[Other factions: …]
Well, now there wasn't even a single Spirit Beast left to fight over.
All the Spirit Beasts Mr. Wu Tong needed had been gathered… How absurd. Despite how rare they were, these people had somehow managed to find them.
The other factions were utterly baffled.
But no matter what they thought, it was already too late to do anything about it.
As for robbery?
Not only had Mr. Wu Tong issued a warning just days prior, but the strength of these factions also placed them at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent.
Robbery? How would that even work?
Were they insane?
[Moon Pavilion · Tang Yuehua: May I ask when Mr. Wu Tong's academy plans to officially begin enrollment?]
As a member of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Yuehua had been keeping an eye on the movements of the Four Single Attribute Clans.
Not long ago, the Defensive Clan had been summoned by Xue Qinghe, and this hadn't escaped her notice.
As experts in architecture, it was perfectly normal for the Defensive Clan to be invited to participate in construction projects.
However, this time, the invitation had come from the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, His Highness Xue Qinghe.
This piqued Tang Yuehua's curiosity. Just after Dugu Bo had given Xue Qinghe private tutoring, Xue Qinghe had immediately sought out the Defensive Clan for construction work.
If there wasn't something fishy about this, even ghosts wouldn't believe it.
Thus, Tang Yuehua, filled with questions, visited the Strength Clan, hoping to learn the truth from them.
After all, the relationship between the Four Great Clans was tightly intertwined.
If the Defensive Clan was making moves, the other three clans would surely know about it.
Moreover, the Strength Clan had always been unwaveringly loyal to the Clear Sky Sect, so it was easy for Tang Yuehua to extract the truth from Titan, the clan's leader.
As expected, Tang Yuehua successfully learned the details from the Strength Clan.
It turned out that Wu Tong was planning to establish an academy, and the Defensive Clan's involvement was due to Xue Qinghe summoning them to assist in its construction.
Upon hearing this news, Tang Yuehua's mind raced.
This was an opportunity—a monumental one.
Although Tang Yuehua was a member of the Clear Sky Sect, her mutated Martial Spirit had caused her to be overlooked by the sect.
In the eyes of the Clear Sky Sect's members, any disciple whose Martial Spirit wasn't the Clear Sky Hammer was unworthy of calling themselves a member of the sect.
Within the Clear Sky Sect, those without the Clear Sky Hammer were at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
As the sect leader's sister, Tang Yuehua wasn't subjected to outright discrimination, but she was never truly accepted either.
Unable to bear the weight of these gazes, Tang Yuehua left the Clear Sky Sect and established the Moon Pavilion in the Heaven Dou City.
The Clear Sky Sect had no objections to this. After all, her departure meant the sect could become more "pure," no longer having to tolerate someone without the Clear Sky Hammer living among them.
Moreover, the Moon Pavilion brought significant benefits to the sect.
So, while they looked down on Tang Yuehua's venture, they didn't stop her.
But Tang Yuehua refused to accept this. How could she resign herself to a life of mediocrity?
If there had been no hope, she might have given up. But just days ago, she had seen a glimmer of hope in Wu Tong, and the resentment in her heart could no longer be suppressed.
However, Tang Yuehua was well aware that convincing the Clear Sky Sect to invest resources in a "useless" person like her would be nearly impossible, aside from a select few.
Even her elder brother, Tang Xiao, as the sect leader, couldn't ignore the wishes of the disciples.
Thus, seeking help from the Clear Sky Sect was out of the question.
With no means to gather resources on her own, Tang Yuehua decided to seize this opportunity—joining Wu Tong's academy.
Whether as a teacher or a student, entering Wu Tong's academy might grant her a chance to defy fate.
Even if the odds were slim, the possibility still existed.
No one paid much attention to Tang Yuehua's thoughts, but her words acted like a depth charge, stirring up a flurry of responses from the lurking crowd.
[Wind Sword Sect · Feng Yulong: What? Mr. Wu Tong is establishing an academy? I must send my children to show support!]
[Elephant Armored Sect · Hu Yan Zhen: Indeed! Please let us know when the academy opens. I'll personally bring my children to enroll.]
[Star Luo · Dai Weis: I've long admired Mr. Wu Tong. May I also join the academy as a student?]
[…]
Upon hearing the news, everyone eagerly asked Wu Tong for details.
The group consisted of individuals who were pillars of their respective factions, so their vision was far from shortsighted.
Even without considering Wu Tong's goodwill or treasures, his status as one of the continent's top powerhouses and his reputation as the "Number One Strategist" alone promised immense benefits.
