Guan Liang looked grave, turning the matter over and over in his head.
What was Zandar after? Was he trying to buy time, just like him? Was Zandar making an outrageous proposal to make the alternative seem reasonable? Or... was this guy genuinely more extreme than Xianyu?
Zandar looked at his student with disappointment written all over his face.
"Eric, you're too merciful."
Then he changed his demeanor again, his tone sounding as though he were coaxing a child who didn't know any better.
"A few decades at the earliest, a few centuries at the latest. Who can say for sure?"
Having said that, Zandar changed tack.
"Of course, if you're willing to join us-"
Xianyu shook his head instinctively. "No, thanks. As the saying goes, everyone has their specialty. Better leave it to the members of the Genius Society."
Zandar frowned deeply.
"You're one of us too. I told you, you're the eighth member. Once the Genius Society has eighty-seven members, you'll be the eighty-eighth as well."
Xianyu forced a smile. "No, thanks, Zandar."
Zandar was exasperated by his lack of ambition.
"With your aptitude, wouldn't earning a few dozen doctorates be easy?"
Xianyu could no longer keep his expression under control.
"No, thanks. I'm not doing a doctorate."
Hearing that, Zandar breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
Thank goodness.
Thank goodness he had changed the subject in time.
If his student thought that was too long and refused to wait another few centuries... there would be nothing he could do.
In a little while, Xianyu should calm down.
Every word Zandar said next would have to be carefully considered.
In short, he had to be more extreme than Xianyu.
Zandar shrugged.
"All right, it's entirely up to you. What can I do? You're my only student."
"Since you