He watched them chatting and observing the match with vigilance, constantly ready to step out and stop them.
However, even until the match concluded, the other party made no move, simply sitting quietly in the audience seats.
In the end, he couldn't sit still and decided to come over and investigate.
Upon approaching, however, he discovered an invisible barrier blocking him. He waited patiently for a long time, only gaining entry at this moment.
Mu En looked at the two people sitting calmly in front of him, remained silent for a moment as if choosing his words carefully, and then spoke with a hint of hesitation: "The two of you, long time no see."
"Long time no see, Elder Mu."
Kong Mingan smiled in response, looking like he was in a good mood.
Seeing Kong Mingan's peaceful demeanor, Mu En felt slightly relieved. He hesitated for a moment but still asked the question that had been weighing on his mind for a long time:
"Your Excellency, may I ask where the Golden Ancient Tree is now?"
"Ah, about that..."
Kong Mingan did not answer directly; instead, he raised his hand and made a sweeping gesture in the air.
The next moment, a phantom of an ancient tree, visible only to the few people present and radiating soft silver light, slowly materialized. Vast rivers of data stars flowed among its branches and leaves, and an aura far deeper and vaster than that of the former Golden Ancient Tree permeated the area.
Mu En's pupils slightly contracted, and his movements paused momentarily.
Is this the Golden Ancient Tree?
How much time has passed? Has it changed this much?
Kong Mingan nodded.
Mu En fell silent, and after a long time, it turned into a deep sigh: "It seems this old man will not have the opportunity to reclaim the Golden Ancient Tree."
Kong Mingan said: "Elder Mu, you don't need to be too concerned. I took the Golden Ancient Tree with the consent of its true owner, so it wasn't taken without notice."
Mu En was stunned: "Are you referring to the Sea God?"
Kong Mingan shook his head and corrected him: "No, it is the plane will. Tang San is merely a thief."
Mu En's body stiffened. The images from Ah Yin's memories resurfaced in his mind, confirming the other party's statement, leaving him momentarily unable to refute it.
Kong Mingan continued:
"The Golden Ancient Tree was originally cultivated intentionally by the plane will to serve as the Core of Life, supporting and regulating the life cycle of the entire plane."
"It was merely transplanted to Shrek by Tang San using various methods, and from then on, it nominally belonged to Shrek Academy."
"Afterward, driven by his own selfish desires, he had the Soul of his mother, Ah Yin, the Blue Silver Emperor, Parasite within it, attempting to have her gradually take Possession of and control the ancient tree, thereby stealing the Plane's Life Origin."
"And this is the truth."
Mu En remained silent.
Admittedly, those memories were a tremendous shock to him. After all, the image of the Sea God cultivated by Shrek over ten thousand years was glorious and magnificent, essentially serving as the Academy's spiritual Legacy.
Yet, the memory he had acquired directly shattered that halo.
Of course, compared to the collapse of such vague beliefs, what he cared about more was the future of Shrek Academy itself.
And Shrek's current future.
Mu En was silent for a long time, then looked directly at Kong Mingan and asked the most crucial question: "What exactly do you plan to do with Shrek?"
Kong Mingan calmly replied: "I just want Shrek to be nothing more than Shrek."
Confusion appeared in Mu En's eyes.
Kong Mingan explained: "Shrek was originally just an academy, a place for teaching students and cultivating talent.
"And I hope its future remains the same—merely an outstanding academy, not some other existence that oversteps its bounds."
Kong Mingan's tone was serious.
In the original work, especially ten thousand years later, why was Shrek directly 'nuked'? Why was it targeted by so many forces?
Essentially, it was because Shrek stretched its hand too far.
The academy didn't act like an academy; instead, it resembled a "nation within a nation," independent of the state. It was a self-contained system where external authorities had no right to punish student crimes.
Even students who had graduated and joined other forces still habitually referred to themselves as "Shrek people."
This sense of belonging and privilege, which was almost like brainwashing, was intolerable to any other power.
If Shrek hadn't been so powerful, it would have been destroyed long ago.
He did not plan to completely eliminate Shrek; that would be too wasteful.
A golden signboard with a ten-thousand-year Legacy possesses unparalleled appeal and can attract and gather a large number of talents. The 'Qiming Plan' previously implemented by the Chamber of Commerce had already proven this point.
Therefore, the best way to handle it is to let Shrek return to its original and most fundamental purpose: a talent cultivation base.
Mu En was silent, digesting these words. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone seeking confirmation: "You, then, are the true mastermind behind the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce?"
Kong Mingan nodded: "You could say so."
"That child Lexuan, was she also cultivated by you?"
Kong Mingan nodded again.
Hearing this, Mu En let out a long sigh of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted, and said: "In that case... this old man is no longer worried."
Now it was Kong Mingan's turn to be interested: "Oh? Why is that?"
Mu En's expression was calm, his eyes filled with trust: "I believe that child Lexuan genuinely hopes Shrek can become better, and hopes Shrek can continue to exist and continue its Legacy.
"I believe that entrusting Shrek's future to her hands is the Righteous Path."
He paused, smiling slightly with a hint of self-mockery, "I was originally worried that her qualifications were too shallow and her cultivation insufficient to suppress the various voices inside and outside the academy, fearing that the Chamber of Commerce would eventually intervene forcefully, leading to Shrek existing in name only or even completely vanishing.
"But now, since you are willing to stand behind her and support her, I imagine there will be no problems, and I can rest assured."
Kong Mingan narrowed his eyes, raised an eyebrow, and tentatively asked:
"You didn't think I came here today to kill you, did you?"
Mu En shook his head, a relaxed smile appearing on his face: "I had considered that possibility before, but after seeing you, I dismissed that thought.
"However, I suddenly feel like taking a break and handing everything over to that girl Lexuan. What does the President think?"
"Retiring early?"
"Something like that. After all, I don't have many years left to live. This old frame of mine is approaching its Limit."
Recalling everything from the past, especially killing Du Bisi and forcefully advancing to Limit Douluo, and subsequently becoming virtually self-imprisoned within Shrek, he felt an inexplicable sense of exhaustion.
However, his sense of responsibility prevented him from considering rest.
But now, after confirming that Shrek's future could be safely entrusted to Zhang Lexuan, he felt an unprecedented sense of exhaustion wash over him, and he suddenly wanted to put everything down and rest properly.
At the very least, he wouldn't have to deal with Shrek's matters anymore.
Hearing this, Kong Mingan paused slightly and then suddenly said: "I actually have a job here. I wonder if Elder Mu would be interested?"
Mu En was slightly taken aback, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes:
"What kind of job?"
Kong Mingan revealed a faint smile, then raised his hand. A contractual document formed of Energy and radiating a faint silver light appeared before Mu En.
Mu En reached out and took it, his gaze falling on the title at the top of the contract. He unconsciously frowned slightly and couldn't help but softly read aloud the strangely named title:
"Player Project?"
(End of Chapter)
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