"I've already reached Spirit Emperor rank, this little bit of wine is nothing." Lin Xishan said helplessly.
"It's mostly about the kick, just respect your elders a little!" Dugu Bo said triumphantly.
"You look even more enchanting and younger than me now." Lin Xishan sighed helplessly and silently started eating the dishes.
"That's just how it looks; I'm many cycles older than you, you know." Dugu Bo said, drinking happily.
"Fine, drink yourself to death, you Old freak." After Lin Xishan spoke impatiently, he heard Dugu Bo ask, "So, where do you plan to go next to recruit personnel?"
"I haven't decided yet. They say it's better to have nothing than to settle for less. My current strength is only Spirit Emperor, not enough to be a pillar of support for many people. It's quite difficult." Lin Xishan said calmly.
"Actually, it's not like there's no one to choose from." Dugu Bo said.
"Who?" Lin Xishan looked up at Dugu Bo; he really wanted to hear what kind of ideas this senior Dugu Bo could come up with.
"In the north of the Star Luo Empire, less than two hundred li from the border of the two Empires, there is a border city called Longxing City. There, you will find the Defense Clan, one of the four clans abandoned by the Clear Sky Sect back in the day. The clan leader is a Spirit Douluo. In a few years, once you possess an Avatar of the Martial Soul, you can try to make contact." Dugu Bo said.
"Hmm, that is indeed a good choice." Lin Xishan agreed with Dugu Bo, then suddenly thought of another good place and curled his lips.
"Senior Dugu, you just said that I could bother you if there's any fighting." Lin Xishan smiled.
"Hmm, I did say that. What about it?" Dugu Bo looked at Lin Xishan in confusion.
Lin Xishan smiled, then poured himself a glass of juice and clinked glasses with Dugu Bo. "Then this will be easy to handle."
A few days later, Dugu Bo stood behind Lin Xishan, looking at the building in front of him, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Tianshui Academy? What are you doing at Tianshui Academy?"
"Just come in with me. I spent quite a lot of gold coins to get an appointment. It truly lives up to its reputation as a prestigious old school." Lin Xishan pulled Dugu Bo inside.
In the Dean's office of Tianshui Academy.
"First, I must congratulate Hall Master Lin for his youthful promise. To have the cultivation of a Spirit Emperor at such a young age and to establish your own family is truly impressive." Tianshui Academy's Dean, Xuan Miaoer, was a veteran Spirit Douluo powerhouse, but at this moment, she was very politely pouring tea for Lin Xishan.
In terms of status, Lin Xishan was now the Hall Master of Shanyue Hall, on equal footing with the Dean of Tianshui Academy, both being leaders of a faction.
In terms of power, the green-haired youth standing behind Lin Xishan possessed an aura that left Xuan Miaoer somewhat astonished.
Out of caution, Xuan Miaoer lowered her status by half a notch and received Lin Xishan very politely.
"Dean Xuan is too kind. At the end of the day, my Shanyue Hall is just a rising power and definitely cannot compare to the Four Element Academies." Lin Xishan said just as politely.
Courtesy first, force later; only then can one control the entire situation.
"I just don't know what brings Hall Master Lin here for a sudden visit?" After sitting down, Xuan Miaoer asked straight to the point.
"Dean Xuan is a heroine, straightforward and quick-spoken. I won't beat around the bush either." Lin Xishan took a sip of tea and then said, "Has Dean Xuan considered the future?"
"The future?" Xuan Miaoer thought seriously for ten seconds, repeatedly confirming that her Tianshui Academy had definitely not offended this new power, Shanyue Hall, before asking in confusion, "Hall Master Lin, I am old and slow-witted, I don't quite understand."
Lin Xishan nodded, thinking to himself that if she understood right away, his opening move would have been a waste. He continued, "The current Douluo Continent is relatively peaceful, but if you have the heart to look, you can see the undercurrents surging."
Xuan Miaoer sat up straight. "I would like to hear the details."
"The two Empires have their own conflicts, and ever since Spirit Hall changed its Supreme Pontiff, they have been restless for years. The storm is coming, and the wind is filling the tower; how long can the current peace last?" Lin Xishan curled his lips and said, "Once any of these three major forces goes to war, none of you Four Element Academies will have a good ending because you have no backing. Thunder Academy is a bit better, backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but what does your Tianshui Academy have?"
Xuan Miaoer was stunned. Lin Xishan's words had awakened the dreamer. She looked at Lin Xishan, then smiled, and no longer being polite, said, "Does Hall Master Lin think that relying solely on your Shanyue Hall, which only has three—no, four people—can protect us?"
Lin Xishan clapped his hands. Dugu Bo stepped forward, and nine spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—swirled under his feet. The aura belonging to a Titled Douluo was no longer hidden, immediately suppressing Xuan Miaoer's faint aura until it dissipated.
"Ti, Titled Douluo?!"
Xuan Miaoer looked at Lin Xishan in surprise, her gaze drifting between Lin Xishan and Dugu Bo.
Lin Xishan was already a level 66 Spirit Emperor at thirteen. Without any accidents, in at most ten years, he would be another Titled Douluo.
By this calculation, even if Shanyue Hall had no further development, it would have at least two Titled Douluo-level powerhouses, fully capable of rivaling the Upper Three Sects in combat strength.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School only had two Titled Douluos, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan only had one!
Xuan Miaoer swallowed hard, then looked at Lin Xishan.
Having decided to join Shanyue Hall, the next step was to negotiate terms. Xuan Miaoer had been running an academy in Heaven Dou City for so many years; she was no pushover.
"Hall Master Lin, I have seen your strength. However, if my Tianshui Academy joins your Shanyue Hall, will you truly provide protection?" Xuan Miaoer took a sip of tea. "At the same time, Hall Master Lin should know the special nature of our academy, so naturally, I have many concerns."
"Dean Xuan can rest assured about this. My Shanyue Hall will protect every member, and there will be no exploitation. Each department is responsible for its own profits and losses, including my own daily life, and if one department is in trouble, the others will provide support." Lin Xishan said.
"Very well. My Tianshui Academy is willing to join Shanyue Hall and will contribute ten percent of our annual revenue as a contribution to Shanyue Hall." Xuan Miaoer pondered for a while, then set down her teacup and said.
As long as she could buy the protection of a level 95 Titled Douluo, ten percent of the revenue was nothing. Xuan Miaoer could do that math.
"Good. However, for the sake of clarity, please rename your academy to Shanshui Academy as soon as possible." Lin Xishan said.
"This, okay." Xuan Miaoer nodded.
Coming out of Tianshui Academy, Dugu Bo said, "Good lad, you took down your first team without shedding a drop of blood. You've got some skills."
Lin Xishan smiled, then said, "It's thanks to Senior Dugu giving me face; otherwise, this wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
"Where are we going next?" Dugu Bo asked...