Xuan Zi, You Too Are Worthy of Being a Grand Secretary

Tang An thought for a moment, then cupped his hands in a salute: "This junior is willing to take on this responsibility, however, I have three conditions."

"Speak your mind."

"First, I will not participate in daily administrative management. I require a Pavilion Master's assistant to help handle affairs so that I may focus on my cultivation.

Second, while at school, I will continue to operate as a freshman; there is no need to publicize my status as Deputy Pavilion Master.

Third, the academy must not interfere with my cultivation plan or my freedom of movement." Tang An looked at Mu En, his tone serious and earnest.

Upon hearing this, Mu En couldn't help but chuckle: "I thought it would be some difficult request. All three are granted."

Mu En turned his gaze toward the elders present: "As for the candidate for the Pavilion Master's assistant..."

Before the words had even faded, a crisp female voice rang out impatiently.

"I'll do it!"

Xian Lin'er stood up directly from her seat, her tight-fitting outfit outlining a dashing figure, brimming with spirit and capability.

She walked quickly to Tang An and said with a beaming smile: "Little Deputy Pavilion Master, from now on, I am your assistant. If there is anything you need, just give the order."

Xian Lin'er was standing very close; Tang An could even smell the faint fragrance on her. His expression remained unchanged as he nodded: "I will have to trouble you, Senior Xian Lin'er."

The other elders exchanged glances. Xian Lin'er's temper was notoriously arrogant within Shrek, so her volunteering to be an assistant caught everyone by surprise.

Yan Shaozhe's internal alarm bells rang instantly upon hearing this—that woman Xian Lin'er was moving way too fast!

Who didn't know what she was plotting? Being close to the source of power meant getting the first benefits; if she followed the Deputy Pavilion Master around every day, wouldn't his favor for her skyrocket?

Whenever the Sea God Pavilion held meetings in the future, Xian Lin'er would carry the weight of being the Deputy Pavilion Master's assistant, and her words would naturally carry three times the authority.

He leaned over and whispered to Cai Mei'er beside him: "You go too. We can't let Xian Lin'er take all the benefits for herself."

Cai Mei'er rolled her eyes at him, but she understood the stakes perfectly. She stood up immediately, walked gracefully to Tang An, and offered a gentle bow:

"Deputy Pavilion Master, Lin'er is the Dean of the Soul Guidance Department and has many official duties; I fear she will be spread too thin. It would be better to let me serve as your assistant. When it comes to handling affairs, I have more experience than Lin'er."

Xian Lin'er's willow brows arched as she turned to glare at Cai Mei'er: "Mei'er, what do you mean by that? I spoke first. Don't you understand the principle of first come, first served?"

Cai Mei'er smiled unhurriedly: "That's not how it works. The assistant to the Deputy Pavilion Master concerns the daily operations of the Sea God Pavilion; naturally, one must choose the most suitable person."

"Lin'er, your temper is too hasty, and you resort to force at the slightest disagreement. I'm afraid you aren't cut out for the work of an assistant."

"You—Cai Mei'er, are you looking for a fight?" Xian Lin'er was so angry her short hair seemed to stand on end.

"Fight then, do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Seeing that the two deans were about to brawl in front of all the elders, Tang An finally spoke up.

"Two seniors," his tone was calm, and his soft voice caused both of them to stop their movements simultaneously.

"Both of you stay. Senior Xian Lin'er, you handle external matters; you will be responsible for cultivation and combat-related affairs. Senior Cai Mei'er, you handle internal matters; you will be responsible for administration and logistical coordination. We shall divide the work and cooperate; neither role is superior to the other."

Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er looked at each other, both seeing surprise and delight in the other's eyes. This arrangement gave them both real power while avoiding direct competition, resolving the awkwardness perfectly.

"Understood, Deputy Pavilion Master." Both bowed simultaneously and stepped aside.

Yan Shaozhe spoke up then, his eyes fixed on Tang An with a hint of curiosity: "Deputy Pavilion Master, the first soul skill you displayed from your first soul ring was truly miraculous. I wonder about your other two soul skills and your other martial soul..."

Tang An smiled slightly: "My second martial soul already has one Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast soul ring, but we can discuss that later. As for my soul ring configuration, I'm sure you seniors are curious why I only displayed one."

He paused, having already prepared his explanation, and said calmly: "There are three reasons. First, the Sea God Tang San is still handling the inheritance of his godhood. Second, the million-year soul ring is still slowly solidifying my cultivation foundation. Third, the soul beasts suitable for my two god-level martial souls are extremely rare; I would rather go without than settle for less, which is why I only have one ring for now."

Tang An looked at the elders present, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly: "Once my body has fully adapted to the impact of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast ring, it won't be too late to consider the next steps. By then, I'm afraid I will have to trouble you seniors to lend a hand."

