Chapter 634
Zheng Fa glanced at his remaining disciples and noticed their curious expressions. He explained, “The interview mainly assesses your academic abilities and communication skills. The military academy will also evaluate your combat skills. Oh, and if you’ve published any noteworthy papers during the discussions, that will definitely boost your score.”
“Discussion?”
The disciples hadn’t yet received the new-style Tongjian, so they didn’t quite understand. Zheng Fa didn’t elaborate further and continued, “There will be an announcement in the Jiushan Forum regarding the academy and the exams, with detailed explanations. Now, I will announce the list of mentors for each academy.”
“Jiushan Military Academy, Principal Zhang Wuyi, who will also serve as the Grand Elder.”
Thanks to the Jiuzhang Suanling, Sister Zhang had some free time and had taken on the role of principal at the military academy.
The position of military academy principal was highly influential and significant.
Aside from Zheng Fa, Sister Zhang was indeed the most suitable candidate.
“Principal of the Xian Formation Academy, Grand Elder Pang; Mentor of the Xian Formation Academy, Grand Elder Huang; Principal of the Thunder Law Academy, Xiao Yuying; I am also a mentor at the Thunder Law Academy. Principal of the Sword Dao Academy, Xie Qingxue; Principal of the Intelligence Academy, Han Zhenren.” Zheng Fa listed five names in one breath.
Sister Zhang stepped forward half a step.
Zheng Fa’s hand glimmered slightly, and a bamboo slip appeared between his fingers.
He walked up to Sister Zhang and said solemnly, “Please accept the appointment letter.”
Sister Zhang extended her hands, accepted the bamboo slip, and bowed silently.
Zheng Fa then took out five bamboo tubes and handed them to Xiao Yuying and the others before addressing them, “The future safety of the Jiushan disciples will be entrusted to you all.”
Sister Zhang and the others glanced at the disciples below and nodded, “We will do our utmost.”
Zheng Fa turned to Xiao Yuying, Xie Qingxue, and Han Zhenren, asking, “Fairy Xiao, Fairy Xie, Zhenren Han, would you be willing to serve as guest elders of Jiushan Sect?”
The three of them had been prepared and nodded in unison, “Of course!”
Sun Daoyu watched Xie Qingxue nod and felt a surge of joy in his heart.
Just as I thought!
The reason he couldn’t help but ask about the mentors was that he had guessed Xie Qingxue would also be one!
Xie Qingxue was renowned as the top disciple of the Tianhe Sect, her strength surpassing that of ordinary Huashen practitioners, unfathomable.
Xiao Yuying and Han Zhenren were also not unknown figures in the Xuanwei Realm.
Now, all three of them had joined Jiushan Sect and would be mentors, taking on students!
The upward trend of Jiushan Sect was evident to even the blind.
As he pondered, a new worry arose:
Does the military academy allow for a change of mentors?
If so, could his master, Zhenren Pang… also accept it?
He wasn’t just thinking about Fairy Xie’s strength; he had a dream of becoming a sword cultivator since childhood!
Zheng Fa surveyed the disciples below and noticed many were fixated on Xie Qingxue, which he had anticipated:
The reputation of the Tianhe Zunren.
Xie Qingxue’s strength.
Plus, the inherent charm and prowess of sword cultivators.
In fact, the Sword Cultivation Academy should now be the most popular program at the military academy.
He could already envision the fierce competition for admission to the Sword Cultivation Academy in the future.
This was something Zheng Fa was more than happy to see:
The “Jiushan Golden Elixir Method” was right in his hands; who else could claim to have the most authentic sword cultivation lineage in the Xuanwei Realm?
In his plans, the Xian Formation and Sword Cultivation would become the two major trump cards of Jiushan Military Academy.
……
“Next, I will announce the mentors of Jiushan University.”
“I will personally serve as the principal.”
This was also why he only taught Thunder Law and didn’t take on the role of military academy principal—thanks to the support of the modern world, he could maximize his advantages at Jiushan University.
He was not familiar with the violent affairs of the military academy.
“Principal of the Dan Dao Academy, Zhenren Xiong; Mentor, Zhenren Song.”
“Principal of the Refining Academy, Madam Xuanhua.”
“Principal of the Formation Academy, Zhang Wuyi.”
Zheng Fa paused before announcing the final mentor for the Agriculture Academy:
“Mentor of the Agriculture Academy, Ancestor Blood River, Jiao Wuji.”
Many disciples below were astonished, looking at these two notorious figures, utterly confused.
Only a few disciples knew that over the past few years, they had been tirelessly cultivating various spirit beasts, and their contributions to the development of the textile industry in the mundane world were undeniable:
Some well-informed individuals had even heard that they had not only developed spirit silkworms but seemed to have shifted their research focus to spirit beast pelts.
