Chapter 141: Mu En’s Resolve

"Oh? Let's hear it." Mu En's eyes opened slightly wider, his dim gaze fixed steadily on Shao Zhe.

You actually came to discuss something with me?

How rare…

I thought you'd already grown your wings and preferred flying solo. So you still remember you have a teacher, huh.

"It's like this, Teacher. Do you remember that outer court student named Lin Yun? The one with the Golden Dragon martial soul and the Ultimate Strength attribute?" Shao Zhe decided to start with some context.

But just that one sentence made Mu En's eyes widen a fraction more.

How could he not remember Lin Yun? The little guy had given him a massive shock on his very first day at the academy. His dragon's aura was even more domineering than Mu En's own—hard not to leave an impression.

Honestly, Mu En had a bad feeling about this.

He knew his disciple's tendencies all too well. Shao Zhe was always scheming, playing petty little games unbecoming of the Phoenix of Light's grandeur—nothing like the dignified bearing of Mu En's own Bright Holy Dragon.

Don't tell me you tried to pull some underhanded trick on the kid, got caught, and now he's planning to leave. And you're only coming to me because you're out of options?

Mu En felt his heart skip a beat. Thankfully, his self-restraint was solid enough to keep him from visibly reacting.

He waited patiently for Shao Zhe to continue, already considering how to deal with this little brat based on what he'd say next.

Too preoccupied with thoughts of the immortal herb, Shao Zhe didn't notice his teacher's slightly odd expression. With some difficulty, he spoke up: "The forces behind him are… extraordinary. Recently, he fed his girlfriend an immortal herb—the same kind our founding Shrek Seven Monks ancestors consumed ten thousand years ago."

"After discovering this, I went to talk to him. As you know, Teacher, Xiao Tao's condition… Without an immortal herb to resolve her Evil Fire problem, she'll never reach the heights of her ancestors. Worse, she might lose herself completely to the flames."

"And then?" Mu En leaned back slightly, his eyes widening again, his expression turning grave.

His sense of foreboding grew stronger.

The immortal herb wasn't even the main concern anymore. What mattered was whether Shao Zhe had managed to avoid stirring up another disaster for Shrek—not only failing to obtain the herb but also making another powerful enemy for the academy.

If that were the case, Mu En might just have the impulse to slap Shao Zhe to death on the spot.

Thankfully, Shao Zhe's next words let him relax a little.

"Lin Yun… does indeed have more immortal herbs. And he's willing to trade." Shao Zhe hesitated before steeling himself. "But the price… is exorbitant. So high it's almost unacceptable."

"That's why I came to you, Teacher. I can't decide whether the trade is worth it."

'Phew… at least he didn't cause a catastrophe!' Mu En exhaled heavily, his eyes narrowing again. "Go on. What's the price?"

"A… a full set of 100,000-year spirit bones…" Shao Zhe gritted his teeth and revealed Lin Yun's condition.

"What?!" Mu En's half-lidded eyes flew wide open, his face a picture of shock.

Shao Zhe was startled by his teacher's reaction, though he'd expected it. After all, he hadn't fared much better when he first heard Lin Yun's demand.

Still, seeing his perpetually calm and composed teacher so visibly stunned was… enlightening.

"You heard right, Teacher. And I didn't misspeak. His price is indeed a full set of six 100,000-year spirit bones—no duplicates allowed." Shao Zhe smiled bitterly, helplessness written across his face. "That's why I couldn't make the decision alone and came to you."

Now Mu En understood why Shao Zhe hadn't dared to act unilaterally.

He lay back on the recliner, deep in thought, his expression conflicted.

Objectively speaking, the price wasn't outrageous.

A full set of 100,000-year spirit bones was unimaginably precious—enough to drive any force on the Douluo Continent into a frenzy. But compared to the legendary immortal herbs that had helped the founding Shrek Seven Monks ascend to godhood? The latter was undeniably more desirable.

After the Seven Monks' ascension, the once top-ranked dream of every spirit master—a 100,000-year spirit ring or bone—had long been supplanted by immortal herbs.

Many had absorbed 100,000-year spirit rings and bones, but none had become gods. Those who'd consumed immortal herbs? Without exception, they'd all ascended!

This was the gap created by legend—and the trap Tang San had left for Shrek Academy.

Having monopolized the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well for ten thousand years, he'd never allowed anyone else to enter. As a result, not a single soul on the continent had even seen an immortal herb in all that time.

These herbs, which merely enhanced talent and essence (and maybe evolved martial souls), had been deified.

Even Mu En wouldn't argue that trading a full set of 100,000-year spirit bones for a single immortal herb wasn't worth it.

On the contrary, he thought it was more than fair.

But the problem remained the same. Just like Shao Zhe earlier, Mu En now faced the same dilemma: a full set of 100,000-year spirit bones was simply too expensive!

After all, Mu En himself only possessed five 100,000-year spirit bones: skull, torso, left arm, right leg, and one evolved 100,000-year external spirit bone. His right arm and left leg bones were top-tier specimens over 50,000 years old.

It was precisely because Mu En had five 100,000-year spirit bones and three 100,000-year spirit rings that he'd had the foundation to survive the backlash of the Dragon Core's ferocity after his near-fatal battle with Du Bisi. Not only had he endured, but he'd broken through his limits in a desperate gamble.

Without such a robust foundation, how could he have clung to life for so long despite his injuries? Even Du Busi had assumed he was long dead.

The contribution of his 100,000-year spirit rings and bones was undeniable.

And now, Lin Yun was demanding that Shrek hand over a full set of 100,000-year spirit bones. Even if it was a fair trade, it was enough to make the academy wince.

"Teacher… do we make the trade?" Shao Zhe's voice carried a note of hesitation—and hope.

He truly wanted his disciple to break free of her shackles and evolve into a true Fire Phoenix!

After a long silence, Mu En nodded decisively.

"We trade. We have to."

100,000-year spirit bones could be slowly accumulated over time. But if they missed this chance at an immortal herb, who knew when the next opportunity would come?

(End of Chapter)

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