Qiangu Dongfeng then walked behind the desk.
He gestured for everyone to sit wherever they liked.
He himself settled into the large chair.
He looked at Han Li with a gentle smile, his eyes carrying the appreciation and expectations of an elder looking at a junior.
"You did very well today."
Qiangu Dongfeng said.
"But Shen Yi is the disciple of one of the elders of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion. Since you defeated her in public today, someone from Shrek will definitely come looking to make trouble for you."
"But don't worry. Under the protection of the Spirit Pagoda, they won't dare do anything excessive."
Han Li nodded without speaking.
Seeing Han Li's calm expression, a trace of satisfaction flashed through Qiangu Dongfeng's eyes.
He paused before continuing.
"With your strength, you'll definitely win the upcoming Tianhai Grand Competition."
"So, what are your plans afterward?"
"For example, is there any advanced academy you have your eye on?"
"The Spirit Pagoda has partnered academy resources all across the continent. As long as you say the word, I can arrange it."
Han Li fell into thought.
In truth, he did not have much need for an academy.
After all, with the Heavenly Bottle's ability to cultivate plant Soul Beasts, he would not be lacking in resources...
Soul Rings, Soul Bones, heavenly treasures.
He could solve all of those matters himself.
Therefore, money and cultivation resources had never been an issue for him.
That alone ruled out the vast majority of academies.
Looking across the tens of thousands of years of Douluo Continent's history, nearly every academy could be seen to serve only two purposes: providing resources and offering specialized training.
For ordinary Soul Masters...
Those two things were exactly what they desired most, and the most important factors in choosing an academy.
But for Han Li, he did not need an academy to provide resources, and as for specialized training—
He had his own ideas and direction.
His cultivation plan had long since been decided.
Break through the eighteen Golden Dragon King Seals, steadily raise his Soul Power Level, use the Heavenly Bottle to ripen Soul Beasts and obtain Soul Rings, then gradually adapt to and fuse with the two External Soul Bones.
He had thought through every step clearly. Every step was proceeding at his own pace. He did not need anyone to tell him what to do or which direction to take.
So whether he attended an academy or not...
He truly did not care.
It was like after Tang San had been taught the basics of Soul Masters, Grandmaster had almost no presence at all...
It was essentially the same situation.
Once one understood the basic operating principles of the Martial Soul system, the remaining path could only be walked alone. A teacher's significance would be weakened without limit, and the guidance they could offer would become increasingly limited.
Han Li was now at roughly the same stage Tang San had been at back then...
He already understood the rules of this world.
Therefore, for the road ahead...
He did not need anyone else to guide him.
So Han Li looked at Qiangu Dongfeng and asked calmly.
"What arrangements does Tower Master have?"
Since he did not care either way, he might as well directly ask what Qiangu Dongfeng intended to do.
As the Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda, Qiangu Dongfeng certainly would not ask such a question without reason. He must already have some arrangement waiting for Han Li.
Hearing that, Qiangu Dongfeng smiled faintly.
He interlaced his fingers on the desk and leaned forward slightly, looking at Han Li with the approving gaze of someone saying, "You're very smart."
"I asked Yu Zhen and Old Chen about your situation."
"From what they told me, it seems you already have a definite direction and goal for your future."
"Therefore, even if you went to an advanced academy, you would not gain much improvement."
"After all, as a core disciple of our Spirit Pagoda, you already receive five times the resources allotted to an inner court disciple of Shrek Academy."
"The resources of those ordinary academies would be dispensable to you."
He paused, his gaze becoming more serious as he continued.
"So, if you do not wish to attend an academy, you can consider going somewhere else—the Blood God Legion."
"There..."
"You can gain even greater improvement."
At those words.
Han Li was also slightly stunned.
He had not expected the plot involving the Blood God Legion to appear so early.
In the original story, the Blood God Legion had been an extremely important stop in Tang Wulin's growth. It was the continent's foremost frontline against the Abyss Plane, filled with real combat and life-or-death trials. It was a place that could truly transform a person.
According to the original timeline, Tang Wulin should have only come into contact with the Blood God Legion after Shrek was bombarded. But in this life, because of Han Li's arrival and Qiangu Dongfeng's intervention, many things had been brought forward.
But upon careful consideration...
The Blood God Legion was indeed useful to him.
Not only did it have the harshest real-combat environment, but also countless powerful opponents and comrades. At the edge of life and death, it could continuously force out his potential.
And—
Especially after Wang Qiu'er's death, the Golden Dragon Spear that Tang Wutong had taken was now inherited by him as well.
More precisely, as the Emperor Auspicious Beast, Wang Qiu'er herself possessed a portion of the Golden Dragon King's bloodline.
That was why she possessed such formidable physical strength and had received the Golden Dragon Spear from Gu Yuena.
Unfortunately, Wang Qiu'er ultimately sacrificed herself, and the Golden Dragon Spear fell into Tang Wutong's hands...
But after the Divine Realm encountered the spatial-temporal turbulence, the Golden Dragon King broke free from its seal, and the Golden Dragon Spear returned with it, merging into the Golden Dragon King's body.
Now that he had absorbed the Golden Dragon King's origin.
The Golden Dragon Spear naturally also existed within his body, though it had yet to awaken or manifest.
And the Blood God Legion itself was the core force fighting the Abyss Plane on the continent. The battlefield environment and conditions there might stimulate the Golden Dragon Spear's awakening.
So Han Li spoke.
"Alright, I'll go."
He answered cleanly and decisively, without the slightest hesitation.
Qiangu Dongfeng looked at Han Li appreciatively, the satisfaction in his eyes deepening further.
He nodded, his voice carrying the gratification of an elder.
"As expected of a core disciple of our Spirit Pagoda."
"I knew you could distinguish good from bad and would not look back and forth like those indecisive people."
As he spoke, Qiangu Dongfeng took an item from a drawer.
It was a Heart Protector Mirror the size of a palm, silver-white throughout. Its surface was carved with intricate Soul Tool patterns, and a pale blue Soul Guidance Crystal was embedded at its center.
The Heart Protector Mirror felt slightly heavy in the hand, emitting faint energy fluctuations that were gentle and restrained.
"This is a rank-nine triggered defensive Soul Tool. It can automatically activate to protect you when you encounter danger."
"And once it activates..."
"None below a Limit Douluo can break through its defenses."
Qiangu Dongfeng held out the Heart Protector Mirror to Han Li, his tone calm but serious.
"I'm sending you to the Blood God Legion so you can train, not so you can throw your life away."
"That is the foremost frontline of the planar war. Its danger far exceeds any competition or assessment you can imagine."
"If you encounter a danger beyond your control..."
"This can keep you alive."
Before you continue