According to information from Shrek Academy, Tianhun Empire's resistance against the Sun Moon Empire was not particularly fierce for two reasons.
Firstly, whenever the Sun Moon Empire occupied a city, it would immediately announce that the Empire would treat all citizens of the former Tianhun Empire equally, promising free Spirit awakening for all age-appropriate children. This alone was enough to dismantle the fighting Spirit of most commoners.
Secondly, whenever the Sun Moon Empire occupied a city, it would immediately control the strongest local forces or Spirit Masters. This served both to deter others and to make potential resistors hesitant.
In short, judging from how the Sun Moon Empire stabilized the situation in the former Tianhun Empire territory within half a year, they had prepared for this war of unification for a long time and very thoroughly. This top-down will would not disappear due to the iteration of the supreme ruler. Zhang Lexuan's ability to quickly control the Sun Moon Empire was actually a benefit of this will. This was the general trend.
The collapse of the Tianhun Empire was the most impactful event on the continent during Zhu Ziyang's seclusion. Following that was another matter that Shrek Academy needed to take seriously and required Zhu Ziyang's decision: three months ago, when Heaven Dou City was heavily besieged, Shrek Academy received a request from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
As one of Shrek Academy's traditional allies, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was much more reliable than the Clear Sky Sect. Therefore, Xuan Zi and the other elders of the Tian Yuan Pavilion took their request very seriously. However, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's request shocked them while also filling them with excitement.
"You mean, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wants to join our Shrek Academy?" Zhu Ziyang was also somewhat surprised, his eyes wide as he looked at Xian Lin'er.
"Yes." Xian Lin'er nodded, her expression serious and earnest, saying, "Sect Master Ning Yuntao of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School hopes that our Shrek Academy can provide them with a piece of land as a residence for their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile family. In exchange, they are willing to give seventy percent of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's wealth to our Academy. At the same time, they will no longer refer to themselves as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, but will change to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Ning family, and they are willing to become an affiliated family of Shrek Academy."
"Tsk tsk tsk." Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but click his tongue upon hearing this, saying with emotion, "As expected of the most business-savvy family on the continent. Their calculations are truly shrewd!"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School contributed a lot to the defense of Heaven Dou City. Most of the strongest individuals within the Sect were either killed or captured. They themselves have little combat capability, so choosing to join our Shrek Academy for self-preservation is the best option," Yan Shaozhe said.
"That's right. Although the Sun Moon Empire hasn't moved against the noble class of the Tianhun Empire yet, anyone with eyes can see that it's only a matter of time. As one of the long-standing Sects of the Tianhun Empire, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will definitely be among the first to be purged. If they want to protect themselves, besides resisting, it seems their only option is to seek refuge with our Shrek Academy," Qian Duoduo echoed.
"It seems everyone's thoughts are very consistent. Very well, tell Sect Master Ning Yuntao that we can accept them, but the conditions must be increased. In addition to the original conditions, one more point must be added: the disciples of the Ning family need to join the Shrek Academy Supervisory Group." Zhu Ziyang said indifferently, "This matter will be entrusted to you, Senior Sister. However, one point must be clear: the reason our Shrek Academy accepts the Ning family is out of consideration for the Nine Treasure Douluo and the Food God Douluo."
"No problem." Xian Lin'er nodded and agreed.
The Tian Yuan Pavilion meeting concluded quickly, but Zhu Ziyang's tasks were not over. He still needed to address all the disciples and students later. Although the disciples and students who remained at Shrek Academy were all staunch Academy loyalists, they were in a period of drastic ideological change, and many would still feel lost. This required Zhu Ziyang, the Head of the Tian Yuan Pavilion, the spiritual leader of Shrek Academy, to strengthen their beliefs.
Taking advantage of the time while Yan Shaozhe and others gathered the disciples, Zhu Ziyang found Fifth Huan'er waiting for him under the Golden Ancient Tree.
"Huan Er!" Zhu Ziyang called out.
"Brother Ziyang!" Fifth Huan'er excitedly ran over and hugged Zhu Ziyang, her pretty face filled with longing.
"It's been a year, have you missed me?" Zhu Ziyang asked with a smile, his arm around Fifth Huan'er's slender waist.
"Mm!" Fifth Huan'er buried her head in Zhu Ziyang's chest and softly responded.
