Douluo Continent: I possess astonishing wisdom as I control energy!

"For example, issues such as teacher monopoly, student bullying, unfair task allocation, and internal factional infighting are gradually emerging among the lower levels of the organization, and there are already some dissenting voices."

Chapter 29 Shrek's Collapse Plan

Listening to Ju Zi's report, Kong Ming'an nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of understanding.

In essence, all his arrangements in Douluo Three Kingdoms can be summarized as economic infiltration, resource plunder, talent plunder, structural infiltration, and control of public opinion.

A war between the Sun Moon Empire and the Douluo Three Kingdoms is inevitable, and he will undoubtedly stand on the side of the Sun Moon Empire; this is also unchangeable.

That's why he made so many arrangements for Douluo Three Kingdoms.

The purpose of establishing a newspaper was definitely not just to smear Shrek Academy; its essence was to build a vast intelligence-gathering system covering the three kingdoms of Douluo Continent and subtly control public opinion.

The ultra-high-speed information transmission network established by using Electrolux's undead demiplane as a transit station enabled "Mingmeng" newspapers to always get the news first, occupying an absolute advantage in information timeliness and thus monopolizing the market.

For example, the "Enlightenment Project" and the recruitment of Shrek Academy graduates. Although Kong Ming'an didn't have a good impression of Shrek Academy, he had to admit that Shrek Academy had a lot of talent, and it would be a waste not to poach them.

Even if we don't directly recruit these talents to the Sun and Moon Sect, they are more than enough to serve as the shell of the Chamber of Commerce and maintain its operation in the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

Xu Tianzhen, standing to the side, was completely stunned. Looking at the boy who was about her age, listening to his plans for infiltration, poaching, intelligence gathering, and public opinion, she felt like her brain couldn't keep up.

No, who said this guy only does experiments all day, stays cooped up in the lab, is dull-witted, and super easy to manipulate?!

You're telling me this is easy to manipulate?!

Xu Tianzhen recalled what Kong Deming had said not long ago about "he can be replaced." She had been somewhat skeptical about it before, but now, she felt an indescribable sense of agreement.

After listening to Ju Zi's well-organized report, Kong Ming'an felt even more impressed with Ju Zi's abilities.

Finally, he asked again, "What about the things I asked you to do before?"

Ju Zi nodded knowingly and took out a thin folder from her personal soul tool:

"Verified. Zhang Lexuan, age eighteen, soul power level sixty-eight, martial soul is 'Moon', extremely strong, is the captain of this year's Shrek Seven Devils, and has a high reputation within the academy. Regarding her background..."

Just then, Xu Tianzhen, who had been listening intently, suddenly interjected. She had caught the key information, looked at Kong Ming'an, and asked with confirmation, "The 'Moon' Martial Soul?!"

Kong Ming'an seemed to have anticipated her reaction and nodded: "Yes, this is the branch I was talking about with Grandpa before."

Having received confirmation, Xu Tianzhen's face showed a hint of understanding. She said no more, but her eyes became even more focused.

Kong Ming'an looked at Ju Zi again: "How was the effect of the message I asked you to spread?"

"The results are better than expected." Orange's eyes were calm.

"We only scattered some vague fragments of information about the 'Sun Moon Empire Kong Family,' 'Silver Moon Martial Soul,' and 'Royal Martial Soul Inheritance' in places she might have access to."

"She became suspicious of this and quickly began to investigate her background, and even issued a commission to our chamber of commerce."

"What about the dirt on Shrek?"

"There has also been some allocation."

Ju Zi took out another document and gently placed it in front of Kong Ming'an.

"These fabricated accusations are all absolutely true, without any embellishment, so that she can 'accidentally' discover them while searching for her origins."

"However, compared to her background, she seems more concerned about Shrek Academy's corruption, and will even actively search for evidence, even if it's just a possibility."

"And as soon as she searches, our people will deliver the evidence to her in a timely manner."

"Currently, according to some information provided by Shrek Academy, some elders in the Sea God Pavilion have expressed considerable resentment towards her for resorting to vigilante justice without trial."

"very good."

Kong Ming'an's tone was appreciative, a genuine affirmation: "Sister Orange, you did a great job."

Orange paused slightly, a barely perceptible, almost sickly, smile creeping onto her lips.

She bowed slightly, her tone as respectful as ever, "This is what I should do as president."

That concludes the report.

Orange didn't linger in the office and very consciously chose to leave.

However, before leaving, she bowed slightly to Xu Tianzhen beside her before leaving the room.

The door closed, and only then could Xu Tianzhen, who had been sitting still, finally get up and ask curiously.

"So, your target is Zhang Lexuan?"

