Furina looked at him with a smirk and asked in turn: "So, you've actually seriously considered merging the Xuanming Sect into my Axis Cult and becoming an affiliate Sect?"
Xu Sanshi coughed twice to hide his embarrassment: "Ahem... well..."
He scratched his head and admitted frankly: "Even if I really wanted to, it's impossible to bring the Xuanming Sect into the Axis Cult. Although our Xuanming Sect isn't comparable to top-tier Sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, we aren't weak on the continent. Furthermore, we hold the secret recipe for the profound water pill, which is something all major forces fight over. Relying on this recipe, the Xuanming Sect has made quite a fortune over the years."
After listening, Furina laughed softly.
Xu Sanshi frowned, somewhat puzzled: "What are you laughing at? Everything I said is the truth."
"I know that." Furina nodded, her smile undiminished, "Of course I know that your Xuanming Sect produces profound water pills. But I also know that it seems you aren't the only ones who can produce profound water pills anymore."
She tilted her head slightly, revealing a meaningful smile: "As the Young Sect Master, you should be aware of this, right?"
Xu Sanshi's face changed drastically.
"You... how do you know that? Did Bei Bei tell you?"
He could only think of this possibility. He had only mentioned this to Bei Bei, and since Bei Bei was now part of the Axis Cult, even if he didn't say it, Tang Ya, with her loose lips, would definitely have spilled it.
As for other possibilities... he didn't dare to think, and didn't want to think.
Furina just answered indifferently: "I only know that I know more than you. If you want to listen, you have to pay a small price."
Her lips curled up, her tone carried a hint of lazy certainty: "You must know, information is something that is always valuable as long as it isn't outdated."
Xu Sanshi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he subconsciously swallowed.
Furina's demeanor didn't seem like she was tricking him.
He was silent for a moment before finally speaking: "Then... what is the price?"
A hint of a smile flashed across Furina's eyes.
The fish had taken the bait.
"It's very simple. You, as the Young Sect Master, must be loyal to me."
"This..."
Xu Sanshi's expression stiffened.
This sounded simple but was too difficult to do. The three words "loyal to me" covered too wide a scope and were too vague. Who knew what she would make him do in the future?
Just as his expression grew uglier, Furina suddenly changed the subject and laughed out loud:
"I'm just kidding. Look at how scared you are."
She waved her hand, her tone becoming relaxed: "It's free. Let's just consider it making a friend."
Xu Sanshi let out a long sigh of relief, but inside, he became even more vigilant.
You must know that free pies never fall from the sky.
Furina had already wiped away her smile and said sternly: "Let's not talk about other forces that possess the profound water pill secret recipe, let's talk about your Xuanming Sect itself. Relying solely on a recipe for the profound water pill, plus your Martial Soul and the so-called evolution method, to be honest, it's impossible to go far."
She looked straight into Xu Sanshi's eyes and said word by word: "This is the era of spirit tools. If you don't transform, don't develop spirit tools, don't expand your scale, and don't accept talents with other Martial Souls... I estimate that the Xuanming Sect won't last a thousand years before it's finished."
Xu Sanshi frowned, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval: "What you're saying... isn't that too exaggerated?"
"Exaggerated?" Furina sneered, "I even think I've extended your lifespan."
She took a step forward, her voice not loud but every word clear: "The strength of the Sun Moon Empire is growing year by year, and their research on spirit tools in terms of weaponry has long surpassed the Three Great Empires. The grudges between the Sun Moon Empire and the Three Great Empires aren't just a day or two old, and in this so-called era of peace, the small frictions at the borders have never stopped."
"Do you want to say that with Shrek Academy sitting in the middle, it can stabilize the balance of the three parties?" She shook her head, "But you must understand, no matter how strong Shrek is, in the end, it's just an academy. If a full-scale war really breaks out on the continent, whether Shrek can stand up like it did when resisting the Sun Moon Empire's invasion back then is still an unknown. Preserving itself would already be very difficult."
Xu Sanshi wanted to refute, but found he couldn't open his mouth.
Furina continued: "It's difficult for a Super Douluo to appear, and a Limit Douluo is even rarer than a phoenix feather or unicorn horn on the continent. But level 9 spirit tools can be manufactured continuously, and their power may not be inferior to a Super Douluo or even a Limit Douluo."
She looked directly at Xu Sanshi, her gaze calm but sharp: "If a real fight breaks out, I bet the Sun Moon Empire will win, even if Shrek Academy is included. Unless Shrek can completely unite the Three Great Empires under unified command. But tell me, would the Three Great Empires be willing to let Shrek ride on their heads and give orders?"
Xu Sanshi fell silent.
He didn't know much about politics and military affairs, but he understood the most basic principles—no one wants to be trampled underfoot. Shrek is only an academy in name; how could those three high and mighty emperors be willing to be driven by it?
"Definitely not." Furina gave him the answer, "When the Three Great Empires are destroyed, do you think the Xuanming Sect can stay out of it?"
Her tone was calm, but it was like stating a predetermined future: "How many Titled Douluo do you have? As many as Shrek? As many as the Three Great Empires? No. At that time, you will either be wiped out by the Sun Moon Empire along the way, or have your foundation of survival taken away. A thing as tempting as the profound water pill is only secure when held in your own hands, isn't it?"
Xu Sanshi's brows were locked tight, and he couldn't help but interrupt her: "What exactly are you trying to say? How did you get so far off topic?"
"I'm just telling you the current situation." Furina shrugged, "So that you have a bottom line in your heart when you make a decision later."
She paused, her tone becoming lighthearted: "Alright, since you think it's off-topic, let's get back to the main point and tell you who the force with the profound water pill secret recipe is."
Before she finished, Xu Sanshi suddenly spoke, his tone complex: "Could it be... your Axis Cult?"
He quickly reviewed the conversation just now in his mind—
Why did Furina want to tell him so much? Why analyze the continent's situation? Why want him to bring the Xuanming Sect to join the Axis Cult?
The answer seemed to be emerging.
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