No One Knows How to Farm Favor Better Than I Do

Having completed his journey to split up the Shrek Seven Devils, Xia Tianling returned to the Papal Palace with his two newly acquired companions to report back. Along the way, Ma Hongjun and Oscar were extremely excited upon hearing that they would be meeting the Pope. Well, perhaps they were more excited about the soul rings they were about to receive.

After returning to the Papal Palace, the two companions waited outside.

After learning what had happened, Bibi Dong did not waste a single word. She directly slapped that Branch Hall Master into a puddle of flesh and blood. Seeing someone killed for real for the first time, Xia Tianling felt his stomach churn endlessly, his face turning pale in waves.

Bibi Dong straightened her rumpled sleeve and said unhurriedly, "Tianling, you handled this matter very well. Not only did you bring two geniuses back for Spirit Hall, you also upheld our reputation for fairness. It is just that your methods were far too gentle."

"Those who wish to accomplish great things must act decisively and ruthlessly."

"Yes, Teacher. Your disciple knows his mistake and will certainly correct it in the future." Xia Tianling suppressed the urge to vomit and answered somewhat stiffly.

For someone who had lived in modern times for twenty years, killing people at the drop of a hat truly challenged his moral bottom line.

Bibi Dong said nothing more. She merely assumed that he was still too young, and that it was normal for him to be unable to accept this style of conduct right away.

"Then do you have anything else to add regarding this matter?"

"This disciple believes that we need to establish an organization directly under your command. This organization would conduct routine oversight of the various Branch Halls, ensuring that they are carrying out their duties and not neglecting their work."

Xia Tianling had considered this on the way back. For an oversight organization, he could simply copy something like the Embroidered Uniform Guard or an inspectorate. There was no need to rack his brains over it.

Thinking about it carefully, it was simply absurd that an organization as massive as Spirit Hall lacked an oversight body. It was practically challenging the moral limits of human nature.

Well, it was not very fantastical, either.

"It is very good that you were able to think this far ahead. I had already begun preparing for what you mentioned. The Spirit Judgment Hall has already been secretly established."

"Teacher is naturally thorough in her considerations." Xia Tianling promptly offered a bit of flattery. Who did not enjoy hearing praise?

"At the same time, this disciple believes that we should increase our efforts to discover talented commoners. During this trip to Suotuo City, I found that many school-age children who had awakened their martial spirits could not afford to attend an academy. We can allocate more funds, provide more Work-Study Student slots, and directly tell them that the conditions allowing them to attend school are provided by Spirit Hall."

"In this way, we will be able to discover talent more effectively, while also making Spirit Masters who have benefited from us more inclined toward Spirit Hall after completing their studies. Not only will the students who are able to attend school because of us be grateful, but their families and even their neighbors will also thank us. Without our assistance, it is truly too difficult for Commoner Soul Masters to cultivate."

This was not merely about helping Spirit Hall gather talent. Xia Tianling also wanted to use Spirit Hall's influence to provide more commoners with an opportunity to rise.

What was that saying again? With great power comes great responsibility.

As for spending a little more money, that was not an issue at all. Spirit Hall's wealth was so vast it was impossible to calculate. Even handing out tens of thousands of additional slots each year would be no problem, let alone the fact that not so many children became Spirit Masters every year.

It could basically be said that this was an entirely win-win choice. Spirit Hall would gain talent and prestige, while Commoner Soul Masters would gain opportunities to rise.

Bibi Dong was slightly stunned. Having occupied a high position for so long, she had never considered what life was truly like for Low-Level Spirit Masters. Naturally, she had never thought of providing them with more slots.

Having taken the Pope's seat from beneath Qian Daoliu after backstabbing Qian Xunji, Bibi Dong was naturally not foolish, and she possessed exceptional strategic vision. In an instant, she saw the benefits this would bring to Spirit Hall's future development. She immediately praised Xia Tianling highly and instructed Chrysanthemum Douluo to implement the matter.

At the same time, the last trace of wariness she held toward this disciple was lifted.

In just three months, he had brought her an unprecedented Food System Spirit Master with Innate Full Soul Power and proposed a suggestion that could benefit Spirit Hall for who knew how many years.

You said someone like this was a mole? Then please, send a few more moles like him.

"Is there anything else you wish to add?" Bibi Dong was in an excellent mood now, and the cold, imposing air had vanished from her voice.

Xia Tianling smiled awkwardly.

"Teacher, how about sending Uncle Su Yuntao to become the Hall Master of Suotuo City? He should have already broken through Level Thirty. Both the Hall Master and Vice Hall Master of Suotuo City have stepped down, and the place needs a diligent and reliable person in charge to straighten out its atmosphere."

"Su Yuntao? The Nuoding City deacon who awakened your martial spirit?"

Bibi Dong paused. She had thought the boy wanted some reward, but instead, he was so grateful even to a guide who had merely awakened his martial spirit.

Having such a disciple truly left her beyond satisfied.

"Exactly."

"Granted."

"Thank you, Teacher."

She agreed immediately. When Xia Tianling had first arrived, she had looked through the awakener's records. She also knew about Su Yuntao's diligent work over the past few years awakening the martial spirits of children in several remote villages. This man was steady and conscientious in his work, and he was now already a Soul Elder. Although his cultivation was a little low for a Branch Hall Master, it would not be much of a problem.

"And you? Is there nothing you want for yourself?"

"Sharing Teacher's burdens is this disciple's responsibility and duty. How could there be any talk of seeking rewards?"

Xia Tianling's words were beautifully phrased, while inwardly he was laughing with delight. This was practically a pillow delivered just as he was getting sleepy. Now that he had said this, Bibi Dong's wariness of him should have dropped even further, right?

"Good! Very good!" The more Bibi Dong looked at Xia Tianling, the more satisfied she became. Those few sentences had spoken directly to her heart.

After praising him a few more times, Bibi Dong gestured to those beside her, having Oscar and Ma Hongjun enter as well. At the same time, she summoned an old man.

Though this old man appeared entirely unremarkable, he was an eighty-second-level Food System Spirit Douluo. Moreover, he was the only Food System Spirit Douluo in the entire Spirit Master World at present. His martial spirit was a fruit resembling an apple.

This must be one of the four Food System Spirit Masters above Soul Saint Tang Dou Shao Xin who were never mentioned in the Original Work, right? Xia Tianling silently thought as he watched Oscar take the old man as his master.

The Original Work had said that Shrek's Teacher Shao Xin ranked among the top five Food System Spirit Masters on the continent, yet the other four had never appeared before the story ended.

Watching the companion who had come with him take a Spirit Douluo as his teacher, Little Fatty standing nearby erupted with intense envy.

"From now on, the two of you will cultivate alongside Xia Tianling. Oscar, stay behind. Elder Ju, take Oscar to obtain his First Soul Ring. Elder Liu, accompany them. The soul rings they require must be selected with the utmost care."

The Elder Liu Bibi Dong referred to was that Food System Spirit Douluo.

"Dismissed."

"Yes."

Everyone answered in unison.