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Seeing the atmosphere drop to freezing point, Mu Xi sighed softly. She knew that given the feelings her teacher and Senior Sister held for Skywater Academy, her words would inevitably provoke their displeasure.
But if she didn't facilitate this matter, Skywater Academy would only slowly decline in the future, and she couldn't stand by and watch Skywater Academy vanish from history.
Thinking this, Mu Xi solemnly shook her head and said in a deep voice, "Senior Sister, that's not what I meant. I am just providing Skywater with a better way out."
As she spoke, a powerful Aura similarly surged from Mu Xi, resisting the pressure coming from Shui Qingmei.
Sensing this Aura, Shui Qingmei frowned. Mu Xi was indeed very strong now; she was probably not far from Level 80. However, since the survival of Skywater Academy was at stake, how could she retreat? Her own Aura grew even stronger, and the Condensing Water Flying Luan behind her flickered in and out of sight.
"A better way out? What a joke! My Skywater Academy has stood in the Northern Territory for two hundred years, ranking among the Five Great Element Academies, and is a Spirit Master's Holy Land within the Heaven Dou Empire. What better opportunity can a Body Sect, which has been hidden for years, give us?"
The more Shui Qingmei spoke, the more violent her Aura became. She coldly reprimanded, "I think you've been bewitched by Chen Zhen! You have completely forgotten that Skywater Academy raised you."
The Body Sect's strength is indeed extraordinary, but because of the Sect's secrets, they dare not appear openly in the Spirit Master's world. What use is a powerful force that cannot operate in the open?
Furthermore, the current Skywater Academy is not weak. Our master's strength is as high as Level 87, a peak existence below the Titled Douluo. I myself can attempt to reach Spirit Douluo within fifteen years at most. At that time, even facing the Seven Great Sects, we will have the qualifications for equal dialogue. Can the Body Sect really offer more? It's simply ridiculous!
Moreover, the future of Skywater Academy will be even more brilliant!
Looking at her resolute Senior Sister and the silent Qingyun, Mu Xi faintly said, "What if the Body Sect reveals itself to the world?"
A year ago, Chen Zhen had already told Mu Xi that Chen Yi had provided the legacy of the Thunder God, and the Sect's strength would rapidly increase while the original plan to reveal itself remained unchanged.
Hearing this, Qingyun trembled all over, as if she had heard something incredible. She urgently asked, "The Body Sect is revealing itself? How is that possible? Aren't they afraid of attracting the attention of Spirit Hall?"
The foundation of the Body Sect—the Secondary Awakening—is a secret that cannot be exposed. Before possessing absolute strength, it cannot be shown publicly. Since the Body Sect is about to reveal itself, does that mean they are no longer afraid of Spirit Hall and the two Empires?
Thinking of this, the expressions of both Qingyun and Shui Qingmei turned ugly. Once the Body Sect revealed itself, it meant that Skywater Academy would no longer be important in the eyes of the Body Sect, and they would no longer need Skywater Academy to act as an outside aid.
This news truly caught them off guard. Originally, they had planned to use the Body Sect's influence to help Shui Bing'er rise, but now that was certainly impossible.
Shui Qingmei reacted, still looking coldly at Mu Xi, and said chillingly, "What, now that the Body Sect is powerful, they are thinking of annexing Skywater Academy?"
Mu Xi shook her head, staring directly into Shui Qingmei's angry eyes.
"It's not annexation. It is simply hoping to use Skywater Academy as a springboard to subsequently radiate throughout the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Heh!" Shui Qingmei laughed coldly upon hearing this, looking mockingly at this Junior Sister who was once her best friend: "Is there any difference? Using Skywater Academy as a springboard? How is that different from annexation? Even if they don't annex us, Skywater Academy will only become a subsidiary of the Body Sect in the future, with no hope of recovery!"
"Bang!"
The more Shui Qingmei spoke, the angrier she became. She slammed her palm onto the table, and her elegant face suddenly leaned forward.
