Chapter 32: Severing Faith, Making the Secret Method Public
Inside the Undead Space, a deathly silence persisted for a moment. Everyone's gaze was focused on Mu En and Xuan Zi, the air filled with an unspeakable embarrassment and scrutiny.
Ultimately, it was Mu En who slowly raised his head. This old man, who had weathered many storms, showed no panic at having his secrets exposed; instead, his expression was a complex mix of heaviness and relief. He met Lei Chen's gaze candidly and spoke in a raspy but clear voice:
"Respected Plane Master, what you have said today are secrets unheard of by Shrek or by myself personally."
He paused slightly, looking around at the crowd with their various expressions before finally returning his gaze to Lei Chen, his tone becoming incredibly solemn: "If the Sea God Tang San... is truly as you say, a narrow-minded individual who suppresses the geniuses of this plane, then my Shrek Academy's ten thousand years of reverence has indeed been a waste of devotion, a betrayal of our ancestors!"
"I, Mu En, hereby swear that upon returning to the academy, I will immediately order the removal of all statues of Tang San within the grounds, and rename everything associated with the title 'Sea God,' including Sea God Lake, Sea God Island, and Sea God Pavilion!"
"Shrek has been passed down for ten thousand years. What we should revere is the spirit of protecting the continent and nurturing talents, not some selfish deity. In this matter, Shrek will not shirk its responsibility!"
Xuan Zi opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Mu En's resolute eyes, he eventually nodded heavily and said deeply, "Agreed!"
Hearing Mu En's stance, Lei Chen nodded slightly, a trace of imperceptible approval appearing on his face. He naturally knew that Mu En's words came from the heart; in the past ten thousand years, Shrek Academy had indeed only passively accepted the halo left by Tang San, knowing nothing of the secrets behind it.
"Ignorance is not a crime." Lei Chen's voice softened slightly. "It is very good that Shrek can distinguish right from wrong and decisively cast off its old empty reputation. As for the matter of removing the statues and renaming, proceed as you have said."
He gave his consent seemingly casually, but his heart was clear.
On the surface, this seemed like a mere change of names, but behind it lay the Power Of Faith, enough to shake the very foundations of a God King!
As the Plane Master, Lei Chen had long since seen through the mysteries of Tang San's God Position.
The sea god divine position Tang San initially inherited was only at the First-level God level. He was able to forcibly elevate it to the God King level not only because of the boost from holding the Asura God King status, but more importantly, because he very cleverly expanded the sources of faith for the Sea God.
And Shrek Academy was precisely the most important link in this Power Of Faith!
As a sacred land for Soul Masters that had been passed down for ten thousand years and was hailed as the number one on the continent, Shrek Academy condensed the aspirations and admiration of countless Soul Masters and even ordinary people. The Power Of Faith accumulated over ten thousand years was massive.
Because the academy used the name'Sea God' everywhere—the core inner courtyard was located on 'Sea God Island' and the highest decision-making body was the 'Sea God Pavilion'—the vast majority of faith directed toward Shrek was invisibly and cleverly distorted and guided, eventually flowing into the river of faith for the'Sea God' Tang San.
Now, once Shrek severed its titular connection with the'Sea God' and removed Tang San's statues, it would be equivalent to cutting off this most abundant tributary of faith.
Without the support of this massive faith accumulated over ten thousand years, Tang San's forcibly elevated sea god divine position would surely have its foundations shaken, and it would most likely fall from the God King level back to its original First-level God realm.
At that time, the super divine artifact, the 'Sea God Trident,' which relied on the God King-level Sea God status to maintain itself, would also drop in rank.
Being able to so easily cause such a major blockage for Tang San, who was struggling far away in the Space-Time Turbulence, and even weaken his possible future threats, Lei Chen, as the Plane Master, was naturally happy to see it happen and would even give it a push.
"Mu En, Xuan Zi, since this matter is settled, you two should handle it immediately upon your return."
"Yes." Mu En and Xuan Zi bowed.
After settling the matter of Shrek Academy's change of course, Lei Chen's gaze turned toward Du Busi, who was still indignant over the matter of his ancestor.
"Du Busi."
Hearing his name, Du Busi suppressed his anger toward Tang San and replied respectfully, "This junior is here!"
Lei Chen looked at him and asked directly, "The Innate Secret Method left by the founding ancestor of your Body Sect is a supreme inheritance that points directly to the path of the Divine Body."
"This Seat asks you, are you willing to make this secret method public for the benefit of all Soul Masters on this plane? So that future generations who aspire to temper their physiques will have a viable path to the heavens?"
"Make the secret method public?" Du Busi looked up abruptly, shock and struggle flashing in his eyes.
This was, after all, the supreme, unshared secret of his sect, the foundation upon which the Body Sect stood on the continent!
But when he saw Lei Chen's deep and calm gaze, and thought of his ancestor's end—falling in disappointment due to Tang San's suppression—a surge of hot blood rushed to his head.
The secrets of the sect were important, but if they could benefit the entire plane and break the shackles of outside deities, would that not better comfort his ancestor's spirit in heaven?
He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "Reporting to the Plane Master! If it can provide the Soul Masters of our plane with another Path to Godhood, I, Du Busi, am willing to represent the Body Sect and make The Innate Secret Method public!"
"Good!" A sharp light flashed in Lei Chen's eyes as he promised, "That you can prioritize the overall situation of the plane is a great merit!"
"As a reward, This Seat can guarantee to help you forge a Divine Body, break through to level 100, and cultivate you to the peak realm of level 109."
"Level 109!"
Hearing this precise promise, Du Busi trembled with excitement. The slight reluctance he felt earlier about making the secret method public vanished instantly.
Compared to the promise of reaching the peak of the plane, what did making a secret method public matter? This was simply a once-in-ten-thousand-years opportunity for the Body Sect to rise!
"Thank you, Plane Master! Du Busi will not fail your trust!" He prostrated himself heavily, his voice raspy with excitement.
"Good." Lei Chen nodded slightly, and the seven-colored halo flowing around him suddenly brightened. Like a painter splashing ink imbued with the laws of heaven and earth, it quickly outlined and condensed in the air.
In the blink of an eye, seven thin booklets appeared out of thin air. The covers were ancient, showing a dark gold hue as if forged from the purest power of laws, with the four profound characters for 'The Innate Secret Method' faintly circulating on them.
Lei Chen flicked his sleeve, and the seven booklets flew in front of the seven people present, floating quietly.
"This is the essence of The Innate Secret Method manifested after This Seat slightly organized and optimized it based on your sect's inheritance. You may browse it yourselves and each take a copy with you."
Lei Chen's voice echoed in the silent space: "Upon your return, you must spread this method throughout the world for the benefit of all Soul Masters who aspire to temper their physiques. There must be no mistakes."
Hearing Lei Chen's words, the seven powerhouses present were all shaken. They impatiently began to flip through the dark gold booklets floating before them, which were condensed from the seven-colored halo.