"Everyone."
The dishes on the Shen Family's table were quite exquisite, and the atmosphere seemed lively, but no one touched the food. Clearly, the actual situation was quite tense.
Nearly half an hour after the Shen Family left, the old patriarch Shen Qingfeng finally appeared with a group of elders.
"We are aware of your purpose in coming. Please move to the main hall. The Shen Family will give you an explanation."
These words were practically a showdown; everyone's polite smiles vanished. Shen Yuan, standing behind Shen Qingfeng, waved his hand lightly, and the Demon-Sealing Formation of Vice Dean Du Kangnian shattered instantly. Everyone could clearly see that the energy from the array's disintegration flowed continuously back into the young man from the Shen Family.
The technique can even be recycled; this method is truly ingenious!
Everyone is even more eager for what Shen Family Dalang has in his possession. If the Shen Family can't give an explanation today, no force will give up!
Although the inner hall of the Shen Family is usually off-limits, it is still quite spacious and can accommodate hundreds of foreign guests without feeling crowded. Du Kangnian sat calmly at the head of the table, seemingly without any psychological burden from losing to a junior.
"Everyone." Shen Yuan stepped forward and stood at the very front of the Shen Family, looking every bit the representative. This was no surprise to anyone; Shen Yuan had displayed extraordinary abilities, and since the secrets of Jiangnan all lay with him, he was naturally qualified to speak on behalf of the Shen Family Shen Yuan.
"I presume you've all come here for the Jiangnan Academy, so let's speak frankly," Shen Yuan said directly. " Jiangnan opened up a few months ago, and goods have been constantly flowing out. I'm sure you've all inquired about Jiangnan and know something about the Jiangnan Academy. Obviously, you all want to obtain the techniques from the Jiangnan Academy."
"Young friend, what you say is true," Du Kangnian said with a smile. " Lord Chen established an academy in Liuzhou, also named it the Yin-Yang Academy. Moreover, Lord Chen has always expressed his loyalty to the imperial court. Since the two academies share the same name, they should certainly try to exchange ideas. The Yin-Yang Academy was originally established to eliminate sectarianism and cultivate more sorcerer talents, wasn't it? Now that Jiangnan has been unsealed, the two academies should try to complement each other."
"Dean Du is right," Shen Yuan said with a smile. "Then let me put it this way: since we're going to exchange and complement each other, what will the Capital Yin-Yang Academy offer in exchange for the Liuzhou Academy?"
Everyone fell silent. To be honest, if they could, they would naturally want to just take it by force. However, both the strength that Chen Qing had shown and the strength that this junior had shown were quite formidable. If they were to take it by force, the price would probably be quite high.
"Since you've put it that way, young friend, then Lord Chen must already have a plan, right?" Du Kangnian asked with a smile.
"Yes," Shen Yuan nodded. "My master shares the same idea as Dean Du: mutual exchange and complementarity. However, the key to cooperation lies in how to achieve this. After all, the intelligence between the two sides is unclear, and the exchange of information is often hampered by differences in values, making it difficult to reach a consensus, isn't it?"
This is also why Chen Qing asked him to come and demonstrate his abilities in front of others. The sorcerers of the Liuzhou Academy have been fully recognized in Jiangnan, but it is troublesome for them to have the same status in the face of traditional sorcerer forces. The best way is to let the sorcerer disciples from that region come and learn about the academy in person. Only after they have witnessed the value of the Liuzhou Academy's techniques will they have the opportunity to exchange their own techniques for it!
Of the four academies of Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, only the array masters of the Heaven Academy are the most powerful. I am the student in the Heaven Academy who has mastered the most small arrays. In addition, with the Shen Family in the capital providing cover, I have become the best candidate for this mission.
" Shen Dalang is right," Fourth Master Fang said with a smile. "Since Lord Chen sent you here, he must already have a plan, right?"
Shen Yuan nodded. " The Liuzhou Yin-Yang Academy will open its external recruitment channel at the beginning of next month, recruiting additional students from aristocratic families in the capital. The academy will provide basic principles of magic arrays, as well as essential knowledge of arithmetic, physics, and divination, which will be tested. Regardless of the family, as long as their students can pass the assessment, they can enter our Liuzhou Yin-Yang Academy for further study!"
"Passing the assessment means I can learn it?"
Everyone was stunned, looking somewhat incredulous.
"Yes!"
"Then," Du Kangnian quickly asked, "What you meant by the exchange of spells earlier, young friend?"
"In the first year of advanced studies, everyone chooses their own path of cultivation based on their talents. After being assigned to a department, many special techniques will need to be exchanged for them," Shen Yuan said calmly. "As for how to exchange them and which techniques to use, that depends on the mutual agreement. If your side thinks the technique is worthwhile, then you can exchange it for it. If our side thinks the price is reasonable, then we can make the exchange."
"I see!" Du Kangnian nodded. " Lord Chen's ideas are truly novel. He even came up with such a method. However, it is a good one. After all, there are many things we don't know about the Liuzhou Academy. Although the artifacts they produce look quite good, we don't have the opportunity to see them up close. If we were to exchange them directly, most families would definitely be unwilling. This method is not bad, but I have a question."
"Please speak, Dean!" Shen Yuan said with a smile.
"According to what you said, our disciples can exchange techniques after studying at your esteemed academy for a year. But if I exchange for one of the techniques, what happens after that? Will your academy sell that technique to other families? If so, wouldn't your academy be selling the same technique to multiple families?"
All the aristocratic families nodded in agreement. Each family's secret techniques were treasured for centuries, and since they were going to exchange them, they should monopolize them.
"The dean is right," Shen Yuan nodded, "Of course we won't sell the same law to multiple people."
