Gu Yue's time these past few days had not been wasted. Research on the Myriad Beast Platform had been pushed to a roughly comparable stage, and judging by the current progress, it should already be ready for formal construction and operation.
The Myriad Beast Platform carried the hope of the Soul Beast Clan turning the tables, making it the most crucial link in the entire plan.
However, if its true purpose were exposed, she would likely immediately become the public enemy of all humanity.
Therefore, she did not dare let Leng Yaozhu and Huo Yuhao participate or get dragged into this vortex.
Because of this, she set her sights on the Qiangu Clan.
Anyway, if things were exposed at that time and the humans on the continent learned the truth, they would only bitterly curse the Qiangu Clan as "human traitors."
She gathered her thoughts, striving to make her voice sound steady and natural, then raised her head to earnestly meet Huo Yuhao's gaze.
"Yuhao, please believe me."
"My contact with the Qiangu Clan is merely an expedient measure, but there are some things I truly cannot tell you right now."
Huo Yuhao looked into those purple eyes of hers, and the expression on his face gradually softened by a few shades.
He did not continue questioning, only nodding gently: "Fine, I can wait, until you are willing to tell me."
He paused, his tone shifting as he said: "However, how do you plan to explain things to Aunt Leng?"
Gu Yue was silent for a moment, lowering her eyelids slightly as her voice lowered a fraction: "I... haven't figured it out yet."
Just as Gu Yue was pondering how to explain it to Leng Yaozhu, an unusual gathering was likewise taking place in the underground space of the Shrek Academy ruins.
In the underground training room, seven figures stood at the center.
These seven individuals were Na'er, Wu Changkong, Yuanen Yehui, Ye Xinglan, Wu Siduo, Lan Muzi, and Tang Yinmeng.
Standing opposite the seven of them was impressively the only Titled Douluo of Shrek Academy today, Long Yeyue!
Long Yeyue's gaze slowly swept across each young face, nodding with satisfaction in her heart.
Her spine was held straight, with her hands behind her back. That steady aura belonging to a Limit Douluo, even without being deliberately released, still made the atmosphere of the entire training room several shades more solemn.
She then slowly spoke: "The academy has been destroyed, and the various elder seniors have died in battle, but Shrek Academy has not perished. You... are the future of Shrek."
"Next, the academy will concentrate all its resources to assist you in breaking through your cultivation Bottleneck as soon as possible. Time is tight, but I have confidence in you."
"Wu Changkong, Lan Muzi, Tang Yinmeng, the three of you are all Spirit Douluo now. Your goal is to break through to a Titled Douluo within a year."
Wu Changkong's expression remained unchanged, only nodding slightly.
Lan Muzi and Tang Yinmeng exchanged glances; although there was pressure in their expressions, they did not show any sign of fearing difficulty.
Long Yeyue shifted her gaze to Na'er and Yuanen Yehui: "Na'er, Yuanen Yehui, you are Spirit Saints. Break through to a Titled Douluo within two years."
Yuanen Yehui did not say much, merely nodding.
Hearing these words, Na'er felt somewhat emotional. It wasn't because of any resources, but rather because she felt her choice was indeed correct—Shrek Academy truly seemed to still have some hidden cards.
Finally, Long Yeyue looked at Ye Xinglan and Wu Siduo: "The two of you are currently Spirit Emperors. Break through to a Titled Douluo within five years."
Ye Xinglan clenched her fists slightly, showing no superfluous expression, except that her gaze became a bit firmer.
Wu Siduo took a light breath, then also responded solemnly.
"By the day when all of you break through..." Long Yeyue paused, her gaze sweeping over the seven people one last time, "that will be the time when Shrek Academy descends upon the continent once more."
In Long Yeyue's heart, the Tang Sect could no longer be relied upon.
After that storm involving the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, her trust in the Tang Sect had been almost completely exhausted.
Now, the only ones she could rely on were these young people before her.
Counting herself, if they could gather eight Titled Douluos in the future, it should be enough to prop up the reconstruction of Shrek.
Even if the scale and foundation fell far short of past glories, she believed in the appeal that Shrek Academy had accumulated on the continent over many years.
