Chapter 114: A Meeting With The Two Academy Deans.
For the next three days, Jun Wu buried himself entirely in upgrading his array mastery.
He barely left his study, only pausing to eat a few meals and drink water before returning to his work.
Before he had stepped into the Master Realm, Jun Wu had already copied countless fragments of knowledge from the ancient soul that once resided within him.
Much of that information had seemed incomprehensible then, like a library locked shut, its doors beyond his reach.
But now, with the advancement of his cultivation, those doors have opened one after another.
With his foundation stabilized, everything was falling into place.
His comprehension in array formation advanced with terrifying speed.
Each time he practiced, his mastery in array formation improved by leaps and bounds, far beyond what anyone of his age should be capable of.
By the third day, Jun Wu could fully set up a Grade-2 Array Formation with ease, as though it were second nature.
Without hesitation, he moved to upgrade the defensive formation surrounding the mansion.
The old protective array formation had served its purpose, but it was too weak now.
Only a Grade-2 defensive array formation would give him a true sense of security.
After some thought, he chose the Mountain Shield Array Formation.
The Mountain Shield was famous among formation masters. At the Grade-2 level, it stood among the strongest.
A single Master Realm cultivator could hit at it all day and achieve nothing.
They wouldn’t leave a crack, not to talk of breaking it.
Even an Expert Realm cultivator would need to unleash at least three full-powered strikes to break it apart.
It was not invincible, but it would buy time... and time was all they needed to survive any danger.
Originally, Jun Wu wanted to set up a killing array as well.
a hidden formation to slaughter intruders the moment they breached the gates.
But he couldn’t.
The stream of visitors to his mansion never ceased.
They came in waves, representatives of academies, associations, and noble families, all eager to meet the young prodigy who had received Heaven’s Blessing.
Thus, despite his desire to add a killing array formation, Jun Wu had no choice but to pause his work and meet them.
....
On the third evening, inside the grand main hall of the mansion, a group of important people had already gathered.
The old dean of Mystic Path Academy was there, a renowned elder whose calm bearing carried a quiet authority.
Beside him sat the Dean of Frostwind Academy, a woman whose beauty defied her apparent age.
Though she appeared to be in her mid-forties, her real age surpassed a century.
Her cultivation kept her young, her eyes sharp, and her presence commanding.
Alongside them were the presidents of several associations from both Mystic City and Frostwind City—the Array Association, the Alchemist Guild, the Blacksmith Union, and more.
Their combined influence represented the very foundation of knowledge and power in the region.
To an outsider, it might have seemed strange.
Why would such important people gather, waiting patiently for a single young man?
But the answer was simple.
To the academy deans, Jun Wu represented hope.
He was a chance to revive their declining region, to resist the shadows of doom pressing closer with each passing year.
Unlike the clans, the academies pursued no political power.
Their mission was knowledge and survival.
If Jun Wu truly carried Heaven’s mandate, then he was their way out of the impending doom.
To the association leaders, Jun Wu was no less important.
His growth meant progress for them all. For their professions and mastery would rise alongside his knowledge.
The hall grew silent when the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside.
Creak. Creak.
Jun Wu entered with unhurried grace, his expression calm and unreadable. At once, all eyes turned toward him.
For those seeing him for the first time since his transformation, the sight was stunning.
His skin was smooth and flawless, glowing faintly under the dim light, tender as jade.
His features rivaled that of the most beautiful women in the region.
There was an otherworldly aura clinging to around him now. A presence that seemed to command both reverence and attention.
"The rumors did not lie..." the Frostwind Dean murmured inwardly, her heart stirring despite her age.
She might have been old, but she was still a woman...and all women loved beauty.
She was not the only one shaken.
The president of Mystic City’s Alchemist Association stared, nearly dumbfounded.
’How can a man look like this...’ she thought, unable to wrap her head on Jun Wu’s divine bearing.
If she was a young woman, she would have expressed her emotion right away. He was the dream of every woman.
It took a lot of mental battle for her not to reach out to touch him.
Even the men were quietly stunned.
Jun Wu offered a polite nod and spoke, his voice steady. "Sorry for keeping everyone waiting."
"Young Master, it is nothing. We understand your time is not your own these days," the president of the Mystic City Array Association said warmly.
"Let me make the introduction." He added with a light smile.
Jun Wu listened attentively, but when he was introduced to the two deans, his composure faltered for a moment.
He had not expected such prominent figures to come to him in person.
Rising slightly, he cupped his hands in respect. "It is an honor to meet the two esteemed deans."
"It’s nothing," the Mystic Path Dean replied casually, his demeanor free of the airs often worn by experts.
"But I must say," the Frostwind Dean added with a smile, her gaze sharp, "You are even more handsome than the rumors claim."
Jun Wu returned the smile politely. "Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the conversation shifted.
The Mystic Path Dean leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming. "Kid, can you tell us about Heaven’s Blessing? We are all...curious."
Jun Wu had expected this question.
He folded his hands, his expression thoughtful. "Dean, before I respond, may I ask one question first?"
The old dean inclined his head. "Go ahead."
"Please, can you tell me about our world? About its true history?"
The hall fell silent at once.
Everyone was surprised by his question.
They expected a lot of questions from him, but they never thought he would ask about the world’s history.
The two deans exchanged a glance.
Then, with a sigh, the Mystic Path Dean began to speak.
His voice carried the weight of centuries as he recounted the fragmented history of their region—the rise and fall of empires.
The various mysteries surrounding their region and some rumors about the outside region.
The hall remained silent, every word sinking deep.
At last, after nearly ten minutes, he completed his history lesson.
"Kid, why do you ask about the world’s history?" the old dean asked, curiosity plain in his tone.
It was not only him; everyone in the hall leaned forward, eager for Jun Wu’s answer.
Jun Wu’s gaze turned distant. "Like everyone else, I once thought only of exploring the ruins to grow stronger. But what happened in the Tier-2 Ruin... was a wake-up call. It made me realize the danger we face is greater than we imagined. I wanted to know whether our history holds the key."
He shook his head with a sigh. "Unfortunately, the more I know the more questions that are left unanswered. "
The Frostwind Dean nodded solemnly. "You are right. None of us truly know the full truth. Perhaps other regions may, but here... we only know fragments."
The others murmured agreement.
When the silence settled again, all eyes fixed on Jun Wu. They were waiting, for the heaven secret he alone could provide.
Jun Wu could sense their anticipation, but instead of speaking immediately, he asked another question.
"What is the relationship between your two academies?"
The question startled them.
Why avoid the matter of Heaven’s Blessing?
But after a pause, the Frostwind Dean answered honestly. "Our academies share the same root. The founders were disciples of the same master."
A ripple of astonishment spread through the hall. Even many association heads had not known this secret.
Jun Wu nodded slowly. "I see."
His voice grew calm, steady. "I know many of you are curious about my questions. Let me explain."
The hall held its breath.
"The academies and the associations have been entrusted with heavy responsibilities. Just as I have been entrusted."
He paused, gathering his thoughts, then spoke with quiet weight. "Heaven’s demand is not the pursuit of power, but the spreading of knowledge. Teaching people the truth of the world."
Shock spread across everyone’s face.
No one expected the Heaven-bestowed secret to be so... simple.
Seeing their disbelief, Jun Wu continued.
"This is not like teaching within academies. Those chosen to spread Heaven’s knowledge must first be recognized by Heaven itself."
"What?!" someone exclaimed, unable to contain their shock.
"These people are called Master Teachers," Jun Wu said softly.
To everyone in hall, his last statement felt like thunder.