A smile deepened on Yan Shaoze's face as Wang Feng agreed. He nodded in satisfaction, then said to Wang Feng,"Good. Now I'll take you somewhere. There's someone who wants to meet you."
Yan Shaoze shot behind Wang Feng, grabbed his clothes, and soared into the sky.
Wang Feng only felt a gust of strong wind before his whole body was pulled into the sky by Yan Shaoze.
The wind roared, rustling their clothes loudly…
Wang Feng stared at the blurry scenery below and took a deep breath, "Hiss…"
Yan Shaoze, who was pulling Wang Feng by his clothes, laughed. "How does it feel to fly above the clouds? Is it fun?"
Because they were moving at high speed, Wang Feng struggled to speak. "T-This is not… fun at all."
"Oh? You can still talk? Then I guess I should go even faster." Yan Shaoze sped up.
Wang Feng was speechless…
...
They soon arrived at a forest on Poseidon Island.
Yan Shaoze dropped Wang Feng.
'Thud!'
Wang Feng landed hard on the grassy ground, raising a bit of dust as his body hit the surface. He winced, trying to get up while rubbing his slightly sore back.
"Senior, please don't do that again. I feel nauseous now," Wang Feng complained.
Yan Shaoze simply gave a small smile. "Stop whining. Hurry. That person might get angry if we're late." Yan Shaoze lied.
He led the way toward a building.
.....
There were many buildings on Poseidon Island, but only one stood out as the tallest and grandest—Poseidon Pavilion, located at the center of the island.
Poseidon Pavilion had six floors, each over ten meters high. Its upper floors were hazy and dreamlike, emitting a soft glow through the mist rising from the lake.
Poseidon Pavilion was also the most important place in all of Shrek Academy. The shrine of Shrek Academy was here. It was the very core of the entire academy. Major decisions made by the soul masters residing here could influence the entire future of the continent.
Soft mist mixed with fresh air. The greenish-blue water of Poseidon Lake was pure, dark blue, gentle, and elegant. On the lake, which resembled blue brocade, small ripples formed—like the water spirit of a little girl. The clear waves reflected the blue sky, white clouds, and lush green trees along the lakeshore.
Inside the Poseidon Pavilion.
Elder Mu, lying on a recliner with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. "Are they here…?"
The sound of footsteps began to softly echo.
A door creaked open.
'Click.'
Yan Shaoze walked in first, then signaled Wang Feng to follow him.
"Elder Mu," Yan Shaoze bowed respectfully. "I've brought him."
Wang Feng stood straight beside Yan Shaoze. Then he looked at the man called Elder Mu by the Dean.
He was an old man who looked quite aged. He wore gray clothes, and the number of flies that could be stomped dead by his wrinkles must be in the dozens. His appearance was extremely ordinary, and he wasn't very tall either. He even gave the impression that one foot was already in the grave. His eyes were yellow and dim, while his eyelids drooped.
But what shocked Wang Feng the most… was that this Elder Mu mentioned by Dean Yan was the old man who often lay around and whom he greeted in front of the dorm building.
"Grandpa, you…" Wang Feng opened his mouth slightly.
Mu En nodded kindly at Wang Feng, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his wrinkled lips.
Yan Shaoze introduced, "Wang Feng, this is the current master of Poseidon Pavilion. His name is Mu En. He's a Limit Douluo and one of the strongest people on the continent. His title is Dragon God Douluo."
Wang Feng was utterly stunned—so much so that you could fit an egg in his gaping mouth.
"So you've finally come, young man," Mu En spoke softly, but his voice echoed clearly through the quiet room. "I've been watching you for quite some time."
Wang Feng still looked confused, even awkward. "I… I didn't know that you…"
Mu En waved his hand. "It's alright. I'm not young anymore. I just want to lie down and watch the youth enjoy themselves. Seeing the younger generation of Shrek safe and happy is enough to satisfy me."
"I had Shaoze bring you here for something. But before we get into that, I want to ask you one thing." Mu En paused for a moment, then continued.
"Wang Feng, are you willing to become my successor?" Mu En asked suddenly.
Wang Feng was stunned. For some reason, people always seemed to choose or want him. Whether it was the system, the Light Dragon King, and now—one of the most powerful people on the continent was offering to make him a successor.
Wang Feng narcissistically thought, Could it be… they're mesmerized by my good looks? No way. Even though I am the most handsome human, there's no way they'd fall for me so easily.
"Seems like you're thinking something weird, young man?" Mu En said softly, as if he could read his mind.
Wang Feng flinched, then let out a nervous laugh while scratching the back of his head. "Hehe… no, no… just a little surprised, that's all."
