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Similar to Spirit Hall before Chi Xunji took office?
It had to be said that Xiao Zhan's analogy was very apt, allowing Huo Tianyang to quickly understand many things about the Academy.
Spirit Hall was a Spirit Master organization rather than a singular faction; many Spirit Masters from various sects were sometimes members of Spirit Hall as well.
Of course, as time passed, the suspicion held by various parties toward the behemoth that was Spirit Hall grew deeper, and estrangements began to arise.
Finally, after Chi Xunji took office, Spirit Hall began to change little by little.
From its original purpose of simply maintaining the glory of Spirit Hall and letting the radiance of the Angelic God shine upon the continent, it gradually began to enter a state of true confrontation with the two Great Empires.
"Furthermore, unlike Spirit Hall, the Academy will always maintain a cooperative relationship with major powers. For instance, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will join the Academy."
"Put that way, it sounds more like an alliance," Huo Tianyang said with a frown.
Xiao Zhan was stunned for a moment, then did not refute it, feeling that this description also made sense.
"The purpose of the Academy is still to research theory and promote the development of the Spirit Master world. However, it also needs its own strength. Sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will join in the future, but their goal in joining is cooperative theoretical research; they won't necessarily provide defensive forces for the Academy."
"So, Su Wen sought out you and me?" Huo Tianyang understood.
Talking about the Academy's faith or goals was all nonsense; at its root, it was about establishing a faction and then finding people to hold the fort.
Xiao Zhan shook his head and said, "It's not just you and me; Dugu Bo has also joined. Additionally, Huo'er will join the Academy with me."
"Oh?" Huo Tianyang was beyond surprised. "He actually managed to get Dugu Bo to join?"
After some thought, he made a decision.
"For your sake, I can join. But let's get this straight first: I will continue to preside over Blazing Academy until a suitable candidate is found to pass the position of Dean to. Only then can I stay at the Academy."
Xiao Zhan's expression became slightly unnatural, which piqued Huo Tianyang's suspicion.
"What? Have I boarded a pirate ship?"
"That's not it. It's just that we are still in the early stages of this Academy and don't have a territory yet. However, after returning to Heaven Dou City this time, Xiao Wen will consider it. During the Continental Spirit Master Academy Competition, he will also announce the existence of the Academy."
Veins pulsed on Huo Tianyang's forehead.
So after talking for so long, are you playing me?
"Haha, isn't this just finding you in advance so you can claim a seat?"
Xiao Zhan still felt that the prospects of the Academy were quite good. It was developing entirely toward becoming a second Spirit Hall, with the key foothold being the theoretical aspect, filling the void in the entire continent's Spirit Master world. As long as the responsibilities of the Academy that Su Wen spoke of could be executed well, then it would not be difficult for the Academy to grow and become a holy land in the hearts of all Spirit Masters.
Unless Spirit Hall also launched a plan to promote the development of the Spirit Master world through theory.
But for now, it seemed there was no need to worry.
At the very least, Su Wen's theories were not something Spirit Hall could counter just because they wanted to.
Furthermore, according to the information Xiao Zhan had gathered from Bai Yuan, it seemed that those within Spirit Hall knew about Su Wen's intention to establish the Academy. Moreover, they intended to support Su Wen, putting on a stance of offering their backing.
Don't ask how Bai Yuan knew; the answer was that Bai Yuan was one of the members who had been notified in advance that he might be transferred to the Academy.
"Xiao Wen, I've brought you a helper."
Returning to the hotel, Xiao Zhan shared his achievement with Su Wen.
"Achievement? Uncle Zhan, did you hammer Uncle Yang into the ground?"
"???" Xiao Zhan's face was full of question marks as he looked at Su Wen. "How did Tianyang offend you?"
Didn't he teach you all his secret techniques?
Why is it that when I mention an achievement, you look so forward to me pummeling the other guy?
And hammering him into the ground at that?
Just how much of a grudge do you have?
Su Wen gave an awkward laugh and shifted the topic. "So, Uncle Zhan, what achievement are you talking about?"
"I invited Tianyang to join the Academy, and he has no objections. He just needs to wait until the handover procedures here at Blazing Academy are finished before he truly joins the Academy."
Hearing that the Academy had gained another source of strength, Su Wen was naturally happy.
Not bad, not bad; Uncle Zhan has learned to recruit talent on his own.
"Uncle Zhan, do you have any other close friends? Why not invite them to join my Academy as well?"
With Xiao Zhan bringing it up, Su Wen also realized that only about a year remained until the Spirit Master Competition.
And some of the preparatory work for the Academy had not yet been completed.
He intended to dazzle everyone at the Spirit Master Competition, then present the Academy's theories and share his initial results, establishing a persona and gaining preliminary continent-wide popularity.
But before that, his Academy should at least have a rudimentary form.
It didn't need a massive power base.
Currently, Dugu Bo plus two Spirit Douluos, along with Su Wen's many theories—this was the true foundation of the Academy.
As for things like the four single-attribute clans, Su Wen had no interest in inviting them, nor was he interested in them.
They were a bunch of boors to begin with and had nothing to do with the Academy; there was no need to lower himself to recruit them.
"Compared to the current situation of sects and families, I want the Academy to exist in a different form," Su Wen said.
Xiao Zhan looked curious.
"In what form?"
Su Wen smiled, and a ball of light emerged from his palm.
"Uncle Zhan, try merging your mental power into it."
Driven by curiosity, Xiao Zhan probed his mental power into it as Su Wen instructed, and he instantly felt a sense of vastness.
Within the ball of light, it felt like a complete world.
However, this world was currently very monotonous. Within this world, endless books floated, each book like a drop of water, making the entire space look like an ocean of books.
He felt his wisp of mental power condense into a conscious body under the pressure of a certain force. Stepping forward slowly, he grabbed a book, and a strand of information merged into his conscious body.
With a bang, the conscious body dissipated, and the mental power returned to Xiao Zhan's spiritual sea.
Along with it came an illusory book.
Xiao Zhan was amazed. He touched this book with his mental power in his spiritual sea, and a large amount of knowledge quickly merged into his mind.
Although it was information he already knew, the entire process shocked Xiao Zhan immensely.
"You... you, you, you, Xiao Wen, how did you develop something like this?"
Xiao Zhan's voice was full of disbelief.
"Hehe, this is just the 'Sea of Learning' I developed. It belongs to the Academy's database, a place where theories are stored and accessed. Besides the Sea of Learning, there is also the 'Mountain of Books'." As he spoke, Su Wen took out another ball of light.
Inside this ball of light, books were piled up like a mountain.
"Compared to the Sea of Learning, the Mountain of Books is actually for beginners of theory. Inside the Mountain of Books are some basic theories. In the future, I will also set some thresholds to test the scholars' foundation and level."
Listening to Su Wen's explanations, Xiao Zhan felt a bit dazed.
In short, the development of this Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning left his heart shaken.
Was this even within the scope of Spirit Skill development?
Whose Spirit Skill is developed like this?
And most, most, most importantly, he couldn't figure out which of Su Wen's Spirit Skills could produce such an effect.
The power went out at home and my laptop is almost out of juice. There might only be this one chapter this morning. I'll see if the power comes back this afternoon; if not, I'll just have to type on my phone.
But typing on a phone is really uncomfortable and I'm not used to it, so it might be a bit slow.
However, the old book has concluded, so I have more time and energy to write this one. Five updates a day can definitely be guaranteed.
(End of Chapter)