Frost City!
Frost City was unusually lively today, a breathtaking sight of beautiful women.
The city, which originally had a small population, had suddenly seen an influx of over a thousand beautiful young women in the past few days.
If it weren't for the fact that they were from Tianshui Academy, one would have thought they were there to attack Frost City.
They all wore ice-blue Soul Master robes, exuding youthful energy.
This deeply stirred the Soul Masters who frequently visited the Frost Forest.
Remote urban areas rarely have so many stunning beauties, and cities near wild Soul Beast Forests are generally quite restless.
Therefore, when the entire female group from Tianshui Academy entered the city, it immediately stirred the restless and empty hearts of the local men,
creating an atmosphere of excitement throughout the city .
However, these young women were very aloof. Because of their hurried journey, they all looked somewhat tired and showed little interest in these passersby.
They were currently concerned about their future, because, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would all be settling down in this city.
"Teacher Crystal, does my sister really have a phoenix?"
"Really!"
"Her boyfriend is Ma Hongjun. How did they get together?"
"Ma Hongjun saved your sister!"
"So my sister repaid him with her body."
...
"Has Ma Hongjun really become that strong? Even you guys aren't his match." "
I guess no one in the Douluo Continent can beat him."
"I remember during the Soul Master Competition, he often peeked at us. I thought he liked me, but it turns out he liked my sister!"
"But he's still quite handsome, just seems a bit lecherous!"
"Yue'er, don't say things like that to his face. Ma Hongjun isn't the same Ma Hongjun anymore. Be polite."
"Okay!"
…
Shui Yue'er kept chattering away, asking questions like a lark.
She was extremely interested in Ma Hongjun, mainly because he had actually won over her aloof older sister.
Moreover, the four teachers who returned had all become stronger, even the dean was no match for them.
Yet these four teachers all held Ma Hongjun in high esteem, seemingly eager to recruit him into Tianshui Academy.
This trip to the frigid far north was also Ma Hongjun's idea; they all seemed to trust him completely. They
practically treated Ma Hongjun as the one in control of Tianshui Academy.
This left Shui Yue'er and many other disciples puzzled. They had many questions, mainly because they couldn't imagine that just over a year ago, his strength was only… How could Ma Hongjun, who was about the same age as them, have become so powerful? He
even went so far as to let a man preside over the affairs of Tianshui Academy.
When had Tianshui Academy ever listened to a man, let a man ride on their shoulders!
They were already used to women being in charge, and were very unaccustomed to Ma Hongjun's sudden domineering position.
However, whether these little girls were willing or not was unimportant; their Dean, Shui Ningtian, was more than willing.
The main reason was that Teacher Crystal and the other three hadn't spread the news about the gods and the three powerful beasts of the Far North.
These matters were only told to Dean Shui Ningtian.
Therefore, most people were puzzled; it was simply a decision made by the Dean and many teachers. They dared not disobey!
Tianshui Academy was also facing a difficult choice. The disciples might not know, but the dean and teachers were well aware of the pressure they faced.
The Spirit Hall was secretly colluding with various forces, and had long harbored ambitions to unify the continent.
Of the four elemental academies, some might already be aligning themselves with the Spirit Hall.
Thunder Academy was backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, whose stance had always been neutral, and they likely hadn't sided with them.
However, Blazing Fire and Divine Wind had already shown signs of ties with the Spirit Hall during the Soul Master Competition.
Tianshui Academy had also received both overtures and threats from the Spirit Hall.
They didn't want to merge with the Spirit Hall, but they had to make a choice later, or the consequences would be dire.
And now, the Star... The Star Dou Great Forest suddenly erupted, foreshadowing a war between humans and spirit beasts, with small-scale battles constantly breaking out at the border.
The two great empires began amassing troops outside the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Spirit Hall, in particular, sought to use this opportunity to accelerate its unification of the continent's spirit master world.
