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Within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Yang Xiong and Ning Fengzhi sat together alongside Sword Bone Douluo, Lin Gong, and Ning Rongrong.
At this moment, Ning Fengzhi appeared unusually calm, even more so than after the great battle of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi's face showed a hint of confusion: "Xiao Xiong, you want Elder Bone to secretly protect Emperor Xue Ye, but I'm afraid he might be too busy. Moreover, such a task would be a waste of his talents—you should understand how important Elder Bone is to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Yang Xiong sighed helplessly: "Sect Leader, I'm not thinking of just Elder Bone alone. I'm proposing that both Elder Bone and Senior Yang Wudi infiltrate the Tian Dou Imperial Palace to protect Emperor Xue Ye."
"Elder Bone excels in defense and is unpredictable—he can absolutely ensure Emperor Xue Ye's safety. Senior Yang Wudi, on the other hand, is an expert in poison-making, which can prevent Emperor Xue Ye from being secretly targeted."
Ning Fengzhi looked puzzled: "Xiao Xiong, are you overthinking things? Although Tian Dou City has been chaotic recently, no one should be able to harm Emperor Xue Ye—the palace's defenses are extremely tight."
Yang Xiong remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Sect Leader, are you still unwilling to suspect that Xue Qinghe might have ulterior motives?"
A trace of helplessness appeared on Ning Fengzhi's face: "Xiao Xiong, it's not about whether Qinghe has issues anymore. He is currently Emperor Xue Ye's only son and the sole heir to the Tian Dou Imperial Family. Even if he has made mistakes, the larger situation cannot be changed."
Yang Xiong's face reflected deep concern: "Sect Leader, you all should know that I've consumed the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Since its spirit matches Ju Douluo's martial spirit, I have a special connection to him. Especially after our encounter in the Star Dou Great Forest, I sensed something different about Ju Douluo."
"When I traded the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud with Xue Qinghe, I distinctly felt an unusual presence at the scene—it was likely emanating from the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. And since the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial spirit is unique in the soul master world, I suspect Ju Douluo was present."
"If that's true, then Xue Qinghe might be secretly collaborating with the Spirit Hall. This could affect not just our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, but even the entire Tian Dou Empire."
After careful thought, Ning Fengzhi finally spoke: "Xiao Xiong, are you saying that the Spirit Hall deliberately released these messages to create chaos in Tian Dou City, thereby assisting Xue Qinghe in ascending to the throne?"
"But have you considered that Emperor Xue Ye is still a Soul Douluo-level expert? Both his physical condition and soul power are at their peak—he could maintain this state for decades without issue."
Yang Xiong's expression grew serious: "Sect Leader, precisely because Emperor Xue Ye is powerful, he might overlook hidden dangers around him."
"After the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's great battle, Emperor Xue Ye investigated for an entire month but failed to uncover the traitor within the Tian Dou Imperial Family who had concealed information. This shows how deeply hidden this person is, which is why I suspect Xue Qinghe."
"No matter what, neither the Tian Dou Empire nor the Tian Dou Imperial Family can afford any missteps. Besides, Elder Bone and Senior Yang Wudi will only be secretly protecting Emperor Xue Ye—they won't interfere in the affairs of the Tian Dou Imperial Family. I believe Emperor Xue Ye would approve."
Ning Fengzhi sighed helplessly: "Alright, I'll personally visit the palace to see Emperor Xue Ye's stance on this matter."
Yang Xiong finally relaxed: "Thank you, Sect Leader, for your trust. Our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect must also remain prepared—perhaps the crisis is imminent."
Ning Fengzhi chuckled: "Xiao Xiong, sometimes you think too much. I truly wonder how your mind works. But thankfully, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has someone like you."
Yang Xiong smiled: "Sect Leader, do you have any news about the Hao Tian Sect? Are they still unwilling to reemerge?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head: "The news of the Spirit Hall convening the sect conference has reached the Hao Tian Sect. There are various opinions within them. Though they haven't confirmed when they'll reemerge, from the current situation, Tang Xiao seems to be struggling to suppress the elders' intentions."
"Moreover, once this sect conference is convened, both the Hao Tian Sect and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's statuses will drastically decline. Even if they do reemerge, they might not be able to restore their former glory."
Yang Xiong looked puzzled: "Sect Leader, aren't you worried about the Spirit Hall's sect conference? It will undoubtedly affect the status of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect as well."
Ning Fengzhi smiled: "Xiao Xiong, let me tell you a truth: in this world, strength is everything."
"Our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has already reached its peak. Though we suffered some losses in this great battle, over the years, we've accumulated wealth and resources spanning generations. So even without the reputation of the upper three sects, it won't affect the strength of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
"Besides, the Spirit Hall clearly has malicious intent, especially after losing so many experts to us. Rather than provoke trouble by going to Spirit City now, it's better to follow the example of the Hao Tian Sect."
Hearing this, Yang Xiong couldn't help but admire Ning Fengzhi. Ning Fengzhi indeed had a broader perspective than he imagined—more pragmatic and understanding of when to advance or retreat.
…
Sure enough, following Yang Xiong's suggestion, Ning Fengzhi personally visited Emperor Xue Ye.
Emperor Xue Ye had been deeply troubled by the situation in Tian Dou City—the entire Tian Dou Imperial Family seemed on the verge of turmoil.
