Chapter 891: The Four Great Empires

Hongyuan Imperial Palace.

Seeing Zhang Xuan leave without any further collapses or destruction, Yu Shenqing breathed a sigh of relief.

This new Dean Zhang was excellent in talent, cultivation, vision, knowledge, and character... his only flaw was his penchant for destruction.

Every time he came, it was nerve-wracking, fearing he might tear down the palace.

This time, not only did he not demolish the building, but he also revived the Bodhi tree, which was quite unexpected.

Your Majesty!

Just as he returned to the imperial study, the old eunuch Luo Fu entered.

Mm, how are things at Cloudmist Ridge? Yu Shenqing looked over.

The commotion at Cloudmist Ridge was so great that as the emperor of the Hongyuan Empire, he naturally kept a close watch, even ordering soldiers to be ready to attack at any moment.

Reporting to Your Majesty, Cloudmist Ridge and the Master Teacher Academy have ceased hostilities! Luo Fu quickly clasped his fists.

Ceasefire? Yu Shenqing frowned.

They were fighting fiercely and relentlessly during the day—how did it suddenly stop?

Elder Mi personally went to Cloudmist Ridge to negotiate, and after that, the battle ended... Luo Fu said.

When going to Cloudmist Ridge, Zhang Xuan never dismounted from the back of the Fire Dragon Sacred Beast, and due to the secrecy of his identity, almost no one knew he had gone as well.

Negotiation? Yu Shenqing looked over. Who proposed it first?

Whoever proposes first in a conflict admits defeat and is at a disadvantage.

The academy side! Luo Fu nodded.

The academy? Yu Shenqing was stunned.

The prestigious Master Teacher Academy admitting defeat to a group of spirit beasts?

And Elder Mi went in person?

This... is too unbelievable!

Indeed, the negotiation took place at Cloudmist Ridge. The specific details haven't been uncovered yet, but by the afternoon, the many spirit beasts that had been fighting the Master Teacher Academy had already retreated!

Luo Fu said.

Spirit beasts are wary and hostile toward humans, and since Cloudmist Ridge has always been a forbidden area for humans, even the Hongyuan Empire's royal family finds it difficult to gather information.

It must be some kind of compromise for tomorrow's dean inauguration ceremony. After a moment's hesitation, Yu Shenqing nodded.

At dawn, the dean's inauguration ceremony will take place. Although the notice was hasty, many first-rate empires within the academy's domain will surely send representatives. If they see so many spirit beasts attacking humans, they might lose confidence in the new dean.

That should be it... However, we have already sent people to infiltrate Cloudmist Ridge. The content and news of the negotiation should be relayed back before the dean's inauguration ceremony, barring any accidents.

Luo Fudao.

"Hmm!" Yu Shenqing nodded and was about to speak when he saw a young eunuch hurry in.

"Your Majesty!" The eunuch knelt down.

"What's happened?" Knowing that the other party would not come in unsummoned so late unless it was urgent, Yu Shenqing frowned.

"The emperors of the four empires—Hongchi, Yuanjiang, Baituo, and Chiyao—have arrived at the Qianhe Hall!" the young eunuch said hastily.

"Arrived? They came quite quickly!" Yu Shenqing was taken aback, then stood up: "Let's go see them!"

Although the Hongyuan Master Academy bore the name of the Hongyuan Empire, its students came from more than a dozen neighboring first-class empires.

Hongchi, Yuanjiang, Baituo, and Chiyao were the four closest nations.

Upon hearing that a new dean had taken office, the supreme rulers of the empires all came in person to show respect.

Entering the main hall, he indeed saw four middle-aged men seated as guests, their auras like clouds, each of formidable strength.

To become the supreme ruler of a first-class empire, one's strength must at least reach the peak of the first level of the Saint Domain.

"Brother Chu, Brother Han, Brother Shen, Brother Nie!" Yu Shenqing greeted each in turn: "You've arrived in less than three days; the journey must have been arduous!"

Although the four empires were relatively close, arriving in under three days must have required great effort.

"How could we not come when a new dean takes office?"

"The academy is the foundation of stability for our dozen or so first-class empires. How could we miss such a grand event without attending in person?"

"The old dean has been missing for over two years, and finally a new dean has arrived. Naturally, we must meet him!"

...

The several middle-aged men all smiled.

In their respective empires, their word was law and no one dared to contradict them, but compared to the Master Academy, they were still somewhat inferior.

Upon receiving the invitation, they immediately set aside all affairs and rushed over.

"By the way, we've just arrived. Who is the new dean? Elder Zhao Bingxu or Elder Lu Feng?"

After the pleasantries, one of the middle-aged men spoke up.

It was none other than Emperor Chu Yi of the Hongchi First-Class Empire.

Hearing his words, the others also focused their attention. Having just arrived in Hongyuan City and come to the palace in the dead of night, they naturally wanted to find out clearly so they could prepare congratulatory gifts.

Otherwise, sending medicinal herbs to an elder of the Artifact Refining Academy would not only fail to leave a good impression but might even backfire.

"Neither!" Hearing their guesses, Yu Shenqing shook his head with a wry smile.

