Ye Xuan wandered around Tianyi City for a bit and gained some understanding of the place.
As Shangguan Ning had said, Tianyi City was indeed a mix of all sorts, with various forces entrenched, each holding their own territory of interests.
Among them, the strongest were three major forces: Tian Sect, Demon Sect, and the Shangguan Clan!
The Shangguan Clan was one of these three major forces!
Strictly speaking, there were four major forces.
The City Lord’s Mansion!
However, the City Lord’s Mansion kept a low profile. They rarely got involved in the conflicts of other forces, only maintaining order in the city.
In simple terms, gaining control over these four forces would mean unifying Tianyi City.
…
After figuring out the power dynamics of Tianyi City, Ye Xuan returned to Shangguan Ning’s mansion, which had now been renamed the Guanxuan Academy.
At this moment, the entire Guanxuan Academy was undergoing a complete transformation!
It had to be said, Ye Xuan was very satisfied with the location he had chosen. Stepping out of the academy, there was a lake with an excellent view.
At this moment, Shangguan Ning approached Ye Xuan. “At most, it’ll take half a month to complete the transformation!”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. “Good!”
Shangguan Ning looked at Ye Xuan. “What’s the academy’s mission?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Reading and cultivation!”
Shangguan Ning frowned slightly. “Reading?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yes!”
Shangguan Ning was silent for a moment, then said, “One more thing, we need a lot of instructors!”
Truth be told, she wasn’t optimistic about Ye Xuan’s plan to establish an academy!
This guy had nothing but money!
And to run an academy, money alone wasn’t enough. You needed people!
Ye Xuan nodded. “You’re right, but no rush. We can find instructors gradually!”
With that, he looked at Shangguan Ning. “Miss Shangguan, have you found the people I asked you to look for?”
Shangguan Ning nodded. “Scholars are easy to find! But instructors for cultivation…”
Ye Xuan smiled. “That’s enough for now!”
Shangguan Ning glanced at Ye Xuan, nodded, and didn’t say much more!
This man didn’t seem brainless; he must have his own plans, so she didn’t press further.
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “Miss Shangguan, who’s the richest in Tianyi City?”
Hearing this, Shangguan Ning was slightly stunned, then said, “What are you planning, Young Master Ye?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I want to exchange some crystals!”
Shangguan Ning said gravely, “Young Master Ye, those crystals of yours are too extraordinary. If they appear, they’ll definitely cause a lot of trouble! Of course, I know you’re not afraid, but trouble is never good, right?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I won’t use those crystals to trade. I’ll use something else!”
Hearing this, Shangguan Ning nodded. “That’s fine then!”
She paused, then added, “How many Heavenly Spirit Crystals are you planning to exchange?”
Ye Xuan said, “The more, the better!”
Shangguan Ning looked at Ye Xuan, silent.
Ye Xuan smiled. “Let’s start with a billion!”
With that, he took out a Dao Divine Crystal and handed it to Shangguan Ning. “How much is this worth?”
Dao Divine Crystal!
This thing still had some use to him, but not as much anymore!
Shangguan Ning examined the Dao Divine Crystal, then said, “One of these can be exchanged for at least two thousand Heavenly Spirit Crystals!”
Ye Xuan nodded. “I’ll give you a hundred million. Go exchange some for me first!”
A hundred million!
Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Shangguan Ning’s expression grew serious. “You…”
Ye Xuan smiled. “What?”
Shangguan Ning said gravely, “Are you that rich?”
Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile. “It’s alright!”
Shangguan Ning was silent for a moment, then said, “I’ll go exchange them for you!”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Good!”
Shangguan Ning turned and left!
Standing in place, Ye Xuan glanced around, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
This time, he wanted to build the academy with his own abilities!
Time flew, and half a month passed.
With Shangguan Ning’s help, the academy’s transformation was complete.
But now, the academy still had only three people.
Ye Xuan, Shangguan Ning, and Azhu.
With the academy built, Ye Xuan began recruiting students.
He personally handled the recruitment!
At the academy’s entrance, Ye Xuan set up a table and sat behind it, with Shangguan Ning and Azhu by his side.
Ye Xuan was full of confidence!
Because his academy’s recruitment conditions were lenient: free food, lodging, and cultivation resources, with no strict requirements on talent.
However, he soon felt awkward!
Because no one showed up!
Ye Xuan turned to Shangguan Ning and Azhu. “We did advertise, right?”
Shangguan Ning nodded. “We did! But the Guanxuan Academy isn’t well-known, so no one pays attention!”
Not well-known!
Ye Xuan fell silent.
He had overlooked this!
In other places, the Guanxuan Academy was very famous, so there was no need for promotion; people would come naturally!
But here, who knew what the Guanxuan Academy was?
Ye Xuan was speechless.
A miscalculation!
Just then, a little girl approached from a distance. She looked about ten years old, wearing a simple patched cloth dress, but it was very clean.
