Ju Zi the Ambitious, Holding Xuan Zi Accountable! (Seeking Follow-ups!)

As he spoke, the smile in Xu Tianran's eyes gradually faded, his expression turning solemn.

"Tianyao, I summoned you to the palace today not only to congratulate you on breaking through to become a Soul Elder, but also to discuss an important matter."

As he spoke, he picked up a dossier from the desk.

"The exchange student program has been officially finalized."

"The Empire and Shrek Academy have reached an agreement."

Xu Tianyao's eyes flickered. "So soon?"

Xu Tianran nodded.

"Both sides will send ten students to the other's academy for exchange and study. The age limit is under twenty, and their cultivation must not exceed that of a Soul King."

Once he finished speaking, a guard at his side immediately delivered the dossier into Xu Tianyao's hands.

Xu Tianyao opened the list and scanned it quickly.

Most of the names were completely unfamiliar to him.

This was within his expectations.

After all, it would still be several years before the generation of Huo Yuhao grew up.

Most of the familiar characters from the original story were still just children.

A moment later, Xu Tianyao slowly closed the dossier.

"It seems Shrek is only sending some students as a symbolic gesture to test the waters this time."

"I suppose they still haven't realized the future potential of Soul Tools, nor can they see the gap between them and our Sun Moon Empire."

Xu Tianran nodded gently.

"Precisely because of that, this exchange is of vital importance to the Empire."

"I have decided that you will be fully responsible for organizing this exchange delegation."

"Select the Empire's most outstanding young geniuses to represent the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy at Shrek."

"I do not require you to overwhelm Shrek."

"But at the very least, you must let them witness the brilliance of our Sun Moon Empire's prodigies and the extraordinary nature of our Soul Tools."

Hearing this, Xu Tianyao slowly stood up and offered a solemn salute.

"This younger brother accepts the order."

Xu Tianran nodded in satisfaction.

"Imperial Brother, I have one more suggestion."

"Speak," Xu Tianran said, his eyes shifting slightly.

Xu Tianyao walked to the center of the hall, looking at his Imperial Brother with an inscrutable expression.

"This exchange is not merely cooperation at the academy level."

"It is also a crucial step in the Empire's layout for the continent."

"I suggest that the Empire conduct large-scale military exercises along the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Xingluo Empire in the near future."

"There is no need to actually start a war."

"We only need to display our strength."

"Let the three empires feel the pressure, and then force them to put pressure on Shrek."

Hearing this, Xu Tianran's gaze gradually deepened.

He had already guessed what Xu Tianyao wanted to say.

Sure enough, Xu Tianyao continued slowly: "When the external pressure is great enough, their internal resolve will waver."

"Shrek Academy is filled with geniuses, and the talent they produce secures their position as the continent's premier power. At the same time, these geniuses are also precious resources that the three great empires fight tooth and nail to recruit."

"Since that is the case."

"Why can't we make them people of the Empire?"

As these words fell, a brief silence descended upon the Yangxin Hall.

Xu Tianran watched the youth before him quietly, a look of growing appreciation appearing in his eyes.

This was the very plan he and Xu Tianyao had formulated together several months ago.

The Return to Ming Plan!

With the young prince Xu Tianyao—who had already made a name for himself across the continent—at its core, and using the exchange program as a front.

They would attract, win over, and recruit those young geniuses hailing from Shrek and the noble houses of the three great empires.

Through interests, ideology, the future, and personal charisma, they would make them lean toward the Sun Moon Empire of their own volition.

They would become a vital force for the Empire in its future unification of the continent.

After all, if the unification of the continent relied solely on war, it would be a pyrrhic victory that harmed the enemy while devastating oneself.

The truly brilliant conquest is to make the enemy's talents voluntarily come to you, to let the enemy dissolve from within, and to have them clear away the obstacles to their own conquest.

Thinking of this, Xu Tianran slowly stood up.

His gaze crossed beyond the window, looking toward that vast, boundless continent.

"Tianhun, Douling, Xingluo, Shrek..."

"They have ruled the continent for too long."

"So long that they have forgotten how to progress."

"And the era, in the end, belongs to our Sun Moon Empire. The decay of the old era should vanish into the long river of history along with the world!"

Xu Tianyao stood in the center of the great hall just like that, feeling Xu Tianran's increasingly intense ambition.

After Xu Tianyao left, Ju Zi walked out from behind the screen.

Xu Tianran continued to watch the moonlight outside the window and asked Ju Zi, "Regarding this emperor of mine, Ju Zi, how do you see me?"

Ju Zi turned around, looking at the man before her with a smile on her face.

Ju Zi recalled how Xu Tianyao looked when he studied Soul Tools under her daily. Although she had the heart to get close to this little junior, for some reason, he seemed to reject her.

Even though he was quite polite to her on the surface, Ju Zi could see the deepest level of disgust and vigilance in his calm eyes.

For so many years, Ju Zi had never seen such emotions in anyone else's eyes.

Xu Tianyao was the only one, and the one who left her completely baffled, because before this, they had almost no contact.

Even now that she was in contact with Xu Tianran and had become his confidante, this matter was kept in a state of high secrecy.

Xu Tianyao had only just returned to Ming Capital during the day; it was impossible for him to know what had happened between them.

After pondering for a short while, Ju Zi could see Xu Tianran's doting on his younger brother. Unable to discern his specific thoughts for the moment, she went along with it and offered praise.

"Prince Ming's prestige sweeps across the Sun Moon, and today, who in the world does not know the fine tale of the imperial family's brotherly love and respect?"

"With Prince Ming's talent, he will surely be the sky-propping white jade pillar and the sea-bridging purple gold beam of our Sun Moon Empire in the future!"

Hearing Ju Zi say this, Xu Tianran gave her a look filled with deep meaning, then took her hand and, under her feigned shyness, walked step by step out of the palace.

Meanwhile, Shrek Academy in the dead of night was not nearly as quiet.

The Sea God Pavilion was brightly lit, and the elders, who were rarely seen, had gathered in the Sea God Pavilion once again in the middle of the night.

They had only one purpose for coming tonight: to hold Xuan Zi accountable and discuss how to compensate the families of the students who had died!

Supported by Zhang Lexuan, Mu En walked tremblingly to the main seat, looked at everyone in the pavilion, and slowly sat down.

"Everyone, sit!" Mu En's aged voice rang out. Aside from Xuan Zi, the others took their seats one after another.

The blow this operation had dealt to Shrek Academy was undoubtedly unprecedentedly huge.

Twelve elite core disciples of the Inner Court, led by a level 98 Super Douluo, had gone to the Star Dou Forest to participate in a soul hunting mission.

Yet only four returned alive. One Soul Saint, two Soul Emperors, and a full five Soul Kings had died in battle.

One must know that these were all excellent disciples whom the academy had painstakingly developed through decades of selection and cultivation.

They did not die at the hands of Evil Soul Masters, nor did they die at the hands of enemies; they had died in a mediocre soul hunting operation.

How could Mu En be calm, and how could the families and the forces behind these children quell their anger?

Looking at Mu En's low, dark expression, Xuan Zi knew that he would likely be unable to escape his fate today.

He looked at the other elders in the room, then knelt solemnly before Mu En, his face full of sorrow as he said in a hoarse voice.

"Uncle-Master, Xuan Zi is incompetent. I have failed the instructions of you and the elders, failed the trust of those dead disciples, and failed the parents who have always believed in Shrek Academy and were willing to send their children to Shrek to study."

"Xuan Zi is guilty. Please, Uncle-Master, punish me!"