"Brother Feng, I have a proposal—why don't you consider it?"
At this moment, Shui Yanyu, who was acting as a mediator, spoke up.
Feng Zhen nodded. "Dean Shui, feel free to speak your mind."
"With just one of our academies alone, we don't count as a major force on the continent. But if our three academies join forces, even Spirit Hall would have to think twice before making a move.
I won't say much, but with our combined strength, we would definitely be able to maintain neutrality. If war truly breaks out, neither side would want to push us into their enemy's camp."
Hearing this, Feng Zhen suddenly understood.
He looked at Shui Yanyu, then at Huo Lie, and straightened his posture before saying, "Now I get it. Old Huo, you're up to no good! Dean Shui, what price did Old Huo pay to have you act as his mediator?"
"Brother Feng, don't put it like that! My Blazing Fire Academy isn't trying to annex Sky Water Academy or Divine Wind Academy. Instead, we plan to unite our three academies and establish a new Elemental Academy. There will be no hierarchy between us—we'll all be one family!"
Huo Lie said with a smile.
Feng Zhen curled his lips and muttered, "That sounds nice, but you're making it seem like you won't end up as the headmaster of the new academy."
"According to the traditions of our three academies, the position of headmaster goes to the most capable. I won't claim to be exceptionally talented, but I believe I qualify as a capable leader. So naturally, the headmaster position should be mine."
Huo Lie chuckled, unfazed by Feng Zhen's remark.
"This is a major decision. I'll need to discuss it with my academy's leadership before making a final choice."
After thinking for a moment, Feng Zhen didn't immediately agree.
Huo Lie and Shui Yanyu's arguments made sense, and he was indeed tempted.
After all, once their three academies merged, the newly formed Elemental Academy would undoubtedly become one of the strongest factions on the continent.
As long as they remained firmly neutral, no one would dare to force them to choose a side.
But Divine Wind Academy wasn't his alone. Such a significant decision required approval from the majority of the academy's leadership.
"Brother Feng, have you ever wondered how Xiyue and Dean Shui managed to reach the rank of Title Douluo?"
Seeing that Feng Zhen was tempted, Huo Lie decided to sweeten the deal.
As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Zhen was stunned.
From the sound of it, Blazing Fire Academy had a shortcut to becoming a Title Douluo?
And it could help him reach that level too?
Not bothering to hide it any longer, Huo Lie lifted the concealment over the Soul Core in his lower dantian.
Immediately, under Feng Zhen's spiritual perception, a soul power vortex appeared in Huo Lie's abdomen, constantly absorbing the surrounding heaven and earth energy.
At the same time, Mu Xiyue and Shui Yanyu did the same, no longer suppressing their Soul Cores, allowing Feng Zhen to sense the vortexes of soul power within them.
"What is this?"
Feng Zhen asked curiously.
"This is the result of a secret technique called the 'Soul Core Method.' The Soul Core compresses and purifies soul power, increasing both its quality and quantity. It accelerates cultivation, speeds up recovery, and even helps break through bottlenecks.
Not long ago, Xiyue and Dean Shui were still at Rank 89 Soul Douluo, but after condensing their Soul Cores, they immediately advanced to Rank 90."
Huo Lie explained.
"Hiss—"
Feng Zhen immediately took a sharp breath.
This Soul Core Method is simply defying the heavens!
Everyone knew that the reason why reaching Title Douluo was so difficult for a Rank 89 Soul Douluo was because of the bottleneck at the peak of Rank 89.
Unlike the small rank-ups between Rank 81 to Rank 89, which only required accumulating soul power, the jump from Rank 89 to Rank 90 was an enormous hurdle.
If condensing a Soul Core could directly break through this bottleneck, then wouldn't that mean that as long as someone could reach Rank 89, they could become a Title Douluo by forming a Soul Core?
How many Rank 89 Soul Douluo were there in the Douluo Continent?
Feng Zhen wasn't sure of the exact number, but he knew there were far more than just a hundred.
After all, just the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect alone had more than a dozen elders above Rank 80.
If this Soul Core Method were to spread, then within the next ten to twenty years, the number of Title Douluo in the soul master world would double or even triple.
Unlike top-grade soul bones, which were rare resources, this secret method was just knowledge, and replicating knowledge came at nearly zero cost.
