Xuan Zi is incompetent, he is still an indispensable pillar.

Xuanzi closed his eyes in anguish and hissed, “Sect Master, everyone, I know that I am deeply guilty and have no face to continue serving as the Deputy Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion. I am even less worthy to continue leading the Supervisory Group. Please allow me to resign from all my posts and reflect on my mistakes in seclusion.”

“No,” Yan Shaozhe immediately interjected, “Elder Xuan, this is a crucial time for the academy to recruit talent. The supervisory team cannot do without your presence. We cannot abandon our responsibilities because of a momentary mistake.”

“Yes, Elder Xuan, one mistake doesn’t mean…” the other elders also offered their words of comfort.

Just as Xuanzi's mistake was about to be easily dismissed, Mu En slammed his hand on the armrest, and an invisible pressure silenced the entire Sea God Pavilion.

"enough!"

He looked sternly at Xuanzi: "Xuanzi! Do you think resigning will allow you to escape responsibility? To wash away your guilt? That's the act of a coward. Shrek Academy needs you to stand up now, not to hide!"

Moon's voice was filled with deep weariness and helplessness.

It wasn't that he didn't want to severely punish Xuanzi, but reality was so cold. Was Shrek Academy's eternal glory now going to be maintained by repeatedly protecting and sacrificing the lives of young geniuses?

He looked around at the elders and saw the recognition in their eyes that Xuanzi was "indispensable," and a sense of sorrow welled up in his heart.

“Punishment is necessary,” Mu En said in a deep voice, making the final decision. “Xuanzi, effective immediately, you are relieved of your post as head of the inspection team, and Yan Shaozhe will temporarily take your place. You are also relieved of your position as deputy head of the Sea God Pavilion, pending further observation. Furthermore…”

Mu En's gaze was sharp as a knife: "Abstain from alcohol and strictly control your food intake. In my lifetime, if I ever smell even a trace of alcohol on you, or hear that you have caused trouble by overeating due to the loss of control over your gluttonous bloodline... I will personally cripple your cultivation and expel you from the Sea God Pavilion!"

“Abstain from alcohol…control diet…” Xuanzi’s body trembled violently.

For him, who possessed the blood of a glutton, this was nothing short of torture. The insatiable appetite and thirst for fine wine that originated deep within his bloodline would be the inner demons that tormented him day and night.

But compared to Yao Haoxuan's cold corpse and the despair in Xixi and Gongyang Mo's eyes, what is this pain?
"I...accept the punishment." He lowered his head heavily, his voice hoarse.

After the punishment, Xuanzi brought up the competition again: "Sect Master, the main team members have suffered heavy losses. Should we urgently send elite members from the Inner Court to provide support? Now only a bunch of little guys are left..."

Moon waved his hand wearily, a complex light flashing in his eyes: "No need. Let them go. Don't you... don't you think that Shrek Academy has been bound too tightly, too heavily, by these four words, 'Eternal Glory'?"

“Every major competition feels like gambling with the fate of the entire academy and the lives of countless children... Is this glory worth it?”

His words came from the bottom of his heart, reflecting a deep understanding of the current state of the academy. However, the other elders, including Yan Shaozhe, all showed expressions of disapproval.

In their view, maintaining Shrek Academy's undefeated myth is the highest mission! How can glory be easily abandoned?

Seeing their reactions, Moon sighed deeply and fell silent. He knew that his words, though harsh, were ultimately unwelcome advice, and no one could understand them or change anything.

……

On the other side, the shadow of the cave loomed over the group. Sadness, anger, lingering fear, and disappointment at Xuanzi's "desertion" made the atmosphere as heavy as lead.

But they mustered their strength and, carrying the wounded and Yao Haoxuan's remains, continued their journey toward Xingluo City.

While the bleeding of Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and the others appeared to have stopped, their internal organs were shaken and their soul power was disordered. If they did not receive timely treatment, they might suffer from hidden injuries that were difficult to heal, affecting their future foundation. At this moment, Xiao Xiao's importance became undeniable. Her Azure Phoenix Martial Soul, which had fused with the Nine-Headed Phoenix Soul and was close to the ultimate wood, demonstrated astonishing support capabilities.

Although she doesn't have direct healing soul skills, she can transform her pure soul power into a gentle yet powerful life force, continuously channeling it into the wounded.

