In Douluo Continent, the Pope used me as a substitute for my first love.

Chapter 319 The Divided-Up Four Elements Academy (Part 2)

The overall strength of Tianshui and Chihuo Academies corresponds to the second-tier forces on the continent (the powerful second-tier forces are the four major sects below, the three major sects above are first-tier, and the Spirit Hall is a super first-tier), with Soul Saints and even Soul Douluo-level powerhouses in charge.

Therefore, the major powers made the following demands on the two academies: first, they could no longer remain neutral, and the clans behind them had to officially re-emerge on the continent and become one of the forces involved in the disputes; second, they had to either become independent or choose to attach themselves to the empire or a first-class power.

That being said, in reality, no matter which clan the two academies choose, as long as they get involved in the conflict, in order to seek stability, they will inevitably have a "big brother" over them.

Because, without the assistance of Shenfeng Academy and Leiting Academy, the Four Elements City, maintained solely by Tianshui Academy and Chihuo Academy, was simply not enough to sustain its original transcendent status. Moreover, after entering the fray and becoming a force to be reckoned with but not much stronger in the disputes, it was inevitable that they would seek the protection of a first-rate power or empire.

The pressure from these various forces is, simply put, an attempt to divide up the two remaining four elemental academies that were once closely united but have now suddenly fallen apart! And behind this, there may also be two great empires, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and, well, we should also include the Dragon King Palace as well.

After all, apart from the Spirit Hall and the reclusive Clear Sky Sect, there are only a handful of other forces on the continent that are qualified to accept two academies.

As for whether these two academies will be forced to join the Spirit Hall along with the Divine Wind Academy?

That's impossible. Even if those two academies really had such intentions, the Spirit Hall probably wouldn't accept them, as that would disrupt the balance too much. The Spirit Hall has a clear advantage in the matter of spirit rings and inner cores, and the major powers already have many complaints about this. They only chose to back down because it concerns such a "big matter" involving the entire human race and the spirit beast race.

The fact that the Spirit Hall has suddenly acquired Shenfeng Academy is actually not a big deal for the major powers. However, if they also acquire Tianshui and Chihuo, and then add Elephant Armor, which has already openly pledged allegiance to the Spirit Hall...

Doesn't that mean that the Spirit Hall could completely replicate a "Four Elements City" that would kick Thunder Academy out of the game and be different from the original one, or even form a Four Elements Legion!

This is unacceptable to the major powers.

In short, the two academies, Tianshui and Chihuo, are somewhat similar to the hunter-spirit master group of the past. They are a big cake that everyone wants to take a big bite of. However, unlike the hunter-spirit master group of the past, the two academies are not in a very awkward position. They are completely free to align themselves with any first-class power except for the Spirit Hall.

Faced with this situation, the two academies were initially at a loss, but gradually accepted the reality that their former neutrality and detachment were gone forever, and they had to participate in worldly disputes and seek the protection of first-class powers.

Thunder Academy, which had initially chosen to stand by and do nothing at the crucial moment, was the first to represent Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. They offered some generous terms to both academies, attempting to leverage their past relationship to persuade them to align themselves with Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were to acquire Heavenly Water and Blazing Fire, along with its existing Thunder Academy, its overall strength would undoubtedly increase dramatically. While it might not be as powerful as the Dragon King Palace or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, it would still have a significant advantage in competing with them.

The deans of both academies immediately expressed their anger and refusal. Thunder Academy's decision to stand idly by at a crucial moment was one of the factors that caused the Four Elements City... well, the Three Elements City to lose its original transcendent status. Now, they're trying to win them over with feigned kindness? Nobody would agree to that!

After the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was rejected by the two academies, they received envoys from the two great empires and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to try and win them over.

The two academies hesitated for a long time, originally intending to wait and see, "compare three options," and wait for the Dragon King Palace to offer better terms before finally deciding to join a top-tier power together.

This was also a small act of resistance by the two academies in the face of reality. Blazing Fire and Heavenly Water were unwilling to be separated again, causing the "Five Elements," which had been closely united since their ancestors first joined the Spirit Hall, to eventually truly become separate entities. The two academies intended to preserve the fundamental heritage of Elemental City and seek its revival if the opportunity arose in the future.

...Wang Zhao saw these things back then, and Ning Fengzhi and the others probably saw them too. However, neither the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School nor the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon School, which had already been explicitly rejected, could give Elemental City a chance to revive and escape their control. After all, these two forces were ultimately sects!

Therefore, without the unexpected factor of Wang Zhao, the Four Elements City would only have one of the two more inclusive empires to choose from. Moreover, since the Four Elements City is located within the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire, it would likely have chosen to submit to the Heaven Dou Empire.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs," and Wang Zhao, this "major variable," was destined to disrupt everything.

Why did he initially only have the Spirit Hall secretly approach the Divine Wind Academy for a friendly exchange, instead of also approaching Tianshui and Chihuo? It was because he had long anticipated that the major powers would not accept the Spirit Hall simultaneously possessing Elephant Armor, Divine Wind, Tianshui, and Chihuo to form a unique Four Elemental City belonging solely to the Spirit Hall, and even to create an invincible Four Elemental Legion for the Spirit Hall.

He thought to himself, since the major powers couldn't accept the Spirit Hall taking over Tianshui and Chihuo as well, then he, the "Spirit Hall's lifelong enemy," the Dragon King Palace, would take them over. Hehehe~

In any case, Wang Zhao never intended to stand by and watch the two academies fall into the arms of other forces. He began his plans for Tianshui and Chihuo much earlier than other forces, and he was well aware of the wishes of these two ancient academies.

Therefore, after Wang Zhao let the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon School, and the two great empires send envoys to recruit the two academies one after another, he leisurely entered last.

When the Dragon King Palace made its move, it was a game-winning blunder.

The reason is that Wang Zhao offered the two academies the following terms: seats in the Free Guild under the Dragon King Palace!

In Wang Zhao's words from his previous life, it meant allowing the two academies and their respective clans to directly become "shareholders" of the Free Guild. Although they would only be minor shareholders, their freedom would undoubtedly be far greater than that of the two sects, and even slightly surpass that of the two great empires.

More importantly, Wang Zhao indicated that the two colleges could participate in the distribution of benefits within the Freedom Guild.

(End of this chapter)