"Elder Mu, this is why I currently dislike Shrek."
Huo Yuhao stood beside Elder Mu, his tone exceptionally calm.
"..." Mu En remained silent, not saying a word. He kept his head lowered, silently flipping through the materials Huo Yuhao had given him.
Watching the silent Mu En, Huo Yuhao spoke again:
"Do you want to hear my suggestion?"
Mu En let out a deep sigh, then nodded.
Huo Yuhao gave a light laugh and began:
"Elder Mu, the legacy of Shrek has endured for ten thousand years. In that time, Shrek relied on its own strength to become the number one academy on the continent, as well as one of its top powers.
"This is Shrek's glory; it is Shrek's true history. But what about now?"
Huo Yuhao's tone suddenly shifted:
"The current Shrek has begun to rot from the roots. I believe that over all these years, Shrek's scandals certainly aren't limited to what is recorded in these files.
"And the academy's cancer is definitely not just this Zhou Yi. There's a saying: when you see one cockroach in your house, it means the dark corners are already overflowing with them.
"All these cockroaches are hidden beneath that plaque labeled 'Shrek's Glory.' If Shrek wants to survive, the first step is to completely shatter that useless 'Shrek's Glory'!
"What Shrek needs now is a powerful reform—a thorough reform.
"Uproot cancers like Zhou Yi entirely, leaving not a single one behind!"
"How do we do it?" Mu En raised his somewhat cloudy eyes to meet Huo Yuhao's gaze.
A smile appeared at the corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth, but his eyes held a touch of ruthlessness:
"It's simple. Proclaim this matter to the whole world!"
...
"Yuhao, you're so wicked..."
In the evening, after listening to Huo Yuhao recount the process of "advising" (tricking) Mu En during the day, Skydream couldn't help but complain.
He's really catching one person and fooling them for all they're worth!
"I was never a good person to begin with," Huo Yuhao said with a smile.
Question: Was Huo Yuhao's advice and method actually effective?
Answer: It was indeed useful, and it would show results the fastest.
Another question: Was Huo Yuhao really so kind-hearted as to help Shrek clear out its internal problems?
Answer: You've got to be joking. How could that be? Huo Yuhao is no saint.
What was the plan Huo Yuhao provided to Mu En? It was simple: temporarily leave the cancer known as Zhou Yi alone, then use these three months to follow the clues and eliminate all the other cancers.
Then, proclaim it to the world! While telling everyone about Shrek's disgrace, start the reform immediately!
This was the equivalent of surgically carving out rotten flesh from one's own body! The downside was certain—Shrek would surely suffer a massive blow to its vitality after this ordeal. But the benefit was that as long as it recovered, Shrek would surely radiate new life!
This was an open scheme.
He knew Mu En's thoughts; the old man simply hoped Shrek could continue its legacy.
But because of that very thought, Mu En would never allow such cancers to remain in Shrek after his death. He would surely choose to take these cancers into the grave with him before he passed!
Why?
Because there was no successor!
Previously, the only one he could count on, Xuan Zi, had been struck by Huo Yuhao's Ultimate Ice Palm: Snowless Winter + Monarch's Descent. His state of mind was severely damaged; the fact that he could even remain at Rank 98 was only because Huo Yuhao didn't want extra trouble and showed mercy.
In the past, Mu En might have reluctantly trusted Xuan Zi. Back then, Xuan Zi's image in his heart was a bit lazy, but at least he cared for Shrek.
But ever since that incident, he truly couldn't trust him at all!
He had to resolve all of Shrek's problems before he died!
And while Huo Yuhao's plan was aggressive, it was the most effective and fastest method!
So, Mu En decided to take a gamble! A gamble that he could settle everything before his time was up!
So why was it said that Huo Yuhao wasn't a "good person"?
Simple. Huo Yuhao deliberately omitted the role the Spirit Transmission Pagoda would play in this process.
Currently, all powers on the continent (excluding the Holy Spirit Cult) basically viewed the Spirit Transmission Pagoda as a branch of Shrek.
