Chapter 016: Have You Drunk Enough?

Hearing Barari’s eagerness to establish a magic academy, Du Fan gave him a puzzled look.
“Master Barari, are you really that anxious about setting up a magic academy?” Du Fan asked doubtfully.
“Well,” Barari paused before answering, “It’s something the president instructed us to do, so the faster we complete it, the better.”
“Oh, I see!” Du Fan shook his head. To be honest, he wasn’t very satisfied with Barari’s explanation. Although it could be understood, the reason seemed a bit flimsy.
“So, it’s President Edward who’s in such a hurry to establish the magic academy. I wonder why he’s so eager?” Du Fan said with a smile.
“Well, I don’t know. If Duke Du Fan wants to find out, I’ll ask the president next time,” Master Barari replied with a smile.
“Haha, Master Barari, you’re too modest. That’s not what I meant. I was just asking casually,” Du Fan said, laughing loudly after hearing that Barari would ask Edward.
“Master Barari, tell me, how much longer will it take for you to get everything ready?” Du Fan asked seriously.
“Very soon! Fifteen days will be enough!” Barari replied promptly.
“Hmm, okay, I understand,” Du Fan said with a smile. “Then get started!”
……
After returning to the city lord’s mansion, Du Fan immediately began the process of recruiting students for the magic academy.
“We must act quickly!” Du Fan declared loudly at the meeting. Among the hundreds of talents Duke Green helped Du Fan recruit, the vast majority indeed had real skills. Once they joined Du Fan’s administrative system, they immediately showcased their talents!
These people, who had long been frustrated within the empire’s rigid bureaucratic system, unleashed their accumulated wisdom, abilities, and enthusiasm once Du Fan gave them a chance!
In no time, Du Fan once again had control over four provinces. These hundreds of talents received excellent positions—positions that were completely unimaginable in the former imperial capital!
“We must hurry! We need to recruit as many people aged 12 to 18 who are suitable for learning magic as possible!” Du Fan said at the meeting.

“Yes, My Duke! I will do my best as quickly as possible!” the responsible officer replied loudly.
“Also, those with extremely strong mental power but unable to sense energy fluctuations—suitable for those aged 12 to 18—can also be recruited!” Du Fan added again.
“My Duke, extremely strong mental power? Is there a standard?” An official asked immediately upon hearing Du Fan’s words.
For these administrative staff who knew nothing about cultivation, Du Fan’s definition of “extremely strong mental power” was unclear. Without a standard, it would be difficult to implement such a requirement.
“Well, at least ten times that of an ordinary person’s mental power!” Du Fan thought for a moment before answering.
“Understood, My Duke.” With Du Fan setting the standard, things became much easier.
Those with mental power ten times that of ordinary people could be considered geniuses in magic cultivation—just like Du Fan in his past! But without miraculous potions like Mikra, no matter how strong their mental power was, they would still be useless in cultivation.
Originally, Mikra was a highly rare and invaluable potion. But since Rob could now directly create those pellets that improved one’s inability to cultivate, Du Fan no longer valued Mikra at all!
As long as someone had mental power far exceeding that of ordinary people, Du Fan could transform them into geniuses in magic learning!
Rob’s milky-white pellets could directly raise a user’s cultivation level to level one! Although it was just level one, those who had practiced magic knew that progressing from zero to level one was actually a significant milestone.
By directly reaching level one, combined with mental power far above ordinary levels, such a person would have an unlimited future in magic learning!
Soon, the details of recruitment were finalized.
Recruiters would be sent to towns with a population of over 5,000. Their task wasn’t to start recruiting immediately but to conduct two days of promotional activities first.
Du Fan then suggested using banners and posters, methods he had used in his past life.
Upon hearing this suggestion, the officials looked at Du Fan with even greater admiration in their eyes.

