Chapter 35

For the slightly disrespectful behavior of Bal Yan, Wei Ming did not pay too much attention. As a trusted family guard of the city lord Wei Zhong, he had inherited the city lord’s extremely efficiency-focused style very well.

"Two matters," Wei Ming raised two fingers and got straight to the point.

"The first matter, the city lord is dissatisfied with the development of the Gorge Peak Academy in recent years."

"This..." Bal Yan smiled bitterly. He was also dissatisfied with the development of the Gorge Peak Academy, but he really had no solution. In terms of facilities, the academy, with over two hundred years of history and the continuous support of the Gorge Peak District, was unmatched by most academies on the continent, let alone the Zephyr Academy. The Tower of Souls was the best proof. In terms of mentors, Bal Yan had done his best to gather talent. He did not dare to compare with the entire continent, but he was confident in comparison to the Zephyr Academy.

The key issue was the students. In terms of numbers, the Gorge Peak Academy was not lacking, but the Gorge Peak District, this remote mountainous area, was like an uncultivated land, where it was impossible to find talented children. Talented children from other regions or families would not be sent to the Gorge Peak Academy, which had facilities but no achievements. Bal Yan truly felt like a skilled housewife without rice to cook.

"You don't need to explain." Bal Yan had only said two words when he was cut off by Wei Ming. "The city lord understands the problem better than you, but solving it is your responsibility. The city lord has even entrusted his only son to the Gorge Peak Academy. This attitude, I believe you understand very well."

Wei Ming always used respectful terms like "you" in his speech, but his attitude did not match the respect. Sweat had already appeared on Bal Yan's forehead.

"I understand, I understand..." he repeated. The city lord Wei Zhong's support for the Gorge Peak Academy was undeniable, and Wei Ming pointed this out very succinctly. With such support, yet no achievements, the city lord's dissatisfaction was reasonable, making Bal Yan ashamed to face it. No matter what happened next, he could only follow orders.

"However, the city lord is not ready to give up support for the Gorge Peak Academy. Two Towers of Souls, the city lord will provide them to you," Wei Ming said.

"Ah?" Bal Yan almost thought he had heard wrong. Based on what Wei Ming had said, it would have been reasonable to either dismiss him or abandon the Gorge Peak Academy. He never expected such a reversal.

"But this does not mean anything," Wei Ming continued. "It is just because the Zephyr Academy needs four Towers of Souls, while the Gorge Peak Academy only needs two. Building two is easier than building four. The city lord likes efficiency."

"I understand..." After hearing these words, Bal Yan, who had just been overjoyed, started sweating again. Based on this reason, the city lord maintained support for the Gorge Peak Academy, but it also put more pressure on him. If the Gorge Peak Academy did not make any breakthroughs, he might have to consider running away.

"The second matter." Without giving Bal Yan time to digest the first matter, Wei Ming immediately began the second.

"The Gorge Peak Academy must participate in the Soul Marking Conference of the Aspiration Spirit District," Wei Ming said.

"Ah! This... This is probably not appropriate, right? The Gorge Peak Academy currently lacks the ability! Give me one more year." Bal Yan panicked. This time, he had to argue his case. He did not expect the city lord's evaluation to come so quickly, directly requiring him to participate in the Aspiration Spirit District's Soul Marking Conference. There was only one month left! How could the Gorge Peak Academy suddenly produce a capable student in just one month? Unless... unless...

Bal Yan's mind was racing, and he suddenly thought of a possibility: "Unless..."

"Unless Lu Ping from the Zephyr Academy transfers to the Gorge Peak Academy, right?" Wei Ming helped Bal Yan express his thoughts.

Bal Yan's face turned red, but at this moment, he could not afford to care about anything else. If he could secure Lu Ping, it would be a great fortune. If the city lord's office could help, it would be even better. So he immediately nodded.

"Do you think the city lord's office can随意左右学生的意愿?" Wei Ming suddenly said coldly, this time not using the respectful term "you" but just "you."

Bal Yan was a bit confused. If the city lord's office really had such an order, it could certainly influence student decisions. Could there be students who did not respect the city lord's office? He did not know that just yesterday, Lu Ping had firmly refused the city lord's summons and even severely injured a city lord's guard. So Wei Ming's tone, which seemed to mock himself, was extremely cold, and Bal Yan did not understand it.

