Douluo Dalu 2: Heavenly Eyed Douluo

"Kids, come over." Elder Mu gestured towards the three of them.

"Pavilion Master." Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Wu Feng, and Ning Tian respectfully as they came over. The girls kept their heads down, feeling incredibly nervous.

But Huo Yuhao raised his head with a slight smile on his face and said, "Long time no see old sir. How have you been?"

"Yuhao?!" Wang Dong'er and the girls quickly freaked out from his disrespectful attitude towards the most powerful figure in the entire academy!

Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Wu Feng quickly grabbed onto him and tried making him kneel, while Ning Tian quickly apologized towards Elder Mu.

"P-Pavilion Master, I am deeply sorry for my friend's attitude towards you. Please, he meant no disrespect—"

"Hahahaha!"

Ning Tian and the others girls froze, whilst Huo Yuhao kept a smirk on his face.

Elder Mu's laughter was gentle but filled the room, its warm, resonant tones melting away the tension like sunlight cutting through morning mist. "Oh, child, there's no need for apologies. I am not so easily offended, especially since we're all old friends here. Please, raise your heads."

Ning Tian and the girls subconsciously raised their heads in response to his words, their eyes widened in shock.

All they saw was a familiar elder who was in his declining years, but had a face that wore a slight smile and was filled with tenderness.

"It's you?!" They exclaimed, completely dumbfounded.

They wouldn't have gotten it right even if they had 10,000 guesses. The elder who always laid down leisurely in front of the freshmen dorm was actually the Master of the Sea God's Pavilion in Shrek Academy!

"Hm. So you did see right through that little hiding trick of mine." Elder Mu said towards Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao cheekily flashed his Sharingan for a moment and said. "Well, I do have exceptional eyes after all."

"Hoho. Indeed you do." Elder Mu chuckled.

Ning Tian was the first to quickly composed herself and said, "Apologies, pavilion master."

Elder Mu slightly waved his hand at her. "Ah, no need to apologize, child. You were respectful, even in your surprise. That's more than enough."

He paused for a moment before saying, "....Is miss Luo still alive?"

Ning Tian was taken aback for a moment before replying with a smile. "Yes, Pavilion Master. Great-grandmother is still alive and well. In fact, she had instructed me to give you her greetings when I had the chance. I just didn't think it'd be this soon..."

Truth be told, she thought the Pavilion Master was long dead! Her great-grandmother told her that the Pavilion Master was an old friend of hers, but that was quite unbelievable considering she was more than 250 years old.

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, and Xiao Xiao curiously looked at her then at Wu Feng.

Wu Feng then explained, "Miss Luo is the current great Douluo Guardian of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Her full name is Luo Li, the Sword Empress Douluo and sister Tian's great-grandmother."

She leaned down and whispered, "From what I heard, the Douluo Guardian was from the same generation as Pavilion Master and her prowess is no joke."

"You are correct, young Wu."

Wu Feng froze, trembling as she heard Elder Mu's hum.

"She was a cold yet fierce woman back then, a prodigy in both cultivation and with the sword—a femme fatale basically. Well, back in my prime, even I would have trouble winning over her."

Elder Mu's expression softened. "Ah, Luo Li.... still as resilient as ever," he murmured, a note of nostalgia coloring his voice. "It has been decades since I last saw her, but I'm glad to know she's still with us. Please, when you next speak with her, send her my regards in return."

Ning Tian nodded respectfully. "I will, Pavilion Master. She often speaks fondly of her time here at Shrek Academy and mentions about the good old days great-grandfather, you, and a couple called Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui had done."

"Ah, yes. I, Lou Li, Mu Chen, Long Xiaoyao, and....her as well." Elder Mu slowly rubbed his long white beard. "My, my. It's been well over a hundred years and I can still remember our time together. What a pity..."

His squinted eyes slightly opened, revealing withered yellow eyes that had saw much in life.

"Time changes people."

Elder Mu shook his head and said, "Help me up."