Du Fan’s rapid rise, like that of a comet, was already a myth to these people! Coupled with his strength as a master of his domain, his string of victorious battles, and his performance in this recruitment drive, those talents from the imperial capital immediately realized that following Duke Du Fan meant an unlimited future!
After handling the recruitment matters and listening to the reports from the officials, it was already evening. Looking at the pile of documents on the table, Du Fan shook his head. It seemed there was indeed a lot to deal with, especially since he had been away for so long and had just taken control of the three southern provinces.
After dinner, Du Fan began to go through the documents carefully again. As he approved them, time passed unnoticed until suddenly, a fragrant breeze blew towards him. Looking up, Du Fan saw a woman standing gracefully before him.
“You don’t have to work so hard! Either you’re away for ages or, when you return, you work until late at night—this isn’t good for your health,” a voice extremely coquettish reached Du Fan’s ears. It was Ma Shan; Du Fan knew it was Princess Angel.
“Didn’t I ask you to wait for me in the room?” Du Fan said, putting down the documents and rubbing his eyes.
“Hmph! You told me to come and wait for you at ten o’clock. I went at ten, but I never saw you! You’re a liar!” Angel immediately became angry upon hearing this.
Du Fan was taken aback by her words.
“Don’t you know it’s already 11:30?” Angel’s face showed extreme distress. Her tearful expression quickly turned into one of deep pity.
“Here, have some of this. It’s snow frog soup I prepared especially for you. It nourishes yin, strengthens yang, and relieves fatigue,” Angel said, adopting a caring and gentle expression.
It was then that Du Fan noticed she was holding a very exquisite box. She placed the box on his desk, and with her delicate hands, she opened it. Soon, a warm, fragrant aroma wafted out. As Du Fan inhaled it, his stomach began to growl, reminding him of his hunger. Uncontrollably, his stomach let out loud noises.

“Hungry, right? Then hurry up and have a bowl!” Hearing the voice from Du Fan’s stomach, Angel didn’t show any surprise. Instead, she gently prepared a bowl of snow clam soup and placed it in front of Du Fan. The bowl was right in front of Du Fan’s nose, and an even more enticing aroma filled his nostrils. Seeing the longing in Du Fan’s eyes, Angel suddenly felt a sense of pride. This Princess Angel, though she hadn’t practiced any cultivation skills in the palace and knew little about politics, spent her days eating and playing. Yet, she was not only an excellent eater but also often asked the palace chefs for tips on cooking. Over time, Princess Angel became a top-tier chef, though many people were unaware of this. Take the bowl of snow clam soup in front of Du Fan—seemingly simple, it was actually crafted by Angel through eight steps and using thirteen ingredients. Such a bowl of soup could be considered a masterpiece! It was no wonder it made Du Fan’s stomach growl. Just as Du Fan was about to take it and drink, an extremely gentle and charming voice sounded again. “Shall I feed you?” With that, Angel used a spoon to scoop up a spoonful of snow clam soup and brought it to Du Fan’s lips. For a moment, it was hard to tell whether it was the aroma of the soup or the scent of her delicate hand—the strange fragrance penetrated Du Fan’s nose even more intensely. “It smells wonderful!” Du Fan exclaimed sincerely. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and took in the spoonful of soup. Angel cooperatively tilted the spoon slightly, allowing the smooth, fragrant broth to flow into his mouth. When he accidentally looked up, he was once again struck by her stunning appearance. Having taken a bath that night, Angel exuded a refreshing aura, and her casually worn dress with a low V-neckline fully revealed her curves. Although Du Fan had seen and enjoyed many beautiful women, all of exceptional beauty, this was the first time a woman like her had fed him soup. Moreover, in such moments, a woman could make a man feel a unique kind of tenderness and care.

Gathering all the energy within his body, Du Fan firmly suppressed the restlessness in his heart; otherwise, that casual glance just now could have led to his embarrassment on the spot.
“Not bad, not bad! Angel, who made this?” After taking a sip of the snow clam soup, Du Fan immediately praised it loudly.
“Of course it’s me, hehe. Is it delicious? If you like it, how about I make it for you again next time?” Angel said gently.
“As a princess, it’s not quite right for you to spend your days making these things for me, right?” Du Fan said with a smile after hearing her words.
“I like it. I really enjoy making it for you. Do you want me to make it for you every day?” Angel suddenly looked at Du Fan seriously.
“Why? Angel, I don’t believe it. I can’t imagine a princess doing such things,” Du Fan replied calmly instead of showing immediate excitement.
“Du Fan, are you doubting me?” Hearing his question, Angel also became very serious.
“A princess? What can a princess do? Du Fan, if you were born into an imperial family, you’d understand how unhappy I am! Every day, I live under a facade! Because I know that at any moment, I might go from being a high-ranking princess to being nothing at all. Just look at my elder brother, my second brother, and my father! An imperial family! I just want to escape quickly!” Angel said earnestly.
“I only hope there’s a man behind me who allows me to let go of everything. In front of him, I can drop all my pretenses and be my true self. Just like now, when I make soup for you, I feel extremely happy!” Angel said.