He too had initially thought that if a new dean were to appear, it would inevitably be one of these two, but the result was...

"Neither?"

The four emperors were all startled and exchanged glances: "Then which elder is it? Please, Brother Yu, inform us in advance so we can make proper preparations."

Chu said hurriedly.

"This..." Yu Shenqing hesitated.

The news of the new dean had not yet been announced to the public; although he knew in advance, it was through connections.

"What? Tomorrow the ceremony will be held, and we'll know then. Could it be that Brother Yu is unwilling to divulge?" A middle-aged man frowned.

"It's not that I'm unwilling to divulge. Since the academy hasn't announced it in advance, there must be a reason... If I overstep and speak ahead of time, it would be disrespectful to the academy..." Yu Shenqing shook his head.

"It seems Brother Yu doesn't trust us! Our identities are already bound to the Master Teacher Academy, inseparable. Do you think we would leak the news?"

Knowing his concerns, Chu shook his head: "We only want to know so we can prepare congratulatory gifts in advance!"

"This... very well!"

Knowing that if he didn't speak, the others would surely speculate, and worse, it might provoke displeasure between the two empires, Yu Shenqing didn't hesitate long before nodding: "This matter is an academy secret. I ask that you all keep it strictly confidential until the inauguration ceremony!"

The few before him were all sovereigns of a nation; they surely understood the gravity of leaking the news. If any mishap befell the new dean, the Master Teacher Pavilion would trace the source, and whoever leaked the information would face annihilation.

Therefore, even if he told them, it wouldn't matter much, but he still had to make it clear in advance.

"Rest assured!"

"We've been friends for so many years; no need to doubt!"

The several said in unison.

"Alright, according to the information I've received, this new dean is Master Zhang Xuan!"

With a sweep of his hand, he activated all the barriers within the palace, and Yu Shenqing transmitted his voice.

"Zhang Xuan?"

"Master Zhang?"

The four emperors exchanged glances, all filled with confusion.

They had all heard of the ten great elders of the Master Teacher Academy, and had met many of them, but... where did this Zhang Xuan come from?

"Could it be that... this Master Zhang is from the headquarters?"

Chu couldn't help but say.

The others were also puzzled.

The Master Teacher Academy trained master teachers, representing the future of humanity, with great responsibility. This so-called dean was not a position anyone could take.

This Zhang Xuan, whose name had never been heard before, was most likely directly parachuted in from headquarters.

But... didn't headquarters generally not interfere in branch affairs?

Why had they directly sent a master teacher this time, and even made him dean?

"This... he is not from headquarters, nor is he an elder of the academy, but... a new student who just passed the entrance exam this year!"

Seeing everyone's bewilderment, Yu Shenqing explained.

"A new student?"

"A new student who just passed the entrance exam... and they make him dean?"

The four emperors were all stunned, looking as if they had seen a ghost.

The Master Teacher Academy was the pillar of humanity, inviolable in everyone's heart... Making a new student who just entered the academy the dean?

Are you joking?

"I know this news is hard for everyone to accept, but it is the truth!" Yu Shenqing said with a wry smile.

To be honest, when he first heard the news, he too was full of disbelief.

But after witnessing Master Zhang's many abilities firsthand, he was convinced and admired the foresight and boldness of Master Mu and the others.

"What background does this Master Zhang have?"

After a while, unable to hold back, a middle-aged man asked.

"Master Zhang is a four-star master teacher, only twenty years old this year! Though young, he possesses five six-star professions: artifact smith, alchemist, physician, sound master, and swift master, and is also proficient in beast taming, formations, and herb cultivation. He is an undeniable super genius!"

Yu Shenqing said.

"Five six-star professions? Even if he has many auxiliary professions, he is still only a four-star master teacher. What qualifies him to be dean?"

"Yes, the world is not short of geniuses. As long as he hasn't reached a certain level, he probably lacks the qualifications to be dean!"

"On the way here, I heard that the academy, for tomorrow's ceremony, stooped to compromise with the spirit beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge. Could it be that with the old dean missing, the entire Master Teacher Academy has become corrupt?"

"I've heard of this too. The prestigious Master Teacher Academy actually negotiating with a group of spirit beasts—how disgraceful! And now making a four-star master teacher the dean... What is going on?"

The four emperors of first-class empires all had grim expressions.

They had also heard of the conflict between Cloud Mist Ridge's spirit beasts and the Master Teacher Academy, and that humans had initiated negotiations.

They thought that was absurd enough, but now there was something even more absurd!

Making a wet-behind-the-ears twenty-year-old the dean?

What was this supposed to be?

Seeing the four emperors like this, Yu Shenqing didn't know how to respond.

If one only heard Master Zhang's age and rank, they would indeed think this way, but seeing him in person would reveal just how formidable this seemingly young Master Zhang truly was.

"We must get to the bottom of this. Otherwise, our Hongchi Empire will not recognize this dean!"

"Our Yuanjiang Empire will not recognize him either!"

"Our Baituo Empire likewise refuses to recognize him..."

...

The several emperors stood up simultaneously, their brows raised.