The crowd was stunned, then realized what he meant: this kid was planning to have a group of Super Douluo help him hunt Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

"Deputy Pavilion Master! Does this mean every soul ring from here on out will be a Hundred-Thousand-Year one?" Yan Shaozhe slapped his thigh, his face full of excitement. "When the time comes, I'll be the first to act as your muscle!"

The other elders also smiled. Having such a successor with heaven-defying talent, a steady temperament, and the courage to act was a rare blessing for Shrek Academy in ten thousand years.

When the laughter subsided, Tang An recalled Mu En's unique skills from the original work. He changed the subject and cupped his hands toward Mu En: "Elder Mu, this junior would like to ask for your guidance regarding the cultivation of my second soul skill."

Mu En nodded slightly: "Speak your mind."

Tang An said clearly: "The second soul skill of my first soul ring is called Life Emotion Illusion. It can trigger the emotions of those whose spiritual power is weaker than mine, turning their deepest memories into an illusion that can be projected before everyone. I wonder which senior present would be willing to try it personally?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the elders looked at each other. Triggering emotions, deepest memories, turning them into illusions—this soul skill sounded hair-raising. Who didn't have a few secrets hidden away?

In the ensuing silence, Tang An's gaze fell unhurriedly on the figure in the corner who was busy drinking.

"Elder Xuan Zi," Tang An said with a wicked smile, "You were the one who suggested testing this junior just now. Why don't you relax your mind, Elder Xuan, and try it yourself?"

Xuan Zi put down his wine gourd, his brows knitting into a deep frown. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, if he refused, it would only make him look guilty.

Xuan Zi snorted coldly: "What is there to fear? I walk upright and act with integrity; why should I be afraid of a child's soul skill?"

Tang An raised his palm and activated his second soul skill: Life Manipulation.

An invisible force of spiritual power locked onto Xuan Zi with precision. Xuan Zi felt a boom in his mind, and a surge of intense emotion welled up from the depths of his heart.

That sense of regret was amplified continuously, growing stronger and stronger, until it finally exploded in his consciousness, causing a complete memory to spill out uncontrollably.

The air inside the Sea God Pavilion distorted slightly, and a clear image appeared before everyone.

It was the edge of the Star Dou Forest.

Xuan Zi was squatting on a large rock, with two oily roasted chickens and a jar of old wine in front of him. He muttered to himself while gnawing on a chicken leg: "Just a moment, I'll go back after eating a couple of bites. What could possibly go wrong?"

The scene shifts to the depths of the forest, where twelve inner court disciples are locked in a brutal battle. Under the moonlight, a massive, silver-white wolf howls at the sky—it is the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Howling Moon Wolf Emperor.

Lunar radiance flows around its body, and it is followed by dozens of wolves, surrounding the twelve disciples completely.

Zhang Lexuan stands at the very front, her plain white combat suit stained crimson with blood, her left arm hanging limply at her side. The disciples behind her are all wounded, their formation teetering on the brink of collapse.

"Hold the line! Elder Xuan will be here any second!" Zhang Lexuan screams, her voice hoarse.

But she does not know that the Elder Xuan who is supposed to be "here any second" is currently passed out drunk on a large rock, a wine jar tilted to the side, snoring like thunder.

The wolf pack launches an all-out assault. One disciple is pierced through the chest by the Wolf Emperor's sharp claws, his body flung high into the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

Another disciple, attempting to cover his companions, is tackled by three giant wolves simultaneously. Screams, bestial roars, and the sound of shattering bone weave together under the moonlight into a symphony of death.

By the time Xuan Zi finally jolts awake from his drunken stupor and stumbles into the battlefield, everything has already been settled.

Of the twelve elite inner court disciples, eight are dead and four are severely wounded.

Zhang Lexuan, drenched in blood, cradles a young disciple who has already breathed his last. She slowly lifts her head to look at Xuan Zi, her lips trembling for a long moment, but not a single word escapes them.

The illusion gradually dissipates. A deathly silence fills the Sea God Pavilion.

Xuan Zi's face is as pale as paper. He stumbles back two steps, knocking over the chair behind him, yet he remains oblivious, staring fixedly at Tang An. His lips quiver, and his voice is raspy: "You... how did you..."

Tang An withdraws his spiritual power and stands with his hands behind his back, his tone calm: "Elder Xuan Zi, what you just witnessed is the memory of the regret buried deep within your own heart."

Tang An pauses, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally landing on Mu En's face, his voice cold and sharp: "Leading a team to hunt for soul rings, yet due to your own personal failings, eight of the twelve elite inner court disciples died and four were wounded, with the chief disciple Zhang Lexuan suffering severe injuries that took half a year to heal."

Every word from Tang An strikes the hearts of those present like a heavy hammer: "With a crime like this, how can you continue to serve as an Elder?"