I Can See Your Combat Power-Chapter 1645 - 87: Each with Their Own Methods

Only Tang Luo’s expression remained calm in the scene, as he had noticed the surprisingly poor quality of independent cultivators since the first enrollment session.

Ningxiang Road’s exceptional cases of the tiger and leopard dazzling everyone could only be seen as outliers; the vast majority of independent cultivators, just like those who passed through the Dragon Gate before them, believed themselves ready to challenge higher stages upon reaching the cyan or red levels.

On the other hand, many of the disciples from Dayuan Peak, who had accumulated enough spiritual essence to break through the mirror stage, still felt unsure and continued their daily cultivation.

Tang Luo was aware that even if a Five-turn Dragon Gate capable of reflecting spiritual accumulation was set up in front of Unparalleled Academy, it would not dilute the impatience and desire for quick success harbored by the independent cultivators.

Those who could not enroll in the Soul Casting course here would still take risks after leaving Unparalleled City.

Candidates for the Soul Casting course passed through the Dragon Gate in sequence, but by the time the sun was tilting west, only about a hundred people managed to reveal a purple foundation.

Judging from their attire and demeanor, seven or eight out of ten were scions of influential families from various provinces; rather than saying they came to enroll in the Soul Casting course, it was more accurate to say they came to verify the authenticity of the Dragon Gate.

Tang Luo welcomed these students with open arms.

After all, these individuals had been well nurtured by their families and had a clear understanding of the steps involved in Soul Casting.

They barely needed much guidance; just a bit of encouragement was sufficient for them to complete the Soul Casting course on their own.

The course was made easier, and the tuition fees were unshortened; which instructor wouldn’t like such good students?

As for the little schemes these people had in their minds, to put it harshly, a group of cultivators, none of whom had achieved unity of spirit and intent, could not pose a real threat even if they collaborated post Soul Casting.

Moreover, with figures like Real Person Miaowei, Du Sha, and Meng Jiao in Unparalleled City, what storm could these individuals possibly stir up?

The head of Unparalleled Academy, soon to become wealthy, was not worried at all; since the aristocratic families liked to offer money, he would let them do so, especially since the initial purpose of establishing the Unparalleled Academy’s business division was to collect and redistribute the wealth of these families. It was convenient that the families around Lingjiang were so tactful, saving him much effort.

The colorful Dragon Gate jade pillars continuously changed colors, and the number of disciples standing on the platform kept increasing, yet the queue on the great path of Unparalleled never seemed to diminish.

It looked like the queue might last until the end of time.

Tang Luo glanced at the over a hundred qualified students already standing on the platform and then spoke to Du Ting and Real Person Miaowei, "Let’s accept only so many students for today, but let the Dragon Gate continue to operate. Record those who successfully pass the spirit verification through the Dragon Gate; we can enroll them into the academy tomorrow."

After saying goodbye to Du Ting and Real Person Miaowei, Tang Luo led the hundred-some students back to the academy and settled them into the back mountain dormitories, starting to prepare the Soul Casting curriculum.

Meanwhile, the news that the Five-turn Dragon Gate had been verified as authentic was spread in all directions through various channels by the Wind Media.

...

No matter what it is, the first appearance of anything attracts immense attention.

Especially something that could verify the accumulation of spiritual power of someone in Mortal Realm.

For ordinary cultivators, the Five-turn Dragon Gate was a sacred artifact; but for aristocratic families, its existence signified that much information, which should have been monopolized by them, had become common knowledge among the public.

Some of the families, already unstable in their status, began to worry about being replaced by newcomers. However, the three great clans of Lingjiang, upon receiving the news, hosted a grand banquet in Lanshan City, attended by all the top members of the clans in Longzhou.

The banquet lasted till the next morning, and it was unclear exactly what the three families were celebrating.

Only on the following noon, when Unparalleled Academy opened for new admissions, did Tang Luo realize why there had been such a grand banquet in Lanshan City the previous day.

"Principal, the disciples who passed the spirit verification through the Dragon Gate and received their tokens yesterday... are all here!"

"They’re all here?"

Looking at the ten or so people standing in the hall, Tang Luo was somewhat in disbelief: "The Dragon Gate was operational all night, and only this many students met the standard?"

Du Ting, with a guilty expression and irritation in his eyes, explained, "The principal might not be aware, but there were over two hundred successful verifications yesterday. Yet, they couldn’t withstand the persuasion of the aristocratic families and left the city overnight. Only these few remain here now!"

So that was it; Tang Luo suddenly realized, and laughed, "These aristocratic families sure move fast."

"Principal, the three great families have gone too far, should we organize some people and teach them a lesson?"

Du Ting was uncontrollably angry, almost ferocious in appearance.

Considering the tuition fee for each student is ten million gold, two hundred students amount to two billion gold resources. If taking someone’s money is akin to killing their parents,

Then the enmity Du Ting held against the three great families could be considered a deep-seated vendetta like annihilating one’s entire family and scattering their ashes.

Such deep hatred could make one irrational, otherwise, he wouldn’t talk about teaching the three great families a lesson.

"Sure, considering the battle of Lin Chuan, the three great families have at least ten resident Grandmasters, not to mention hidden backups and sect connections."

Tang Luo smiled and patted Du Ting’s shoulder, "As long as you can assemble a force to contend with five Grandmasters, The Academy will indeed teach the three great families a lesson."

"Principal, don’t ridicule this old man!"

