Leng Yaozhu's Exorbitant Demand

Leng Yaozhu leaned back slightly, adopting a relaxed yet extremely imposing posture against the wide chair back, her arms crossed over her chest.

Her red lips curved slightly as she looked directly at Ya Li: "What you just mentioned... resources, secret techniques, Soul Bone."

She gently shook her head. "Our Spirit Pagoda has no shortage of supplies."

Upon hearing this, Ya Li's nerves tightened even more.

As expected, material compensation alone is not enough. Leng Yaozhu must have come with a purpose, and it is no small one.

She took a deep breath, maintaining her gentle and calm demeanor. "In that case, Yao Zhu, please feel free to speak your mind. As long as it's within reasonable limits, Shrek is willing to consider it."

Leng Yaozhu narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly. "I brought it up... and you're already agreeing? Do you think you alone can make decisions for Shrek Academy?"

Ya Li met her gaze and nodded. "I came here to handle this matter entirely."

"Even if there is anything beyond my authority, I can immediately send a message back to the Sea God Pavilion and request the Elder to make a decision."

"Good!"

Leng Yaozhu raised her right hand and tapped it lightly on the smooth tabletop, producing a crisp sound.

She leaned forward, her gaze sharp and unwavering, no longer joking, and directly stated her terms.

"I want five spots each for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Devil Island!"

"This is to compensate for the harm and distress caused to these children by Shrek's misconduct!"

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! Devil Island!

When Leng Yaozhu uttered those two names, even Ya Li, who was mentally prepared, couldn't help but feel a hint of shock flash across her emerald green eyes.

She never expected that Leng Yaozhu would make such an outrageous demand.

Ya Li's expression changed slightly, and she immediately said, "Yao Zhu, you should know how precious the spots for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Devil Island are!"

"That was an opportunity prepared by the academy to cultivate true pillars of society, for the generations of Shrek Seven Devils and a very small number of core members who made great contributions!"

Leng Yaozhu looked at her leisurely, with an expression that said, "Of course I know."

"These are my conditions, there's no room for negotiation."

"You Shrek students can choose not to agree."

"Then I am happy to make public everything that happened in the lobby of the Heaven Sea Hotel yesterday, so that all the Soul Master on the continent and the people of the world can judge this matter."

"Take a look at your Shrek Academy... and see what it's really like!"

Ya Li's expression turned serious. Her weakness had been exploited, and now she had no choice but to let things go.

However, the quotas for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Devil Island are too complex to be decided by her alone.

She remained silent for a moment, her eyes filled with a complex and shifting expression.

Finally, she slowly exhaled and looked at Leng Yaozhu: "This matter is of great importance, I need to... consult the Sea God Pavilion."

Leng Yaozhu seemed to have expected this, and nonchalantly raised her hand. "Please, I'll wait here."

It was quite a while before Ya Li pushed the door open and came back in.

She returned to her seat, looked at Leng Yaozhu opposite her, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "Shrek Academy... can agree to your conditions."

Upon hearing this, Leng Yaozhu couldn't help but curl her lips into a smug smile.

This result was not unexpected.

Faced with the potential damage to Shrek's reputation and the risk of antagonizing the Spirit Pagoda, even such core resources had to be sacrificed.

However, Ya Li didn't finish her sentence.

She then tossed out Shrek's demands. "However, we also have one condition: the five students of Class Zero must formally Shrek Academy and become a part of the academy."

"Non- Shrek Academy students are being granted opportunities that only the most core disciples can access... Such an exception is something the academy cannot explain to generations of students."

"Only when they become part of the academy will this compensation be legitimate and silence any criticism."

After listening, Leng Yaozhu nodded in understanding; this request was within her expectations.

"Can."

She readily agreed, but with conditions.

"However, Yuhao and Gu Yue will not enter the Inner Court."

"As for Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan, whether they choose to enter the Inner Court is their own decision, and Shrek must not interfere."

"Also, even if they were to enroll at Shrek, it wouldn't be now; they'd have to wait until they're twelve."

"No problem!"

Ya Li agreed with unusual decisiveness this time as well.

The most important thing right now is to reach an agreement and quell the conflict.