While the effects of this vitality are not as immediate as those of professional healing soul techniques, its advantage lies in its continuous, gentle, and nourishing nature.

Ma Xiaotao and the others felt a cool and vibrant warm current flowing through their limbs and bones, soothing the burning and tearing pain in their internal organs. Their disordered soul power also gradually calmed down under the guidance of this life force.

The speed of recovery is far exceeding expectations.

When Xuanzi, along with his new leader, his grand-disciple Wang Yan, a theoretical teacher, anxiously caught up with the group, the scene he saw greatly relieved him.

Although Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and the others were still pale and their breathing was still a little unsteady, their movements were no longer a problem. It was clear that their injuries had been effectively controlled, and they would be able to recover most of their combat strength after resting for a few more days.

"Great, great."

Wang Yan adjusted his glasses, visibly excited. He had been appointed team leader in a time of crisis. Hearing of the tragedy on the way, his heart sank, fearing that Shrek Academy was doomed to failure in the competition.

It seems that hope still remains.

Especially with Gula, a monster comparable to a Soul King, in the team, as well as Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, a combination capable of using Martial Soul Fusion Skills, as long as the tactics are arranged well and time is given for Ma Xiaotao and the others to recover from their injuries, they can still defend the honor of Shrek Academy.

Upon entering Star Luo City, the Star Luo Empire arranged for all participating academy members to stay in the city's most luxurious hotel.

After checking in, Shrek and his group immediately began intensive treatment and preparation for battle.

Wang Yan, as if wound up, began talking to each team member without stopping, trying to understand their martial spirit characteristics, soul skill combinations, and teamwork habits, striving to formulate the most reasonable tactics in the shortest possible time.

“Gula, about your abilities and role…” Wang Yan found Gula and prepared to make detailed arrangements.

“Teacher Wang,” Gula interrupted him directly, her tone indifferent, “You only need to have a general understanding of my abilities. As for specific tactical arrangements, just follow orders. I’m going out for a walk to clear my head.”

He didn't want to waste time on meaningless tactical discussions; if he wanted to, he would naturally put in the effort to resolve the battle.

He didn't inquire about what punishment Xuanzi had received, but he figured it probably wasn't too serious, so he decided to go out for a walk to clear his head.

Wang Yan was taken aback. Looking at Gula's calm eyes and imagining his "low mood" after losing his companion in the cave, he could only nod helplessly: "Okay, then come back soon and be careful."

The others assumed that Gula was depressed because of Yao Haoxuan's death and the tragic scene, and needed to deal with it alone, so they did not stop her.

Gula stepped out of the hotel and merged into the bustling crowds of Xingluo City. He wasn't feeling down, he was just bored staying in the hotel.

As the capital of the empire, Xingluo City was bustling with activity as the Soul Master Competition drew together geniuses and forces from all over the continent.

Gula wanted to see if he could snag a bargain with his luck, which was at the level of a chosen one.

He strolled along, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of shops and the bustling crowds.

He had no interest in the Ice Jade Scorpion's left arm bone and the Snow Emperor's embryo that might appear at the Star Luo Grand Auction House.

Both were incompatible with his attributes; though valuable, they were not what he needed. He was not Huo Yuhao, and had no interest in deliberately intercepting their opportunities.

After passing a bustling street corner, Gula noticed two exceptionally tall and robust young men in an open-air tavern. Dressed in coarse linen clothes, yet exuding a fierce aura, they caught his attention.

They drank wine from large bowls and ate meat in large chunks, oblivious to everyone else. Their voices were loud, their eyes were sharp as eagles, and their blood was surging, exuding a primal and powerful aura.

"Noumenon Sect."

Gula's eyes flickered slightly, and he instantly recognized their origins.

That unique fluctuation of qi and blood, and the perfect control over every inch of the body's muscles, are the hallmarks of a true martial soul possessor.

Looking at the two Body Sect disciples who were drinking heartily, Gula's lips curled into a playful smile.

"The Body Sect... a bunch of brutes who believe in the supremacy of might. They were corrupted by the Poison Undying Brothers and have no brains at all. Perfect... I'm just killing time anyway, might as well find some fun."

He turned and walked straight toward the table where the two Body Sect disciples were.

(End of this chapter)