"Only a part of it, though she is indeed very important, after all, she possesses the 'Moon' martial soul."

"But wouldn't she be hard to win over? Why not just kill her as Grandpa Kong suggested? Wouldn't that be easier?"

"Am I that bloodthirsty?" Kong Ming'an gave the princess a disapproving look before slowly speaking:

"After all, she has the 'Moon' martial soul. According to the family genealogy, she can be considered my elder sister. It's not like I have to kill her outright."

"Besides, her personality is actually quite easy to win over, it just takes some time. And wouldn't it be more interesting to have her dismember Shrek with the knife?"

Kong Ming'an gave a kind smile.

Shrek Academy may appear impressive, but it is actually weak inside, riddled with internal problems and lacking a successor in its top-tier combat force.

Its foundation was already rotten, and he merely planted a few more termites in that rotten spot, accelerating its decay, and then waited for some future opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

He even had a plan targeting Mu En, the Lord of the Sea God Pavilion, but unfortunately, the difference in strength was too great to implement it at present.

Forcibly destroying them would result in too much loss; it would be simpler to dismantle them from within step by step. In the process, he could also use them as nourishment to cultivate his own power.

Xu Tianzhen, who was standing to the side, understood a little, but quickly stopped her thoughts and forced herself not to explore the details.

Some things are better left unknown; being a mascot is the best way to live longer.

As Xu Tianzhen silently recited her own code of conduct, she suddenly saw a hand reach out in front of her.

Xu Tianzhen looked up, blinked, and looked puzzled.

"I promised to show you around Shrek City, I wouldn't break my promise." Kong Ming'an smiled slightly.

Xu Tianzhen was taken aback, then her eyes brightened slightly.

She suddenly realized that her fiancé was actually quite nice!

"go!"

Xu Tianzhen grabbed Kong Ming'an's hand and pulled him outside.

……

……

Shrek Academy, Inner Court

In the mimicry training room, a girl who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old sat cross-legged.

She possessed a serene demeanor, with delicate and gentle features. Moonlight shimmered on her fair and translucent skin, adding a touch of aloofness to the quiet cultivation room.

The girl was quietly cultivating when suddenly, the door to the simulation training room was opened from the outside, and at the same time, a voice rang out.

"Sister Lexuan, your confinement is over."

In the original novel, Zhang Lexuan appeared when Elder Mu died, at the age of twenty-five or twenty-six. At that time, Huo Yuhao was fourteen or fifteen years old. A little calculation shows that Zhang Lexuan is now about seventeen or eighteen years old.

Chapter 30 Zhang Lexuan's Wavering

Two women walked in from outside the meditation room; one had a fiery temperament, while the other was gentle and refined.

It was Zhang Lexuan's two close friends, "Golden Crow Saintess" Wu Ming and "Golden Fairy" Han Ruoruo.

"Le Xuan, it's time." Han Ruoruo said softly, her voice tinged with reluctance.

The aura surrounding Zhang Lexuan slowly faded, her long eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes.

This month-long seclusion brought her cultivation to level sixty-nine. However, at this moment, her eyes held neither the joy of a breakthrough nor the relaxation of ending her seclusion; only a deep, unyielding weariness and silence.

She silently stood up, said nothing, simply nodded slightly to her two friends, and then walked outside.

Wu Ming watched her retreating figure, then couldn't help but quicken her pace to catch up, her voice filled with resentment:

"Sister Lexuan, if you ask me, you did nothing wrong! That bastard has done so many dirty things just because his father is a senior member."

"He drove a student who was working part-time to his death and still got away with it! You killed him, that's doing the people a favor!"

Han Ruoruo gently pulled Zhang Lexuan's arm and softly comforted her, "Yes, Lexuan, don't take it too hard. Although the dean and the elders put you in confinement, everyone understands that you are right."

Zhang Lexuan paused, remaining silent. Right? Wrong? Her mind was in turmoil.

Her home was destroyed by the evil spirit masters, and because of this, ever since she was adopted by Elder Mu, she has always regarded Shrek Academy as her only home.

Here, she cultivated in peace, made friends with Ruoruo and Wuming, and spent several simple and happy years. She believed this place was a pure land, a symbol of light and justice.

However, this impression began to change about a year ago.

When she stumbles upon some vague clues about her past, out of curiosity, she tries to investigate, only to unexpectedly discover a shadow hidden beneath the so-called "Shrek brilliance" that she had never noticed before.

She discovered that the professors were withholding student resources, that senior students were bullying junior students, and even some more sordid deals.

Initially, she firmly believed the college was fair and would report every discovery she made.

