Returning to the Akademy after hearing about the failed siege of the former Dark Tang Territory as he said it would, Leroy was not ready for what greeted him. It was bad enough the former Dark Tang Family had found a power source to fuel a strong barrier to defend the lands they took but they also had enough time to grow in strength and deal with any turncoats left inside.

Imagine that, a group that was able to take control of the cultivators that they defeated and bring them into some kind of plant network won and showed better skills already to defend themselves.

All the Noble Families, Teachers, and Instructors who went to lay siege had returned frustrated. With the revelation that the Principal had lapsed into a coma after a bad cultivation mishap and also Vice Principal Jin who was to be the new principal had been in a deep sleep since returning from the assault as well.

No one was able to see him at all and this left Acting Principal Itsumi in charge of a lot of stuff. Luckily they had structure and backup plans in case something like this happened. Not to mention the Occupation Guild was so tied to the Akademy that they spared no effort in making sure it did not collapse.

With people like Proctor Constance and the now Proctor Booksun from the Unlimited Sect, a foreign power getting involved more a few were fearful about what was going on.

Leroy very much included as this would not end well at all. The worst news he received was that the Imperial Army had already planned for another attack if the first assault failed by using some strange Artifact they had in storage.

All that could wait for later to be thought over as his people really needed him. Like right now!

"Haa, oh boy." Leroy had gotten an earful the moment he stepped into his courtyard and finally had a chance to talk after the yelling stopped. "Look, this strange woman can be dealt with later. All of you leave her be if you do not want to talk with her."

With mixed feelings, Leroy was not gonna take her in with open arms but he was not going to kill her openly either. Especially after she helped Old Bihan beasts and Tang Xui's people make it here safely.

She may be part plant..or sucking flower to be exact, but she was the equivalent of a daughter... made from him and birthed from him. Against his consent but.. well no buts. It was bad enough that they bumped into each other before and had a bad start now this was going all around the empire.

"So is it true what she is?" Saitori asked with a strange look. Oddly it was mostly because she grew fond of the other but didn't want to get her hopes up if Leroy was against her being here.

"She.. is your niece by blood. That should help you with any conflicts you have inside." Leroy answered not really caring about it right now. He truly had other trouble to deal with. Turning, he spoke very calmly to Tang Xui. "Your father is not dead yet. I can tell you he is very.. scared and confused though."

Explaining to her what Tang Bo wanted to do he made it very clear he was not getting involved in that suicide run or idea. With the information he gathered from those that died he let her know how many of her family members were outright dead and those who were.. enthralled.

Tang Xui shook as she started to cry on the spot. It was quite the sight to see from someone he always saw staying strong. Silencing anyone who wanted to know more with a glare he moved on to his next tasks.

Of course, when they pried for more information that was sensitive he told them not to ask and leave it be for now. They could take it or get out of his face. He only knew the man was alive because of the Connection between the two and the intel because of the Flame Vortex.

Which was still refining that blasted staff and whip.

Proctor Constance had done a decent enough job patching up the Blacktigers. She meandered enough to spy on Leroy's living area but ended up with more questions than answers. Like all the Glyphs and Formation he had set up to improve the cultivation for anyone using them.

Then the items he used Inscriptions on to make better use and the Nun Clarissa and the adopted kids. How the Nun was able to travel great distances was hard to tie down as the technique had to be in her very blood or she had a special artifact to do so.

After all the unimportant people left and the Tang Family members as they were now known stripped of their titles and became normal citizens because of what happened moved into Tang Xui's father's compound on campus were settled he had a little peace.

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"Ok, this just won't do." Leroy was tired but he rather get this done with right now. "You trust me, Bihan?"

"Of course.. cub." This was the first time they met since what happened and Leroy remade his own body using the soul fragment of the Old Blacktiger. "You are kin to me the same as they are."

The admittance held some of the black tigers calm themselves and answered why he smelled like them a little.

"Well, since you put it that way." Leroy turned his focus to an area in the yard that could hold a Grand Formation. "I guess it is best to make you healthy and stronger than ever!"

Using everything he had at his disposal with the new techniques for Beast-type Martial Artists and Demon Beasts, Leroy gave himself fully to his work. Every hour he recovered and upgraded the formation and tweaked something on his own flesh and Bihans.