"Mu Xi, have you forgotten? Without Skywater Academy, you would have long ago been eaten by wild dogs on the roadside. Without Skywater Academy, how could you have earned the title of 'ice thorn demoness'!"
Mu Xi stood up, looked at Shui Qingmei, and said in a deep voice, "The kindness of the Academy, the kindness of my teacher—Mu Xi will never forget them!"
Mu Xi's personality had been mischievous since childhood, and her ability to cause trouble was exceptional. If Qingyun and Skywater Academy hadn't backed her, she would have been torn apart by countless people long ago.
"But you have forgotten! Mu Xi, you have forgotten your roots!" Shui Qingmei's roar echoed in the room, showing the depth of her fury.
"I am telling you, Skywater Academy will absolutely not merge into the Body Sect. I'm laying down my words here: Skywater Academy is not afraid of a fight."
After speaking, she looked calmly at Mu Xi, her tone firm and resolute: "Skywater Academy only has Spirits who died in battle, never people who surrender."
"And another thing, you are not a person of our Skywater Academy. You are just an ingrate!"
Hearing this, Mu Xi completely bristled. She pointed directly at Shui Qingmei's nose and said coldly, "I'm not Skywater's person? I'm an ingrate? Shui Qingmei, you are incredible, you are noble. Do you even know how much effort I put in to secure this opportunity?"
When Mu Xi learned that the Body Sect had decided to reveal itself, she knew the Body Sect's rise was unstoppable. Her heart was with her alma mater, and she wanted to secure a share for them, allowing Skywater Academy to reach a higher level in the future.
Thinking of how she had to plead with her husband, and how she nearly talked herself hoarse in front of the Grand Elder, only to be called an ingrate, Mu Xi's eyes reddened and her voice choked up.
"I have been at Skywater Academy for decades. What kind of person Mu Xi is, others might not know, but shouldn't you, Shui Qingmei, know?"
The more Mu Xi thought about it, the more wronged she felt; the more she spoke, the more heartbroken she became, and tears fell like broken strings of pearls.
"You don't know how difficult this era is. Only by aligning with the Body Sect can we go further. Moreover, the Body Sect will not annex Skywater Academy. I swear."
Seeing her young disciple crying, Qingyun also felt reluctant, but thinking of Mu Xi's purpose this time, she hardened her heart and refused to look at her. She had dedicated her entire life to Skywater, and Mu Xi's actions undoubtedly crossed her bottom line.
Shui Qingmei sneered, "You swear? If the Body Sect truly makes a move later, what good is your oath? Mu Xi, have you forgotten how many people and powers have fallen on the Douluo Continent because of oaths? Since when did you, the 'ice thorn demoness,' become so naive?"
Pausing for a moment, Shui Qingmei continued dismissively, "As for how difficult this era truly is, I don't know, nor do I want to know, because my Skywater Academy fears nothing."
Hearing this, Mu Xi suddenly burst out laughing, causing Shui Qingmei's face to flush slightly. Mu Xi only stopped when the latter's gaze grew increasingly hostile.
"Fear nothing? Shui Qingmei, did becoming the Academy Head make you lose your mind? You've lost even the most basic understanding."
"You—" Shui Qingmei was furious upon hearing this and pointed at Mu Xi, ready to curse.
"What 'You'?" Mu Xi cut Shui Qingmei off directly, looking at her as if she were an idiot: "If Skywater Academy truly fears nothing, then why is that girl Bing'er's Spirit publicly claimed to be the Condensing Water Flying Luan?"
Before Mu Xi's words fully landed, Qingyun, who was beside her, suddenly opened her eyes. A cold light seemed to shoot forth from them, locking tightly onto Mu Xi with an unmistakable sense of oppression.
Almost in the same instant, an invisible, fierce Sword Intent suddenly erupted and swept around. It was so sharp that even the air seemed to be sliced apart, and the room's pillars and walls were instantly covered with fine, deep sword marks—a horrifying sight.
Shui Qingmei pointed at Mu Xi in disbelief, her voice trembling.
"How—how do you know that?"