Jiang Qingtong kept her eyes on the two figures until they disappeared into the mist hanging over Sea God Lake. Only then did she look away.
Elder Song followed Jiang Qingtong's gaze, then exchanged a glance with Elder Zhuang. A moment later, she led the rest of the elders and teachers back toward the inner area of Sea God Lake.
Only Elder Zhuang stayed behind. He beckoned Jiang Qingtong over. "Come on, little girl, take a walk with this old man."
Jiang Qingtong quipped, "You're always the one sent to calm me down. You're really the academy's most dependable hard worker."
"When you get old, you just want to contribute a little more to the academy," Zhuang chuckled. He clasped his hands behind his back as he walked ahead.
"You're a Super Douluo from the Healing Branch! If even you say you're getting old, what does that mean for the rest of them?" Jiang Qingtong walked beside him, chatting casually.
"May Elder Zhuang live for a thousand years!"
Amused, Zhuang tapped her forehead with a smile. "What a sweet mouth you've got. Far better than those bratty boys in the inner courtyard—they just live to make me mad."
Jiang Qingtong smiled politely and walked with him in step. Meanwhile, Cai Meier had brought Ma Xiaotao back to the inner courtyard and settled her in her own quarters. Not long after, Elder Song and Xian Lin'er also arrived.
"How's Xiaotao?" Elder Song asked.
"She's still unconscious," Cai Meier shook her head.
Then she asked, "Elder Song, do you think Qingtong realized what's going on with Xiaotao?"
Elder Song pondered for a moment but eventually shook her head. "It's hard to say. The Sun Moon Empire doesn't have any records of an Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul—but that doesn't mean Jiang Qingtong wouldn't know about it."
"Isn't Elder Zhuang with her?" Xian Lin'er interjected. "With his skill, he should be able to keep her emotions in check. Even if she figured something out, she wouldn't go around telling people."
After Jiang Qingtong had lent her a ninth-level soul tool to study, Xian Lin'er had begun to see her as a great benefactor to the Soul Tool Department. So long as Jiang Qingtong didn't violate the academy's principles, Xian Lin'er was inclined to take her side.
"A single ninth-level soul tool was all it took to win you over? How shameless," Elder Song said with a sidelong glance.
Xian Lin'er just grinned sheepishly. "Well, it's not like Shrek Academy has any ninth-level soul tools of our own. That kind of gift is just falling into our laps—how could I not treat her better?"
The Soul Tool Department at Shrek really had it rough.
They'd already started thousands of years behind in soul tool development, and with the Sun Moon Empire's strict tech embargo, even managing to develop up to the eighth-level was a hard-fought victory.
Elder Song understood the difficulties they faced. Without the Sun Moon Empire's deep technological heritage, Shrek had to figure everything out on its own. Just one ninth-level soul tool could provide massive breakthroughs.
As for the worry that Shrek might overtake the Sun Moon Empire in soul tool tech? Jiang Qingtong wasn't concerned at all.
The Sun Moon Empire fully understood the advantage of technological superiority. Their dominance in soul tool technology was absolute—one soul tool wasn't going to change that.
It would take Shrek Academy at least a decade just to fully analyze the one ninth-level soul tool Jiang Qingtong had provided, and it wasn't like she was going to let them keep it indefinitely.
At most, Xian Lin'er might glean a few ideas. But any real progress? Highly unlikely.
As the group in the room discussed Jiang Qingtong and Ma Xiaotao, Yan Shaozhe entered briskly from outside.
"I just got back to the academy and heard something happened to Xiaotao. What's going on?"
Elder Song explained everything that had occurred.
After listening, Yan Shaozhe's expression darkened. "Is that girl from the Sun Moon Empire really trustworthy?"
Xian Lin'er replied, "Dean Yan, please don't call her 'that girl.' Elder Mu personally appointed you and Dean Cai to guide her. Strictly speaking, she's Xiaotao's junior now."
"Where is she now?" Yan Shaozhe asked, frowning.
"She's with Elder Zhuang. I'll have him bring her over," said Elder Song.
Cai Meier, noticing how tired Yan Shaozhe looked, asked, "How did things go in the Star Luo Empire?"
Yan Shaozhe sighed. "The Star Luo Empire has decided to launch a full investigation into the Soul Hall organization. No one knows where this group came from, but they've already attracted a huge number of low-level soul masters and commoners."
Though all three of the former Douluo Continent empires were investigating Soul Hall, the Star Luo Empire had the strongest capabilities and had uncovered the most leads.
Once they had enough intel, the Star Luo officials wasted no time in inviting Shrek Academy to discuss the issue. Yan Shaozhe had been sent as the academy's envoy to attend the meeting in Star Luo City.
In addition to Shrek, many major soul master clans from across the empire had also taken part in the conference. All of them demanded that Shrek help wipe out Soul Hall.
But even Shrek Academy found Soul Hall's approach difficult to condemn outright. After all, could they really declare that awakening martial souls for commoners was a bad thing?
That would mean openly taking a stance against the general population—and Shrek was not willing to do that.
So while Yan Shaozhe had attended the meeting, he hadn't made any commitments. The Star Luo Empire hadn't expected him to, either. What they wanted was endorsement.
As long as Shrek didn't oppose their actions, they'd do the rest themselves.
This operation was officially named the "Soul Hunt Campaign"—aimed at eradicating Soul Hall's presence throughout the Star Luo Empire. To avoid tipping them off, the operation would be conducted in secret.
"This whole Soul Hall business reminds me of Spirit Hall from ten thousand years ago," Cai Meier frowned.
Yan Shaozhe shook his head firmly. "Impossible. With Shrek Academy here, there will never be another evil force like Spirit Hall on this continent!"
"Actually… having Soul Hall around might not be such a bad thing," Xian Lin'er said suddenly.
Both Yan Shaozhe and Cai Meier turned to look at her.
She continued, "They're awakening martial souls for commoners. Isn't that a good thing?"
"That kind of unusual generosity always has a hidden agenda. Who knows what they're really after?" Cai Meier replied coldly.
Yan Shaozhe added, "Even Shrek Academy doesn't offer free martial soul awakenings to everyone. The resources and manpower needed are massive. The three empires wouldn't allow it."
Xian Lin'er fell silent.
At that moment, Elder Song and Elder Zhuang walked in, bringing Jiang Qingtong with them.
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