The Road Ahead

Blazing Academy, huh.

As he listened to Huo Kui's introduction, Xiao Yu silently crossed it off in his mind.

An ordinary Spirit Master would naturally accept Huo Kui's invitation without hesitation. Just as Huo Kui had said, Blazing Academy was one of the Heaven Dou Empire's finest Advanced Spirit Master Academies. It was completely different from Shrek, which was still little more than a backwater academy, possessing a comprehensive educational system and an excellent cultivation environment.

Moreover, since Blazing Academy stood alongside Elephant Armor Academy and Thunder Academy, its upper ranks could not be weak either.

Elephant Armor Academy was backed by the Elephant Armor Sect, whose sect master, Hu Yanli, possessed the cultivation of a high-ranking Soul Douluo. Thunder Academy, meanwhile, had the support of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, whose sect master Yu Yuanzhen was a level 95 Titled Douluo. If Blazing Academy did not have a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse supporting it, how could Thunder Academy and Elephant Armor Academy possibly acknowledge it as their equal?

But Xiao Yu was obviously no ordinary Spirit Master. Having arrived on Douluo Continent with foreknowledge of the plot and the support of a cheat, his goal was clear: to establish his own power here, perhaps even unify the entire continent. In that case, joining Blazing Academy would not be a wise choice.

But establishing a power was no easy matter either. Even if he could acquire high-level combat strength through the system, what about the Spirit Masters beneath them? At its height, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a full five thousand Spirit Masters, while Spirit Hall had tens of thousands. Thus, if he wanted to develop a power, he had to recruit talent. And to recruit Spirit Masters, he had to make his sect's name known throughout the Spirit Master world. Otherwise, why would anyone join his sect?

The Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament was a grand event in the Spirit Master world, held once every five years. There was no better place to make a name for oneself. Hadn't Shrek Academy in the original story developed precisely because it won the Spirit Master Competition?

Therefore, during his time studying at Mingjing Academy, he had already envisioned the path of his future development.

Xiao Yu planned to establish an academy under his sect's name, build a team centered around himself, and compete in the tournament twelve years later—the same one in which Tang San and the other Shrek Seven Devils participated in the original story. He would seize the championship, make the academy famous, and thoroughly advertise the sect at the same time.

If he joined Blazing Academy, then even if they won the championship under Xiao Yu's leadership, it would be Blazing Academy that gained fame.

Even if Xiao Yu himself became famous, the public would see him as nothing more than a talented young man, still far from someone capable of inspiring others to follow him.

When Tang San established the Tang Sect, his foundation had been the four attribute clans. But if he had not relied on his father's legacy to connect with the Strength Clan, and if Titan, that loyal old servant, had not led him to the gathering of the four attribute sects, would Niu Gao and Yang Wudi have paid any attention to the newly founded Tang Sect?

At that moment, Xiao Yu gently shook his head and politely declined. "Teacher Huo, I'm truly sorry, but I've already enrolled at Mingjing Academy."

"What's the problem with that? Just withdraw!"

Before Huo Kui could speak, Huo Wu, having regained her composure, had already revealed her carefree nature. "I've never even heard of that Mingjing Academy. How can it compare to our Blazing Academy?"

Huo Kui did not stop Huo Wu from belittling Mingjing Academy. On one hand, Huo Wu was the dean's daughter, and he did not have the nerve to restrain her. On the other hand, he too believed that a no-name academy could never compare with Blazing Academy.

Still, Huo Kui had been a teacher for over twenty years and possessed a deep understanding of the Spirit Master academies within the Heaven Dou Empire. He said, "Mingjing Academy is merely a Junior Spirit Master Academy. After students graduate at the age of twelve, they still need to seek out and apply to an intermediate Spirit Master academy. Blazing Academy, however, already has a complete system from junior through advanced levels. As long as students meet the age and cultivation requirements, they can advance automatically. It saves them a great deal of trouble in between. Little brother, you should consider it carefully."

But Xiao Yu had already made up his mind, so he still shook his head and refused. "I've studied there for over a year, nearly two years now, and I have many close friends there. I don't want to suddenly change environments."

"What a pity."

Huo Kui sighed and shook his head. Then, as though recalling something, he said, "Since you've made up your mind, little brother, I won't say more. But after you graduate from the Junior Spirit Master Academy, you can consider applying to our Blazing Academy's intermediate Spirit Master academy."

"If it's suitable, I'll definitely come."

Although Blazing Academy was an academy, its influence in the Heaven Dou Empire was no weaker than that of many sects. Xiao Yu did not want to repeatedly refuse and offend them, nor could he possibly tell them that he planned to establish an academy himself. Even if he did, they would only take him for a fool. So he nodded lightly, leaving behind an ambiguous promise. As long as it was suitable—whether it was suitable or not would still be up to him, wouldn't it? Besides, he still had more than four years before graduation. Who knew whether Huo Kui would even remember him by then?

Huo Kui did not catch the leeway Xiao Yu had left in his words. Instead, he believed that he had secured a promising prospect. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he returned to Huo Wushuang's side to stand guard for him. After all, that was his greatest mission in coming to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Huo Wu, however, remained where she was, asking Xiao Yu question after question with a curious expression, leaving him rather helpless.

His predecessor had been an orphan. Yet an orphan had come to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a spirit ring accompanied by two guards, and those guards were not weak either. Since Huo Kui could not see through their cultivation, he had already guessed that they were at least Soul Kings. Who would believe that he was an orphan? He could not exactly tell Huo Wu about the system, so Xiao Yu could only make up stories on the spot, killing who knew how many brain cells in the process.

"Miss Huo Wu, it's getting late. I took leave from the academy to come out, so I should return as soon as possible. Farewell."

Xiao Yu hurriedly found an excuse, afraid that if Huo Wu kept asking, he really would be unable to keep making things up.

"All right."

Huo Wu nodded, then added, "Xiao Yu, remember to apply to Blazing Academy after you graduate. When that time comes, I want to spar with you!"

"If I can, I'll definitely come."

Xiao Yu did not turn back. Though he had his own considerations and concerns, he had ultimately deceived Huo Wu. Out of that guilt, he did not quite dare face her. He merely nodded with his back to her, then departed into the distance with Hui Huo and Miao.

As for Huo Wu, she remained where she was, cheering herself on excitedly. "Xiao Yu is about my age, yet he's already broken through level twenty like my brother. I absolutely can't lose! When I get back, I'll work twice as hard. The next time we meet, I definitely can't lose to him!"