"Fortune? The kind that lets you gain this much power so quickly?"
The elders of the Sea God Pavilion couldn't help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.
These were Super Douluos!
The benefits Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er had reaped this time were equivalent to a century of hard cultivation.
"Your martial souls have evolved as well, haven't they? Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire," Elder Xuan remarked, taking a deep breath. With their strength now elevated and their martial souls enhanced to this degree, he wasn't confident he could defeat them.
Ultimate martial souls had the power to challenge higher levels, and even though the gap between levels grew exponentially in the Super Douluo realm, Xuan Lao had never faced an opponent of their caliber—level 97 with ultimate attributes.
Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er exchanged glances before recounting how they had obtained the dragon souls of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King.
When they finished, the entire room fell into a stunned silence.
"These Ice and Fire Dragon Kings… They must have been gods in their lifetimes," Xuan Lao finally said, his gaze complicated. A divine-level soul beast was essentially a mythical creature.
Their immense power had sustained the Icefire Yin Yang Well even in death, creating a treasure trove of unparalleled value.
It was now clear that level 97 was merely the beginning for Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er. Their martial souls, already dragon-related, had been refined by the dragon souls. Their potential for growth had skyrocketed.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, their ascension to Limit Douluo was virtually guaranteed.
"I can't believe you two stumbled upon such a fortune. And Qian Ran just… gave it to you?" Yan Shaozhe said, his tone tinged with envy.
At their level, progress was excruciatingly slow. Even Yan Shaozhe wasn't confident he would ever reach Limit Douluo. But for Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er, success seemed almost inevitable now.
The power of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings had made their future paths significantly smoother. They might even surpass Xuan Lao in reaching Limit Douluo—it was entirely possible.
Everyone in the room knew that Qian Ran's actions had indirectly led to Mu En's death.
Yet now, Qian Ran had effectively delivered two Limit Douluo candidates to the Sea God Pavilion. The elders couldn't help but feel a growing respect for him.
The treasure Qian Ran had offered was not something they would have willingly given to someone else, let alone someone unrelated.
"Does that boy even understand how much he's done for them?"
Qian Ran could have easily kept the dragon souls for himself. After all, his second martial soul was also dragon-based. Was he truly so selfless?
Several elders couldn't help but reflect inwardly:
"If only I had taken part in the last Advanced Academy Soul Master Tournament. Perhaps I could have built a better relationship with Qian Ran. Would I have been the one to receive this opportunity instead?"
They knew that Xian Lin'er was Qian Ran's teacher, and Cai Mei'er must have grown close to him during their time in Xingluo City.
Now, they were all considering whether they, too, should try to forge a stronger bond with Qian Ran.
Meanwhile, Yan Shaozhe was grappling with his own feelings.
His once unchallenged position as the strongest of his peers had been thoroughly upended. Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er had both surpassed him, and their newfound strength left him feeling complicated.
"I've gone from number one to number three," he thought with a bitter smile.
The argument he'd had with Cai Mei'er now felt even more awkward. Her strength now surpassed his, and he had no idea how to repair their strained relationship.
As for Xian Lin'er?
He had long since abandoned any thoughts of pursuing her. Between her rising strength and Cai Mei'er's protectiveness, the idea seemed laughable now.
"She feels further away from me than ever…"
Qian Duoduo, on the other hand, was facing his own crisis of confidence.
He admired Xian Lin'er deeply, her elegance and valor captivating him. Yet, as she grew stronger, he found himself wondering if he was still worthy of her.
"I'm just an ordinary level-eight soul engineer," he thought miserably. "Even if I become level nine, can I really stand by her side now?"
His previous confidence had crumbled. The gulf between them had grown too vast.
For the first time, he and Yan Shaozhe shared a mutual understanding. They exchanged glances, their silent camaraderie evident.
Finally, Yan Shaozhe made his move.
"Elder Xuan, I suggest we make Mei'er the Martial Soul Department Dean from now on. I'll take the Vice Dean position instead," he said, taking a deep breath.
It was better to step down voluntarily than to be forced out.
And truthfully, part of him was happy for Cai Mei'er. She was his wife, after all, and the stronger she became, the better for both of them. His pride stung, but his love for her outweighed his disappointment.
"Shaozhe, are you sure about this?" Elder Xuan and the other elders were visibly surprised.
Yan Shaozhe had held his position for many years, his authority firmly established. For him to give it up so easily was unexpected.
"With Mei'er's strength now surpassing mine, she's the natural choice," Yan Shaozhe replied. "Besides, we're a team. Whether she's Dean or I am, we'll work together regardless."
Privately, the elders agreed with his logic. A gesture like this was bound to mend any lingering tensions between him and Cai Mei'er. After all, it was just a title—their partnership wouldn't change.
"Mei'er, what do you think? With your strength, you're already more than qualified. You know the department well. Becoming the Dean should be a natural step for you," Elder Xuan said, seizing the opportunity to formalize the change.
"Me?" Cai Mei'er blinked, clearly caught off guard.
"You're sure about this, Shaozhe?" she asked, still skeptical. The position of Martial Soul Department Dean was effectively the most powerful role in Shrek Academy, even surpassing that of the Soul Tool Department Dean in terms of influence.
"Absolutely."
"Well… if you insist." Cai Mei'er smiled, finally accepting.
And just like that, the power dynamics within Shrek Academy shifted dramatically.
(End of Chapter)
Notes-Read all chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X