The little girl walked up to the three of them. “Are you recruiting students?”
Ye Xuan glanced at the girl and smiled. “Yes!”
The little girl looked at Ye Xuan. “Can I join?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Yes!”
The little girl nodded and started walking toward the academy. After a couple of steps, she turned to Ye Xuan. “Can you give me something to eat first?”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
Was she sure she wasn’t here just for a free meal?
Though he thought this, Ye Xuan still gave the little girl some food and a wooden plaque symbolizing her status as a Guanxuan Academy student.
After taking the plaque, the little girl headed into the academy but was stopped by Ye Xuan. He looked at her. “There’s no one in the academy yet. Wait a bit!”
The little girl said, “Oh!”
With that, she obediently stood to the side.
The three exchanged glances. This little girl was too calm!
Ye Xuan looked at her again. Could this kid be some hidden powerhouse?
Unlikely!
With his current strength, few could conceal their aura from him.
This little girl was just an ordinary girl, but her mental resilience was impressive. She wasn’t timid at all!
Ye Xuan snapped out of his thoughts and turned to look into the distance. No one was coming!
Ye Xuan said gravely, “Waiting like this won’t do!”
Shangguan Ning looked at Ye Xuan. “What’s your plan?”
Ye Xuan asked, “Is there a place in Tianyi City for martial competitions?”
Shangguan Ning said, “The Tianyi List, a ranking for the young generation in Tianyi City. If young people want to make a name for themselves, they can challenge the Tianyi List!”
She looked at Ye Xuan. “Are you going to compete?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Of course not. If I went, wouldn’t that be bullying?”
Shangguan Ning glanced at Ye Xuan but said nothing.
Ye Xuan suddenly looked at the little girl who had just arrived. “You go!”
The little girl was still eating the large steamed bun Ye Xuan had given her, devouring it hungrily!
Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, she looked up at him. Ye Xuan smiled. “You go!”
The little girl swallowed the bun, hesitated, then said, “I just came to get some food. I don’t want to risk my life…”
With that, she handed the half-eaten bun back to Ye Xuan. “Here’s your bun. I’m leaving!”
She turned and ran!
Ye Xuan’s face darkened instantly. He quickly grabbed the little girl, who looked aggrieved. “I just wanted some food!”
Hearing her words, even the usually cold Shangguan Ning shook her head with a smile.
Ye Xuan said seriously, “Don’t you want to cultivate?”
The little girl looked at Ye Xuan. “No!”
Ye Xuan was puzzled. “Why not?”
The little girl hesitated, then said, “You said you’d provide food and lodging, so I came. As for cultivation… I don’t have money!”
No money!
Cultivation required money!
No money?
Forget cultivation; you wouldn’t even find a wife!
Ye Xuan smiled. “If you cultivate, you don’t need to worry about money!”
The little girl asked, “You’ll cover the costs?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
The little girl hesitated, then asked, “What do I have to do?”
Ye Xuan was a bit surprised. Though young, this girl was very mature.
Only children from poor families would be like this. Poor kids grow up fast!
Ye Xuan smiled. “You help me compete in the ranking, aim for first place, and tell everyone you’re from the Guanxuan Academy! That’s all!”
The little girl asked, “That’s it?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
The little girl suddenly knelt down. “Master!”
Master!
Ye Xuan was stunned.
Nearby, Shangguan Ning’s expression changed as she looked at the little girl!
How could a student’s status compare to that of the dean’s disciple?
With that kneel, her status had completely transformed!
This little girl was no simpleton!
Ye Xuan smiled, not thinking much of it. He helped her up and said, “Since you call me Master, then Master it is! Cultivation can be tough. Are you afraid?”
The little girl shook her head. “Not afraid!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “What’s your name?”
The little girl looked at Ye Xuan. “I’m an orphan, living on the streets. They usually call me Big Sis, or maybe…”
Ye Xuan immediately said, “No way!”
What a joke!
The little girl said, “Then Master, give me a name!”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “You’re the first student to join the Guanxuan Academy, so let’s call you Guan Yi! Little Guan Yi! Haha…”
Guan Yi!
The little girl immediately bowed deeply. “Thank you, Master, for giving me a name!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I’m skilled in swordsmanship. Are you interested in learning the sword?”
The little girl shook her head immediately!
Ye Xuan was stunned.
She didn’t want to learn the sword or become a sword cultivator?
At that moment, the little girl clenched her fist, a fierce glint in her eyes. “I grew up on South Street, where it’s all wild kids. When we fight, we don’t use swords, and we don’t have them!”
Ye Xuan said, “So, you want to learn fist techniques?”
The little girl shook her head again. She ran to a corner of the courtyard wall and soon returned, holding a brick in her hand.
Looking at Ye Xuan, she said seriously, “We fight with bricks. One smash to the head, and it’ll knock the crap out of them!”
Ye Xuan was silent.
Shangguan Ning and Azhu: “…”
