Yun Ming and Ya Li walked hand in hand, the divine couple still as affectionate as ever. A flicker of complex emotions passed through Leng Yaozhu's eyes but was quickly replaced by rationality.
"Since that's the case, let's get straight to the point."
Yun Ming's voice was gentle yet firm. "How about letting Shrek Academy take over Gu La's cultivation? You still have Gu Yue as your disciple—her talent for manipulating six elements is no less impressive than a god-level martial soul."
"In the future, one could lead Spirit Pagoda while the other upholds Shrek Academy. The conflict between the two organizations would cease to exist."
Yun Ming had long been striving to resolve the tensions between Shrek Academy and Spirit Pagoda, though he had never found a way until now—a rare opportunity to achieve three goals with one move.
"Enough." Leng Yaozhu suddenly interrupted, her red hair fluttering without wind. "Do you think this is some kind of marketplace?"
Her voice turned icy. "Setting aside Gu La's own wishes, what about the resources Spirit Pagoda has invested in him? What about the unique Golden Tree spirit soul? Can Shrek Academy match that?"
Yun Ming was momentarily at a loss for words. The Golden Tree spirit soul was a product of five hundred years of painstaking cultivation by Spirit Pagoda—an unyielding spirit soul whose value couldn't be measured in money. Though Shrek Academy had deep foundations, it indeed lacked such a rare treasure.
Moreover, Shrek Academy wasn't facing any immediate crisis that would justify expending vast resources to cultivate just one person.
Seeing Yun Ming's silence, Leng Yaozhu sneered. "I won't see you out."
Ya Li, noticing this, gently held her husband's hand and turned to Leng Yaozhu. "Sister Yaozhu, Brother Ming genuinely wants to ease the tensions between the two sides. Is there really no room for compromise?"
Leng Yaozhu's expression softened slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she pressed a button on her communicator. "Liyu, come in for a moment."
Not long after, the door opened gently. A young girl with jade-green hair entered gracefully. Her eyes were as clear as spring water, and her strands of hair shimmered faintly with flowing light.
"Hello, Teacher," the girl greeted respectfully, then turned to Yun Ming and Ya Li. "Greetings, Atlas Douluo, Holy Spirit Douluo."
A hint of surprise flashed in Yun Ming's eyes. "Who is this?"
Ya Li's eyes lit up. "Isn't this one of Gu La's clones? I saw her during the entrance exam."
Yun Ming looked at Leng Yaozhu. "What do you mean? A clone of Gu La? Is there any difference between them?"
"Precisely."
Leng Yaozhu nodded. "Although Qing Liyu is a clone of Gu La, she possesses an independent personality."
She gestured for the girl to step forward. "Qing Liyu inherited Gu La's knowledge. Since the start of the semester, she has been studying artificial spirit souls under me and has already mastered most of the techniques for crafting white spirit souls."
Yun Ming studied Qing Liyu thoughtfully. "And your point is?"
"Gu La's clones each have their own specialties." Leng Yaozhu explained. "They can be considered independent individuals capable of cultivating on their own, fusing soul bones, and equipping battle armor. Gu La himself once said he hopes his clones can develop freely."
She looked meaningfully at Yun Ming. "If Shrek values his talent so much, why not cultivate one of his clones? Once they grow stronger, wouldn't this connection be more reliable than forcefully taking someone away?"
Yun Ming's slender fingers tapped lightly on the table. A flicker of thought passed through his deep eyes.
He didn't immediately refute Leng Yaozhu's proposal, nor did he utter any grandiose phrases like "the original and its clones are one." As the Pavilion Master of Sea God Pavilion, every decision he made affected the future of Shrek Academy.
Outside the window, the branches of the ancient golden tree rustled softly in the breeze, as if participating in this conversation about the academy's fate. Yun Ming picked up his teacup, the rising steam blurring his handsome features.
His invitation for Gu La to join Shrek Academy actually concealed multiple considerations—the most crucial being to test a prophecy that had long lingered in his mind: the impending catastrophic disaster that would befall Shrek Academy.
"With his talent, he indeed doesn't need Shrek's resources…" Yun Ming mused inwardly, absently tracing circles along the rim of his teacup.
---
Yun Ming's discerning eye recognized that Gu La didn't particularly need Shrek Academy's resources or training. But he believed no one would refuse benefits handed to them on a silver platter.
Unfortunately, after some probing, it became clear that Gu La had no intention of joining Shrek Academy—and as for sending a clone…
Leng Yaozhu waited patiently, knowing her old friend all too well. His unparalleled strength gave him extraordinary pride. If he had come here, he surely had a goal to achieve.
"To let a clone join…" Yun Ming suddenly spoke, his voice low and magnetic, "is not entirely out of the question."
His gaze passed through the window, settling on the shimmering waters of Sea God Lake in the distance.
As the strongest person of his time, Yun Ming's thoughts moved swiftly—if Gu La's clones possessed such independence, they likely weren't expendable pawns.
As long as this clone accepted Shrek's cultivation, he was confident he could use the clone's movements to deduce the exact timing of the prophesied crisis.
By then, if he hadn't found a solution, he could negotiate with Gu La to help Shrek Academy weather the storm.
"Alright, I agree." Yun Ming set down his teacup. The porcelain clinked against the wooden table, producing a crisp sound. His decision was swift and decisive, consistent with his usual style—resolute yet cautious.
But then, a thought crossed Yun Ming's mind. His star-like eyes narrowed slightly. "Wait… which clone does he plan to send?"
A flicker of realization appeared on his handsome face. "I see. He probably already has a plan—to send different clones into various factions to gather resources."
Leng Yaozhu's lips curved faintly, neither confirming nor denying. She provided a communication number. "Talk to Gu La yourself. He has his own ideas."
Yun Ming dialed the number, and it was quickly answered.
"Hello?"
Gu La's puzzled voice came from the other end.
"It's me, Yun Ming."
Yun Ming briefly explained the situation. Gu La hadn't expected that casually mentioning his idea to his teacher would result in securing a spot so easily.
"It's acceptable. It's our honor to receive an invitation from the Pavilion Master."
"As for who will stay at Shrek…"
Gu La paused, four names flashing through his mind.
He replied, "Actually, the four of them are currently studying sub-professions at Shrek Academy. But if we're talking about who is most suitable to stay at Shrek, only Bai Yuan fits the bill—the one who met with the members of Sea God Pavilion last time."
"I originally planned to send him to the War God Hall. Since the Pavilion Master needs him, he can stay at Shrek Academy."
"Bai Yuan?"
The image of the pale-faced youth with the Abyssal Maw martial soul immediately surfaced in Yun Ming's mind.
Pale complexion, pitch-black pupils, and an aura that seemed capable of devouring everything. His proud martial soul could even consume spiritual power and the vitality of plants, yet he hadn't fallen into the path of an evil soul master.
But could someone like this become a public representative of Shrek Academy?
Yun Ming hesitated—a rare occurrence for him. After careful consideration, he refrained from openly expressing his reservations and instead tactfully voiced his concerns. "Perhaps we should consider someone else?"
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