Peerless: The Evil Soul Master's Guide to Saving the World

"That's enough, Yan Shaozhe."

Seeing his daughter's face turn red from being rebuked, Old Song frowned.

"Shrek's dignity cannot be trampled on. Lin'er was a bit impulsive, but isn't your label a bit too much?"

Yan Shaozhe shook his head helplessly.

Passed?

If I don't say it this way, this woman might really lose her mind and rush to fight the Sun and Moon Empire to the death.

You old folks seem to have no brains either. Judging from your appearance just now, not only did you not refute Xian Lin'er, but several of you were even so enraged that you were ready to go with Xian Lin'er!
But after all, Old Song was the third-in-command of the Sea God Pavilion. Now that Mu En has passed away, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he is the second-in-command. In front of the former, he is just a junior, so he could only nod helplessly.

"Hmph!" Xian Lin'er rolled her eyes at Yan Shaozhe.

"Since Shrek Academy has the protection of our ancestor Ah Yin and has chosen to develop steadily, I suggest reducing the funding for the Soul Guidance Department." Yan Shaozhe remained calm, ignoring Xian Lin'er's provocation, and began to address the main topic of the day.

"Yan Shaozhe, are you out of your mind?!" Xian Lin'er was enraged, pointing her finger at his nose and shouting angrily. "When our teacher was still alive, he always supported the development of the Soul Guidance Department. Moreover, everyone can see the potential of the Soul Guidance Department from the Sun Moon Empire. Without the Soul Guidance Department, what can Shrek Academy use to fight against the Sun Moon Empire?!"

Qian Duoduo looked helpless, holding his wife tightly, afraid that the two of them would fight inside the Sea God Pavilion.

“Take the Martial Soul system!” Yan Shaozhe said calmly.

"Can you even compete?" Xian Lin'er scoffed. "In the last competition, the Spirit System was utterly defeated by the Sun Moon Empire. So even if you allocate all the funding to the Spirit System, do you think you can defeat the Sun Moon Empire?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, the elders' expressions turned strange. After all, they were considered a traditional martial spirit faction. However, as time went by, many things happened on the continent, which made them realize the terror of the soul guidance system. In addition, Elder Mu had been advocating for it, which gradually changed their views.

Therefore, Xianlin'er's attack can be considered an area-of-effect attack.

"Cough cough cough, Lin'er!" Old Song coughed lightly twice.

Having stopped Xian Lin'er, her indifferent eyes also turned to Yan Shaozhe: "Alright, let's leave it at that. Shrek Academy will provide the Soul Guidance Department with the resources set by Elder Mu before his death, not a penny less!"

Because of her daughter, she has always been a staunch supporter of the Soul Guidance faction.

"Professor Song! This concerns the future of the academy!" Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, looked directly at Song Yunzhi, whose upper body was bound with bandages, his expression resolute and unyielding.

"This is like an arms race between nations. The gap between us and the Sun Moon Empire is like an insurmountable chasm. It will take at least several centuries to catch up and even have a sliver of hope. But in this arms race, the Sun Moon Empire can easily crush Shrek Academy. Their resources are too abundant... Plus, they've recently swindled a lot of gold soul coins from various powers. With this balance of power, how can Shrek possibly win?"

Yan Shaozhe earnestly advised.

"Hmph, so you think Elder Mu did something wrong?" Elder Song sneered.

"I..." Yan Shaozhe choked.

Now, things have really come to a critical point.

The Treasure Pavilion was swindled out of many of its most treasured possessions, which were then sold to the Sun Moon Empire. But what was even more disastrous was that Shrek Academy took the money it "earned" from the Sun Moon Empire and then "gave" it back to the Sun Moon Empire!
These events are now causing some strain, even on a behemoth like Shrek Academy, and have damaged its foundation.

As finances tighten, internal "struggles" will intensify.

After all, there's only so much cake; if some people eat more, others will eat less.

If Shrek Academy was still quite wealthy a few months ago, even if it allocated more than 100 million gold soul coins to the Soul Guidance Department, he would at most be a little reluctant, but he wouldn't have gone to the point of confronting Elder Song today.

What about now?

It's important to understand that Shrek City's main profits come from its location at the crossroads of three kingdoms, facilitating trade between merchants from all three. At the same time, it is backed by the Starry Sky Forest, allowing it to extract substantial resources from this treasure trove.

As Shrek's resources dwindle and the Sun Moon Empire draws ever closer, if the Star Dou Great Forest also encounters problems, Shrek City's overall profits will definitely be greatly reduced!
Let alone the nearly 200 million gold soul coins in net profit they used to make each year, it would be difficult to even reach 150 million. The Soul Guidance Department took the lion's share, but what about the Martial Soul Department?!