After all, the Pagoda Master was the Dean of Shrek's Soul Tool Department, and the Vice Pagoda Master was the adopted granddaughter of the Sea God Pavilion Master, Mu En.
No matter how you looked at it, the Spirit Transmission Pagoda and Shrek were in the same boat!
If the Spirit Transmission Pagoda left Shrek, it would be nothing!
At least, that's how the vast majority of powers viewed the Spirit Transmission Pagoda.
But what Huo Yuhao wanted to do was tell everyone that the Spirit Transmission Pagoda and Shrek were not entirely of one mind. This was a setup—to tell everyone that the Spirit Transmission Pagoda was not impossible to win over!
And how would he tell everyone that the Spirit Transmission Pagoda and Shrek had a falling out?
Simple. Those nearly one hundred students who had entered the Inner Courtyard through Zhou Yi's hands, carrying hidden injuries, were a perfect entry point!
He would take in all these students and heal them completely. At that time, Shrek would be the sinner undergoing self-judgment, while the Spirit Transmission Pagoda would play the role of the savior!
Increasing favorability and establishing an image of being righteous and upright—he was self-taught in the former, and as for the latter, he had learned plenty from observing Tang San before killing him. It wasn't difficult.
Of course, this was the ideal scenario.
Huo Yuhao had a massive appetite. Using a single Shrek as nutrients to nourish the Spirit Transmission Pagoda might not be enough...
Besides, if outside forces felt Shrek was too weak to protect the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, or that Shrek was no longer protecting it, they might send people to assassinate him or steal things...
In that case, Huo Yuhao would be more than happy. After all, free experimental materials are just wonderful.
Huo Yuhao lowered his eyes, calculating.
Meanwhile, Skydream blinked her eyes and stealthily tried to crawl onto the bed.
However, just as she moved, Skydream sensed a cold gaze—it came from the Ice Emperor, who was leaning in Huo Yuhao's arms.
The Ice Emperor, who had been keeping a strict guard, had eyes as cold as ice. A series of "Danger" warnings seemed to flash frantically over Skydream's head.
Skydream's expression instantly turned bitter. She was about to say something, but in the next moment, the Ice Emperor directly circulated her Soul Power, raised a hand, and tossed Skydream out!
The door slammed shut. Ultimate Ice manifested, and the Ice Emperor completely sealed the entire room!
It wasn't that she didn't know Skydream was eavesdropping outside last night. If she hadn't been in the middle of being "half-dead" at the time, she definitely would have gone out and punched Skydream.
And now she actually wanted to stay here? Even though she belonged to Huo Yuhao, and if Huo Yuhao really wanted both together she had no reason to refuse...
So... before Yuhao could react, she'd just throw Skydream out! She had no intention of sharing the being she loved!
Looking up, the Ice Emperor wrapped her arms around Huo Yuhao's neck and pulled him down forcefully. She met Huo Yuhao's gaze with a hint of stubbornness and said seriously: "It's time to cultivate."
Her calm voice held a trace of unreal bashfulness mixed with aggression. That "I'm going to be on top" look caused Huo Yuhao's heart to be slightly stirred.
"...I understand," Huo Yuhao replied softly. Then, in the next moment, he exerted sudden force!
Positions swapped; the offense and defense flipped!
"...Then... let's start cultivating," a light smile appeared on his lips.
The Ice Emperor was about to speak, but meeting Huo Yuhao's deep blue eyes, she instantly recalled the scenes of herself being "half-dead" last night.
Her words caught in her throat. Her expression flickered as she tried to speak again, but in the next instant, a coolness pressed against her lips.
Her words were entirely blocked.
Wrists locked, knees pinned—all movements were completely sealed.
His deep blue gaze flickered slightly as Huo Yuhao's figure slowly descended.
Accompanied by the girl's muffled whimpers as she clenched her teeth, refusing to beg for mercy, the cultivation began.
This is cultivation.
The very serious kind. (Serious face)