Let Xu Zhiming Develop for a While

Zhao Deyun smiled faintly and cupped his hands in thanks.

"Of course there is, but to say it out loud, Minister Xie will need to make a move."

Xie Hong's heart tightened.

Old fox.

As if he didn't know what Zhao Deyun was planning.

"Principal Zhao, go ahead and say it. As the Minister of the Cloud Water City Martial Arts Ministry of Education, I never dare forget my duties."

Zhao Deyun paused for a moment.

"Our Martial Arts High School and the Martial Arts Ministry of Education both exist to unearth more outstanding martial artists for Great Xia!"

The two exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

Xie Hong tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden table, producing a rhythmic dong dong dong sound.

"The Qiu Family Head is someone I can't afford to provoke."

Zhao Deyun nodded: "I can't afford to provoke him either."

Xie Hong shot Zhao Deyun a deep look but said nothing.

"Let the young people handle matters between themselves."

"Principal Zhao, I won't oppose you trying to poach Xu Zhiming for your school."

"One mountain cannot hold two tigers, especially two tigers with a grudge. Separating them for now is the best approach."

"Xu Zhiming isn't a match for now—let him develop a bit longer."

"You submit the application, and I'll approve it."

Zhao Deyun nodded firmly.

He hadn't expected this to go so smoothly.

Originally, he thought he'd need to haggle with Xie Hong.

Xie Hong agreed so readily that Zhao Deyun's prepared talking points went unused.

Xie Hong watched Zhao Deyun leave and let out a long sigh.

A Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Layer Prodigy—getting on good terms early was the right call.

If Xu Zhiming grew strong and they tried to build a connection then, it wouldn't be Xie Hong's turn anymore.

Xu Zhiming might not have outstanding talent, but that persistence and effort beyond ordinary people was the greatest cheat of all.

On the path of martial arts, talent only raised one's ceiling.

"Maybe Xu Zhiming will become the next True King Wind Thunder and change the fact that the poor rarely produce prodigies?"

"No, Xu Zhiming isn't from a poor family. From the records, it seems his ancestors were never well-off either."

Xie Hong went back to handling his work.

First, he needed to send Xu Zhiming's video up to higher authorities.

Eighteen point seven eight blood energy, Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Layer.

He'd met the qualifications for the Great Xia Prodigy Selection.

He'd have to be careful during this period.

The Wheel Turning Cult loved assassinating prodigies who hadn't yet grown strong.

Zhao Deyun should remind Xu Zhiming to be cautious.

After Zhao Deyun left.

He quickly found Zhang Wei.

It was simple—he wanted to poach Zhang Wei to Yunshui Second High School.

Zhang Wei looked at the principal who was practically a household name in Cloud Water City.

To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

"Principal Zhao, may I ask what business you have with me?"

Zhao Deyun waved his hand, signaling Zhang Wei not to be so tense.

"I've come to you because there's a big matter I might need your help with."

Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow, unwilling to agree.

He was just a small ordinary teacher—aside from being lucky enough to break through to the tenth level.

And aside from having mentored Xu Zhiming, what could he possibly help Zhao Deyun with?

If a principal couldn't solve a problem, how could a small ordinary teacher like him fix it?

The blood that had been boiling with excitement cooled down.

He'd thought he could build a connection with Zhao Deyun, making the interview easier when he later applied to Yunshui Second High School.

But the proper formalities still had to be observed. He pulled open the drawer, took out some tea leaves, and poured them into a paper cup.

"Principal Zhao, just tell me what you need. If I can help, I will. Have some tea and take your time."

Zhao Deyun waved his hand.

"No tea. Can you help me get in touch with Xu Zhiming? I want to poach him for our school."

Rustle, rustle...

The tea leaves quickly filled a cup.

"Teacher Zhang, you've poured the tea for the table to drink."

After Zhao Deyun reminded him, he continued.

"Of course, I won't have you help for nothing. You've offended Peng Sixiong, so Yunshui First High School is no place for you anymore."

"You've also met our Yunshui Second High School's minimum blood and qi standard—Level Ten Martial Artist. You can come teach at our school."

"But you have to bring Xu Zhiming along to come."

Zhang Wei didn't bother with the tea leaves scattered across the table.

Was this a stroke of luck thanks to Xu Zhiming—getting into Yunshui Second High School without even taking an exam?

Zhang Wei took a deep breath and pushed up his black-rimmed glasses.

If he could become a teacher at Yunshui Second High School, his girlfriend would definitely be able to marry him this year.

Zhao Deyun looked at Zhang Wei.

"Principal Zhao, I know Yunshui Second High School has a better academic atmosphere, and becoming a teacher there is a goal I strive for."

"But I still respect Xu Zhiming's opinion. If he doesn't go, I won't force him."

Zhao Deyun's fondness for this clean-cut teacher grew considerably.

This was a teacher with true professional ethics.

If it were an ordinary teacher, they'd probably have already called Xu Zhiming to talk up how great Yunshui Second High School was.

Able to resist temptation and not collude with Peng Sixiong.

Even if Xu Zhiming didn't go to Yunshui Second High School, Zhang Wei was someone they couldn't afford to miss when he later applied there.

"Alright."

"Contact Xu Zhiming. I'll discuss it with him."

Zhang Wei nodded.

He picked up his phone and sent a message to Xu Zhiming.

Zhao Deyun took the phone, mentally calculating how many resources it would take to move Xu Zhiming.

"Hello, Xu Zhiming."

"I'm Zhao Dezhu, principal of Yunshui Second High School. I want to recruit you to study at our school."

