Chapter 1521: God Xuan Society
"Brother Yang, you've come so suddenly. Don't tell me you have another task for me?"
Although she had already guessed the outcome, Ma Ling still couldn't help but ask, though her tone carried a hint of wishful thinking. It seemed she genuinely hoped her guess was wrong, but she dared not show it too obviously in front of Yang Haoran. Just because "Brother Yang" rolled off her tongue easily didn't mean she didn't hold him in awe.
Ma Ling truly didn't want to undertake those troublesome tasks, as all she wished was to properly study her formations. However, if Yang Haoran needed her to carry out a difficult mission, she couldn't well refuse, nor would she. Thus, she naturally harbored a slim hope that her prediction was incorrect.
"Heh heh, you're too clever. I haven't even said anything, and you already know. It seems I can't hide anything from your eyes."
Yang Haoran chuckled softly. The moment Ma Ling heard his words, that tiny shred of hope in her heart vanished into thin air, and her beautiful face instantly crumpled into a bitter melon, but this lasted only for a fleeting instant. It quickly disappeared, replaced by a slightly smug smile.
"I am a clever person, that's a universally acknowledged fact. So, Brother Yang, there's absolutely no need to state what everyone already knows so openly. Otherwise, those who envy me will think I'm deliberately asking you to be my accomplice, just to show off my intellect."
Ma Ling said with a laugh. Her mood, which had been a little downcast, seemed to have brightened again.
"I'll be sure to pay attention next time."
"Alright, tell me. What troublesome matter is important enough for our Great Night Empire's Great Emperor to personally make a trip?"
Ma Ling asked with a laugh, her attitude casual and uninhibited.
"I want to establish a special organization specifically for you. This organization will be entirely composed of Array Masters, and its main tasks will be to research formations and satisfy our Great Night Empire's needs for formations, including but not limited to combating enemies. Whenever assistance with formations is required, this organization will handle it. The Way of Formations is both mysterious and profound, so I will name this organization the God Xuan Society, and you will serve as its President."
Yang Haoran's words made Ma Ling involuntarily freeze in surprise.
"Brother Yang, are you here to give me trouble or to bestow benefits upon me? Your words don't sound like you want me to handle anything troublesome; instead, it's as if you're giving me an immense boon."
Ma Ling asked Yang Haoran with a look of disbelief, though her expression was somewhat exaggerated; anyone with eyes could tell she was deliberately feigning the emotion.
"Whether I'm bestowing benefits upon you or giving you trouble, that depends on how you choose to interpret it."
Yang Haoran responded with a smile, while Ma Ling subtly pursed her lips, clearly dissatisfied with Yang Haoran's answer.
"If you want to establish this God Xuan Society, you'll need people, won't you? It can't just be me alone in the entire God Xuan Society, can it?"
At this point, Ma Ling paused slightly, then continued.
"Furthermore, you know I'm not good at management at all, nor do I have much interest in it. Otherwise, I would have long ago asked you for an official position."
When the Great Night Empire was founded, Yang Haoran indeed wanted to offer Ma Ling a position, as she was one of its high-ranking members and exceptionally skilled in formations. However, Ma Ling had refused at the time. Although Yang Haoran hadn't brought it up again since, he had already begun to consider establishing a special organization composed entirely of Array Masters for the Great Night Empire.
Now, Yang Haoran's decision to establish the God Xuan Society was not a sudden whim, but the result of long and careful deliberation. His choice was not solely for Ma Ling, but more importantly, for the long-term stable development of the Great Night Empire.
"Over the years, the Great Night Empire has indeed cultivated some Array Masters. While their numbers are small and their abilities limited, once the God Xuan Society is established, they will all become its members, so you won't be a commander without troops."
As early as when Ma Ling first began following Yang Haoran, he had selected a group of people to assist her. At that time, Ma Ling's main task was to secretly construct large-scale teleportation arrays. Although this chosen group of assistants were not Array Masters themselves, every single one of them was exceptionally sharp-witted and possessed extremely strong learning abilities.
