Douluo: Wuhun Qimen Formation, control everything!

In the blink of an eye, a year has passed.

The giant silver-gray metal tower on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest is no longer a forbidden area.

Now we can see many people coming and going, and we can even see scenes of soul beasts and humans living together peacefully.

A year ago, this would have been something no one would have dared to even imagine.

Over the past year, the Soul Spirit Research Association has far exceeded initial expectations.

Thanks to the immense investment from both Shrek Academy and Star Dou Great Forest, as well as Zhou Xuan's continuous improvement of Soul Spirit technology, the Soul Spirit system has reached initial maturity.

Nowadays at Shrek Academy, students who need spirit rings no longer need to hunt spirit beasts to obtain them; instead, they obtain spirit rings through spirit spirits.

Almost every inner court disciple has a soul spirit, and some exceptionally talented outer court students also have the opportunity to obtain a soul spirit that is highly compatible with them.

Moreover, by obtaining a soul ring that is over ten thousand years old through the soul spirit, one no longer needs to suffer soul impact, and the control of soul skills is also much easier than before.

The tradition of hunting spirit beasts to obtain spirit rings has almost become a thing of the past within Shrek Academy.

Poseidon Pavilion.

The afternoon sun shone through the window and fell on Zhou Xuan. Since fully cooperating with the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhou Xuan had been "released" by Di Tian.

A year has left a clear mark on him.

His once slightly immature face now has more defined features, and his brows have lost some of the youthful sharpness, but gained a more profound and steadfast composure.

He wore a simple white robe, his long black hair was casually tied back, with a few strands falling in front of his forehead, adding to his refined and scholarly air.

His every move exuded an indescribable air of authority, a natural prestige that had settled in him after long holding a high position and rapidly improving his own strength.

He was no longer just a gifted Shrek Academy student, but had entered Shrek's decision-making level, becoming the youngest and weakest member of the Sea God Pavilion.

However, no one objected to Zhou Xuan becoming an elder.

After all, given his contributions, even an ordinary person would be worthy of being called unprecedented and unparalleled.

"Dong dong dong."

There was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in." Zhou Xuan put down the book in his hand, his voice gentle.

The door opened slightly, and a beautiful figure walked in.

The newcomer was tall and graceful, her pale purple dress outlining her breathtaking curves.

Her skin was as white as snow, her face was stunningly beautiful, and her golden curls were casually draped over her shoulders.

It was Jiang Nannan.

She walked up to Zhou Xuan, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Zhou Xuan, looking at these ancient books again? Elder Xuan asked us to come over, but didn't say what it was about."

Zhou Xuan's heart skipped a beat, as if he had thought of something.

His eyes also held a hint of sadness.

He walked side by side with Jiang Nannan through the familiar courtyard. The Sea God Pavilion was unusually quiet, and an indescribable heaviness filled the air.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the scene inside the attic made Zhou Xuan's heart sink.

Moon lay quietly on the soft couch in the main seat. His figure, which was usually hunched over but contained immense strength, now appeared exceptionally frail.

His eyes were closed, and his breathing was so faint that it was almost imperceptible.

He was enveloped in the soft glow of the ancient golden tree, with Brigitte standing beside him.

Clearly, even the top healing soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest could not save Elder Mu from his already depleted life essence.

Elder Xuan, Xian Lin'er, Yan Shaozhe, Elder Song, and others were all present, each with an unyielding sorrow on their face.

“Teacher…” Zhou Xuan’s voice was somewhat heavy as he quickly walked to the bedside.

Moon heard the call, his eyelids twitched a few times with difficulty, and he slowly opened them.

"You...have come..."

"Sect Master!" Elder Xuan's voice was deep.

Mu En's gaze swept across everyone's faces, finally settling on Elder Xuan and Zhou Xuan.

“I know my own body well… My time has come, there’s no need to force it.” Moon waved his hand gently, indicating that Brigitte should stop trying.

Even without that battle with Di Tian, ​​he wouldn't have had much time left.

He felt that he had died a worthy death, having given his life for the peace we enjoy today.

Moreover, he already has a successor, so he can be considered to have lived a life without regrets.

He gasped for breath, "Xuanzi..."

Elder Xuan stepped forward and knelt on one knee before the bed: "Sect Master, please speak."

“Cough cough…” Mu En coughed a few times with difficulty, a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his lips, which he wiped away without a care. “After I leave, the Sea God Pavilion… will be in your hands.”

You are the next head of the Sea God Pavilion.

Elder Xuan's body trembled: "Sect Master! I..."

“This is an order.” Moon’s tone was weak, but it carried an undeniable authority. “Shrek’s future depends on you. Don’t let me down. Don’t be like before.”

