Chapter 286 - 284: Jiangti Arsenal
The dean of Jiangti’s Qiangwu Academy was, without a doubt, a major figure in the Martial Arts Society.
His influence was immense and his network extensive—all of it, of course, built on a foundation of raw power.
This was the first time Yang Shen had seen someone the system identified as a "Golden Core." Such a designation outshone any official title or authority.
It confirmed his earlier hypothesis about how the higher realms of the Martial Arts Side equated to other systems.
’The only question is whether Dean Zhan is in the early or late stage of the Guiyuan Realm.’
’I don’t even know the dean’s real age. In any case, it can’t be the forty or fifty he appears to be.’
’I can look him up later.’
Zhan Wangchuan rose with a kindly smile and invited Yang Shen to have a seat on the sofa in the reception area.
"Yang, you’ve given all of us at Jiangti quite a surprise!"
The title "Golden Core master" might have made him seem distant and unapproachable.
But "our dean" was a familiar and reassuring thought.
Yang Shen had plenty of experience dealing with Director Liang.
’He’s one of us!’
So he replied without a moment’s hesitation, "It’s all thanks to the academy’s excellent training. The Qiangwu Academy’s educational philosophy has helped me a great deal."
Zhan Wangchuan roared with laughter. "With a Patriarch like you, the Jianghuai Yang Family is destined for greatness."
As he spoke, he gestured with his hand. A tea set flew out of a nearby cabinet. Then, as if handled by an invisible specter, the set began to meticulously and precisely brew tea on its own. Zhan Wangchuan didn’t spare it a single glance, his full attention focused on Yang Shen.
’Those in the Jade Viscera Realm already possess a Biological Force Field, to say nothing of the Guiyuan Realm. This entire room must be completely under Zhan Wangchuan’s control.’
"To be honest, I was planning to have a chat with you soon, even before you broke through. I’ve just been swamped with work lately. I hope you don’t feel slighted, Yang. Academy matters have been overwhelming."
"You’re too kind, Dean. I’m focused on my studies, so I wasn’t concerned with such things."
The tea was now ready. A walnut-sized cup flew to a stop before Yang Shen. Looking down, he saw the phantom of a dragon flash and disappear at the bottom of the cup.
Seeing Yang Shen’s surprise, Zhan Wangchuan said gently, "It’s Longwu Red Tea. An old man like me develops a taste for strong stuff. Young people might find it a bit intense."
Yang Shen drained the cup in one go. A burning heat, no less intense than hard liquor, traced a path down his throat.
’And my Qi and Blood Value... it’s rapidly increasing!’
’This single cup of tea provided about four points to my Qi and Blood Value. That’s equivalent to eight bottles of Initial Realm Passage Essence Liquid... and the price would surely be far, far higher.’
’It makes sense. Given Dean Zhan’s realm, his Source Supplement needs must be enormous. It’s only natural he’d have things of this quality.’
’If this is what he drinks for tea every day, I can’t even imagine how incredible the pills he takes must be.’
But that was a world away from him. For someone at his level, medicine meant for the Guiyuan Realm would probably be no different from poison.
In truth, summoning Yang Shen here was mainly a way for the university to show how much it valued him.
And don’t think for a second that this was meaningless.
Getting things done isn’t just about throwing money at a problem; it’s about navigating the complexities of human relationships!
Zhan Wangchuan made friendly small talk, asking Yang Shen about his daily life and expressing the university’s deep, almost paternal, care for him.
Finally, the Dean explained that to encourage Yang Shen—and taking into account his outstanding academic performance and meritorious service in the development of the Exotic Realm—the university had decided to issue a consolidated reward package.
The implication was clear: his merits from the Exotic Realm were being rolled into this package. Unless there were special directives from the government later, this would be the full extent of the university’s reward.
First: A specially approved scholarship of 400,000, to be disbursed over four years.
This was on top of the fact that Yang Shen, as the Champion Scholar and top student of his year, had already claimed every available scholarship.
And yet, this was the most insignificant part of the entire package.
It wasn’t proper for the university to just hand out huge sums of cash, but some of the other rewards were truly priceless.
The other rewards included:
Second: Guaranteed admission to a graduate program. He could choose any specialization within Jiangti’s Qiangwu track, and if he wished to transfer to another academy, Qiangwu Academy would facilitate the communication on his behalf.
Third: A faculty position. Upon completion of his graduate studies, he would have a guaranteed teaching or research position at the university—a secure, "iron rice bowl" job for life.
Jiangti was a place of deep waters and towering opportunities. If there was a cushy, do-nothing position available—a sinecure—Yang Shen wouldn’t mind having a title at the nation’s top Martial Arts University.
Many influential figures held honorary titles from the university, which brought considerable convenience.
’It’s not like I’m ever going to get a normal nine-to-five job anyway.’
Fourth: The right to learn a Level A Technique, with no additional contracts required.
Level A Techniques were the highest tier in Jiangti’s library. Most were only suitable for practitioners at the True Gang Realm or higher. Each one was an peerless technique, unavailable anywhere else, with a value that was simply incalculable.
