The Closeness of Relationships

Regrettably, no matter how much of a stir those two events caused, they could never compare to the horrifying catastrophe that befell the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect three years ago.

Thinking back to that time...

A black-red torch reaching a thousand meters in height churned wantonly.

Earth-shattering explosions resounded in every direction.

The massive shockwave razed everything within a twenty-mile radius to the ground.

There was that mushroom cloud that seemed to tear the sky asunder, and the main peak of the Nine Treasures, blasted into a hundred-meter-deep crater.

Looking out, it was a scene akin to the apocalypse.

Every moment exuded an aura of despair.

Even three months after the explosion, the scattered debris and dust continued to swirl and weave high in the sky.

They gathered into a giant net that blotted out the sun, casting a gray shroud over those ruins.

This was the power generated by the combined explosion of fifteen sixth-level and one seventh-level fixed-station soul cannon shells, along with a massive quantity of gunpowder.

It was also the "fireworks show" the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect had "bankrupted itself" to put on for everyone.

Of course, if one ignores the losses, the result was quite good!

At the very least, up to this point, no one has noticed the anomalies within.

In the eyes of the world, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect suffered from lax defenses, and its ten-thousand-year foundation turned to ash in an instant.

[The transferred inner sect disciples] met an untimely death, leaving no bones behind.

[The lucky outer sect disciples] were fortunate enough to remain at the Nine Treasures Glazed Academy, though they were of little use.

Those vermilion walls, green tiles, pavilions, and towers, once of immeasurable value, were all buried alongside the glory of the past in that brilliant blaze.

Only a newly built academy and the sect's industries scattered across the Douluo Continent remained.

The remaining disciples and elders, unaware of the truth, were just as expected: completely immersed in hatred, unable to extricate themselves.

Aside from diligent cultivation, they spent their time wandering the continent, attempting to hunt down the "culprit."

Not only that, they were now competing with Shrek for work.

Whenever they encountered an Evil Soul Master...

If they could win, they killed!

If they couldn't, they called for backup and killed them as a group!

Under the seemingly unintentional guidance of Ning Hao, the disciples and elders vented all their pent-up resentment onto the Evil Soul Masters.

This greatly diverted internal pressure.

There was no other reason; after all, there was no better scapegoat in the current Douluo Continent than the Holy Spirit Cult.

As for those industries scattered abroad, they were guarded fiercely by the three "enraged" elders and patrons.

Those who attempted to loot the burning house were eventually minced into meat paste.

At first, some didn't believe it, thinking that the "declining" Nine Treasures Glazed Sect could never hold onto all its assets.

But as time passed, they discovered that the sect, once known for its refinement, had long since cast aside its airs.

As long as you dared to reach for their property, it didn't matter who you were—you were going to get hit, plain and simple!

Consequently, people finally confirmed...

The Nine Treasures Glazed Academy, having survived the disaster of sect annihilation, had gone completely mad from top to bottom.

To put it bluntly, they were like porcupines.

Never mind touching them; even an approach without malicious intent would result in being pricked by those quills.

Not even Shrek was an exception!

After all, the sight of Yan Shaozhe entering with a smile and leaving with a sour face was still fresh in everyone's memory.

It directly allowed the various powers of the continent to witness once again the terror of those who have no scruples.

They followed up with a tacit understanding, placing the [Nine Treasures Glazed Academy] on the list of those not to be provoked.

Furthermore, they strictly warned their disciples never to come into conflict with them.

At least until those three Titled Douluo were dead...

It had to be maintained!

However, even as the Douluo Continent surged with turmoil, there was always one tranquil place that remained undisturbed by the chaos of the outside world.

Nine Treasures Glazed Academy...

The afternoon sun lazily slanted through the window lattice. A young man sat leaning at a round table with ornate wood grain, his fingertips gently stroking the yellowed pages of a book.

The delicate sweetness of osmanthus cake on the table mingled with the floating scent of ink from the pages, drifting lightly beneath his nose.

A breeze suddenly swept through, causing the corner of the book to lift and fall, much like the fluttering wings of a resting butterfly.

However, if the corner of the young man's mouth hadn't been twitching slightly, this scene would surely have been even more perfect.

"I'm asking you, haven't you been getting more and more out of line these past two years?"

Watching the woman sprawled across his bed, her legs swinging back and forth, Ning Huan doubted his own decision for the first time.

"When we signed the Contract back then, the goal was to improve our communication efficiency."

"It wasn't for you to run over here whenever you have nothing to do, eat my pastries, and mess up my bed!"

"Look at yourself right now; there isn't a shred of the poise expected of a Shrek Moon Goddess!"

"Oh, don't sweat the small details~"

Zhang Lexuan shook her head nonchalantly, deftly popping the last piece of osmanthus cake from the plate into her mouth with practiced ease.

"Besides, your big sister spent over a decade cultivating before breaking through to Soul Douluo; can't I enjoy myself a little~"

"Hm? The osmanthus cake is gone... good little brother~"

"...You really are something else."

Seeing this, Ning Huan immediately rolled his eyes at her in annoyance.

Yet, that feigned look of pleading on her face made it impossible to refuse.

In the end, he had no choice but to release a sliver of soul power, levitating his own portion of dessert over to the bed.

"What kind of sins did I commit in my past life... Remember to clean up before you leave! It's covered in pastry crumbs!"

"Got it~"

"Sigh, you..."

With a sigh, he shifted his gaze back to the text in his book, though his thoughts drifted involuntarily into the distance.

Ever since that secret conversation in the library, Ning Huan had hidden himself away in this detached villa deep within the Nine Treasures Glazed Academy.

He had quietly begun a life of seclusion.

On one hand, he felt that managing the academy was too much of a hassle and had no desire to do the work.

On the other, it was to diminish his own presence and ensure his personal safety.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he would never show his face in public.

Whenever he did have to go out, it was mostly because he couldn't resist Ning Tian's pestering and was dragged along to attend the annual opening ceremonies.

Yet, despite this, the events unfolding across the Douluo Continent in recent years were all influenced by Ning Huan's handiwork.

Take, for instance, the currently prominent Dai Huabin.

The reason he was able to rise so rapidly was purely because Ning Huan had traveled thousands of miles to the White Tiger Duke Mansion three years ago.

He had simply found a relatively suitable occasion to secretly bestow a 'blessing' upon him.

As for the results...

Hm!

Time had already proven everything!

Ning Huan had ultimately underestimated the Fate Trade.

Although the cost of using it was quite steep, and Cang Lan had remained in a deep slumber ever since, never waking up.

But a twelve-year-old mid-level Soul Ancestor—throughout history, how many had there been in the entire Douluo Continent?

If one were to compare carefully, in terms of cultivation realm alone, perhaps only Mu En could be compared to Dai Huabin at the same age.

As for the Nine Treasures Glazed Academy, it was no exaggeration to say that its current momentum far exceeded the peak period when it was still a sect.

Ning Hao's tireless leadership.

The offerings and elders guarding it like mad dogs.

A vast amount of unknown, hidden wealth.

Combining all these factors, in just three short years, this emerging academy had undergone a complete transformation.

Its only current weakness was a lack of high-level students.

But once the Soul Fighting Tournament concluded, that would be resolved as well...

Thinking of this, Ning Huan looked once more at the enchanting silhouette on the bed, falling into deep contemplation yet again.