"Mm." Du Busi nodded.
"Right now, Shrek is suffering from a lack of successors. There may not be another Limit Douluo born for some time, so our factions plan to work together to cultivate one. When Shrek is weak in the future, we'll at least dismantle their myth and authority within the Heaven Dou Empire."
Lin Yuan's brow furrowed.
If he hadn't known they were unaware that Buddha Ancestor Tang could intervene in the Douluo World, he would have praised their wishful thinking.
Fortunately, he wasn't an ordinary genius. Without the cheats he'd received from the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life, even he wouldn't have dared to oppose Shrek under these circumstances.
After all, putting aside how many interests Shrek and Tang San had entangled with one another, there was also whatever fallback Tang San had left on the mainland.
With Tang San's prison-mom left at Shrek alone, Tang San would never allow anyone to take action against Shrek.
Make a note of Tang San's prison-mom. Who knew, maybe one day he'd be short of something like a piece of the Gold of Life, and could go pay it a visit.
"Xiao Yuan, you don't need to feel too much pressure. Just act as you normally do. You can even take it easier," Du Busi reassured him.
He assumed Lin Yuan wore that expression because he thought they expected too much of him.
After all, when Du Busi had been a little over six, he hadn't performed nearly as well as Lin Yuan was now in front of these bigwigs from the Heaven Dou Empire.
Watching Wei Na speak so confidently about the matter, seeing Lin Yuan's excellence and intelligence, and knowing his own disciple Long Aotian had remarkable talent, Du Busi truly regretted that he couldn't have lived in the same era as them. He'd heard the other factions had plenty of talented youngsters, too.
They said Mu En, Ye Xishui, and Long Xiaoyao were geniuses who appeared only once in a thousand years.
But before those once-in-a-thousand-years geniuses had even all died out, the next wave was already surging down the road.
And Lin Yuan here was clearly the same sort of terrifying figure as the three geniuses with Ultimate Attributes from Shrek: one who appeared only once in three thousand years.
At the thought of the future, Du Busi couldn't help shuddering.
Hearing Du Busi's words, Lin Yuan smiled and shook his head. "I'm not nervous. I'm just surprised. Why don't we talk about what the Heaven Dou Empire can offer? I'm fairly confident I can break through to Limit Douluo."
"Like the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, the Heaven Dou Empire will provide whatever resources we can to support your growth," Wei Na said, holding up three fingers to Lin Yuan.
"Every year, Junior Brother Lin, you can choose three treasures from the Heaven Dou Empire's largest auction house. No matter how precious they are, the Heaven Dou Royal Family will cover the cost."
"That's quite a generous promise." Lin Yuan couldn't help marveling at the Heaven Dou Royal Family's largesse.
It was practically like giving Lin Yuan three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones every year, if there were any Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones on the market.
The longer Lin Yuan lived on the Douluo Continent, the more he understood the true value of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone.
That was equivalent to the Heaven Dou Empire ceding a small city every year.
"For a genius capable of breaking Shrek's monopoly, this isn't all that costly," Wei Na said with a smile, shaking her head.
Both Ning Zhiyuan and Du Busi could see how capable Wei Na was as a member of the Heaven Dou Royal Family.
She had been entrusted with discussing important matters with them at such a young age, yet she'd handled everything flawlessly.
Princess Jiujiu of the neighboring Star Luo Empire wasn't even this impressive, and the Sun Moon Empire's Crown Prince Xu Tianran was no better at her age.
More remarkable still, Lin Yuan—the genius they both valued—had acted with even greater composure than Wei Na.
"...All right. I accept your support, Princess Wei Na, but please don't expect too much of me." Only after a long silence did Lin Yuan finally agree to Wei Na's terms.
In his vision for the future, the Douluo Continent had no need for a royal family.
But given the Heaven Dou Royal Family's current outlook, he'd at least leave them a constitutional monarchy, so they could make a dignified exit.
After Tang San was defeated, the history of the Douluo Continent would undoubtedly move into its next stage.
Lin Yuan didn't want to be the one who used his own strength to resist the tide of the times.
Otherwise, what would have been the point of fighting Tang San? He'd only become the next Tang San.
He'd agreed that once he'd grown strong enough, he would join them in opposing Shrek at the height of its power. He hadn't agreed to anything else.
Wei Na nodded. "That's for the best."
"Then, on behalf of my father, I announce that the Heaven Dou Alliance is officially and secretly established here as of today. Our relationship will not be made public in any way. Everything we do is for the sake of freeing the Heaven Dou Empire from Shrek's influence once and for all—in education, official administration, and local affairs."
The two sect leaders nodded their approval to Wei Na, and the unbreakable alliance was officially formed.
After discussing a few other miscellaneous matters, Lin Yuan left the room.
He really didn't want to waste brainpower on foreign affairs. That sort of thing could be left to his father-in-law-to-be and his master.
After all that, Lin Yuan realized he was more tired than usual.
Wei Na had wanted to discuss this with him for a long time, but he'd been so busy cultivating that she hadn't found a chance to bring it up.
As for the treasures, he'd wait until he obtained his Second Soul Ring before discussing them with the God of Destruction.
His level was currently the same as Yan Feng's: seventeen.
Even if it took him the better part of half a year, he'd be able to break through to level twenty.
Still, he would have someone keep a close eye out for treasures like the Spirit-Devouring Fierce Blade. After all, it contained the Gold of Life.
Even to the remnant soul of a God King, such a treasure would be immensely beneficial.
Bone Douluo hadn't brought up Yan Feng, and Lin Yuan hadn't asked.
Apparently, after Bone Douluo brought Yan Feng back, he'd kept him close and put him through closed-door training.
That was why Bone Douluo had been around the sect all this time without Yan Feng in tow.
When they met again, that kid Yan Feng would probably bring him an incredible surprise, wouldn't he?
In the blink of an eye, another half year passed.
On a small island off the southern coast of the Star Luo Empire, Cao Xin and Lin Yuan were stretched out on beach loungers.
Unlike Cao Xin, who was relaxing, Lin Yuan was wholly focused on circulating his Soul Power.
He was now incredibly close to level twenty. It would probably happen within the next couple of days.
Even someone as powerful as Mu En hadn't reached level twenty until he was eight, so Lin Yuan had managed to break his record.
On the beach in front of them, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Wei Na, and Nan Qiuqiu were playing around.
Lin Yuan wasn't interested in them like that yet—and he was afraid of getting electrocuted—so he had no comment on their, well, lively antics.
This rather awkward little scene wasn't just a chance to relax between cultivation sessions.
Long Aotian had come to this stretch of coast with Du Busi to attempt a breakthrough into his Second Awakening.
Lin Yuan also wanted to try and see if he could undergo a Second Awakening himself. Ning Tian and the others had come along because of him.