Chapter 633
"I can't help but feel a bit envious watching the Jiu Shan Sect like this."
"Then you should be laughing!"
"Laughing?"
"Aren't we part of the Jiu Shan Sect? We’ll be getting our appointment letters soon!"
Elder Xiong was taken aback, suddenly realizing, and fixed his gaze on Zheng Fa's retreating figure, secretly hopeful:
He still hasn't received that appointment letter!
It was urgent, and he felt a sense of urgency!
Zheng Fa seemed to sense his impatience.
Noticing the disciples chattering away, he gently raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent.
"This is the first reform for the future of the Jiu Shan Sect," Zheng Fa announced. "Does anyone have any objections?"
No one spoke, neither on stage nor in the audience.
Zheng Fa nodded lightly. "Then let’s move on to the second new system: professional specialization."
Professional specialization?
Sun Daoyu felt a bit confused.
With a wave of his hand, several stacks of textbooks appeared beside him, and he addressed the crowd:
"Now that you’ve all received education from University Island, you should understand your own talents. Continuing to study the same courses not only wastes the resources of our sect but also squanders your potential."
Many disciples nodded in agreement, clearly resonating with his words.
"Starting today, Jiu Shan University and Jiu Shan Military Academy will establish various colleges and implement a mentorship system to cultivate more specialized talents."
(End of this chapter)
**Chapter 452: Educational Reform, A Fortune for Knowledge**
On University Island, most disciples looked at Zheng Fa with excitement.
Some were still a bit dazed.
Hearing about the establishment of new colleges and a mentorship system, they were confused but filled with anticipation.
It seemed they were all thinking:
Reform?
Reform sounds great.
They had just loved the previous changes!
Zheng Fa continued, "The Jiu Shan Military Academy will establish four colleges: the Immortal Array College, the Swordsmanship College, the Thunder Law College, and the Intelligence College."
"There will also be four colleges at Jiu Shan University," Zheng Fa explained. "The Alchemy College, the Artifact Refining College, the Array Formation College, and, in addition, an Agriculture College."
This division of specialties adhered to one principle:
Knowledge that can directly contribute to production belongs to Jiu Shan University.
As for subjects like Immortal Arrays and Swordsmanship, while related to Artifact Refining and Array Formation, they were more targeted and thus incorporated into the military academy.
The names of these colleges were straightforward; one could easily tell their purpose, and many disciples showed signs of realization.
Zheng Fa added, "The Jiu Shan educational system will also undergo changes. In the future, Jiu Shan disciples will have five years upon entering university."
"During these five years, the sect will provide some cultivation resources for you to learn techniques, talismans, and various foundational knowledge."
"At the end of the five years, after passing the college exams and interviews, you can apply to enter the various colleges."
The three thousand disciples on the island listened quietly, their expressions serious.
It was clear they understood that these words pertained to their future life choices.
Zheng Fa's idea was quite simple:
The first five years at Jiu Shan University would lay the foundation for these disciples, akin to a general education.
At this stage, they were just beginning their cultivation, and their foundational knowledge was not solid. It was unrealistic to expect them to learn highly specialized knowledge, let alone conduct research.
Thus, Zheng Fa gave them five years to study talismans, cultivation, and various prerequisite subjects—like topology and physical chemistry, along with miscellaneous studies such as archaeology, as taught by Xiao Yuying.
With the "Foundation Building Method of Talismans" and the abundant resources provided by the Jiu Shan Sect, five years would be enough for most disciples to establish their foundations.
After foundation building, whether sent out to carry out various tasks or engage in research, their cultivation would be considered barely adequate.
"Entering the various colleges means you will become inner disciples of the Jiu Shan Sect."
"Those who do not enter the colleges will be outer disciples."
The expressions of the disciples changed immediately, clearly showing signs of anxiety.
Zheng Fa explained, "Inner and outer disciples do not represent power or status; one could even say there is no distinction in rank. However, inner disciples will enjoy sect subsidies, allowing them to focus on study and research."