"Yes!" Elder Xuan nodded emphatically, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Mu En nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Zhou Xuan.

"Zhou Xuan".

Zhou Xuan stepped forward, his heart heavy.

"Child, you have done very well." A relieved smile appeared on Moon's face. "The Soul Art is the hope you brought to this world. I... am already very satisfied to see its initial success."
"World peace—at the time, the teacher thought you were joking, but I never expected you to actually take that step. You have a lot of ideas. Although I don't know what you want to do, when you think it's okay, just go for it. Shrek Academy will be your strongest support."

He paused, his breath growing weaker: "After Xuanzi, the heavy burden of the Sea God Pavilion will fall on your shoulders. You are... the next generation's Sea God Pavilion Master."

Zhou Xuan suddenly looked up.

This was the position he wanted to reach when he joined Shrek Academy, but now, it doesn't seem to matter that much anymore.

If giving up this position could allow Moon to live a few more years, he thought he would probably be willing to do so.

"teacher"

Mu En interrupted him, "I see your wisdom and your sense of responsibility. Remember, no matter what, stay true to yourself. The Soul Research Association is your life's work, so make sure it truly benefits the continent."

“Yes!” Zhou Xuan replied solemnly.

Moon closed his eyes wearily, as if he had exhausted all his strength. He whispered some more trivial matters about the academy, his voice growing softer and softer, more and more indistinct.

"Over there in Xingdou... Di Tian... cough cough... we need to maintain... cooperation..."

"Peace...is hard-won..."

His words gradually faded away, and his breathing became barely perceptible.

The attic was deathly silent, save for the suppressed sobs of the crowd.

Xian Lin'er and Yan Shaozhe also turned their heads away, unable to bear to watch any longer. Mu En's hand gently slipped from Elder Xuan's hand.

There was no pain on his face, but rather a serene relief.

Moon's hand fell limply to his side, his life force fading away completely. This old man, who had protected Shrek Academy for hundreds of years, had finally reached the end of his life.

"Pavilion Master—!" Elder Xuan cried out in extreme grief, and the entire Sea God Pavilion trembled.

The sunlight outside the window seemed to have dimmed a bit.

Just then, Moon's body began to change.

Golden rays emanated from his body and slowly rose.

These points of light increased in number and became brighter, gradually enveloping Moon's figure completely.

The ancient golden tree inside the Sea God Pavilion seemed to sense something, its branches and leaves moving without wind, emitting an unprecedented soft light that complemented the golden light emanating from Mu En.

"This is... the Pavilion Master returning to the Golden Tree." This is the final resting place for all the Sea God Pavilion Masters of Shrek Academy, merging everything they have into this ancient tree that has protected the academy for thousands of years.

Golden light swirled upwards, transforming into a golden tassel that slowly flowed towards the ancient golden tree.

In an instant, the golden ancient tree shone brightly, illuminating the entire Sea God Pavilion in a magnificent light.

But no one noticed that within those dazzling golden tassels, a wisp of extremely condensed golden light quietly separated and drifted silently toward Zhou Xuan.

Under the dazzling light of the golden tree, the golden ray of light blended seamlessly with the sunlight and entered Zhou Xuan's chest.

He glanced down instinctively but found nothing, attributing it to the illusion caused by Elder Mu's passing and the unusual movement of the Golden Tree.

He raised his head and watched as the river of light completely merged into the golden ancient tree. Mu En's aura became one with the divine tree, and there was no longer any distinction between them.

The light in the attic gradually dimmed.

For the next few days, the entire Sea God Pavilion was shrouded in sorrow.

The annual Poseidon Blind Date Event, originally scheduled for the near future, has been postponed as a result.

As the successor to the Pavilion Master designated by Mu En, Elder Xuan had no choice but to quickly recover from his grief and take on his responsibilities.

The dead are gone, the living are like this.

The best way to honor Shrek is to protect him.

Time flies, and several months have passed.

On this day, a weary-looking young man arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy.

He looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, tall and handsome, with slightly messy short black hair and bright blue eyes.

The boy gazed at Shrek Academy, a place that felt both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, and was filled with mixed emotions.

He is Huo Yuhao.

After two and a half years as an exchange student in the Sun and Moon Empire, he has finally returned.

"Shrek, I'm back." Huo Yuhao murmured to himself as he walked into the academy.

His demeanor was quite different from when he left; he was much more composed and walked straight toward the dormitory area he remembered.

As he traveled, Huo Yuhao keenly sensed that the atmosphere within the academy was different from before.