Moreover, receiving guidance from Wu Tong was a dream for many.
His decision to establish an academy was clearly an opportunity.
While there was no guarantee their children would be personally taught by Wu Tong, the mere possibility was enough.
Furthermore, given Wu Tong's personality, if he intended to establish an academy, he would undoubtedly ensure its excellence.
No matter how lacking the students might be, Wu Tong would never abandon them.
Thus, enrolling in Wu Tong's academy was a surefire path to success.
Those familiar with Wu Tong's perfectionist tendencies wholeheartedly agreed.
[Wu Tong: Didn't I mention it already? I thought I had.]
Wu Tong was puzzled by the questions. Had he been so engrossed in his work that he'd forgotten?
[Wu Tong: Very well, let me clarify.]
[Wu Tong: The official opening will be in one month. I'd appreciate it if everyone could spread the word. Anyone with a desire to learn is welcome to enroll.]
[Wu Tong: As for requirements, aside from a good temperament, there are none. Talent, aptitude, appearance—none of these matter.]
[Wu Tong: As long as a child comes to the academy with a genuine desire to learn, I'll ensure they gain knowledge.]
Without waiting for responses, Wu Tong announced the academy's opening date.
He had calculated that one month would be enough to finalize the academy's preparations and attend the Luotian Grand Ritual.
If things went smoothly, he might even recruit teachers from another world, as the professional ethics of teachers in the Douluo world left much to be desired.
Initially, Wu Tong had considered many requirements for students, but he eventually discarded them all.
As Li Bai once said, "Every individual has their own talent."
Who could say that someone with poor aptitude for the Spirit Master system wouldn't be a genius in another cultivation system?
With this in mind, Wu Tong decided to impose no restrictions on students. Anyone with a desire to learn would be welcome.
However, temperament was still a concern. Wu Tong had no intention of nurturing a group of murderous villains.
To address this, he had prepared a Heart-Questioning Array, created by the Wisdom King based on the abilities of the Four Zhangs of the Quanxing.
Once set up in the testing grounds, the array would clearly reveal the nature of each student's temperament.
[Seven Treasure Glazed Tile · Ning Fengzhi: Mr. Wu Tong's generosity knows no bounds.]
[Elephant Armored Sect · Hu Yan Zhen: Mr. Wu Tong's generosity knows no bounds.]
[Blazing Fire Academy · Huo Yuan: Mr. Wu Tong's generosity knows no bounds.]
[…]
No one had expected Wu Tong to impose no restrictions on enrollment, instead opening the doors wide.
As for the temperament requirement, everyone understood—no one wanted to raise ungrateful disciples.
They couldn't help but marvel at Wu Tong's magnanimity and vision, truly befitting a man of his stature.
…
Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong read Wu Tong's message and felt a surge of admiration.
Then, her thoughts turned to the reports about Yu Xiaogang.
Loafing around at the Notting Academy, refusing to teach; mocking students with poor talent; looking down on commoners…
When compared to Wu Tong, the difference was stark.
"Xiaogang… is this your true nature?"
Bibi Dong's lips parted slightly as she murmured in disappointment.
She had often compared Yu Xiaogang and Wu Tong, hoping to find answers by contrasting the two men she considered the most knowledgeable in the world.
But time and again, she found only flaws in Yu Xiaogang.
Whether it was character, personality, conduct, knowledge, or strength—Yu Xiaogang paled in comparison to Wu Tong.
After countless disappointments, the perfect image she had of Yu Xiaogang crumbled.
Only then did Bibi Dong realize that her affection for Yu Xiaogang was largely a distorted infatuation, a result of unrequited love and idealization.
Once this illusion shattered, the reality of who he was became unbearable.
With her rationality restored, Bibi Dong's intelligence overcame her emotions, freeing her from her former lovestruck state.
As she reflected on her time with Yu Xiaogang, she noticed details she had overlooked—subtle anomalies and unsettling possibilities.
Her eyes narrowed, emitting a chilling aura that seemed to freeze the air. An overwhelming killing intent erupted, spreading through the entire Pope's Hall.
Ice thickened on the walls, and cracks appeared on the furniture, as if an invisible force was tearing everything apart.
This was the Slaughter Domain, capable of materializing killing intent into destructive power.
If Wu Tong had witnessed this, he would have mourned for Yu Xiaogang—for exactly 0.1 seconds. No more.
Yu Xiaogang, your sins have caught up with you.
…
This story teaches us: never date a yandere or a lovestruck fool. Otherwise, a single misstep can turn a romance into a tragedy.
...
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