"This kid is incredibly strong."
Yan Shaozhe was shocked.
He had almost used his full strength, yet he still felt Su Yu slowly breaking free from his grip.
As a mighty Super Douluo, how could he fail to restrain a junior?
What exactly had this kid been eating to grow such brute strength?
Mu En also glanced at Su Yu with some surprise.
Even though Yan Shaozhe hadn't used his soul power, a Super Douluo's physical strength alone was immense.
Yet Su Yu could almost match him in a contest of raw strength—his physical power was truly terrifying.
No wonder he could withstand a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
Seeing Yan Shaozhe's face turning red as Su Yu was about to break free, Mu En finally spoke.
"Su Yu, calm down. Xuan Zi can still be saved."
Su Yu stopped struggling and asked skeptically, "How can he still be saved?"
"That sinister aura is already close to that of an Evil Soul Master."
"I understand that you have deep feelings for Senior Xuan Zi, but now is not the time for sentimentality."
"Do you realize how much destruction he will cause if he completely succumbs to his madness?"
"Is Shrek Academy planning to harbor an Evil Soul Master?"
Su Yu stood on the moral high ground and threw their logic back at them, leaving Yan Shaozhe speechless.
These were the exact words Shrek Academy often used against others.
Mu En also had a strange look on his face—something about this felt off.
But seeing Su Yu gripping his weapon, ready to chop Xuanzi into pieces, he sighed and explained, "We're not trying to protect him deliberately. Xuanzi truly has a chance of being saved."
"This is how…"
Mu En detailed the treatment method in full.
Su Yu put away his weapon and asked doubtfully, "Really?"
"Old man Mu, you better not be fooling me."
Mu En smiled. "I would never joke about something like this."
"Alright then, for your sake, I'll believe you for now."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe was overjoyed and immediately let go of Su Yu.
Su Yu stretched his limbs and glared at Yan Shaozhe. "Dean Yan, if you ever dare hug me like that again, I'll beat you up."
Yan Shaozhe chuckled. "Su Yu, go ahead. I'm tough."
Su Yu rolled his eyes and stepped closer to Xuanzi.
Xuanzi's right arm had been severed at the shoulder, his hair was a mess, and he looked completely disheveled.
On his forehead, a dark red Taotie mark emitted a violent and sinister aura.
Su Yu reached out to touch it, making Yan Shaozhe panic.
"Su Yu, be careful! The evil energy is dangerous!"
"It's fine."
Su Yu shook his head and lightly touched the mark with his fingers. Instantly, an incredibly ferocious aura surged toward him.
"Hmph!"
Su Yu snorted coldly, releasing a sacred aura from his body that immediately repelled the sinister energy.
Between his brows, an ice-blue mark glowed brightly, exuding an overwhelming and solemn chill that swept across the room.
Mu En's aged eyes widened in shock as he stared at Su Yu's forehead, his gaze filled with astonishment.
From that mark, he sensed a vast and awe-inspiring presence, as if it came from the heavens themselves.
That supreme aura sent shivers down his spine.
It was a force that completely surpassed the limits of an Ultimate Douluo—something from an entirely different realm.
Mu En's hands trembled, and his gaze at Su Yu was filled with unprecedented shock.
This aura, this power…
Could it be…?
Mu En's usually calm heart was now in complete turmoil.
"Hmph, pretty fierce. At least it's got some substance."
Su Yu's cold snort snapped Mu En out of his thoughts, bringing him back to reality.
"Su Yu, are you alright?" Yan Shaozhe asked nervously.
Su Yu shook his head. "A little sinister energy can't harm me."
"However, Senior Xuan Zi's bloodline is quite ferocious. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to handle it."
Yan Shaozhe sighed in agreement. "Exactly. The Taotie bloodline is too overbearing, even Teacher's Holy Light Dragon bloodline can't suppress it."
"That's why we had to ask for your help."
"Su Yu, you're naturally kind-hearted. Surely you wouldn't want Elder Xuan to suffer like this, right?"
Su Yu raised his hand to stop him. "Dean Yan, don't use that tactic on me."
"Honestly, I think Senior Xuan Zi's current state isn't all that bad."
"After all, we should respect people's fates, shouldn't we?"
"Of course, if Senior Xuan Zi can't hold on and is about to fall completely, I wouldn't mind helping you out and sending him on his way."