At first, when Tang Luo agreed to Du Ting, he thought he had found a backer, but after hearing everything, all he felt was bitterness: "This old man just can’t accept it, that these three major families dare to come to Unparalleled City to pick peaches, they clearly don’t see the Dean in their eyes, I simply can’t swallow this insult."

"Not being able to swallow this insult is one thing; you’re actually heartbroken over those tuition fees!"

Tang Luo pointed at the more than ten disciples in the hall and laughed heartily: "There’s really no need to feel pity, those who were recruited at this time weren’t the truly promising talents. The real dragons and phoenixes, they’re all still here!"

"This old man still feels discontented; the Dean has put in so much effort into creating the Dragon Gate, and now it seems like it’s merely serving to supply talents to the three big families, this cannot continue!"

Du Ting said solemnly, "This old man suggests moving the Dragon Gate to the back mountain, and once the disciples pass the Dragon Gate spiritual trial, they should be directly arranged to stay within the academy. Furthermore, I will send men to capture all the spies of Wind Media secretly planted in the city by the three big families!"

It was apparent that Du Ting was unable to contain his anger towards this peach-picking incident by the three big families, but there is a saying that there are always days for thieves, but no eternal days for guarding against them.

For some individual cultivators, after they passed the Dragon Gate spiritual test, they also have to face an unknown amount of tuition fees. However, if they nod in agreement to the recruitment by a powerful family, they would not only receive the Soul Casting method but could also join their desired powerful family in Longzhou.

Even if Unparalleled City banned the lobbyists from the three families, as long as the families spread the word, they could still recruit those who aspire to join the academy.

Du Ting’s simple and crude approach was, after all, futile.

In fact, Tang Luo didn’t mind the actions of the three families, "You have your strategies, and I have my ways over the walls; it’s merely a case of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their abilities. The clan’s response did not exceed expectations."

As for the two hundred students taken away overnight, there is really nothing to pity.

Because since ancient times, those who can be tempted by minor benefits, wouldn’t be truly outstanding talents.

Furthermore, powerful families never engage in loss-making businesses. If they purchase you with a bit of benefit, they will expect you to repay it with triple, or quintuple the profit.

The first ten years after breaking through a realm should’ve been the most important period for strength enhancement—it is the critical period for reforming one’s entire martial arts understanding. If one is burdened by official duties, how can they find time for personal accumulation?

Tang Luo could almost certainly determine that those students recruited by the powerful families will rarely reach the Martial Ancestor Realm in the future.

"Over thirty years of hard cultivation, enduring such great loneliness and many hopeless days and nights, finally ushering the moment to recreate heaven and earth, yet at the last moment, lost composure."

With a bit of thought, one could realize, if the great families can offer appealing conditions without the Soul Casting, once the Soul Casting is truly completed, the conditions they offer will be even more generous.

It can only be said that the environments of these individual cultivators are too barren; thus, they truly do not understand the significant weight they might hold after persevering for thirty years—it’s somewhat unfortunate indeed.

Looking at those students who resisted temptations and remained in the academy, they are all people with resolute minds. Although they come from humble backgrounds with fewer chances for advancement, in their circumstances, they have achieved the very best; what is more commendable is that they were able to maintain their True Heart in the face of temptations.

Such students, if they are willing to cultivate in seclusion for several decades after undergoing Soul Casting, the least they will achieve is the status of a Martial Ancestor.

Graduates from the management department of Unparalleled Academy must at least attain this level.

"You make the decision on the matters of the three major families yourself."

Not wanting to dwell on worldly concerns, Tang Luo waved his hand.

...

Zhongzhou, Pingshan City

After the fall of Hanging Sky City, Qionghua Star Lord resculpted heaven and earth with a Recruitment Order, Dutian Heavenly King’s patrols far exceed the past.

The departments of Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain each occupy a city for official business, among them, the Wind Department is located in Pingshan City in the southern part of Zhongzhou.

The person overseeing the Wind Department is Feather God An Yuanxi. After receiving all the overt and covert power in Zhongzhou left by Wang Chang, this former Divine Court Holy Child quickly consolidated his position within the Divine Court.

However, his phoenix-like resurgence did not earn him favor from Qionghua Star Lord, and the Wind Department was assigned to oversee Longzhou affairs, nearly being excluded from the power core of Dutian Heavenly King’s patrols.

After the Recruitment Order, there were no additional forces deployed, thus making the Wind Department the weakest among the four.

Subordinates of Feather God complained that Star Lord was treating their department unfairly, feeling aggrieved for An Yuanxi, but only he knew why Qionghua Star Lord disfavored him.

Both disciples of the An family and their age difference significant, there was naturally no enmity, but it was he who messed up the tasks the previous two times.

Mobilizing Xu Lai, however, brought resentment from Yuanzhou, the thirteen Primordial Sword Commands are meant to execute those of King Realm.

Fortunately, during the battle at Diancang Mountain, what Qionghua Star Lord sent was only his Dharma Body. Had his true body descended, the punishment he faced would not have been as simple as now.

As a former Divine Court Holy Child, An Yuanxi naturally was not willing to just decline like this. Through Wang Chang, he secretly made connections with Tong Senyu from Wuji Mansion, planning to recruit and buy horses in the leaderless land of Longzhou.

As successors of a holy land sect, they might lack other resources, but have an inexhaustible supply of secret techniques and methods.

He originally thought of using secret technique scriptures to attract individual cultivators to cultivate power, but unexpectedly, Unparalleled Academy emerged out of nowhere, taking the initiative on what they planned to do.

This made Feather God, very unhappy.