Meanwhile.
At Notting Academy.
Li Yuan's mouth twitched.
A thousand-year-old spirit herb?
You call that "not worth much"?
For the first time, Li Yuan found himself deeply questioning his sense of value.
Could all the women in my group be secretly rich heiresses?!
After all, thousand-year-old spirit herbs were things money couldn't buy on the open market.
Whenever one appeared, powerful factions like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Spirit Hall snapped it up for an astronomical price. Ordinary Soul Masters never got their hands on one.
A thousand-year-old Blood-Coagulation Grass was excellent for strengthening the body.
"Tsk. Looks like I'll have to treat these rich ladies better from now on... If they ask me to sleep with the Pope, drive a luxury car, and live in a mansion, I'm willing!"
Li Yuan quietly accepted the Red Envelope, then promptly logged off.
Crunch.
He stuffed the blood-red Blood-Coagulation Grass, fragrant with medicinal essence, straight into his mouth. A few quick chews later, he swallowed it.
Warmth rose from his stomach and spread through every limb and bone, strengthening his sinews, bones, flesh, and blood.
[Ice-Snow Smart: Everyone, I found a new feature! Double-tap the Group Leader's avatar and you can chat with him privately!] [Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: For real? I'm trying it! (rubs hands excitedly)] [Loves Eating Carrots: Me too!] [Viper-Hearted Big Sister: Oh? There's a feature like that?]
At once, the group's "Crouching Dragons and Young Phoenixes" began double-tapping Li Yuan's avatar, launching their private-message harassment campaign.
Li Yuan, meanwhile, closed his eyes and focused on absorbing the spirit herb his rich benefactor had sent him.
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Rongrong sent several messages in a row without getting a reply from Li Yuan. Her little pout grew big enough to hang an oil bottle from.
"Stupid Group Leader! Ignoring me again!"
She stamped her foot in a huff, and in a fit of anger... got even angrier.
"Hmph! I'm ignoring all of you! This young lady's going out for some air!"
The more Ning Rongrong thought about it, the angrier she became. She decided to go outside and cool off.
She quickly changed into a light dress, pulled cute white ankle socks over her long, straight legs, slipped on her little leather shoes, and prepared to wander around the city and see if anything new caught her eye.
As she neared the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's main hall, she suddenly heard two disciples whispering around the corner.
"Heard the news? There's a 'Shrek Academy' over in Suotuo City, and it's about to start recruiting!"
"The academy that claims it only accepts monsters? I heard its requirements are insane. It only takes prodigies under thirteen with Soul Power above rank twenty!"
"Exactly! And I heard its graduates are awarded the rank of viscount by the empire!"
Shrek Academy?
Only accepts monsters?
Graduate and become a viscount?
Ning Rongrong's ears perked up. Her curiosity flared.
That sounds... kind of fun, doesn't it?
At least it beats sitting through those dull theory lessons at the sect every day!
Her eyes darted about. She tiptoed back the way she had come, pretending she had heard nothing.
Little did she know, the two "chatting" disciples caught sight of her retreating figure from the corners of their eyes and exchanged a smile.
Then they turned together and headed for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's inner council chamber.
"Sect Master, we've done as you instructed."
"Mm. How did Rongrong react?"
Ning Fengzhi sat at the head of the room, sipping fragrant tea, his tone calm.
"The young miss seemed... very interested in Shrek Academy," one disciple replied respectfully.
"Good. You may go."
A knowing smile touched Ning Fengzhi's lips as he waved them away.
Once the disciples had left, he set down his teacup and murmured, "Just as I thought. She's still a child at heart... I hope letting her venture out this time helps her grow and puts an end to her willful behavior."
He had heard of Shrek Academy long ago. Its conditions were a little harsh, and its teachers were... rather eccentric, but it was a good place to temper one's character and broaden one's horizons.
More importantly, away from the sect's protection, the Little Demoness might suffer a few hardships and finally learn some sense.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong returned to her room, pulled out her Brick, and eagerly asked the group.
[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: Guys! Have you heard of Shrek Academy? I heard it only accepts monsters, and graduates even get to become viscounts. Sounds kind of fun, doesn't it? (curious baby)] [Big Cat in the Night: I've heard of it... but I've never been there. (complicated tone)]
In the Star Luo Empire, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes dimmed for a moment.
She only knew that Dai Mubai had fled to the Heaven Dou Empire and seemed to be at Shrek Academy.
As for what the academy was actually like, she had no idea.
[Single Academy-Running Housewife: Shrek Academy... I know it. Its headmaster, Flender, is a Soul Saint. He's a bit stingy, and his educational philosophy is... well, rather unusual. But the academy itself is decent. It counts as a pretty good Advanced Soul Master Academy. (objective assessment)]
At Blue Tyrant Academy, Liu Erlong leaned against her sofa, a trace of nostalgia in her voice.
Because of that bastard Yu Xiaogang, she no longer acknowledged the "Golden Iron Triangle," but she still considered Flender her big brother.
The man was stingy and loved money more than his life.
Still, he took running the school seriously enough and treated his students reasonably well.
[Loves Eating Carrots: Huh? Shrek Academy? Tang San told me a couple of days ago that he wanted me to go there with him! (belated realization)] [Little Fox Who Loves Teacher Most: You mean... Tang San is going to Shrek Academy? (instantly seizes on the key point, peeks out like a kitten)] [Child Without Parents: I see. Thanks for letting us know.]
At the Heaven Dou Crown Prince's residence, Qian Renxue read the message on the screen and immediately formed a plan.
Tang San... that child of destiny possessed by an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon is going to Shrek Academy?
What a perfect opportunity!
[Yandere Crazy Beauty of Martial Soul: Nana, I'll leave this to you. Can you handle it? (subtle tone)] [Little Fox Who Loves Teacher Most: Don't worry, Teacher. Consider it done! (eyes as resolute as a new recruit taking an oath)]
At the Saintess Palace.
Hu Liena, who had been lying on her stomach in bed, suddenly sat up and waved her little fists in excitement.
But she moved too sharply.
She accidentally pulled at the sore spots on her waist and backside. With a sharp hiss of pain and tears welling in her eyes, she obediently lay back down on her stomach.
"Waaah... Teacher was way too hard on me..."
She rubbed her swollen, reddened backside and grumbled under her breath.
If anyone else had been there, they would have been astonished to find what looked like a slab of milk pudding on Hu Liena's backside.
Pale and jiggly, with strawberry filling, no less!
But the moment she remembered her teacher's assignment, Hu Liena rallied. "It doesn't matter! For Teacher, for Spirit Hall! Tang San, just you wait!"
She swore she would never eat her teacher's "Bamboo Shoots Fried with Meat" again!
It didn't taste good at all!
Waaah...
[Loves Eating Carrots: Uh... did I say something wrong?]
At Notting Academy, Xiao Wu stared at the suddenly murderous mood in the group, bewildered.
Did I... accidentally sell Tang San out?
She felt as though she had said something wrong, yet she couldn't see what it was.
[Child Without Parents: No, you didn't say anything wrong. If anything, we should thank you!] [An exclusive Red Envelope from Child Without Parents!]
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