When Winter Came, the Zhao Family Should Be Gone

Chen Xuan lived as happily as an immortal in Azure Mist City, but Shrek Academy was a completely different scene.

On the third day after he left, Song Yunzhi made her move.

The internal affairs order was placed in the main hall of Sea God Pavilion, and all nine senior elders, aside from Mu En and Chen Xuan, arrived.

Elder Song personally presided over the matter, with Yan Shaozhe, Cai Mei'er, Xian Lin'er, and Qian Duoduo seated on either side.

Elder Lin held the fort at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, while Elder Zhuang remained on standby in the rear courtyard.

The entire Sea God Pavilion was like a machine that had been wound up again, beginning to turn with icy precision.

"Investigate."

Elder Song uttered only one cold word.

Yet that single word turned Shrek Academy upside down from top to bottom.

The Inner Court, Outer Court, Inquisitorial Legion, logistics, Soul Tool Department, treasure vault, and even envoys who had been stationed away from the academy for years were all subject to investigation.

Elder Song handled matters with exceptional order. On the surface, Sea God Pavilion officials checked names against the registries; in secret, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's hidden operatives filled in the gaps.

With both sides verifying each other, every investigation hit its mark.

The few threads Chen Xuan had planted before leaving were all drawn out now.

"Elder Song, we caught another one." Yan Shaozhe pushed open the door with a cold smile on his face.

"After Ghost Blade, another one surfaced. Of those who escaped, two even came walking right into our hands.

They were hiding in a warehouse in the northern district. Lin'er led people over and caught them red-handed."

"Did they talk?" Elder Song did not even raise her head.

"They did. They also gave up two accomplices.

One was hiding outside, while the other had actually spent three years working as a kitchen hand in the cafeteria."

Elder Song nodded. "Good. Keep interrogating them. If they refuse to talk, send them to Cai Mei'er."

Yan Shaozhe smiled. "You really are as good at ordering people around as Elder Xuan. Fine, I'll go now."

After delivering his report, Yan Shaozhe continued following up on the matter.

Over the next three days, several more Titled-level powerhouses were captured.

Including those who had escaped earlier, Shrek had uncovered a total of five Titled Douluo and more than twenty Soul Douluo this time.

As for those below Soul Sage, there were actually fewer of them than Soul Douluo.

Once the captives were seized, Elder Song did not even give them a chance to defend themselves.

The evidence was irrefutable. They signed their confessions, then were executed.

On the day of the execution, a dark mass of people filled the space outside Sea God Pavilion.

There was no public parade, no cries of injustice. The five Titled Douluo had their Soul Power crippled, were escorted to the execution platform beside Sea God Lake, and beheaded before everyone.

Elder Song even gave a stern speech from the platform.

"Remember their fate today. This old woman will say it only once.

All who betray those who raised them will be killed.

When you entered Shrek, every one of you climbed up step by step from the Outer Court.

The academy raised you, taught you, gave you resources, and gave you status.

And yet you not only sent the academy's lifeblood outside, some of you treacherous beasts even made contact with Evil Soul Masters.

Since you regard the academy as nothing, repay it with your lives today.

Execute them!"

At the command, blades flashed, and five heads fell to the ground.

The heads of more than twenty Soul Douluo, along with the Soul Sages under their command, were likewise severed from their bodies.

In an instant, heads rolled everywhere and the air filled with the stench of blood.

Everyone throughout Shrek Academy was silent with terror.

After the punishments were carried out, Elder Lin calculated the confiscated assets and delivered the results to Elder Song's desk.

"These people's private property, shops held outside the academy, land deeds, as well as the Soul Tools and materials they hid in advance, amount to quite a considerable sum."

Elder Lin's tone was calm.

"Then do as Xuanzi said. Use part of it to compensate the Inner Court disciples who suffered harm or were left crippled because of this.

Give all the rest to the Soul Tool Department."

