Huang Jinxu had already arranged for his daughter and the others to be escorted to the Earth Dragon Sect.
Huo Yuhao went with them.
There was truly no point in staying at Shrek Academy any longer.
When the Golden Ancient Tree was moved, it took far more than the tree itself. It took Shrek Academy's years of accumulated wealth and heritage. Many of its finest treasures had been kept inside the tree's hollow trunk.
Those things did little for the Golden Ancient Tree, but they were of considerable use to Huang Jinxu.
By the time Huang Jinxu returned to the academy with Ji Juechen, its reconstruction was complete.
It looked just as it always had: the greatest academy under heaven.
But inside, its true core was gone.
Many students had begun making arrangements to withdraw.
They knew that staying and sharing the academy's hardships might bring them immeasurable benefits in the future.
But it could just as easily bring them enormous trouble right now.
For the nobles and the major powers, what mattered most?
Stability!
Stability outweighed everything.
With stability and no unforeseen changes, they could keep building their foundations through the channels they already controlled.
They would rather pull out now and avoid this whirlpool than gamble for Shrek Academy's favor.
What use was that, anyway?
If Shrek Academy truly recovered, they could still send their descendants to study there in the future.
Was Shrek Academy, an academy, going to refuse their talented disciples admission?
Of course, some people were absolutely loyal to Shrek Academy.
Even if the academy were on the brink of collapse, let alone facing no overt crisis as it was now, they would not leave.
They were the products of Shrek Academy's indoctrination.
"I've taught you everything I know. For a while, stay at this