Leng Yaozhu leaned back slightly, adopting a relaxed yet imposing posture in the large chair, crossing her arms in front of her chest. The high back of the seat framed her authoritative figure as she looked across the table.
Her red lips curved slightly as she looked directly at Yali. 'What you just mentioned... resources, secret techniques, Spirit Bones.'
She shook her head gently, her expression dismissive of the material wealth being offered. 'Our Spirit Pagoda lacks none of these.'
Upon hearing this, the tension in Yali's heart tightened even further. She felt a cold sweat forming as she realized her opening offer had been swatted away like a bothersome insect.
Indeed, mere material compensation was insufficient. Leng Yaozhu's visit this time surely had ulterior motives, and they were anything but small. The Saintess of the Spirit Pagoda did not travel across the continent to haggle over mere trinkets.
She took a deep breath, maintaining her gentle and composed demeanor despite the mounting pressure. 'In that case, Yaozhu, if you have any demands, please speak frankly. As long as they are within a reasonable scope, Shrek is willing to consider them.'
Leng Yaozhu narrowed her phoenix-like eyes, her gaze becoming sharp and predatory. 'If I state them... can you agree? Can you, alone, make decisions for Shrek?'
Meeting her gaze, Yali nodded. She had to show strength, even if she felt the disadvantage of their current position. 'I am here with full authority to handle this matter.'
'Even if something exceeds my authority, I can immediately send a message back to the Sea Gods Pavilion for the esteemed elders to deliberate.'
'Good!'
Leng Yaozhu raised her right hand and slapped it firmly on the smooth tabletop, producing a crisp sound that echoed through the silent room.
She leaned forward, her gaze sharp as a torch, with not a hint of jest, and directly stated her condition. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy.
'I want five slots each for entry into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Devil Island!'
'This will serve as compensation for Shrek's misconduct this time, which caused harm and distress to these children!'
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! Devil Island!
These two names uttered from Leng Yaozhu's lips made even Yali, who was mentally prepared, unable to suppress a flicker of shock in her emerald-green eyes. She felt a jolt of alarm at the sheer audacity of the request.
However, she never expected Leng Yaozhu to make such an exorbitant demand. It was a request that struck at the very foundations of Shrek Academy's private treasures.
Yali's expression changed slightly, and she immediately said, 'Yaozhu, you should understand how precious the slots for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Devil Island are!'
'They are opportunities prepared by the academy to cultivate true pillars, reserved for the successive generations of the Shrek Seven Devils and a very few core members who have rendered great service!'
Leng Yaozhu looked at her leisurely, wearing an expression that clearly said, 'Of course I know.' Her confidence was unwavering, fueled by the leverage she held over the academy.
'These are my conditions. There is no room for negotiation.'
'Your Shrek can choose not to agree.'
'Then, I would be more than happy to make public everything that happened yesterday in the Tianhai Hotel lobby, letting all the Spirit Masters of the continent and the common people judge this matter.'
'Let's see how your Shrek Academy... truly is!'
Yali's face turned completely grave. With her weakness exposed, she now had no choice but to settle the matter peacefully. The threat of a public scandal was a blade held to the academy's throat.
However, the slots for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Devil Island involved too much; this was indeed far beyond her authority to decide alone. The weight of the decision felt like a physical burden.
She remained silent for a moment, the emotions in her eyes shifting complexly. Behind her calm mask, she was calculating the potential fallout of either choice.
Finally, she slowly let out a breath and looked at Leng Yaozhu. 'This matter is of great importance. I need... to seek instructions from the Sea Gods Pavilion.'
Leng Yaozhu seemed to have anticipated this. She raised a hand indifferently. 'Go ahead. I'll wait right here.'
A considerable amount of time passed before Yali pushed the door open and reentered. Her face was weary but set with a firm conclusion.
Returning to her seat, she looked at Leng Yaozhu opposite her, took a deep breath, and spoke slowly. 'Your conditions... Shrek Academy can agree.'
Hearing this, Leng Yaozhu couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth into a triumphant arc. The victory was sweet, securing resources that would greatly benefit her disciples.
This outcome did not exceed her expectations. Shrek valued its reputation above almost everything else, a fact she had used to her advantage.
Faced with the risk of Shrek's reputation being damaged and the danger of antagonizing the Spirit Pagoda, even such core resources had to be conceded. It was a bitter pill for the academy to swallow.
However, Yali's words were not finished. She had her own counter-strategy to protect the academy's interests and prestige.
She immediately followed up with Shrek's demand: 'However, we also have a requirement. The five students of Class Zero must formally join Shrek Academy and become part of the institution.'
'For non-Shrek Academy students to enjoy opportunities reserved only for the most Core Disciples... making such an exception is something the academy simply cannot justify to its generations of students.'
'Only by them becoming part of the academy can this compensation be legitimate and silence the gossiping mouths.'
After listening, Leng Yaozhu nodded in understanding. This demand was also within her expectations. It allowed Shrek to save face while claiming these geniuses as their own.
'Agreed.'
She readily agreed, but with conditions of her own. She would not let Tang San's old sect fully sink their claws into her precious talents.
'However, Yuhao and Gu Yue will not enter the Inner Court.'
'As for Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan, whether they choose to enter the Inner Court is up to them. Shrek must not forcibly interfere.'
'Also, even if they are to enroll in Shrek, it will not be now. They must wait until they are twelve years old.'
'No problem!'
This time, Yali agreed with exceptional decisiveness. She was relieved to have the main terms settled without further escalating the tension.
At the moment, the most important thing was to reach an agreement and settle the incident. The shadow of the previous day needed to be cleared away as quickly as possible.
