With the Clear Sky Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan being destroyed one after another, all the powers of the continent were thrown into turmoil. Among them, none were more unsettled than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, just like the Clear Sky Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, was one of the Upper Three Clans on the continent. With the other two annihilated, how could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan not feel fear creeping up their spine?
Inside the grand hall of the clan, the clan master Ning Fengzhi, along with the two guardian Douluo—Chen Xin and Gu Rong—together with fifteen eight-ringed elders of the clan, had gathered.
"Everyone, with the Clear Sky Clan and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan having perished in succession, how should we of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan respond?"
Ning Fengzhi, his face filled with bitterness, asked the gathered people in the hall.
At this moment, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but resent his former "good disciple," Qian Renxue.
Since your Spirit Hall is so overwhelmingly powerful, couldn't you have said so earlier?! Do all the years of our teacher–disciple relationship count for nothing?
One must know, due to his own children being completely unpromising—lacking either talent or capability—Ning Fengzhi had poured into "Xue Qinghe" an amount of effort and care that wasn't at all less than what he had given his own sons, even exceeding it.
Ning Fengzhi thought, if Qian Renxue had come clean with him before the coup in Heaven Dou Palace, upon learning the true might of Spirit Hall, then after weighing the pros and cons, he most likely would have chosen to firmly support his disciple, stabbing Heaven Dou in the back.
Alliance? What is an alliance worth? Far less than the bond he shared with Qian Renxue after years of being practically teacher and disciple!
Well… that was a bit of self-deception. Mainly, as clan master, Ning Fengzhi always had to consider the future of his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
For a clan that had long stood firm as one of the Upper Three, the most important thing wasn't how to rise higher, but how to ensure stability and continuity for future generations.
And joining hands with a powerful Spirit Hall would be the best way to guarantee that.
After all, with Spirit Hall, the Heaven Dou Empire, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan united together, and with Qian Renxue serving as the bond between them—as Spirit Hall's young master, Emperor of Heaven Dou, and Ning Fengzhi's personally taught disciple—working in concert, wouldn't they sweep across the entire continent?
But now, what had come to pass?
Xue Beng had ascended to the throne. Though he also shared a nominal teacher–disciple relationship with Ning Fengzhi, they had never been close. In fact, due to the crown prince struggle, they had even been political opponents. The so-called relationship was practically meaningless.
What's more, Xue Beng was an ungrateful one—after borrowing the power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to stabilize his throne a little, he gradually began to distance himself from them, very likely intending to weaken their influence within the Heaven Dou Empire.
Had he known this day would come, Ning Fengzhi felt he should never have aided Heaven Dou back then, but rather lent his hand to his "Xue Qinghe"—that good disciple of his, Qian Renxue.
That way, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Heaven Dou Empire under Qian Renxue would still be close allies. And because his good disciple Qian Renxue was also the young master of Spirit Hall, he wouldn't now need to worry about Spirit Hall moving against his clan.
"Alas~ Was I really not worthy of your trust as your teacher?"
Feeling completely at a loss, Ning Fengzhi sighed in his heart. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed as a teacher.
Qian Renxue, somewhere, probably spat back: "Nonsense! You kept going on about the Upper Three Clans standing together—so how was I supposed to reveal myself? If I told you, wouldn't you have sold me out first thing?"
"Clan Master, perhaps our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan may yet remain outside of this matter."
Just as the hall sank into silence, Chen Xin, sitting to Ning Fengzhi's left, suddenly spoke.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Hearing Chen Xin's words, Gu Rong's face showed puzzlement, and the other elders in the hall also turned to him.
"The Clear Sky Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were wiped out one after another. As the last of the Upper Three Clans, of course we would heighten our vigilance. If Spirit Hall truly intended to strike us as well, then from their standpoint, it would actually be highly disadvantageous.
For one, trying to take down us, already on guard, would cost Spirit Hall far more casualties than catching us by surprise.
Secondly, the hidden base of the Clear Sky Clan isn't far from us. If Spirit Hall really wanted to act, they would have long since done so.
As for the reason why, it might be connected to that disciple of yours, Clan Master."
As he spoke, Chen Xin cast a meaningful glance at Ning Fengzhi.
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi fell silent.
After a long pause, Ning Fengzhi finally said: "Regardless of whether Spirit Hall will take action against us in the future, the clan must raise its guard.
Moreover, since the coup in Heaven Dou Palace, a hidden estrangement has grown between Heaven Dou and us. The closeness of the past is no longer there. Besides the Heaven Dou Empire, it is necessary for our clan to also seek other allies."
The gathered people all nodded. "The Clan Master's words are absolutely right."
Then, one elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan spoke: "Clan Master, the ambition of Spirit Hall is known to all. Meanwhile, the Elemental Academy is no small power itself, with four Douluo holding guard. It would be wise for us to strengthen our ties with them, and best of all, form an alliance."
"That will be difficult. Long before, I had already tried to forge an alliance with Blazing Academy and Sky Water Academy, before they merged into the Elemental Academy. But unfortunately, neither academy had the slightest interest."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head regretfully.
But he could also understand. After all, academies were different from other forces. They were merely platforms for cultivating spirit masters. After graduation, most students didn't stay at the academy, but instead joined various powers on the continent. Among them, some even rose to become mid- or high-ranking figures within those powers.
One could say that as long as it was a proper advanced spirit master academy, whether its strength was outstanding or not, its network of connections behind the scenes was definitely massive, only not visible on the surface.
After all, alma mater is alma mater. After achieving success, graduates would always give some face. And unless one intended to live in seclusion, the friendships formed in school would be an invaluable network.
Furthermore, academies rarely interfered in worldly affairs. Few people would be foolish enough to provoke them without reason.
And as for the Elemental Academy, with four Douluo personally stationed, they had the strength to remain detached and watch the storm from the sidelines.
After all, aside from personal grudges, all conflicts boiled down to interests. When the cost far outweighed the gain, unless one had been kicked in the head by a donkey, no one would provoke the Elemental Academy.
As Ning Fengzhi finished speaking, another elder said: "That was then, and this is now. The situation has changed. Perhaps the stance of the Elemental Academy may also change. Clan Master, have you heard of that rumor about them?"
Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow. "You mean the matter of Tang Hao being killed by Mu Yang of the Elemental Academy through a spirit fusion skill?"
For additional chapters
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