"I can offer you these resources. Take a look and see if they're enough..."

Wind Thunder Martial Hall.

Meng Tian pricked up his ears, thinking Xu Zhiming's phone call would let him rest for a bit.

Ssshh...

"Focus! The fifth level of Wind Thunder Fist isn't that easy to master!"

Xu Zhiming extended his left hand, holding the phone slightly away from his mouth.

"Got it, Brother Xu!"

He sat down nearby, ready to have a good talk with Zhao Deyun.

In this era where everyone trained in martial arts to boost blood and qi.

Students with good talent were watched at all times.

Generally speaking, as long as it wasn't a cross-province transfer, you could switch schools even the day before the Martial Arts Exam.

This policy was enacted to uncover more geniuses.

A genius born in a small place, if they stayed there and couldn't keep up with resources, would easily fall behind other students with richer resources.

He wasn't opposed to transferring to Yunshui Second High School either.

As the old saying goes.

What you ask for yourself and what others offer you are different.

Xu Zhiming preferred to keep the initiative in his own hands.

If he went to Zhao Deyun first, the initiative wouldn't be in his hands anymore—and no one ever complained about having too many resources.

"First, tell me the conditions for the transfer."

"Principal Zhao, you should first tell me what resources Yunshui Second High School can offer me."

Silence.

On the other end of the line, Zhao Deyun felt like he had met his match.

He had originally thought Xu Zhiming would be easy to poach to Yunshui Second High. Clearly, that wasn't the case.

From Xu Zhiming's tone—calm, as if he had long expected this call.

And facing him, the principal of Yunshui Second High, with such composure, his mental fortitude was quite impressive.

Many students with decent cultivation speed would be a bit nervous when talking to him.

Then he'd start with the first move: appeal to reason and emotion.

First, analyze the other party's current situation.

"Xu Zhiming, you've made a big scene with Peng Sixiong, and on top of that, there's Qiu Yingzong, who's said to have already reached eighty points of qi and blood."

"If you keep staying at Yunshui First High, it'll be hard for you to stand out, and not many resources will be allocated to you."

"This time, for what Peng Sixiong did, he's been suspended but kept on probation, with no future promotions."

"His promotion path is locked, so he'll definitely suppress you. If you stay at Yunshui First High, you won't get many resources."

Xu Zhiming listened to the words in his ear and couldn't help nodding.

Zhao Deyun's analysis wasn't wrong; this was also one of the reasons he didn't want to stay at Yunshui First High.

But leaving Yunshui First High came with one concern.

Since Zhao Deyun had taken the initiative to call him, he could hand that concern over to Zhao Deyun to handle.

"Let me first see the resources you can offer, Principal Zhao, and then I'll state my demands."

Zhao Deyun lightly rubbed his finger against the phone screen.

Slowly, he laid out the resources he could provide.

"Two hundred thousand in resources each month, and qualification to visualize an E-rank Martial Dao Visualization Chart."

"If you become a true prodigy, I'll also reward you with a martial technique."

Xu Zhiming thought it over.

These resources were quite good.

Just the E-rank Martial Dao Visualization Chart alone had a market price of over two million.

Plus three months of cash, that was over two million in rewards.

For the first time, Xu Zhiming felt truly valued after his strength had improved.

"A true prodigy? Principal Zhao, do you have that little confidence in me?"

Meng Tian pricked up his ears, trying to eavesdrop.

Crackle.

"Sss..."

"Numb, I'm numb..."

After dealing with Meng Tian.

Xu Zhiming stated his demands.

"Sell the qualification to visualize the E-rank Martial Dao Visualization Chart to someone else and convert it into cash."

"I have a few more requests."

"As for Zeng Hao and the others, as well as Zhang Wei and Wang Hu—if those classmates and teachers are willing to come to Yunshui Second High, I hope Principal Zhao can take them in."

Zhao Deyun was taken aback.

He turned his head to look at Zhang Wei beside him.

Zhang Wei's eyes flickered slightly.

He raised a hand and rubbed his eyes.

He hadn't expected Xu Zhiming to proactively bring this up to Zhao Deyun.

Hearing Xu Zhiming's request, Zhao Deyun agreed without hesitation.

"Alright, no problem. Give me a list of which classmates."

Xie Hong would handle the applications and approvals.

Approving one person's paperwork was paperwork; approving over a dozen people's paperwork was still paperwork.

Zhao Deyun was about to ask Xu Zhiming why he wanted to sell the E-rank Martial Dao Visualization Chart when Xu Zhiming's words came through.

"Principal Zhao, let me talk to my homeroom teacher."

"Brother Wei, I'll leave those classmates to you. You'll be their homeroom teacher."

Zhang Wei nodded repeatedly.

He remembered going to find his girlfriend yesterday with some liquor, asking her to give it to his future father-in-law.

After the old man heard about his situation, he comforted him.

"First High School has no future prospects. You should retake the exam for Second High School later."

"If you get into Second High School, I'll let you marry my daughter."

He never expected that today he would be able to transfer to Second High School, without even needing to retake the exam.

It seemed that after the college entrance exam, he could still have Xu Zhiming attend his wedding.

All of this was thanks to Xu Zhiming.

"No problem."

Zhang Wei looked at Zhao Deyun.

"Principal, Xu Zhiming means for the dozen or so of us to form one class."

"You're still laughing? Do you even know that Xu Zhiming didn't take the E-grade Visualization Chart? He's going to sell that spot to someone else."

Zhang Wei stopped laughing.