Na'er followed behind Long Yeyue, and just before stepping over the threshold of the reception hall, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze passing over her shoulder to fall upon Ya Li, who was still sitting in her chair.
Ya Li also raised her eyes, her gaze meeting Na'er's with gentle warmth.
Immediately, a voice drifted into Na'er's ears: "Just be yourself; there is no need to be constrained by the identity of being Yun Ming's Disciple."
Na'er did not speak, simply nodding very slightly before turning her head back and stepping over the threshold.
After Na'er left, Ya Li did not linger and also rose to depart.
After her figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, only the members of the Tang Sect remained in the reception hall.
The gazes of Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan involuntarily fell upon Tang Wulin once more; the sudden turn of events just now had been so abrupt that they had yet to fully process it.
After a moment of silence, Tang Wulin raised his head, looked at Amorous Douluo Zang Xin, and opened his mouth, wanting to explain something: "Teacher, I..."
Just as he began to speak, Amorous Douluo Zang Xin raised his hand to interrupt him, not giving him a chance to continue: "No need to explain, Teacher trusts you."
Amorous Douluo Zang Xin's tone was steady, and his gaze carried a kind of firm trust. It was not mere politeness, but a judgment settled from his understanding of Tang Wulin.
He paused, then sighed, his voice tinged with a hint of emotion: "Perhaps you really are the person chosen by the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud; perhaps you are the fated one who can make Shrek Academy rise again."
He paused again, a hint of helplessness entering his tone: "It is just a pity that Elder Long's choice is Na'er."
Upon hearing this, Tang Wulin lowered his head again. He knew better than anyone that he was not some chosen fated one at all.
Everything that had happened just now had been manipulated from beginning to end by that mysterious Old Tang; he hadn't even made a single choice of his own.
Yet he hadn't expected that even Amorous Douluo Zang Xin, a Limit Douluo, had not detected Old Tang's existence.
Tang Wulin clenched his fists on his knees, a question churning in his heart.
Who exactly is Old Tang?
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was now inside his body, and Tang Wulin knew clearly in his heart that all the mysteries regarding the recent turn of events might only be cleared up once Old Tang contacted him again.
He slowly exhaled a breath, as if to temporarily set aside those chaotic thoughts.
He raised his head, looked at Amorous Douluo Zang Xin, and asked: "Teacher, will Shrek Academy... really have a day when it is rebuilt?"
Upon hearing this, Amorous Douluo Zang Xin remained silent for a moment. He lowered his eyes and tapped his fingertips lightly on the back of the chair, as if contemplating the question.
After a moment, he spoke slowly: "Shrek Academy has a Ten Thousand Years Legacy, and its graduated Students have long since spread across every stratum of the Federation, from the military to political circles, from the business world to the Spirit Master's world; Shrek's presence is everywhere."
"So even if the academy's grounds were destroyed, these people are still here, and they will all support its reconstruction from the shadows."
He paused, his tone deepening slightly: "But at the same time, there are many people within the Federation who do not wish to see Shrek rebuilt."
"Such an academy gathers hearts, pools resources, and forms an influence independent of the Federation's framework."
"Some people are happy to see it fall, and naturally, they will not easily allow it to stand up again."
"However..." Amorous Douluo Zang Xin's gaze lifted slightly, "If we plan in secret and proceed step by step, the reconstruction of Shrek should not be an unachievable goal."
"It is just that this path will be much more difficult and much longer."
"As for whether it can return to its former heights... that will depend on what the people after the reconstruction can achieve."
He then turned his head to look at Tang Wulin, a trace of helplessness flashing in his gaze: "But now is clearly not the best time to rebuild the academy. Elder Long chose the wrong time; not only will it yield half the results with twice the effort, but it may also invite more unnecessary resistance."
Having said this, Amorous Douluo Zang Xin's tone softened slightly: "Do not feel any pressure; just continue to cultivation as usual. Whenever you establish contact with that Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, notify me immediately."
Tang Wulin nodded solemnly: "Yes, Teacher."
... After leaving the Tang Sect, Long Yeyue and Na'er did not stay long in the city and headed straight towards the direction of Shrek City.
The disaster from a few years ago had been too fierce; under the attack of soul guided shells, the entire academy had been razed to the ground.
Most of the academy's teachers had chosen to use their lives to block that destructive impact; it was precisely their sacrifice that had saved a considerable number of Students.
Shrek Academy has a Ten Thousand Years Legacy, and it is not just the buildings on the surface.
Beneath the academy, there was an extremely vast space; that was the "refuge" the academy had built to cope with crises, and the Students who survived that disaster were now hiding there.
These Students, grateful for the protection of the academy's teachers, had been Cultivating diligently underground.
Even their families thought their children had perished in that disaster; no one knew that beneath the ruins of Shrek City, a group of youths was silently growing.
It must be said that Shrek's honor indeed possessed an extremely powerful cohesive force.
At the very least, one could see from this matter that that belief had already surpassed familial affection in their hearts.
Perhaps it was the darkness under the lamp, or perhaps Qiangu Dongfeng no longer regarded Shrek Academy with any concern, as he had never sent anyone to investigate or monitor these ruins.
In any case, even though these surviving Students would occasionally come in and out of the ruins above, they had never been discovered by anyone.
Na'er had not returned alone this time; she had also brought Sima Jinchi.
This made Long Yeyue even more convinced that Na'er was the "Restoration Leader" who would lead Shrek Academy to rise again, after all, she had brought back a Titled Douluo the moment she returned.
She walked all the way through the underground space and saw many familiar faces.
Students she had once seen in the academy—each face thinner than before, more silent than before, but also more resilient than before.
With these people here, Shrek Academy might truly have the possibility of being rebuilt.
Unfortunately, she, the successor of the Sea God Pavilion Master, had ultimately returned with other motives.
Although the space beneath Shrek Academy was vast, resources were ultimately limited; even though Na'er was now regarded by Long Yeyue as the "Restoration Leader," the room allocated to her was not large.
A bed, a table, and a chair were almost all the furnishings there were.
Na'er sat on the edge of the bed, her silver-white long hair shimmering with a soft luster in the light.
She looked down at the soul guided communication device in her hand, her fingertips pausing on the dial button for a moment before pressing that familiar sequence of numbers.
A circle of faint light lit up on the surface of the communication device, and a moment later, the call connected.
Na'er's calm voice rang out in the cramped room: "Hello."
The other end of the communication device was quiet for a moment, and then a steady voice tinged with a hint of excitement came through: "Lord!"
The person Na'er was contacting at this moment was naturally Di Tian.
She did not beat around the bush and asked directly: "What is Gu Yue's situation right now?"
Di Tian replied respectfully: "The plan is advancing steadily. Because the technology for artificial Ten Thousand Years Spirit Souls has been developed, you are now even more valued in the Spirit Pagoda, and your status has significantly improved!"
Upon hearing this, Na'er's silver eyes flickered slightly, and the corners of her mouth curled unconsciously.
She snorted inwardly, then asked again: "What about Huo Yuhao?"
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.