Chapter 464: Three Choices, Feihuang's Promise

"Nan Feihuang?"

Everyone looked at Shui Yue'er in unison. Setting aside whether her idea was feasible or not, if there was anyone in this world who could contend with the Spirit Hall in the future, it had to be Nan Feihuang.

Within a short month, he had consecutively defeated six Title Douluo of the Spirit Hall, including even Guangling Douluo and Qingluan Douluo from the Offering Hall.

One must know, he is only eighteen years old now; it is hard to imagine how high his future achievements will be.

After winning the wager with the Offering Hall, the Gu Lei Kingdom gained a five-year safety period. As long as Nan Feihuang could advance to a Title Douluo within these five years, he would inevitably possess the strength to confront the Spirit Hall head-on.

"Yue'er, explain yourself clearly. Rely on Nan Feihuang—how are we to rely on him? Are you suggesting we abandon our school grounds and move our entire families to the Gu Lei Kingdom?" Huo Wu asked.

"Sister Huo Wu, I know you are reluctant, but whether a force is gone or not has never depended on whether they have houses or land, but on whether everyone is alive. Before my junior brother left, he gave me a piece of advice: 'As long as the green hills remain, one need not worry about firewood,'" Shui Yue'er said. "He told me that as long as everyone can survive, any amount of housing can be rebuilt."

"That is very true. Compared to some school grounds, everyone staying alive is what matters most," Feng Yuanyi agreed.

He was definitely not a stubborn old man; he would not value mere school grounds more than human lives. Otherwise, in the original story, he would not have led the Element Academy to move their entire families to Tiandou City to seek refuge.

"Junior brother told me he also has a dream: to establish the best and largest academy in the center of the continent. He sincerely invites us all to join. Uncle Feng, Uncle Huo, Mother, junior brother had long anticipated the Spirit Hall's actions, so before I returned, he gave me a letter and a box. Please, take a look." Shui Yue'er handed the letter and the treasure box in her hands to the three principals.

"Wait, Yue'er, in that case, how is that any different from the Spirit Hall? Aren't they both asking us to join them? Even the rhetoric is exactly the same." Huo Wu spoke bluntly; this didn't sound like there was any change.

If there was any difference, it was that the Spirit Hall used force, while the Gu Lei Kingdom used an invitation; it sounded a bit more polite.

"No, it is completely different. Heh, what a Nan Feihuang, what a grand gesture!" Feng Yuanyi looked at the contents of the letter and said with some anticipation, "Shui Youlan, is there potential in this matter? What do you think the success rate is?"

Shui Youlan nodded. "I naturally trust my nephew. As for the success rate, is his reputation just something blown out of proportion?"

Regarding Shui Youlan's words, Feng Yuanyi and Huo Lie had no rebuttals.

That's right, the title of Flying General was not blown out of proportion; it was fought for by Nan Feihuang with his Halberd. Those victories were ironclad proof that he had no record of defeat.

"Father, what exactly is going on? What did Nan Feihuang say in the letter to you? What do you mean when you say our joining him is completely different from joining the Spirit Hall?" Feng Xiaotian asked curiously.

"Nan Feihuang is indeed like the Spirit Hall, preparing to establish the largest and most luxurious academy in the future. The difference between the two sides is that the Spirit Hall Academy remains the Spirit Hall Academy, while Nan Feihuang is preparing to build a new academy from scratch, rather than directly using his Gu Lei Royal Academy. He is inviting us to join and assist him. Xiaotian, can you understand the difference here?" Feng Yuanyi smiled.

"The difference?" Feng Xiaotian thought for a moment and quickly understood. "I get it. One is an annexation, while the other is a merger!"

Feng Xiaotian was worthy of being the person who would become the vice-principal of the Element Academy in the original story; he immediately identified the key point.

"Exactly, that is it." Feng Yuanyi nodded. "If we were merged into the Spirit Hall Academy, it would be equivalent to the legacy of the Element Academy disappearing completely. A thousand years from now, everyone would only remember that the most powerful entity on the continent was the Spirit Hall Academy. As for the Element Academy, it would just be one of the countless academies swallowed up during the Spirit Hall's development, gradually disappearing into the long river of history."

"But Nan Feihuang's plan is for us to personally build this new academy. Then, whether it is the Element Academy or the Gu Lei Royal Academy, both would belong to the predecessors of this new academy. The Element Academy would not disappear; it would just exist in another form." Actually, this was just like the corporate mergers of Feihuang's past life.

Annexation and merger.

Annexation usually refers to one company gaining control over another by acquiring its shares or assets. In this process, the acquired company may no longer exist as an independent entity, but becomes part of the acquiring company or is completely integrated into it.

A merger, however, means that two or more companies combine into a new corporate entity, and the original companies no longer exist separately. After the merger, the companies can jointly establish a brand-new company name, and everyone is an owner of the company.

For the Element Academy, which now had no other path to take, this choice given by Nan Feihuang was undoubtedly the best.

"It sounds good, but we don't know Nan Feihuang as a person, so I am still a bit worried..." Feng Xiaotian looked at Shui Yue'er, hesitating to speak.

He dared not gamble on Nan Feihuang's character. What if he was just deceiving them, and after they moved over, he implemented annexation? Although Nan Feihuang was Shui Yue'er's junior brother, he could not use the entire Kamikaze Academy Academy as a stake just because of this connection.

"Xiaotian, what you thought of, Nan Feihuang also thought of. Therefore, he gave us something that can put our minds at ease." Feng Yuanyi pushed the box toward Feng Xiaotian and said, "Open it and see."

Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaotian stepped forward and opened the treasure box, only to see a golden scroll inside.

He curiously picked it up and opened it. Looking at the contents, he said in shock, "This is actually an Imperial Edict from the King of the Gu Lei Kingdom, Nan Tianchen."

"It really is. It even has the Jade Seal stamp representing the highest authority of their kingdom." Huo Wu pointed to the signature, which could prove the authenticity of this Imperial Edict.

"Yes, the Flying General used this to put our minds at ease, which shows his sincerity." Huo Lie sighed.

The content of the Imperial Edict was Nan Feihuang's promise to them.

A monarch does not joke; if Nan Feihuang wanted to deceive them, there was no need to use the reputation of the entire Gu Lei Kingdom as the price.

Now, three paths were clearly laid out before them.

The first: fight to the death with the Spirit Hall Academy. The fish would die, but the net would definitely not break; it would be in vain.

The second: honestly agree to be annexed by the Spirit Hall Academy.

The third: accept Nan Feihuang's sincere invitation.

Although it was called three choices, it seemed there was no need to consider at all. Plus, the Tianshui Academy had a kinship with Nan Feihuang; relying on a relative was better than being wiped out by a 'mysterious force' or annexed by an enemy.

(End of chapter)