Yan Shaozhe: "…"
This little brat was completely immune to persuasion.
He had originally wanted to use emotional appeal to build a connection and maybe spend less on rewards.
But Su Yu left him no opportunity at all.
Just as Yan Shaozhe was about to continue, Mu En cut in.
Mu En looked at Su Yu and said, "Su Yu, you've seen Xuanzi's condition. Let's sit down and talk."
Su Yu smiled. "Fine."
The three of them returned to the first floor, where the Shrek Academy elders were all watching.
Su Yu sat down next to Zhang Lexuan again, glancing at her face from time to time.
"What a cheeky little brat," Xian Lin'er muttered under her breath.
Su Yu glanced at her and said nonchalantly, "Dean Xian Lin'er, you must not have this kind of trouble, right?"
"What trouble?" Xian Lin'er was puzzled.
Su Yu grinned. "A graceful lady always attracts gentlemen. Beautiful girls naturally catch a lot of attention from boys."
"But you're different—no one stares at you, so you don't have that problem, do you?"
"Pfft!"
Cai Mei'er burst into laughter.
Wasn't Su Yu just calling Xian Lin'er ugly in a roundabout way?
Xian Lin'er, of course, understood what he meant. She was so furious that her chest heaved, her whole body trembling.
Yan Shaozhe rubbed his forehead helplessly.
Lin'er, Lin'er… why did you provoke him?
Hadn't you learned your lesson from before?
Xian Lin'er pointed at Su Yu, wanting to curse at him. But remembering what had happened earlier, she swallowed her words.
She held back her anger, fuming silently.
Damn it! How could there be such an infuriating little brat in this world?
This kid was not cute at all!
Xian Lin'er glared at Su Yu, then turned away in frustration.
Su Yu smirked.
Did she think he was Yan Shaozhe, that cowardly pushover, or Qian Duoduo, that green-haired fool, who would tolerate her nonsense?
She was overthinking things.
Su Yu tapped his fingers on the table, completely disregarding Xian Lin'er.
Mu En cleared his throat, and the room fell silent.
He spoke slowly in his aged voice.
"Su Yu, you've seen Xuanzi's situation. I'm sure you've already guessed it."
"Indeed, the first task we need your help with is related to him."
"We have a way to save Xuanzi, but we need someone whose bloodline is strong enough to suppress the Taotie bloodline."
"The Grand Guardian of your palace, Mu Wu, possesses the true dragon martial soul Baxia. His bloodline is incomparably pure and should be able to suppress Xuanzi's Taotie bloodline."
"The old man has never begged anyone in his life, but today, I have no choice but to shamelessly beg you this once."
At this point, it was no longer just a request—it carried a hint of coercion. After all, if even Mu En was willing to cast aside his dignity, could Su Yu refuse?
But Su Yu was no ordinary person. He simply tapped the table lightly and said, "I also feel deeply saddened by Elder Xuan's condition. However, as you all know, bloodline counteraction is extremely dangerous. This… is quite tricky."
Yan Shaozhe's mouth twitched. Here it comes—he's about to extort us. The question was, how would the teacher convince Su Yu? After all, the academy was already running low on resources.
Mu En, as if he had anticipated this, calmly said, "I understand that this is a difficult matter, which is why we wouldn't ask for your help without offering something in return."
Then, Mu En suddenly changed the topic. "Su Yu, can you tell us what you comprehended that day on Sea God Lake?"
His words left all the elders dumbfounded.
Su Yu narrowed his eyes. "And what does that have to do with this?"
Mu En chuckled, his aged voice carrying a hint of amusement. "If my old eyes aren't mistaken, what you comprehended that day was a battle technique that fuses soul power, spiritual power, and life force, correct?"
"Su Yu, you are truly remarkable. Something like this may not happen even once in a thousand years."
"Your realm is already incredibly high—high enough that you have pried open the door to becoming an Ultimate Douluo."
The moment Mu En spoke those words, all the elders were shocked.
What did they just hear?
Su Yu had comprehended a technique that fuses soul power, spiritual power, and life force.
How was that even possible?
Even among the elders present, none of them could achieve such a feat!
And yet, this young man had?
"Is this brat really that powerful?"
Even Xian Lin'er, who had always found Su Yu annoying, was now staring at him with astonishment.
This infuriating little rascal had such skill?
