Cohabitation with Sword Spirit

Chapter 530 - 31: How Did a Celestial Sword Spirit Like Me End Up as Dean of Cyan Lotus Academy?

Wang Jiu’s volunteering suddenly froze the air in the Assembly Hall.

"You... want to be the headmaster of Cyan Lotus Academy?" Shang Miaoyu was thankful that her mind was barely keeping up with this person in front of her, "Do you know how many conditions are required to become the headmaster of Cyan Lotus Academy?"

Wang Jiu said, "According to the academy regulations, the main requirements are: at least twenty years of academy experience, scoring over 320 in the academy library’s comprehensive exam, having achieved the top spot on the Cyan Lotus list once, and having no more than one-third of the elders in the Assembly Hall oppose. In the special provisions, when the headmaster is unable to perform duties for some reason, the highest-ranking elder leads the Assembly Hall to temporarily act as headmaster, and a headmaster is elected through temporary elections within three months."

Shang Miaoyu sighed, "Which of these do you think you qualify for?"

Wang Jiu continued, "The last one, according to situational needs, the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect can arbitrarily amend the academy regulations."

"..." Shang Miaoyu was momentarily speechless.

Wang Jiu was right, the academy regulations of Cyan Lotus Academy indeed had such a provision. If needed, the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect could arbitrarily amend the regulations. In fact, Wuxiang Sword Academy and the Celestial Craft Institute have similar provisions. These are ancient oaths passed down from two thousand years ago, from the initial founding of the Three Academies, a show of absolute loyalty of the founders of the Three Academies to the two First Generation Sect Leaders. Even if they became independent branches, they had to ensure absolute control of the Saint Sect over the Three Academies.

One sect, three academies, and seven families, among which the one sect and three academies have never split into separate entities. However, in two thousand years, the number of times that the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect has used this privilege is countable on one hand.

The leader of the Saint Sect is also the ruler of the world, and the use of power must be exercised with the utmost caution. What’s more, directly appointing the headmaster of the Three Academies is enough to shake the entire structure of the Immortal Cultivation Realm on the continent. But when Wang Jiu brings it up now, it seems as natural as eating and drinking.

And while Shang Miaoyu was filled with shock, the Sect Leader on the other side happily nodded, "That’s right, since these regulations are an obstacle, let’s amend them. Add a clause stating that someone guaranteed by the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect with the Sacred Heart Oath can directly assume the position of Cyan Lotus Academy headmaster."

"That life-threatening Sacred Heart Oath?" Shang Miaoyu was astonished, "Sect Leader, you think so highly of him? Taking a life-and-death gamble to support him?"

The Sect Leader smiled, "Indeed, since he’s the candidate for the next Sect Leader, of course, I’ll support him with all my might. During his time at your Cyan Lotus Academy, consider it his internship period."

"The next..." This time, Shang Miaoyu was truly too shocked to speak.

Is the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect planning to pass down the leadership? And the candidate is neither the previously speculated "Sect Leader’s illegitimate daughter" Zhao Chenlu—objectively speaking, although the call for such a candidate was not high, her ability was undeniable but her reputation was inversely proportional, lacking the foundational prestige to govern Xiangzhou—nor the Wuxiang Sword Academy headmaster whom many esteemed, but a young man of no renown.

However, the matter of succession for the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect has always been under the personal jurisdiction of the Sect Leader, with no need for accountability to anyone else and without being constrained by any procedural steps. If he has decided, outsiders have nothing to say. Moreover, if he can assume the position of the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect, then the position of Cyan Lotus Academy headmaster is not that significant.

Historically, when a headmaster of one of the Three Academies was unable to perform duties due to special circumstances, there have been cases where the Elder Council collectively discussed and entrusted the Saint Sect to take over management. Usually, the Saint Sect dispatches the highest-ranking envoy to temporarily preside over the work, but this time, it’s equivalent to dispatching the next Sect Leader to serve as headmaster, even surpassing usual standards in terms of specification.

After pondering for a while, Shang Miaoyu nodded, "Since it is a candidate so valued by the Sect Leader, I have nothing to say. I hope the new headmaster can lead Cyan Lotus Academy toward a bright future." She then led the applause, signaling a welcome to the new headmaster.

In the Assembly Hall, the other elders were each surprised. How did they suddenly choose a new headmaster just like that? It happened more unexpectedly than a one-night stand!

But even the most eloquent Shang Miaoyu no longer argued, so what could they say? They could only clap in bewilderment.

After a round of applause, the decision for the headmaster of Cyan Lotus Academy was settled.

——

On May 16, 2018

Under the full efforts of the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect, and after going through brief induction procedures, Celestial Sword Spirit Wang Jiu officially took up his post at Cyan Lotus Academy.

Sitting in the newly cleaned and organized headmaster’s office, Wang Jiu was full of ambition for the work ahead, while also feeling a profound sense of novelty.

Counting the fifty years in his human form, in his nearly sixty years of life, he had never experienced leadership in an organization.

He had always been dedicated to the Sword Dao, to Immortal Cultivation, to vanquishing the Demon Race and protecting Xiangzhou’s civilization. He neither had the interest nor the energy to deeply engage with human society. Now that he had seen the Peak of the Immortal Dao, and successfully defeated the Demon Race, he was free to pick up those lower-tier pastimes he once had no time for.

