"How does Your Highness find this tea?"
In a spacious room, Wu Ling sat in the main seat, with four people below him: Huyan Zhen with his eyes closed, two men, and one woman.
These three people are Shenfeng Academy, Chihuo Academy, and the deans of the Skywater Academy, who met Wu Ling two years ago. The one speaking to Wu Ling is the dean of the Godwind Academy.
In response to the Shenfeng Academy's probing, Wu Ling expressionlessly put down his teacup. His eyes were lowered, and his fingers tapped lightly on the table. Each crisp tap sound was like a small hammer striking the hearts of the three, making them all restless.
The deans of the three Elemental Academies, who were usually aloof and high-ranking outside, were now filled with tension and unease, just like students in front of teachers or employees in front of bosses.
The reason, to be precise, was a week ago when Wu Ling ordered the ignoring of the Fire Leopard Sect's protests. Bibi Dong, who also had little affection or expectation for the sect, followed Wu Ling's orders.
This led to the Fire Leopard Sect's leader becoming increasingly arrogant and unruly. Whether it was due to the Spirit Hall's disregard or the indulgence of the person behind him, that guy, who completely lacked any sense of timing, actually dared to openly shout at the entrance of the Pope Palace, relying on his status as a Soul Douluo.
He even invoked various moral high grounds and used moral blackmail to condemn the Spirit Hall for openly killing and disbanding the Flying Sword Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects.
As he clamored, he did attract the attention of some passersby and residents of Spirit City. Just as he was at the height of his excitement, imagining the future when Spirit Hall would bow down due to public anger and he would embark on a better life— Wu Ling appeared.
Wu Ling first ordered his soldiers to push the onlookers back more than ten meters away, and then he met face to face with the sect leader of the Fire Leopard Sect.
At first, the guy thought Wu Ling was going to talk to him one-on-one, but Wu Ling stunned him with just one punch.
Then, in front of everyone, the Fire Leopard Sect's sect leader was completely dominated by Wu Ling. Even when he used his Martial Soul Avatar, before he could even exert his strength, Wu Ling punched him into the bricks on the ground.
Even though that guy tried his best, he could only hold out for ten minutes against Wu Ling who hadn't used his Martial Soul. Afterwards, all the thousands of people in the Fire Leopard Sect were slaughtered, while the civilians who had watched the battle went home happily, each carrying a basket of eggs.
Through this incident, Wu Ling's true strength was exposed, and his subsequent ruthless elimination of all his enemies made everyone extremely wary of him, including the three people in front of him.
Originally, they intended to delay as long as possible, but due to Wu Ling's disappearance, this delay lasted for two years. And since Wu Ling reappeared, his actions have been completely different from before.
If before it was about biding their time and accumulating strength, now it's about showing their true colors and being extremely domineering.
First, they killed the bishop of Suotuo City in the Heaven Dou Empire, and then they thoroughly investigated all the Spirit Hall Branch in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Afterwards, they massacred the Strength Clan and the Speed Clan, two of the four major clans of the Clear Sky Sect. Based on the subsequent actions of the other two clans, it has been largely confirmed that the Defense Clan and the Breaking Clan have submitted to the Spirit Hall.
The Flying Sword Sect and the Fire Leopard Sect, in particular, killed their sect leader and slaughtered the entire sect without a word. The Fire Leopard Sect, in particular, had soldiers from the Star Luo Empire and the vice sect leader of the White Tiger Sect come to help and protect them, but everyone present died, not a single one was left alive!
In response, the Star Luo Empire didn't dare utter a single word. Instead, they released a statement accusing the White Tiger Sect Sect's vice sect leader of colluding with the Fire Leopard Sect and jointly framing the Spirit Hall. All of this was because Wu Ling had spent the entire morning talking with the Star Luo Emperor.
All of the above actions and consequences indicate that Wu Ling, the Holy Son, has moved from hiding and behind the scenes to the forefront. His achievement of defeating a Soul Douluo without using his Martial Soul is like a shot in the arm, exciting everyone in the Spirit Hall and almost causing some people who were already too "excited" to "die suddenly".
Therefore, in general, after these two years, the three academies have gone from being something the Spirit Hall, or the Holy Son Wu Ling, tried to win over, to being a force that is only slightly stronger than dispensable, and this is even with the three academies combined.
In the minds of the three deans present, if Wu Ling could slaughter the entire Fire Leopard Sect without batting an eye, then ordering the slaughter of three academies was not a big deal.
Although there is a world of difference between a thousand people and several thousand people, in some people's minds, it may really be just a difference of one word.
As for the empire, even the warlike and tough Star Luo Empire compromised, so the three of them didn't believe that their own "peace-loving" Heaven Dou Royal Family would stand up for them. Even if they did stand up for them, whether they could withstand Wu Ling's "conversation" was another question.
Therefore, it can be said that the future of these three academies lies in a single sentence from Wu Ling.
Finally, after a long period of agonizing waiting, Wu Ling stopped banging on the table. "I understand what you all mean. I'm happy that you want to pledge allegiance to our Spirit Hall, but this time spent thinking is making me very unhappy."
As Wu Ling spoke, Spirit Ring configuration of two purple, two black, and three red appeared beside him. The four people present were stunned by Wu Ling's Spirit Ring. Such an illogical configuration was impossible, not only in reality but also in theory!
The next second, the three deans of the academy suddenly felt immense pressure, as if a mountain was pressing down on them.
Without any pressure Huyan Zhen his eyes closed and his mind at ease. He was amazed by Wu Ling's Spirit Ring, but he knew better what he should do. What he needed to do now was to control his eyes and mouth.
The chairs where the three deans were sitting were crushed, and their eight Spirit Ring appeared one after another. The three of them had a total of twenty-four Spirit Ring, which was just enough to withstand the pressure from the Wu Ling.
Although he was unwilling to accept his disheveled state, now that Wu Ling had shown them his Spirit Ring, it was not only a threat but also a signal. If they could withstand it, they would be qualified to know about his Spirit Ring and join him. But if they couldn't withstand it, then sorry, only the dead can keep their mouths shut.
Five minutes passed quietly. During these five minutes, Wu Ling continuously increased his power, but the three people opposite him were all people who had lived for decades and were even able to become deans. With just a glance, the three people understood what each of them should do.
Five minutes later, all the pressure dissipated like a tide, and when they looked up, they saw Wu Ling's smiling face.
"Well then, welcome to our Spirit Hall family, all three of you."