I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1651 - 93: Advance by Retreat

Chapter 1651: Chapter 93: Advance by Retreat

With the help of the three great noble families, Unparalleled City finally veered back on track from the brink of collapse.

With Dragon Gate’s operation halted, visitors had no reason to stay and had to board large passenger ships to leave Red Cloud.

The long-troubled overpopulation issue of Unparalleled City was finally resolved, but for Tang Luo, the next step was determining the location for the next opening of Dragon Gate.

This was not only for the purpose of recruiting students for The Academy, but more importantly for expanding Unparalleled Academy’s influence.

However, to increase influence, relying only on Red Cloud, this small mountain city, is insufficient.

Drawing back one’s punch is to strike better, bending the knees is to leap further; it was essential to clear out visitors from Unparalleled City, freeing up space for artisans to carve out and construct the city.

So besides daily teaching and research, Tang Luo was hunched over the sand table of the entire Longzhou, weighing with small flags where to open the next Dragon Gate spiritual trial.

From the perspective of influence, there were a few options, with Kunwu County being the most optimal. As the central and largest city-state of Longzhou, the wealth and power of Kunwu County need no elaboration.

However, the attitude of the Arbitration Office was less than satisfactory, and considering Tang Luo’s identity, with the many talented individuals there, should someone be able to see through his disguise, it would not only harm the influence of the Xu Clan of Yuanzhou but also affect his plans for the years ahead.

Thus, even though Kunwu County was the optimal location, Tang Luo firmly crossed it off the list.

But without this optimal option, the remaining choices weren’t particularly outstanding.

Chaochang City, Da Lin City, Yancang Mountain, Mubai City, Heqing City...

Counting one by one, the only places in Longzhou able to accommodate the scrutiny of Xiehe were just a handful, minus the currently barrier-shrouded Lin Chuan Plain, leaving only cities occupied by the noble families and the Commerce Alliance.

The safety aspect was not an issue, with Miaowei the Truth-Speaker from Xuanji Sect around, unless a ruler harbored malevolent thoughts, the Dragon Gate was as secure as Fort Knox.

But was it necessary for a ruler to take such action? The Five-turn Dragon Gate was not the sole treasure in the world; since it was produced by Xuanji Sect, these astute Sacred Land Sects must have set out to understand the process long ago.

They knew that Unparalleled Academy was not only verifying spirits but more importantly testing the stability and accuracy of the "Dragon Gate" product.

Once the testing was complete, the ultimate beneficiaries would still be the Sacred Land Sects, so these forces were not swayed by the news of Dragon Gate, calmly sitting back and waiting.

After all, only the Sacred Land Sects could afford the resources to create Dragon Gate; what urgency did they have?

This was also a major reason why Tang Luo chose Xuanji Sect to develop Dragon Gate; after all, the world does not suffer from scarcity, but from inequality. With the scale of Unparalleled City, trying to monopolize the world’s unique Dragon Gate would only attract unbearable covetousness.

By the time the Sacred Lands took action, even if it was the sects who caused trouble, Unparalleled Academy would not be able to withstand it. However, through the influence of Xuanji Sect, Unparalleled Academy avoided direct conflicts with the Sacred Lands and the sects, securing an exclusive developmental period, but this time was ultimately limited.

Not to mention that Dayuan Peak has begun developing the second generation of Dragon Gate, just consider why Miaowei the Truth-Speaker would condescend to serve as a simple gatekeeper.

Is it because of his admiration for the Dragon Gate and The Academy?

It was nothing more than to accelerate the development and verification of Dragon Gate. In other words, to shorten the period that The Academy could monopolize the Dragon Gate.

Therefore, Tang Luo felt a sense of urgency to determine the effect of Dragon Gate as soon as possible and to put it into use immediately after returning.

The current stagnation of Dragon Gate due to the size of Red Cloud Mountain is a significant loss for The Academy, and time should not be wasted on fruitless discussions.

"Let’s hold the second Dragon Gate spiritual trial right here!"

After much deliberation, Tang Luo finally planted the flag representing Dragon Gate.

The three Elders saw that Tang Luo had made a decision and immediately surrounded the sand table, but they were somewhat puzzled when they saw the final selected area.

"Da Lin City is remote. If students who pass the trial come to study, won’t it be inconvenient?"

Du Ting pointed at the small flag near Da Lin City with some confusion.

"With the current situation in Longzhou, Lin Chuan Plain sealed by a barrier, and Chaochang suffering from military catastrophes twice, Da Lin has become the most important granary of Longzhou. The influence of the Commerce Alliance grows day by day. Other than Kunwu County, Da Lin City is now the most dazzling center of Longzhou."

Tang Luo explained to the three: "If we want to expand the Academy’s influence, we should choose the most influential location. Right now, Da Lin City is the first choice."

"The President has far-sightedness, it’s just that..."

Du Wei hesitated, showing concern.

"Is Elder Du Wei worried about the Ye Family of Da Lin and the Bounty Guild?"

Tang Luo asked with a smile.

"Whispers from the scattered Wind Media suggest that Dark Blossoms have appeared in the underground market of Da Lin; the target of the mission is precisely the Dragon Gate of The Academy."

Du Ling explained: "They were looking for an opportunity to make a move, and if we set up the Dragon Gate near Da Lin City, there might be risks."

"No need to worry."

Tang Luo waved his hand with a smile, then said to Du Ting: "Write a letter on behalf of The Academy to the heads of the three families, stating that the Dragon Gate spiritual trial will be held near Da Lin City. Moreover, send invitations to the Commerce Alliance the day after, saying that The Academy intends to reopen the Dragon Gate spiritual trial with the Commerce Alliance’s collaboration. Go ahead and handle it."

...

Dragon Continent Calendar, Year 1792, August 15

Auspicious: Hairpin Ritual, Bathing, Travelling, Building, Groundbreaking

Taboo: Wedding, Market Opening, Sacrifice, Praying for Blessings, Fasting

The letter sent from Red Cloud Mountain to Da Lin City lay on the Commerce Alliance council’s desk, sinking Da Lin’s Commerce Alliance into several days of anxious debate.