Yan Shaoze stood nearby, feeling jealous of Wang Feng's incredible luck. Just imagine—a student who had only been in the academy for a month could already meet the person with the highest status there.
Even that very figure wanted Wang Feng to be his successor. Yan Shaoze could only stare at Wang Feng with envy in his eyes.
Wang Feng cleared his throat and tried to choose his words carefully. "Master Mu, I… I don't know what to say. This is too sudden. I'm just a new student…"
Mu En nodded slowly. "I know. That's exactly why I want the answer to come from you, without anyone else's influence."
He looked at Wang Feng with a warm yet meaningful gaze. "You have strength, composure, and a heart that's different from most young people. That's why I chose you."
Wang Feng still looked confused, but also felt a sense of pride. He tried to respond as best he could. "If… if I can do something good for the Academy, of course I'll do my best. But to become a successor… isn't that too much for someone like me?"
Mu En smiled even wider. "That's a good answer. You don't need to decide right now. But know this—becoming the successor of the Sea God's Pavilion doesn't mean you have to replace everything I am today. You only need to… be yourself, and grow."
Yan Shaoze chimed in, "And if you agree, we'll give you special training. As a bonus, we'll try to fulfill any wish you have."
Wang Feng looked at the two of them, then let out a soft sigh. "Alright… I won't say yes for now. But I also won't say no. I'll give it a try. If I'm not suited for it, I can back out, right?"
Mu En laughed, his voice light like the morning breeze. "Of course. There's no coercion here."
Wang Feng smiled casually. "In that case, I agree… to try."
Yan Shaoze patted him on the shoulder. "Good! You won't regret it."
Mu En stood up slowly. "Then let's begin the trial."
Wang Feng: "...Trial?"
Mu En raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Did you think becoming the next Pavilion Master only requires a nice chat in the pavilion? Heh."
Wang Feng immediately panicked. "Wait… what kind of trial? Don't tell me it's fighting a 100,000-year soul beast…"
Mu En only smiled at him.
Seeing that smile, Wang Feng began to feel uneasy.
Sensing his nervousness, Mu En tried to reassure him. "Don't worry, at the very least you won't die during the trial."
Wang Feng: "That doesn't make me feel better, senior..."
At the Center of Poseidon Island
After chatting in the room for a while, Mu En brought Wang Feng to the location where the first trial would take place.
By the way, Yan Shaoze was not with them. Mu En said that only the next leader of the Sea God's Pavilion was allowed to come here.
Hearing that made Wang Feng even more unsure if he could back out later.
"We've arrived."
In front of them stood an enormous tree. The tree towered high with golden-colored bark. Its massive form was so large that its canopy seemed endless.
Mu En stood tall in the tree's golden shadow, as if he were one with the place. The golden light from the leaves gently rained down on both of them, giving a warm and peaceful feeling.
"The tree in front of us is called the Ancient Golden Tree," said Mu En. "It is the greatest treasure of Shrek Academy. This tree has protected the Academy for thousands of years."
Wang Feng looked confused. "What does this tree have to do with the first trial?"
"This tree has many purposes," he continued softly. "One of them is to explore the depths of a person's heart and soul. The first trial isn't about physical strength, but mental readiness… and what lies within you."
He pointed to the trunk of the tree, which was still faintly glowing from the light that had opened the way for Wang Feng.
"Everyone who steps inside will face another version of themselves—a form shaped by their desires, fears, and the strongest influences within their hearts."
Mu En gave a faint smile. "Your first trial is quite simple."
Wang Feng immediately grew suspicious. He felt that Mu En's definition of "simple" was probably very different from his own.
Mu En just chuckled. "Don't worry. This trial isn't about fighting."
Wang Feng sighed in relief.
"That's for later."
"..."
Mu En raised his hand and touched the trunk of the Ancient Golden Tree. Golden light spread from his palm, and the massive tree trunk slowly opened, forming a corridor of light that seemed endless—as if it led to another dimension.
"Enter. Your first trial lies within. You must find your true heart in there."
Wang Feng exhaled. "So this is just… some kind of meditation?"
Mu En replied vaguely, "Yes, something like that."
Hearing that, Wang Feng felt slightly more at ease. Then, he stepped into the corridor of light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you've enjoyed the journey so far, don't forget to leave a review! Your feedback means the world to me and helps others discover this story. Also, if you'd like to stay updated on every new twist and turn, be sure to add this book to your collection. Thank you for your support! Your love and recommendations keep this adventure going!
Wang Feng will only be a disciple of Mu En and a student of Shrek Academy. He will not be Tang San's lapdog.