Chapter 88: Jun Wu Is Going To Hold An Open Lecture.
The following days, news from the Array Association spread like wildfire throughout Mystic City.
Everywhere people gathered—in taverns, in tea houses, even on the crowded streets—the same topic dominated conversations.
"Can you believe it?" a thin old man asked, leaning across the table toward his companion as he nursed a cup of warm wine.
"Of course I can believe it," his friend replied confidently. "Everyone has seen Young Master Wu’s mastery in array formation. Why should it be strange for him to host an open lecture? In fact, it’s long overdue."
"Nonsense! What do you know?" A tall, burly man from the next table snorted in disdain, his voice loud enough for the entire tavern to hear.
He leaned back with his arms crossed, lips curled into a sneer. "Just because the brat was lucky enough to create the array plates, he thinks himself worthy to lecture others. How dare he, when there are masters older than his father among the Array Association!"
"You’re right," another man quickly agreed, nodding vigorously. "This is arrogance, plain and simple. His pride knows no bounds."
But a younger voice from the corner countered sharply. "Arrogance or not, the truth remains the same—Jun Wu is the first and only array master who can forge array plates. And when the city’s defensive formation was breached, where were your so-called old masters? Wasn’t it Young Master Wu who saved us that day?"
The tavern erupted into argument.
Voices overlapped, wine cups clattered on tables, and the crowd split into two heated factions: those who believed Jun Wu’s lecture was a gift to the region, and those who believed it was a slight against the old traditions and senior masters.
Inside the Yuan Clan mansion, however, the mood was far calmer. In the grand meeting hall, elders sat in neat rows, their expressions thoughtful but not hostile.
"I don’t know why Young Master Jun suddenly decided to conduct an open lecture," one elder remarked with a faint smile, "but this is good news. Perhaps we might even learn a thing or two from him."
"Indeed," another elder agreed.
"His understanding of arrays is far beyond ours. I don’t know who taught him, but his mastery already surpasses many of the older generation. He even demonstrates knowledge of types of formations most of us have never heard of."
Unlike the skeptics in the city, the Yuan Clan—one of the leading array clans of the Soaring Cloud Region—readily supported Jun Wu’s decision.
Some of their elders had worked with him personally and knew the vast difference between his creations and those of ordinary array masters.
His plates were not the result of guesswork or tinkering; his craft flowed with a clarity and precision that made it seem as natural as breathing.
"But does anyone know why he chose to hold this lecture so suddenly?" a female elder asked, her calm question breaking the excited chatter.
The hall fell silent.
The elders exchanged glances, each hoping another could provide an answer, but no one spoke.
At last the clan matriarch’s voice rang out. "We don’t need to know his reasons. What matters is the opportunity. This lecture is a chance for all of us, and we must not miss it."
Her words settled the matter. The elders nodded in unison, their anticipation growing.
Meanwhile, within Mystic Path Academy, the news stirred even greater unrest.
In the courtyards, students gathered in twos and threes, whispering and speculating.
"Do you think the academy will participate in the lecture?" one asked anxiously.
"I’m not sure," another replied. "But I heard many students are strongly against it."
"Really?"
"Yes. Just earlier, I saw a group marching toward the Array Formation Hall."
"Quick, let’s go see!"
When they arrived, a large crowd of students had already filled the Array Formation building, their voices loud with indignation.
"Professor, you must put a stop to this nonsense!" a female student demanded, her cheeks flushed with anger.
"How can Jun Wu hold an open lecture? What gives him the right? It’s blatant disrespect toward our academy!"
"Agreed!" a handsome male student added. "You must convince the Vice Dean to cancel it immediately."
But before the professor could respond, a cold, steady voice cut through the noise.
"Why should the Vice Dean cancel the lecture?"
The crowd turned toward the speaker.
A girl stood near the back, arms folded across her chest. She was strikingly beautiful, her expression calm but icy.
Her name was Jiang Yawen, a second-year student known for her sharp tongue and sharper talent.
The crowd faltered briefly, but soon one of the indignant students jabbed a finger toward her.
"Why shouldn’t he cancel it? Jun Wu’s actions disrespect the academy!" she shouted, her voice trembling with emotion.
At once, others rallied to her side, their voices rising in agreement.
To them, only the academy’s professors had the right to host such lectures; allowing an outsider to do so undermined their institution’s prestige.
But Jiang Yawen remained unmoved, her gaze cutting through them like a blade.
"Is there any law that forbids him from holding a lecture?" she asked icily.
"He is a recognized member of the Array Association. If the Association itself has no objections, why should you?"
Her words struck like daggers. The students faltered, their outrage caught in their throats. Many opened their mouths to reply but no argument came forth.
Seeing their silence, Jiang Yawen sneered. "If you’re jealous of his talent and his achievements, then I advise you to stop making noise in the academy halls. Go back to your rooms and cultivate, instead of shaming yourselves here."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away with calm, unhurried steps, her figure graceful even in retreat.
The students watched her leave, stunned and speechless.
The professor, too, stood frozen for a moment.
Then, with a weary sigh, he retreated into the hall. He and his colleagues had no intention of stopping Jun Wu.
In truth, they were frantically researching the secret behind the array plates themselves, hoping for even the smallest breakthrough.
If these students understood how desperately their professors wished for enlightenment, they would grasp the vast gulf between themselves and Jun Wu.
Cancel the open lecture?
Who would dare?
Not unless they wished to become enemies of every array master in the Soaring Cloud Region.
Besides, the Vice Dean himself was quietly supporting Jun Wu from behind the scenes.