Every day he instructed his people while also studying the new coursework given to him for the new semester. Everyone in his household grew stronger with even the Blacktigers all recovering and waiting for the moment he kept his word to remake them.

Even Bija, the young pain-in-the-ass blacktiger leader found herself looking forward to the Formation use after Bihan explained to her further what it meant for them. A chance to be reborn, to be reforged into something stronger.

The Blacktigers hunted with several Akademy students on assignments to help gather resources for use. In the surrounding villages, towns, cities, and outskirts of the Akademy, it was safe and free of bandits, rebels, and the corrupt.

It got to such a point that the Emperor donated funds to the Akademy to help enroll more students to help stabilize the Country.

Despite what was going on with a Rebellion, a Possible Coup for several families, and the Fall of a Noble Family and the North Kingdom, life went on for several factions.

Leroy took several tests to improve his Occupations to allow him more access to knowledge and the rewards that came with. Burning the the oil in every direction it would come to a head soon and knowing his luck at the worst time.

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Bad news for some Families-

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Scurrying out like rats in a fire, the prestigious Dark Rose Family was falling apart. Not only did they have the heir of the Family killing everyone and devouring them, but the Rebels that colluded with them turned on them and attacked with a brutality unmatched by the best of the remaining guards.

They were taken out from within and now were scrambling just to survive. But someone else had a plan for them.

"My lord!" A guard ran to the treasury to inform of the situation. "Vincent has taken down at least a 1/3 of our forces and is growing stronger at an alarming rate. Also... the Rebels have captured a lot of the weapon and gained control of the protective formation."

"Then.. it is good I am here already." The Lord of the Drak Rose House was a man who took chances. If his sun was already like this he was lost to them and if the Rebels had made their move that was it for the defenses. "I trained them so it somewhat prideful but... to lose the Family I am a little saddened."

It was slightly detached but a bit of care was there in the end. Slowly the man removed a ring of his finger and pulled in a bit of the treasury. Then he pulled out a worn bracelet pulling in more of the treasury with a lot of books inside it.

A few more guards made it to the treasury looking worse for wear. But they were also with the bodyguards Lily, Silica, and Camilia. The clothing and armor they matched before did not match what they usually wore. With grim looks on their faces, they waited for the decision of the Dark Rose Leader.

"Take them both away from here. I am also speaking on behalf of the late Queen of the North Kingdom. Find her daughter and take her away as well, go as far as you can."

"The former princess Jasmine.. has already been robbed in all shapes of the word." Lily spoke with little attachment to the words she spoke. She was not emotional in the least right now. "From what I observed she may not last long without .. incentive."

Silica and Camilia did not hide their shock and felt anger for the other. They could only imagine what they went through but also wondered why she was the former princess now.

"Haaa..." Sighing heavily and visibly aging a few years, the cold tyrant of the Dark Rose family pulled out a greatsword as the rest of the treasury was stashed away by the guards. ".. do what you must. From now on, you are in charge of those daughters of mine. What you say is law and if they disobey you are free to handle however you see fit."

Passing the storage items over to the other two he placed the ring directly in her hands and whispered for only she could here. Eyes going wide at what she was told, Lily turned to leave immediately after.

"I will hold him off as best I can, you know what to do." It was the final order he gave to his guards as every step took more of his life force but increased his strength. "The chance to take over the Empire has been lost but not the future of our Dimension!"

Elsewhere another situation had finished off. More and more disasters rang out with the cries of people dying or worse. The revelation in the morning was already reaching some people and it was not good.

The rebels in the area all joined under Chu Xue and his co-leader Pin Feng. The Jing-fire Family threw their lot in with them completely as a vassal family. Members of the remaining Tang Family left the Akademy to join them as the union between two that most did not expect occurred.

Tang Bo had taken Jing Lin as his wife and divorced Xiao Mei who refused to become a mistress, concubine, or the second wife to the abrupt union. It was a new low to reach and made even worse when she was said to be carrying his child. Having to fight her away from the area was only made possible by those she traveled with helping.

The first casualty of the budding growing power was the annihilation of the Shining Demon Family during a peace talk to resolve the disputes of the land. Another Family wiped out during this time was the River Snake Family and two merchant Factions that tried to play peacemaker.

When this news hit those in Akademy it resulted in another change in the power structure. More lax rules were enforced and the school of learning turned more militaristic as the entire Empire seemed to be engulfed in war.