The lights were still on in a luxurious, imposing hotel in Jingzhou, where Jingfu University's academic exchange delegation to Handong University was staying.
Grade-four professor Shen Moru had just finished an academic showdown with the Divine Domain Divinity School and was soothing his throat with a cup of spirit tea.
The debate, spanning three star domains, had lasted a full twelve hours. He had demolished the arguments of those old fossils from the Divine Domain who insisted that "cultivating divine arts alone is the supreme path," and he was in an excellent mood.
The terminal on his wrist suddenly displayed a series of anomalous data alerts from Handong University.
Shen Moru initially thought little of it. Although Handong was also a top institution, the quality of its finest prospects had always fallen a notch below Jingfu's.
He casually opened an alert, intending to glance at it and close it, but once his eyes landed on it, he could not look away.
"Qi Refining Perfection, all seventeen tests at Foundation Establishment, soul at the middle stage..."
Shen Moru set down his teacup and rapidly tapped open the detailed data. As he examined each item, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Seventeen categories, without a single weakness. Even a specialized metric like sword intent met the standard.
And the student majored in Sword Dao Theory and Science. With both theoretical understanding and a foundation in actual combat, he was a perfect fit for Jingfu's ongoing "Advanced Research into the All-Round Cultivation System" project.
Shen Moru was one of Jingfu's star professors, as well as an authoritative scholar on the Immortal Palace's theory of all-round cultivation.
He knew better than anyone that in the current greater universe, geniuses with lopsided abilities would not get far-however strong your body cultivation, a soul attack would put you out of commission; however formidable your spell cultivation, it was useless once someone got right in your face.
Only cultivators with no weaknesses in any dimension could survive clashes across star domains and reach the very top.
The Immortal Palace's founding director was the best example. Back then, he had swept through the greater universe with his all-round prowess, laying the foundations of the Eastern Divine Continent.
And that founding director had come from Jingfu University.
"A fine prospect. A truly fine prospect."
Shen Moru muttered to himself and tapped his fingers against the tabletop. With almost no hesitation, he immediately called Handong University's president, Zhou Zhengyuan.
The call connected. At the sight of Shen Moru's face, Zhou Zhengyuan's heart lurched. This old fox's nose is far too sharp. How long has it even been since the data was uploaded? There's a mole inside Han University! Aaaah!
"Principal Zhou, I trust you've been well." Shen Moru's smile was gentle and refined as he got straight to the point. "I just saw that your university has a student named Chen Fan. All seventeen categories at Foundation Establishment. Quite remarkable, hahaha!"
Zhou Zhengyuan adopted an official tone. "The boy merely has a little talent. He's still being polished. It hardly amounts to anything."
"You're being too modest, Principal Zhou," Shen Moru said unhurriedly. "Full-Dimensional Foundation Establishment while still in the Qi Refining Realm—even at our Jingfu, let alone your Handong, we've only seen a handful in the past ten thousand years. For an all-round talent like this, laying his foundations at the undergraduate level is one thing. But if he truly wants to advance, I'm afraid Han University's high-end resources won't keep up."
Zhou Zhengyuan's expression turned serious. "That's going too far, Professor Shen. Han University's all-round training system is also certified by the Immortal Palace. It's more than sufficient to train an undergraduate."
"Being more than sufficient is one thing. Providing the very best is another." Shen Moru's tone was calm, but every word struck home. "The Omnidimensional Cultivation Notes left by the founding director are on the top floor of Jingfu's scripture repository. We also have the core research data on compatibility with multiple Spirit Veins, as well as slots for practical combat exchanges across the greater universe's star domains. How much of that can Han University offer?"
Zhou Zhengyuan fell silent.
He was telling the truth. As one of the foremost institutions in the Immortal Palace's seat and the birthplace of the all-round system, Jingfu University truly possessed deeper high-end reserves than Han University. Throughout the Immortal Palace, only Huaqing University could stand alongside it.
It was not impossible to insist on keeping Chen Fan at Han University until he completed his doctorate, but it really would hold back his ultimate potential.
But hand him over just like that? He could not accept it.
"Speak plainly, Professor Shen." Zhou Zhengyuan looked at him. "Stop beating around the bush."
