Settled

"You really have given me a difficult problem."

The sigh was tinged with bitterness, making everyone's heart tighten.

Did Ning Hao not understand?

No!

He actually understood everything.

And he had thought of this long ago, after he suffered that undeserved calamity.

But the pride he took in being the sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect had made him instinctively unwilling to consider this possibility.

It was only when a window opened unexpectedly today that he was forced to face the storm about to descend.

As for the Shrek Academy, the three empires, and the Sun Moon Empire Ning Huan had mentioned...

To be honest, in Ning Hao's eyes, none of them was a good choice.

A man knew his own family best.

As a native of Douluo Continent, with an extensive intelligence network at his disposal,

he could say he understood the current internal situation of the three empires quite well.

The Star Luo Emperor was capable enough, but lacked boldness.

He wanted to reform the empire, but the Sun Moon Empire had locked down its technology, the nobles paid lip service while defying him, and the empire was plagued by longstanding problems and obstacles at every turn.

The Heavenly Soul Imperial Family, meanwhile, was close to the Body Sect, and the entire empire, from top to bottom, was extremely hostile to Soul Tools.

They had completely abandoned the race to keep up with the times.

Even the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, situated within their borders, couldn't easily develop Soul Tools on its own.

Although the Dou Ling Empire's reforms had gone fairly smoothly,

unfortunately, it was landlocked and did not border the Sun Moon Continent. It couldn't make a difference in the short term.

Then there were the Sun Moon Empire and Shrek Academy.

The former could be ruled out immediately.

There was no other reason: if the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect dared to join the Sun Moon Empire,

the latter and the three empires would surely have no qualms about playing the righteous card and destroying their own kin.

He knew the amplification abilities of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda all too well.

It was the kind of Martial Soul that made you think, "I may not need it, but I absolutely can't let you have it."

Although Shrek Academy was the best choice of all,

once they got involved with them, there would be no breaking free unless the people died and the sect was destroyed.

If he hadn't been forced into a corner, he wouldn't have made up his mind to send Ning Tian to study at Shrek.

At the thought, Ning Hao felt an unbearable headache.

He couldn't help wondering whether he and this boy were simply fated to clash.

How had this kid managed to bring him so much trouble the moment he arrived?

Noticing Ning Hao's brows drawing tighter, Ning Huan quietly shared his thoughts.

"Uncle Ning, if you feel none of the factions can be trusted, why not remain neutral?"

Before Ning Hao could say anything, Wind Douluo objected.

"No, no! What nonsense are you spouting, boy?"

"Don't you know that, since ancient times, fence-sitters have always come to the worst ends!"

The others nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Yet this very idea, dismissed by everyone else, caught Ning Hao's attention.

"Explain it carefully. It's better than sitting here, completely at a loss."

Ning Huan's lips curved slightly at the permission, and his regard for Ning Hao deepened.

"By neutrality, I don't mean currying favor with both sides. We need to learn from Shrek's experience."

"Shrek has an Outer Court and an Inner Court. Why don't we divide ourselves into an Outer Sect and an Inner Sect?"

"But our circumstances are unusual, so we'll need to make some adjustments to the details."

As he spoke, he tipped the remaining grains of rice from his bowl onto the table and divided them into two piles.

Then he pointed to the smaller pile and said,

"The Inner Sect will still call itself the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect. We'll select disciples within the sect who have excellent character and talent, and who can endure solitude."

"We'll find a secluded place on the continent, rebuild our foundations, and become a hidden sect. No one leaves without permission. We'll secure the advantage of the terrain."

"As long as our foundations remain hidden, the fires of war raging beyond our doors will have nothing to do with us."

Next, he pointed to the other pile and boldly laid out a plan that sounded suspiciously like splitting the sect.

"As for the Outer Sect, it will be renamed the Nine Treasures Glazed Academy."

"First, we'll train Soul Masters from the outside world and establish friendly relations with the major factions, winning the support of the people."

"Then we can use the opportunity to identify outstanding disciples and bring them into the sect, strengthening our foundations."

"However, the academy must publicly declare that it is a reformed version of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect. From then on, it must never again call itself a sect."

"That is the key."

At this point, Ning Huan turned his empty bowl upside down over the pile of rice representing the Inner Sect.

Then he pushed the other pile toward everyone.

"Within our own ranks, the sect will remain hidden, and our legacy will endure."

"Beyond our ranks, the world will know only the Nine Treasures Academy, ready to face the storm about to arrive."

As soon as he finished, Ning Hao picked up the thread, and what he said left everyone dumbfounded as well.

"Not only that, we can register with the Heaven Dou Empire and draw attention away from the Inner Sect."

"We'll make our name with the slogan of professionally training support-type Soul Masters."

"At least in this regard, I'm confident our sect's foundations are no weaker than those of any other faction."

"At the same time, we'll learn from Shrek Academy."

"We'll eradicate Evil Soul Masters within designated areas, but never take part in conflicts between the continent's factions."

"With public opinion on our side, the Nine Treasures Academy will stand on the side of righteousness."

"Terrain, popular support, righteousness—we'll have them all. Even if Shrek dislikes us, they won't dare do anything to us."

"After all, to condemn the Nine Treasures Academy would be for Shrek to condemn itself!"

Ning Hao's string of pronouncements left Wind Douluo and the others reeling.

They knew their sect master had always been bold, but to spend a millennium of accumulated foundations imitating Shrek...

You couldn't even call that a daring move!

Only Ning Huan said nothing. Not even the slightest change crossed his expression.

He and Ning Hao both knew that such a course would inevitably cause tremendous upheaval.

One misstep, and there would be no way back.

And the initial costs, investment risks, and the sect's future would all head in unpredictable directions.

Should they maintain the status quo and wait for him to grow?

Or should they actively seek out the prevailing tide, build three burrows like a cunning hare, and seize more possibilities along the way?

The choice lay in the hands of only one person.

Knowing there was no way to have it both ways, Ning Hao leaned back in his chair and quietly gazed up at the jade ornaments sparkling like stars on the ceiling.

He knew everyone was waiting for his answer.

Ten thousand years ago, because our ancestor Feng Zhi hesitated too much, the sect fell in a single day.

Now, ten thousand years later, the continent is once again in turmoil. Talents are emerging one after another, and the signs of a great age are appearing.

This moment is just like that moment.

Perhaps I never had any other choice from the start.

His thoughts came to a halt, and Ning Hao finally made up his mind.

He made a decisive choice that went against a merchant's reason.

"Uncle Shield, your senses are the sharpest when it comes to detecting auras. Please check the 'outsiders' in the sect again."

"Uncle Feng, you're the fastest. After leaving Tianluo City, travel across the continent and find a suitable place for the sect to live in seclusion."

The two unyielding orders made everyone's hearts tighten.

Wind Douluo and Shield Defense Douluo didn't dare delay, and immediately agreed.

"This old man understands."

Ning Hao nodded slightly at that and shifted his gaze back to Ning Huan.

"Xiao Huan, your task now is to focus on your cultivation. You don't need to concern yourself with worldly matters."

"The future of the sect can now be entrusted entirely to you!"

"This junior understands!"

From that moment on, Ning Huan finally secured his place in the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.

He was no longer a rootless duckweed, helpless against the waves.