"Senior Xu."
As the group turned, they saw Xu Sanshi strutting over with a smug smile on his face. He threw an arm casually over Chen Junting's shoulder, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Senior Xu, you're alone today? Where's Senior Beibei?" asked Wang Dong, scratching his head as he stealthily slipped the black-gold card into his storage ring under Huo Yuhao's puzzled gaze.
"Oh, you mean Beibei?" Xu Sanshi chuckled, clearly in a good mood. "He's back at the courtyard—cleaning."
Junting's eyes sharpened.
That could only mean one thing: Beibei had not only taken his advice, but had also successfully spoken with Jiang Nannan's mother.
"So Senior Nannan agreed?"
Xu Sanshi's smile softened. "You know her—always kindhearted. And with this opportunity, Beibei can keep Tang Ya from leaving. Even better, her mother will now move to Shrek City and stay close. Everyone gains some peace of mind."
Then, his grin returned in full force. "By the way, I don't know what's going on, but Nannan's attitude toward me has been a lot warmer lately."
The group fell silent. Then came the skeptical stares.
Everyone knew Xu Sanshi was Shrek Academy's resident "professional simp," and Jiang Nannan had never responded to his endless pursuits.
He crossed his arms. "What? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Just then, as if summoned, Jiang Nannan appeared from the far end of the gallery. Dressed in the elegant black uniform of a fifth-year student, her graceful figure turned heads with ease.
"Watch this."
Xu Sanshi suddenly bolted toward her.
The group winced in anticipation, fully expecting another signature rejection.
But what they saw stunned them—
Jiang Nannan nodded.
"Th-That's not normal…"
Wang Dong froze mid-point, his mouth slightly agape. "Is she possessed? Did a spirit beast take over her body?"
"Wang Dong…" Huo Yuhao sighed, dragging a hand down his face.
Chen Junting, however, simply smiled. She must've read Xu Sanshi's letters to her mother. This ending is well-deserved.
After the surprise faded, the group resumed browsing. But moments later, Wang Dong abruptly stopped and turned his head, sensing something.
"Over there."
He walked off, and everyone followed.
Chen Junting felt it too—Electrolux stirred in the depths of his spiritual sea.
"Elder Yi?"
"That girl passed near something… unique," the old man's voice murmured.
Junting's expression sharpened. He took Ning Tian's hand and followed Wang Dong to a nearby display case.
There, behind reinforced crystal, lay what appeared to be an ordinary tree branch.
But the price tag?
25 million gold soul coins.
Despite its plain appearance, Chen Junting's eyes gleamed with recognition.
According to the plaque:
[Branch of the Golden Ancient Tree — harvested from the divine tree on Seagod Island. Possesses dual attributes of Light and Life.]
It only took one line to explain everything.
This was no ordinary branch.
The Golden Ancient Tree, transplanted by Tang San himself ten thousand years ago, was the heart of the Inner Court's cultivation grounds—feeding Shrek's sacred mimicry training field with continuous life essence and elemental force.
Few knew the deeper truth:
The Golden Ancient Tree was the root system of the entire Douluo Plane. Its core—the tree of life.
Any of its branches was an absolute treasure.
"I didn't expect Shrek to display something like this," Junting murmured.
Behind them, Huo Yuhao and Wu Feng arrived and blinked in confusion.
"Brother Junting, what is this?" Yuhao asked.
"Just a stick?" Wu Feng tilted her head.
"That's why you don't get it," Wang Dong answered excitedly. "This is a golden branch, a divine-grade material. If your martial soul is a plant or has Light or Life affinity, it's priceless."
"But… that price…" he added with a click of his tongue.
Yuhao nodded, still not fully understanding.
Meanwhile, in Junting's spirit sea, Electrolux had already finished evaluating it.
Though the branch wasn't from the tree's core, it retained active life energy—and more importantly, a trace of the Seagod's Light.
To Elder Yi, it was the perfect research specimen. If paired with the Yin-Yang Ice and Fire Eyes, there was even a chance to cultivate it anew.
Not to replicate the original tree, but perhaps… something close.
"Well worth it," Junting thought.
"Brother Junting…" Ning Tian whispered beside him.
He nodded. "We'll buy it. Later, we'll see if the Yin-Yang Spring can help it grow."
Ning Tian didn't hesitate. She slipped a black card from her Starlight Sapphire Ring.
"I'll go pay."
"Wait."
He gently held her hand. "Let's browse the rest first. No one else here can afford that price anyway. Let's grab everything we need at once."
What they didn't know—
They were being watched.
In a glass-walled chamber above, an old woman with childlike eyes and snow-white hair observed silently.
Lin Huiqun, one of the five elders of Seagod Pavilion and current Curator of Jubao Pavilion.
"Well, well. Those two are eager little explorers again."
A slow, teasing voice drifted beside her.
"Then perhaps you should leave this place more often, Huiqun. It's good for your health," came the soft voice of Mu En, reclining nearby.
His eyes were old, but sharp.
Lin Huiqun smiled faintly, but worry lingered beneath. She knew all too well: Mu En's life was held together by willpower.
"Mu Lao… is it worth parting with this branch?" she asked, watching Junting below.
Mu En chuckled. "What's 'worth'? I gave it because I wanted to. Besides, it's just a stick."
He patted his recliner. "This whole chair is golden tree wood—and it's way bigger than that twig."(TL:Damn)
Lin Huiqun sighed. "But that branch is still alive. And you infused it with the Seagod's Light."
"A small cost," Mu En said, eyes narrowing. "We need allies. If we want Shrek's balance to hold, sometimes we give a little to gain much more."
He paused.
"After all, Shrek is not a sect. We are an academy. The goal has always been to cultivate little monsters, not dominate the continent."
He closed his eyes briefly, voice softer now.
"We've lost that spirit. Maybe it's time to bring it back."
After a long silence, Mu En spoke again.
"Convene a meeting of the Seagod Pavilion. I've made my decision. What Duoduo proposed... should be enacted."
"We cannot rely on men as anchors forever. People pass. Systems endure."
Lin Huiqun turned to him. In those murky eyes, a quiet brilliance shone.
This time, Mu Lao was serious.
---
Back downstairs—
"Wait… Brother Junting's really going to buy it?" Wang Dong blinked, shocked. "All 25 million—just like that?"
Wu Feng nodded casually.
Yuhao scratched his head. "Even I get a 30 million annual quota from the sect… and I can apply for another 50 if needed."
Wang Dong practically howled.
"You guys are loaded!?"
Ning Tian smirked. "If you join the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, you'll get the same."
"Join the sect?" Wang Dong blinked—and immediately looked at Huo Yuhao, cheeks turning bright red.
"Wang Dong, you're blushing."
"Ah—Yuhao, don't say it!"
Wu Feng narrowed her eyes in mock horror. "Wang Dong… you like Yuhao?!"
Laughter broke out as the group teased one another.
---
Later, Chen Junting and Ning Tian parted from the others and resumed browsing the second floor.
They purchased two carefully selected soul bones, a batch of rare materials for formation research, and a few rare treasures.
Then, they returned to the west counter to finalize everything.
When the clerk announced the total—over 40 million gold soul coins—even other guests nearby turned to stare in shock.
Gasps rippled through the room.
This young couple had just bought out half the floor.
---
(End of Chapter)
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