Even Zhang Lexuan, who was usually composed, couldn't help but glance at Su Yu, a flicker of disbelief crossing her beautiful eyes.
Xiao Yu was actually this strong?
Even she had only just begun trying to merge spiritual power with soul power, and she hadn't delved too deeply into it yet.
But Su Yu had already fused three forces?
Had he already left her so far behind?
That thought made Zhang Lexuan feel an urgent sense of pressure.
Su Yu was growing stronger and stronger. She couldn't afford to slack off either—she had to be able to help him in the future.
If she was too weak, she wouldn't be able to support him.
With that realization, Zhang Lexuan steeled her resolve to become stronger.
As the elders of the Sea God Pavilion continued to stare at Su Yu, he simply crossed his hands and smirked. "As expected of the Dragon God Douluo—your eyes are indeed sharp. You're right."
Su Yu admitted it outright—he didn't feel the need to deny it.
Mu En smiled. "Would you mind telling us the name of this battle technique?"
Su Yu casually leaned back and said, "I call it 'Sovereign Ascendancy.'"
"'Sovereign Ascendancy'?"
"What… what a name, what an ambition!"
Mu En praised him repeatedly.
The other elders also took note—just from the name alone, it was clear that Su Yu had great aspirations.
"I say, Old Man Mu, just get to the point already. Stop beating around the bush."
Su Yu's impatience showed.
Xian Lin'er wanted to scold him again, but remembering what had happened earlier, she held back.
Mu En, however, wasn't the least bit angry. He simply chuckled. "Young people sure are impatient. Alright, I'll be direct."
"Su Yu, although your battle technique has limitless potential, it's still in its infancy—it's a little rough around the edges."
Su Yu remained indifferent.
His Sovereign Ascendancy was indeed still in its early stages. There were still many imperfections, and it would take time to refine.
"So?"
Mu En continued smiling. "I have a battle technique called Sovereign Descent."
"While it doesn't fuse all three forces like your Sovereign Ascendancy, it has its unique strengths in merging spiritual power and soul power."
"I believe it might be of some use to you."
"If you are willing to help, I will teach you Sovereign Descent as payment. I trust it will save you some detours on your path forward."
"What? Sovereign Descent!?"
"Teacher, that's your ultimate technique!"
Xian Lin'er gasped, and even Yan Shaozhe was stunned.
Sovereign Descent—Mu En's signature ability, the skill that once shook the world.
Mastering it allowed one to merge spiritual power and soul power, stepping directly into a higher realm.
It was no exaggeration to say that Sovereign Descent was more valuable than a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
And now Mu En was willing to give it to Su Yu?
Even Yan Shaozhe found it hard to believe.
Su Yu was also surprised.
He had, of course, heard of Sovereign Descent.
In the original story, Mu En had passed it down to Huo Yuhao.
Without Sovereign Descent, with Huo Yuhao's abysmal talent, how could he have possibly comprehended the fusion of spiritual power and soul power?
Sovereign Descent was an incredibly powerful technique, Mu En's lifelong masterpiece.
Of course, in Su Yu's eyes, his Sovereign Ascendancy was superior to Sovereign Descent.
After all, Sovereign Descent could only fuse spiritual power and soul power, whereas Sovereign Ascendancy could unify all three aspects—spirit, energy, and vitality.
It was a fundamental difference, a full tier beyond Sovereign Descent.
However, at its current stage, Sovereign Ascendancy was still in development, and truthfully, some areas were indeed unrefined.
Meanwhile, Sovereign Descent was already a mature technique in terms of merging spiritual and soul power.
If he could study it, it would undoubtedly benefit him.
Perhaps, through cross-referencing, he might even improve Sovereign Ascendancy further.
Thinking of this, Su Yu was tempted.
He lightly tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought.
"What is there to consider? Just agree already!"
"This is Sovereign Descent we're talking about!"
Xian Lin'er couldn't help but blurt out.
"Lin'er, be quiet!"
Elder Song scolded her, and Xian Lin'er reluctantly closed her mouth.
"If Sovereign Descent isn't enough, then I can offer you another condition."
Mu En added, "I will also allow you to train in the Sea God Pavilion for one year. How about that?"
Yan Shaozhe was astonished.
Teacher… that's too generous, isn't it?
Wouldn't this deal be a loss for them?