Chapter 1768: Clash, Negotiation

If it weren't for the fact that Chen Xinjie held significant sway in the military and was a quasigod with close ties with the Yu Family, he would've already proposed to impeach Chen Xinjie.

Tang Wulin's expression also fell slightly upon hearing this.

"General Yu, I had thought that you'd invited me here to discuss how to oppose the abyssal army; are you here just to raise accusations and doubts against us instead?"

Yu Guanzhi's expression returned to normal as he shook his head in response. "Some things need to be controlled by the federation. After all, the federal government is the main governing force on this continent."

Tang Wulin replied, "If the federation were fair and just, then of course that wouldn't be an issue, but is that the case? If so, how did those two godslayer missiles fall onto Shrek City? Why is it that after the bombing, the perpetrators weren't held accountable at all for their heinous crimes? Just as you said, let's not play dumb here. Even if Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect have overstepped their boundaries, it's only for self-preservation; all those who have hurt us must pay the price."

Yu Guanzhi looked directly at Tang Wulin and didn't say anything for a long while.

This young man held himself in a dignified manner that was neither haughty nor humble, and he was holding his ground even against an established general; as expected of the leader of the two super organizations.

"Alright, then let's get back on topic. Sect Master Tang, are you willing to return Eternal Heaven to the federation? If so, the federation is willing to offer some things in exchange. I can also tell you that if the federation recovers Eternal Heaven, there's a very good chance that it'll be directly used in this battle against the abyssal plane."

Tang Wulin raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "May I ask what the federation is willing to offer in exchange?"

Yu Guanzhi took a deep breath before replying, "The federation is willing to give Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect 10 parliamentary seats, but only under the condition that Shrek Academy continues to maintain a stance of neutrality. Furthermore, the federation is willing to shoulder all costs associated with Shrek City's reconstruction, and it's also willing to give approval to Shrek Academy to establish its own private army, which will be officially recognized as a legion. On an official basis, the private army will belong to the federation, but in reality, it answers only to Shrek City."

Even Tang Wulin was very taken aback to hear this.

The costs associated with reconstructing Shrek City amounted to an astronomical sum, and 10 parliamentary seats was also a significant number, considering the entire federal parliament only had just over 100 seats.

Essentially, Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect were being offered control of around 10% of the federal parliament. Even at its very peak, the Spirit Pagoda had never officially controlled so many parliamentary seats!

However, all of this paled in significance to the fact that the federation was willing to allow Shrek Academy to establish its own private army, one that would officially be recognized as a legion by the federation.

This was extremely significant as it was equivalent to allowing Shrek City to become an autonomous region that wasn't under the jurisdiction of the federation.

Ever since the founding of the Douluo Federation, such a situation had never occurred. With the wealth of Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect, if they were to put together a private army, it would definitely be an extremely formidable force that could be armed to the teeth in a very short time. To put it in simpler terms, it would definitely have potential to become the most powerful legion on the entire continent!

For a federation to allow such a military unit to exist in the territory that it held jurisdiction over was downright incredible.

When Yu Guanzhi stated that he wanted to recover Eternal Heaven, Tang Wulin was struck by the impression that he could be one of the Eagle Faction higher-ups supporting the Spirit Pagoda, but after hearing these conditions, Tang Wulin realized that he was mistaken.

If he were a supporter of the Spirit Pagoda, he wouldn't be asking for Eternal Heaven right now as he knew that there was no way Tang Wulin would hand it over. 

It was precisely because he wasn't a supporter of the Spirit Pagoda that he was proposing this exchange in such an open manner. At this point, Tang Wulin had already deduced that Yu Guanzhi was most likely purely a representative of the federation that didn't sway toward any power.

The conditions proposed were extremely alluring, but...

"My apologies, General Yu, but Shrek Academy is only an academy; we have no intention of becoming an autonomous region, nor do we have any need for a private army," Tang Wulin refused without any hesitation, not because the conditions weren't favorable enough, but because they were too favorable.