Shen Moru smiled. "Straightforward. My proposal is simple-joint training."
He raised one finger and laid it out clearly. "For his four undergraduate years, he stays at Handong. You handle his foundational education. His refinement in the Foundation Establishment Realm and his specialized coursework will all follow your schedule. Meanwhile, Jingfu University can make some of our core online courses and basic cultivation resources available for his independent study."
"For his three postgraduate years, he comes to Jingfu. I'll personally serve as his advisor. All of Jingfu's high-end laboratories, its scripture repository, and its star-domain exchange slots will be fully open to him. On graduation, he receives a joint degree from both universities and counts as an alumnus of both."
He paused, then added, "The Immortal Palace Universities Annual Academic Summit happens to be next week. I'll visit Han University tomorrow. We can officially announce this 'Joint Training Program for Top All-Round Talents' before the summit. It will be perfectly legitimate, and it will get academic exchanges between our universities off to a good start."
Zhou Zhengyuan rapidly weighed it up.
Four undergraduate years at Han University would effectively stamp him with Handong's brand; postgraduate study at Jingfu would give him access to the best resources without holding back the boy's future; joint training and dual degrees would give both sides face. However he calculated it, Han University would not lose out.
But he still had to push for more. Benefits had come knocking at his door; he would be a fool not to take them.
"The proposal is negotiable," Zhou Zhengyuan said deliberately. "But during his undergraduate years, Jingfu can't provide only online resources. You must share a copy of your core cultivation method for all-dimensional refinement in the Foundation Establishment Realm with us. And you must reserve one star-domain exchange slot for Chen Fan every year. Also, Han University must be listed as the primary institution on any research produced during his undergraduate studies."
Shen Moru considered briefly, then shook his head. "We can share the foundational section of the cultivation method. The core section must wait until he enrolls as a postgraduate at Jingfu. One star-domain exchange slot a year is fine, but it must be for a project led by Jingfu. As for the primary institution on his research, Han University during his undergraduate years and Jingfu during his postgraduate years. That much I can authorize."
"No." Zhou Zhengyuan refused to yield an inch. "The Foundation Establishment Realm is crucial for laying foundations. Without refinement through a core cultivation method, hidden problems can easily remain. Chen Fan is developing across every dimension. What he needs is a compatible all-dimensional cultivation method. Giving him only the foundational section is as good as giving him nothing."
"Principal Zhou, our core cultivation methods are among the very foundations of Jingfu. How could we casually pass them to outsiders?" Shen Moru would not back down either. "How about this: the entire foundational section, plus access to one-third of the core section, with an advisor from our side providing online guidance. Surely that will do?"
The two went back and forth, arguing from cultivation method resources to slot allocations, from advisors' rights and responsibilities to ownership of research results. They argued for a full quarter of an hour, each giving and taking ground, neither gaining an absolute advantage.
Zhou Zhengyuan knew perfectly well that Shen Moru was already showing considerable sincerity by offering these terms.
With any other university, Jingfu would never have discussed joint training. It would simply have poached the student. Who in the entire Immortal Palace did not know who stood above Jingfu University? Who would dare offend them?
Shen Moru also understood that Zhou Zhengyuan had already softened his stance. If pushed too far, Han University could stubbornly refuse to let the student go, and Jingfu would have no recourse. They could hardly seize him outright. That would show far too little unity.
"Let's establish a preliminary agreement first." Zhou Zhengyuan yielded a step. "We can discuss the details face-to-face at tomorrow's academic summit. The broad framework is four undergraduate years at Handong, three postgraduate years at Jingfu, with joint training by both universities."
"Agreed." Shen Moru nodded. "But on one condition-we must respect the student's own wishes. If he's unwilling, neither of us can force him."
"Naturally." Zhou Zhengyuan nodded. "Educating students isn't snatching up merchandise. The boy himself has to agree."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before ending the call.
Zhou Zhengyuan leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath, then cursed with a smile. "That old fox Shen Moru. His abacus is clacking loud enough to shake the heavens."
But he also acknowledged that this was the best outcome available. It preserved Han University's face while giving Chen Fan access to top-tier resources. A win-win.