Jiang Nannan

Xu Yanli and the other two arrived at the gates of Shrek City, travel-worn and dusty.

Shrek City looked decent enough, but under the future rule of the Sun Moon Empire, it would be a tumor.

A cold glint flashed through Xu Yanli's eyes, but he quickly concealed it and put on an expression of deep admiration instead.

Following the map, Xu Yanli soon reached the east gate. "This is the place. We can wait a bit before signing up. Let's go to Xiaoyao Pavilion and change into some new clothes first."

Meanwhile, at the school dormitory, Bei Bei stood beside the old man lying on a recliner.

"What do you need me for?" Mu En slowly lifted his head and looked at Bei Bei standing beside him.

"Xiaoyao Pavilion..." Bei Bei fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Will they hinder the Tang Sect's development?"

Mu En sighed. "In just six years, Xiaoyao Pavilion has grown to its current scale, something rarely seen in the world. Its marketing model and its system are more advanced than those of many organizations. If it weren't for how little time it's had to develop..."

"Doesn't that make it an even greater threat to the Tang Sect? Should we nip them in the bud?" A glimmer of lightning flashed in Bei Bei's eyes. "Xiao Ya, lately, because of Xiaoyao Pavilion..."

"Enough, Bei Bei. You've lost your way. The Tang Sect deals in weapons; they deal in consumer goods, things meant to benefit everyone. We can't make a move against them. Besides, Xiaoyao Pavilion enjoys tremendous prestige. If you touch them, you'll be striking at the faith of the common people," Mu En said slowly.

"Shrek Academy may not need them, but at the very least, Shrek Academy can't be the one to make a move. What's more, the young Pavilion Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion is about to come study at Shrek Academy. Instead of thinking about destroying them, you should think about building ties and working together for mutual benefit." Mu En paused.

After saying this, Mu En waved his hand, indicating that Bei Bei should leave.

Mu En watched the sun overhead and listened to the clamor outside the gates of Shrek City. Swaying gently in his recliner, he sighed, "I really am getting old."

If Xu Yanli had heard that, he would've rolled his eyes. Cooperate? In your dreams.

He'd come to Shrek Academy not only to stir up trouble, but also to poach talent.

There was no question about it—he had to spirit Xiao Xiao away. The Nine Phoenix Flute and the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron—both names sounded like national treasures. He'd definitely have to bundle them up and take them with him.

Those two Martial Souls were far too unusual.

Xu Yanli entered the courtyard of Xiaoyao Pavilion and slowly took the seat of honor.

"You two go get some rest. Huo Yuhao, go absorb the pill. As for your Second Martial Soul, we'll discuss it later." A dark glint flashed through Xu Yanli's eyes as he waved them toward the rear courtyard to rest.

Xu Yanli sat at the main table, one hand tapping against it repeatedly and the other propping up his forehead.

Xiaoyao Pavilion had been built in the Chinese architectural style he remembered from his previous life. Its overall layout had a hint of an immortal sect's grandeur.

However, this branch in Shrek Academy could only be considered ordinary, unlike the lavishly built branches elsewhere.

A dark glint flashed through Xu Yanli's eyes. Huo Yuhao was, after all, a child of destiny. As expected, the true child of destiny was still favored by the world.

Otherwise, with the Sun Moon Empire being so vast, how could it fail to find even one ordinary Soul Master with a Mental Attribute? Even more absurdly, whenever they did find one, that person would suddenly die.

A trace of killing intent flashed through Xu Yanli's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. Since Huo Yuhao still trusted him for now, he might as well keep him close and observe him, putting him to use.

"Pavilion Master, this is the information about Shrek Academy that we've gathered recently." A young woman walked over slowly, a pair of rabbit ears atop her head.

Was she Jiang Nannan???

Xu Yanli's face was full of question marks. No, how had Jiang Nannan ended up in his Xiaoyao Pavilion?

"Pavilion Master, I only joined a couple of years ago. This is some of the information I gathered about the inside of Shrek Academy." Jiang Nannan slowly pushed the documents toward him.

Suddenly, she dropped to her knees and said, "I heard that your Martial Soul has extraordinary healing abilities. Please, save my mother. I have no one else."

"Of course. Since you're one of our people at Xiaoyao Pavilion, I'll naturally help treat her. Where is she now?" Xu Yanli raised his eyebrows twice, a look of understanding flashing through his eyes.

It seemed Xiaoyao Pavilion had quite a good reputation. This was an unexpected bit of good fortune.

Jiang Nannan had probably learned that Xiaoyao Pavilion had a way to cure her mother's illness, so she'd joined the pavilion in exchange for extending her mother's life.

It had worked out perfectly. At the time, what Xiaoyao Pavilion had in abundance was the Black Tortoise God Pill.

Earlier, an elder of the Xuanming Sect had wanted to save himself the trouble, so he'd traded several Black Tortoise God Pills for a large batch of consumer Soul Tools.

It wasn't that they couldn't buy Soul Tools elsewhere. It was that buying Soul Tools from Xiaoyao Pavilion had become a status symbol.

Their quality was good, and their appearance suited the tastes of the nobles. So even though they were rather expensive, many people scrambled to buy them.

Although many Soul Masters were prejudiced against Soul Tools, they weren't opposed to those that made their lives more convenient.

What they were mostly against were military Soul Tools used to support combat.

"My mother is in the rear courtyard. The Black Tortoise God Pill saved her life, but... but it only kept her alive. With no other choice, I brought her to Xiaoyao Pavilion. The branch manager here approved it," Jiang Nannan explained nervously.

"It's all right. Don't panic. This is one of the benefits of joining Xiaoyao Pavilion. Come on, take me to see her." Xu Yanli slowly rose to his feet.

"But how did you know my Martial Soul has healing properties?" Xu Yanli was walking down the corridor when he suddenly turned to ask Jiang Nannan, who was following behind him.

"I-I asked that group of important people who arrived a couple of days ago. I found out from them," Jiang Nannan said with her head lowered.

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

"I am. Xiaoyao Pavilion gave us hope of survival," Jiang Nannan said, a trace of excitement on her face. "Thank you."

Xu Yanli thought he understood where the Faith Force he'd accumulated over the years had come from.

It turned out his own people were the ones behind it. It seemed that if you wanted your employees to give their all for you, you had to pay them well enough.

Otherwise, who would go all out to work for you?

When you paid them enough, they were the ones afraid you might fall.

At a fork in the corridor, Xu Yanli paused. "Come up front and lead the way. I don't know my way around here."

Jiang Nannan hurried ahead to lead Xu Yanli.

Xu Yanli walked behind her, taking in everything around them. A trace of nostalgia and excitement flickered through his eyes.