Chapter 66: Jiang Nannan Joins the Tang Sect, The Initiation Gift
Evening.
The sunset dyed half the sky crimson, bathing the western gardens of Shrek Academy in a warm orange glow.
Ripples shimmered across the surface of a small artificial lake nearby.
In a pavilion by the lakeside, Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, and Ye Chen sat around a circular stone table.
"Nannan-jie, have you made your decision?" Ye Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the stone table before raising his gaze toward her.
"Mhm, I've decided. I'd like to join the Tang Sect." Jiang Nannan nodded gently, her tone firm yet calm.
She had long heard of the Tang Sect—a once-renowned and powerful organization on the continent.
Someone like her, an ordinary soul master, had never dared dream of joining such a force.
She knew that Tang Ya and Beibei were disciples of the Tang Sect, but she hadn't realized until recently that Tang Ya herself was the Sect Master…
And Ye Chen, the Deputy Sect Master.
Her first reaction to that revelation had been—this has got to be a joke.
A legendary organization, and its leader's cultivation was weaker than her own?
But when she learned the tragic history of the Tang Sect, sympathy replaced her disbelief.
Now that the sect was rebuilding and badly short on members, and with Tang Ya and Ye Chen as her close friends, she decided without hesitation to join and contribute.
"Hehe, good! It's settled then~ Sect Master Tang will give you the cultivation methods later. But as for me, I've prepared an initiation gift for you, Nannan-jie."
Ye Chen smiled, then slid a small wooden box across the table.
"An initiation gift?"
Jiang Nannan blinked, puzzled.
"Wait, since when do we have those?" Tang Ya looked equally confused.
She was the sect master, and she'd never heard of such a thing.
Right now, the Tang Sect was dirt poor—she was literally its only official member. They couldn't even afford materials for hidden weapons. All they still possessed were some manuals and techniques.
Where would they get the money for gifts…
Click—
Ye Chen didn't respond. Instead, he gently opened the wooden box, revealing four thumb-sized brown pills inside.
"These are Soul Enhancement Pills, an improved version of the regular grade-boosting 'Rising Soul Pills.' After ingestion, they greatly increase one's soul power with absolutely no side effects. They can also be used repeatedly. Their effects are strongest for Soul Ancestors or below; the higher your rank, the weaker the boost."
He looked toward Jiang Nannan, smiling faintly. "You're around level 38, right? Once you absorb all four, you should break through directly to level 40—and step into the Soul Sect realm."
Jiang Nannan's eyes widened in surprise.
Though she came from a common background, her innate soul power was exceptionally high, and her talents had always been extraordinary. She had distinguished herself among countless Shrek students, even without family support.
If she had the cultivation resources of people like Beibei or Xu Sanshi backing her, she would've long surpassed them both.
"What?! Soul Enhancement Pills?!"
"Pills that increase soul power without side effects—how is that possible…"
Both Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya stared wide-eyed, hands covering their mouths in shock.
"N-no… this is too valuable, junior brother, I can't take these."
Jiang Nannan shook her head quickly, pushing the box back toward Ye Chen, overwhelmed.
It wasn't that she distrusted him—she simply knew how priceless those pills were.
She had heard of the regular Rising Soul Pills. Many upper-class students had purchased them before, but even a single one cost more than she could afford in decades of frugal living.
If those were expensive, then these enhanced pills were likely worth a fortune.
Four of them? Even selling her entire life couldn't buy that much.
"Ye Chen, where did you even get these? Since when does our Tang Sect have resources like this?" Tang Ya was still completely bewildered. She was pretty sure the Tang Sect was broke.
"Consider them a personal contribution to the sect's development~" Ye Chen chuckled lightly. Then, turning back to Jiang Nannan, he said, "Nannan-jie, please accept them. My family specializes in alchemy—these are nothing special to me. But if you grow stronger, our Tang Sect grows stronger too."
As he spoke, Ye Chen handed Tang Ya another small box. Inside were five identical pills. "Of course, Sect Master Tang, I can't leave you out."
"Ah, really? Thank you, Vice Sect Master~!" Tang Ya gasped in delight, quickly putting the box away, her face glowing with satisfaction.
A moment earlier, she had felt a flash of jealousy—why did Ye Chen give one to Jiang Nannan but not her? But she hadn't dared complain in front of company.
Now, relief and joy bloomed. Ye Chen hadn't forgotten her after all—she even got more than Jiang Nannan.
Inside the box were five pills instead of four.
Her admiration for Ye Chen instantly skyrocketed.
Truly, this Vice Sect Master knew exactly what he was doing.
Recruiting Ye Chen into the Tang Sect had been the smartest decision of her entire life.
It was a good thing Beibei wasn't the one who got to keep him.
If Ye Chen had ever left Tang Sect, she'd have cried her eyes out.
"Alright, alright, you can take them home and refine them slowly—they take time to absorb. Today, our Tang Sect welcomes a new talent. I'll treat us to dinner tonight—we'll celebrate properly!"
Ye Chen grinned.
Sure, he couldn't exactly do anything steamy with two girls over dinner, but strengthening their bonds as comrades was just as valuable. Jiang Nannan would integrate faster into their little family this way.
"Yay~" Tang Ya cheered happily.
She had long accepted Ye Chen's wealth and generosity—eating on his dime gave her zero guilt whatsoever.
Jiang Nannan, however, hesitated. Normally, she turned down invitations like this.
But this was Ye Chen.
She wanted to spend more time with him, to strengthen their connection.
After a brief pause, she smiled softly. "Alright then, I'll let you treat me this time. Next time it'll be my turn."
Her gentle voice carried a note of warmth that made the air itself feel tender.
"Deal. We'll talk about that next time. Today, we celebrate."
Ye Chen laughed and stood, leading the two of them toward the academy's outer walkways.
Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan followed side by side, chatting and laughing. They were already friends, and now with the Tang Sect bond—and Ye Chen between them—their friendship was destined to deepen further.
But not far behind, hidden near a stone wall by the garden path…
A dark shadow was watching them leave, eyes clouded with resentment.
It was Xu Sanshi.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10