Huo Yuhao rushed forward and lifted Elder Mu's hand. Elder Mu's movements were very slow, just like an old man who had one foot in his grave. He stood up from his lying position slowly. But his back continued to be bent at a 90 degrees angle, which was a sorrowful sight.

'His condition....' Huo Yuhao slightly narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan instantly analyzed Elder Mu's condition and he grimaced.

It was bad, very much so. In fact, it was even a miracle he could even walk! He had many old injuries on his body, but the most damaging was from his back—his spine specifically.

It was so horrendous and deep, it looked as though it would break apart in any moment. Huo Yuhao could tell that even his Life Gold couldn't heal Elder Mu's back injury.

From what he could tell, Elder Mu was mostly relying on his remaining strength and sheer willpower to keep living—unfortunately however, time was merciless.

Elder Mu's body was at its absolute limit, held together by the faint embers of vitality that even his immense cultivation couldn't completely stave off. It was a testament to his will and the depth of his responsibility as the Sea God Pavilion Master that he remained standing, still guiding Shrek Academy with unwavering resolve.

Huo Yuhao clenched his fist slightly, his expression hardening.

'Such injuries....What happened to you, Pavilion Master?'

Elder Mu noticed Huo Yuhao's gaze and chortled softly. "Oh, do not look at me like that, child. When I was younger, I was injured, and I never recovered from that injury. That's why I can only bend my back like that. They felt bad for me, so they prepared a reclining chair for me."

As he spoke, he lifted his hand and pointed in a direction. Huo Yuhao carefully supported him as they advanced. The girls followed behind.

"Hmm. Huo Yuhao, did you know? Among the new students, I paid special attention towards you. First is because you are one of the rare few kids who greeted me actively. You're very courteous. Every time you entered the freshman dorm, you greeted me. That's very good." Elder Mu remarked.

Huo Yuhao replied humbly, a soft smile on his face. "It was simply common courtesy, Pavilion Master. You've always been there, watching over us. I thought it was the least I could do."

Elder Mu chuckled, his laughter light but warm. "Courtesy, perhaps, but it reflects well on your character. That simple gesture caught my attention."

Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Wu Feng, and Ning Tian either looked away or down in guilt. They were normally all so focused on learning and cultivating in the external courtyard. How could they be bothered to notice an elder in front of the freshman dorm?

"The second reason, though, is more important." Elder Mu's voice turned serious as he turned towards Huo Yuhao.

"You carry a heavy burden, child. From your eyes I saw a deep darkness and hatred, emotions that threaten to consume you if left unchecked."

Huo Yuhao winced, but he didn't turn away. He stared back at Mu En and nodded. "I know."

Elder Mu's eyes squinted and continued saying, "I've only seen such emotions from those who bear a great sense of vengeance. Child, I don't mean to pry into your past or secrets, but vengeance is a double-edged sword. It can fuel your determination, but it can also blind you, leading you down a path of ruin. Tell me, child—are you sure that the path you're walking is one you won't regret?"

Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate to reply. "Of course. I've thought it though many times already, and I will get my revenge."

He looked out of the window, a deep look in his eyes. "When I started my journey as a soul master, I only thought about getting revenge and killing those who hurt me and my mother. But after some time....I thought about it some more and gaining strength for the sake of revenge isn't worth it, not to me or to my mother."

Elder Mu furrowed his brows in confusion, "But you still want revenge."

Huo Yuhao turned to him with a smile. "I do, I just...slightly change my purpose. I'm not gonna live for the sake of vengeance, I'm gonna live my life to the fullest and reach the peak of power! With absolute power, I can protect my loved ones, I can take revenge to those who wronged me."

Huo Yuhao's voice was steady, but it carried an unshakable determination. His gaze was clear, his crimson-gold Sharingan flickering momentarily before returning to normal. "Revenge is just one part of my journey—not the whole. I don't want to be consumed by it. Instead, I want to rise above it and make sure that the power I gain is used for more than just destruction."

Elder Mu's furrowed brows relaxed, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "That's a wise perspective, Yuhao. You've matured more than I expected for someone so young. To wield power with purpose and restraint is a lesson many never learn, even after lifetimes of seeking strength."

Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Wu Feng, and Ning Tian heard their conversation clearly and they stared at Huo Yuhao in worry....and a bit of self-hatred.

They all thought, 'Why am I so weak? How can I help him?' They felt a surge of helplessness mixed with guilt.

Huo Yuhao had carried so much on his shoulders, and yet they felt as though they'd done little to truly support him. Each of them clenched their fists, silently vowing to become stronger—not just for their own sake but for his as well.

Huo Yuhao supported Elder Mu all the way to the front of a wall. Elder Mu lifted his hand and pointed out.

A streak of golden light suddenly lit up, and everything around them seemed to turn illusory. An intense golden halo surrounded Huo Yuhao and the girls instantly.

'My eyes!' They only felt that it was extremely bright in front of them, and they instinctively shut their eyes. There was nothing beneath their feet. When they stepped forward in the next moment, the surrounding golden light had already disappeared.

The Sea God's Pavilion had disappeared. To their amazement and horror, they discovered that they were in a vast hall. This hall seemed to be 100 meters long, and was squarish in shape.

There were several tunnels at the sides of the hall that led to unknown places. There were no windows and everything was enclosed, yet the air was fresh. And there were dozens of wooden statues erected inside the hall; like the first generation Shrek Seven Monsters, the Golden Triangle, mysterious elders, etc.

Elder Mu smiled and said, "Aren't you all curious as to why the Sea God's Pavilion doesn't seem grand? But did any of you realized that the Sea God's Pavilion wasn't constructed, but carved out?"

"Carved out?"

"Yes. The Sea God Pavilion is carved out of the Golden Tree that you've seen from afar. The Golden Tree is rarely seen in the world. It is a tree that contains an aura of light and life. The earlier generations used this golden tree as the foundation, planted by Ancestor Tang San, and carved out the Sea God's Pavilion without affecting the life of the golden tree.

That's why the Sea God's Pavilion doesn't seem to have been put together, while the various decorations and statues in the Sea God's Pavilion were made by the wood that was dug out during the carving process. This golden tree can be said to be the root of Shrek Academy."

Huo Yuhao and the girls looked around in awe. Yuhao's eyes flashed and he was shocked to see they were literally in the roots of the Golden Tree—hundreds of miles below ground with 108 rooms each connected by intricate tunnels that seemed to pulse faintly with golden light. The walls of the vast hall were alive, faintly breathing with the essence of the Golden Tree, radiating warmth and vitality.

Huo Yuhao's Sharingan flickered again as he focused on the golden veins coursing through the walls, marveling at the sheer density of life energy flowing around them. "Amazing.... it's like we're standing inside the beating heart of the academy itself," he murmured.

He then turned towards Elder Mu and asked, "Elder, why have you brought us here?"

Elder Mu chuckled and replied, "My surname is Mu. All of you can call me Elder Mu."

"All of you are in the Sea God's Pavilion Underground World. There are 108 rooms here, and they cover almost all the environments suited for all types of martial souls. Every inner courtyard disciple has a chance to undergo deep meditation here. Although the few of you aren't inner courtyard disciples yet, I've granted permission for the few of you to undergo deep meditation here beforehand on account of your contributions to the academy, sufficient experience in the tournament and your gifts of twin martial souls."

"But Elder, Ning Tian and I don't have twin martial souls..." Wu Feng said in a low voice.

Elder Mu raised an eyebrow and said, "True...But do you really want to miss out on an opportunity like this?" He smiled knowingly, his voice gentle yet filled with undeniable authority. "While you may not possess twin martial souls, your unique strengths and potentials have not gone unnoticed..."

Wu Feng quickly closed her mouth and Ning Tian said excitedly, "Thank you Elder Mu!" Both Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao looked excited as well.

"Uhh..."

Huo Yuhao raised his hand, garnering everyone's attention. "Elder Mu, I'm very thankful for the opportunity....but can you let us rest for a bit?"

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2/4 chapters of the week