Shrek City, Spirit Pagoda Pagoda Master's Office.
The afternoon sunlight slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows, dragging out a bright strip of light on the dark ground.
Behind the large desk where Qiangu Dongfeng used to sit, Huo Yuhao was now seated.
After a series of reforms to the Spirit Pagoda's system, the Pagoda Master's daily work was much easier than before, but there were still quite a few files every day that required his review and approval.
After all, as the Pagoda Master, many matters ultimately had to pass his nod before they could be implemented.
"Dongdongdong."
A knock sounded. Huo Yuhao put down the pen in his hand and called out without raising his head, "Come in."
The office door was pushed open, and a familiar figure walked in—none other than Leng Yaozhu.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao quickly stood up, his tone carrying a hint of "grumbling" as he said, "Aunt Leng, why are you still knocking when you come over?"
Leng Yaozhu smiled, her tone peaceful yet carrying her usual seriousness, "Etiquette cannot be discarded. You are not only my Disciple now, but also the Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda."
Knowing her temperament, Huo Yuhao didn't say anything more and led Leng Yaozhu to sit on the sofa.
Then he asked directly, "Aunt Leng came here specially, there must be something, right?"
Leng Yaozhu nodded, the smile on her face fading slightly as she put on a solemn expression.
She slowly began, "Shrek Academy just released a message that it will officially announce its reconstruction in seven days, and is preparing to start recruiting Students again next year."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao raised his brows slightly. He hadn't expected Aunt Leng to come specifically to talk about Shrek Academy.
However, he wasn't too surprised. After all, as early as a year ago, Shrek Academy had already released messages to the outside world through the Tang Sect's channels, proclaiming its imminent comeback.
Now that the reconstruction date was officially confirmed, it was within expectations.
He smiled, "If Qiangu Dongfeng were still around, I'm afraid he'd be making moves again."
Leng Yaozhu nodded upon hearing this. With her understanding of Qiangu Dongfeng, that man would definitely never sit by and watch Shrek Academy rise again.
She then slightly curved the corners of her mouth and said, "Ya Li is still in the Tang Sect, so she shouldn't participate in the reconstruction of Shrek Academy anymore. Therefore, even if the academy is rebuilt, it will fall far short of its former momentum."
Huo Yuhao stood up, walked to the window, and looked out from a high vantage point.
From here, he could just see the direction of Shrek Academy's ruins. The broken walls dragged out long shadows under the afternoon sunlight, like an unhealed scar stretching across the heart of this city.
He watched in silence for a moment before slowly speaking, "Even so, when seven days pass, I'm afraid many people in the Federation will pay attention to this matter. After all, many people may not want to see Shrek rebuilt."
Leng Yaozhu nodded in agreement, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Based on my understanding of the Light and Dark Douluo, she must have a reason for choosing to officially announce the reconstruction of Shrek Academy in seven days."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao didn't reply immediately, his gaze still falling upon those ruins.
A moment later, he slowly withdrew his gaze and turned to Leng Yaozhu, "Then let's wait and see what will actually happen in seven days."
...
Although Shrek Academy held extremely high prestige in the hearts of the vast masses of the continent, it had after all been destroyed for many years.
Now wanting to "re-enter the Jianghu", naturally it couldn't just be settled with a plain and simple notice.
It had to make some commotion in order to reawaken the world's memories and attention.
Leng Yaozhu's judgment of Long Yeyue was indeed very accurate. Her choice to rebuild Shrek Academy in seven days truly had her own profound meaning.
At this moment, right inside the underground base of Shrek Academy's Sea God Lake, the surviving members of Shrek from back then were gathering together.
The light here was still somewhat dim, but the atmosphere was completely different from the oppressive silence of the past. Everyone's face carried a long-awaited excitement and solemnity.
Long Yeyue and Cai Yue'er stood at the very front of the team, their gazes slowly sweeping across the young faces before them, their eyes filled with gratification.
Over the past few years, it was precisely these Students who were willing to dedicate everything to the academy, cultivating hard in this underground space without relaxing for a single moment.
They all harbored the same belief in their hearts: when the day Shrek Academy was rebuilt arrived, they would walk out upright and proudly, letting everyone see that Shrek had not truly perished.
Now, the moment they had been waiting for was finally coming.
Standing at the very front of the Students were a total of two people. One of them was Na'er, the "Lord of Restoration" chosen by Long Yeyue. Her silver-white long hair emitted a soft luster under the dim light, and her posture was straight like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed.
And the other was Yuanen Yehui with wine-red short hair.
Long Yeyue looked at the two of them with satisfaction in her eyes, and slowly said, "In seven days, it will all depend on the two of you."
Na'er and Yuanen Yehui met her gaze at the same time, replying in unison, "We won't let Elder Long down."
Their voices overlapped, echoing through the empty underground space with extreme solemnity!
Seeing this, Long Yeyue nodded with satisfaction. She was not all that surprised that Na'er's Spirit Power had broken through to level ninety.
With Na'er's talent and strength, although this achievement was pleasing, it was also within expectations.
However, what truly shocked Long Yeyue's heart was that Yuanen Yehui's Spirit Power had unexpectedly reached level ninety as well, actually catching up to Na'er's cultivation speed.
For others, the higher the Spirit Power Rank, the slower the cultivation speed; yet Yuanen Yehui seemed to be the exact opposite. Her cultivation speed after becoming a Spirit Saint was even faster than before, as if some long-suppressed potential was pouring out with accumulated strength.
Long Yeyue's arrangement was actually very simple. She planned to have Na'er and Yuanen Yehui break through to Titled Douluo publicly on the day Shrek Academy officially announced its reconstruction.
Doing this could not only showcase the talent of Shrek Academy's young Students, but also declare to all sectors of the continent that Shrek's strength had not experienced a break in succession due to that disaster. This academy had successors, and its Bloodline had never truly been severed.
Her gaze crossed the two people in front and landed on the other Students behind. With an inspiring power in her voice, she loudly said, "Everyone else must also cultivation hard and strive to break through to Titled Douluo as soon as possible."
"Now the academy is awaiting recovery from decline, you are the hope of the academy, and also the cornerstone of the academy's future reconstruction."
"Your names will be permanently engraved in the history of Shrek."
When these words fell, excitement floated onto the faces of many Students, as if they were participating in an extremely great cause.
Those young eyes reflected the dim light of the underground base, yet they shone astonishingly bright.
Looking at everyone's expressions, Long Yeyue and Cai Yue'er exchanged glances, a trace of a smile flashing across both of their faces.
The same thought rose in their hearts simultaneously— "The popular sentiment can be put to good use!"
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A/N:
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.