Yet despite efforts, the traitor within the Tian Dou Imperial Family remained elusive. Upon hearing Ning Fengzhi's suggestion, Emperor Xue Ye was delighted and immediately agreed to allow Elder Bone and Senior Yang Wudi to secretly stay in the Tian Dou Imperial Palace for protection.
However, just as Yang Xiong was preparing to head to Tian Dou City for final preparations, a message arrived from Yunwu Mountain, forcing him to go there first.
In Yunwu Mountain, Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Lin Gong were responsible for overseeing the education at Body Academy. On one hand, these two had extensive teaching experience; on the other, the academy's foundation stemmed from the Beast Academy.
Upon arriving at Body Academy, Yang Xiong was surprised to see Feng Xiaotian and others.
Among them were Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, Lei Dong, and others—all captains of the four elemental academies.
From their current state, after five years of growth, they had mostly reached the Soul King level. Their talent was commendable, especially Feng Xiaotian, who had achieved the Soul Emperor level in just five years.
Yang Xiong's face showed puzzlement: "Brother Feng, Brother Huo, what brings you to this Body Academy?"
Feng Xiaotian also looked confused: "Brother Yang, are you also connected to this Body Academy?"
Yang Xiong explained helplessly: "Brother Feng may have misunderstood. This Body Academy was established with my support."
Feng Xiaotian and the others' expressions shifted slightly: "Brother Yang, is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect behind this Body Academy?"
Yang Xiong shook his head: "It's not the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect either. The Body Academy has no significant connection to them—it's simply something I established privately."
Feng Xiaotian finally relaxed: "Brother Yang, do you know about the recent major events in the soul master world? Lately, our Elemental Academy has been facing difficulties."
Yang Xiong's eyes reflected confusion: "I only know that Thunderclap Academy has been struggling recently. Other than that, I'm not sure. Brother Lei Dong, how is Thunderclap Academy faring?"
Lei Dong's face revealed sadness: "Since the fall of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, all teachers and students associated with them in Thunderclap Academy have been attacked. Captain Yu Tianxin has gone missing, and the academy's strength has diminished by at least sixty percent."
Hearing this, Yang Xiong sighed helplessly: "My condolences. Under your leadership, Brother Lei Dong, Thunderclap Academy will surely rise again to glory."
Yang Xiong had a certain understanding of the soul master world. After the Spirit Hall launched the Soul Hunt operation, they intensified their efforts to recruit forces while mercilessly suppressing resistance.
The five elemental academies were considered a significant force. Each academy had hundreds of teachers and students, and their respective deans were formidable experts—at least top-tier Soul Sages, with some even reaching Soul Douluo levels.
Whether it was the geniuses of the elemental academies or their overall strength, they were prime targets for the Spirit Hall's recruitment.
Feng Xiaotian sighed helplessly: "Brother Yang, forgive me for making a joke of ourselves in front of you. Lately, our Elemental Academy has been struggling, continuously marginalized by the Spirit Hall. If we don't join the Spirit Hall, we might face destruction."
"Therefore, the deans of our four elemental academies sent us to Tian Dou City to investigate the situation. We plan to relocate our academies near Tian Dou City, where the Spirit Hall's influence hasn't yet reached—it's relatively peaceful and might be better suited for our teaching."
Yang Xiong's face revealed surprise: "Why come to Body Academy? There are plenty of other academies in Tian Dou City. At the very least, you could go to Tian Dou Imperial Academy—I believe their three council members would welcome you. Plus, they have the strength to assist you."
Feng Xiaotian sneered disdainfully: "What kind of teaching is Tian Dou Imperial Academy? While their faculty and facilities are decent, the student environment is terrible—it's just a playground for nobles."
"As for the other academies in Tian Dou City, their size and facilities are far too limited to accommodate our four elemental academies."
"After careful observation, we discovered that your Body Academy not only has a vast area but also excellent teaching standards. Moreover, Dragon Duke is personally stationed here. Could we temporarily relocate our academy here?"
Hearing this, Yang Xiong fell into silence. He didn't covet the elemental academies—they claimed to have over a thousand soul masters, but most were students, and their structure revolved around family ties, making it difficult for outsiders to integrate.
Moreover, Body Academy was primarily for training disciples and students within the Body Sect. Even though they recruited many civilians, the focus remained on those few dozen students with body-type martial spirits.
Additionally, Yang Xiong never intended for Body Academy to permanently settle in Yunwu Mountain. It was only temporarily established here for training purposes, creating a suitable cultivation environment thanks to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's wealth.
Seeing Yang Xiong hesitate, Feng Xiaotian quickly added: "Brother Yang, we're only borrowing space. It won't interfere with your academy's teaching or cultivation. You should understand—our Elemental Academy focuses on education and doesn't want to get involved in the conflicts of the soul master world."
Yang Xiong looked at Feng Xiaotian and the others, his face showing helplessness: "Brother Feng, to be honest, Body Academy will also move soon—we won't remain in Yunwu Mountain either."
Feng Xiaotian was shocked: "How is that possible? With Dragon Duke stationed here, even the Spirit Hall wouldn't dare provoke you easily. Are you saying that even you're under pressure from the Spirit Hall and have to relocate to Tian Dou City?"
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