In the abyss, Dao Ling stared at the sky in disbelief.
Beaten up by a little girl?
Utterly ridiculous!
After a moment, he muttered, “From now on, I’m steering clear of Brother Ye’s sisters!”
He’d figured it out!
Brother Ye himself wasn’t much, but his sisters were each more monstrous than the last!
Cherish life, stay away from Ye Xuan’s sisters!
…
In the days that followed, Ye Xuan focused on developing the Guanxuan Academy.
As his father had said, changing the world wasn’t just talk, it required action, and he now saw it as his lifelong goal.
Living wasn’t just about showing off, you had to do something meaningful.
In the hall, Ye Xuan listened quietly to Qingqiu and Shuxian’s reports.
Currently, the Guanxuan Academy had three Insightful Mystery Realm cultivators, Qingqiu, Yanbei, and Xiufan.
Three Insightful Mystery Realm cultivators!
The academy was the strongest force in the Gods’ Universe, even without Ye Xuan.
With him included, the academy was invincible in the Gods’ Universe. In truth, Ye Xuan alone could make it unbeatable.
The major forces in the Gods’ Universe were now extremely friendly to the academy, even sending their people to study there, as it offered the best opportunities for growth.
The Guanxuan Academy was developing rapidly.
In the hall, Ye Xuan turned to Qingqiu. “How are the Martial Academy disciples?”
Qingqiu replied, “The Martial Academy has 160 students, all carefully selected. Per your instructions, I didn’t just pick the most talented. I also chose those with strong character and resilience. Their cultivation speed lags behind the prodigies, but I believe they won’t fall short in the future. The path of martial arts is endless, temporary wins or losses mean nothing. Only those who reach the end can laugh last.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Excellent!”
He turned to Shuxian. “Elder Xian, remember, the Literary Academy’s students mustn’t be pedantic, rigid, or inflexible, understood?”
He feared producing bookworms who spouted grand theories without practical sense, the kind who could harm nations and people.
Shuxian nodded. “I understand.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Elder Xian, Qingqiu, we’ll move in two directions. First, while they cultivate, take them to experience the secular world, let them see human suffering firsthand. Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles, both are essential.”
Elder Xian smiled. “Well said!”
Qingqiu nodded. “Agreed.”
Ye Xuan continued, “Also, take them to see the wider universe, let them realise how vast it is and how small they are. Only by knowing their own insignificance will they stay humble and strive harder.”
Qingqiu suddenly said, “Brother, we’re short on funds!”
Short on funds!
Ye Xuan nodded. “How much?”
Qingqiu rolled her eyes. “Brother, this won’t do!”
Ye Xuan looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Qingqiu said seriously, “The academy is different now. We need to be self-sufficient, not keep relying on your money. You’re not a bottomless vault.”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment. “Any ideas?”
Qingqiu pondered, then said, “I’ve studied how other forces make money. The Immortal Treasure Pavilion is the most profitable, but we’re not suited for business. We can sell books!”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Books?”
Qingqiu grinned. “Not ordinary books, but cultivation manuals that greatly aid practice. We can auction them. Also, we can collaborate with other forces, sending our students to give lectures on cultivation, for a fee.”
She smirked. “We have the *Divine Dao Codex* from Pavilion Master Qin Guan, right? We can have our students lecture on it across the cosmos, charging per session. It trains the students and earns money.”
Ye Xuan laughed. “That works!”
Qingqiu nodded. “Sword Master Brother, you have connections. If possible, get more books like the *Divine Dao Codex*. That way, we won’t worry about funds in the short term.”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Alright.”
After further discussion, Shuxian left. Ye Xuan turned to Qingqiu, opened his palm, and the Dao God’s inheritance scroll floated to her. “Little one, this is a senior’s inheritance. It should help you.”
He ultimately chose to give it to Qingqiu, as no one was more suitable.
