Chapter 166 (1/2)

Chapter 166: Conversation (Part II)

Translator: Yukidaruma Translations  Editor: Yukidaruma Translations

Jackson thought about what he should say before he spoke, “This year’s Regional Selection is of great importance. It affects the academy’s budget for the next year. If our students can get into the top ten, it would be a tremendous help to the whole academy.”

Although Jackson had admired Fang Xingjian, the thing he valued most was still the academy.

In the past, Fang Xingjian’s talent had been too outstanding and he even had the chance to aim for the Divine level. Therefore, he had devoted a lot of the resources onto Fang Xingjian, hoping to rely on him to spread the name of Kirst Academy.

However, now, the situation had changed. Fang Xingjian was now blind. Moreover, with the rewards for both the Regional Selection and National Selection being raised greatly, goodness knows how many geniuses or old freaks with many years of accumulated experience would be coming out. Each academy would be fighting frantically for a chance as well. It could be said that this would be the Regional Selection with the toughest competition for the past few decades.

At such a time, even though it was a pity, Jackson knew that he could no longer continue wasting any resources on Fang Xingjian. Maintaining Fang Xingjian’s eligible treatment as a Prefectural Champion was also something he had done in consideration for Huang Lin.

This was also because Edger understood this Headmaster too well. Now that the Empire was implementing changes to the rewards offered for the Regional and National Selections, nothing could be changed regardless of how close the Headmaster personally was with Fang Xingjian. It was because he had to weigh the academy’s benefits against personal benefits. The two were no longer on the same side.

In fact, what Edger did was just give the final push. When the things that Jackson and Fang Xingjian were aiming for were different, even without Edger, today’s situation would still come by eventually. It was just a matter of how soon.

Jackson spoke, “Therefore, we can only keep the resources allocated to you to be at the level given to a Prefectural Champion. Additionally, that Superior Remains Divine Weapon which Governor Devitt forged for you… We hope that you can lend it to the academy for now. We will pay you a reasonable amount of compensation after the Regional Selection is over.”

Jackson continued to keep talking in an appeasing tone, “Xingjian, don’t worry. You just need to bear with it for the next three months and three weeks. Once our academy get good results in the Regional Selection, we will definitely pay you back double.

“I hope that you can restrain yourself for these four months. If we get good results in the Regional Selection and, thus, have increased budget and more resources, we will also be able to provide you with better conditions to aim for Heaven’s Perception.”

As for having the Divine level expert, Holy Orison, coming to treat Fang Xingjian himself, Jackson held no hopes for this.

It was because he had already asked around. The last time the Holy Orison had stepped out to treat someone was already three years ago. Since then, he had secluded himself on the Yalan Sacred Mountain located in the northeast. He had not left the place for three years.

Moreover, Yalan Sacred Mountain was where the Church of Universal Truth was located. As the most prominent religion in the world, it was an existence which even the Empire’s royalty did not dare to recklessly provoke.

After hearing Jackson’s words, Fang Xingjian kept quiet for quite a while. However, there was nothing he could say to defend his stance. Even if he had absolute confidence in himself, even if he definitely had to pass through the Regional Selection, these were just his personal reasons. There was no way that he could use these reasons to convince Jackson to support him.

There were no friendships which lasted forever, only eternal interests.

After he became blind, the interests he represented went in a different direction from what Jackson represented. Now, Fang Xingjian had no sufficient reasons or the sufficient strength to compel Jackson to do something of interest to himself.

Therefore, Fang Xingjian did not pester Jackson too much. He merely nodded and said, “I understand.”

Jackson nodded and patted him on the shoulder, saying, “I’m very sorry.”

Jackson left, but Fang Xingjian continued with his cultivation. The problems to everything laid in his eyes. The best thing he could do now was still to cultivate. Without attaining Heaven’s Perception, he would not even be able to get through the stage of “Pantheon Monument Observation”. This would mean that he would have absolutely no chances to pass the Regional Selection.

Streams of sword intentions slashed through the air occasionally, creating a series of sound explosions and waves of white air currents. These created sparks as they shot towards the air.

‘My problem now is if I get into a fight, I would only be able to use my sword intent to slash my opponent within a ten-meter distance.

‘Therefore, if I get into a fight, I must use my sword Qi to sense the environment, and take action before my opponent does. I must charge over and make it a close combat fight.