"It's certainly lively."
The executive from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had only just finished attending Tang Wei's succession ceremony, gifts still warm from polite exchange, when a second invitation arrived—this one stamped with the seal of the Tang Sect, announcing the formal merger with the Clear Sky Sect.
Chen Xin unfolded the letter, scanned it once, then let out a quiet sigh.
"Even Tang Chen would never have imagined the Clear Sky Sect ending like this."
"Going against the tide always carries a price," Gu Rong replied calmly, turning his gaze toward Ning Fengzhi. "As for Seven Treasure Academy, there should be no elders left willing—or able—to obstruct it now."
"There haven't been any for a while," Chen Xin said indifferently. "Ever since Xiang Jingyu topped the rankings, those elders with no prospects stopped gambling on their grandsons and started investing in their granddaughters instead."
If a grandson proved useless, there was no saving him. No alliance would want him.
A granddaughter, however, was different.
With the backing of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, appearance and temperament alone were enough to attract outstanding sons-in-law—preferably live-in. As long as the Ning surname continued, inheritance was secure. And with the purity of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Spirit, future generations were almost guaranteed quality awakenings.
If fortune favored them, perhaps even a prodigy like Xiang Jingyu could be drawn in.
That was not cultivation. It was long-term leverage.
A disciple entered at speed and handed over a sealed report.
Ning Fengzhi opened it, reading slowly. His brows drew together.
"Someone is deliberately inciting internal conflict within the Clear Sky Sect," he said at last. "Two violent power shifts in such a short time, both resolved decisively—this doesn't happen without guidance."
He tapped the parchment lightly.
"This person had Tang Lie's trust. Tang Xiao's. Tang Wei's. And now Tang San's. They were close enough to influence core decisions."
" Tang Yuehua?" Chen Xin and Gu Rong spoke almost simultaneously.
Among the remaining high-level figures, only she had access to all four.
"If it really is her," Gu Rong said, frowning, "what does she want?"
"Possibly Tang Hao," Chen Xin replied after a moment.
Memories surfaced—Tang Hao's death, the siege, Tang Yuehua's reaction. At the time it had seemed grief-stricken. In hindsight, it had been excessive. Personal.
"So Tang Lie and Tang Wei are dead," Gu Rong murmured. "Tang Xiao disappears. She lets one sibling go?"
"I was there when Tang Hao died," Chen Xin said flatly. "This woman is dangerous. She kills with borrowed hands. If she redirects disaster, it could land on us."
Gu Rong's expression darkened.
Ning Fengzhi raised a hand, smiling faintly. "No need to worry—for now."
Seeing their confusion, he continued evenly,
"Before his death, Tang Wei accused Tang San of betraying Tang Xiao and forced Tang Yuehua to testify. If she had no real evidence, why would Tang Wei rely on her? And if she did have proof—how could Tang San possibly let her live?"
He paused.
"The Clear Sky Sect is already finished. What remains is the Tang Sect."
"There's still one act left in this play."
Gu Rong shook his head, genuine regret flickering across his face.
"Tang Xiao never imagined that his fall would come from an incompetent brother—and an ungrateful adopted son."
"This is Tang Hao's karma," Chen Xin replied coldly. "What can truly grow under a man like that?"
He continued, eyes sharp. "After losing to Xiang Jingyu, Tang Hao vented his anger on students from the same academy. I saw it myself."
"Tang Yuehua and Tang San aren't the real concern," Ning Fengzhi said. "The Spirit Beasts are."
His tone shifted.
"The Ten Thousand Demon King's real goal is an academy where Spirit Beasts and Spirit Masters coexist. And Shrek Academy is the perfect shell."
Tang San's bloodline. Xiao Wu's identity. The alignment was natural.
"Should we intervene?" Gu Rong asked.
"Of course," Ning Fengzhi said lightly. "If transformed Spirit Beasts wish to study at Seven Treasure Academy, they will be welcomed. A joint branch academy is negotiable."
His voice cooled.
"But Spirit Beasts leading an academy? Unacceptable."
Chen Xin frowned. "Why?"
"Because Spirit Master academies are fragmented," Ning Fengzhi said calmly. "Spirit Beasts are unified."
He gestured lightly.
"If they succeed, in resources and teaching alone, they will crush every independent academy."
Fire-element cultivation was a perfect example.
Seven Treasure Academy's strongest fire instructor was only an eighty-level Spirit Douluo. Their system was incomplete. Talents naturally went elsewhere.
Spirit Beasts, however, could invite hundred-thousand-year specialists to teach personally.
If the tribes united, every attribute would have a peak instructor.
Human academies would not compete. They would vanish.
"We can't stop them by force," Gu Rong said, unease flickering.
"There's no need," Ning Fengzhi replied. "They appear united—but they aren't. Without an external enemy, they will turn inward."
"For the ceremony, we attend. Praise Tang San. Say nothing of Tang Xiao."
He smiled faintly.
"Three internal conflicts in months will destroy any academy's reputation."
Students would leave. Transfers would follow. Shrek Academy would hollow out.
Even if Spirit Beasts took control afterward, with the Clear Sky Sect's history, no human family would risk sending their children there.
An academy devoured by chaos was an academy already dead.
"You still haven't found Tang Xiao?"
Tang Yuehua's expression was dark, near feral.
With the Clear Sky Sect fully absorbed and Shrek Academy backing Tang San, she had no leverage left.
"If you hand over the recording stones," Hime said lazily, "we'll deal with him for you."
"So you don't intend to kill him at all?" Tang Yuehua snapped.
"Does it matter?" the Ten Thousand Demon King replied coldly. "What matters is that Tang San can destroy you at any time."
Akawang smiled thinly.
"If he marries you off to a Shrek Academy teacher—what will you do?"
Her expression twisted.
She knew this threat was real.
Tang San had been clear: surrender the stones and live, or keep them and be erased—slowly.
Neither he nor the Spirit Beasts wanted Ah Yin dead.
But revenge had already consumed her.
With no path left, Tang Yuehua clenched her teeth.
If this was a gamble—
She would bet everything on Ah Yin's love.