Jiang Qingtong spoke clearly and powerfully, leaving no room for objection.
The gentle Elder Zhuang smiled and said,
"Elder Song, no need to scare the child. Little girl, Shrek only accepts monsters. Even if you're from Mingde Hall, as long as you meet our standards, we won't turn you away. Show us your martial soul."
Jiang Qingtong nodded and released her martial soul.
The petals of Mirror Blossom unfolded one by one, and among the crystalline petals, a faint Spirit Eyes pattern shimmered subtly.
"...Huh? This is…"
Several elders wore expressions of surprise as they looked at her martial soul.
Elder Zhuang murmured,
"I've seen countless martial souls in my life, yet I can't identify yours. Fascinating… What is it called, little girl?"
"Mirror Blossom," Jiang Qingtong replied.
"A previously undocumented martial soul!" Elder Cai Meier exclaimed, visibly excited.
"Show me your soul skill!"
Jiang Qingtong responded,
"My soul skill requires your cooperation, seniors."
"Our cooperation?" The elders looked at each other in confusion.
Without hesitation, Cai Meier stepped forward and looked down at Jiang Qingtong.
"Then I'll cooperate with you."
"Then please relax your spiritual defenses," Jiang Qingtong reminded her. "Don't resist my spiritual power."
No matter how many advantages she had, she wasn't yet capable of bypassing a Super Douluo's defenses by force.
Cai Meier complied. The other elders, while not concerned about any threat, still stayed vigilant.
Soon, two purple soul rings rose in front of Jiang Qingtong.
"Millennium soul rings—two of them?"
Elder Xian Lin'er exclaimed, stunned. The second ring being a millennium ring already marked one as a genius. But both being millennium rings? At her age?
No matter what her soul skill was, this level of talent was undeniable.
Jiang Qingtong activated the first soul ring, casting Spiritual Detection Sharing on Cai Meier.
Cai Meier's initial surprise quickly turned into astonishment. Looking at Jiang Qingtong now, her eyes burned with intensity.
"An absolute battlefield weapon! This soul skill could change the course of a battle!"
The other elders were just as curious, and Jiang Qingtong graciously allowed them to experience it too.
"A spiritual-type martial soul?!"
"What an incredible soul skill!"
"Is this unique to the Sun-Moon Empire?"
"Top-tier battlefield support!"
The elders were thoroughly impressed. Even with their experience and cultivation, while they could sense everything within dozens of meters, they couldn't share that vision with others.
But this soul skill gave everyone on the team a shared minimap—full battlefield awareness!
Cai Meier, too excited to hold back, declared,
"The Martial Soul Department wants you!"
"Ahem!"
Elder Song immediately coughed.
"Meier!"
Cai Meier froze and looked back at him in confusion.
Elder Zhuang stood up, chuckling, and waved to Jiang Qingtong.
"Come, little girl, walk with me a bit."
Jiang Qingtong deactivated her martial soul and followed Elder Zhuang out.
Back in the room, Elder Song turned to Cai Meier and said sternly,
"You were too impulsive! That girl is from Mingde Hall."
"But she's just a child," Cai Meier responded with a frown.
Elder Song replied,
"Just a child? She's equipped with seven Level 9 soul tools—more dangerous than a Title Douluo! Her status in Mingde Hall is clearly high. How do we know she's not here to spy on us?"
"You're being overly cautious," said Xian Lin'er. "She's still a kid. What secrets could she uncover?"
Elder Song remained firm.
"In any case, I do not recommend admitting her to the Academy."
Some of the elders agreed with her concerns; others thought Jiang Qingtong posed no threat. The room quickly descended into debate.
Elder Xuan finally knocked on the table.
"Let Elder Mu decide."
At his words, the room fell silent.
All eyes turned to a lounge chair in the corner, where a frail old man sat—quiet and still.
This was Mu En, the Dragon God Douluo, Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, and a Limit Douluo.
"Meier," Mu En finally spoke, his voice faint but clear.
"You and Shaozhe will personally mentor her."
"Elder Mu!" Elder Song frowned deeply.
"Please reconsider!"
Mu En gently raised a hand.
"The child has seven Level 9 soul tools—two of them space-controlling. With such equipment, it's safe to assume she's a future leader of the Sun-Moon Empire. Would Mingde Hall really send someone like her to be a spy?"
"That's exactly why we shouldn't accept her!" Elder Song retorted.
"You know our relationship with the Sun-Moon Empire. If this girl develops her talent, she could become a serious threat to the three original Douluo nations!"
"That's exactly why we must influence her, so she comes to identify with Shrek's values. That way, when she returns to the Empire, she'll remember the kindness we showed her—and help maintain peace."
Elder Song argued,
"But Mingde Hall must be confident she won't be swayed. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent her here."
"She has a good heart," Mu En said calmly.
"And she's at the most moldable age. You must have more faith in Shrek."
His old eyes shone bright and sharp, not clouded by age.
With Mu En's firm decision, the debate ended. The Sea God Pavilion meeting was over.
Outside, Elder Zhuang and Jiang Qingtong were walking when they ran into Cai Meier, who had come to escort her.
Cai Meier saluted.
"I'll take Qingtong to the Martial Soul Department, Elder Zhuang. You can leave her to me."
"Good, good." Elder Zhuang nodded and smiled, handing Jiang Qingtong over.
"Little girl, come chat with me when you're free."
"Of course! I'll visit when I have time," Jiang Qingtong replied with a bright smile and waved goodbye.
Cai Meier took her flying toward the outer sector of the Martial Soul Department. After reaching the dorm area, she arranged accommodations for Jiang Qingtong.
She then said,
"The Academy has decided that Dean Yan and I will be your personal instructors. But Shaozhe is currently in the Star Luo Empire. Once he returns, I'll introduce you."