My martial spirit leads me to Earth; I begin by submitting my skills to the Douluo Continent.

Chapter 66 Starfire Academy

Su Yun looked directly at the leader of the three upper sects and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"As long as you really have the guts to pull off something big with me—"

Su Yun extended his thumb and forefinger, gesturing an extremely tiny gap in mid-air.

"From now on, the profit from selling hamburgers will be worth nothing."

Ning Fengzhi's smile gradually faded, and a hint of shock flashed in his eyes.

"A single hair?"

Su Yun nodded firmly, his eyes burning with the fire of ambition.

"Yes, just one hair."

He took out a document he had prepared long ago from his pocket and slowly pushed it in front of Ning Fengzhi.

Although it was not opened, it seemed to exude a blazing heat, simply because the cover had four big characters written on it: Xinghuo Academy.

Su Yun looked directly at the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and said, word by word, "I want to open an academy."

"I hope the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School can be my angel investor and help me obtain the royal family's educational qualifications."

Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow, seemingly somewhat surprised by the answer.

"To run a school?"

"There are many academies in Douluo Continent, so one more won't make a difference. Why are you so fixated on this, young friend Su?"

Su Yun stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to everyone, and looked at the old and dilapidated Notting Junior Soul Master Academy in the distance. His voice was calm but powerful: "This world is sick."

"The colleges only care about birth and background. Nobles are high and mighty, while commoners can only ever be stepping stones."

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"Those so-called prestigious universities are all teaching students how to flatter the powerful and how to be obedient dogs."

"I will establish Spark Academy and never follow those outdated and antiquated paths."

"I don't want to cultivate Soul Masters who only know how to meditate and fight; I want to mold Swordholders who dare to completely overturn these corrupt rules!"

"Those seeking promotion and wealth should go elsewhere; those who are afraid of death should not enter this gate."

Ning Fengzhi's hand holding the teacup suddenly stopped, and a look of extreme shock flashed in his deep pupils.

He gazed at the young figure bathed in sunlight, and his heart began to beat faster involuntarily.

What arrogant words! What astonishing ambition!

"Good! What a wonderful way to get promoted and make a fortune! Go elsewhere!"

Ning Fengzhi placed the teacup heavily on the table, his eyes full of admiration.

"Young friend Su's decisiveness is admirable. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will take on this matter. I'll handle everything from funding approvals to venue and personnel."

"but----"

"As the largest investor, I have one small condition."

Ning Fengzhi crossed his hands and placed them under his chin, revealing his profit-driven nature once again.

"Outstanding talents cultivated by the Starfire Academy in the future must be given priority to be sent to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to serve our sect."

""

Faced with this seemingly reasonable request, Su Yun slowly turned around.

He looked into Ning Fengzhi's expectant eyes and shook his head without hesitation.

"I refuse."

The three crisp and concise words instantly froze the air in the private room.

Even Sword Douluo, who was quietly eating ice cream on the side, suddenly focused his gaze and continued eating his ice cream with a serious expression.

Ning Fengzhi's smile froze slightly, and his tone deepened: "Young friend Su, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has invested money and effort; if we can't even secure the slightest preferential treatment in recruitment, how can this deal last?"

Su Yun sat back down in his chair, his expression calm, like a deep pool.

"Sect Leader Ning, you may have misunderstood the original intention behind the establishment of Starfire Academy."

"If I build this academy only to provide thugs and security for the major sects, then what's the difference between it and other academies?"

"I've said it before, I'm raising a beast that will tear apart the old era. Are you sure you want to keep this beast chained up in your own backyard?"

"Where students of Starfire Academy go after graduation is entirely up to their own free choice. Neither sects nor empires can bind their lives with contracts or money."

"This is my bottom line."

The air in the private room seemed to freeze for a moment.

However, to everyone's surprise, after a slight moment of astonishment, Ning Fengzhi suddenly clapped his hands and burst into laughter.

The last trace of merchant cunning in his gaze toward Su Yun had completely vanished, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and respect.

"What courage! What spirit!"

Ning Fengzhi picked up his teacup, offering tea instead of wine, and solemnly toasted Su Yun.

"If you had readily agreed to turn the academy into a vassal of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, I would have had to reconsider whether this investment was truly worthwhile."

The leader of the three upper sects finally put away his condescending scrutiny and truly regarded Su Yun as a fellow practitioner who could be treated as an equal.

"Since we can't keep the beasts, how about my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School sends our own young beasts to you for training? That should work, right?"

""

Ning Fengzhi leaned forward, voluntarily lowering his stance, and offered entirely new conditions.

"I'll compromise. I'll still cover all the funding, including the royal family's educational qualifications."

"There is only one agreement. In future admissions, under the same qualifications, Xinghuo Academy must give priority to the direct descendants of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."

A glint of light flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes, and his tone was meaningful.

"I want them to feel the spark of your prairie fire, and to learn how to grow their own sharp teeth."

Upon hearing this suggestion, Su Yun finally nodded.

This condition was just right, preserving the academy's absolute independence while also securing the most powerful financial backing on the entire continent.

Su Yun raised her teacup in return, a confident smile playing on her lips.

"It's a deal. As long as they can abide by the rules of Xinghuo Academy, I, Su, will accept as many people as Sect Leader Ning sends."

The two smiled at each other, and their teacups clinked gently in mid-air, making a crisp sound.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong, who had been focused on eating the pizza, suddenly looked up.

She hastily wiped the ketchup from the corner of her mouth, excitedly jumped up from the chair, and waved her pink little fists.

"Dad! I want to go to school too!"

The little witch stared at Su Yun with bright, expectant eyes.

"It's so boring in the sect! Those old men make me memorize all sorts of rigid rules all day long, it's incredibly tedious! I want to go to Xinghuo Academy too! I want to follow Brother Su Yun, Brother Su Yun has lots of delicious food and lots of fun and interesting things!"

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Sword Douluo, who had just swallowed the last bite of ice cream, almost choked on the coldness in his throat when he heard his little ancestor's boastful words.

Ning Fengzhi helplessly rubbed his forehead, looking at his beloved daughter who seemed to thrive on chaos, and could only manage a wry smile.

"Young friend Su, since my daughter is so fond of your Starfire Academy, then the important task of disciplining Rongrong will be entirely in your hands from now on."

"As long as she's alive—even if it's a little harsh, it's fine."

Before Su Yun could speak, Ning Fengzhi changed the subject and offered a very sincere offer.

"Besides, if you're going to establish a top-tier academy capable of overturning the old era, it would be a waste of your vast talents to continue hiding in a remote corner like Notting City."

Ning Fengzhi tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"I happen to have a very large, unused manor in Tiandou City. The environment there is serene and quiet, making it the perfect site for Starfire Academy."

Ning Fengzhi smiled as he picked up his teacup, his gaze fixed intently on Su Yun.

"What does young friend Su Yun think?"