Shrek City had always been a neutral entity, but could that neutrality be maintained once it organized a private army? What if one of the future generations of Shrek Academy's leaders had ambitions that matched those of the Qiangu Family?

Furthermore, the federation was allowing Shrek Academy to organize a private army because of its power, but what if Shrek Academy were to fall into decline one day? If that were to happen, the private army could very well become an excuse for the federation to get rid of Shrek Academy once and for all.

Shrek Academy was an academy, and it definitely didn't require a private army; that was something that Tang Wulin was absolutely sure of.

Despite being rejected, Yu Guanzhi's expression relaxed slightly upon hearing this. One of his objectives for meeting with Tang Wulin was to feel out Tang Wulin's motives, as well as the stance being adopted by Shrek Academy.

Truth be told, Tang Wulin had stunned the entire federation by openly declaring war on the Spirit Pagoda and severely wounding Qiangu Dongfeng with a single attack.

No one could've anticipated that the mighty Spirit Pagoda would be so significantly inferior to the Shrek Academy in terms of high-end power.

The number of Limit Douluos in Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect combined numbered almost in double figures, and that was something that had never happened in the entire history of the federation.

As such, it had become a major cause for concern for the federation.

Such a powerful force was already significant enough to affect the jurisdiction of the federation.

Thus, Yu Guanzhi had come here with the objective of determining Tang Wulin's mindset. If Shrek Academy really wanted to organize a private army, then he would propose to destroy Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect in the future at all costs.

Otherwise, it could quite possibly develop into an organization like the Soul Hall, in which case the federation's rule would come under major threat.

Tang Wulin's reply was very fast and decisive, so it was clear that he had no such ambitions, and that put Yu Guanzhi's heart completely at ease; even his expression had softened a little.

"Then may I ask what Shrek Academy would like in exchange for Eternal Heaven? As long as the federation is capable of satisfying your conditions, we'll be willing to consider it."

Tang Wulin could see the shift in Yu Guanzhi's demeanor, and he realized that Yu Guanzhi had most likely been testing him with that offer. "All Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect want is a peaceful continent. The federation can rest assured; once we exact our revenge on certain powers that have wronged us in the past, Shrek Academy will return to being an academy. As long as no one tries to hurt us, we won't retaliate, and when the federation requires our services, Shrek Academy will always be willing to fight for the peace and safety of the federation."

A smile appeared on Yu Guanzhi's face upon hearing this. "Sect Master Tang, you're still a very young man, but you're much more of a wily old fox than I had imagined! I can't pick out any holes in your words! As I said, I'm a soldier, so I'm not a fan of talking in circles. I came here with two objectives, the first of which is to recover Eternal Heaven to be used as the main trump card against the abyssal plane, and the second is to borrow that divine weapon of yours for the federation's use. After all, that divine weapon holds extreme significance for this battle, and it must be kept safe no matter what.

"You can state any condition you like; the federation will do everything in its power to satisfy you."

Tang Wulin's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this. Not only was he asking for Eternal Heaven, he was targeting the Golden Dragon Spear as well!

"General Yu, I think we should be discussing how to combat the abyssal army, rather than..."

Yu Guanzhi interjected with a serious expression, "I'm completely serious about this. If you agree to lend us your divine weapon, the federation can offer you at least three divine tools as a pledge, and their total value will definitely not be lower than your divine weapon. As long as it's something the federation is able to offer, it's yours."

A wry smile appeared on Tang Wulin's face as he replied, "I know you're serious about this, but I can't give you Eternal Heaven. When it's needed, our Tang Sect and Shrek Academy will be sure to deploy the missile without any hesitation. As for my divine weapon, even if I give it to you, you won't be able to take it."

A faint smile appeared on Yu Guanzhi's face. "Is that so? Then how about we make a bet? If I can take the weapon, then you'll agree to the exchange, how about that?"