Qian Tong said, "It has an effect, after all, my uncle has some feelings for the Martial God Douluo."
Su Yu's expression was somewhat peculiar.
However, he did not interrupt Qian Tong.
Qian Duoduo still has feelings for the Martial God Douluo...
Hearing this, Su Yu was inexplicably curious about how Qian Duoduo passed through the Qiankun Valley of Inquiry.
"My uncle should still be in a state of ambivalence now, but he went into seclusion recently. It seems his research into Soul-guiding Devices has reached a certain level, and his long-standing mental knot has been untied, creating a chance to break through as a Super Douluo."
Qian Tong indeed knew quite a lot.
Qian Duoduo is about to break through as a Super Douluo!
"Once he breaks through to Super Douluo, given the current importance of the Soul Guide System, he might have hope to gain more influence in the Sea God Pavilion."
And if he gains more influence, then Qian Duoduo's stance becomes crucial.
Not saying to have Shrek align with the Sun and Moon Empire, nor to betray Douluo Three Kingdoms, but perhaps just abandoning resistance might be possible.
At least, having Qian Duoduo propose such a suggestion is still possible.
"Hmm, the main goal next is to shift Qian Duoduo's stance to neutrality."
After all, Shrek has multiple Super Douluos, and now the Soul-guiding Device aspect is rapidly developing. Although they can't develop Battle Armor, and the technology for the Level 9 Fixed Soul-guided Cannon can't be produced due to a lack of rare metals, it will ultimately still impact the footsteps of the Sun and Moon Empire.
The greater the loss during the unification process, the more time Su Yu would need to reverse devour the Abyss or lead the Douluo Continent to expand territories in the future.
Things are not like they used to be anymore.
The spread of Universal Techniques, coupled with the potential soul master realm cultivation system upheaval to be faced, in such a special era, the advancement speed of both soul masters and soul guides will be unprecedented.
Especially with the arrival of the destiny node for the unification of the Douluo Continent.
Su Yu even plans to complete the unification of the other two continents on the Douluo Star simultaneously, completing the survey of the entire Douluo Star, and bringing the entire Douluo Star under the dominion of the Federation.
This will be an unprecedented grand trend!
The sacrifice of ten thousand soul guides is a great loss.
...
After exchanging with Qian Tong, Su Yu left the Hall of Myriad Households, heading towards Shrek Academy.
Huo Yuhao and the other three had already arrived in Shrek City a few days ago and settled within Shrek Academy.
Arriving at the gates of Shrek Academy, a group of people was already waiting.
Huo Yuhao, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Bai Feng, joined by their team leader Xuan Ziweng, totalling five members from Mingde Hall, as well as two Sea God Pavilion elders, Xuanzi and Elder Song.
Xuanzi was still merely acting as the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, not the actual Pavilion Master.
"Brother Yu."
"Teacher."
"Su Yu."
Su Yu nodded, temporarily refraining from catching up with Huo Yuhao and the others, and looked towards Xuanzi.
"The five of us are here, can we enter the Sea God Pavilion to cultivate now?"
Huo Yuhao and the others had been waiting for a few days upon arriving, waiting for Su Yu to join them before entering the Sea God Pavilion for cultivation.
Xuanzi's expression was unsatisfied, letting out a cold snort.
"Let's go," said Elder Song, albeit with a trace of reluctance in his voice.
Mingde Hall had released many talents from Shrek Inner Courtyard.
They were neither lacking arms nor legs, nor were they crippled, but over a year of imprisonment had undeniably impaired their talents.
Most importantly, Shrek had completed a deal with Mingde Hall, whereas other forces had not.
This led to a rift between Shrek and other forces such as Proud Sword Sect, Douling Royal Academy, and the Celestial Soul Royal Academy, whose talents were not released by the Sun and Moon Empire.
A year earlier, before Shrek attempted to send negotiators to Mingdu and Mingde Hall for discussions, Shrek and these forces were planning to rally strong individuals to covertly disrupt within the Sun and Moon Empire to force the Sun and Moon Empire to release their talents.
However, shortly after, Shrek independently completed a transaction with Mingde Hall, redeeming their own talents.
