Shrek's Three Factions and Yu Xiaogang's Plans

The first faction was the Martial Soul Department's old guard, led by Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe.

They held Shrek's traditional levers of power and had the support of the vast majority of the Inner Court's elite Soul Masters.

To them, Shrek had stood firm on the continent for ten thousand years because of Shrek Academy's independence and the Sea God Pavilion's absolute authority. That foundation could never change.

The second faction centered on the Clear Sky Sect.

Yu Xiaogang's presence had allowed its influence to spread rapidly through the academy.

Shrek disciples close to Clear Sky Sect members—or who had received favors from its elders or Yu Xiaogang during this period—had gradually begun to lean toward them.

They included Beibei, whom Yu Xiaogang held in high regard.

The third faction, the Soul Tool Department, was the most unusual.

Song Lao and Qian Duoduo were its principal representatives.

They were unwilling to throw their full support behind either Xuan Zi or the Clear Sky Sect.

They understood that soul tools were the direction the continent's future would inevitably take. That was why the Soul Tool Department had continued to grow stronger over the years.

For that very reason, the department had become the prize both sides needed to win.

Xuan Zi wanted it to remain in Shrek's own hands, while Yu Xiaogang hoped to use the Clear Sky Sect's influence to bring it entirely into his plans.

Whichever side hoped to gain the upper hand had to secure the support of Song Lao and Qian Duoduo's faction.

By rights, Song Lao should have stood with Xuan Zi. Given their ties to the academy and their years together, they were the ones who truly belonged to the same camp.

Yet Song Lao had held back. She doubted Xuan Zi's abilities, and