Treasure Gathering Pavilion, Lin Huiqun

Yan Shaozhe fell silent for a moment, then raised his eyes. His gaze sharpened once more.

"I'll give the respect that should be given. I'll cooperate with whatever Sea God Pavilion decides as well, but my stance must remain firm."

His voice was quiet, yet it carried an unshakable resolve. "They must not think that I yielded only because Elder Xuan proposed it and Elder Mu agreed.

"They'll only think that I, Yan Shaozhe, have gone soft—that any random nobody can come and take a share."

Yan Shaozhe slowly rose to his feet and walked over to the window.

Outside, the Martial Soul Department's main building shone brilliantly. Countless lights spilled across the entire square, magnificent and imposing, like Shrek's thousand-year legacy that had never faded.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his spine straight as a pine. Solitary and proud, he gazed into the distance, his eyes concealing the obsession and unyielding pride inherited across a millennium.

"More than half of those senior elders at the academy climbed their way up by putting in years and accumulating seniority.

"To them, the bigger picture and the academy's overall future are worthless. Personal gain, factions, and profits and losses are all that matter.

"If I show weakness and retreat today, those old fools will dare to encroach upon us layer by layer tomorrow, acting however they please!"

The moment his words fell, the majestic aura Yan Shaozhe had concealed for years surged skyward, filling the entire room with pressure.

He was Mu En's direct disciple. In terms of pedigree and seniority within his lineage, none of the senior elders present could truly suppress him.

Over the years, he had always greeted others with a smile and handled matters gently. He seemed easygoing and kind, but that was only because he considered Mu En's dignity and Shrek's greater interests.

But when it came to fighting for what was his and defending his territory, Yan Shaozhe had roamed the continent for many years and had never feared anyone.

He could generously relinquish benefits that ought to be conceded; he could make appropriate compromises over rules that could be adjusted.

But if anyone dared reach out to undermine the foundation of his Martial Soul Department or touch the work of his life, that was another matter entirely.

Cai Mei'er stood quietly at the side, staring blankly at the upright figure before her. Her eyes grew utterly distant.

At that moment, it was as though she had crossed the long river of time and seen the Bright Phoenix Douluo from decades ago—the peerless man whose brilliance had blazed in every direction.

That man who had astonished the world in his youth, never lost a battle, and could shake Shrek and alarm the entire continent with his name alone had never truly gone away.

It was only that, during his years as dean, he had sheathed his claws and hidden his edge, burying all his sharpness and dominance beneath a composed exterior.

Now that his bottom line had been touched, the dormant beast had finally opened its eyes again.

By the window, Yan Shaozhe did not turn around. His deep voice slowly rang out like a great bell, carrying bone-chilling coldness and determination.

"I have sat in the position of dean of the Martial Soul Department for decades. This place is the work of half my life, the foundation I have guarded for my entire life.

"Whoever dares touch even the slightest part of it had better prepare to endure my, Yan Shaozhe's, frenzied retaliation."

Cai Mei'er said nothing. She merely looked at his proud, upright back and nodded lightly, her eyes filled with tenderness and certainty.

The cool night breeze drifted in through the window, stirring the thin curtains and carrying the damp air unique to Sea God Lake as it quietly filled the room.

The lamplight stretched the figure before the window long and straight, solitary as a mountain and fierce as a blade.

Early the next morning, Chen Xuan left Sea God Pavilion.

He first went to the dining hall and picked up a bag of chicken legs, then returned to his quiet room and tucked the old volume left over from yesterday into his clothes.

The Inquisitorial Legion had delivered that volume overnight. It recorded the details of compensation payments for missions of every rank over the past ten years.

He had spent the entire night going through it. He had read only one-third of it, yet had already found at least a dozen discrepancies in the accounts.

"A bunch of thieving bastards. They're still trying to fool me." He gnawed on a chicken leg and cursed through a mouthful of food.

