(A/N: Everyone! I have to announce this inevitable news. I decided to put this fanfic on my Patreon because I need food to survive!!! Don't worry, it won't happen immediately, and I will still upload daily, 1 to 2 chapters a day good? I'm sorry to break your heart, but my stomach is in higher priority now. So, if you want to support me and read advanced chapters, check out my Patreon!)
"Without food, your boy is hungry!" -Nine_Clouds, The Art of Hunger
--- Chapter 30 ---
Not long after, Liu Erlong found us.
She should have dealt with the Blue Tyrant Academy and is ready to leave at any second. Of course, she definitely heard of my recent conflict with Tai Long.
"You really take my words and put them into action, huh?" She said with a helpless smile.
I shrugged, "That guy wanted to mess with my sister. How dare a monkey ask my sister to be his girlfriend?"
Liu Erlong sighed, "Since you knew Tai Long, you should also know about his One Strength Clan's background. Do you know that you're in deep trouble, mister?"
"What kind of trouble?" I raised my eyebrow and asked back playfully.
"Just you know, I have written a contract with Tai Long, and nearly every student, if not the teacher, too, knew about it."
"I only needed to spread this news all over Tian Dou City and see how they'd like to attack me."
"If they dare, the reputation of One Strength Clan will plummet because they will be known as people who couldn't keep the promise up."
"After that, not many people would dare to cooperate with One Strength Clan, whether it was in business or relation."
"You're one scary kid, Xiao Yuan." Liu Erlong finally realized how deeply I had tricked Tai Long with a simple contract. The contract is not only a warning and blackmail but also a protection for myself.
"So, the only way for them to regain their face is by letting their younger generations fight you."
"Correct." I gave her a nod. "But can they pull that off?"
Liu Erlong was stunned before laughing amusingly, "You're a monster with talents I've never seen before, let alone defeating you. No one in this generation can hold your coattails."
Han Yue agreed with Liu Erlong's statements and giggled, "That's Xiao Yuan for you! My dear genius brother!"
I gave them an amused look because I have more plans if One Strength Clan really can't swallow this matter. If they dare to attack me, I don't mind dumping some anti-geneva convention shit I meticulously made from many venoms of poison-type spirit beasts with Sky Poison Pearl's refining ability.
Yes, you heard that, right?
They have no rules for biological weapons here!
"So, I assume that you have dealt with your problem?" Changing the topic, I looked at Liu Erlong curiously.
Liu Erlong smiled faintly, "Well, yes. I only need to inform the Board of Education that I want to resign."
"Then, I left some letters for my father and friends."
"The letters part took longer than I expected."
I laughed softly, "Good, now we can start thinking about the location of the new academy."
"I was thinking of a place between Extreme North, Sunset Forest, Star Dou Forest, and Tian Dou City."
"According to the map you've given me, I picked three suitable locations near Icebound Forest, Desolate Mountain, and Thousand Fairy City."
"I have heard of Icebound Forest and Thousand Fairy City, but what is this Desolate Mountain?" Liu Erlong tilted her head in confusion.
Han Yue pulled out the map of Heaven Dou Empire from her sleeve and placed it on the table, spreading it out so Liu Erlong could check the area I picked.
Liu Erlong recognized the Icebound Forest and Thousand Fairy City. One was a well-known place for hunting ice-type spirit beasts close to the Extreme North, and the other was known for its bustling nightlife and entertainment establishments.
Then, I slowly pointed out a massive gray area a few miles away from those locations. "There, that's the Desolate Mountain."
Liu Erlong's jaws dropped, "That place doesn't even have a name!"
"And that's what makes it cheap to buy or rent," I commented casually, leaning on the table.
"Some people from the Merchant Union told me the noble, who owned this particular land, was in debt after joining an auction against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"He overpaid for some broken jewelry."
"We give him the money, and he gives us the land deed."
"But what about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? They won't get offended because we help this guy, right?" Liu Erlong saw the situation clearly and knew the Three Upper Sects wasn't something they could mess with.
One Strength Clan is nothing against Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Han Yue cleared her throat and answered Liu Erlong's question on my behalf, "No, that's not possible, Senior."
"Do you know why?"
"Because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was the one who offered us this chance. They wanted us to lend money to the noble so he could fall even further into debt."
"The land is a bonus because it was merely a barren mountain range."
"Damn, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is so scary!" Liu Erlong couldn't help but cuss. After all, this scheming is so deep and insidious.
"It's not the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan that's scary, but the foxy mind behind it." I shook my head, thinking about Ning Fenzhi, the current head of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and Ning Rongrong's father.
Liu Erlong tapped her finger on the table and said, "So, we have the land and money, but what about the mimetic training grounds, teachers, and students."
"Just you know, the mimetic training grounds in Blue Tyrant Academy were 'skillfully' made by planting natural resources underground like fire gems in array-like formation and then manipulated to allow for easier access."
"The forest around the academy was 'actually' planted in a specific way so the tree can continuously filter the energy of nature, enriching the spirit energy."
"In fact, it's not just Blue Tyrant Academy. Any other academies in Tian Dou Forest build their mimetic training grounds like this."
"Desolate Mountain doesn't have such an advantage."
"Hmm, I will personally deal with the mimetic training grounds." I gave her a firm answer. "You should focus on recruiting teachers and students from the Blue Tyrant Academy, and remember, don't accept those with any connections to sects, clans, and nobility."
"Trust me, those people will have "loyalty" problems in one way or another."
"I also don't want to have spies in our academy, and I will screen them a second time later."
"I understand, Xiao Yuan. Jeez, so strict, but I like it!" Liu Erlong gave me a thumbs-up. "I have a few teachers and students in the Blue Tyrant Academy that we can poach. Don't worry, they are clean."
"I hope so..." I replied indifferently.
"Well, since we want to recruit more students into our academy. We need something to promote our academy." Han Yue suddenly chimed in, putting her idea on the table. "Something like "Our Academy can help trash-type martial souls to become spirit masters" or something like that."
My eyes widened in awe, "Sister, you're a genius!"
"We can definitely do that, but it might not be cost-effective."
"Yeah..." Liu Erlong became quiet when Han Yue mentioned trash-type martial souls. "But I don't think it's possible. Trash-type martial soul is known for being impossible to cultivate."
"No, it's possible!" I glared at Liu Erlong, waking her up. "There are no useless martial souls, only spirit masters who can't practice!"
"This will be the motto of our academy..."
Perhaps Han Yue realized Liu Erlong was in a weird mood and said, "Well, let's decide the name of our academy."
"I'm thinking of Xiao Yuan's Academy of the Gifted Youngsters, Xiao Yuan's Genius Academy, and Xiao Yuan's Winner Academy."
"..." Liu Erlong.
"..." Me.
"Rejected!" 2x.
"Eeeh, why? They all sound good!" Han Yue complained adorably.
My mouth twitched, "I don't want my name plastered on the academy's gate."
"What about Scarlet Dragon Academy?" said Liu Erlong.
"Fine, go make it yourself then!" My sister and I gave her a stinky look.
Liu Erlong chuckled, feeling her mood improved, "Hehe, I'm just joking."
After several back-and-forth banter, I finally recalled an academy from a "certain" novel.
"Dao Sect..."
"Dao Academy."
"Let's call it Dao Academy."
"Because we are paving a new path for "commoner" spirit masters."
Liu Erlong's eyes lit up, "Let's call it that!"
"Hmm, not as good as Xiao Yuan's Academy for Gifted Youngsters, but I will take it." Han Yue rubbed her chin.
That day, the three of us founded Dao Academy, the first mark of the new era.