The Martial Soul Department is a large and powerful organization, even possessing a dedicated facility for raising soul beasts and countless high-level soul masters. While the Martial Soul Department brings glory to Shrek Academy, it naturally requires considerable resources to maintain. Now that the Martial Soul Department's finances have been reduced, and he, as the dean, cannot afford to pay salaries, wouldn't that be tantamount to the Martial Soul Department's decline?

"Elder Song! One hundred million gold soul coins is far too much. By then, only about forty or fifty million will be allocated to the Martial Soul Department. Do you want the Martial Soul Department to collapse?" Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath.

"If you were to give 100 million to a top-tier research soul master like the Mingde Hall of the Sun Moon Empire, I would have nothing to say! But with someone as mediocre as Qian Duoduo, haha, what use is he besides wasting gold soul coins?"

He was going all out, after all, the spirit system was now at a critical juncture, and if they continued to hold back, Shrek Academy would probably be ruined by these people!
“We can learn! No one can predict the future of the Soul Guidance System. Its potential is much higher than that of traditional Martial Souls. As long as we start, and then take one step at a time, surpassing the Martial Soul System is only a matter of time.” Xian Lin’er crossed her arms and looked disdainful.

"Learn...heh." Yan Shaozhe felt like he couldn't vent his anger.

"So, did the students Elder Mu sent to the Sun Moon Empire last time learn anything and come back?" He stared at Xian Lin'er and asked in a deep voice.

"Hehe, unfortunately, Ning Tian, ​​Wang Dong, the twin martial souls Xiao Xiao, and even Le Xuan have all been turned by the Sun Moon Empire! As for the others? Let's not even mention the people sent by the Martial Soul Department, let's just talk about your Soul Guidance Department. What have they learned in the more than half a year since they came back this time?"

"How do you know they didn't learn anything? They'll contribute to Shrek Academy's Soul Guidance Department in the future!" Xianlin'er retorted.

"..."

Yan Shaozhe remained silent for a while.

Do you think the Sun and Moon Empire will teach you anything real?
With a dozen or so students whose talent was not particularly strong, and who had only learned the basics in the Sun Moon Empire for a few months, he was suddenly filled with despair.

In an instant, he seemed to lose all interest in arguing with Xianlin'er.

He glanced at the other elders, who all avoided his gaze. Elder Xuan, who was at the very front, had a blank look in his eyes, as if he were lost in thought, and kept drinking.

"Elders, I'd like to take this opportunity during this meeting to discuss something," Yan Shaozhe said calmly, noticing Xian Lin'er's victorious demeanor. "I'd like to resign as Dean of the Martial Soul Department..."

The room fell silent instantly upon hearing this.

Countless senior officials looked at him.

Old Song frowned even more and scolded, "Yan Shaozhe, this isn't something you can just do as you please. Do you really think we old folks are just decorations? You think you can just quit because things don't go your way?"

"You were appointed Dean of the Spirit Arts Department because the academy values ​​you; otherwise..."

"I can't just stand by and watch the Martial Soul System collapse in my hands," Yan Shaozhe said calmly.

"Who said the Martial Soul System is going to collapse?!" Elder Song roared.

Yan Shaozhe's words were tantamount to saying that it was her decision that destroyed the Martial Soul System.

The ministers all had different expressions.

After all, no one dares to take the blame for this; it's just too big a deal.

“Without sufficient funds, it’s inevitable that such a large organization as the Martial Soul System will collapse. The only difference is that it will die slowly. If you can’t take the blame, then don’t pass it on to me…” Yan Shaozhe chuckled.

"You!" Old Song's face darkened. Although it was true, she was still somewhat embarrassed.

“Yunzhi, Shaozhe’s words make sense. The expenses of the Martial Soul Department are definitely not small. If we continue to give the Soul Guidance Department 100 million gold soul coins per year, how much will the Martial Soul Department get? Thirty or forty million. Even if Shaozhe pays out of his own pocket, it is far from enough to support the behemoth that is the Martial Soul Department.”

Old Zhuang sighed and stepped forward to offer words of comfort.

"Then what are your requirements?" Old Song stared coldly at Yan Shaozhe.

"Fifty percent." Yan Shaozhe didn't expect much; seventy or eighty million a year was barely acceptable. He could always squeeze out a little more and live frugally...

"Impossible!" Before Elder Song could speak, Xian Lin'er exclaimed, her eyes wide.

"The Soul Guidance System is the future, especially in the early stages, which require a lot of financial support. One hundred million is much less than the standard set by Elder Mu. As long as we invest in the Soul Guidance System in the early stages, it will definitely bring benefits beyond everyone's imagination. The Martial Soul System has already reached its limit, and continuing to invest will only maintain the status quo."

“Actually, it is also…” Qian Duoduo was about to speak when she was interrupted by Xian Lin’er’s angry glare.

"One hundred million, not a penny less!" Xian Lin'er added.

"Lin'er!" Old Master Song coughed lightly twice.

To be honest, everyone knows that with today's meeting, the Martial Soul System is about to decline, but no one is willing to admit it because this millennia-old glory is too heavy a burden for anyone to bear.