Now, Ma Hongjun's appearance had provided their academy with an excellent way out.
Moreover, moving the academy to the far north would, to some extent, distance them from the turmoil.
As long as they were strong enough, they wouldn't have to worry about being drawn into the power struggles of those factions.
They only needed to avoid competing with the outside world for fame and fortune and focus solely on cultivation.
Today, Shui Ningtian led the academy's higher-ups to the Spirit Hall's Holy Temple in Frost City.
To develop in Frost City, this Holy Temple was unavoidable.
The Spirit Hall has always been fond of meddling in the affairs of spirit masters. They investigate every shift in power, requiring relevant factions to register with the Spirit Hall and obtain their approval before taking action.
This is a very domineering practice, but the main problem is that the Spirit Hall isn't truly official; it's not the nominal ruler of the continent.
It hasn't declared its own rules, still relying on the mechanisms of the two great empires, yet it acts domineeringly based on its strength.
Some of its actions lack legitimacy, bordering on tyranny.
This is why the Spirit Hall wants unification.
They already possess the power, but cannot rightfully rule the world.
The fact that Tianshui Academy arrived in Tianshui City without consulting either the empire or the Spirit Hall is a provocation to both sides.
Because Tianshui acted swiftly, neither the Heaven Dou Empire nor the Xue'erwei Duchy had yet sent anyone to condemn it.
Tianshui's arrival in Frost City naturally meant that the Spirit Hall's Holy Temple in Frost City was the first to respond.
Therefore, this issue was to be handled by Haines.
Haines had already summoned everyone from the Spirit Hall and was waiting in the hall.
As far as he knew, Tianshui Academy only had one Soul Douluo and five Soul Saints.
While the Holy Temple only had one Soul Douluo, it had many Soul Saints—ten in total!
One Soul Douluo versus ten Soul Saints—their high-level combat power completely overwhelmed Tianshui Academy.
Since Tianshui Academy had come to the remote Frost City, he could easily subdue them with force.
This would be a gift, a great service to the Spirit Hall, allowing him to leave this cold and boring city and enter the Papal Palace to enjoy a life of luxury.
Shui Ningtian, accompanied by Crystal and three other teachers, entered the Spirit Hall. Eleven people were already seated in the hall, ready to face them.
Haines was prepared to deal with them.
"Palace Master Hai, Tianshui Academy has come to visit. We apologize for the intrusion!"
Shui Ningtian spoke with the air of a dignified noblewoman, her voice neither humble nor arrogant, her head held high and her chest puffed out, displaying her S-curve and exuding confidence.
Haines did not invite them to sit, nor were there any extra seats set up in the hall.
He had not intended to have a proper conversation with them.
"Dean Shui, your academy's relocation without even filing a record is blatant disrespect for the Spirit Hall,"
Haines said sharply, his confidence growing stronger upon seeing that there were only five of them.
"Lord Hai, it seems we at Tianshui Academy don't need to explain to your Spirit Hall where we go. If anyone should be involved, it's the Heaven Dou Empire. You have no right to interfere."
"No right to interfere. Right now, there's chaos. Our Spirit Hall is leading the Spirit Master world to resist the Spirit Beasts. At this time, your Tianshui Academy has run to the far north to hide, which is tantamount to refusing to cooperate with the conscription and is intolerable to the Spirit Master world.
The Spirit Beast uprising is a responsibility of every Spirit Master. This is a problem that the
entire Spirit Master world must face together. Even if Tianshui isn't going to help resist the Spirit Beasts, it shouldn't be deserting its post and running to the far north to hide. If this gets back to the Spirit Master world, your Tianshui Academy will become a disgrace to the entire Spirit Master world."
Haines spoke righteously, condescendingly criticizing Tianshui Academy.
"How we choose is our business, and the consequences are none of your concern.
Besides, it was your Spirit Hall that initiated this war. Why should the entire Spirit Master world fight for you?"