Douluo: Dragon King's Star Devouring Wings

Chapter 715 The struggle for faith has always been like this.
"Did the daughter of the Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy become the disciple of the Spirit Pagoda Master?" Gu Yuena pondered Qian Gu Huang Yu's words, a smile appearing on her pretty face.

"That's quite an interesting signal!"

Qian Gu Huang Yu said, "Shrek Academy is currently facing a talent shortage. Judging from the current students at Shrek Academy, there isn't even one person with the potential to break through to the Limit Douluo level."

"In other words, it's almost certain that Yun Mengyou will be the next Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion."

Gu Yuena said, "Now that Yun Ming has been dealt with by us a few times, he no longer dares to have any disloyal thoughts. And the next Sea God Pavilion Master will be one of our people."

"Doesn't that mean Shrek Academy is ours too?"

"Pretty much," Qian Gu Huang Yu laughed. "Anyway, once the Abyss is resolved, we'll be traveling through the universe, which will save future generations some effort."

In fact, Yun Ming would seem weak if it weren't for the existence of Qian Gu Huang Yu, Gu Yue Na, and Qian Ren Xue in this era.

Without those three, Yun Ming should have been invincible.

After they leave, the Spirit Pagoda will no longer have any super combat power. If Shrek Academy were to produce another top-tier combat power like Yun Ming, it would be very difficult to suppress them.

Therefore, it would be better to take advantage of this opportunity to control all potential risks directly.

...

Shrek Academy, Poseidon Pavilion.

Upon hearing that Yun Mengyou had been taken away by Qian Gu Huang Yu, Cao Dezhi and Zang Xin immediately rushed back from outside.

They didn't have children for various reasons, but they treated Yun Mengyou like their own daughter. When they heard about her accident, they rushed back immediately.

Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion has once again reunited several of the older generation of the Shrek Seven Devils.

Wu Changkong is now almost numb because, as one of the parties involved and the root cause of Yun Mengyou's being taken away, he was required to sit in on the proceedings.

Almost every important figure who came over would glare at Wu Changkong, which put immense psychological pressure on him.

Since Yun Ming hadn't returned yet, Guan Yue and the others took advantage of this rare opportunity to discuss Shrek Academy and Tang Sect affairs.

"Captain, how is your Tang Clan doing now?" Guan Yue was also a Tang Clan disciple before, and she cared a lot about the Tang Clan.

Cao Dezhi's face looked rather grim. He said, "It's not good. To put it bluntly, the reason why the Tang Sect was able to have such a large influence before was essentially because it possessed powerful soul guidance technology."

"What Soul Guidance Technology brings is a wealth of riches, and beyond that, there are the Tang Clan's unique skills passed down from generation to generation."

"And since the end of the One Year War, Qian Gu Huang Yu has taken over all of the Tang Sect's soul guidance technology as state property."

"They also took away a large part of the Tang Clan's research team, and had them form a company called Anaheim Soul Guidance Company with some of the Mingde Hall's research personnel."

"At this point, the Tang Sect has completely lost its technological advantage in soul tools."

"This led to the break in the funding chain. In addition, after the year-long war, Qian Gu Huang Yu also nationalized the Tang Sect's secret techniques..."

Seeing Cao Dezhi's increasingly grim expression, Zang Xin chimed in, "We've also lost our advantage in creating our own soul skills."

"In other words, when Soul Masters join us now, they don't actually get anything. They don't have their own unique Soul Skills, nor their own Soul Tools, and they've even lost the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."

"I heard that Qian Gu Huang Yu even openly taught our Tang Sect's secret techniques at that so-called Imperial Soul Master University she set up!" Feng Wu Yu slammed his fist on the table in anger and shouted.

Guan Yue said, "In order to build the Imperial Soul Master University and attract young soul masters, she almost plundered all the unique skills and secret techniques on the entire continent."

"This has led to the fact that, apart from a few family-style sects that rely on the inheritance of martial spirits and the spirit transmission towers that rely on spirits, all other sects are unable to recruit fresh blood and are on the verge of extinction."

According to the tradition of Douluo Continent, once you join a sect, you cannot leave and must dedicate your life to that sect.

Previously, each major sect had its own secret techniques and cultivation methods, which allowed them to continuously attract unaffiliated soul masters to join them.

For modern Soul Masters, why bother joining a sect and working like slaves for the rest of their lives when they can learn the same things at school?
Zang Xin said with some bitterness, "The best disciples we can recruit right now are second-rate talents who can't get into the Imperial Soul Master University."

Although Qian Gu Huang Yu has collected almost all the self-created soul skills and sect secret techniques, he still serves as the sect master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, giving those old sects a final bit of face.

