Soon, a boy of about nine ran briskly to the entrance of the Shrek Inner Court. Slightly out of breath, he bowed respectfully to Mu En and asked, "Great-great-grandfather, I was cultivating, not slacking off. What did you need me for?"
Mu En chuckled and said, "Come, Bei Bei, let me introduce you. These two are Qian Chen and Bing Ling, new Inner Court disciples and your seniors. The one about your age is called Yan Feng."
"I have important matters to discuss with Qian Chen and Bing Ling now. Take him around the Outer Court first and help him get familiar with Shrek Academy."
"Yes, Great-great-grandfather."
With that, Bei Bei happily ran over to Yan Feng and said with a smile, "Yan Feng, come on. I'll show you around outside."
Yan Feng turned to Qian Chen with a questioning look. Qian Chen nodded and instructed him, "Go on. Don't wander off, and listen to Bei Bei."
"Yes," Yan Feng answered obediently, preparing to leave with Bei Bei.
Just then, Bei Bei suddenly turned around and ran up to Zhang Lexuan. Tilting his little face up, he said sweetly, "Sister Lexuan, I don't want to eat at the cafeteria tonight. The food doesn't taste good. Could you make me some braised Soul Beast meat later?"
Zhang Lexuan's cheeks flushed. A little embarrassed, she hurriedly said, "Of course, Bei Bei. Go on and take Yan Feng around. I'll make it for you tonight."
Only after getting the answer he wanted did Bei Bei happily leave with Yan Feng.
At that moment, the worldly-wise Yan Shaozhe reminded them with a smile, "Teacher, let's not keep standing here. Why don't we go into the Inner Court hall and sit down to discuss things in detail?"
"Good." Mu En was in excellent spirits and immediately nodded his agreement.
Everyone moved to a luxurious, spacious reception room in the Shrek Inner Court and took their seats.
As soon as everyone sat down, Xuan Zi spoke first, a hint of pride in his gaze. "Qian Chen, could you show everyone your Seven Kill Sword, reputed to be the world's foremost offensive Martial Soul? This peerless Martial Soul has vanished from the world for a full ten thousand years."
Even now, Xuan Zi was secretly congratulating himself, immensely glad that he had recruited Qian Chen into Shrek.
"Certainly." The instant the word fell, an intensely chilling, razor-sharp presence emerged, as though it would slice open the skin of everyone present.
A silver-white Seven Kill Sword instantly hovered before them.
Everyone present stared fixedly at this peerless Martial Soul, their hearts filled with shock.
Each person had their own calculations, their thoughts entirely different.
Yan Shaozhe's eyes brimmed with wild delight, and joy blossomed in his heart. With such a heaven-defying, powerful Martial Soul, Qian Chen staying in the Martial Soul Department's Inner Court is already nailed to the board!
By contrast, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo both looked gloomy and dejected.
A top genius like this, seen only once in ten thousand years, could not possibly choose the Soul Tool Department. They could only watch helplessly as the Martial Soul Department continued to grow and monopolize the finest talent, powerless to compete. They were filled with frustration, yet there was nothing they could do.
Yan Shaozhe continued, looking at Qian Chen with a smile. "Student Qian Chen, there's something I'd like to ask your advice on."
Qian Chen said calmly, "Please go ahead, Dean Yan."
Yan Shaozhe said, "I just wanted to ask how you normally cultivate, Student Qian Chen. Even with a top-tier Tool Martial Soul like the Seven Kill Sword, you couldn't possibly have cultivated to the Soul Douluo level at sixteen."
With that, he looked at Zhang Lexuan and continued, "Even Lexuan, our academy's most talented student, whose talent has rarely been seen in Shrek Academy in three thousand years and whose diligence is unmatched, falls far short of you. If we could compile your cultivation methods and gain something from them, it might benefit the entire Soul Master World."
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's question, Zhang Lexuan instantly felt as though the sky had collapsed. How could Dean Yan ask Qian Chen something like that? How someone cultivates is their own secret.
Qian Chen felt contempt as well after hearing him. Shrek Academy really does work its abacus well. First, they slap the hat of righteousness on me, then ask for a student's cultivation methods.
