Wu Tong couldn't help but feel surprised. What had happened during Dugu Bo's trip back this time? And what good news did he bring?
"Old man, what's this good news you have for me?"
Curious, Wu Tong stepped out of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. With a flicker of movement, he instantly appeared before Dugu Bo.
So fast!
Dugu Bo's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected Wu Tong's speed to be this astonishing—even he, a Titled Douluo, hadn't been able to react in time. But he quickly dismissed the thought. After all, it wasn't surprising for anything unusual to happen to someone undergoing a divine trial, let alone a little monster like Wu Tong.
"After I returned this time, various major forces came to inquire about the Revival Coins. I followed your instructions and explained the situation and your conditions to them. They all agreed."
"Also, didn't you say your first trial was to establish a faction? I mentioned this to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and Xue Qinghe, but Ju Guan—that shameless fellow—overheard it as well."
"During this time, with the help of these factions, the construction of your academy's headquarters has been completed."
Dugu Bo recounted the events of the past few days.
Wu Tong listened attentively. He hadn't expected Dugu Bo to be so efficient this time. Originally, he thought he'd have to return first before starting the process of establishing his faction. Yet, Dugu Bo had already taken care of it.
But… an academy?
"Old man, I never said what kind of faction I wanted to establish. Why did you assume I wanted an academy?"
Wu Tong didn't hold back and voiced his confusion directly.
"Have you forgotten? Two years ago, when we were drinking, you mentioned it while drunk…"
Dugu Bo seemed to have anticipated this question and began explaining. His calm yet raspy voice carried a unique charm, pulling Wu Tong's thoughts back to that drunken night two years ago.
Two Years Ago.
Wutong Courtyard.
Dugu Bo and Wu Tong sat drinking in the pavilion, bonding over conversation. Wu Tong sought advice on spirit master cultivation, while Dugu Bo asked about poison-making and antidotes.
Under the moonlight, the two friends—despite their age difference—drank, admired the scenery, and chatted freely. For a time, both host and guest were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
However, Wu Tong was only a Great Spirit Master back then and couldn't hold his liquor as well as Dugu Bo. Before long, he was drunk.
"Hey, little monster, what do you want to do in the future?"
Dugu Bo looked at the young man before him—already accomplished and renowned across the continent at such a tender age—and suddenly grew curious about Wu Tong's aspirations.
Drunken words often reveal true thoughts. He wanted to seize this chance to hear Wu Tong's ambitions.
"What do I want to do? I want to found an academy, pass down all my knowledge, and ensure my name echoes through history."
"I want to fulfill my ambitions."
"To establish a moral foundation for the world, to secure a destiny for the people, to preserve the wisdom of past sages, and to usher in peace for all generations."
Hic—
After saying this, Wu Tong let out a drunken hiccup, then succumbed to sleep, collapsing onto the table.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo stared at him in disbelief, utterly stunned by the sheer audacity of Wu Tong's words.
End of Flashback.
Wu Tong clutched his head in frustration.
Wait, you actually believed that? I was just bragging!
The truth was, when Dugu Bo had asked him that question, Wu Tong—having no real aspirations at the time—didn't want to appear unambitious in front of the old man. So, he decided to spout something grandiose to impress him.
And it had worked. Seeing Dugu Bo's shocked expression had filled Wu Tong with immense satisfaction, like stepping into an air-conditioned room on a scorching summer day.
Even now, he hadn't forgotten that feeling.
But what he hadn't expected was for Dugu Bo to take his drunken ramblings seriously—and even go so far as to have the academy built already.
"Ahaha… Right, right, I remember now." Wu Tong forced a laugh, deciding to bury the truth forever. For the sake of his dignity, he could never admit it was all a lie.
In reality, the type of faction Wu Tong established didn't matter much to him. Even if it were a gang, he was confident he could turn it into a superpower.
So, while he was surprised that his faction turned out to be an academy, he wasn't opposed to the idea. In fact, an academy might even be more beneficial for his goal of elevating the Douluo World.
By disseminating knowledge from other worlds through the academy, students from various factions would inevitably share it with their respective groups. Once these factions recognized the value of this knowledge, they'd work even harder for Wu Tong's cause.
Moreover, compared to the spirit master system—which had been tampered with—other unrestricted cultivation systems could nurture stronger individuals more effectively.
The more powerful individuals a world had, the faster it could ascend.
'Hmm… An academy might actually be a good idea.' Wu Tong pondered.
As for whether spreading otherworldly knowledge would pose a threat to him…
Wu Tong could only scoff. No matter how hardworking a genius was, they could never surpass someone with cheats.
'What a joke. If I'm already using hacks, why would I fear being overtaken?'
To borrow the words of a certain Heavenly Emperor:
"Those who fall before me are never my rivals. I give you time to chase after me—until the day you can no longer even see my back."
"By the way, old man, you said the academy is already built?"
Wu Tong suddenly realized something odd and pressed for details.
How could an academy be built so quickly? It hadn't even been half a month!
"That's right. To be honest, even I was amazed. The Heaven Dou Empire, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and the Spirit Hall moved incredibly fast. In just half a month, they completed the construction."
Recalling the efficiency of the three major factions, even Dugu Bo—a well-traveled man who prided himself on his worldly experience—couldn't help but be astonished.
"Though, to be fair, you played a part in this too. Many commoners from nearby cities, hearing that you were building an academy, volunteered to help. That's why the construction finished so quickly."
The sight of the massive crowd that had gathered left a deep impression on Dugu Bo.
He had known Wu Tong was popular among commoners, but he hadn't expected his influence to be this overwhelming.
Hearing this, Wu Tong understood and no longer found it strange.
With the three major factions coordinating and the commoners assisting, completing the construction in such a short time wasn't difficult.
Besides, as depicted in the anime, the arena damaged during the Spirit Master Tournament could be fully repaired overnight, allowing matches to resume the next day.
This proved that the infrastructure capabilities of the Douluo Continent were far from lacking.
...
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