When he reached the shore of Sea God Lake, he suddenly stopped.

His throat felt a little dry.

Not from thirst, but from craving.

He instinctively reached for the wine gourd at his waist. Whatever else could be said about this body's former owner, his addiction to alcohol was truly serious.

Chen Xuan had not touched any alcohol since arriving in this world a few days ago, and his body had long begun to protest.

Now, walking beside the lake with the wind blowing over him, that craving scratched at his throat again and again like a cat's claw.

He pulled out the stopper and tipped back his head, taking a small sip.

A sweet fruit fragrance spread through his mouth. The alcohol was faint, with a tart sweetness like grapes.

He had filled it himself the night before last. It was an extremely low-proof fruit wine, practically no different from juice.

He had not drunk much in his previous life to begin with, and after transmigrating, he was even less willing to drink freely.

This body belonged to the Taotie Douluo. If he really got drunk and started hugging a wine gourd while throwing a drunken tantrum like that Chicken Leg Douluo from the original story, that would be a real disaster.

"Not bad." He smacked his lips and hung the gourd back at his waist. "Enough to satisfy the craving."

He would not inspect the accounts today. Today, he was going to find Elder Lin.

Elder Lin, Lin Huiqun, the Treasure Douluo.

One of the nine permanent senior elders of Sea God Pavilion, and the person in charge of Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

In terms of cultivation, she was a level ninety-six Super Douluo.

In terms of actual authority, this old lady held most of Shrek's economic lifeline in her hands.

The treasures, Soul Bones, and resources in the storehouses, Shrek City's commerce, and even the Treasure Appraisal Fair were all under her sole control.

Even the royal families of the continent's three great empires had to treat her with utmost courtesy when they met her.

Chen Xuan left the inner courtyard and headed toward Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Treasure Gathering Pavilion was a three-story vermilion tower located at the boundary between Shrek City's inner and outer districts.

Bluestone steps lay before its entrance, while upturned eaves, carved brackets, gold lacquer, and painted ornamentation made it one of the most lavish and imposing buildings in all of Shrek City.

Before Chen Xuan even entered, he could already smell a faint scent of sandalwood.

When the two stewards at the entrance saw him, they hurriedly bowed. "Elder Xuan!"

"Where is your pavilion master?"

"Elder Lin is resting upstairs. This humble one will inform her immediately."

Chen Xuan waved a hand. "No need. I'll go in myself."

He stepped up the stairs and pushed open the door.

The main hall of Treasure Gathering Pavilion was even larger than it appeared from outside.

All kinds of jade cases, bronze boxes, Soul Tools, and precious Soul Bones sat upon the shelves lining its four walls, their treasure light glimmering faintly.

The hall was quiet. Only several stewards and maidservants stood with lowered heads in the corners.

Chen Xuan did not linger in the main hall. He went straight through a side door, turned into a corridor carpeted in soft rugs, and headed for the inner room where Elder Lin usually handled affairs.

The door was not closed.

Sandalwood incense burned in the room, its smoke curling upward. A white-haired old woman sat behind a broad rosewood desk, lowering her head as she flipped through a thick ledger.

Her expression was kind, the wrinkles on her face orderly and well-defined. Her hair was combed immaculately, adorned only with a plain jade hairpin. She looked like nothing more than a benevolent old grandmother.

But Chen Xuan knew better.

If this old lady ever slammed the table, few senior elders in Sea God Pavilion would dare make a sound.

"You're here?" Elder Lin did not look up, merely speaking indifferently. "I knew it was you the moment I caught the smell. Brought chicken legs again?"

Chen Xuan laughed heartily, sat down before the desk, and pulled a chicken leg from the oil-paper wrapping before offering it to her. "Fresh off the grill. Want a taste?"

Only then did Elder Lin lift her eyes. She looked at the glossy, grease-covered chicken leg and sighed. "You old thing, coming to my Treasure Gathering Pavilion without even bringing something worth looking at."