Then another thought occurred to him. I still need to lay my plans in Shrek. Since you want to know, there's no harm in telling Shrek. I just have to make Shrek bleed a little first.
At that thought, Qian Chen deliberately let a trace of hesitation show on his face.
Seeing his hesitation, Yan Shaozhe swept his gaze around and happened to spot Xuan Zi, who was still gnawing on a chicken leg. He immediately remembered that when Xuan Zi had recruited Qian Chen into Shrek, every condition Qian Chen had raised involved tangible benefits. He wanted none of that empty talk of righteousness and glory.
Yan Shaozhe immediately said, "Student Qian Chen, how about this? If you tell us your cultivation methods, whether or not we adopt them, and whether or not they prove useful to us, our Martial Soul Department will pay for a Soul Bone as a gift to you."
Qian Chen smiled faintly. "Dean Yan, Soul Bones vary in quality too. Don't try to fool me just because I'm young."
Hearing that, Yan Shaozhe rejoiced inwardly, knowing there was a chance. If Shrek obtained Qian Chen's cultivation methods, the students' cultivation speed would surely improve dramatically. The already powerful Martial Soul Department would rise another level, completely suppressing the Soul Tool Department until it could no longer lift its head.
Mu En, Xuan Zi, and the other Sea God Pavilion Elders said nothing, their thoughts much the same as Yan Shaozhe's. As long as they obtained more powerful cultivation methods, Shrek Academy could flourish without decline. Another several thousand years of glory would be no problem.
"How about a Soul Bone over a hundred thousand years old that suits you? A treasure like that should be enough in exchange for your cultivation methods, shouldn't it?" Yan Shaozhe said lavishly.
Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, Qian Chen asked again, "Do you truly want to know, Dean Yan? Even if this method is useless to you, you'll still give me a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?"
"Of course. Shrek Academy would never go back on its word."
Qian Chen turned to Mu En and asked, "Is that true, Elder Mu?"
Mu En said slowly, "Yes, Qian Chen. If you're willing to tell us the secret behind your rapid cultivation, whether it's useful or not, I'll make the decision: he must give it to you."
Qian Chen nodded. "All right. Thank you, Elder Mu."
He then turned to Xuan Zi. Xuan Zi had specifically recruited Qian Chen into the academy, and in his heart, Qian Chen was already under his protection.
Xuan Zi thumped his chest. "Don't worry, boy. If Shaozhe goes back on his word, I'll definitely help you give him a beating."
Qian Chen smiled. "All right. Thank you for vouching for him, Elder Xuan."
Qian Chen's gaze swept over the other Sea God Pavilion Elders, and they all spoke up, guaranteeing that Yan Shaozhe would absolutely keep his word.
Finally, Qian Chen's gaze landed on Zhang Lexuan.
Zhang Lexuan hurriedly said, "Qian Chen, I believe Dean Yan will definitely give it to you. If he doesn't, I, I, I..."
She hesitated for a long time. Her standing was below Yan Shaozhe's, and her Soul Power fell far short of his. She could not put any pressure on him at all, much less beat him up. If Yan Shaozhe really broke the agreement, there truly would be nothing she could do to him.
"I'll put up the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone from that Saber-Toothed Tiger King last time as a guarantee. I still have that Soul Bone," Zhang Lexuan said, gathering her courage.
Qian Chen gave Zhang Lexuan a gentle smile. "Sister Lexuan, there's no need. I was joking. Whatever else, we faced life and death together in the Star Dou Great Forest. That Soul Bone was part of our spoils. The Soul Ring was mine, and the Soul Bone was yours. With heaven and earth as my witnesses, I won't take your Soul Bone."
At those words, Zhang Lexuan's cheeks instantly burned. She truly admired Qian Chen's character, and he had even saved her life. She, too, wanted a romantic Sea God's Fate like the other Inner Court disciples, but her destined partner had long since been decided: Bei Bei. Zhang Lexuan was not a fickle woman. She had always forced herself to look at Bei Bei as a husband, yet the way Bei Bei looked at her was clearly how he would look at an elder, or even a mother.
Seeing that everyone had offered a guarantee, Qian Chen laughed inwardly. You brought this on yourselves.