As he spoke, he gestured, and a roar of Azure Dragon soared into the sky. He then said, "This is the Azure Dragon Spell Formation, an eighteen-formation technique improved by the Dean based on the Azure Dragon Inheritance. I exchanged it for the Shen Family technique. From now on, the secrets of this Azure Dragon Eighteen Formations cannot be learned by anyone else in the academy unless I allow it, or they also exchange it for something of greater value."
Everyone was stunned. Could that really be done?
Fourth Master Fang narrowed his eyes. " The Shen Family's techniques are qualified to exchange for the Azure Dragon Inheritance? Are you kidding me?"
"It's not the Azure Dragon Inheritance, but a technique for creating Azure Dragon Inheritance that evolved from it," Shen Yuan said calmly. "As for whether we're willing to exchange it, that depends on the circumstances of both parties. I've inherited this technique, so I'm willing to exchange it with the Shen Family. Is there a problem?"
Everyone was stunned into silence!
"As for the children of all of you here, if you feel it's suitable for the Liuzhou Academy, you can discuss with your elders how to exchange it. Of course, under no circumstances should either side force anyone. What do you all think?"
"Excellent!" A group of elder sorcerers nodded. This method was not bad. Chen Qing's power was now unfathomable. Sending their disciples in to investigate was not a bad thing. Of course, they would not let their own direct descendants take the risk.
"If that's the case, why is there still an assessment?" Fourth Master Fang asked, puzzled. "On our side, as long as the disciples inherit the technique, aptitude and such are not issues. Why is there still a need for an assessment?"
"Because there's a very high learning threshold." Shen Yuan looked at Human Dao, "All the spells at the Liuzhou Academy require extremely high levels of mathematical and physical knowledge. You all know about array masters, so you should know some of the reasons. The array techniques at the Liuzhou Academy far surpass the level here. One person is required to complete the construction of a large number of arrays. Without a foundation and talent, it's impossible."
"And only by understanding our methods and principles can we better assess exchange value, right?"
The group exchanged glances, and finally Du Kangnian spoke up, asking, "When will the assessment begin?"
"Next month on the 15th, and from now on, an exam will be held every month on the 15th. Your children will have plenty of opportunities and time to try and make mistakes."
How can I contact you?
"Our lord is a force recognized by the court. The court will act as an intermediary, sending someone to deliver the list. As long as the people are sent to Jiangnan, the safety of our men will be entirely our responsibility."
Everyone's eyelids twitched immediately. When did the imperial court recognize Chen Qing's power?
However, it's true that there's nothing we can do about him now.
Shen Yu, standing behind him, listened with her eyes lighting up. Next month?
Will I be able to go to Jiangnan next month?
Watching Shen Yuan chatting fluently with a group of powerful figures in the sorcerer world, Shen Yu suppressed his irritation and kept telling himself that this was only temporary. As long as his group of talented disciples arrived in Jiangnan, this good-for-nothing would be exposed for what he truly was.
That Chen Qing is ignorant. Does someone like Shen Yuan deserve the Azure Dragon Inheritance?
Fortunately, that guy was self-aware enough to know that he couldn't keep such a good legacy to himself, so he took the initiative to promise that as long as the Shen Family's children performed well at the Jiangnan Academy, he would pass on his legacy to his own children free of charge. He was quite sensible.
--
The banquet lasted until late at night before it finally broke up. Many families confirmed all the details before leaving with a hint of reluctance. After all, they were more interested in Chen Qing's Daoist scriptures from the Jiangnan Academy than in taking down Shen Yuan alone. They all adopted the idea of playing the long game and went back to prepare to find their own disciples.
Meanwhile, within the Shen Family, all three generations of descendants were summoned for a family meeting.
"That's roughly the situation." Patriarch Shen Yan looked sternly at all the third-generation disciples and said, " Shen Yuan has secured a lot of opportunities for the family this time. He obtained the Azure Dragon Secret Transmission from the Jiangnan Academy. You should have heard about its effects. As long as you perform well enough in the academy, you can all practice the Azure Dragon Secret Transmission from him. This is a unique benefit for our Shen Family. Shen Yuan, would you like to say a few words?"
Shen Yuan didn't even bother to lift his eyelids and said indifferently, "I have nothing to say. The things to be tested are all the same. Everyone should try their best to master them. Although these are just basic array knowledge for the Jiangnan Academy, they are still very difficult for you."
Shen Yu curled her lip slightly upon hearing this, and most of the other third-generation descendants also wore expressions of disdain.
They just arrived early and got some benefits, so what's with the smugness?
When a petty person gains power, you'll see once we're over. Even if a good-for-nothing gets an early advantage, he's still a good-for-nothing!
"Everyone should give it your all, after all, you're competing with other scions of powerful families this time!" Shen Yan quickly reminded them.
These words made everyone serious. They might look down on Shen Yuan ilk, but they still respected the scions of powerful families.
"Thanks to Shen Yuan, our Shen Family has already gained an advantage over there, but that's still not enough. According to Shen Yuan, the Jiangnan Academy has countless Daoist treasures, including many things even more powerful than the Azure Dragon Formation. However, according to the rules, it's an exchange of one item for another. Our Shen Family's techniques must be exchanged for the best possible items, to get ahead of the other families." Shen Yan then looked at Shen Yu: " Shen Yu, you must set a good example in this regard."
Shen Yu smiled upon hearing this. It seemed that her father still knew that she was the most talented person in the Shen Family, and only she could obtain the most valuable technique for the Shen Family!
"Father, rest assured, Shen Yu will certainly live up to your expectations!"
Shen Yuan coldly watched this scene, too lazy to speak. He wasn't worried at all about how these so-called family prodigies could make rapid progress. Perhaps even all the aristocratic families hadn't figured it out. This was a complete reform, and inheriting magical talents was completely useless in the Jiangnan Academy's assessment!