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At this moment, the Spirit Masters shouting across the square were nothing short of ecstatic. Although their roars shook the air, the vast majority of them had yet to truly grasp the profound significance of Su Wen shattering the barriers of knowledge. Only a few among them realized what was happening, and they looked upon Su Wen with expressions of deep, unadulterated admiration.
Knowledge is power, and theory provides the direction. This was a fundamental truth understood only by those Spirit Masters who had weathered countless hardships and reached dead ends in their own cultivation journeys.
"Within the next three years, the Academy will gradually establish branches," Su Wen's voice rang out, steady and commanding. "In cooperation with Spirit Hall, we will build a presence in every corner of the continent. At that time, the Academy will also collaborate with various local academies. Any student seeking theoretical study and guidance will be able to travel to a branch of the Academy to learn."
The leaders of the various institutions present—representatives of powerful, high-ranking Spirit Master academies—all began to frown. They were quite satisfied with their own teaching methods and clearly did not believe that Su Wen's Academy could offer anything superior to their own established curricula. However, the continent's academic landscape wasn't limited to their prestigious schools; there were countless other academies struggling with severely lagging educational resources.
"Gentlemen, with the support of Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Academy's archives are already comprehensive," Su Wen continued. "In terms of theory, I do not believe there is anything more enticing to a Spirit Master than what we offer. I possess Internal Arts, with cultivation effects five times greater than high-level meditation methods. I possess External Arts, where the simultaneous cultivation of internal and external techniques can double one's efficiency."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before listing more. "I possess Body Tempering methods, which use soul power to refine the meridians and flesh of the entire body, enhancing one's physical constitution in all aspects. Long-term practice is enough to raise the limit of the soul rings one can endure. I possess the Soul Ascension Method, which can offset an additional ten to twenty percent of the shock experienced during soul ring absorption. And I possess the Soul Fusion Art, which assists Spirit Masters in perceiving their Martial Souls more clearly, aiding in the development of both souls and soul skills."
Su Wen spread his arms wide, as if embracing the very future of the Spirit Master world. At this moment, in the eyes of the gathered crowd, he appeared almost divine. His presence seemed so radiant that it briefly overshadowed even the holy light of the Angelic God.
Su Wen had categorized these specific soul power circulation routes as "Cultivation Techniques." Now, as he detailed the effects of these various methods one by one, every Spirit Master present was left in a state of absolute shock.
Are all of these... going to be made public?
"These techniques belong directly to the Academy and are open to all," Su Wen declared. "Even Spirit Masters who belong to existing sects may join the Academy. The Academy will not participate in any power struggles; we exist only to research theory and disseminate knowledge. Any theory directly belonging to or researched by the Academy will be made public. Scholars from all over the world are free to study them, and Spirit Masters may use them as a reference for their own cultivation. As for secret techniques or theories not currently held by the Academy, other sects are more than welcome to entrust them to us. We can help you find a suitable successor to carry on your legacy."
Up until that point, the crowd had been mostly receptive, but Su Wen's last comment triggered waves of skepticism.
Yu Xiaogang let out a cold sneer. What a joke, he thought. How could a sect ever voluntarily hand over its secret techniques to an outsider?
"Sect secrets will not be made entirely public," Su Wen clarified, anticipating the doubt. "However, basic information regarding them will be recorded in our catalog. Sects that provide their secrets can set specific requirements and establish trials for potential successors. Naturally, in return, the Academy will provide you with compensation that will leave you satisfied."
Compensation? Many wondered. The wealth of the Academy was knowledge and theory, and Su Wen had already said those were public. What could the Academy possibly offer that we would value?
"Rongrong."
"Present!" Ning Rongrong stepped forward, walking into the open space on the platform.
With a flick of Su Wen's right hand, his Heavenly Book fluttered open. A single page detached itself, drifting toward Ning Rongrong before merging into her body. Ning Rongrong opened her palm, and a ball of fire flickered into existence. She dispersed the fireball of her own accord, only to summon swirling currents of air around her that lifted her off the ground.
At that moment, every Spirit Master watching was dumbfounded.
"If my old memory serves me right, isn't that girl's Martial Soul the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tower?"
"Old man, your memory is failing you. Her soul is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower. But more importantly... a pure Support-type Spirit Master just mastered the power of wind and fire!"
Ning Rongrong finished her demonstration and stepped back behind Su Wen. But Su Wen wasn't done. He scanned the crowd and randomly selected a "lucky spectator."
"I'll need your cooperation for a moment," he said.
The Heavenly Book flipped again, and another page detached. To ensure everyone could see, Su Wen handled the details with precision. The page expanded rapidly in mid-air, clearly displaying the intricate network of meridians and the flowing golden paths of soul power recorded upon it.
"Is that... Su Wen's cultivation technique?"
"I can't take it. Just looking at it makes my head spin."
"I have to agree, old friend. It's not just your eyes; I'm dizzy too."
"This is the Soul Ascension Method," Su Wen said calmly.
The crowd collectively gasped. This is the Soul Ascension Method? Good grief, how much energy would I have to waste just to learn something this complex? Even if the benefits were enticing, the sheer difficulty was staggering. Then again, the cost-benefit ratio was still undeniably high. It was just... ridiculously complicated.
The page drifted down onto the "lucky spectator," merging into his body. This time, even without Su Wen manually peering into his meridians, the soul power within the page began to circulate automatically, guiding the Spirit Master's own energy through the paths.
Once the energy from the page was exhausted, the Spirit Master remained in a daze. After a long silence, under the expectant gazes of everyone nearby, he said hesitantly, "I... I felt like I was being guided through a session. I just completed three full cycles of the Soul Ascension Method..."
The air in Spirit City seemed to grow cold as everyone simultaneously sucked in a breath of shock.
"I wonder if this 'Manifest of All Laws' is worthy of the attention of the great sects," Su Wen said softly. "The Manifest contains every method I have mastered, including cultivation techniques and self-created soul skills."
It skips the entire learning process? Good heavens! This is a divine artifact!
At this moment, even Bibi Dong felt a tremor in her heart. She truly hadn't expected Su Wen to possess such a trump card. Teaching the Soul Ascension Method to the younger generation was a priority, but its complexity meant a six-year-old child could never master it. Even with immense effort, they might not even grasp the basics by age twelve.
But for high-level talents, they might already have two soul rings by twelve. Conversely, a child with average talent might not get their second ring until sixteen or eighteen. If they mastered the Soul Ascension Method and used years of body tempering, they could feasibly absorb a thousand-year ring for their second slot, instantly closing the gap created by natural talent.
For the great powers, the Manifest of All Laws had just become an absolute necessity for their young geniuses. If you didn't trade for it, your sect's talents would inevitably fall behind. If you couldn't even manage a thousand-year second ring, what kind of "genius" were you?
Su Wen maintained a faint, knowing smile as he looked at the high-ranking members of the various sects.
Compete, he thought.
He wasn't forcing them to trade with the Academy. But the sheer complexity of the Soul Ascension Method dictated that the original "geniuses" would have to push themselves harder—to "involute"—to master it in a shorter time. Progress is always relative. You might be getting stronger because of these new methods, but if someone else is gaining more than you, you are technically falling behind. The gap between you and those above you widens, while those below you close in, perhaps even overtaking you.
Su Wen felt no burden of conscience regarding this.
"I am merely a porter of knowledge," he mused internally. "Whether you choose to join this race or not... that is entirely your own choice."
(End of Chapter)