A year had passed, and Fifth Huan'er's cultivation had now reached level 95. The reason for this rapid progress was entirely understandable; after all, before Zhu Ziyang went into seclusion, her cultivation had already reached level 88. Before his seclusion, Zhu Ziyang had given her a medicinal liquid equivalent to half a Source Golden Pill. Reaching level 95 in a year was very reasonable.
"Has Sister Xiaotao still not come out of seclusion?" After a moment of tenderness, Zhu Ziyang unromantically brought up the name of another woman.
However, Fifth Huan'er didn't mind at all. After all, her relationship with Ma Xiaotao was closer than that of biological sisters. She replied, "Hmm, Sister Xiaotao came out of seclusion a month after you went into seclusion, Brother Ziyang. After I told her the news of your seclusion to accept your God Position and gave her the Source Golden Pill medicinal liquid, she went back into seclusion. She said this time she wants to achieve godhood in one go before coming out."
"Is that so?" Zhu Ziyang was slightly stunned, then his divine sense swept through the Golden Ancient Tree's underground area, and he quickly found Ma Xiaotao sitting cross-legged in a tree hollow.
At this moment, Ma Xiaotao's aura was very stable, and intense fire elemental energy circulated around her. As she inhaled and exhaled, this energy was continuously absorbed and released. Zhu Ziyang could clearly feel that two completely unequal energies within Ma Xiaotao's body were clashing and circulating, achieving a peculiar balance.
He immediately withdrew his divine sense, a sigh of relief escaping his heart, and a natural smile appeared on his face. He said, "Sister Xiaotao should be able to come out of seclusion in at most half a year."
"Really!" Fifth Huan'er's face lit up with surprise upon hearing this, and she asked, "Then will she be able to achieve godhood after she comes out?"
"Mm." Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "She is currently transforming the spirit power within her body into divine force. The moment she completes this transformation, she can officially accept the God Position of Fire God."
The transformation of spirit power into divine force is a necessary step for mortals to advance to deities. Only when all the energy within the body is converted into divine force can one withstand the pressure of divine laws on the body. Only then can the mortal flesh evolve into a divine body, becoming a true deity. For mortals under other starry skies, this is an incredibly difficult task, but for them under the Douluo Starry Sky, it is actually the simplest thing.
Because the God Position will accomplish everything for them. Although it is like pulling up seedlings to help them grow, you cannot deny that the seedlings that have been pulled up have indeed grown taller.
A king is not honored by his crown, but a crown is honored by its king!
— —
Outer Courtyard, Shrek Plaza.
All the Outer Courtyard students who remained in the Academy had arrived. The oldest among them were in their sixth year, while the youngest were only in their first year. However, the first-year youngsters were also about to be promoted. In three months, it would be the new enrollment day. Although they were unsure if they would have new junior schoolmates, they were currently very confused, not knowing why the teachers had suddenly gathered them in the plaza.
However, many students' gazes fell upon another group of people. They were uniformly dressed in red Shrek Academy uniforms, which were said to be the uniforms of Inner Courtyard Disciples. And that group of people in red uniforms were undoubtedly the legendary Inner Courtyard Disciples. The Inner Courtyard, how desirable!
Among the Inner Courtyard Disciples were many of Zhu Ziyang's acquaintances. Leading them were naturally Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and others. However, compared to the bewilderment of the Outer Courtyard students, the Inner Courtyard Disciples' expressions were mostly solemn. Huo Yuhao's face was even extremely grim, while Bei Bei and Tang Ya were comforting him.
Upon closer observation, one would notice a lone woman standing not far from Huo Yuhao and the others, also wearing an Inner Courtyard uniform. The woman had a graceful and ample figure, with blue hair cascading down her back like waves. Her temperament was ethereal, like a high-mountain flower.
However, her appearance was so unsettling. What should have been a delicate and lovely smiling face constantly maintained an inappropriate sternness, creating an indescribable sense of detachment for anyone who saw it.
Zhu Ziyang, leading the elders of the Tian Yuan Pavilion, arrived through the air, landing in front of all the students, disciples, and teachers.
With their appearance, Shrek Plaza immediately fell silent. In the vast space, only Zhu Ziyang's gentle voice could be heard.
"Everyone..."