553: Chapter 553 Praise

Three days later.

The Liu Clan Merchant Alliance was renamed the Lihuo Sect Liu Clan Merchant Alliance, and Li Xihe became the Vice Alliance Leader of the Merchant Alliance.

However, for now, she could only mobilize a portion of the Merchant Alliance's Thousand Star Sword Cultivators guards and handle external expansion business; she had no right to interfere with the original business of the Star Academy.

Simply put, everything Liu Xuan gave her was for future benefit, and she needed to manage it herself.

Once she had worked hard to manage it well, if the situation changed, she might just be working for the Liu Family.

Li Xihe didn't think so. In her eyes, the Endless Demon Court was destined to be the Dao field of the Lihuo Lineage in the future. All the assets, territory, and industries were hers once she controlled them. Except for her Revered Master, no one could take them away!

Her Revered Master controlled the Endless Demon Court and originally needed subordinates like her to help manage it, so why would he take her things?

"This fellow Liu Xuan has finally behaved for once. Especially this Heaven-Seizing One Qi Secret Art; he's even willing to give such a top-tier secret art. It seems he truly wants to join the Lihuo Lineage!"

Although Li Xihe was surprised by Liu Xuan's choice, she didn't find it incomprehensible.

With Daoist Lord Lihuo's status, the Lihuo Lineage's weakness was only temporary. Liu Xuan choosing to join now was just investing in the future.

...

Liu Residence.

Tong Xiao became the nominal Family Head, and the Liu Family became the nominal Lihuo Lineage Family.

In reality, this kid never bothered with Family affairs. Among Liu Xuan's offspring, those actually in charge were the fifth child Ling Hui, the sixth child Dao Ming, and others.

Ever since the Liu Family's sudden purge of the Star Academy, Liu Xuan had someone issue an announcement in the name of his son Liu Tongxiao, stating that the Liu Family was not a group that ignored rules, but rather aimed to establish a more fair and reasonable set of rules.

As a Family primarily based on a Merchant Alliance, the Liu Family valued rules the most, focusing on honest operations.

However, the rules were those set by his Liu Family, rather than following the rules of others.

When the announcement was first released, many Cultivators slandered them in secret, and many rumors spread. Some even complained to the high-level officials of the Gentlemans Academy.

But facts speak for themselves. The entire commercial environment of the Star Academy was the best in the Endless Demon Court, and even the entire Southern Border. Even those who slandered and spread rumors were willing to come here to do business. This was obvious to everyone and couldn't be faked.

The frontline war paused, and the northern half of the Endless Demon Court's territory belonged to the Beast Taming Sect. Most places didn't develop steadily just because the war stopped. To compete for interests, the fighting was even more vicious than the battles at the front.

Unstable environments make it difficult to develop commerce. Who knows, during a fight, someone might just conveniently rob a shop.

Buying things wasn't safe either. Robber Cultivators were rampant; if they saw you buying high-value items, you might be surrounded and killed as soon as you left the city.

The Star Academy was different. The Liu Clan Merchant Alliance had strict rules, and the Thousand Star Sword Cultivators guard unit maintained order, not allowing any Robber Cultivators to appear.

Secondly, an internal inspection team was also set up to ensure that no obvious cases of cheating buyers occurred.

While it was impossible to eliminate completely, compared to the mess in other parts of the Southern Border, the Star Academy was practically a land of justice.

The Liu Family focused on managing the Star Academy and ignored everything else. The task of expanding outward was left to Li Xihe. The Liu Family could provide her with manpower but no Spirit Stones. They could provide her with goods, but she needed to purchase them at a price higher than the cost.

Amidst the outside turmoil, Liu Xuan didn't care. He now only wanted to gather enough Spirit Stones for Peach Blossom's Breakthrough.

Then, he would digest everything he had gained, expand the Family array to its limit, and accumulate the life force in the wither-thrive life-death cauldron until it was inexhaustible...

...

One year later.

