Cooperation

"Branch academy?" Mu En followed Yue Hongchen's suggestion, considering the potential gains and losses of putting it into practice.

"Exactly, a branch academy." Yue Hongchen took a bite of grilled fish before continuing. "Shrek will establish a branch academy at Mingde Hall, while Shrek's Soul Tool Department will be taken over by Mingde Hall and made into a subsidiary hall."

"But Mingde Hall seems to be based at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Are you planning to...?" Mu En could think of only one possibility for establishing a branch academy at Mingde Hall.

Yue Hongchen didn't beat around the bush. He readily admitted it. "Just as you suspect, the crown prince can still interfere with Mingde Hall, but my grandfather has firmly taken control of its core. Unless the two sides fall out completely, my grandfather will always have more say in Mingde Hall than the crown prince.

"By now, the Hongchen Family has bought up the land occupied by Mingde Hall and the Hongchen Family. As long as you agree, we can start building the branch academy tonight. In the future, outstanding graduates of Shrek's branch academy will enter Sea God's Pavilion, while outstanding graduates of Mingde Hall's subsidiary hall will enter Mingde Hall."

After hearing Yue Hongchen out, Mu En sat up and smiled at him. Under that gaze, Yue Hongchen felt as if Mu En could see right through him. But he couldn't back down now; otherwise, even if they cooperated in the future, Shrek would still have more say than Mingde Hall.

After a long pause, Mu En finally looked away and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "It seems there's one thing you haven't mentioned. Once Shrek's branch academy is established there, the crown prince will lose control of Mingde Hall completely. He never intended to control the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy itself. In his eyes, controlling Mingde Hall naturally meant controlling the academy. In the future, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy will have nothing but the word 'royal' in its name; in reality, it will be entirely controlled by the Hongchen Family."

"But doesn't that fit Shrek's principle of not getting involved with any faction?" Yue Hongchen countered.

"Isn't the Hongchen Family and Mingde Hall a faction?" Mu En said cheerfully. He could already guess how Yue Hongchen would respond, and he liked the answer. He appreciated clever people.

"Shrek Academy is simply cooperating with Mingde Hall, which represents the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. This is just friendly cooperation between the strongest academies on the two continents, isn't it?"

Just as expected, Yue Hongchen said exactly that. Mu En opened his eyes and looked at him, clearly pleased. If only Yue Hongchen were one of his juniors.

With that thought, Mu En stood and prepared to leave. "I agree. We'll issue the announcement tomorrow, and Shrek will choose teachers for the branch academy as soon as possible. I hope Mingde Hall will make its preparations just as quickly."

With that, Mu En turned into a streak of light and flew away. Seeing him leave, Xuan Zi stared at the grilled fish on the rack, reluctant to go and unsure whether he should.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao quickly handed all the grilled fish to Xuan Zi. Only then did Xuan Zi happily fly away.

With the Pavilion Master and Deputy Pavilion Master gone, Yan Shaozhe exchanged a few words with Yue Hongchen and Huo Yuhao before leaving as well.

Only after those powerful figures had left did everyone finally relax. The atmosphere had been so oppressive that they hadn't even dared breathe too loudly.

As soon as they were gone, Tang Ya immediately returned to normal and teased Yue Hongchen. "Well, well, Xiao Yueyue. Quietly making a fortune, are you?"

Yue Hongchen had always been a low-key person, so he quickly waved his hands. "Mingde Hall and Sea God's Pavilion are two of the strongest factions. Cooperation benefits both sides. I only carried out my mission."

"So does that mean Yuhao will be joining Mingde Hall in the future?" Tang Ya looked at the only other disciple of the Tang Sect besides herself, unsure what to feel.

She knew Huo Yuhao had joined the Soul Tool Department. It wouldn't be long before the department became a subsidiary hall of Mingde Hall, and after graduating, Huo Yuhao would surely join Mingde Hall for the sake of better prospects.

Before Huo Yuhao could express his intentions, Tang Ya hurried over to Yue Hongchen and looked at him pitifully. "Xiao Yueyue—no, Young Hall Master! Once you help me reclaim the Tang Sect's old headquarters, could you let me join Mingde Hall?"

She had thought it through. The Tang Sect had been left behind by the times. Once Huo Yuhao left, only she and Beibei would remain, and Beibei was destined to enter Sea God's Pavilion one day. Then she'd be left alone to watch over the Tang Sect.

She might as well join Mingde Hall. Then, when she and Beibei got married, at least they'd be a suitable match.

Yue Hongchen thought it over and replied, "Although Senior Sister Xiao Ya doesn't have much talent for Soul Tools, Mingde Hall does need powerful Soul Masters to hold down the fort. We can't have nothing but Soul Engineers."

With that, Yue Hongchen smiled and held out his hand to Tang Ya. "Once you've avenged your great sorrow, Mingde Hall's doors will be open to you. Consider this an early welcome, Senior Sister Xiao Ya!"

Tang Ya excitedly grabbed Yue Hongchen's hand in both of hers. "I can't promise I'll become a Titled Douluo, but I'll definitely work hard at cultivation!"

At that, Yue Hongchen simply shook his head with a smile.

"There's a Blue Silver Emperor on the Sun Moon Continent. With him around, how can you not have confidence in yourself, Senior Sister Xiao Ya?"

Before Tang Ya could get excited, Beibei rushed up to Yue Hongchen and grabbed his other hand, brimming with excitement. "Junior Yue, could you tell us where that Soul Beast is?"

"Yeah, Xiao Yueyue. Just tell us where that Soul Beast is, and we'll give you everything the Tang Sect has, no strings attached."

"Ah, this..." Yue Hongchen looked at the two of them clutching his hands and felt conflicted.

He didn't mind Tang Ya holding his hand—she was a beautiful woman, after all. But having Beibei, a grown man, hold his hand wasn't his thing.

He quickly yanked his hand free and leaned back. "Don't get excited. Since Senior Sister Xiao Ya is joining Mingde Hall, she's one of us. That Soul Beast's Martial Soul is a perfect match for hers. Who else should it go to?"

The forest where the Blue Silver Emperor lived had already been bought by the Hongchen Family. The Hongchen Family had never had a Soul Hunting Forest of its own, and the forest was rather remote. The crown prince, who didn't know any better, had taken one look and approved the purchase.

Once the two had calmed down a little, Yue Hongchen continued. "As for the Tang Sect's assets, Senior Sister Xiao Ya, I'll suggest to my grandfather that the Tang Sect become a department of Mingde Hall, responsible for assassinations and gathering intelligence. The Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons are meant to be used in secret, aren't they? This department would suit the Tang Sect perfectly."

What was the point of letting the Tang Sect disappear completely? It was far more interesting to make it his own.

Tang Ya agreed without a second thought. At least this way, the Tang Sect's secret techniques wouldn't be lost.

"In that case, can I join Mingde Hall?" Wang Dong, who hadn't said a word until then, looked at Yue Hongchen with determination.

A thought in her heart had been urging her to join the Tang Sect. Now that the Tang Sect was merging with Mingde Hall and Huo Yuhao would join Mingde Hall in the future, she might as well join too.

After Wang Dong spoke, Xiao Xiao raised her hand as well. She glanced at Yue Hongchen, then hurriedly looked away. "Um, I'd like to join Mingde Hall too."

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao? Why did they want to join as well?

Though Yue Hongchen didn't understand, he welcomed them. Wang Dong was an unpredictable factor, but with her right under his nose, there was plenty he could do. As for Xiao Xiao...

What faction would turn away a genius with Twin Martial Souls?