Establishing the Academy

"Oh, right, Xiao Ya, I'll pass Myriad Leaves Flying Flowers on to you as well. As long as you master it, you'll soon be able to avenge yourself."

After finishing his meal, Lin Ran changed the subject at just the right moment and tapped a finger against Tang Ya's forehead.

"Don't resist."

With her mouth still full and chopsticks in hand, Tang Ya froze where she sat.

Seeing Lin Ran pass Myriad Leaves Flying Flowers on to Tang Ya as well, Vina felt somewhat upset.

So other people had it too...

But when she thought of how the even more profound Wood Chapter of the Longevity Skill had been taught to her alone, she felt a little better.

She secretly resolved that she absolutely had to master the Wood Chapter of the Longevity Skill. Otherwise, wouldn't she be just like Tang Ya?

After receiving Myriad Leaves Flying Flowers, Tang Ya roughly skimmed through it. Her Phoenix Eyes widened slightly, and the chopsticks in her hand clattered to the floor.

She discovered that the Cultivation Method Lin Ran had taught her was even more exquisite than the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record! One had to know that the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record was the Cultivation Method practiced by the Sea God himself.

In particular, the circulation routes related to the body's major meridians were something the Tang Sect's Cultivation Methods did not possess.

Most importantly, Myriad Leaves Flying Flowers was especially suited to her Blue Silver Grass.

She stared blankly at Lin Ran, her heart filled with gratitude.

Lin Ran had actually given something so important to her.

Tang Ya wrinkled her delicate nose and said in a sweet voice, "Xiao Ran, y-you keep doing this, and I really am going to give myself to you."

Vina's movements halted. Her gentle brows knitted tightly as she stared fixedly at Lin Ran and Tang Ya.

Aunt Huo paused mid-motion as she was about to serve Tang Ya some food. After being distracted for a moment, she placed the food into Vina's bowl instead.

"Vina, don't just sit there. Eat."

Lin Ran looked at Tang Ya and sighed.

Don't come at me like that, okay? How am I supposed to make my move if you do?

Only then did Tang Ya realize what she had said. Turning her head, she found that the atmosphere was somewhat off. Her face reddened as she said, "What you gave me is simply too precious. I really have nothing with which to repay you. How about this? I'll teach you the Tang Sect's secret arts. You don't need to join the Tang Sect—just don't pass them on to anyone else."

Lin Ran placed some food into Tang Ya's bowl. "Eat."

Tang Ya: "...What do you mean?"

Lin Ran said, "The Tang Sect's secret arts are ancestral inheritances. You may be able to pass them on, but I cannot accept them."

If I accepted them, wouldn't Tang San come after me? That would be a disaster.

Tang Ya eyed Lin Ran suspiciously and muttered, "But why do I feel like you're looking down on them?"

Lin Ran: "...Is it possible that it's because your chopsticks fell on the floor just now, and you didn't wipe them?"

"...Y-you, why didn't you remind me earlier?"

Tang Ya's face flushed bright red. She hurriedly replaced her chopsticks with a new pair and silently began eating again. What puzzled her, though, was why Aunt Huo was no longer serving her food.

After a moment of silence, Vina turned to Lin Ran.

"Xiao Ran, have you decided how to arrange things for Xiao Ya? You'll be returning to the sect in a few days to continue cultivating, and the sect doesn't permit outsiders to enter."

Upon hearing that, Tang Ya immediately put down her chopsticks and hurriedly asked, "I can't go with you?"

Lin Ran shook his head. "No. Those are the sect's rules. I'd like to change them, but that'll have to wait until after I seize power."

Disappointment appeared in Tang Ya's eyes.

Seeing this, Vina instantly felt a little better, and the corners of her lips curled up faintly.

"Then Xiao Ya can stay with me for now. I'll be remaining in Heaven Dou City for half a year this time."

Lin Ran shook his head. After pondering for a moment, he asked, "Are there any high-level Soul Master Academies in Heaven Dou City?"

Vina asked curiously, "Do you want Xiao Ya to enroll in a Soul Master Academy? Then why not have her join our Heaven Soul Royal Academy? Once you finish cultivating, you can join with me as well."

Lin Ran shook his head. "I want to buy an academy."

Vina's slender eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Why buy an academy?"

Lin Ran said, "Don't you think our Body Sect is too hidden? Many Soul Masters with Body Martial Souls don't even have a way to join the Body Sect."

Vina said, "But the Body Sect used to be a reclusive sect."