Quiet times pass quickly. The Beast Taming Sect's territory in the Endless Demon Court gradually became peaceful amidst the killing.

The high-level officials of the Gentlemans Academy personally stepped in to stabilize the order in various places as quickly as possible.

Lady Yaoguang the Yaoguang Demon Saint needed to collect taxes, and the Gentlemans Academy needed stability. The chaos was only temporary; no one could stop it.

On this day, Liu Xuan was discussing a secret art for soul and body dual cultivation with You Ruo when he heard Xiao Shuang (Younger Twin) reporting outside the door:

"Revered Master, True Lord Haoran is back. He says he has urgent business and wants to see you."

"Father-in-law?" Liu Xuan paused his movements and instructed, "Understood, I'll be there right away!"

What urgent business could True Lord Haoran have? Liu Xuan guessed he was here to settle accounts.

After all, he had married both of the man's daughters and even taken over the Star Hall headquarters. It was only right for him to settle the score.

True Lord Haoran coming to settle accounts only now was far beyond Liu Xuan's expectations; he had originally thought the man would return a year ago.

After finishing up quickly, Liu Xuan straightened his robes and slowly walked toward the guest hall, thinking along the way about how to fool his old Father-in-law.

"Father-in-law, long time no see. I've missed you dearly!" Liu Xuan stepped into the room quickly and cupped his hands in greeting.

An Haoran waved his hand to interrupt Liu Xuan's fake pleasantries and said bluntly, "Enough nonsense. I've come this time to tell you some good news."

"Oh?" Liu Xuan asked in confusion, "What good news?"

He was suspicious in his heart, 'Is Father-in-law not here to find trouble with me?'

"Lady Yaoguang has ordered the establishment of academies and lower-level schools in the Southern Border's Beast Taming Sect territory."

An Haoran threw a Jade Slip to Liu Xuan. "An academy branch will be opened at every fourth-rank Spiritual Vein, and a school will be opened at every third-rank Spiritual Vein."

Liu Xuan picked up the Jade Slip and checked it, his expression gradually becoming solemn. After reading and thinking for a moment, he asked, "Is Father-in-law clear about Lady Yaoguang's intentions with this move?"

As far as Liu Xuan knew, Lady Yaoguang was only helping Daoist Lord Lihuo attack the Endless Demon Court, and the tax collection was only for a limited time. Eventually, it would be handed over to Daoist Lord Lihuo to manage. What was the point of opening an academy? Wouldn't Daoist Lord Lihuo have an objection?

True Lord Haoran said crossly, "What does Lady Yaoguang's intention have to do with you? We're just the ones doing the work. Don't meddle in what you shouldn't know."

Seeing that Liu Xuan was still curious, he sighed and sent a voice transmission: "Daoist Lord Lihuo only attained his status with Lady Yaoguang's support. Opening an academy doesn't conflict with Daoist Lord Lihuo establishing his lineage. We just need to do our duty."

Liu Xuan nodded slightly. An academy was different from a lineage. A lineage requires one to Cultivate the techniques of the Dao Lord's line, while an academy is essentially an educational system for values and order, and doesn't restrict what techniques you Cultivate.

Joining an academy doesn't affect joining the Lihuo Lineage at all; there's no conflict between the two. However, Liu Xuan didn't know what use this academy was to Lady Yaoguang, or if it was just a hobby of hers?

"If they want to open an academy, then open it. Father-in-law, you were in a hurry to find me because..."

True Lord Haoran smiled at those words and patted Liu Xuan's shoulder with satisfaction. "News came from above. Lady Yaoguang specifically praised the Star Academy you manage and has exceptionally appointed you as the Dean of the Academy Branch, to preside over all academy matters at the Star Academy."

"???"

Liu Xuan was completely bewildered!

He was just a small figure who hadn't done anything. Why would he be noticed by Lady Yaoguang?

And specifically praised! Is this for real?!

If he didn't know True Lord Haoran's personality, Liu Xuan would have thought the man was trying to find a different way to deal with him.