"This is the list of students from the Gorge Peak Academy who will participate in the Soul Marking Conference." At this moment, Wei Ming suddenly took out a piece of paper and handed it over.

Bal Yan took it in a daze, glanced up, and saw the first name: Wei Tianqi.

The city lord's only son, in terms of realm, he was indeed the best in the Gorge Peak Academy. If the Tower of Souls had not collapsed, he had the potential to reach the top. But with just this level of strength, he only had the qualifications to participate in the Soul Marking Conference. Making it to the Soul Marking List would not be easy.

Bal Yan had been studying the Soul Marking Conference of the Aspiration Spirit District for many years and naturally understood it well. The conference did not divide students by grade, so Wei Tianqi would face not only his peers but also fourth-year students. The academic year in the Aspiration Spirit District was not the same as in the Gorge Peak District. Their fourth-year students would graduate only after participating in the current year's Soul Marking Conference. The final ranking in the conference would be the ultimate evaluation of their strength. The number of floors broken through in the Tower of Souls? This was not impressive in the Aspiration Spirit District.

Is the city lord overconfident because of his son?

Bal Yan subconsciously thought this when he saw Wei Tianqi's name. But soon, he saw the second name on the list.

Wei Yang.

Wei Yang? Is that the Wei Yang who completed the connection in two years? One of the twelve family guards of the city lord's office?

Such a genius was exactly the kind of student Bal Yan had always yearned for! Unfortunately, he was already a family guard of the city lord's office and had reached such a realm, making it impossible for Bal Yan to recruit him. But now, the city lord was preparing to send Wei Yang to the Gorge Peak Academy to represent it in the Soul Marking Conference?

Bal Yan's temples throbbed, a sign of extreme excitement. He was beginning to understand the city lord's intention in having them participate in the Soul Marking Conference.

Below Wei Yang, the third name.

Wei Ming.

It was actually Wei Ming. Bal Yan did not know the exact strength of this young man, but it was definitely much stronger than Wei Yang. Although Wei Yang was a genius, his strength was said to be at the bottom of the twelve family guards of the city lord's office.

With even Wei Ming being dispatched, Bal Yan was deeply looking forward to this list. He eagerly scanned the fourth name on the list.

Wei Ying?

Who is this?

Bal Yan was a bit confused. With the same surname, he was probably one of the twelve family guards. These twelve people, after following Wei Zhong and becoming his family guards, were all given the surname "Wei." Wei Ying was likely one of them, but he had never heard of him.

"Have you finished reading?" At this moment, Wei Ming's voice sounded.

"Finished... finished reading." There were only four names on the list, and he had already scanned them at a glance.

"There's no need for more words. You will make the arrangements, right?" Wei Ming said, reverting to the respectful term "you" when addressing Bal Yan.

"I understand, I will make the arrangements." Bal Yan had said "I understand" countless times, but to him, this was a stroke of luck. The city lord's office was actually sending experts to represent the Gorge Peak Academy in the Soul Marking Conference. If they had received such treatment earlier, the Gorge Peak Academy would have already made a name for itself.

Wei Yang, Wei Ming, and that unknown Wei Ying. With these experts, what was one Lu Ping from the Zephyr Academy?

No!

Why was he still thinking about the Zephyr Academy, still thinking about Lu Ping?

At this moment, thinking about them was too narrow-minded. He had really been living in the Gorge Peak District for too long.

With such experts, he should be looking at the Aspiration Spirit District.

Unfortunately, there were still too few people. Only three. If all twelve family guards were sent, and they dominated the top twelve spots on the Soul Marking List, how glorious would the Gorge Peak Academy be?

Ah, no, that's not right. If all twelve people from the Gorge Peak Academy were surnamed Wei, it would be too conspicuous and unnatural. It was better this way, more measured. He should find a few more students to fill in, to make the team larger.

Zephyr Academy? Guo Youdao? Lu Ping?

We'll see at the Soul Marking Conference!

(Second update, just in time for the new week! Striving to climb the charts, please click, collect, and recommend! Don't hesitate, act now!)

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