Douluo Dalu II: The Peerless Tang Sect

Chapter 189 Are you willing to sacrifice your lives for the grand plan of Shrek Academy?

"Alright, the sparring is over. The loser should accept the punishment!" Xuanzi said with a smile.

"I'm a pig!" Ma Xiaotao and the others were completely convinced this time and shouted it out without hesitation.

"After two sparring matches, you should have a basic understanding of each other," Xuanzi said with a smile. "Alright, you can all go back now. Pack your things and meet at the academy gate early tomorrow morning to head to Xingluo City for the competition."

"Star Luo City?" Huo Yuhao's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and he called out in confusion.

Xuanzi glanced at him, then said, "Is there a problem? The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament is held in rotation in the capitals of various countries. This year it's the Star Luo Empire's turn, so naturally we need to go to Star Luo City to participate!"

"No, no problem!" Huo Yuhao immediately shook his head and said, "I'm just a little surprised."

"Oh, right, I forgot you're also from the Star Luo Empire, Huo Yuhao." Xuanzi smiled, a hint of realization flashing across his face, and then said, "Alright, let's dismiss."

Xuanzi's figure flickered and disappeared from everyone's sight. After saying goodbye to the seven members of the preliminary team, Zhu Ziyang and the others also left the assessment area and flew towards Seagod Island. When they arrived at the shore of Seagod Lake, Dai Yueheng separated from them and flew off in another direction.

Watching Dai Yueheng's departing figure, Zhu Ziyang's expression shifted. He could guess what Dai Yueheng was going to do—nothing more than warn his foolish younger brother to stop doing anything stupid.

However, this had little to do with Zhu Ziyang. He smiled and, after landing on Seagod Island, went straight to Seagod Pavilion.

-

Early morning, at the entrance of Shrek Academy.

The Shrek Academy regular team and the Shrek Academy preliminary team met at the entrance. Because they were in a hurry, none of them were wearing school uniforms, since Shrek Academy's school uniforms were too conspicuous.

Shortly after everyone arrived, Xuanzi also arrived. However, to everyone's surprise, accompanying Xuanzi were an elderly woman with a full head of silver hair and a middle-aged man with a scholarly air. Zhu Ziyang and the other regular team members recognized the elderly woman, while Huo Yuhao and the other preliminary team members recognized the middle-aged man.

"Elder Lin! Elder Xuan!" Zhu Ziyang and the others bowed respectfully to the old woman. Although the members of the preliminary team did not recognize Elder Lin, they also bowed along with the members of the regular team. After all, someone who could make Xuan Zi fall half a step behind must have an extraordinary status.

"Hehehe! Children, how are you?" Old Lin said with a kind and gentle smile. "This old woman is just going to Xingluo City with you this time, so don't worry about me. As for the competition arrangements, you should still listen to Elder Xuan."

Upon hearing this, everyone showed expressions of understanding, except for Zhu Ziyang, who understood the purpose of Elder Lin's trip.

Elder Lin, whose full name is Lin Huiqun, is a level 98 Super Douluo with the title Tianhe and the martial soul Tianhe Umbrella. She is the number one control-type Soul Master on the continent, Elder Mu's junior sister, and the most senior among the elders of the Sea God Pavilion. Her purpose in traveling with the group is simple: to protect Zhu Ziyang and the other members, and to supervise Xuanzi.

There was no other way; the impact of that accident was simply too severe. Mu En dared not entrust Zhu Ziyang to Xuan Zi's protection alone again, which is why he specially invited Elder Lin.

"Yuhao, isn't this the owner of the Treasure Pavilion?" Wang Dong whispered in Huo Yuhao's ear.

"Mmm!" Huo Yuhao recognized Elder Lin, but his gaze fell on the middle-aged man, and he asked, "Is Teacher Wang Yan coming with us too?"

"This is Professor Wang Yan from the Foreign Languages ​​Department, and also your team leader for this competition." Xuanzi still looked as slovenly as ever, but at least he wasn't acting like he was having a chicken leg and a drink. He pointed to the middle-aged man, Wang Yan, and said.

"Fellow students, I am Wang Yan. Please give me your guidance," Wang Yan said with a smile.

"Hmm!" Ma Xiaotao looked Wang Yan up and down, then gave a curt reply and fell silent.

Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but laugh. Ma Xiaotao was dissatisfied because she felt that Wang Yan's strength was too weak! He was also surprised that the academy would send an outer court teacher as their team leader. Were the inner court teachers all so busy?

"Let's go!" Xuanzi gave the order, and then led the way.

The group followed Xuanzi in twos and threes, with the regular team members in front and the preliminary team members behind, making steady progress toward Xingluo City. Old Lin disappeared from everyone's sight, her whereabouts unknown, but everyone knew that she was nearby.

"Ziyang, you should know why Old Lin is with us, right?" Ma Xiaotao walked to Zhu Ziyang's right and asked him close to his ear. She didn't care at all about Jiang Nannan's fiery glare and continued to do her own thing.

