Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
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Long Yeyue glanced at the Holy Spirit Douluo, Ya Li, who was sitting opposite her. She then looked away and spoke slowly, "You haven't forgotten what happened three years ago, have you?"
As soon as she spoke, she instantly drew everyone's attention. The Elders, who had been conversing in low voices, fell silent and turned their gazes toward Long Yeyue in unison.
"Huo Yuhao entering Shrek Academy was the result of a compromise by the academy." Long Yeyue's voice was calm, yet it was like a giant boulder thrown into a tranquil lake, stirring up ripples.
She paused, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. "He will not enter the Inner Court. He is not a person of the academy; he has always been a member of the Spirit Pagoda."
Some Elders had indeed forgotten this fact, but after Long Yeyue's reminder, their expressions shifted instantly.
Watching their reactions, a trace of satisfaction flickered in Long Yeyue's cloudy old eyes.
She continued, "Although this boy claims to know nothing, whether he obtained some benefit or established a connection with the Golden Tree, this is something that has never happened before."
Hearing this, the Elders felt that Long Yeyue's words made sense.
Long Yeyue finally looked at Yun Ming and said seriously, "Yun Ming, I believe we must keep this boy in the academy!"
Yun Ming frowned and remained silent. Ya Li, sitting to his right, spoke up, "Elder Long, the result of the original discussion was that Huo Yuhao would study in the Outer Court. He won't truly join Shrek Academy."
Long Yeyue glanced at Ya Li. "That was then, this is now. Back then, no one expected this boy to cause such a disturbance in the Golden Tree!"
Ya Li looked at the group. A hint of helplessness flashed in her gentle eyes as she noticed many Elders seemed to agree with Long Yeyue's proposal.
She then added, "I also tried to recruit Huo Yuhao back then, even promising that as long as he joined the academy, the position of the next Master of the Sea God Pavilion would be his."
Everyone inside the Sea God Pavilion was shocked to hear this. Their gazes instantly focused on Yun Ming in the head seat. They hadn't known about this until now.
The Master of the Sea God Pavilion was the highest position of power in Shrek Academy, a role many dreamed of but could never attain.
To think it had been promised to a mere youth just like that?
Yun Ming nodded and said, "I agreed to that back then."
Naturally, he would stand by his wife. Besides, he truly had given such a promise; otherwise, Ya Li wouldn't have made that decision on her own.
Ya Li continued, "But even faced with such conditions, Huo Yuhao still refused."
She scanned the room and asked, "If even the position of the Master of the Sea God Pavilion couldn't move him, what conditions do you Elders think could make him switch sides and join Shrek Academy?"
The Elders looked at each other, but remained silent.
What conditions could they offer?
A position higher than the Master of the Sea God Pavilion? Naturally, there was none!
More resources? The Spirit Pagoda didn't lack those either.
They truly couldn't think of anything else that could sway the boy.
At this, Long Yeyue scoffed. "How arrogant! Although this boy's talent is extraordinary, he might not necessarily become the Pagoda Master in the Spirit Pagoda."
It was no secret that the Qiangu Clan dominated the Spirit Pagoda; otherwise, the clan wouldn't have produced two consecutive Pagoda Masters.
Slap!
Long Yeyue slammed her hand on the table and leaned forward, a sharp light flickering in her cloudy eyes.
She looked at the group and said, "No one knows exactly what is happening between Huo Yuhao and the Golden Tree right now."
"His talent speaks for itself. As long as he doesn't fall early, becoming a Quasi-God in the future is almost a certainty."
"Are you comfortable letting such a Genius go?"
She paused, then raised her voice. "The Golden Tree is the academy's final line of defense. If he uses his connection with the Golden Tree to endanger Shrek Academy in the future, I'm afraid we will all regret it!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the Elders changed instantly. Their aged faces were filled with unease and wariness.
They had never imagined that a single youth could potentially threaten the Foundation of Shrek Academy.
But Long Yeyue's words were like a knife, piercing the softest part of their hearts.
Yun Ming's perpetually calm expression also shifted slightly. A slight frown appeared on his handsome face.
He looked at Long Yeyue and said in a steady voice, "Elder Long, I know Yuhao. Even if he belongs to the Spirit Pagoda, he wouldn't go as far as to harm the academy."
Long Yeyue shook her head. "Yun Ming, you can know a person's face but not their heart. Moreover, people change. No one knows what the future holds."
Subsequently, many Elders of the academy also spoke up, one after another, supporting Long Yeyue.
"Pavilion Master, Elder Long is right. We cannot afford to gamble."
"Indeed, Pavilion Master. We cannot place the safety of the academy on Huo Yuhao."
"The safety of the academy is of paramount importance!"
...
Listening to the voices rising from the group, Yun Ming's expression grew solemn. Although he was the Master of the Sea God Pavilion, holding great power and the title of 'Number One on the Continent' he could not simply decide academy matters with a single word.
Those Elders each had their own thoughts and their own stances. He needed to listen, to weigh the options, and to make the most appropriate decision.
Seeing the current situation, a flash of triumph appeared in Long Yeyue's cloudy eyes.
Striking while the iron was hot, she said, "So what if we don't have the chips to move Huo Yuhao?"
She paused, a sharp glint in her eyes. "Huo Yuhao has resonated with the Golden Tree. I say we keep him in the academy in the name of protecting the academy's safety. What if the Spirit Pagoda disagrees? We, Shrek Academy, do not need to explain our actions to others!"
Her tone was full of forcefulness and confidence.
Shrek Academy had stood for Ten Thousand Years and had never needed to explain itself to anyone. The Spirit Pagoda was powerful, but even they had to show some deference to Shrek.
The Sea God Pavilion was carved from the Golden Tree itself, and its energy was sufficient to ensure that not a single word of the conversation inside would leak out. Normally, even if someone outside pressed their ear to the door, it would be impossible to hear anything inside.
But with Huo Yuhao's connection to the Golden Tree, this barrier was naturally non-existent to him. The golden energy was like nothing before him.
As he stood there, every sound from inside the Sea God Pavilion reached his ears clearly. He heard the arguments of the Elders perfectly. Thus, Long Yeyue's concerns weren't entirely without merit. If Huo Yuhao wanted to, the Golden Tree's defensive shield wouldn't block him at all.
Hearing them discuss forcibly keeping him at Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao sneered inwardly.
What did they think he was?
Cargo?
An object to be disposed of at will?
Just then, he glanced into the distance as a fiery red figure gradually grew larger. The figure flew through the sky like a ball of burning flame, exceptionally striking under the sunlight.
The speed was astonishing, reaching him in the blink of an eye.
Finally, a familiar figure appeared before him.
Huo Yuhao said in surprise, "Aunt Leng, why are you here?"
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
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.