Chapter 199: Views on Shrek (Part 2)
Furina withdrew her hand and said with absolute certainty: "But once the continent is unified, taking action against Shrek is only a matter of time. Because your strength and authority are too great—so great they exceed the tolerance of any ruler."
Yan Shaozhe remained silent, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the armrest of the wheelchair—once, twice, three times.
After a long while, he finally slowly raised his head.
"...You're right."
His brows were tightly knitted: "The power our Shrek holds is indeed too great. But to have us compromise, to give up these powers—that's also not very likely. Even if Elder Mu and I agreed, what about the others? Would those venerable elders agree?"
He sighed, his voice carrying an indescribable weariness and helplessness: "Traditions passed down for ten thousand years—they can't just be changed on a whim. And many matters concern the glory of Shrek; they aren't things that can be easily conceded."
Furina nodded in understanding: "Yes, I know that as well. But all I can say is that this is the best choice. Since it's an academy, it should have the appearance of an academy—not an... organization with such a massive armed apparatus."
She had deliberately chosen a relatively neutral word.
Shrek had indeed already surpassed the scope of an "academy"—it had its own city, its own army, it could research and sell soul tools, and it even had an Inspection Corps running all over the continent. With power, influence, and wealth, calling it a state within a state would not be an exaggeration.
Elder Mu nodded slightly, then followed up with another question: "Thank you for your answer. Aside from these points, what other views do you have on Shrek?"
Furina smiled helplessly. She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.
"You really do want to hear a lot. But for your sake, I'm still willing to talk."
She extended one finger: "Let's start with education. I won't say too much more—you already know my views. Shrek's education is far too rigid. And to be honest, your very founding principle was wrong from the start."
She held up two fingers: "If Shrek is an academy of monsters, then it shouldn't only accept monsters—it should be cultivating ordinary people into monsters. Turning geniuses into geniuses—who can't do that? If I taught nothing at all and just gave them resources, they'd become geniuses on their own anyway."
Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
Furina raised a hand to cut him off, pressing her palm downward in the air: "Alright, alright. I know what you want to say. Even if you reformed the education plan according to my suggestions, I actually still feel there's something lacking."
Elder Mu sat up a little straighter, his graying eyebrows lifting: "Oh? What's lacking?"
Furina looked at him, putting away her previously casual expression, and said seriously: "Moral character. Educating students in moral character is very important. The people you cultivate may indeed be powerhouses, but is the character of the vast majority of them truly good?"
She jutted her chin toward the Spirit Arena district: "Take Dai Huabin, for example. What meaning is there in letting him possess power? People like him, without proper guidance, will only grow worse and worse, forever trapped in their own little worlds, unable to get out."
"And Ma Xiaotao." Furina turned her head toward Yan Shaozhe, her tone calm but direct. "In certain aspects, she can be called a selfish and self-serving person. Clearly knowing she has the risk of succumbing to cultivation deviation, yet still persisting in her cultivation. Isn't that harming both herself and others?"
Yan Shaozhe fell silent.
He lowered his eyes, staring fixedly at a spot on the ground, not moving. He was Ma Xiaotao's teacher; he knew better than anyone how severe her condition was. Yet as her teacher, he had no way to stop it, and even less of a way to resolve it.
He could only watch helplessly as she walked step by step toward the abyss.
Furina continued: "Without proper guidance at the very beginning, they just become cultivation-obsessed maniacs later on. I don't expect to mold everyone into some great saint, but at the very least, don't harm others, don't become bad people, right?"
She shook her head: "On this front, your Shrek failed from the very start. As the number one academy, what you should be cultivating is not merely powerhouses and monsters."
She paused, then threw out an even sharper topic.
"Also, regarding the definition of evil soul masters."
She looked at Elder Mu and Yan Shaozhe, her fingers tapping lightly on her knee: "You can't define someone as an evil soul master simply because their martial soul is innately a so-called 'evil martial soul.' Among the substitute members of the original Shrek Seven Devils ten thousand years ago, wasn't there also someone with an evil martial soul? A skeleton martial soul, if I recall correctly? By current standards, he would probably also be labeled an evil soul master."
"And that Ghost Douluo from back then—if he were here now, he'd absolutely be classified as an evil soul master without a doubt."
