(SC - Shadow Clone)
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Shrek Academy, Inner Courtyard
"Yuhao!!"
"Hey, I'm back—" (SC)Huo Yuhao was quickly cut off as Ma Xiaotao, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Ning Tian, and Ling Luochen all rushed and tackled him in a full-force group hug.
'Thankfully Shadow Clones also gain some of the physical attributes of the original body, or else I would've been turned into smoke right now.' (SC)Huo Yuhao thought to himself as he softly comforted them.
He gave a wave to his other friends who were waiting from the side with relieved looks on their faces.
"Welcome home, Yuhao." Mu En's voice sounded loudly from the Sea God Pavilion. His tone was calm and warm, a shimmering golden light released from the pavilion.
(SC)Huo Yuhao slightly smiled, gently pushing off the girls who were still clinging to him, he bowed his head towards the pavilion.
"I, (SC)Huo Yuhao, have returned. I apologize for the troubles I have caused you all."
Mu En's deep sighed was heard by everyone, "You don't have anything to apologize about. Although you're not truly here... Come in first, that includes the rest of your friends. We have many things to discuss."
(SC)Huo Yuhao straightened his body and nodded. He walked up towards the pavilion, his friends following closely behind him and bombarding him incessantly. He merely told them to wait until they were in the pavilion, he didn't want to repeat his words again.
(SC)Huo Yuhao saw Mu En and the rest of the elders and deans waiting.
"Teacher, Elders. It's good to see you all well," (SC)Huo Yuhao respectfully said.
Mu En smiled and said, "Yuhao. It is good to see you again. Please, all you have a seat."
From the ground beneath them sprout thick wooden vines, twisting together to form natural chairs. Everyone sat in silence for a moment, the mood still thick with unspoken tension and relief.
(SC)Huo Yuhao remained standing as he exchange a few pleasantries with the elders.
After some chatter, he then went on to tell the tale of his disappearance and why he's being held in the Great Star Dou Forest — experiencing a Heavenly Tribulation, being kidnapped by the Great Beasts, using both his wit and charm to persuade Di Tian to spare him, and ultimately leading to him offering a plan to both Great Beasts and Shrek Academy higher-ups that would finally lead to the peaceful coexistence between soul beasts and humans.
"—I call it, the Eye of the Moon Plan." Huo Yuhao calmly finished.
One of the elders spoke up, with clear displeasure on his face and voice. "How utterly reckless. Nevermind this ambiguous plan of yours, but the fact that you had promised those soul beasts an alliance without the permission of the Pavilion Master and us, that—!"
Mu En raised his hand and calmly said, "It's fine, Elder Gu. It was a dire situation after all, and I would've still agreed with the decision Yuhao made—even if he had the time to consult us.
He did what was necessary, and more importantly, he returned alive and with the invaluable act of an alliance with the Great Star Dou Forest."
"B-But Pavilion Master! I'm sure you understand that allying with the Great Star Dou Forest is not a good option, all of the three Douluo empires would become wary of us. I'm afraid, they would..." Another elder spoke up, a bit of fear in his eyes.
Mu En chuckled and slowly shook his head. "Are you afraid that they would ally together and attack us?"
Some of the elders reluctantly nodded in agreement.
"I see. Then you are all fools!" Mu En loudly said.
"Have you forgotten the ten thousand year old glory of Shrek Academy? The many alumni we have scattered all throughout the continent? Or when I passed, if Di Tian honors his word, he himself is enough of a deterrent to keep the empires from attacking us for at least a few centuries."
Shrek Academy is a powerful organization that rivaled at least two empires, and the Great Star Dou Forest was considered a forbidden land that no nation had any claim over.
It could be argued that the soul beasts owned the forest, but of course many people wouldn't acknowledge that.
For the empires, land was power, and the Great Star Dou Forest had always been a tempting prize — one they dared not seize purely out of fear.
But out of fear and paranoia....there was a likely chance that they would throw caution to the wind and invade both the academy and the forest out of greed.
After all, ten thousand years ago, Spirit Hall was known to be the strongest organization and had brought the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to rock bottom and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan to almost total annihilation.
With both Shrek Academy and the Great Star Dou Forest joining hands, it could force the empires to see them as an existential threat — just like they once saw Spirit Hall. Fear of a power shift often drives rulers to war before diplomacy.
Mu En was close to death, around two-three years, and if word were to spread that they were allied with the forest and their guardian was dead—
It would spell a cataclysm for Shrek Academy.
However, Di Tian was known as the strongest creature in the continent for a reason. If he would lend his hand for the academy, no Titled Douluo would ever come near the school.
Almost everyone in the pavilion understood it and any objections quickly disappeared.
'That's "if" he really lends his hand,' (SC)Huo Yuhao wasn't so optimistic, having interacted with Di Tian, he understood his personality.
He was the Beast God, not a God of Humans.
He only cares about soul beasts and the only reason why he agreed on allying with Shrek Academy was because of its many powerhouses and great reputation in the continent. Having them as his ally would serve him greatly in saving his kind.
However, if Shrek Academy was being destroyed by its own "allies", then he obviously wouldn't lend a hand—in fact, he would watch by the sidelines and eat popcorn.
'Relying on reputation and Di Tian's unreliable support wouldn't keep Shrek Academy safe. Tch. If it weren't because this place was a good recruitment and training facility, I wouldn't stay so long in this academy.'
'I have to continue training the new recruits and my friends, and armed them. They need to be prepared as soon as possible, some of them will be coming with me to the Sun Moon Empire.'
'I also need to scatter my clones again throughout the three Douluo Empires. I need to take over the underbelly and control the empires.'
'All...for the sake of a peaceful world.'
The corner of (SC)Huo Yuhao's eye slightly twitched, not revealing a hint of his true thoughts.
After having absorbed the memories of his past lives, go through a Heavenly Tribulation that would still give him nightmares, and experiencing the... "void" had done terrible things to his psyche.
Just a year ago he was a weak, naive and vengeance-filled boy. But over a few months, he was finding his way in life and significantly made his character calm, confident and cunning.
But now, a mix of trauma and curses of his previous life, his personality... slightly shifted. Darker.
It was just a little bit for now, but as time goes by...
He might only be a Shadow Clone, but his thoughts and actions mirroed those of the original.
Mu En raised his hand, silencing everyone. "However, we can never rely on Di Tian. He is a soul beast and not a benevolent person unless it's beneficial for him."
"So I wish for the matter of our alliance with the Great Star Dou Forest to be kept silent for as long as possible."
"Yes, sir!"
The elders and deans agreed with him.
Mu En nodded and looked up towards Huo Yuhao, and said. "My disciple, this...plan of yours? What does it require? I understand that it would bring peace between humanity and soul beasts, but it would need something that would change the cultivation system of all soul masters."
(SC)Huo Yuhao slightly smiled and said, "Teacher, what do you know about ninjutsu?"
Unbeknownst to Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er was glancing at him with an uneasy expression.
On her forehead, a flickering golden trident appeared.
In her subconscious mind, a faint voice echoed.
'Kill Huo Yuhao.'
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AN: Sorry it took me so long to post a new chapter. Had to deal with some IRL problems.