"Hmm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, a helpless bitter smile on his face.

"Brother, I heard that Elder Lin is Elder Mu's junior sister. Is that true?" Jiang Nannan hugged Zhu Ziyang's left arm, a hint of provocation flashing in her eyes. After glancing at Ma Xiaotao, she said to Zhu Ziyang with a sweet smile.

"That's true." Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "Elder Lin is my teacher's teacher, that is, the youngest daughter of the previous Sea God Pavilion Master. She is not only my teacher's junior sister, but also Elder Xuan's senior aunt."

"I see. No wonder Elder Xuan always looks like a mouse seeing a cat when he sees Elder Lin." Jiang Nannan said with a smile after realizing something.

"Because Elder Xuan's teacher is Elder Lin's older brother, and Elder Lin is nearly fifty years older than Elder Xuan. When Elder Xuan was studying in the outer academy, Elder Lin happened to be the dean of teaching in the outer academy!" Zhu Ziyang shared the old stories he heard from Mu En, which made Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao laugh.

Xuanzi, walking at the front, naturally heard Zhu Ziyang's words, but he could only smile helplessly. Zhu Ziyang was telling the truth, and with Elder Lin right behind them, he really didn't dare to retaliate. Elder Lin had left a deep impression on him!

Of course, the most important thing is that Elder Lin's martial soul is too much of a counter to him. The powerful control ability of the Heavenly River Umbrella martial soul makes it difficult for him, with his Gluttonous Divine Ox martial soul, to deal with. Every time, he is toyed with and embarrassed by her. After this happened many times, it became a conditioned reflex, and he felt afraid whenever he saw Elder Lin. If Elder Lin hadn't been uninterested in the position of Pavilion Master, then the first in line to succeed him as Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion would not be him, but Elder Lin.

"Ahem!" Xuanzi stopped, turned around, coughed, and said, "Come here, all of you."

Zhu Ziyang immediately stopped speaking and walked into Xuanzi with Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao. The others also gathered around and looked at Xuanzi.

Xuanzi's expression was serious, and his voice was heavy as he said, "We're not far from the academy, so I have some things to say beforehand. The seven little ones in the reserve team, listen carefully, as this will affect your future development at the academy."

Zhu Ziyang and the other seven regular team members, along with teacher Wang Yan, could vaguely guess what Xuanzi was going to say next. However, Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya, and the other preliminary team members were a bit confused. But seeing Xuanzi's serious expression, they all looked over at him intently.

Xuanzi said, "Our Shrek Academy has a history of over ten thousand years. Generally speaking, a Soul Saint-level Soul Master can live for two hundred years, and a Title Douluo can even live for five hundred years. Almost every year, outer court students are admitted to the inner court. However, currently, there are less than one hundred inner court disciples remaining in the academy. Do you know why?"

Xu Sanshi replied, "Because the senior students have all graduated and left the academy."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzi shook his head and said, "Less than 20% of the inner court disciples choose to leave the academy after graduation each year. I'm referring to those who choose to stay. Some of these students graduate but choose to remain in the academy, while others never graduate!"

As Xuanzi spoke, his tone became both sorrowful and proud. He said, "They are all good children. As for you, as members of the preliminaries, you can say that you have already stepped into the inner courtyard with one foot in. The other half is up to you to choose."

I can tell you definitively that every year many outer court disciples qualify to enter the inner court, but only a very small number actually do. This is because once you enter the inner court, you will shoulder a heavy responsibility, and this responsibility will inevitably lead some of you to sacrifice your lives.

All disciples who enter Shrek Academy's inner court automatically join another major department of Shrek Academy—the Shrek Supervisory Committee!

"Shrek Inspection Team?!" All the preliminary team members showed expressions of surprise and confusion.

Xuanzi, observing their expressions, said, "That's right. The Shrek Academy Inspection Corps is an organization dedicated to eradicating evil spirit masters, punishing fallen spirit masters, eliminating villains, and maintaining peace and justice on the continent. All inner court disciples are members of the Inspection Corps and are called inspectors. Elder Lin and I are the two vice-captains of the Shrek Academy Inspection Corps, respectively. Do you understand?"

"Hmm!" Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, and Tang Ya, as fifth-year students, naturally understood what the Shrek Academy Supervisory Group was all about. However, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, as second-year students, only had a vague understanding, but still chose to follow along and answer.

"Very well, then, I need to know your decisions now," Xuanzi said. "Are you willing to do everything in your power to maintain peace and justice on the continent, even if there are sacrifices along the way? Are you capable of eradicating evil completely, leaving no evil person unpunished? Are you willing to become a member of the Shrek Supervisory Group and dedicate everything to the grand plan of Shrek Academy?"

"Yes!" The preliminary team members answered in unison with serious expressions and a very firm attitude.

Zhu Ziyang witnessed this scene without feeling anything in his heart.

(End of this chapter)