Therefore, only one victim can be chosen.

That is Yan Shaozhe, the current dean of the Martial Soul Department.

If they really quit, who will become the dean of the Martial Soul Department? As things stand, there's really no one who can take on the role, and no one would be foolish enough to jump in now.

Cai Meier looked at Yan Shaozhe nervously, her expression anxious, but she couldn't say anything. Although she was the vice dean of the Martial Soul Department, she didn't even have the strength of a Title Douluo, so she had no right to speak.

She could only watch as her husband debated with a group of scholars.

"Soul guidance system accounts for 60%, martial soul system accounts for 40%. How about that, Yan Shaozhe, are you satisfied now?" Old Song said in a deep voice.

Now, the goal is to continue Elder Mu's will and vigorously develop the Soul Guidance Department across the entire Shrek Academy. The Martial Soul Department is the one being sacrificed, but there's no other way, as Shrek Academy also needs to consider the future.

Xian Lin'er is right. The Martial Soul system has reached its limit. If we continue to invest heavily, we can only maintain the status quo at best. But the Soul Guidance system is different; it still has a bright future.

"Forty percent...hehe." Yan Shaozhe chuckled.

"What, you're still not satisfied?!" Old Song's voice suddenly rose several octaves: "Yan Shaozhe, don't push your luck!"

"Then you should find someone else. I'm not taking this position as Dean of the Martial Soul Department."

Yan Shaozhe shook his head dejectedly: "I don't care about bearing the infamy in the future, it's for the sake of the academy. But you won't even give me the same treatment as the Soul Guidance Department. It just so happens that my teacher has passed away, and I was planning to travel the continent..."

"Shao Zhe..." Old Master Zhuang was anxious, hoping to persuade him to stay.

"Old Zhuang! Get him out of here!" Old Song was furious. "Consider the academy as having wasted its time training such an ungrateful wretch!"

"Don't ever say you're from Shrek Academy again! Shrek Academy doesn't have deserters like you!"

"Yan Shaozhe, do you have any shame? You can't play the game, so you resort to cheating? You're shameless indeed, now you're not even willing to take responsibility for Shrek Academy!" Xian Lin'er also scolded angrily.

For a time, the meeting at the Sea God Pavilion was quite chaotic.

Elder Zhuang and several other elders were trying to persuade Yan Shaozhe, while Elder Song, Xian Lin'er, and several other hot-tempered elders were angrily berating him.

Elder Xuan, seated at the head of the table, had a ruddy complexion and was somewhat drunk. He looked suspiciously at the chaos in the hall, then shook his head helplessly: "It's lonely at the top..."

……

The next day.

Outside Shrek Academy.

Yan Shaozhe stared quietly at the place where he had lived for half his life.

It would be a lie to say he was reluctant, but after resigning from his position as dean of the Martial Soul Department, his former greed for power and his lifelong struggle with Qian Duoduo and others seemed to have faded considerably. Instead, he felt a sense of peace and relief... as if the burden on his shoulders had suddenly disappeared, making him feel much lighter.

"Are you really leaving? Won't you reconsider?" Qian Duoduo's eyes were filled with complicated emotions.

Whether from the perspective of a friend or Shrek Academy, he did not want Yan Shaozhe to leave.

"Hehe, in such a large Shrek Academy, only you came to see me off." Yan Shaozhe revealed a smile.

“This…” Qian Duoduo looked embarrassed.

The news of Yan Shaozhe's departure was naturally not kept secret, and almost all the teachers in the academy knew about it. However, just last night, Elder Song ordered that anyone who came to see him off would be expelled from Shrek Academy and never be rehired. Therefore, Qian Duoduo risked being scolded and came to see him off.

"That's enough, Duoduo, no need for further words." Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly, his expression unchanged.

He had thoroughly offended Old Master Song, but he did not regret it.

“If it were in the past, I might have scolded you and exposed your shortcomings without any mercy, but now…” Yan Shaozhe smiled, “It seems like I’ve suddenly lost my spirit. We’ve known each other since childhood, always in the same grade and the same class, we know each other inside and out. Before I leave, I only ask you one question.”

He stared intently into Qian Duoduo's eyes: "Give me three hundred years, are you confident you can catch up to the current level of soul tools in the Sun Moon Empire?"

"This……"

Qian Duoduo opened her mouth.

“Five hundred years!” Yan Shaozhe said.

Qian Duoduo: "..."

"A thousand years!"

Looking at Qian Duoduo, who remained silent, Yan Shaozhe sighed deeply.

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving now. Take care."

After saying that, his figure slowly disappeared.

Only Qian Duoduo's lonely figure remained.

He, too, was being swept along. This so-called "victor," in fact, somewhat envied Yan Shaozhe, who bore the future of Shrek Academy and the hope of victory; his burden was far greater… (End of Chapter)