At first, the accused were indeed punished, which made her feel relieved. But she soon discovered that the punishments were often superficial, and soon those people would reappear in a different way, or even in a higher position.

She protested and questioned, but what she received were often vague responses from higher-ups and advice to "consider the bigger picture." Until that time, when she reported a logistics director for embezzling student resources, the director was treated leniently despite being given the runaround.

She was indignant and went directly to Elder Mu, which led to a serious resolution of the matter. At the time, she thought it was just an isolated incident, and that as long as those at the top were enlightened, everything would be fine.

But similar incidents kept happening, until this time, when she discovered that a teacher in charge of some of the college's logistics procurement had been bullying and exploiting ordinary students who relied on part-time jobs to make a living for a long time.

Their methods were despicable, ultimately leading several students to take their own lives under the unbearable pressure.

As usual, she collected evidence and reported it. Watching the man being taken away by law enforcement, she thought justice had been served once again.

But on that day, when she received a notification from the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce to pick up a soul tool she had ordered to assist in cultivation, and also to check some information about the Moon Martial Soul that she had previously asked the Chamber of Commerce to inquire about,

But in front of the most luxurious restaurant near the Chamber of Commerce, they saw the teacher who should have been punished! He was arm in arm with someone, his face flushed, showing no sign of remorse whatsoever.

As if possessed, she followed him, hiding in the private room next door, listening to the man's smug boasting:

"A few days of detention will suffice. My dad's a veteran, who in Shrek Academy dares to mess with me? Those poor bastards are just weak-willed, they deserve to die. The money we save will be enough for us to live happily for a year or two."

At that moment, she couldn't hold back any longer. Her long-suppressed emotions exploded, and she confronted him directly. However, the other party seemed to be drunk, showing no pretense or remorse. Instead, he hurled insults and arrogantly declared that he would be out soon.

Unable to restrain herself, she finally struck, and then, amidst the other party's final curse filled with malice and contempt, she couldn't stop herself.

Then came the academy's trial.

Dean Yan Shaozhe did not report the matter and suppressed it directly, but many elders, especially the man's father, were extremely dissatisfied with her "acting first and reporting later" and "disrespecting elders" behavior.

The final result was that the merits and demerits canceled each other out, but he still needed to be confined to reflect on his mistakes.

She couldn't understand why those high-ranking elders could turn a blind eye to the misdeeds of their descendants, and why they could trample on the most basic justice for the sake of so-called "face" and "stability".

She suddenly felt that Shrek Academy, the place she had once been willing to give everything for, had suddenly become somewhat unfamiliar and cold.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions, turned her head, and forced a smile. "I'm fine now. A month has passed, and the soul tool I ordered from the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce should be ready. I'm going to pick it up."

Wu Ming and Han Ruoruo exchanged a glance, said nothing, and followed together.

……

Within Shrek City, compared to the varying degrees of resistance towards soul tools within the academy, the emergence of the Mingmeng Merchant Guild undoubtedly brought a fresh atmosphere.

Various convenient and easy-to-use civilian soul tools have begun to become popular among ordinary people and some soul masters.

Of course, this has nothing to do with Shrek Academy. It seems that due to the so-called traditions and teaching philosophies of the Martial Soul system, Shrek Academy has not adopted it on a large scale.

However, there are also rumors that the Soul Guidance Department is unable to replicate the core components of these Soul Guidance Devices, which is why they have not taken any action yet.

However, many young students have already been attracted by these novel and practical soul tools, and quite a few have come to buy them privately.

The entrance to the Chamber of Commerce was bustling with people. As Zhang Lexuan entered the Chamber, her gaze casually swept over the crowd, but she unconsciously paused slightly.

Not far away, a figure inexplicably caught her eye. It was a young man who looked quite young but was excessively handsome. His calm and gentle demeanor was out of place with the lively atmosphere around him, making him seem unlike someone his age.

Beside the boy, a girl with short, light purple hair was pulling his arm, chattering away with obvious curiosity.

This unusual combination, coupled with the boy's indescribable qualities, made Zhang Lexuan instinctively take a few more glances.

Wu Ming, who was standing to the side, followed her gaze and her eyes lit up. She nudged her with her elbow and whispered with a smile, "Wow! What a handsome little brother! Sister Le Xuan, so you like this type?"

Zhang Lexuan snapped out of her daze, a hint of unease flashing across her face, and immediately denied it: "Don't talk nonsense, I just think it's a little special."

Wu Ming chuckled, clearly not believing him, and then looked the boy up and down a few more times: "He is quite special. At such a young age, he knows how to bring little girls out to play. Tsk, it's a pity he's too young. If he were a little older, I might not be able to resist making a move."