As long as the spark remained, the academy's strength would definitely grow stronger and stronger, ultimately once more becoming the continent's number one academy that stood tall for Ten Thousand Years without falling.
In future historical records, Na'er might be called the Lord of Shrek's Restoration.
And Long Yeyue knew clearly in her heart that she herself would ultimately become the most important contributor on the path of Shrek Academy's rejuvenation.
...
Huo Yuhao was not clear on how Gu Yue ultimately explained things to Leng Yaozhu. Anyway, after the two met, Leng Yaozhu indeed no longer questioned Gu Yue about her contact with the Qiangu Clan.
However, the gossips inside the Spirit Pagoda did not calm down because of this. Some people even began to discuss privately, saying that Gu Yue had "betrayed her master's sect." For a time, many people's gazes towards Gu Yue carried a hint of strangeness.
Yet what surprised everyone was that the relationship between Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue did not seem to undergo any changes because of this.
The two would still eat together and still walk side by side in the corridor. Those people waiting to watch the excitement waited for many days without waiting for any drama of a "falling out," and gradually lost interest.
This time, the duration of transmigrating back to the World Ten Thousand Years later was not long. Just three days later, Huo Yuhao once more transmigrated back to Ten Thousand Years ago.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself sitting in the preparation area of the Ming City eastern suburbs arena.
On the arena stage ahead, a fierce showdown had just ended, and the referee was announcing the victor.
In the semi-finals, led by Jin Li, the Spirit Pagoda won once again, coming one step closer to the championship she had promised initially.
Early the next morning, the spectator stands were packed once again.
Sunlight illuminated the entire arena brightly, and shouts and cheers surged wave after wave like a tide.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the upcoming finals: the Holy Ghost Team versus the Spirit Transmitting Team.
As for Shrek Academy, that former "continent's number one academy" seemed to have been forgotten by people within a mere few days.
On the viewing stands, no one could be heard shouting Shrek's name anymore; it was replaced by cries for the "Spirit Pagoda."
After all, as long as one was a normal person, no one liked the methods of those Evil Soul Masters from the Holy Spirit Cult.
The audience had long harbored a bias in their hearts, all looking forward to the Spirit Transmitting Team winning the championship!
In the VIP seating area, the Sun Moon Empire Regent Xu Tianran sat upright in his wheelchair, overlooking the boiling arena below with a calm expression.
However, when that tide-like wave of shouts of "Spirit Pagoda! Spirit Pagoda!" poured into his ears wave after wave, the composure on his face sank bit by bit.
He had originally planned to let the Holy Spirit Cult achieve victory in this match, thereby logically pushing the Holy Spirit Cult onto the throne of the state religion of the Sun Moon Empire.
As for whether using Evil Soul Masters would harm his reputation, he did not care at all.
In his heart, the Holy Spirit Cult was merely a handy tool, a weapon that could be discarded once used up.
Once he unified the continent and completely incorporated the Douluo Three Kingdoms into his territory, he would uproot the Holy Spirit Cult. By then, what would be left in the history books of later generations would only be a magnificent and strategic sage monarch.
As for cooperating with the Holy Cult, that was merely a means forced upon him for the sake of his grand enterprise.
Yet the situation at this moment differed somewhat from his expectations: the Holy Spirit Cult had not yet won the ultimate championship, but the Spirit Pagoda had already reaped unprecedented popularity and prestige through this match.
Those flags and cheers were silently telling him that the public opinion trend of this match had tilted toward the Spirit Pagoda's side, which gave rise to a trace of displeasure in his heart.
Ju Zi by the side keenly perceived the change in Xu Tianran's expression.
Her gaze first extremely quickly swept over Limit Douluo Long Xiaoyao sitting not far away, then she moved slightly closer to Xu Tianran, lowering her voice to say: "The masses are ignorant and do not know Your Highness's grand plan; Your Highness need not pay attention to those voices."
Hearing this, the dark clouds on Xu Tianran's face dispersed slightly.
He turned his head sideways, his gaze landing on Ju Zi's gentle and serene face, then curved the corners of his mouth slightly, reaching out to pull her tender little hand over as his tone finally softened: "Ju Zi understands me best."
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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.