Xian Lin'er happened to be present. Her brows twitched slightly. "Really? All of it goes to the Soul Tool Department?"

"Yes," Elder Song said.

"Before Xuanzi left, he said this money was to be used for Inner Court disciples studying Soul Tools.

From now on, Inner Court disciples studying Soul Tools will not need to spend a single copper coin.

Equipment and materials will all come from this money. If it is not enough, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion will make up the difference."

Xian Lin'er's eyes shone astonishingly bright.

Qian Duoduo slapped his thigh. "Good! It should have been done this way long ago. Rest assured, Elder Song. Once this money reaches the Soul Tool Department, I guarantee not a single coin will go missing."

"Try losing even one," Elder Song said, glancing at him.

"I wouldn't dare!" Qian Duoduo shrank his neck.

Elder Lin added, "There is one more matter. The thing Xuanzi asked me to handle has also been completed."

As she spoke, she handed over a list.

"Over in the Underground City of the Sun Moon Empire, Ninth-level Soul Engineers were too difficult to find. We did not manage to invite a single one.

But we found two Eighth-level Soul Engineers and four Seventh-level Soul Engineers.

They have already arrived at Shrek and are temporarily housed in the Outer Court guest quarters."

Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo exchanged glances, both seeing delight in the other's eyes.

"Have their terms been settled?" Qian Duoduo hurriedly asked. He was already barely able to wait.

"Two Eighth-level Soul Engineers are sought-after talents across the entire continent.

Especially since they came from a place like the Underground City of the Sun Moon Empire, so we absolutely cannot slight them."

Elder Song put down the list and spoke evenly.

"The terms have been settled. The two Eighth-level Soul Engineers will directly serve as heads of the Soul Tool Department, with annual salaries equivalent to first-class offerings from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

The four Seventh-level Soul Engineers will all be exceptionally appointed as Inner Court instructors.

In addition to their regular allocations, they will each receive three extra portions of Soul Tool research materials every month."

The more Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo listened, the wider their eyes became.

"That is not all," Elder Song continued.

"As long as the two Eighth-level Soul Engineers break through to the ninth level in the future and work at Shrek Academy for twenty full years, they will be exceptionally admitted directly into Sea God Pavilion.

The four Seventh-level instructors will receive the same treatment. If they reach the ninth level in the future and serve for twenty years, they too will directly enter Sea God Pavilion."

"What?!"

Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo nearly cried out in shock at the same time.

"Mother!" Xian Lin'er shot to her feet, even forgetting how to address Elder Song.

"Is there really any need for such outrageous treatment? Direct admission into Sea God Pavilion? They only just arrived at Shrek!"

Elder Song looked at her, her tone calm.

"Of course there is.

Now that we have discovered the gap between ourselves and the Sun Moon Empire, we should lower our stance and pursue them humbly.

You think this is excessive, but compared to Shrek's status on the continent a century from now, what does this amount to?"

Xian Lin'er opened her mouth, but for a moment, she could not say anything.

Qian Duoduo swallowed as well. "But Elder Song, the positions of Sea God Pavilion's senior elders..."

"I know," Elder Song interrupted him.

"That is precisely why we must make such a heavy investment.

Only by truly binding them to Shrek will they reveal everything they have learned in their lives without reservation.

Otherwise, why would two Eighth-level Soul Engineers leave the Sun Moon Empire and come here? Sentiment?"

Xian Lin'er remained silent for a long time before slowly sitting back down.

"I understand." She lowered her voice. "Only this can secure Shrek Academy's title as the continent's number one."

"It is good that you understand." Elder Song's tone softened.

"Xuanzi places enormous importance on this matter.

Before he left, he said that if Shrek did not catch up now, then twenty years from now, forget being the continent's number one—we would not even have the right to speak."

Xian Lin'er took a deep breath, raised her head, and said, "Rest assured, Elder Song. The Soul Tool Department will definitely see this through."