Inside the Ancient Golden Tree
Wang Feng walked slowly through the corridor of light radiating from the trunk of the Ancient Golden Tree. Each step felt light, yet strangely, the air around him grew ever calmer—too calm. As if the whole world was holding its breath.
Then, slowly, the light gave way to a silent, flat space.
Someone stood before him.
No… two people.
Wang Feng frowned. Both figures… were himself.
The first stood upright on the left side. He was bathed in a golden, majestic light. His hair was slightly longer, and his eyes radiated immense confidence. His demeanor was calm yet commanding, as if he was used to sitting on a throne and ruling without opposition.
He resembled Wang Feng when fused with the Martial Soul of the Dragon Emperor, but… nobler. Brighter.
"It's time you stopped hiding your true potential," he said. "True power should not be restrained by fear or doubt."
Wang Feng remained silent, about to respond when, from the other side, dark mist began to swirl slowly.
The second figure emerged from the mist. His face was the same, but his eyes were like pitch-black lakes that reflected no light. The aura around him felt cold and menacing, even though he stood casually.
Faint red veins pulsed beneath his skin, and his body seemed slightly altered… similar to his form when using the Blood Demon Emperor Martial Soul—though Wang Feng had never consciously fused with it.
"You've always held me back," he whispered. "But the power you need… lies with me. All you have to do is let it all go."
Both versions stood flanking Wang Feng. One like a glorious sky, the other like a bottomless abyss.
He swallowed hard. "What is this…?"
Mu En's gentle voice echoed from nowhere.
"I cannot interfere with what you face in this space. I can only offer you some advice."
"What you must do here is observe. Nothing more, nothing less."
Wang Feng turned, searching for the source of the voice, but found only endless empty space. The two versions of himself stood unmoved, as if unbothered by Mu En's voice.
"Look and recognize them," the voice continued. "Those are your hidden selves… the sides you've suppressed through sheer will."
Wang Feng listened to Mu En's words, but somehow, he felt that the two 'Wang Fengs' before him were not parts he had suppressed. In his journey to acquire the power he now had, he hadn't faced many significant obstacles.
Sure, there were times when he felt negative emotions or pressure, but they were fleeting—small problems, nothing more.
At that moment, a lotus-shaped tattoo appeared between Wang Feng's eyebrows. It radiated a strange aura, something that didn't seem to belong in this world—something divine.
When the tattoo appeared, faint expressions of fear flickered across the faces of the two 'Wang Fengs'. Unfortunately, Wang Feng didn't notice.
The tattoo then released chains of light that shot toward the two figures. The chains bound them, forcing both versions to kneel.
They didn't resist. They simply stared at Wang Feng—one with a prideful smile, the other with eyes full of hatred.
"We will meet again," they said in unison, just before their bodies were swallowed by the lotus light.
When all had vanished, the space returned to silence. But within his chest, Wang Feng could still feel that something remained.
The lotus-shaped tattoo on Wang Feng's forehead also disappeared, as if it had never existed.
Wang Feng was stunned. Everything had happened so quickly—in just a moment, the two figures who were supposed to be the core of his trial had vanished.
"What just happened...? Wait, if they disappeared, what's going to happen with the trial?" Wang Feng began to panic.
...….
Near the Ancient Golden Tree.
Mu En stood calmly beneath the dense golden leaves. The light radiating from the tree trunk illuminated his long white robes, making him appear as though he were a part of this sacred place.
"Master," Yan Shaoze said quietly, "when you underwent this trial… how long did it take you?"
Mu En glanced at the tunnel of light that connected to the spiritual world inside the Ancient Golden Tree. His gaze was calm, as if the question brought back memories from long ago.
"Half a month," Mu En finally replied. "That's the average time needed by those who eventually became leaders of the Sea God Pavilion."
Yan Shaoze was surprised. "Then, Master..."
Mu En chuckled lightly. "Even though I was praised as the most talented person in the past thousand years, I wasn't the one who completed this trial the fastest. It took me 8 days to finish it."
Just then, the light tunnel began to tremble. Slowly, a figure emerged—it was Wang Feng. His condition was no different from when he had entered. Almost nothing had changed. In fact, because the content of the trial had been absorbed by the lotus tattoo, even his mental state remained the same as before.
"...Huh?" Yan Shaoze muttered. "It's over already?"
Mu En, who had been half-closing his eyes, now opened them wide. He, too, couldn't hide his shock.
Wang Feng stepped slowly out of the light tunnel. The golden glow surrounding him faded gradually, while his gaze remained calm. There were no signs of exhaustion, no wounds—not even a change in his breathing. It was as if he had just gone for a stroll in the park.
Yan Shaoze took a few steps forward, looking at Wang Feng with confusion and disbelief. "Did you… really complete the trial?"
Wang Feng looked at the two of them and gave a small nod. "I think so. I don't know what was supposed to happen inside, but… everything ended faster than I expected."
Mu En stepped closer, his expression serious. "Tell me, Wang Feng. What did you encounter inside?"
Wang Feng fell silent for a moment, thinking. "I don't really know what happened. I did meet other versions of myself, just as you said, Elder Mu. But before I could do anything to them, my Lotus of Harmony Martial Soul suddenly appeared and absorbed them."
Mu En remained calm, but there was a flicker of delight on his face upon hearing Wang Feng's words. "It seems your Lotus Martial Soul is just as remarkable as the Emperor Shenlong Martial Soul."
Wang Feng only gave a small smile at that comment. "Maybe… But I still don't fully understand its limits."
Mu En nodded slowly. "That's natural. Your Martial Soul is still growing, and so is your understanding of it. But the fact that it completed the Ancient Golden Tree trial on its own… that proves its extraordinary potential."
Mu En offered a faint smile. "This doesn't mean your trial was a failure. On the contrary, it shows that your Martial Soul chose to protect you. Perhaps the Lotus of Harmony truly lives up to its name—it maintains your inner balance."
Wang Feng chuckled softly. "That might be true."
Mu En then reminded him, "Later, you may return to that space again if something ever happens to you. That place can summon the hidden sides within one's heart and make them either accept or erase those sides."
He nodded once more, then said, "Alright, Wang Feng. Since you've completed the first trial, I will now tell you the content of the second."
"To become my successor, you not only need the recognition of the Ancient Golden Tree, but you must also possess the strength to protect and defend this academy."
Wang Feng nodded slightly, listening intently.
"Here is your trial," Mu En continued. "You must defeat the current captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters."
Wang Feng paused, processing Mu En's words. His expression remained calm, but a flicker of excitement could be seen in his eyes.
"The captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters…?" Wang Feng repeated, seeking confirmation.
Mu En looked at him for a moment before explaining, his voice calm but firm.
"The Shrek Seven Monsters is not a title given lightly. It's a special designation for the seven most outstanding students of Shrek Academy in a given generation. They're not only the strongest in terms of soul power, but they also display talent, teamwork, determination, and the heroic spirit that embodies the core of Shrek Academy."
He continued:
"The first generation of Shrek Seven Monsters lived more than ten thousand years ago. They were legends—Tang San and his companions. Since then, this title has only been granted to students with exceptional abilities."
Mu En looked at Wang Feng seriously. "You will be given one year to complete this trial. Within that year, you must defeat the captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters. During that time, the academy will provide you with all the resources you need."
"As for the details about the current captain, you can ask Shaoze. Because the current captain is his personal disciple."
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Wang Feng will only be a disciple of Mu En and a student of Shrek Academy. He will not be Tang San's lapdog.