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*****
"From the perspective of this old woman, the Shui family is not domineering or unreasonable. When we attended the Shui family's reemergence ceremony, they did not trouble us at all…"
After Elder Xuan spoke first, Elder Song followed. While he didn't make a direct choice, his words clearly indicated his stance.
"Indeed, the rights and wrongs of ten thousand years ago are beyond my power to change. Given this, it's best not to dwell on it. Our primary concern should be the continued legacy of Shrek Academy."
As Elder Song finished, Elder Mo also spoke up.
Previously, he was saved by an elder from the Shui family's Medicine Valley from a hundred-thousand-year-old man-eating flower, leaving him with a favorable impression of the Shui family.
At this moment, many people present nodded in agreement. In their view, the Shui family's aim to unify the continent, although seemingly domineering, hadn't led to any aggressive actions against other factions since their reemergence.
"You speak so lightly of submission, but what of our ten-thousand-year legacy at Shrek Academy? Once surrendered, how can we face our ancestors after our demise?"
Elder Lin, unable to contain his emotions any longer, stood up and spoke loudly, his voice echoing throughout the hall.
As a staunch opponent of submitting to the Shui family, Elder Lin had always harbored great resentment towards them.
However, after he spoke, he looked around the hall and realized that the meeting was not going as he had expected.
He thought his words would ignite the crowd's hostility towards the Shui family, but instead, most people showed signs of disapproval towards him, with only a few nodding slightly.
The reason was clear.
Times had changed, and everyone present had recognized the immense power of the Shui family. They were no longer easily swayed by Elder Lin's rhetoric.
"No matter what, Shrek Academy must not go to war with the Shui family."
Elder Xuan spoke again. This time, though he still didn't decide to submit to the Shui family, he clearly indicated his stance.
As an Ultimate Douluo, he understood the vast disparity between Shrek Academy and the Shui family.
In the Shui family, figures like the Sword Master, the Elder of Soul Spirit Mountain, and the Elder of Medicine Valley, any one of them could cause a major upheaval upon their appearance.
Not to mention the semi-divine expert Shui Yuanchen!
"Elder Xuan is right. Shrek Academy is not an ordinary sect; our purpose is to educate and train soul masters. We cannot go to war with the Shui family!"
"Shui Wuya, the current head of the Shui family, was once a student of Shrek Academy. From what I know, he is not a violent person, and there is still room for negotiation."
"..."
After Elder Xuan's statement, many others in the hall stood up one after another, expressing their agreement with his position.
Seeing his isolated stance, Elder Lin's face turned pale. He had no choice but to remain silent, bitterly accepting his defeat.
Before long, the majority reached a consensus: submission might be an option, but war was absolutely not.
"Qiu'er, when Shrek Academy abruptly left during the Shui family's reemergence ceremony, it was rash. Now, you will represent Shrek Academy, bringing gifts and visiting the Shui family once more."
Elder Xuan's gaze suddenly turned to Wang Qiu'er on the right side of the hall. As a leading figure of the younger generation in Shrek Academy, she also participated in this meeting.
"After all, Shui Wuya has a good relationship with you and once accepted your invitation to visit the Ming Capital of the Sun Moon Empire."
Elder Xuan added.
Upon hearing this, many in the hall looked puzzled, not understanding Elder Xuan's intentions.
However, Wang Qiu'er understood the deeper meaning behind Elder Xuan's words, clearly indicating he wanted her to engage more with Shui Wuya. But considering Shui Wuya was the head of the Shui family, did Elder Xuan believe that he had feelings for her?
Roughly two hours later, the meeting in Sea God Pavilion concluded, but Wang Qiu'er didn't immediately return to her quarters.
As a disciple of Tang Sect, she had to attend another meeting of the Tang Sect.
In the evening, the core members of the contemporary Tang Sect gathered in the Tang Sect hall.
Compared to a year ago, when the Tang Sect was flourishing with soul masters, now it seemed almost deserted.
With Huo Yuhao dead, Wang Donger missing, and Xu Sanshi joining the Shui family upon his return to Xuanming, only Beibei and a few others remained of the core members.
"So... why are we gathered here?"
After nearly a quarter of an hour of silence following the start of the meeting, Beibei finally couldn't hold back and voiced his confusion.
Upon hearing this, Wang Qiu'er and the others looked bitter.
Yes, why were they here?
Their current state was nothing but an empty shell; they had no idea what to do next.
…
Ice God Island, Ancestral Cave.
Shui Wuya, with three million years of spiritual power, was engaged in a terrifying mental battle with the soul projection of Shui Dongliu, the semi-divine ancestor of the Shui family.
The battle lasted nearly half an hour, with intense nine-colored light flickering and constant rumbling sounds. Even though the Ancestral Cave was shielded, the commotion spread across the entire Ice God Island.
"Breaking through to the semi-divine realm with spiritual power, Shui Dongliu's mental strength has reached at least five million years!"
During the battle, Shui Wuya was repeatedly shocked by Shui Dongliu's spiritual power attacks, even though he was only facing a soul projection left by Shui Dongliu.
Fortunately, during the half-hour battle, he discovered the weakness of Shui Dongliu's soul projection: although its spiritual power was formidable, its physical defense was lacking.
"Ancestor, it's time to end this!"
Shui Wuya suddenly shouted, gathering all his spiritual power to release a nine-colored spiritual flower that temporarily blocked Shui Dongliu's attack. Then, he drew the Slaughter Snow God Spear from midair.
He then channeled his ninety-ninth level soul power into the spear.
"Slaughter World Annihilation, Snow Shining Galaxy!"
The ultimate move of the Slaughter Snow Spear erupted, filling the Ancestral Cave with countless falling snowflakes. From the spear's tip, a blood-red beam of light burst forth.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
In an instant, Shui Wuya thrust the spear, and the blood-red beam pierced through Shui Dongliu's soul projection's spiritual shield, hitting its chest and shattering the projection into nothingness.
With this, Shui Wuyue finally let out a sigh of relief. Shui Dongliu's powerful spiritual force had given him many shocks.
He knew that if he continued fighting with spiritual power, he would likely lose to Shui Dongliu's soul projection. Only an extreme physical attack could have turned the tide.
Luckily, he had bet correctly.
However, just as Shui Wuya was calming down and preparing to venture deeper into the cave, the surrounding space suddenly filled with nine-colored light.
Then, countless beams of nine-colored light converged, re-forming the previously vanished soul projection of Shui Dongliu!
Shui Wuya's expression tightened as he prepared to fight again, but the development once again caught him off guard.
Shui Dongliu's soul projection, after reforming, made no move to continue the fight. Instead, it floated ghost-like to within a yard of Shui Wuya.
Its hollow eyes emitted a burst of nine-colored light, seemingly filled with curiosity about this Shui family descendant.
Then, under Shui Wuya's puzzled gaze, Shui Dongliu's soul projection began to trace something in the air with a finger, using spiritual power.
At first, Shui Wuya didn't understand Shui Dongliu's actions. But when the spiritual power markings took shape, he was instantly shocked to his core!