Guidance

It was a pity that Ning Hao had no idea what the young man was thinking at this moment.

In his eyes, the boy's performance in the arena was merely a desperate, low-level tactic to attract the attention of the higher-ups.

Furthermore, when it came down to it, the current problem could not be blamed on Ning Huan.

Consequently, he never even considered the possibility that he was being played.

"Due to special circumstances, there are currently about a dozen spies within the sect."

"From the imperial family and other sects to Shrek, almost every major power has someone planted here."

"Therefore, it won't be long before intelligence regarding you appears on the desks of various factions."

Immediately after, as if afraid his confession might frighten Ning Huan, Ning Hao hurriedly tried to make amends, terrified that this genius he had just acquired—before he could even build a rapport—might choose to defect to another power.

"But don't be afraid!"

"Although the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect may not compare to a behemoth like Shrek, we are still one of the best on the continent."

"Protecting you is a simple matter!"

"What about Shrek?"

In an instant, those five words struck Ning Hao like a bolt of lightning.

The shock left his head spinning.

The familiar, crisp voice made him want to snap back in reprimand.

However, when he turned his head, he met the large, curious eyes of Ning Tian.

Out of guilt for having schemed against his daughter twice, the scolding that had reached his lips was instantly swallowed back down.

"Sigh, Tian'er, you are right. It is Shrek that I am worried about."

Having lost all his composure in front of his daughter, Ning Hao felt quite helpless.

He sighed and voiced his concerns.

"Although it is unlikely that they would be jealous over a single piece of intelligence,"

"But Shrek... well, I wouldn't be surprised by anything they do."

"They have done more outrageous things than this; one more wouldn't make a difference."

The pointed remark made Ning Huan raise an eyebrow.

But this was clearly not the right time to press for details.

He had to suppress the thought for now and focus on coming up with a countermeasure.

There was no helping it.

Even though he didn't harbor much hostility toward Shrek, that didn't mean he wasn't disgusted by certain individuals within it.

Like that gluttonous ox who ruined everything and never repented.

The yellow chicken who lived in the light but was full of schemes.

And that madwoman who considered herself a master teacher and made people run laps all day long.

If he really had to deal with those people, Ning Huan would rather restart his life than suffer under their tutelage.

"Uncle Ning, I have a question for you."

"Hm? Go ahead."

Ning Hao was curious to hear what he had to say.

"You keep saying you want to inherit the legacy of your ancestors and revitalize the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect."

"So, to what extent must the sect prosper for it to match your dream?"

"To be an unrivaled sect on the continent?"

"To use the sect as a foundation to establish a new empire?"

"Or perhaps, to become the next Shrek, standing high above the Frost Sky?"

"Pfft!! Cough, cough, cough! Kid, you can't just say things like that!"

Before the words had even faded, Wind Douluo suddenly spat out all the wine in his mouth.

Violent coughing echoed through the barrier, jolting everyone out of their shock.

For a moment, the sound of sharp intakes of breath followed one after another.

Even Ning Hao could not remain unaffected.

"Hiss, Xiao Huan, is this question really that important?"

"Of course!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Huan spoke without a moment's hesitation:

"Uncle Ning, your answer will directly determine how we should face the future!"

As these words fell, Ning Hao's brows furrowed slightly.

His eyes narrowed as his fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest.

Those familiar with him knew this was his tell when he was deep in thought.

As time ticked by, the night deepened, yet the area outside the hall remained brightly lit.

Inside, apart from Wu Feng, whose eyelids were drooping, no one else felt the slightest hint of sleepiness.

Everyone sat in their seats, contemplating the question Ning Huan had just posed.

After an unknown amount of time, the steady tapping abruptly ceased.

The group instinctively looked up toward the main seat, waiting in silence for his response.

"Xiao Huan, I understand what you mean."

"I can tell you clearly, Uncle: rather than vying for hegemony over the continent, I would much prefer to lead the sect in preserving its own integrity and remaining aloof from worldly affairs!"

"How is that for an answer?"

Ning Huan: "..."

This was likely the answer he had most hoped to receive!

After all, the fact that he could come up with a fourth option on his own meant that Ning Hao had, to some extent, seen through the current situation on the continent.

He had completely abandoned certain unrealistic notions.

Otherwise, he would have truly been in for a headache for quite some time.

On the other side, seeing Ning Huan's expression relax and the previous tension vanish, Ning Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He couldn't help but feel fortunate that, at that very moment, a sudden flash of insight had allowed him to roughly discern the current situation and trajectory of the continent.

In the end, he had gritted his teeth and made the hard choice to sever the fantasies of his youth.

The rolling tide of history was simply not something an ordinary person could resist!

However, the youth before him was clearly no ordinary person!

In terms of current achievements alone, Ning Huan was far more outstanding than the Seven Gods of ten thousand years ago.

Once he matured a little more, he would be enough to shield the sect from the wind and rain.

As for where that wind and rain might come from, that was beside the point.

Therefore, what he needed to do now was to copy the example of that divine ancestor from ten thousand years ago.

Choose the right person, cling to their coattails, follow closely, and never waver!

As long as they persisted to the end, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect could absolutely reach unimaginable heights!

Of course, the "wait and see" approach and playing both sides as practiced by the ancestor Feng Zhi were out of the question; they had to go all-in.

The current situation offered no chance for him to rebuild the sect a second time.

The lessons of the past were the guides for the future!

"It is good that you can see it clearly, Uncle Ning. The situation of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect is, after all, far too unique."

Ning Hao nodded in deep agreement, his tone filled with emotion.

"Actually, for the past few years, I've had a premonition that this continent would not remain peaceful for much longer."

"In ten years at the least, or a hundred at the most, the Sun Moon Empire and the Douluo side will inevitably clash again."

"At that time, without sufficient strength, let alone the inheritance of the sect, even our personal safety would not be guaranteed..."

He then shifted the topic, looking at Ning Huan with a hint of curiosity:

"That said, since you were able to guide me to see through the continental situation, do you have a corresponding strategy?"

It would have been better if he hadn't said that.

Once spoken, the focus of the entire room shifted back to Ning Huan, leaving him feeling quite helpless.

He had fought for two days in the soul tournament and spent the better part of the day arguing here—he was exhausted, alright!

"It doesn't exactly count as a strategy, just a rough idea. Whether it works or not is another matter."

Helpless, Ning Huan had to muster his energy and speak at a rapid pace:

"If we want to preserve ourselves in troubled times, strength is one aspect, though I have no way to help with that."

"Even if I could bring over a Titled Douluo, you probably wouldn't dare to use them anyway."

Ning Hao: I have a feeling I'm being slandered...

"As for the other aspect, it is our current stance."

"Stance?" Ning Hao murmured, wondering what he was thinking of.

"Yes. Tianhun, Star Luo, Dou Ling, Shrek, and even the Sun Moon Empire."

"I believe you are well aware of the differences between them."