After leaving the City Lord's residence, Zhu Ziyang turned to Qian Lingyi and said, "Yi Yi, looks like I won't be able to go to your home just yet. I need to make a trip back to the academy."
"Mm! I understand!" Qian Lingyi nodded obediently. "Let's head back to the academy first then. Your business sounds more important."
"Alright. Thank you for understanding." Zhu Ziyang smiled as he spoke.
Qian Lingyi gave him a bright smile but didn't say anything more.
The two set off for Shrek Academy. The Cloudsky Plan they were involved in was actually a large strategy made up of several sub-plans, and the establishment of Tianyuan Academy was one of the most critical parts.
The academy system on the Douluo Continent was quite incomplete and highly fragmented. Aside from Shrek Academy and the four great royal academies, every other soul master academy was regional. Each town had its own elementary academy, each large city its own intermediate academy, and each capital its own advanced academy — all of which were governed by local nobles or officials.
There were no dedicated departments for soul master education in the empire's administration. Aside from the royal academies, most empires only directly oversaw the few academies in their capitals. Since education wasn't tightly controlled by the state, a few powerful academies had grown strong enough to exist above political power — Shrek being the best example.
Shrek Academy's Tianyuan Plan sought to start by controlling the local elementary soul master academies, eventually bringing the entire continent under the administration of Tianyuan Pavilion. Hence, the name "Tianyuan Academy."
Elementary academies had always received the least attention from nobles and sects — but they were, in fact, the most worthwhile to operate and manage. After all, raising talent from childhood and broadening the base of future soul masters was the true path to long-lasting strength for any power.
Nobles and sect members didn't need elementary academies. Their children skipped straight to intermediate academies, then on to advanced academies, and eventually into the Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament for fame and prestige.
Elementary academies existed primarily to serve the children of commoners. In most cases, their environments and educational standards were dismal. An academy like Anyang City's elementary academy was one of less than ten of its kind across the continent.
According to Shrek Academy's plan, Tianyuan Academies would be established across towns and cities, tuition fees would be lowered, and more civilian students would be admitted. Through controlling education, they would also gain control over martial soul awakenings. This would lay a solid foundation among the civilian soul master class — improving the quality of soul masters and deeply rooting Shrek Academy's ideals and benevolence within the largest population on the continent.
It was a long-term plan — one that would take at least thirty to fifty years. That might be one or two generations for other forces, but for the elders of Tianyuan Pavilion, time was the least valuable resource.
When Zhu Ziyang returned to Shrek Academy, he went straight to Elder Xuan and reported the preliminary agreement he had reached with Hong Zhen.
After hearing Zhu Ziyang out, Elder Xuan's face lit up with joy. "Ziyang, you've done us a huge favor. The elders were about to fight over where to place the first Tianyuan Academy. Now it's settled! Nowhere is more fitting than Anyang Elementary Academy — where you were nurtured!"
"So it's settled, Elder Xuan?" Zhu Ziyang asked with a smile, though he was still a bit surprised.
"Settled, settled!" Elder Xuan waved his hand. "I'll convene Tianyuan Pavilion immediately to begin arranging personnel and resources for the founding of Anyang's First Tianyuan Academy!"
"Alright, I'll take my leave then." Zhu Ziyang nodded and turned to go.
Elder Xuan watched his departing figure and muttered softly, "You brat, hurry and grow up, this old man's getting tired…"
Zhu Ziyang, of course, didn't hear the complaint. After leaving Tianyuan Pavilion, he returned to his home in Shrek City and told his parents about his recent trip to Anyang City. Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were filled with a mix of emotion and longing — as well as hope. Notably, Zhu Ziguang was now five years old and would be able to awaken his martial soul next year.
Returning from Shrek City to the academy, Zhu Ziyang ran into two unexpected people — Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.
"You!" Xiao Hongchen, still the same cold and proud youth, briefly looked surprised and unsure, but quickly returned to his usual self. "So it's you," he said coldly.
"Long time no see, big brother!" Meng Hongchen was also just like before. As soon as she saw Zhu Ziyang, her face lit up with a lovestruck smile and she greeted him sweetly.
"I didn't expect the exchange students from Sun Moon Academy to be you two." Zhu Ziyang chuckled, half surprised.
"Hmph! If it weren't for my grandfather insisting, I wouldn't have come at all!" Xiao Hongchen snorted.
"My brother wanted to improve his martial soul development, so when Grandpa asked, he agreed right away!" Meng Hongchen said cheerfully, immediately tearing down her brother's façade.
"Meng!" Xiao Hongchen's face changed, clearly stunned by how unfamiliar his own sister seemed in that moment.
"Come on, brother! Making friends requires sincerity!" Meng Hongchen said innocently. "Big brother, have you eaten yet? I'd like to treat you to a meal. Can I?"
"Tch! You lovesick fool," Xiao Hongchen grumbled at his sister's behavior, clearly exasperated.
"A meal? Sure." Zhu Ziyang laughed. "But no need to treat me. Since you're in my domain, I should be the one treating you."
"Yay!" Meng Hongchen beamed. "Where are we eating, big brother?"
"The inner court cafeteria, of course. Where else? It's the best restaurant in Shrek City — everyone agrees on that." Zhu Ziyang smiled.
"Ah…" Meng Hongchen looked slightly disappointed, but quickly regained her smile. "Alright then, I've heard the food's good."
"Yesterday you didn't say that!" Xiao Hongchen widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Shut up!" Meng Hongchen stomped on his foot and then turned back with a smile. "Let's go, big brother!"
"Mm, let's." Zhu Ziyang led the way, while Meng Hongchen happily pulled a grumbling Xiao Hongchen along behind him.
The cafeteria was crowded, as it was mealtime. Many students greeted Zhu Ziyang as he walked in, but when they saw the Hongchen siblings behind him, their smiles froze.
After all, they were from the Sun Moon Empire — Shrek's long-time rival. Just not being mocked was already generous; expecting warm smiles from the inner court students was unrealistic. Clearly, Shrek still had room to grow in terms of inclusivity.
Perhaps once Sister Lexuan ascended the throne in the Sun Moon Empire, that would change. But for now, it was difficult.
The Hongchen siblings didn't care much for public opinion. They had already brawled with some students from the Star Luo Empire after arriving, so this treatment didn't bother them.
"Please, sit." Zhu Ziyang gestured politely and took a seat himself.
Meng Hongchen tried to sit beside him, but a blonde girl beat her to it. She slipped into the seat, hugged Zhu Ziyang's arm intimately, and sneered provocatively, "Hey, newbie. Don't you know how first-come, first-served works?"
"Huh? Who do you think you are?" Meng Hongchen immediately bristled. "Big brother invited us for a meal! What's it got to do with you? Get lost, or I'll beat you into a pig!"
"Tch!" The blonde girl was none other than Qian Lingyi, who replied disdainfully, "You? Think you have the strength?"
"You…" Meng Hongchen's soul power flared. Zhu Ziyang had no doubt that if he didn't intervene, this girl would start a fight right in the cafeteria.
He reached out and took Meng Hongchen's arm. "No need to get angry. A seat is a seat. Sit across from me — I'm sure your brother will be happy."
"Oh! Alright then!" Meng Hongchen immediately calmed down, blushing shyly at the contact.
"And you, always trying to snatch things." Zhu Ziyang turned to chide Qian Lingyi and gently flicked her nose.
"Hehe! I was just teasing the little girl!" Qian Lingyi giggled, unfazed by Zhu Ziyang's affection.
Unbeknownst to her, that tiny gesture had nearly made Meng Hongchen bite through her own teeth in envy.
(End of Chapter)
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