Skywater Academy and Blazing Fire Academy, in terms of overall strength, corresponded to second-rate forces on the continent. Among the powerful second-rate forces were the Lower Four Sects; the Upper Three Sects were first-rate, while Spirit Hall stood above them all. Both academies had experts at the level of Soul Saints and even Soul Douluos overseeing them.
Therefore, the demands the major powers made of the two academies were that they could no longer remain neutral. The clans behind them had to officially return to the continent and become forces involved in the conflict. After that, they could either remain independent or choose to attach themselves to an empire or a first-rate power.
Though that was how it was phrased, no matter what the clans behind the two academies chose, once they entered the conflict, they would inevitably have a "big brother" above them to keep them in check if they wanted stability.
After all, without the support of Godwind Academy and Thunder Academy, the Four Elements City maintained solely by Skywater Academy and Blazing Fire Academy was no longer enough to uphold its former transcendent status. Once they entered the fray as a force that could not be ignored but was not particularly powerful either, seeking the protection of a first-rate power or an empire became inevitable.
The pressure exerted by the major powers was, simply put, an attempt to carve up the two remaining Four Element Academies, which had once stood tightly united but had now suddenly fallen apart! Behind this, the two great empires, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect... mm, and probably the Dragon King Hall as well, had likely given their approval.
After all, aside from Spirit Hall and the reclusive Clear Sky Sect, only those five powers on