Douluo Dalu: This Soul Master is to Weird

One week later.

In the dean's office of Blaze Academy, five figures were seated.

Besides Huo Lie and Mu Xiyue, there was a middle-aged woman with elegant features and two other men—one brawny and the other lean.

"Xiyue, what's the reason Brother Lie called us all here today? Is it something important?"

Glancing at Huo Lie, who sat at the head of the table, the middle-aged woman, Yan Ruhuo, turned to Mu Xiyue and asked.

"It is something important, but it's good news. If executed properly, in the coming decades, our Blaze Academy will have the strongest students among the Five Great Elemental Academies. It might even surpass all others and claim the title of the best academy on the continent," Mu Xiyue said with a smile.

"Best on the continent? Xiyue, isn't that a bit too exaggerated?"

The burly middle-aged man, Yan Zhenming, raised an eyebrow, his tone filled with disbelief.

While Blaze Academy was indeed strong, its overall performance in past All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Competitions had consistently lagged behind Thunderclap Academy and Godwind Academy. It was on par with Sky water Academy and only had a clear edge over Elephant Armored Academy.

To claim the top spot among the Five Elemental Academies was one thing, but to outshine Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Star Luo Imperial Academy, and especially the invincible Spirit Hall Academy seemed utterly unrealistic.

Spirit Hall Academy often fielded students at the Soul King (five-ring) level for these tournaments. In contrast, the last time Blaze Academy had a Soul King represent them was three decades ago—and even then, the student was at the age limit for eligibility.

Coincidentally, that Soul King was none other than the man at the head of the table, Huo Lie himself.

"Decades into the future? Xiyue, are you saying this plan has a limited window?"

Chi Chengyan, the lean middle-aged man, caught onto an important detail and curiously asked.

"Brother Lie, you explain it," Mu Xiyue said, smiling as she turned to Huo Lie.

With that, Huo Lie scanned the three of them with a serious expression and said, "Everyone here is a key figure in the academy. What I'm about to share must remain a strict secret until the plan is finalized."

Yan Ruhuo, Martial Soul: Hellfire Vine, Seven-Ring Control Soul Sage, Vice Dean of Blaze Academy.

Yan Zhenming, Martial Soul: Flame Banner, Seven-Ring Assault Tool Soul Sage, Vice Dean of Blaze Academy.

Chi Chengyan, Martial Soul: Scarlet Flame Bird, Seven-Ring Assault Battle Soul Sage, Vice Dean of Blaze Academy.

These three, alongside Vice Dean Mu Xiyue and Dean Huo Lie, made up Blaze Academy's current leadership.

Seeing Huo Lie's stern demeanor, the three nodded gravely.

Anything that concerned the academy's interests was their shared responsibility as its leaders. Moreover, any benefits for the academy would indirectly benefit them as well.

"A recent fortunate discovery of mine may just shock the entire Soul Master world. The value of this discovery rivals that of a typical soul bone. Yan Ruhuo, you manage the academy's finances—how much money do we currently have available?"

As he spoke, Huo Lie's gaze fell on Yan Ruhuo.

"We have just over five million gold soul coins at our disposal. If needed, with our academy's reputation, we could secure loans from the empire or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Borrowing ten or twenty million shouldn't be a problem," Yan Ruhuo replied after some thought.

Blaze Academy wasn't like the poverty-stricken Shrek Academy. As one of the continent's renowned elemental academies, Blaze received substantial annual funding from the Heaven Dou Empire.

After all, most of Blaze Academy's graduates wouldn't stay in the academy but would instead join the empire's ranks. The empire's financial support was effectively an investment in its own future.

Additionally, Blaze Fire City wasn't under any noble's control. While administratively part of the Heaven Dou Empire, all its tax revenue directly funded the academy instead of the imperial treasury.

Even if funds were tight, borrowing from wealthy patrons like Emperor Xue Ye or the lavish Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would be straightforward, given Blaze Academy's impeccable reputation.

"Brother Lie, what exactly is this treasure?" Chi Chengyan asked, looking at Huo Lie.

At this point, Chi Chengyan had a good guess.

Huo Lie must have discovered something that significantly benefited Soul Masters. His plan was likely to buy up all available stock before the secret got out, achieving a market monopoly.

Whether to use the resource exclusively for their academy or resell it at exorbitant prices could be decided after the monopoly was secured.

After testing the effects of whale glue on Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu over the past few days, Huo Lie's thoughts had aligned with this idea.

Hiding the discovery to quietly improve his three juniors' physical capabilities seemed too shortsighted for someone in his position.

Enhanced physical attributes meant they could withstand higher soul ring ages, and anyone knowledgeable about Soul Masters would notice the difference in their soul ring colors.

Soul rings beyond the best configurations were bound to attract attention. While Huo Lie could avoid explaining to outsiders, evading questions from those within the academy, who knew the students' backgrounds, would be far more challenging.

Instead of hiding, why not embrace the opportunity and involve Blaze Academy in a grand scheme?

By monopolizing the whale glue supply now, the academy could prepare for the inevitable surge in demand once the secret got out.

This way, the academy could stockpile for its own use while potentially profiting as a supplier when the time came.

After all, whale glue's ability to enhance physical strength without conflicting with soul bones made it a treasure no affluent force on the continent could ignore.

When the secret eventually leaked, the demand for whale glue would undoubtedly skyrocket, and so would its price.