Chapter 7086: Taking Them In |
The Painting Sect and the Chess Sect had hundreds of thousands of disciples who remained here. None of them could be considered top talents; the peak experts had all fled by this point. Even so, they were not mediocre by any standards. Mediocre disciples weren’t qualified to participate in this battle.
Compared to other sects, the four immemorial sects had higher requirement standards for their disciples, so they didn’t have as much cannon fodder. And while other factions treated taking over the divine capital as a chance to thin out their disciples, these three sects had only sent elites. After all, they were planning on dividing the divine capital between them. If they didn’t send any elites, it wouldn’t look good.
At the same time, the Painting Sect’s and the Chess Sect’s disciples were all unhappy. As long as they were in the sect, they had to either be sucking up to others or enduring bitterly. In any case, any chance of rising was very low. They had long since started loathing the complicated web of relations that they had to navigate. In fact, they hated it to the point where most of them seriously thought of one day leaving their sects. Even being a rogue cultivator might be better.
Thus, when Long Chen had them stay behind, they felt that it was finally a chance to escape their sects. Despite how obviously dangerous it was, they had chosen to stay behind. The Zither Sect was in a somewhat different position, which was why most of its disciples were gone.
Long Chen announced, “None of you can call me that. You must call me Dean Long Chen, as I am Dean of the High Firmament Academy!”
The disciple immediately said, “Dean Long Chen, what I mean is—”
Long Chen frowned at him. “Is there something wrong with your head? I already told you to call me Dean and you still don’t understand?”
The disciple fell silent. The others also looked at each other, not understanding.
Liao Yuhuang finally said, “Dean Long Chen is saying that from now on, you are no longer disciples of the Zither Sect, Painting Sect, and Chess Sect. You are disciples of the High Firmament Academy.”
Everyone’s hearts shook. Could it be that the rumors really were true? The four immemorial sects had come from the High Firmament Academy? If that truly was the case, this meant that Long Chen was restoring their status as disciples of the academy. In other words, they were now backed by the academy, as well as Long Chen.
All of them were overjoyed by such a thing, but they also found it hard to believe.
Of course, there were also some people who didn’t seem too happy.
Long Chen saw that and said, “If you want to join the academy, I can represent the academy in welcoming you. At the same time, if you are afraid of jumping from a den of tigers into a den of wolves, you can always leave. I will not stop you. However, I advise you not to make any rash decisions. For one, if you do choose to join the High Firmament Academy, you can’t just walk in; you have to pass the trials like everyone else. But while you do that, you can see if the academy is the place you want to be. You can make your decision at that time instead of now.”
“Dean Long Chen, is that really acceptable?” asked a disciple of the Chess Sect.
Long Chen said, “Of course. For one, I say so, and secondly, the academy is different from ordinary sects. Although there are some unwritten rules and unspoken customs, it is by no means corrupt. Since you have no place to call home right now, you can easily spread your roots in the academy. Focus on improving yourselves and live with dignity off your own skills.”
“But our cultivation techniques and divine techniques…”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. The four immemorial sects used to be sections of the academy, and all your techniques come from the academy. In fact, you are even more likely to find techniques that suit you in the academy repository than in your own sects.”
The sweeping elder had told him that the four immemorial sects came from the High Firmament Academy. In other words, the academy’s foundation was even greater than he had imagined. Thus, Long Chen felt no pressure when it came to the immemorial sects. Even if the sects’ lands were ravaged, their legacy would not be lost.
Long Chen’s promise was very tempting to these disciples. Even more techniques that suited them than their original sects? Even if that was the only advantage, it was already plenty. Many of the techniques in their sects were things they couldn’t obtain without the right connections, no matter how hard they tried. If the competition in the High Firmament Academy was fairer, then they would definitely have a chance to obtain those techniques.
All of them considered themselves elites. That had been the case in their sects, and it would likely be the case in the academy as well. Thus, they should have plenty of resources.
Thinking of how Long Chen was willing to have them join his side, they were both moved and ashamed. Just who was Long Chen? For someone like him, they were basically ants, but he still wished to save them! When they thought that they had plotted against him and even questioned his sincerity, they felt like petty little people.
Liao Yuhuang was the first to speak. “I want to join!”
Long Chen shook his head. “You are the only one who cannot!”
Liao Yuhuang was startled. “Why is that?”
“You are incredibly talented, but your growth has been far too slow. The academy can help you, but I can’t wait that long. Starting today, you can follow Zi Yan. The Heavenly Devil Zither can guide your cultivation!”
Hearing that, Liao Yuhuang couldn’t help being shaken. She covered her mouth in shock.
In the Zither Sect, only Zi Yan had obtained the Heavenly Devil Zither’s approval—and furthermore, it was not just the sacred one, but also the sinister one. There was no better person to follow. Meanwhile, Liao Yuhuang truly had an enormous room for growth, and Long Chen didn’t want to waste that potential. In truth, this was also the will of the Heavenly Devil Zither.
Liao Yuhuang excitedly bowed to Long Chen. “Many thanks, Dean Long Chen!”
The other disciples of the Zither Sect were all excited for her as well. These remaining disciples were those with good relations with Liao Yuhuang, and they were all purehearted people. It was only due to this and Liao Yuhuang’s charisma that they had risked their lives and stayed here.
While everyone was talking excitedly about their future prospects, the battlefield was cleaned up. Long Chen waved his hand. Lightning arced over the battlefield, and the countless corpses disappeared. As for the blood and resentment filling the air, they were already gone, absorbed by Evilmoon.
Then, everyone returned to the divine capital. Zi Yan was still chatting with Xie Wanyi, Shen Qingxue ,and the others, while Li Chenggang walked over to Long Chen with a smile.
“Brother Long, I heard what you said just now…”
Long Chen grinned. “The First Academy is in the Sovereign Emperor Heaven. The channels through the major worlds have already been opened. If you want to go, then you can go whenever you want.”
Li Chenggang laughed. He didn’t waste time with useless courtesy and immediately left with the Calligraphy Sect’s disciples.
Zi Nuo and Yu Lan also bid Long Chen farewell. But Long Chen could tell that both of them seemed a bit shaken. Long Chen knew that it was definitely because of Shen Qingxue and Zi Yan. They were both peak heavenly geniuses with titanic legacies, but when they compared themselves against the two ladies, they couldn’t help but feel inadequate. He was sure that they would train harder than ever once they were back. They would not allow themselves to fall behind.
The Huayun Trading Company’s people also took their leave. However, they saw Long Chen was busy, so they only bid farewell to Li Yixuan.
After quickly finishing up the urgent affairs, Li Yixuan went to Long Chen, and the first thing she did was sigh in relief. “If you had come any later, I might have collapsed from the pressure.”
This was no exaggeration. How could a little double-manifestation Divine Sovereign like her possibly take responsibility for such a terrifying battle? Even with the formations boosting her power by dozens of times, what could she do? A half-step triple-manifestation Divine Sovereign could kill her with a slap, let alone a true one.
“Sect master, you’re still young. This is no time for you to slack off. You’re in the springtime of your youth. How about I gave you some spirit pills that can help relieve the pressure?” Long Chen handed Li Yixuan a case.
Li Yixuan smiled bitterly and shook her head. “I’m practically with a foot in the grave. How can I keep fighting? I think you should choose… eh?”
She was about to reject the case when her divine sense swept through it and she felt an icy claw grip her heart.
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