The self-created soul skills and secret techniques she collected were only circulated within the Imperial Soul Master University. Apart from that, they were given out as rewards after she made contributions to the Empire.

In short, if you don't get into the Imperial Soul Master University but still want to learn the corresponding cultivation techniques, then besides serving the country, the only other option is to join the corresponding sect.

After Zang Xin finished speaking, everyone present fell silent.

As big shots in the Soul Master world, they certainly understood that second-rate talent meant it was impossible to break through to the Limit Douluo level, let alone the Limit Douluo level; they would be lucky to even reach the Super Douluo level.

The reason why the Tang Sect has been able to become a dominant sect for thousands of years is not only due to its powerful soul guidance technology, but also to its powerful soul master combat strength.

"How is Tang Sect's financial situation now?" Guan Yue asked again.

Zang Xin sighed and said, "What else can we do? We're half-dead! Right now, there's only one country in the entire plane, so all of Tang Sect's soul-guided weapons can only be sold to the Empire."

"And the Empire itself possesses all of the Tang Sect's soul guidance technology. In other words, as long as the price offered by the Tang Sect does not satisfy Qian Gu Huang Yu, she can simply kick the Tang Sect aside and send people to manufacture soul guidance devices herself."

"So not only will our initial investment go down the drain, but we also won't be able to recoup our costs later. Therefore, our current dealings with the Empire for soul tools are always based on whatever price they set, and we have no choice but to accept it."

"This is troublesome!" Guan Yue exclaimed. "Should we try to develop civilian soul tools?"

Zang Xin shook his head and said, "That's impossible. Not to mention that our technology in civilian soul tools is far inferior to Anaheim, which has been developing for decades."

"Even the Ancient Phoenix Feather won't allow us to enter the civilian soul tool industry. We did try before, but she forcibly stopped us."

"What? Forced to stop? Is that even possible?" Zhuoshi asked in surprise.

Zang Xin said, "That's right. If we sell civilian soul tools, then we will still have influence over the people."

"In order to prevent our influence from spreading, the Ancient Phoenix Feather does not allow us to sell civilian soul tools."

Shortage of funds, lack of talent, and loss of influence—this is the predicament that Tangmen is currently facing.

Just when Guan Yue and the others were at their wits' end, Yun Ming returned.

Yun Ming's appearance immediately startled them. His once-fitting white shirt was now covered in bright red blood, and there were dried bloodstains at the corners of his mouth.

"Brother!"

"Boss!"

Exclamations rang out as everyone gasped upon seeing Yun Ming's horrific state.

Yun Ming waved his hand, signaling everyone not to panic, and said, "I'm fine." Guan Yue immediately looked around at Yun Ming, but couldn't see Yun Mengyou, so she quickly asked, "Where's Mengyou?"

Yun Ming said, "She has become Qian Gu Huang Yu's disciple."

"What?" Zhuo Shi exclaimed, glaring at Wu Changkong. He had thought Wu Changkong was coming to surprise him, but instead, he was being frightened.

"How could this be? If Mengyou had become Qian Gu Huang Yu's disciple, she would have been alive when she died, but she might have turned into fragments in no time," Zang Xin said anxiously.

“No,” Yun Ming shook his head, first sitting down in the main seat symbolizing the Sea God Pavilion Master, and then said, “I have agreed to this matter.”

"Senior brother...you...you're confused!" Guan Yue stamped her feet anxiously, not only because she was worried about Yun Mengyou's safety, but also because of the implications.

The daughter of the principal of Shrek Academy, who prides himself on being the number one academy, became an apprentice of the master of the Spirit Pagoda, with whom he has a long-standing feud.

Especially since the other party is the principal of the Imperial Soul Master University, this not only represents Shrek Academy's complete submission, but also implies that Shrek Academy's teaching ability is inferior to the other party's.

Yun Ming said, "Everyone, please calm down and let me explain."

Seeing Yun Ming speak, Guan Yue and the others also took their seats. After all, Yun Ming was the head of the Sea God Pavilion of Shrek Academy, the true number one.

Before starting, Yun Ming looked at Guan Yue and asked, "How is Su Yu?"

Su Yu is Yun Ming's wife and Yun Mengyou's mother. Although Su Yu's cultivation level is not high and she is not from a prominent family, the two have always had a very good relationship.

Seeing that Su Yu wasn't waiting for him there, Yun Ming couldn't help but ask about her situation.

Guan Yue said, "I haven't told her yet. Su Yu's cultivation level is not as high as ours, and she is also older. This matter is too complicated, and you are not here. I don't want her to be too worried."

Yun Ming nodded slightly. Even with his help and the resources of Shrek Academy, Su Yu could only break through to the Title Douluo level in the end.