Just as this negotiation involving two major powers was about to be concluded, Huo Yuhao, who had been quietly sitting behind Leng Yaozhu, unexpectedly stood up. His movements were fluid and calm, drawing every eye in the room.
He looked calmly at Yali across from him and said, 'Aunt Yali, I... have two more conditions.'
Swish... All eyes in the meeting room instantly focused on this young man who had risen. His presence was small, but his aura felt heavy and ancient, far beyond his years.
A flicker of surprise passed through Leng Yaozhu's eyes, but she did not interrupt. She was curious to see what her young ward had calculated in his brilliant mind.
Yali was slightly taken aback. She looked seriously at Huo Yuhao and gave a slight nod, signaling him to continue. She found herself respecting the boy's composure.
Given permission, Huo Yuhao no longer hesitated and stated his first condition. His voice was steady, betraying none of the cold hatred he felt for the Shrek lineage.
'I hope that within the next five years, Shrek Academy can provide the Tianhai Alliance with some additional application quotas.'
A trace of confusion flashed in Yali's eyes. She asked, 'Yuhao, all five of you can enter Shrek Academy without taking the exams. You don't need quotas.'
'I know,' Huo Yuhao nodded. 'These quotas are not for ourselves.'
'Back then, to facilitate the match with the Shrek Team, we... more or less 'caused a scene' at the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition.'
'Regardless of our original intentions, it ultimately caused quite a stir.'
'These additional application quotas... can be considered a small, feasible compensation to the Tianhai Alliance.'
Upon hearing this, not only did Yali's eyes flash with admiration, but even Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze toward Huo Yuhao filled with even greater appreciation. He was playing the long game, building alliances even now.
This child was not only exceptionally talented but also thoughtful and thorough-minded. Everyone likes someone who knows how to be grateful. Yuhao's public face was perfect, hiding the ruthlessness beneath.
After a moment of thought, Yali immediately agreed. 'Agreed. Starting next year and for five consecutive years, Shrek Academy will provide the Tianhai Alliance with twenty additional application quotas annually.'
As the plenipotentiary representative for this negotiation, she had the authority to decide this directly. It was a small price to pay for the boy's goodwill.
'Thank you, Aunt Yali.'
Huo Yuhao politely thanked her and calmly stated his second condition. This time, his gaze sharpened, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop ever so slightly.
'Another condition: I hope Silver Moon Douluo can personally offer a formal apology to the six of us—the teachers and students of Class Zero—for yesterday's incident.'
'Yuhao!'
Wu Changkong's low voice rang out. Although Cai Yueer's actions yesterday were utterly despicable, she was, after all, a level ninety-six Super Douluo, a figure of high status for whom face was more important than life.
Given her personality, forcing her to publicly bow her head and apologize to a group of juniors would be tantamount to completely shattering her pride. She would probably find it harder to accept than being killed outright.
Wu Changkong was worried that this demand might instead escalate the conflict or even invite more covert retaliation from Cai Yueer in the future. He didn't want the boy to paint a target on his back.
However, contrary to his expectations, after a brief silence, Yali agreed without the slightest hesitation. She knew that without this, the stain on Shrek's honor would never truly be washed away.
'No problem.'
'If one has done wrong, they should naturally apologize. Regardless of status, this principle holds true.'
At this point, no one raised any further objections. The terms were set, and the fate of the Class Zero students was now intertwined with the legendary academy.
This tumultuous negotiation involving two major powers finally drew to a close at this moment. The heavy doors of the meeting room were ready to be opened.
As everyone stood up and filed out of the tense meeting room, the Shrek delegation was silently waiting outside in the corridor.
At the forefront was none other than the once-overbearing Silver Moon Douluo from yesterday, Cai Yueer. Her face was pale, and her posture was rigid with suppressed anger.
She stood there, her back ramrod straight, yet exuding a stiff defiance. Her status as a Super Douluo felt like a fragile shield against the coming humiliation.
Her gaze was fixed intently on Huo Yuhao, the hatred, humiliation, and resentment swirling within it almost tangible, as if she wished she could devour the young man before her alive! She blamed him for this fall from grace.
'Yue'er!'
Yali's voice sounded promptly, no longer gentle but carrying unprecedented seriousness. It was a command from the Holy Spirit Douluo that could not be ignored.
Hearing this, Cai Yueer's entire body trembled uncontrollably. The reality of her situation crashed down upon her, breaking through her stubborn pride.
She clenched her jaw tightly, the muscles in her cheeks twitching slightly, her fingernails digging almost into the palms of her clenched fists. The pain in her hands was nothing compared to the sting of her ego.
Silence hung in the air like a bowstring on the verge of snapping. The witnesses held their breath, watching the high and mighty Douluo be brought low.
Finally, under Yali's calm gaze, Cai Yueer, with extreme slowness, bent her proud spine toward Huo Yuhao and the Class Zero teachers and students behind him.
'I... am... sorry.'
The three words were forced out from between her teeth, one by one, her voice hoarse and dry, as if it took all her strength. Each word was a drop of poison to her.
'This matter... was... my fault.'
After uttering this complete sentence, she abruptly straightened up, not even glancing at anyone, turned, and walked away. Her departure was fast, a desperate flight from the scene of her shame.
Watching the direction she disappeared, Huo Yuhao's expression remained calm. Inside, he felt a flicker of cold satisfaction. One day, the rest of Shrek and the Tang Sect would bow just as low.
Being able to force a Titled Douluo to publicly bow her head, even if the apology was as dry and insincere as deadwood, was already enough for now. It was a small victory in a much larger war.
He never expected to receive genuine remorse from Cai Yueer. What he wanted... was precisely this 'bowing' gesture. It was the first of many debts he intended to collect.
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