"Brother Feng, I see that you've already reached Rank 88 Soul Douluo. To be frank, once our new academy is established, this 'Soul Core Method' will be freely available to all Rank 89 Soul Douluo within the academy, as well as a select few geniuses.
Brother Feng, don't you want to become a Title Douluo?"
Huo Lie asked with a smile.
"Teacher, if you ask me, you should just agree with Dean Huo."
At this moment, Feng Xiaotian, who was sitting beside Feng Zhen, suddenly spoke.
Merging the three Elemental Academies?
This is actually happening?!
If the three academies merged, wouldn't that mean he could see Huo Wu every day?
Just for that reason alone, Feng Xiaotian was ready to raise both hands and feet in agreement.
Feng Zhen was his teacher?
If it meant he could be with his goddess, betraying his teacher just this once didn't seem like a big deal.
"You brat, shut up!"
Feng Zhen glared at Feng Xiaotian.
"Brother Feng, even Xiaotian agrees with my proposal. Why don't you reconsider?
Oh, I almost forgot to mention—Xiao Yang is not ordinary at all.
And both Xiao Yang and Bing'er's true strength is far beyond what you see on the surface.
I can confidently say that, across the entire continent, they will be the most dazzling figures in the future."
Huo Lie said meaningfully.
Feng Zhen's gaze immediately shifted to Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er.
After a long moment, as if realizing something, Feng Zhen narrowed his eyes and asked Huo Lie,
"Are you sure?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
Huo Lie countered.
"Martial Soul Fusion Technique?"
Feng Zhen asked tentatively.
Huo Lie smiled and said, "Not just that."
Having known Feng Zhen for decades, Huo Lie trusted his character.
After all, the advantage was on their side—as long as Feng Zhen joined, they would all win in the end.
Without an irreconcilable conflict of interest, no one would sabotage their own future.
'Not just that?'
Feng Zhen's eyes widened.
He had said "Not just that" instead of "No", which meant a Martial Soul Fusion Technique definitely existed.
But… Phoenix and Ginseng?
That didn't seem like a combination that could result in a Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
Unless…
Mu Yang had twin martial souls?
And the Martial Soul that formed a fusion technique with Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix was actually his second martial soul?
If that were the case, then everything made sense.
It explained why Mu Yang, despite being from Blazing Fire Academy, spent so much time at Sky Water Academy.
It also explained why Shui Yanyu agreed to the merger and even acted as a mediator.
So in the end, Shui Yanyu was preparing to hold onto her future nephew-in-law's golden thigh!
Mu Yang and the others had soul ring configurations that surpassed the optimal ratio, proving that Twin Martial Soul users weren't doomed to failure.
It was just that past Twin Martial Soul users hadn't found the right cultivation method.
If they cultivated their first martial soul to Rank 90, then used methods like absorbing soul bones or consuming whale glue to strengthen their bodies, they could attach nine high-year soul rings to their second martial soul.
A second martial soul with nine high-year soul rings would provide enough vast soul power to break through bottlenecks repeatedly.
For Twin Martial Soul users, reaching Rank 99 Limit Douluo would be as smooth as a straight road.
And Shui Bing'er's cultivation talent was also exceptional.
She would undoubtedly reach Rank 96 or higher in the future.
If a Rank 99 Limit Douluo and a Rank 96+ Title Douluo unleashed a Martial Soul Fusion Technique, then unless a God appeared, Feng Zhen couldn't imagine anyone being able to defeat Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er.
Not even Qian daoLiu, the 'Sky Invincible' of Spirit Hall, or Tang Chen, the 'Land Invincible' of the former Clear Sky Sect, would stand a chance.
This was a supreme, golden thigh—one that had to be tightly hugged.
And on top of that, there was also the Soul Core Method, which could help him become a Title Douluo!
Feng Zhen's eyes burned with excitement as he turned to Mu Yang.
He couldn't hold back any longer and asked eagerly,
"Old Huo, has the location for the new academy been decided? Any issues with funding?
When are we moving?
Oh, and forget about the headmaster position—but being a Vice Dean isn't too much to ask for, right?"
True, a complete 180-degree change in attitude!
Feng Xiaotian: "…"
Was this really my teacher—the man who once said neither wealth nor power could move him?
Why does he seem even more eager than me?!
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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