Entering the societal structures of lower beings in the position of a leader, fully utilizing his intelligence advantage to help them improve upon their own deficiencies.

Wang Jiu was confident about this, even though his experience and knowledge of human society were still gravely lacking, but how difficult could such downwardly compatible work involving lower beings be?

Whether it is succeeding as the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect, or before formally taking office, using his position as an academy headmaster as an internship, could it really be harder than training someone with an Intelligence Index of 3.3 to become the Cyan Cloud Tournament champion?

However, on his first day of taking office, Wang Jiu was confronted with a wave of problems.

——

"Dean, something terrible has happened."

A young scholar dressed in white pushed the door open in a panic, holding a clearly ill-intentioned visiting card: "The creditor has come knocking!"

Wang Jiu frowned and took the card, seeing the crimson handwriting marking the visitor’s identity as Anping Money Shop.

"What’s the background of this Anping Money Shop?"

The young scholar looked puzzled: "I, I don’t know."

Wang Jiu was bewildered: "You let them in even if you don’t know?"

The scholar immediately lowered his head and muttered: "They came in aggressively, claiming the former dean owed them a lot of money, which is overdue. The loan was witnessed by the Holy Sect Envoy. If we can’t give them a satisfactory answer, they will seek justice from the Saint Sect."

Wang Jiu asked: "Then why not take them to the Saint Sect to seek justice?"

The scholar was left speechless, not knowing how to respond.

It’s the Saint Sect, not a market dispute handling committee. Who dares to bother them with debt issues? The Saint Sect holds a supreme position, rooted deeply in the hearts of the Three Academies’ cultivators, surpassing all other cultivators on the continent. Even if they have to pretend, they wouldn’t want the Saint Sect to see their disgrace. Let alone something like failing to repay debts, it’s a colossal joke... So, of course, they won’t let the Saint Sect find out. Upon hearing the news, the scholar hurriedly verified the authenticity of the loan contract and rushed to report to Wang Jiu, fearing they might really disturb the Myriad Forms Garden of the Saint Sect.

But unexpectedly, in the new dean’s view, since there’s a place to seek justice, just go directly to it. As for whether it ends in double compensation or the loan contract being void, let the Saint Sect be the judge, and the academy will execute accordingly. That’s what efficiency is about. Otherwise, if they respond here and dissatisfaction brews there, it’ll still end in requesting arbitration from the Saint Sect. Why waste that hassle?

Meanwhile, observing the scholar’s speechless expression, Wang Jiu casually flipped through the dean’s register and found the scholar’s details.

Zhang Tie, born in 1970, Deputy Leader of Academy Sword Group, Early Stage Mountain-Overturning Realm, cultivating Cyan Lotus Sword Manual for 15 years, proficient in Cyan Lotus Seven Techniques, having reached the 17th heaven... has assisted in multiple projects led by the Sang Yue and Sang Jing sisters, temporarily assigned as the secretary to the new dean.

Yet seeing this person unable to handle even the most basic logical issues properly, his Intelligence Index is likely inferior to Shen Qingming, considered moderately challenged. No wonder those two led a team of over 100 researching the Sword Manual for ages yet couldn’t even develop life-saving techniques.

Thinking of this, Wang Jiu suddenly had an idea.

"You’re fired."

"Ha?!" The scholar almost jumped in place, "Dean, why?!"

"Because your intelligence cannot bear the duties of a secretary," Wang Jiu candidly explained the reason for dismissing him, adding, "Moreover, based on your cultivation log, your talents and aptitudes don’t suit cultivating the Sword Manual. I suggest you transfer to the All Things Group."

Zhang Tie blushed, with countless questions in his mind, yet ultimately he only managed to ask: "Why, why the All Things Group?"

"Because the All Things Group requires the least technical expertise and intelligence."

After speaking, Wang Jiu stood up, holding the visiting card from Anping Money Shop, and headed toward the Assembly Hall.

——

Soon, Wang Jiu arrived at the Assembly Hall and encountered a group of aggressive debt collectors.

The leader was a female cultivator appearing in her early thirties; judging by the True Essence Fluctuation, she was merely a novice in the cultivation realm, around the Cloud Surge Realm. However, she was adorned with numerous high-quality magical artifacts and treasures, perfectly exuding the aura of a wealthy cultivator.

Her appearance was charming and glamorous, yet her sword-like sharp eyebrows transformed the glamour into sharpness. Accompanied by three attendants, she was sitting by the conference table; her presence alone suppressed many scholars in the hall from raising their heads, even Feng Xiaolu, the head of the All Things Group, who arrived early, could only smile helplessly.

Seeing Wang Jiu enter, the woman from the Money Shop first raised her eyebrows but soon her expression softened like melting snow.

"You’re the newly appointed dean of the academy? I didn’t expect... hmm, my purpose this time is merely to reclaim the debt. Your former dean borrowed thirty thousand spirit stones from Anping Money Shop three months ago, claiming they needed it to explore the Primordial Ruins, promising to share exploration results with us upon return as a reward. Yet three months passed, and we haven’t received even an exploration report from Anping Money Shop!"