Sea of Consciousness
"Oh, you two are back! That's a rare treat!"
When the Fire Dragon King saw the two return, he couldn't help but make a teasing remark.
"Shut up, you stinky fire dragon. There are three of us ice-type here, and you're the only fire-type. Don't you feel awkward?"
Ice Empress rolled their eyes.
This hit a nerve. Seeing the Ice Dragon King Fire Dragon King curled his lip and said, "None of your business!"
"How I manage things is none of your business," Ice Empress sneered.
At this moment, the two who had already left the Ice Palace were heading towards Heaven Dou City.
" Chen'er, your Sister Xue and Sister Bing are not friendly at all. They bully your aunt like this, and you're not going to do anything about it. It makes your aunt very sad."
Bo Saixi grumbled.
"Auntie, you're not lacking in verbal skills; you could easily take on two people at once. Besides, if I helped you, neither of you would be satisfied."
Gu Wuchen began, "This isn't the first time you've met. The best way to resolve and vent your grievances is to do it face-to-face."
"That sounds very convincing, Auntie will remember it."
Bo Saixi nodded.
"What if the Heaven Dou Emperor finds out you want to subdue the Four Elements Academy?"
The complete conquest of an empire's elite academy is certainly not a good thing.
"Auntie, there's absolutely no need to worry. Our acquisition wasn't a big deal; it was all done discreetly."
"So? What exactly are you doing all this for?"
Bo Saixi was utterly perplexed; the money he made from acquiring the Four Great Elemental Academies might not even be as much as the new products Gu Clan was launching.
Most people wouldn't do something so thankless and exhausting.
"Auntie, you don't understand, do you?" Gu Wuchen laughed. "I want the Gu Clan to unify the continent openly."
"Unify the continent? You dare to dream of it? Do you really think the Spirit Hall can unify it?"
Bo Saixi didn't believe the Spirit Hall would be unified by the Gu Clan.
"You know, my aunt is a bit slow."
Gu Wuchen reached out and tapped Bo Saixi's forehead, saying with a smile:
"Who says unifying the continent necessarily means war? I don't want to see corpses strewn across the fields and people suffering."
He knew in his heart how many innocent lives were lost in the war that swept across the entire continent in the original story.
Since he arrived in this world ahead of schedule, there's no need for him to follow that bloody path again.
Using the Gu Clan's overwhelming financial resources and extensive business network across the mainland, slowly eroding and absorbing various forces, making them willingly become Gu Clan's vassals, is the least costly and most stable way to achieve unification.
"The college is the best starting point."
Gu Wuchen gazed at the distant horizon blurred by wind and snow, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
" Blue Tyrant Academy, Four Elements Academy, and Heaven Dou Royal Academy —whoever controls these academies will control the talent pool of Soul Master for the next thirty years on the continent."
Ten years later, the younger generation of Soul Master all benefited from the Gu Clan's kindness and used the Gu Clan's cultivation resources.
Twenty years from now, our people will be everywhere across the continent—in sects, armies, and the imperial court. At that time, we won't need to lift a single finger; the hearts of the people will naturally lean towards the Gu Clan."
Bo Saixi paused for a moment.
She only ever knew that conquest by force was the only way to unify the continent.
The path Gu Wuchen spoke of, though seemingly slow, was like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, capable of fundamentally altering the entire continent's landscape.
She suddenly realized that her nephew's ambitions were far greater than she had imagined.
As for the Spirit Hall,
Gu Wuchen waved his hand, his tone as casual as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
Why must we fight them? We can coexist.
The Gu Clan is wealthy and resourceful, with trade routes spanning the entire continent. The Spirit Hall is powerful, has followers, and possesses the most comprehensive Soul Master system.
Isn't it much better for us to cooperate and each get what we need than to fight to the death?
"But Bibi Dong..." Bo Saixi frowned, a hint of seriousness flashing in her eyes.
She had seen Bibi Dong once from a great distance, and the hatred and madness in that woman's eyes remained vivid in her memory to this day.
"She's no pushover; her ambitions are so vast she could devour an entire continent. How could she possibly be content to coexist with you?"
Gu Wuchen certainly knew what kind of person Bibi Dong was.
He chuckled inwardly. Bibi Dong was, she still had her weaknesses and obsessions. Moreover, the cards he held now were far beyond what the inexperienced young master of the Gu Clan could have back then.
I know she's a crazy woman.
Gu Wuchen chuckled lightly, his tone brimming with confidence:
"So what? I'm already the Ice God Inheritance, and the Sea God Inheritance is progressing steadily. It won't be long before I become a god. Once I become a god, no matter how powerful she is, what can she do to me?"
He paused, then continued:
"Moreover, I am the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall. I can give her what she wants; I can help her do what she cannot do."
As long as there are common interests, even a crazy woman can sit down and have a good talk. If we really can't reach an agreement, I have plenty of ways to control her.
Bo Saixi looked at the boy before her, her heart filled with emotion.
She sighed softly, a gentle smile appearing on her face:
"Okay, your aunt believes in you. No matter what you want to do, no matter what path you choose, your aunt will always be there for you and support you."
"Auntie, how about you give your Sea God Island to the Gu Clan too?" Gu Wuchen chuckled. "That way, I can inherit it legitimately."
"Dream on, you wish." Bo Saixi rolled her eyes at him.
Sea God Island was given away without hesitation.
"I just mentioned it casually, Auntie, please don't get upset."
"Let's go, let's go to Skywater City first and check the situation."
Gu Wuchen didn't make any more suggestions. In any case, he definitely needed Sea God Island; it was impossible for him not to. If he controlled Sea God Island, he would control the entire sea area.
However, this requires careful consideration, and we need to find a breakthrough through my aunt.
Upon returning to the Heaven Dou Empire, Gu Wuchen traveled all the way to Skywater City.
Skywater Academy is an academy that only admits female students, and Shui Bing'er shone brightly in the Soul Master Tournament.
Therefore, Cang Yue, a female Soul Master with the cultivation level of Soul Saint, was in charge of the acquisition of the Skywater Academy.
When Gu Wuchen arrived at the Skywater Academy, Cang Yue rushed over without stopping.
She was wearing a white-sleeved dress; she was tall and had a beautiful face.
" Young Master Gu," Cang Yue said respectfully.
Gu Wuchen asked, "Well, how did the talks with the Skywater Academy go? What did their dean say?"
" Young Master Gu, the dean of the Skywater Academy Xia Qingyue. She is not very interested in the acquisition, and she said that if you don't come in person, you won't even show any sincerity."
Cang Yue told the truth.
Did she refuse the request she made?
"No, she neither refused nor agreed to the requests you made, Young Master Gu; she's just keeping them hanging."
"Alright, I understand. Lead the way to the Skywater Academy."