Qingqiu glanced at it but shook her head. “Brother, I don’t need it.”
Ye Xuan was puzzled. “Why not?”
Qingqiu smiled. “I have my own path and will only follow it.”
Ye Xuan sighed, knowing that like him, Qingqiu had her own way and wouldn’t accept another’s legacy.
Qingqiu giggled. “Give it to someone suitable.”
Ye Xuan nodded, retrieving the scroll, feeling a bit helpless.
This girl’s cultivation could be summed up in two words, utterly formidable!
Qingqiu suddenly said, “Brother, I think we should use the Gods’ Universe as our base, transform it first, then gradually expand to change the wider world.”
Ye Xuan said, “Go on.”
Qingqiu nodded. “Changing the Gods’ Universe might clash with other forces’ interests, but it’s manageable. We can entice them with benefits. They all want to join our academy. If we offer enough incentives, they’ll willingly adapt, because those who don’t will be left behind.”
She looked at Ye Xuan. “Brother, I know you’re kind and don’t like playing the villain, but to change the world and its rules, we must topple many bad systems, especially cruel and unjust forces. For good forces, we can lure them with benefits, but for the truly wicked, we must crush them with thunderous force.”
She stepped closer, handing Ye Xuan the tea. “Our goal isn’t to dominate, but we must dominate first. If you don’t, who’ll listen? So, we need both a kind heart to treat forces fairly and ruthless means to deal with evil.”
Ye Xuan looked at Qingqiu, silent.
Qingqiu blinked. “Are you worried, Brother?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Worried about you and the academy.”
Qingqiu paused, then said, “I know your concern. As our strength grows, you fear the academy might stray from its original mission, like the books say, the dragon-slaying youth becoming the dragon, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Qingqiu smiled. “As long as you’re here, the academy will never stray.”
Ye Xuan asked, “And if I’m gone?”
Qingqiu grinned. “I’m here. As long as I am, the academy won’t falter.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “And if you’re gone?”
Qingqiu smiled faintly. “Brother, thinking like that isn’t right. We do what we can. Overthinking the future isn’t good, though we can’t ignore it. If I’m gone one day, I’ll ensure the academy has a better leader before I leave. What happens after is for the next dean to handle.”
Do what you can!
Ye Xuan thought, then laughed. “Fair point.”
Qingqiu handed him the tea. “Brother, drink.”
Ye Xuan took the cup, sipped, and said, “Go ahead and act. I’ll support you, whether it’s funds or anything else, just say the word.”
Qingqiu nodded. “Good.”
She hesitated, then said, “I hear you’re from Qingcheng, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Qingqiu smiled. “I want to start with small worlds, beginning with Qingcheng. There’s an academy there, so we’ll start small, encircle the bigger worlds, and eventually transform the entire universe.”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Sounds good.”
Qingqiu grinned. “I need money.”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “How much?”
He knew such plans required funds.
Qingqiu raised one finger.
Ye Xuan blinked. “Five million cosmic veins?”
Qingqiu shook her head. “Fifty million.”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
Qingqiu giggled. “Got it?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yes.”
He opened his palm, and a storage ring flew to Qingqiu. It held not fifty, but seventy million cosmic veins.
Qingqiu looked at Ye Xuan, who smiled. “The extra twenty million is for you. Your cultivation needs a lot of cosmic veins, right?”
Qingqiu nodded.
Ye Xuan smiled. “Use the twenty million for now. If it’s not enough, come to me.”
Qingqiu looked at Ye Xuan and said softly, “Alright.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I’ve got things to do.”
He turned and left.
Qingqiu watched him go, gripping the storage ring tightly, her eyes full of determination. “Brother, I’ll make the myriad worlds change because of you. I’ll make countless beings across the cosmos take you as their faith…”
Her eyes closed slowly. “Only with the faith of all beings as your sword can you reach the level of those three…”
She paused, frowning, puzzled.
What had she just said?
…
