Chapter 18: Settled
"You've really given me a tough challenge."
The sigh was tinged with a hint of bitterness, making one's heart tighten slightly.
Doesn't Ning Hao understand?
No!
He actually understands everything.
And he had thought of this long before he experienced that undeserved disaster.
However, Yuan's pride as the sect leader of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School made him subconsciously unwilling to think in that direction.
It wasn't until today, when the window was unexpectedly opened, that he was forced to confront the impending storm.
As for Shrek Academy mentioned by Ning Huan, the three great empires and the Sun Moon Empire...
To be honest, none of them were good choices in Ning Hao's eyes.
One's own family knows one's own affairs.
As natives of Douluo Continent, they also have a well-developed intelligence network.
He could be said to have a fairly good understanding of the internal situation of the three major empires.
The Emperor of Star Luo was capable, but lacked ambition.
Intending to reform, but due to the technological blockade imposed by the Sun and Moon Empire, the aristocratic forces' feigned compliance, serious accumulated problems, and numerous obstacles, reforms were not achieved.
The Heavenly Soul Royal Family is close to the Body Sect, and the empire, from top to bottom, is extremely averse to soul tools.
They completely abandoned keeping up with the times.
Consequently, even the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School within the territory is finding it difficult to develop soul tools independently.
Although the Dou Spirit Empire's system reform went relatively smoothly.
Unfortunately, it is located inland and does not border the Sun and Moon Continent, so it cannot play any role in the short term.
Let's look at Sun Moon Empire and Shrek Academy.
The former can be ruled out directly.
There's no other reason than that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School dares to join the Sun and Moon Sect.
The latter and the three great empires certainly wouldn't mind playing the game of sacrificing family for the greater good.
He knew all too well the amplification capabilities of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
It's the kind of martial spirit that I might not need, but I absolutely cannot let you have.
Shrek is the optimal solution among all options.
However, once you get involved with them, you can't break free of the entanglement unless you die and your entire clan is wiped out.
If he hadn't been forced into this situation, he wouldn't have made the difficult decision to send Ning Tian to Shrek Academy.
Thinking of this, Ning Hao suddenly felt an unbearable headache.
I couldn't help but wonder if I and this guy were just incompatible.
How come he's caused so much trouble as soon as he arrived!
On the other hand, Ning Huan noticed Ning Hao's increasingly furrowed brows and immediately whispered his thoughts.
"Uncle Ning, since you feel that none of the forces are trustworthy, how about choosing to remain neutral?"
Before Ning Hao could say anything, Feng Douluo raised an objection.
"No, no, what nonsense are you talking about!"
"You should know that throughout history, those who are opportunistic and fickle have never had a good ending!"
The others nodded in agreement.
However, it was precisely this idea, which no one believed in, that caught Ning Hao's attention.
"It's better to talk about it carefully than to sit here at a loss."
With permission granted, Ning Huan's lips curled up slightly, his approval of Ning Hao deepening even further.
"The neutrality I'm referring to isn't about playing both sides, but rather about learning from Shrek's experience."
"Shrek Academy is divided into an outer courtyard and an inner courtyard, so why don't we divide ourselves into an outer sect and an inner sect?"
"But our situation is special, and we need to make some adjustments in the details."
As he spoke, he turned the remaining rice grains in the bowl upside down on the table, dividing them into two piles.
Then, pointing to the smaller part, he said:
"The inner sect still refers to itself as the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, selecting disciples with superior character, talent, and the ability to endure loneliness."
"Go to the mainland to find a secluded place, rebuild your foundation, and transform it into a hidden sect. Without permission, you will not go out, thus occupying a strategic location."
"As long as our foundation remains hidden, even if there is war raging outside, it will have nothing to do with us."
He then pointed to another group and boldly revealed a plan that seemed to involve splitting the sect.
"As for the outer sect, it was renamed the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Academy."
"First, we will cultivate external Soul Masters, establish friendly diplomacy with major powers, and achieve harmony among people."
"Secondly, we can also take this opportunity to select outstanding disciples, bring them into the sect, and enhance its foundation."
"However, the academy must declare itself as a reform of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, and must never again refer to itself as a sect in the future."
"This is the key."
At this point, Ning Huan turned the empty bowl upside down onto the pile of rice that represented the inner sect.
Then he pushed another pile in front of everyone.
"The sect remains secluded within the world, yet its lineage endures."
"To the outside world, all that is known is the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Academy, which is preparing for the coming storm."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Ning Hao suddenly picked up the conversation, and what he said also stunned everyone.
"Not only that, we can register our name in the Heavenly Soul Empire to attract attention for the inner sect."
"We will make a name for ourselves by professionally training support-type Soul Masters."
"At least in this respect, I am confident that the sect's foundation is no weaker than any other force."
"At the same time, we learn from Shrek Academy."
"We will eliminate evil spirit masters within a designated area, but we will never participate in the conflicts between the continent and the forces."
"With the support of public opinion, Jiubao Academy will then be on the side of righteousness."
"We have the advantage of location, the support of the people, and the righteousness to rely on. Even if Shrek doesn't like us, he wouldn't dare to do anything to us."
"After all, denying Nine Treasures Academy is tantamount to Shrek Academy denying itself!"
The series of remarks sent chills down the spines of Feng Douluo and the others.
They knew their sect leader had always been incredibly audacious, but to exhaust ten thousand years of accumulated resources to imitate Shrek...
This can't even be described as a risky move!
Ning Huan, however, said nothing and his expression remained unchanged.
Both he and Ning Hao knew that such actions would inevitably cause violent turmoil.
One mistake could lead to utter ruin.
Moreover, the initial costs, investment risks, and the future of the sect will all lead to unpredictable outcomes.
Should we maintain the status quo and wait for ourselves to grow?
Or, one should proactively explore the overall trend, be cunning and resourceful, and seek more possibilities in the process.
The choice rests with only one person.
Knowing he was caught in a dilemma, Ning Hao leaned back in his chair and looked up at the sparkling jade jewelry on the ceiling.
He knew that everyone was waiting for his answer.
'Ten thousand years ago, because our ancestor Fengzhi hesitated too much, the sect fell into ruin.'
Ten thousand years later, turmoil rises again on the continent, geniuses emerge in droves, foreshadowing a great era.
'This moment is exactly the same as that moment.'
'Perhaps from the very beginning, I had no other choice.'
With his thoughts stagnating, Ning Hao finally made up his mind.
He made a decisive decision that defied business rationality.
"Uncle Shield, you are the most experienced in sensing auras. Please reconfirm the 'outsiders' in the sect."
"Uncle Feng is the fastest. After you leave Tianluo City, please travel around the continent and find a suitable place for your sect to live in seclusion."
The two consecutive, irresistible orders sent a chill down everyone's spine.
Feng and Shield Douluo dared not hesitate and immediately agreed.
"I understand."
Ning Hao nodded slightly upon hearing this, and then turned his gaze back to Ning Huan.
"Xiao Huan, your task now is to cultivate diligently, and you don't need to care about worldly affairs."
"The future of the sect rests entirely in your hands!"
"I understand!"
Only then did Ning Huan finally gain a firm foothold in the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School.
No longer like a rootless duckweed, drifting aimlessly with the waves.
[end of the chapter]