The trainees were more spirited, and their conversations seemed to include some new terms that he didn't quite understand, such as "soul compatibility" and "soul".

"What happened? Did something major happen at the academy while I was away?" Huo Yuhao wondered.

As he walked down to his old dormitory building, he happened to see a familiar figure walking out of it.

It was Wang Dong.

"Wang Dong!" Huo Yuhao waved to her in surprise.

Upon hearing the sound, the figure paused, then slowly turned around.

She still had that handsome face that made even women jealous. Her short, light blue hair had grown a bit longer, but in just over two years, her figure had become more upright, and the youthful exuberance between her brows had faded, replaced by a touch of composure.

When Wang Dong saw who it was, her beautiful peach blossom eyes widened instantly, revealing an expression of disbelief.

"Yu...Yuhao?!"

She almost gasped as she quickly walked up to Huo Yuhao and looked him up and down.

"It really is you! You're finally back!" Wang Dong's face lit up with a bright smile. He punched Huo Yuhao hard on the shoulder and then hugged him.

Huo Yuhao grinned, feeling the long-lost familiarity, and patted Wang Dong on the back: "Yes, I'm back."

"You've really changed a lot." Wang Dong released Huo Yuhao and clicked his tongue in amazement. "You look much stronger than before, and a bit darker too."

Huo Yuhao touched his cheek. Those two years in the Sun Moon Empire were indeed quite challenging.

"You're not bad either, Wang Dong, still so... radiant?"

Wang Dong proudly raised his chin, then grabbed Huo Yuhao's arm: "Come on, let's go back to the dorm and talk!"

The two walked side by side toward the dormitory building. Huo Yuhao asked, "As I walked along, I felt that the atmosphere in the academy was different from before. It seemed like... everyone was talking about 'soul spirits.' What are those things?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Dong's smile remained unchanged, tinged with barely concealed excitement.

“Yuhao, in the two years since you left, the academy has undergone tremendous changes.”

"What changes?" Huo Yuhao's curiosity was completely piqued.

"Do you still remember Zhou Xuan?" Wang Dong's tone was filled with obvious admiration.

Huo Yuhao nodded: "Of course I remember, Brother Zhou Xuan... how is he now?"

After all, in his eyes, Zhou Xuan saved his life, not to mention the series of help he received afterward.

"How's it going?" Wang Dong grinned. "He's the most sought-after person at Shrek Academy right now! The youngest member of the Sea God Pavilion, and the creator of the Soul Spirit Technique!"

"Elder of the Sea God Pavilion? The Soul Spirit Technique?" Huo Yuhao felt his brain was a bit overwhelmed. In the past two years, he had been engrossed in learning soul guidance technology in the Sun Moon Empire and hadn't paid much attention to news from the academy.

He is now no less than a primitive man entering modern society.

Wang Dong took a deep breath and organized his thoughts: "Simply put, the 'Soul Spirit Method' is a method that allows Soul Masters to obtain Soul Rings and Soul Skills without hunting Soul Beasts!"
Moreover, the souls of soul beasts can continue in another form, becoming the 'soul spirit' of a soul master, growing and fighting alongside them!

"What?! You can obtain a spirit ring without hunting spirit beasts? This... how is this possible?"

This news was a huge shock to him.

Seeing his shocked expression, Wang Dong continued, "At first we didn't believe it either, but it's true."

Now, every student at Shrek Academy possesses their own Soul Spirit, and a single Soul Spirit can provide multiple Soul Rings. Hunting Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings is almost a thing of the past at our academy.

"Moreover, soul rings obtained through soul spirits, especially those over ten thousand years old, no longer require soul impact, and the control over soul skills becomes much easier."

All of this is thanks to Senior Zhou Xuan. He even partnered with the Star Dou Great Forest to establish the 'Soul Spirit Research Association', which is dedicated to researching and promoting the Soul Spirit system.

It's that tall tower on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Huo Yuhao felt his mouth was dry as he tried to digest this revolutionary information.

"Then... what about the Soul Guidance Department? After all, he went to Sun Moon as an exchange student to 'learn' Soul Guidance technology." He remembered the main purpose of his trip.

Although Wang Dong strongly disliked soul tools, she had heard about the significant changes in Shrek Academy's soul tool system.

"The changes in the Soul Guidance Department are quite significant. Since Senior Zhou Xuan reformed the department, some Soul Guidance Department researchers have shifted their research focus from purely combat Soul Guidance Devices to functional and auxiliary Soul Guidance Devices."

Wang Dong patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder: "Yuhao, you'll probably need to catch up on your studies now that you're back. Shrek Academy is completely different now than when you left."

Huo Yuhao nodded silently. (End of Chapter)