Just as the negotiations involving the two major powers were about to come to a close, Huo Yuhao, who had been sitting quietly behind Leng Yaozhu, suddenly stood up without warning.

He calmly looked at Ya Li across from him and said, "Aunt Ya Li, I... have two more conditions."

Swish...

All eyes in the conference room instantly focused on the young man who had stood up.

A hint of surprise flashed in Leng Yaozhu's eyes, but she did not interrupt.

Ya Li paused slightly, then looked at Huo Yuhao intently and nodded gently, signaling him to continue.

Having received permission, Huo Yuhao no longer hesitated and stated his first condition.

"We hope that Shrek Academy can increase the number of admission slots for the Skysea Alliance within the next five years."

A hint of confusion flashed in Ya Li's eyes as she asked, "Yuhao, all five of you can enter Shrek Academy without taking the entrance exam; you don't need any special quotas."

"I know." Huo Yuhao nodded. "These spots weren't earned for ourselves."

"Back then, in order to facilitate the match against the Shrek Team, we... practically caused a ruckus at the Heaven Sea Alliance Tournament."

"Regardless of the initial intention, it has ultimately caused quite a stir."

"These extra application slots... consider them a small compensation to the Skysea Alliance."

Upon hearing this, not only did Ya Li's eyes flash with admiration, but even Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze towards Huo Yuhao filled with even greater appreciation.

This child is not only exceptionally talented, but also incredibly thoughtful and meticulous. Everyone likes someone who knows how to be grateful.

After a moment's thought, Ya Li immediately agreed, "Yes, starting next year, Shrek Academy will provide an additional twenty places for the Skysea Alliance each year for the next five years."

As the plenipotentiary representative in this negotiation, she has the authority to grant permission and can make the decision directly.

"Ya Li, Aunt Yali."

Huo Yuhao politely thanked him and calmly stated his second condition.

"Another condition is that I hope Silver Moon Douluo can personally apologize to the six teachers and students of Class Zero for what happened yesterday."

"Yuhao!"

Wu Changkong's deep voice rang out. Although Cai Yue'er's actions yesterday were extremely heinous, she was still a level 96 Super Douluo with a venerable status. Face was more important to her than life itself.

Given her personality, making her bow down and admit her mistakes to a group of juniors in public would be tantamount to completely shattering her pride, which would probably be even more unacceptable to her than being killed.

Wu Changkong was worried that this request might escalate the conflict and even provoke Cai Yue'er's more covert revenge in the future.

However, to his surprise, after a brief silence, Ya Li agreed without any hesitation.

"No problem."

"If you do something wrong, you should naturally apologize, regardless of your status; this principle applies to all."

At this point, no one raised any further objections.

This negotiation, which was fraught with twists and turns and involved two major forces, finally came to a close at this moment.

As everyone stood up and filed out of the somber meeting room, Shrek's group waited silently outside.

Leading the group was none other than Cai Yue'er, the arrogant Silver Moon Douluo from yesterday.

She stood there, her back ramrod straight, yet exuding a stiff, stubborn air.

Her gaze was fixed on Huo Yuhao, the hatred, humiliation, and resentment surging within her almost solidifying, as if she wished she could devour the boy before her alive!

"Yue'er!"

Ya Li's voice rang out promptly, no longer gentle, but carrying an unprecedented seriousness.

Upon hearing this, Cai Yue'er trembled violently, unable to suppress the sound.

She clenched her teeth, her cheek muscles twitched slightly, and her fingernails almost dug into her palms as she clenched her fists.

Silence, like a bowstring on the verge of breaking.

Finally, under Ya Li's calm gaze, Cai Yue'er very slowly bowed her proud back to Huo Yuhao and the teachers and students of Class Zero behind him.

"Sorry."

She squeezed out the three words slowly and deliberately, her voice hoarse and dry, as if she had used up all her strength.

"This matter... was... my mistake."

After saying this complete sentence, she suddenly straightened up, turned around and left without even looking at anyone.

Looking in the direction she disappeared, Huo Yuhao remained calm.

Being able to force a Titled Douluo to bow his head in public, even if the apology was as dry and insincere as a withered tree, was enough.

He never expected to get genuine remorse from Cai Yue'er; what he wanted was this "bowing" posture.