But Zheng Fa’s next words caught everyone off guard.
“Principal of the Agriculture Academy, Qian Qi, Zhenren Qian.”
Three thousand disciples slowly turned their heads, their gazes landing on a slightly plump middle-aged man in the crowd.
Zhenren Qian stood among the crowd, staring at Zheng Fa, hardly believing his ears.
In a daze, he saw Zheng Fa smile at him, “Zhenren Qian? Are you willing to accept the position of principal?”
He involuntarily began to nod.
“Then please come up.”
Zhenren Qian slowly lifted his feet and walked out of the crowd.
As he passed by other disciples, their curious, astonished, and even scrutinizing gazes fell upon him.
He understood why—thanks to the sect leader’s resource allocation, he had just formed his Golden Elixir last year, significantly stronger than before.
But compared to the mentors on stage, who were all at least Yuanying, his cultivation still seemed lacking.
Standing beside Ancestor Blood River and Jiao Wuji, Zhenren Qian felt utterly out of place.
A Golden Elixir principal, leading two Huashen mentors… both of whom were from the demonic sect.
His legs trembled.
“Zhenren Qian, would you be willing to serve as an elder of Jiushan Sect?”
“E-e-elder?”
Zhenren Qian’s eyes widened, and his mouth began to tremble.
“Yes, elder.” Zheng Fa nodded at him and then looked at the disciples below, saying, “After the inner disciples, you will have the opportunity to be promoted to true disciples, elders, and grand elders.”
“These three categories will not only receive merit points every year but can also apply for research funding, and even manage the university or military academy, contributing ideas for the development direction of Jiushan Realm.”
“Only those with exceptional abilities will be granted these positions.”
“Only those with outstanding contributions will be granted these positions.”
“To be promoted to true disciple, one must achieve great merit or publish significant research results, recommended by the elders.”
“To be promoted to elder, one must also go through the resolution of all the elders.”
Zhenren Qian listened as Zheng Fa said, “Zhenren Qian, given your contributions, all the elders believe you are more than qualified to serve as an elder, and the position of principal of the Agriculture Academy is yours alone.”
Zhenren Qian turned his head in confusion.
Grand Elder Pang and the others nodded at him.
Beside him, the seemingly formidable Jiao Wuji and Ancestor Blood River wore expressions of respect.
Disciples below looked at him, their eyes filled with envy, yet they were already cupping their hands in salute.
The people and things before him suddenly became a bit blurry, and through the crystalline, warm light, he saw himself from years ago, bowing and scraping in the marketplace.
He saw himself, like a stray dog, rolling and crawling when the Qianhe Sect was annihilated.
He saw himself squatting in the herb garden day after day.
Finally, he saw the present self: standing beside two Huashen Zhenren, the center of attention.
When his vision cleared again, he saw Zheng Fa standing before him, smiling.
“Zhenren Qian, please accept the appointment letter.”
“Yes!”
Zhenren Qian extended his hands, gripping the appointment letter tightly, the veins on his fingers bulging.
……
Jiushan’s restructuring divided the Jiushan cultivators into five categories.
Above the inner disciples of Jiushan Sect, there were true disciples, elders, and grand elders.
These three types of disciples had their powers and responsibilities clearly defined by Zheng Fa.
Compared to other disciples, they truly held power.
True disciples could independently apply to manage a research project, and in times of danger, they had the authority to command other disciples and make decisions on the spot.
Elders had even greater authority; in some respects, they were the leaders of their disciplines, responsible for mentoring disciples and participating in the governance of Jiushan University and the military academy.
Zheng Fa would also consult them on many matters concerning Jiushan Realm.
Grand elders were even more distinguished.
Currently, the grand elders of Jiushan Sect included only Sister Zhang, Uncle Pang, Uncle Huang, and Elder Yuan.
They were the true decision-makers of Jiushan Realm; all decisions regarding the entire Jiushan Realm could not bypass these five individuals.
If Zheng Fa were not present in the realm or was in seclusion, the power of Jiushan Realm would rest solely in the hands of the four grand elders.
In simple terms, being a grand elder was not just about knowledge or contributions; more importantly, it required Zheng Fa’s complete trust to entrust the Jiushan Realm.
These three categories of Jiushan cultivators had salaries significantly higher than those of inner disciples.
Zheng Fa looked at Zhenren Qian, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Zhenren Qian probably hadn’t yet realized what being promoted to elder meant for him:
Beyond power and fame, today’s glory.
The most important point for Zhenren Qian was… the salary of an elder was the same.
But those like Madam Xuanhua were all at least Yuanying, while Zhenren Qian was merely a Golden Elixir:
The same salary meant entirely different implications for the two.
Table of Contents