Lin Ran said, "That was before, not the Body Sect of today. On one hand, the Body Sect has long been famous throughout the continent. What faction doesn't know of us? On the other hand, as the protector of your Heaven Dou Empire, the Body Sect has long ceased to be a reclusive sect that stays out of conflicts between various powers."

"Since that's the case, rather than hanging in this awkward middle ground, we might as well establish a base open to every faction across the continent. An academy would be perfect. That way, we can interact with all the continent's powers while also recruiting Body Martial Soul possessors from everywhere."

Vina hesitated. "Shouldn't we discuss this with the Sect Master and the sect elders?"

"There's no need to discuss it! This old man agrees! As for those elders, they're all quite fond of this boy. Why would they oppose his suggestion?"

At that moment, a hearty voice rang out. With a flicker, Du Busi appeared in the dining hall.

Everyone rose and bowed. Du Busi nodded.

"Teacher, you're back?" Lin Ran asked in surprise.

"If I didn't come back, wouldn't I have missed hearing about how you planned to usurp the throne?" Du Busi shot Lin Ran a sidelong glance, found a chair, and sat down. "I made a trip to the imperial palace just now, then came back."

Lin Ran smiled.

Du Busi said, "You're right. The sect really should have a base like this. Otherwise, who knows how many Body Sect disciples like you we might miss out on?"

Vina respectfully said, "I'll ask around and see which academy in Heaven Dou City is willing to sell."

Du Busi nodded.

Lin Ran said, "Teacher, why not have the sect's disciples travel around the continent as well and see whether they can find any geniuses?"

Du Busi shook his head. "If geniuses were that easy to find, others would have recruited them long ago. Why would they be left for us?"

Lin Ran said, "We should still look. I'm planning to establish a Talent Class and take part in the Soul Master Competition."

For example, Jiang Nannan from the Original Work. As a commoner, she had reached Rank 40 by the age of fifteen, so her talent was absolutely not lacking. Her Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul was also a mechanically overpowered one.

Then there were the twin sisters, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo. Their martial souls were hair. Though it did not seem particularly significant, they actually counted as Body Martial Souls. Going to Shrek Academy had been a waste.

There was also Xiao Xiao, a genius with Twin Martial Souls. Not only had she attached soul rings to her second martial soul early on, but by the end, she had even sworn never to hunt Soul Beasts again. That was a waste too.

Without hunting Soul Beasts, one could only form contracts with Contracted Spirits.

But where would there be so many Soul Beasts nearing the end of their lifespan for soul masters to contract? Besides, Mental Power was the most important factor in forming contracts with Contracted Spirits.

With Xiao Xiao's Mental Power, there was a high chance she would not be able to support fully attaching soul rings to her second martial soul.

There were simply too many geniuses wasted in the Original Work.

Du Busi frowned and snorted. "What's so worthwhile about participating in the Soul Master Competition? It's just children playing house."

Lin Ran said, "Since our Body Sect is establishing an academy, if we don't defeat Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Empire in the Soul Master Competition, wouldn't that mean our Body Sect is inferior to them? Teacher, you wouldn't want the Body Sect's prestige to be weakened, would you?"

Of course, that was only one reason.

His main purpose was to intercept Dai Yuhao.

In the Original Work, after Dai Yuhao and the others led Shrek Academy to victory in the Soul Master Competition, they not only received soul bone rewards, but were also granted the opportunity to enter the Golden Ancient Tree to cultivate.

Inside the Golden Ancient Tree, Shrek Academy had specially constructed simulated meditation rooms, giving everyone who entered a chance at deep meditation.

Before Dai Yuhao and the others entered, Mu En had told them to consider each of their own future paths.

Then, after a full month of deep meditation, the future path Dai Yuhao came up with was actually the Tang Sect?

Lin Ran had been especially shocked at the time.

He had reason to suspect that Tang San's Divine Sense was very likely inside the Golden Ancient Tree.

Otherwise, he truly could not understand how someone could be so "Tang."

Since that was the case, he had no choice but to play the villain and obstruct Dai Yuhao a little.

Let Dai Yuhao and Tang San, that pair of star-crossed lovers, wait a while longer before meeting again.

"That makes sense!"

Du Busi glared at Lin Ran. He knew perfectly well that Lin Ran was provoking him, but he still fell for it.

After pondering for a moment, Du Busi recalled his previous plan to collect statues throughout the continent. He nodded and said, "I'll dispatch the sect's stewards and elders to search for geniuses across the continent and invite them to join the academy."

As for the statues, he would not tell Lin Ran for now. Once Lin Ran inherited the position of sect master in the future, he believed Lin Ran could turn around the Body Sect's reputation.

Du Busi chose to believe in his disciple.