"Outer disciples, on the other hand, will need to contribute to the sect to earn merit. Of course, if you excel in your studies and pass the college exams, you can also enter the inner sect."
After this reform, the various colleges would resemble modern graduate schools.
They would focus on cultivating specialized talents and researchers.
With relatively high entry requirements.
"If you have a talent for artifact refining or alchemy, you can apply to one of the four colleges at Jiu Shan University. If you progress quickly in your cultivation, excel in combat, or have insights in Thunder Law or Swordsmanship, you can try for the military academy."
Jiu Shan University would nurture research-oriented talents.
The military academy would recruit individuals more inclined toward traditional mystical talents.
In the future, Jiu Shan University would be a cradle for various researchers.
Meanwhile, those coming from the military academy would be professional soldiers, even career officers.
Hearing this, many disciples could no longer smile; instead, they began to feel anxious.
They glanced around, secretly sizing up their peers.
Especially those who had shown talent in alchemy or artifact refining, evoking both envy and apprehension.
A sinister atmosphere of competition quietly descended upon University Island.
"By the way, in a month, the first inner disciple entrance exam will be held, and thereafter, the inner exams will occur every five years."
The already tense Jiu Shan disciples felt as if they had been struck by a heavy blow upon hearing this.
Many faces displayed despair:
It was like when a teacher walks into the classroom and announces a surprise test that you haven't studied for.
Their joy had vanished, and Zheng Fa was satisfied:
Laughing?
As the sect leader, I’m still working part-time at the Ling Xuan Sect, busy from dawn till dusk.
If these disciples were to slack off, wouldn’t that be absurd?
The main purpose of this professional specialization was to make these disciples feel the pressure:
Studying and researching is inherently against human nature.
For many, it’s a grueling task.
Yet, given the current unpredictable external situation, the Jiu Shan realm simply couldn’t afford a carefree education.
A secondary reason is that research requires significant investment; cultivating a qualified researcher is quite costly:
Not to mention the various materials needed for alchemy and artifact refining experiments.
Without experimentation, one could never cultivate competent alchemists and artifact refiners.
Thus, nurturing research talents cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach; it must have standards.
Ultimately, not everyone is suited for research.
Some disciples, after general education, can still contribute to the Jiu Shan realm through various tasks, accumulating merit for their own cultivation.
In previous years, most Jiu Shan disciples had just begun learning foundational knowledge, making this professional specialization and layered selection somewhat meaningless.
Now, with the educational reform, it was almost a natural progression, meeting the current talent needs of the Jiu Shan Sect.
...
"Master, what exactly is the mentorship system?"
Sun Daoyu suddenly asked, a hint of curiosity and anticipation in his eyes.
"Once you enter the various colleges and become inner disciples, you will have mentors guiding you in your studies and research."
The disciples below all looked up in unison, staring at the Yuan Ying and Hua Shen real people on stage.
Three thousand pairs of eyes shone like six thousand searchlights, bright and intense.
The air on the island seemed to heat up.
No one was foolish; the sect leader and these Yuan Ying real people had a clear purpose.
They were the mentors of the university and military academy!
Becoming an inner disciple would mean being taken under the wing of a Yuan Ying real person!
Who wouldn’t be excited by that?
Having more mentors means having a strong backing.
Having a Yuan Ying or even a Hua Shen real person personally guiding you would bring immense benefits.
Sun Daoyu exclaimed, "So, if we enter the inner sect, we will definitely have a mentor?"
Zheng Fa smiled, "If you pass the exams and the interview, then yes."
The disciples grew increasingly restless.
The sect leader's words translated in their minds to:
Study hard, get into the inner sect, bring glory to the family—no, gain more ancestors!
Suddenly, a female voice rang out, "So, Master, are you also a mentor?"
Zheng Fa turned to the speaker; it was none other than Mu Qingyan.
Mu Qingyan looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Zheng Fa chuckled, "I am."
Upon hearing this, Mu Qingyan's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously, asking, "What about the interview?"
It was clear that this girl was quite confident.
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