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Returning to Spirit City, Su Wen found that the feeling was entirely different from his last visit.
"Your Majesty, Su Wen has arrived in Spirit City."
Bibi Dong was somewhat caught off guard by the report. Previously, Su Wen had shared no specific plans or announcements regarding establishing an Academy in Spirit City. His sudden appearance here, immediately after finishing the "Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning" in the Star Luo Empire, was quite abrupt.
"What is he doing in Spirit City?"
"He says he wants to establish the final Academy here, which will also serve as the final determination of the Academy's headquarters."
"A third headquarters?" Bibi Dong frowned.
An organization intending to establish three headquarters? What kind of maneuver was this? Even though Spirit Hall spanned the entire continent, it maintained Spirit City as its sole headquarters. Whether it was the branches in the capitals of the two empires or any other sub-hall, they were all hierarchically subordinate to the Pope's Palace in Spirit City.
However, according to Su Wen's definition of the Academy's headquarters, they were meant to be on completely equal footing. Having a headquarters in each empire's capital was one thing, but he actually wanted to establish a third?
"What on earth is Su Wen thinking?"
While having multiple headquarters was a gesture of goodwill toward the two empires and Spirit Hall, it threatened to sever any chance of the Academy's true unification. After all, headquarters scattered in three different corners of the continent would almost certainly lead to a tripartite division.
She couldn't understand it. Truly.
"Could it be that Su Wen has completely given up on unifying the Academy?" Bibi Dong speculated.
It wasn't just Bibi Dong. Ning Fengzhi and the others traveling with Su Wen were equally puzzled. "Xue Qinghe" went as far as to speak up, attempting to persuade him otherwise.
"Xiao Wen, are you certain you want to establish another headquarters? With three branches, the Academy's leadership will be further fragmented. It would be far too easy for the two empires and Spirit Hall to split the organization apart."
Although she knew this was technically beneficial for Spirit Hall's interests, she couldn't help but warn him.
"Big Brother Xue, I only said I would finally determine the Academy's headquarters, not that I would establish three of them," Su Wen replied calmly.
The phrasing was specific.
"What's the difference? Don't tell me you plan to strip Heaven Dou City and Star Luo City of their headquarters status?"
Su Wen shook his head. "Big Brother Xue, you needn't worry. I have my own plan. You'll see when the time comes."
Su Wen offered no further explanation. Upon entering Spirit City, he waited at the gate for a short while until Chrysanthemum Douluo arrived in a hurry.
"I didn't expect Master Wen would want to establish a headquarters in Spirit City as well." Chrysanthemum Douluo wore a look of surprise. "Since you had this in mind, why didn't you mention it to me last time? I could have made preparations when I returned."
Spirit City currently had nothing ready. Establishing an Academy would take time—both for site selection and construction. Moreover, this was Spirit City, the heart of Spirit Hall. Building an Academy here required careful consideration so as not to overshadow or offend the majesty of Spirit Hall itself.
"It's fine. The Spirit City Academy doesn't require new construction. I plan to establish the 'Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning' within the Spirit Hall Advanced Spirit Master Academy. I wonder if Her Majesty the Pope would have any objections?" Su Wen asked.
Chrysanthemum Douluo was stunned by the proposal. This...
The Spirit Hall Advanced Spirit Master Academy was where Spirit Hall nurtured its next generation. Placing the Academy's core within their own institution was a double-edged sword. The benefits were obvious: teaching would become far more convenient.
A year had passed since the first "Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning" was opened. Its effects were already becoming apparent. The overall quality and discipline of Spirit Masters in Suoto City, for example, were now incomparable to the past.
In just one year, the change was visible. In the next two or three years, this transformation would continue to grow exponentially.
But that was only the surface-level change resulting from Su Wen's guidance on cultivation for existing masters. For the world at large, the true revolutionary significance lay in how it changed the future of Spirit Masters.
During the process of opening these mental realms, Su Wen had been organizing his vast knowledge into several core theories. Among them, the "Theory of Martial Soul Growth" served as a general outline for newly awakened masters to develop their souls. It included Su Wen's insights on Martial Soul Transformation and Evolution.
Even more significant was his "Theory of Martial Soul Evolution." Using the Book Martial Soul as an example, he explained the laws of how basic martial souls could be cultivated into various powerful forms and how these traits would evolve through bloodline inheritance over generations.
Su Wen didn't just state simple patterns; he proposed numerous hypotheses on how to improve the aptitude of the next generation's martial souls. Currently, scholars in every Academy across the continent were working to verify these theories one by one.
Without a doubt, the Academy was becoming the premier location for nurturing the new generation. Even Spirit Hall, the symbol of the continent's Spirit Masters, had to admit this. Thus, placing the "Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning" within their own advanced academy was bound to yield immense benefits.
The downsides were mostly abstract—concerns over prestige and potential crises of influence. After only a moment's hesitation, Chrysanthemum Douluo judged that the pros far outweighed the cons.
After Su Wen was settled, the Elder returned to the Pope's Palace to report. Bibi Dong likewise approved of the idea.
"It is permitted."
Spirit Hall Advanced Spirit Master Academy
"Su Wen?" Yan ended his secluded cultivation immediately upon hearing that Su Wen had arrived at the academy.
After their defeat in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament over a year ago, the "Golden Generation" trio had not been punished. Even Bibi Dong couldn't bring herself to impose a severe penalty because Su Wen was simply too "unsolvable." During that tournament, he had been a nightmare for everyone.
Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan had spent the time since then training desperately. They remained at the academy to continue their cultivation and take on some teaching duties. Aside from their daily tasks, they spent every waking moment in bitter training. They delved into everything Su Wen had shared—internal and external arts, body tempering methods, and even the Soul Ascension and Soul Fusion techniques.
The results were undeniable. Their soul power growth had been remarkably fast.
Currently, Yan had already reached Level 56! Strictly speaking, it had been only a year and four months since the tournament. To jump from Level 52 to Level 56—four full levels—at the Spirit King stage was a legendary speed unheard of in the old Spirit Master world.
Yet now, all three members of the Golden Generation possessed this kind of cultivation speed.
Arriving at the academy's archives, Yan watched Su Wen being personally received by Chrysanthemum Douluo, his fists clenched tight.
"He's only seventeen!"
At seventeen, he was being treated with the utmost respect by a Title Douluo. It was no wonder that Hu Liena's initial frustration and resentment had gradually shifted into a strange, unsettling emotion every time Su Wen's name was mentioned.
"No... Nana is mine!" Yan was driven nearly mad with jealousy.
(End of Chapter)