She spread her hands, a hint of helplessness in her tone: "You define them from the very beginning as the embodiment of evil martial souls, not allowing them to cultivate, even directly crippling their cultivation. Isn't that just pushing people toward becoming evil soul masters? Put yourself in their shoes—if you were treated as a bad person without having done anything wrong, what would you think?"
Yan Shaozhe remained silent.
These words pierced his heart like needles, jab after jab, stinging fiercely.
Especially the matter of Ma Xiaotao.
He raised his head, his lips moving slightly, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Furina, about Xiaotao..."
He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, or perhaps struggling to suppress some emotion: "You're right. She is indeed... indeed very dangerous. As her teacher, I..."
He clenched his fists: "Do you have any way? To resolve that problem of hers?"
He looked at Furina, the rims of his eyes reddening slightly, a plea and earnestness in his gaze that had never been there before: "Xiaotao... she's not a bad person. She's just too determined, too desperate to become stronger. I, as her teacher, can't help her. I can only watch helplessly as she, step by step..."
He couldn't continue. He turned his face away and raised a hand to rub fiercely at the corners of his eyes.
Elder Mu watched quietly from the side and did not interrupt.
After a moment, he finally spoke slowly, his voice gentle: "That child Xiaotao—this old man has also watched her grow up. Her talent is exceptional, and her heart is not bad by nature. It's just this evil fire—it is indeed troublesome."
He looked at Furina, a hint of expectation in his gaze: "If you have any method, do share it. Shrek will not let you help for nothing."
Yan Shaozhe hurriedly nodded in agreement, his voice still trembling slightly: "Yes, yes! Whatever conditions you have, just name them. As long as Xiaotao can be restored to normal, anything is negotiable."
Furina looked at the two of them and was silent for a few seconds.
She leaned back, her fingers tapping lightly on her knee twice, as if pondering something.
"As for a method... it's not that there isn't one."
She tilted her head, her tone lightening somewhat: "But this matter is a long story. And it depends on whether Xiaotao herself is willing to cooperate. If she isn't, then no matter how much I say, it's useless."
Yan Shaozhe's eyes lit up. He leaned forward, his entire body inclining forward, and quickly pressed: "What does she need to do? I can persuade her!"
Furina waved a hand, signaling him not to rush: "Don't be hasty. This matter can't be rushed. Let's wait until Xiaotao returns from the Far North. Have her come find me then. I'll talk with her personally."
She added: "But you'll have to be mentally prepared. This process might be very long, and it might not be completely resolved. But at the very least... it can make her less dangerous."
She spoke these words, but in her heart, she was perfectly clear.
She and Huo Yuhao both had ultimate attributes—one ultimate water, one ultimate ice. Joining forces to purify her would be more than enough. But she couldn't just lay all her cards on the table right now; she had to leave some room.
Of course, purification only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. The fundamental issue was still to evolve her martial soul and break free from the entanglement of the evil fire. For example, going to the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire to find a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower or something similar.
But regarding the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire, she didn't plan to tell Shrek about it for the time being. She'd send her own people to scout the path later and claim that treasure trove first.
She stood up, dusted off her skirt, and casually added one more line: "Of course, Shrek will have to bleed a little when the time comes. After all, my Water God Church isn't running a charity."
Yan Shaozhe paused briefly, then nodded repeatedly, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out: "As it should be, as it should be! Whatever you need, just say the word! Soul bones, soul tools, cultivation resources—if Shrek has it, you can take your pick!"
Watching this scene, the corner of Elder Mu's mouth lifted slightly, a hint of a smile appearing on his aged face.
He said quietly, "Shaozhe, learn more from Furina. This girl sees things far more clearly than you do."
Yan Shaozhe smiled wryly and did not refute. He simply looked at Furina, his eyes brimming with gratitude.
Over at the Spirit Arena district, Elder Xuan's lecture had finally concluded. Huo Yuhao and his group of seven were walking outward, their faces carrying a mix of excitement and exhaustion, chatting about something as they walked.
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Thanks for reading the chapter!
I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a crossover based on Mondaiji (Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?)
This story has a somewhat similar style to my other translation for this fandom (same author, after all), but it's completely different from any other fanfic I've come across for this fandom! It's set thousands of years before the original novel/anime, and the MC literally plays a part in shaping the backstory of this world. I really enjoyed it—hope you will too!
Mondaiji: I Really Didn't Want to Become God https://www.webnovel.com/book/36945944200410205