Though delayed by a year, it's better than the current uncertain life and death situation of talents from other forces.
This consequently led to deteriorating relations between Shrek and these forces.
Of course, over the year, many of these forces ceased to exist, disappearing completely from the Douluo Continent as the Celestial Soul Empire and Douling Empire were conquered by the Sun and Moon Empire.
Only a few compromised and sided with the Sun and Moon Empire, their disciples released, joining the Sun and Moon Empire instead, causing considerable pressure on the current Xingluo Empire.
Now, they are in a state of ceasefire.
Whether in the Mingdu Mountain Range or along both eastern borderlines of the Xingluo Empire, friction has never ceased, but the Sun and Moon Empire's offensive has undoubtedly slowed down.
This state is what's called a ceasefire.
The Sun and Moon Empire is digesting, assimilating forces within the Celestial Soul and Douling Two Great Empires, spreading Soul-guiding Device technology.
Although only four months have passed, the recognition level among the two empires' populace for the Sun and Moon Empire is already quite high.
Thoughts of restoring the nation have completely subsided at the civilian level.
Moreover, the Sun and Moon Empire has begun conscription within the former Celestial Soul and Douling territories, initiating the cultivation of new forces.
Mingde Hall established a branch in Tiandou City, forming a subsidiary Soul Guide Academy, consolidating resources from various academies within the original two empire territories, transforming into ten Soul Guide Academies under Mingde Hall.
The four-month ceasefire was essentially an enrollment season.
Also a graduation season, consolidating numerous talents that had already matured within each academy.
These four months could be described as a perfect digestion process of war achievements by the Sun and Moon Empire.
...
The progress of the Sun and Moon Empire moves smoothly, yet Shrek faces difficulties.
It's pitiful, as the once continental premier academy, Shrek Academy's enrollment situation this year is quite bleak.
This is why Xuanzi and Elder Song find it difficult to maintain cheerful expressions.
Talents originally within the Celestial Soul and Douling Two Great Empires were attracted to Mingde Hall's affiliate ten Soul Guide Academies, while talents within the Xingluo Empire also began to scarcely flow outwards.
The Xingluo Empire's royal family has lost faith in Shrek, and without official support, student source faces first-layer impact.
The Xingluo Empire is on the brink of collapse, constantly threatened with invasion, and how will various sects fare post-collapse? Only by ensuring strength can they preserve their sects, assuming they don't fervently resist empire's fall, ensuring a foundation for future development. With the Armor Era descending, and the Soul Spirit Cultivation System replacing the traditional soul master cultivation system, to preserve sect heritage, they must actively adapt to this trend. Thus, various sects began large-scale recruitment, further absorbing talents, causing the second-layer impact on Shrek's enrollment.
Lastly, the ambiguous relationship between Mingde Hall and Shrek has left talented individuals who emerged from the lower rank disillusioned with Shrek, abandoning the idea of entering Shrek; this is the third-layer impact.
Within the hearts of civilian talents lies a sense of national duty, instilled through certain ideological conditioning; hence, holding hostility towards the Sun and Moon Empire naturally creates resistance towards Shrek.
The once revered Shrek Academy within the realm of soul masters has ended in such circumstances.
Pitiful, lamentable.
Yet, Shrek is ultimately Shrek.
Possessing the Golden Ancient Tree, possessing profound heritage, at least now their status and strength are undeniable.
...
Su Yu entered Shrek Academy.
Outer Courtyard, a desolate sight.
Shrek's Outer Courtyard was established to facilitate gold-plating by talents of major forces within the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, now pushed into desolation as walls break down.
This is false prosperity.
The Outer Courtyard was merely a gold-plating venue, creating a facade of prosperity for Shrek. This false prosperity shattered upon encountering such a change, resulting in stark contrast.
...
Soon, they entered the Inner Courtyard.
The overwhelming Primordial Energy instantly invigorated Su Yu and others.
Beside Sea God Lake, one could clearly see the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree situated on the island in the center of the lake.
Su Yu looked forth, noticing the enormous Golden Ancient Tree surrounded by dense and profound aura.
"The rules around the Golden Ancient Tree are more clearly operating."