Jiang Nannan

Xu Yanli and his two companions arrived before Shrek City, covered in the dust of their travels.

This Shrek City looked decent enough, but for the future rule of the Sun Moon Empire, this place was nothing short of a malignant tumor.

A cold glint flashed through Xu Yanli's eyes, though he quickly masked it, shifting his expression to one of feigned admiration.

Following his map, Xu Yanli soon arrived at the East City Gate: "This is the place. As for the enrollment, we can wait a while; let's head to the Xiaoyao Pavilion first to change into some fresh clothes."

Meanwhile, at the school dormitories, Bei Bei stood beside the old man resting on a recliner.

"What do you need from me?" Mu En slowly raised his head, looking at Bei Bei standing to his side.

"Xiaoyao Pavilion..." Bei Bei spoke after a moment of silence, "Will they hinder the development of the Tang Sect?"

Mu En sighed and said, "For the Xiaoyao Pavilion to develop to its current scale in just six years is a rare feat in this world. Their marketing model and their systems are more advanced than many organizations. If only they hadn't been around for such a short time..."

"Doesn't that make them an even greater threat to the Tang Sect? Should we nip them in the bud?" Lightning flickered in Bei Bei's eyes as he added, "Xiao Ya has been struggling lately because of the Xiaoyao Pavilion..."

"Enough, Bei Bei. You've lost your way. The Tang Sect deals in weaponry, while they focus on civilian products meant to benefit the masses. We cannot move against them. Furthermore, the Xiaoyao Pavilion holds immense prestige; if you strike at them, you are striking at the faith held by the common people." Mu En spoke slowly.

"Although we at Shrek Academy don't need them, we certainly cannot be the ones to take action. Besides, the young Pavilion Master of the Xiaoyao Pavilion is about to enter our Shrek Academy to study. Instead of thinking about destroying them, you should be thinking about how to befriend them and achieve a win-win cooperation." Mu En paused to add.

After saying this, Mu En waved his hand, signaling for the other to leave.

Mu En looked up at the sun, listening to the bustle outside the Shrek City gates, and rocked back and forth on his recliner, sighing, "I really am getting old."

If Xu Yanli knew this, he would surely roll his eyes. Cooperation? In his dreams.

He came to Shrek Academy not just to stir up trouble, but to poach their talent.

If nothing else, he had to trick Xiao Xiao into joining him. The Nine Phoenix Flute and the Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron—just the names sounded like national treasures; he would definitely have to pack them up and take them away.

These two martial souls were simply too special.

Xu Yanli arrived at the courtyard of the Xiaoyao Pavilion and slowly sat down in the main seat.

"Both of you go and get some rest. Huo Yuhao, go and absorb that medicinal pill. As for the issue of your second martial soul, we'll discuss it later." A hint of gloom flashed in Xu Yanli's eyes as he waved them off to rest in the backyard.

Xu Yanli sat at the main table, one hand tapping rhythmically against the surface while the other supported his forehead.

The entire style of the Xiaoyao Pavilion was built according to the Chinese architecture from his past life, and the overall layout even possessed a touch of an immortal sect's atmosphere.

It was just that this branch built in Shrek City could only be considered ordinary, unlike the other locations which were built with great extravagance.

A dark glint flashed in Xu Yanli's eyes. Huo Yuhao was, after all, a Child of Destiny. Truly, the real Children of Destiny were favored by the world.

Otherwise, how could the Sun Moon Empire, vast as it was, fail to find even a single ordinary spirit-attribute soul master? Even more absurdly, the moment one was discovered, they would drop dead.

A trace of killing intent flickered in Xu Yanli's eyes, but he quickly reined it in. Since Huo Yuhao still trusted him for now, it was better to keep him under his nose and observe him, using him for his own ends.

"Pavilion Master, this is the information we have collected regarding Shrek Academy over this period." A young girl with two rabbit ears on her head walked over slowly.

Was she Jiang Nannan?

Xu Yanli was filled with questions. How on earth did this Jiang Nannan end up in his Xiaoyao Pavilion?

"Pavilion Master, I joined two years ago. This is a portion of the information I've gathered regarding the interior of Shrek Academy." Jiang Nannan slowly pushed the documents toward him.

Suddenly, she knelt down and said, "I have heard that your martial soul has exceptional healing abilities. I beg you to save my mother. She is all I have left."

"Very well. Since you are a member of our Xiaoyao Pavilion, I will naturally help with the treatment. Where is she now?" Xu Yanli raised an eyebrow, a flash of realization crossing his eyes.

It seemed their Xiaoyao Pavilion's reputation was quite good; he hadn't expected such an unexpected windfall.

This Jiang Nannan had likely learned that the Xiaoyao Pavilion might have a way to heal her sick mother and had joined the pavilion as the price for extending her mother's life.

It was just a coincidence that at the time, the Xiaoyao Pavilion was not short on Black Tortoise God Pills.

Previously, an elder of the Xuanming Sect had, for the sake of convenience, traded several Black Tortoise God Pills for a large batch of civilian soul tools.

It wasn't that they couldn't buy them elsewhere, but nowadays, purchasing soul tools from the Xiaoyao Pavilion was a symbol of status.

Because the quality was excellent and the appearance perfectly suited their noble status, even with the high price, many people scrambled to buy them.

Although many soul masters were resistant to soul tools, they were not resistant to tools that made their lives more convenient.

They were mostly resistant to the military soul tools used to assist in combat.

"My mother is in the backyard. Although the Black Tortoise God Pill saved her life at the time, it... it only managed to preserve her life. With no other choice, I had to bring her to the Xiaoyao Pavilion. This was approved by the manager of this branch," Jiang Nannan explained nervously.

"It's fine, no need to panic. This is one of the benefits of joining our Xiaoyao Pavilion. Let's go, take me to see her." Xu Yanli stood up slowly.

"But how did you know my martial soul possessed healing attributes?" Xu Yanli asked, turning his head as he walked down the corridor, looking at Jiang Nannan who was following behind him.

"I... I asked those important people who arrived a few days ago and learned it from them," Jiang Nannan said with her head bowed.

Xu Yanli nodded, then chuckled and asked, "How are you finding the treatment at our Xiaoyao Pavilion? Are you satisfied?"

"I am satisfied. It was the Xiaoyao Pavilion that gave us hope for survival," Jiang Nannan said with a touch of emotion. "Thank you."

Xu Yanli seemed to understand where the power of faith he had been receiving all these years had come from.

It turned out it was all thanks to the people under his command. It seemed that if you want employees to work their hardest for you, you have to provide sufficient rewards.

Otherwise, who would give their all to work for you?

When the rewards you provide are high enough, it is the employees who will be afraid of you falling.

When Xu Yanli reached a fork in the path, he paused: "Come to the front and lead the way; I don't know the layout here."

Jiang Nannan hurried to the front to guide him.

Xu Yanli walked behind, looking at everything around him, a trace of nostalgia and excitement flashing in his eyes.