For perspective, the exceedingly rare *Meridian Following Technique* he had received before—a technique that could take a practitioner all the way to the Tongshu Realm—was merely a Level B technique.
As for techniques like the *Spiritual Snake Hand* or the *Thousand Silk Force*, they were D-level at best in this system.
And finally... a reward Yang Shen had never expected.
Fifth: A weapon. Yang Shen could go to the Jiangti Arsenal and choose a suitable weapon for himself...
For a Martial Artist, a Divine Weapon could be a complete game-changer.
But in the modern Martial Arts Society, the very definition of "Divine Weapon" had changed significantly.
On Cyan Blue, Martial Arts had flourished for millennia. Combined with the omnipresent Source, which had infused and mutated countless exotic materials over time...
...the remains of powerful Source Beasts, wondrous and unique metals, and weapons personally forged by legendary experts had inevitably left behind a legacy of so-called "Divine Weapons."
Jiangti possessed quite a few, and the top Martial Arts Families likely had their own collections as well.
However, technology was constantly advancing. Modern science also utilized Source Beast remains and special metals, and basic manufacturing techniques had long since surpassed those of ancient times. If they hadn’t, all of Yanhua’s development over the years would have been for nothing.
As a result, the concept of a "Divine Weapon" had become blurred, with a vast gulf between the best and the worst.
For example, some "Divine Weapons" might possess immense cultural and historical value, but in terms of practical use, they couldn’t compare to the Rune Weapon the Yang Family had recently acquired, or even to a conventional weapon forged with modern technology.
But other Divine Weapons... they could be divine in the truest sense of the word.
It might be an exaggeration to say they could shatter the heavens and sunder the earth, but leveling a city was certainly not out of the question.
You rarely saw anyone running around wreaking havoc with a Divine Weapon in public, not because such items didn’t exist, but because Yanhua society was generally stable. There hadn’t been a war worth mentioning in decades.
If you dared to try something like that, the deans of hospitals, the presidents of universities, police chiefs, military generals, and government bigwigs would instantly fly out and blast you to smithereens.
But in the more turbulent regions of Cyan Blue, it wasn’t unheard of for an expert to obliterate a terrorist stronghold and hundreds of its occupants with a single sword strike.
The Jiangti Arsenal was where these "Divine Weapons" were kept. It didn’t just contain weapons; there were surely other treasures as well. And Yang Shen could go inside and choose one item for himself.
Of course, he would only have the right to use it, not own it. In theory, these items belonged to Jiangti, and by extension, to the nation.
He could use it for as long as he remained at Jiangti. If he graduated and left, he would have to return it. But if he pursued graduate studies and eventually joined the faculty, there would be no time limit.
This was one of the ways the university tried to retain its top talent.
It also served as a form of protection for gifted students, since many of the items in the Armory... packed a serious punch.
’It’s a bit like how I imagine Cultivation Side Sects rewarding their core disciples with all sorts of protective treasures.’
’But the Cultivation Side uses a quasi-ancient system, one that likely evolved from the principles of a small-scale agrarian economy.’
’Cyan Blue, on the other hand, has entered the modern age. As the nation’s top Martial Arts University, Jiangti’s philosophy and structure are completely different from those of a Sect.’
’Jiangti, or rather the entire Yanhua educational system, has the core purpose of cultivating talent for the [Nation]. Therefore, it’s more inclined to build a selection mechanism with the broadest possible reach, raising the overall strength of the collective while incidentally discovering exceptional individuals.’
’Sects on the Cultivation Side, however, probably cultivate talent for [Themselves]. They likely focus on finding gifted individuals, and because such geniuses are hard to come by, they end up taking in a lot of cannon fodder along the way.’
As for the right to choose from the Armory, Yang Shen naturally had no intention of refusing.
Whether he’d stay on after graduation would depend on the university’s offer, but a faculty position at Jiangti was an extremely prestigious and valuable asset in society.
’Maybe I’ll even end up as a professor someday, just like Xu Mo.’
After they had finished discussing the rewards, Dean Zhan did not keep him long. He walked Yang Shen downstairs and instructed Sheng Qin to take him to the Armory.
Sheng Qin walked with a light step. Even though she hadn’t done anything, she was basking in some of Yang Shen’s reflected glory. Who knows, maybe Dean Zhan had even taken note of her name.
"The Armory is twelve floors beneath Qiangwu Tower. I’ve never been there myself. I’ll have to ask one of the other instructors in a bit."
Yang Shen raised an eyebrow. ’Twelve floors underground?’
’Isn’t the building only six stories tall above ground?’
’So it’s true... Jiangti’s waters run deep. Deep in the physical sense, too.’
’Huh... I wonder if I could use Earth Element Escape to get in...’
Yang Shen quickly shook his head. ’Forget it. I’m a good student.’
’A gentleman may love wealth, but he obtains it through proper means.’
’If I want rewards...’
’...I just need to kill more people in the future.’