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"The three education committee members are also technically members of Spirit Hall, but they are appointed by the Tian Dou Emperor, and their sense of loyalty to Spirit Hall isn't strong."
Su Wen listened as Xiao Zhan explained.
He could sense that while Xiao Zhan's personality was direct and frank, he was not careless. On the contrary, he was quite meticulous and thoughtful.
"Therefore, regarding your background, Spirit Hall will cooperate to create a cover identity for you as a distant relative of mine."
A genius from Spirit Hall? That would be inappropriate.
As we said, the thousand-year second ring itself cannot be hidden.
"So, if this genius who is joining Tian Dou Royal Academy wants to avoid stirring up any uncontrollable trouble, it's best to shed his Spirit Hall identity."
Su Wen expressed his understanding of this. "The three committee members are semi-independent and most likely don't lean towards Spirit Hall. That's different from you, Uncle Zhan. Your wife and children both hold official positions in Spirit City's Spirit Hall..."
Xiao Zhan, meanwhile, continued to give Su Wen his final instructions.
"..."
Tian Dou Royal Academy. The Education Committee.
Su Wen walked in, following Xiao Zhan.
"My lords, the three esteemed Committee Members, this is the Su Wen I mentioned to you previously."
"Su Wen greets the three lords."
"Mm. Xiao Zhan has already told us about your situation. It is not currently the academy's official enrollment period. Although you have Xiao Zhan vouching for you, for you to enter the academy, we must still verify your qualifications."
"Little Wen, release your spirit."
"Yes."
Su Wen summoned his spirit. Simultaneously, two spirit rings, one yellow and one purple, rose slowly from his feet.
Seeing the purple radiance flashing from Su Wen's second spirit ring, all three committee members revealed expressions of astonishment.
"To be able to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring as your second ring... your good fortune is truly out of the ordinary."
In the version Xiao Zhan had told the three committee members, Su Wen had stumbled upon some treasure by chance, causing his spirit and physical fitness to undergo a metamorphosis. Then, by accident, he was unable to determine the age of the Phantasmal Spirit Fox he hunted. In the end, he luckily managed to complete the absorption, thanks only to his prior physical transformation and sheer willpower.
In short, it was all luck. He had succeeded in absorbing a spirit ring beyond his limit purely through a string of fortunate coincidences.
For an ordinary Spirit Master, such a situation is exceptionally rare, perhaps seen only once in a lifetime. However, in the history of Spirit Master development, such individuals have truly appeared before.
And yet, it remained impossible to replicate. This was because no one knew the specific direction for strengthening, only that it involved generally improving a Spirit Master's physical constitution. But the resources required to raise the seven-hundred-year limit by three hundred years—not to mention crossing the thousand-year bottleneck—were simply astronomical.
Even if it could be replicated, the gains were not worth the cost.
It was better to use those vast resources to help someone reach Spirit King sooner and obtain a proper ten-thousand-year ring. After all, anyone with that kind of backing was being cultivated to become a Titled Douluo, and a mere thousand-year spirit skill is of little use at the nine-ring Titled Douluo level.
Su Wen's theory, however, pointed out a specific direction: strengthening the meridians.
Throughout the generations, Spirit Masters had tried to improve these channels that circulate spirit power, aiming to increase resistance to the impact from high-level rings. They simply hadn't given them the name 'meridians'.
The reason Su Wen's theory was so important was that it provided a specific, effective direction for improving meridian strength. It wasn't his external technique, nor his internal technique, and certainly not the idea of cultivating both.
Su Wen had not yet fully matured, and he had no intention of publicizing the true secrets of his rise. He was willing to benefit the Spirit Master world, but only on the condition that he himself would not be negatively affected.
The direction given in his theory was based on Su Wen's experience absorbing his two rings, where he'd sensed the 'nodes' in his meridians that received the most intense impact. He had also 'painted a grand picture,' proposing that different Spirit Masters are impacted at different nodes, theorizing this was related to one's spirit, the type of spirit ring being absorbed, and so on.
In other words, this theory was a 'serial theory.' Su Wen could continue to research it, thus continuing to 'make contributions' to Spirit Hall.
Previously, without this theoretical direction, any research into exceeding-limit absorption had to be done through practical experimentation... and experimentation burned through money.
Even Spirit Hall couldn't afford to continue such research.
Su Wen, however, had provided a theoretical direction for conquering this project.
Since it could be researched without burning money, the project could naturally proceed. That was the true significance of Su Wen's theory.
Returning to the present. The Tian Dou Royal Academy Education Committee.
After inspecting Su Wen's spirit, spirit rings, and spirit power level, the three committee members gave face to Xiao Zhan and approved Su Wen's application for enrollment.
"Su Wen can study and cultivate under your name, Xiao Zhan, but we three have one requirement."
"My lords, please state your requirement," Xiao Zhan said respectfully.
"Su Wen must join the Tian Dou Royal Team, the one led by Qin Ming. Although the team roster is currently full, we can have Su Wen join as a substitute," said Meng Shenji, the chairman of the three committee members.
Hearing Meng Shenji's requirement, Xiao Zhan frowned. The Royal Team under Qin Ming's command? If Su Wen joins, he'll inevitably be just a substitute.
However, Xiao Zhan quickly understood. His brow relaxed, and he agreed to Meng Shenji's requirement without the slightest hesitation.
"How is that a requirement? I must thank the three esteemed members on Little Wen's behalf for this opportunity!"
As the public face of the academy, the team that participates in the Spirit Master Tournament naturally enjoys special treatment.
By joining as a substitute, Su Wen would definitely receive more resources and focused training.
After leaving the education committee, Xiao Zhan took Su Wen to handle the rest of his enrollment procedures.
"With the three committee members' approval, the rest of your paperwork is simple," Xiao Zhan said. "I just didn't expect that Chairman Meng Shenji would propose having you join the Tian Dou Royal Team."
Su Wen, meanwhile, inwardly thanked Meng Shenji for the 'assist.' He'd been placed directly onto the Tian Dou Royal Team just like that.
"The three committee members have wanted to reform the academy's atmosphere for a long time. They are investing heavily in this generation's Royal Team, assembling geniuses from all necessary areas—power-attack, control, defense, agility, and auxiliary. Their goal is to make a big splash in the next Spirit Master Tournament and change the public's perception of the academy."
Xiao Zhan's mind was indeed meticulous. Thinking back on it, he quickly understood the reason.
"Having you join the team now is likely with the tournament after the next one in mind. They want to cultivate you as the core of that future team."
By starting your cultivation two tournament cycles in advance, as long as no accidents occur, Su Wen will absolutely be able to secure the academy's ranking in the tournament after next. A strong performance in two consecutive tournaments, given the time span, would be enough to change the majority's opinion of Tian Dou Royal Academy.
"Little Wen, I'll give you three days to get settled. After three days, you will begin training with me."
"Uncle Zhan, there's no need to wait three days. I can start tomorrow."
"Good."
Su Wen was also greatly looking forward to Xiao Zhan's guidance.
The three committee members had placed him directly onto the Royal Team, to be cultivated as the core for the team after next. And Su Wen's spirit was just a Book Spirit!
This was completely different from the opinions of everyone Su Wen had ever met.
And the only person who could make the three committee members 'ignore' the 'shortcoming' of Su Wen's Book Spirit and still want to cultivate him into an excellent combat Spirit Master... had to be Xiao Zhan.
Su Wen felt a sudden surge of anticipation for Xiao Zhan's guidance.
"It's time to abandon the path of 'using the book as a weapon' and finally walk the path of a mage."
(End of this chapter)