Chapter 29 First Encounter
The sudden sound of footsteps in the silence made Zhang Lexuan instinctively wary.
Her soul power surged slightly, and the powerful aura of a Soul Saint gradually spread, adding a touch of solemnity to the night.
"Heh, quite the imposing manner. You certainly know how to turn the tables."
"You're the one who trespassed on my territory!"
Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw a handsome young man who had appeared on the second-floor platform at some point.
He leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed over his chest.
The way he tilted his head and looked at Zhang Lexuan carried a mix of scrutiny and amusement in his eyes.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Ning Huan. You probably already know my name."
"Shrek, Zhang Lexuan."
Perhaps because she was still wary, the girl's cool and indifferent tone sounded somewhat stiff.
This made the atmosphere awkward once again.
However, Ning Huan was actually quite pleased with this.
After all, Zhang Lexuan's appearance here was completely unexpected.
So much so that he had no idea how to more effectively win over her.
'Sigh, the butterfly effect can sometimes really catch you off guard...'
But things had already come to this point, and no matter how untimely it was, he absolutely could not give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Ning Huan then lowered his head slightly, feigning profundity, with stray hairs covering his eyes.
His mind raced, trying to figure out what advantages he could use in the library.
Then, as if remembering something, his gaze instantly locked onto the bookshelf at the corner of the stairs.
The items stored there...
It was the imperial history collection of the mainland spanning four thousand years!
In terms of completeness alone, it was no worse than what the royal family and Shrek had preserved.
If he remembered correctly, there should be a handwritten general record inside, which happened to include the section on the Sun and Moon Empire...
'This seems quite suitable for the current situation.'
With this in mind, Ning Huan quickly formed a plan.
He then broke the awkward silence between them.
"By the way, are you very rich?"
"Ah..."
The seemingly random question startled Zhang Lexuan.
But after realizing that the boy before her harbored resentment but no malice, she replied in a cold voice:
"It's alright. Why do you ask?"
"Uh..."
Ning Huan glanced at her, then said irritably:
"Haven't you noticed the bookshelves around you are about to collapse because of your aura?"
"That is a masterpiece handcrafted by a master woodworker using dozens of high-grade woods."
"In addition, although handwritten books aren't individually valuable, together they add up to tens of thousands of gold soul coins."
"Do you want me to renovate this place right after it's been built?"
This time, Ning Huan's dissatisfaction was genuine.
He had personally been involved in the entire process of designing, building, and decorating the library of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Academy.
Even the classification and arrangement of the books had been done by him.
It took him a full month and countless hours of effort.
If this careless girl really ruined things...
Say no more—he'd just summon the ancestor directly!
In contrast, after noticing the slightly trembling bookshelf beside her, Zhang Lexuan's originally gentle and pretty face flushed red.
She immediately withdrew her aura, afraid she might accidentally destroy the hall.
"I'm... sorry. I didn't mean to."
"Since you're a distinguished guest, we'll let it go this time."
With that, Ning Huan jumped down from the second floor.
Despite his weight, he landed lightly and silently on the ground.
'Such precise control of soul power! It even surpasses the top inner courtyard talents!'
Seeing this, Zhang Lexuan's pupils shrank slightly, and her gaze toward him became more serious.
"Y—"
"If you're planning to invite me to join Shrek Academy, don't bother asking."
"..."
"I haven't even said anything yet!"
Seeing Ning Huan's firm stance, Zhang Lexuan felt a bit frustrated.
If not for maintaining her composure and preserving relations between the academy and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile School...
She would have already taught this brat a lesson.
'That brat, how dare he look down on Shrek Academy!'
'Phew... he's just a kid. I won't stoop to his level.'
After finally suppressing her anger, Zhang Lexuan calmed herself.
Her already cold expression became even more indifferent.
"Sects and academies should not be confused. Even if you study at Shrek Academy, it won't prevent you from returning to your sect after graduation."
Hearing this, Ning Huan twitched his eyes, looking utterly speechless.
"Do you think it's possible that I'll soon be a student of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Academy...?"
At these words, Zhang Lexuan instantly fell silent.
A sense of frustration she hadn't felt in over a decade surged within her.
As the designated successor of the Sea God Pavilion by Elder Mu, when had she ever suffered such "rejection"?
Unfortunately, the source of the problem was just a child, making it impossible for her to act harshly.
But out of responsibility toward the academy, she still wanted to make one final attempt.
Unfortunately, Ning Huan had already seen through her intentions and wouldn't give her the chance.
He fired off a series of questions without hesitation:
"Will Shrek Academy assign one Super Douluo and two Title Douluos as my sparring partners at any time?"
"Can Shrek Academy dedicate half of its resources to me alone?"
"Or is Shrek Academy willing to betroth its next successor to me?"
Of course, the last question was pure nonsense.
No matter how anxious Ning Hao was, he wouldn't arrange such a marriage.
At most, they would let things develop naturally.
However, Zhang Lexuan, unaware of this, completely gave up the idea of recruiting him after hearing these questions.
There was no other reason—
The conditions offered by the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile School were simply too generous for Shrek Academy to match.
Let alone Super Douluo—those titled Douluos in the Sea God Pavilion wouldn't even bother stepping out casually.
They certainly wouldn't all come out of seclusion just to teach one person.
As for resources—
With thousands of geniuses in the academy, giving half to one person was impossible.
And the matter of betrothal…
Zhang Lexuan subconsciously sized up Ning Huan.
Hmm…
Strong physique, healthy, and not bad-looking.
Though not as refined as the inner courtyard elites, he carried a masculine confidence that gave people a sense of security.
'No, no—what am I thinking? How could I betray my vows!'
She quickly shook off the thought and returned to her usual calm.
"If you're unwilling, then forget it."
"Quite straightforward…"
Ning Huan muttered, then turned toward the bookshelf.
"I need to reorganize these. Want to help?"
Though phrased as a question, his tone carried certainty.
And as expected—
Feeling slightly guilty, Zhang Lexuan nodded.
"Alright, I'll help."
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