Chapter 292: Terms and Conditions
After returning to Tianxing Academy, Yang Potian went straight to his room without attracting much attention. Finally back home, he settled in for a long sleep—relishing the comfort only home could bring.
But the next morning, just as he woke up, his father dragged him to the conference room, where everyone had already gathered. Yang Potian couldn't help but complain, "Dad, Grandpa, what's so urgent? I finally get back, and you can't let me sleep in for once?"
His father, Yang Zhentian, gave him a look of disdain. "Potian, you're level ninety-nine! You could go without sleep if you wanted. Why do you always think about sleeping?"
Everyone else looked equally exasperated. With no spirit power fluctuations visible, he looked more like an ordinary citizen than an Extreme Douluo.
Yang Potian shrugged, sighed, and took a seat. His grandfather, Yang Invincible, wore a serious expression. "Potian, this is no small matter. The Spirit Empire attacked the Clear Sky Clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and the Heaven Dou imperial family. It won't be long before the Heaven Dou Empire falls apart and the Spirit Empire conquers them entirely."
Yang Potian shook his head calmly. "That's hardly news. The Spirit Empire did more than that—they wiped out the Star Luo imperial family, too. With both empires' royal lines now severed and the former Three Sects practically destroyed, they'll unify the continent in no time."
The group was stunned. They hadn't expected the situation to be this dire; the Spirit Empire's takeover seemed imminent.
Yang Invincible looked at him, troubled. "How did you know all this, Potian? News like this hasn't even reached us yet."
Yang Potian sighed. "Simple. I was there. I saw the battles with my own eyes."
"Potian, if you were there, why didn't you try to stop it?"
"Why would I? What do the matters of two empires and two clans have to do with us? We owe them nothing."
His words left the group thoughtful. When they considered it, he was right: this wasn't their fight. Tianxing Academy and the Clear Sky Clan had clashed before, and they had no reason to meddle in its affairs now.
After a long pause, Yang Invincible spoke again. "But the Spirit Empire is becoming a formidable force. I'm afraid we'll eventually face them ourselves, and by then, they'll be too powerful."
Yang Potian sighed again. "It's just the Spirit Empire. As long as I'm here, they won't dare cause trouble. If they try anything, they certainly won't bring it to Tianxing Academy. Let them fight among themselves."
Yang Invincible's face twisted with worry. "Potian, Ning Fengzhi from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, along with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, are staying here at the academy. Ning Fengzhi says they want to join us. Should we accept them?"
Yang Potian was somewhat amused. Ning Fengzhi must be quite desperate to have thought of hiding at Tianxing Academy. If he knew it was me who suggested the Spirit Empire's recent campaign, I wonder if he'd flip out.
After considering it, Yang Potian replied, "It's no big deal. As long as Ning Fengzhi and the others are willing to follow our academy's rules and stay out of spirit master conflicts, I don't see why not."
"But, Potian, wouldn't that risk offending the Spirit Empire?"
"No need to worry about that. I've recently struck up some cooperation with the Spirit Empire; they'll respect our boundaries. Besides, even if we accept the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, what can the Spirit Empire really do about it?"
Yang Invincible's expression darkened. "What kind of cooperation, Potian? Are you sure working with the Spirit Empire is wise?"
Yang Potian looked at the others' shocked faces and explained, "It's nothing big—just a joint venture to hunt down two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest. The targets are the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python. The Spirit Empire gets the spirit rings; I get the soul bones. It's a chance to pick up two hundred-thousand-year soul bones for free."
Everyone looked at him, dumbfounded. When had the Spirit Empire ever been so generous, trading a spirit bone for a spirit ring?
Yang Invincible seemed concerned. "But Potian, didn't you say the Star Dou Forest has become more dangerous recently and that we should avoid it?"
Yang Potian gave a faint smile. "Exactly. Since the forest is so dangerous, it's best to go with the Spirit Empire. If anything happens, they can deal with it."
Yang Invincible and the others exchanged glances. After a brief discussion, they agreed on the academy's stance moving forward. Then Yang Invincible invited Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo into the meeting room.
Seeing Yang Potian, Ning Fengzhi's eyes brightened. "Young Master Yang, I didn't expect you back at Tianxing Academy so soon. It seems we arrived just in time."
Yang Potian nodded politely. "What brings you here, Clan Leader Ning?"
Looking at Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, Ning Fengzhi replied, "Young Master Yang, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wishes to join Tianxing Academy. Would you be willing to accept us?"
Yang Potian smiled slightly. "Clan Leader Ning, I'd be happy to welcome you, but let's get a few things clear first, to avoid future misunderstandings."
Ning Fengzhi's face grew serious. "Please, go on. Our clan will comply with any terms."
Yang Potian nodded. "It's simple. You're welcome to join Tianxing Academy, but you must abide by our rules. Tianxing Academy is dedicated to education, not conflict. If you join us, you'll need to give up all past grudges and refrain from interfering in spirit master disputes. Can you, and the rest of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, do that?"
"Could you be more specific?"
"In other words, let go of your hatred toward the Spirit Empire. Abandon all involvement in spirit master conflicts and focus solely on teaching within the academy. You must never promote vengeance to others or stir animosity against the Spirit Empire within our ranks."
Ning Fengzhi's face showed a trace of bitterness. "Must it be that way? The Spirit Empire has killed three to four thousand of our spirit masters. That's a blood feud—how can I simply let it go?"
Yang Potian's expression remained impassive. "Those are the conditions for joining. Tianxing Academy has remained neutral to avoid being dragged into spirit master conflicts. But your clan's deep-seated hatred for the Spirit Empire is a liability. I won't risk letting that desire for revenge pull us into the depths of conflict."
"If anyone defies these rules, I'll deal with it personally—no exceptions."
"And there's one more thing. If you join, leaving will be even harder. I don't want us to become enemies later."
Ning Fengzhi's face darkened at these words, and Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo's expressions grew grim as well. The hatred between their clan and the Spirit Empire ran deep; vengeance had become their driving purpose.
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