Therefore, even though Ma Ling had never specifically taught these individuals knowledge of formations, long-term immersion still allowed them to learn a considerable amount about the subject. Coupled with Yang Haoran's deliberate cultivation and these individuals' relentless efforts, while not all of them became Array Masters, a very small number did indeed step into the ranks of Array Masters. As for those who didn't become Array Masters, given their understanding of formations, becoming Array Master apprentices was entirely without issue.
Many years have passed since leaving Jingling Continent and arriving at the Eastern Sunrise Ocean. Through their unremitting efforts and Yang Haoran's secret cultivation, expended with resources, those who had not previously become Array Masters have now, one after another, successfully joined their ranks.
It was precisely for this reason that Yang Haoran now spoke such words. After saying this, he paused slightly, then continued to speak.
"How would you know if you're good at management if you don't try? As long as you become the President of the God Xuan Society, given enough time, not only will I know this, but you will as well. As for your lack of interest in this area, that's just your current lack of interest; it doesn't mean you'll remain uninterested in the future. Moreover, if you lack interest, you can cultivate it—that's not a particularly difficult problem to solve."
The corner of Ma Ling's mouth twitched subtly, and the look she gave Yang Haoran was one of utter speechlessness.
"Brother Yang, I finally understand what you're saying. You mean, I absolutely must become the President of this God Xuan Society, don't I?"
Yang Haoran didn't deny it, nodding with a smile.
"Heh heh, you can interpret it that way."
The Ma Ling who had been utterly speechless just a moment before, upon receiving Yang Haoran's affirmative reply, not only didn't frown in distress but instead smiled freely.
"Since the Great Emperor values me so highly, then I'll give it a try. But we need to agree beforehand: if I don't do well enough, you mustn't scold me."
Ma Ling's words clearly indicated her agreement to Yang Haoran's arrangement. Yang Haoran didn't haggle, but simply nodded decisively.
"Heh heh, don't worry. No matter how dismal the God Xuan Society might become under your management, I absolutely won't blame you. Besides, I have some confidence in my own judgment. I believe that under your leadership, the God Xuan Society will definitely flourish and prosper, and won't be as bad as you say."
Yang Haoran's words gave Ma Ling considerable confidence, and the smile on Ma Ling's face consequently became even brighter.
"Hahahahaha, hearing you say that, Yang Haoran, I'm almost impatient to show what I'm capable of!"
Watching Ma Ling's happy expression, Yang Haoran felt very satisfied and deeply comforted, for he could tell that the smile on Ma Ling's face at that moment was truly heartfelt, not feigned to humor him.
"Heh heh, go ahead and fully display your abilities. Don't carry any burdens whatsoever; I am your strong backing. I don't want any constraints to affect your performance. Oh, right, there's one more thing you need to prepare for in advance."
Yang Haoran said with a smile, and Ma Ling, without even thinking, asked Yang Haoran with a laugh.
"What sort of thing still requires advance preparation?"
Ma Ling was a little curious, but judging by the smile on her face, she wasn't overly concerned by Yang Haoran's words.
"I want to set up arrays similar to Half-Moon Island's National Protection Grand Array on the other islands of the Great Night Empire that have cities and populations, to guard against potential unforeseen events. If we can make the grand arrays on these islands combine with Half-Moon Island's National Protection Grand Array to form an even more powerful formation, achieving mutual reinforcement and joint defense against enemies, that would be even more perfect!"
Ma Ling, who had been smiling brightly just moments before, found the smile on her face stiffen abruptly upon hearing Yang Haoran's words.
"Heh heh, what's wrong? Is this idea of mine completely impossible to achieve?"
Yang Haoran's attention had always been on Ma Ling. Of course, he caught every single change in Ma Ling's expression. The moment he saw the smile on her face abruptly stiffen, he immediately asked with a laugh.
Yang Haoran's voice brought Ma Ling back to her senses.
"Heh. . . heh heh, it's not entirely impossible; it's not that serious. It's just that achieving this would be a little. . . just a little bit difficult."
Ma Ling replied with a laugh. Although her face still wore a smile, it was extremely unnatural. Not only that, but her speech had become somewhat stuttered, and she even trembled slightly.
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