After Yang Podi returned to Heavenly Academy, he went straight to his room without drawing anyone's attention.
Finally back home, he naturally indulged in a good night's sleep—this was the true feeling of being home.
However, just as Yang Podi woke up the next morning, his father dragged him to the conference room, where everyone was already gathered.
Yang Potian couldn't help but complain, "Dad, Grandpa, what's the rush? I've only just gotten home. Can't you let me sleep a bit longer?"
His father, Yang Zhentian, gave him a disdainful look. Podi, you're already level ninety-nine. Even if you go without sleep for a long time, it wouldn't matter. Why are you always thinking about sleeping?"
Everyone else in the room wore dark expressions: looking at you, with no trace of soul power radiating from your body, you look more like an ordinary civilian. How do you even resemble an Ultimate Douluo?
Yang Potian sighed and casually found a spot to sit down.
At this moment, his grandfather, Yang Wudi, wore a serious expression. Podi, this is no small matter. The Spirit Empire has attacked the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. It won't be long before the Heaven Dou Empire becomes a fragmented mess, and the Spirit Empire will soon be able to destroy it completely."
Yang Potian glanced at everyone and shook his head slightly. "This is no big deal. The Spirit Empire hasn't just done that. They've also wiped out the Star Luo Imperial Family. Now, both imperial families of the two empires have been completely uprooted, and the original Upper Three Sects have essentially been removed from the stage. The Spirit Empire is very close to unifying the continent."
The crowd was stunned. They hadn't expected the situation to be far worse than they'd imagined. The unification of the continent by the Spirit Empire seemed inevitable now.
Yang Wudi's face grew even more solemn. "Podi, how do you know this? Logically speaking, this information shouldn't have been disseminated yet."
Yang Podi sighed. "It's simple. I was there. I saw the battles with my own eyes."
"Podi, if you were there, why didn't you stop it?"
"Why should I stop it? What do the affairs of the two empires and the two sects have to do with us? I owe them nothing."
The group fell into deep thought after hearing this. When they considered it carefully, they realized this matter truly had nothing to do with them. In particular, Heavenly Academy and the Clear Sky Sect were still adversaries, having fought fiercely not long ago.
After a long pause, Yang Wudi finally spoke again. "But the Spirit Empire is so powerful now. I fear they will eventually come into conflict with Heavenly Academy. When that happens, the enemy will be far too formidable."
Yang Potian sighed again. "It's just the Spirit Empire. As long as I'm here, they won't dare to act recklessly. At the very least, they won't dare to come to Heavenly Academy to cause trouble. As for other matters, let them fight it out themselves."
Yang Wudi appeared conflicted. "Podi, currently Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan are at Heavenly Academy. Ning Fengzhi has expressed a desire to join us. Should we take them in?"
Yang Potian couldn't help but ridicule inwardly: Ning Fengzhi is rather clever, to think of hiding at Heavenly Academy. If they knew that the Spirit Empire's recent actions were suggested by me, would they flip out on the spot?
After a moment of thought, Yang Potian said, "This is no big deal. You can handle it as you see fit. As long as Ning Fengzhi and the others are willing to abide by Heavenly Academy's rules and no longer interfere in any conflicts within the soul master world, why not take them in?"
"But Podi, wouldn't this offend the Spirit Empire?"
"That's not something to worry about. Recently, I've been working with the Spirit Empire, so they'll give me this much face. Besides, even if we take in these people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, what can the Spirit Empire do? What would they dare to do?"
Yang Wudi's expression darkened slightly. "Podi, what sort of cooperation do you have with the Spirit Empire? Shouldn't you be more cautious in working with them?"
Yang Podi glanced at the slightly stunned crowd and, after some thought, replied, "It's nothing significant. I plan to cooperate with the Spirit Empire to hunt two Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. The targets are the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python in the Star Dou Forest. The spirit rings will go to them, and the spirit bones will go to me. It's basically getting two Hundred-thousand-year spirit bones for free."
Hearing this, everyone's faces darkened: Is there really such a great deal in the world? When did the Spirit Empire become so generous as to give up the spirit bones and only take the spirit rings?
Yang Wudi seemed to recall something. "Podi, didn't you say the Star Dou Forest has been particularly dangerous lately and warned us not to go there?"
Yang Podi's expression became intriguingly ambiguous. "Precisely because the Star Dou Forest is so dangerous, I'm going with the Spirit Empire. If something truly happens, they'll take the brunt of it."
Yang Wudi and the others: …
After thorough discussions, the group finally decided on the future course of action for Heavenly Academy.
Yang Wudi then invited Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo to the conference room.
When Ning Fengzhi saw Yang Podi, his eyes seemed to light up slightly. "Young friend Yang Podi, I didn't expect you to return to Heavenly Academy so quickly. It seems we've come at the right time."
Yang Podi gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. "Sect Master Ning, you flatter me. I've been training outside and only returned to Heavenly Academy yesterday. May I ask why you wish to meet with me?"
Ning Fengzhi glanced at Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo beside him before speaking. "Young friend Yang, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wishes to join Heavenly Academy. May I ask if you would be willing to take us in?"
Yang Podi merely smiled faintly. "Sect Master Ning, your words are a bit too courteous. Personally, I would be very happy to welcome everyone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. However, there are some things that are better said upfront, or it may lead to awkwardness in the future."
Ning Fengzhi's face turned unusually serious. "Young friend, please speak plainly. Whatever it is, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will certainly comply."
Yang Podi nodded. "It's actually nothing major. There's no problem with your clan joining Heavenly Academy, but let's make a few things clear first. Heavenly Academy is, after all, an institution dedicated to teaching and nurturing talents. If you join, the first condition is to adhere to the academy's rules. Secondly, you must abandon all past grudges and promise never to participate in any soul master world conflicts. Can Sect Master Ning and the members of your clan accept this?"
"Sect Master Ning, please be frank."
"It's simple: you must let go of your hatred toward the Spirit Empire and completely renounce all involvement in soul master conflicts. After joining Heavenly Academy, you must dedicate yourselves fully to teaching. Under no circumstances may you spread ideas of revenge or provoke others into harboring hatred against the Spirit Empire."
When Ning Fengzhi heard this, a hint of bitterness seemed to appear at the corner of his mouth. "Does it have to be this way? Over the years, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has lost three to four thousand soul masters to the Spirit Empire. The hatred between us is as deep as the ocean. Asking us to let go of this hatred is truly too difficult."
Yang Potian remained expressionless. "It must be so. This is the basic condition for joining Heavenly Academy. Heavenly Academy has always maintained neutrality to avoid being drawn into the conflicts of the soul master world. The hatred between your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Spirit Empire runs too deep. Your obsession is too strong. I do not want you spreading ideas of revenge or conquest within Heavenly Academy, dragging our academy into the abyss of war."
"If anyone violates the academy's rules, regardless of their identity, I will personally deal with it. When that time comes, don't expect any leniency."
"There's also one more point. While it may be difficult for you to join Heavenly Academy, it will be even harder for you to leave once you've joined. I don't want there to ever come a day when swords are drawn between us."
Upon hearing this, not only did Ning Fengzhi's expression turn extremely grim, but even Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo standing behind him looked equally displeased. After all, the blood feud between them and the Spirit Empire was immense. Seeking revenge had already become their collective goal, and perhaps even their obsession.