Yun Ming and the others are now over a hundred years old. If it weren't for Yun Ming using some rare and precious herbs to help Su Yu maintain her youthful appearance...

Now, if Su Yu and Yun Mengyou stood together, probably no one would think they were mother and daughter; they would probably think they were grandmother and granddaughter.

“Alright, I’ll go talk to her myself later,” Yun Ming said.

After learning about his wife's situation, Yun Ming got down to business: "We're all getting on in years, and I'm sure you all know the impact of Meng You becoming Qian Gu Huang Yu's apprentice."

"This symbolizes that after we were defeated by the Spirit Pagoda in the war, we completely abandoned our vision of fighting against it and surrendered completely."

Upon hearing this, Guan Yue, Cao Dezhi, and the others looked rather grim. Although they didn't want to admit it, it was the truth.

Even Wu Changkong's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. Hearing what Yun Ming, the Sea God Pavilion Master in his mind, said, he now had to admit that his previous belief that Shrek Academy was the best in the world was nothing but self-deception.

Yun Ming continued, "Although I hate to admit it, to be honest, what are the chances that we can defeat the Spirit Pagoda?"

...

...

...

Everyone continued to remain silent.

Silence is the best answer; they are all pessimistic about surpassing the Spirit Pagoda.

“Um…we should trust the wisdom of future generations…right…right?” Zang Xin said with an awkward laugh.

Yun Ming looked at Zang Xin, but his gaze was not stern. He said, "You also mentioned the wisdom of later generations. This proves that you also believe that, given the current situation, we have no way to surpass the Spirit Transmission Tower."

"Instead of struggling to survive while enduring the suppression of the Spirit Pagoda and the iron fist that could fall at any time, and then gambling on the hope that may come at any time, we should place our hopes on a powerful figure descending from the heavens."

"Why not just openly admit our shortcomings and then declare our submission to the Phoenix Feather of the Ages? After all, Shrek Academy is now just a national academy of the empire in name only."

"At the very least, this will reduce her pressure on us significantly."

"Since there are no outsiders here, I'll be frank. Given Shrek Academy's current situation, the next Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy will most likely be Meng You."

"Given Qian Gu Huang Yu's attitude towards her own people, how could she possibly suppress the school opened by her own disciple?"

Guan Yue and the others fell silent again. Although they didn't like Qian Gu Huang Yu, they had to admit that Qian Gu Huang Yu was really good to their own people.

For those who want to achieve great things and then retire to enjoy life, Qian Gu Huang Yu also respects and grants them status. Even if they do nothing for a year, they can receive a bonus that can be described as astronomical.

As for those who crave power, as long as they don't cross the line or cause too much trouble, just pretend you don't know and let them indulge in their own little world.

Just like how, with the tacit approval of Qian Gu Huang Yu, after 20,000 years, Qian Renxue once again erected the statue of the Angel God on the Douluo Continent, openly gathering the power of faith.

Chen Hanyu was prohibited from erecting statues of the sea god Tang San and the old sea god Poseidon due to historical issues related to the sea gods of different generations.

However, Chen Hanyu took a different approach, using her own and Shui Qingli's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Sea Queen, as a template, and then adding some of the appearance features of the Ancient Phoenix Feather, to create a sculpture called Ocean Goddess, hoping to collect as much faith as possible.

Although the uninformed public always regarded the statue as the illegitimate daughter of Qian Gu Huang Yu and Chen Han Yu.

Gu Yuena always wanted to find an excuse to dismantle that thing.

Even when problems arise, Qian Gu Huang Yu will personally step in to help, just like when Chen Hanyu was entangled in the pearl smuggling case in Donghai City.

The fact that Qian Gu Huang Yu directly ordered the abolition of the Imperial Inspection Department is a testament to this.

"Instead of continuing to feel sorry for yourself and be excluded from mainstream society, you should immerse yourself in past glories and dream dreams that are destined to never come true."

"It would be better to admit defeat and be accepted back by mainstream society."

“But…” Cao Dezhi paused, then said, “Yun Ming, if that’s the case, then the academy will lose its independence and become an appendage of the Douluo Empire.”

"This is what our ancestors have upheld for 20,000 years!"

In the end, Cao Dezhi, whose martial spirit was the Ruthless Sword, surprisingly revealed a touch of sorrow in his voice.

Although he was the leader of the Tang Sect, he believed that his feelings for Shrek Academy were no less than anyone else's.

Faced with Cao Dezhi's very pointed question about "violating ancestral laws," Yun Ming smiled calmly and said...

"Old Cao, what's the problem with this? Back then, which of the major Soul Clans wasn't independent of the Federation?"

(End of this chapter)