Chapter 2442: Chapter 2446: I Will Come Back to Collect Interest
"This is an academy, not a sect. If something like this happened within a sect, I wouldn’t be surprised at all!"
Jiang Chen continued, "But this is an academy, and it is the Changling Academy that has been known for seeking fairness and justice. A hundred years ago, because my master didn’t have enough points, he wasn’t given the God Concealing Spirit Herb to heal his injuries, resulting in no progress in his cultivation for a century. My master went to that battle for the academy!"
The crowd collectively looked at Hu Yiqiu upon hearing this, but Hu Yiqiu’s expression remained bland, not showing much emotion.
Taiyuan Chancellor’s eyes flickered, and he sighed softly, "This matter is where the academy was at fault with Elder Jiu, if it’s because of this..."
"No!"
Jiang Chen shook his head gently, "I’m not doing this because of that. This matter can be seen as the academy having strict regulations where everyone abides by the rules, leaving it without reproach!"
Pausing for a moment, Jiang Chen’s gaze sharpened, "Then, I would like to ask, according to the academy’s rules, what punishment should befall those who spy on one’s Sea of Consciousness? And those who spy on one’s inheritance?"
"Abolish their cultivation and expel them from the academy!"
Before Taiyuan Chancellor could respond, a young man in a black robe spoke harshly.
Everyone’s faces changed at this, and Taiyuan Chancellor looked at the young man in black, a bitter smile appearing in his eyes.
"Indeed, such punishment should be enacted, but what was the result? With just a word of saving face for someone, it was brushed off completely, why is that?"
Jiang Chen’s eyes became piercingly sharp, "Because I am just a new student at the Divine Infant Realm Peak, and the person who spied on my Sea of Consciousness is a lofty vice chancellor."
Pointing to the group of Pill Masters beside him, Jiang Chen continued, "Those who spied on my alchemy inheritance are these Pill Masters from the Elixir Medicine Pavilion, the important figures in your eyes for making elixirs for the academy, so I must swallow this grievance and bear this injustice, right?"
Taiyuan Chancellor opened his mouth but could not utter a single word.
"What about my master? He is Elder Zhu’s disciple, number one on the genius list, the light of Changling back then! Even now, some people call him the light of Changling. In your eyes, is he also someone unimportant, someone who can be discarded?"
Jiang Chen nearly roared out these words.
Taiyuan Chancellor took a deep breath and said softly, "The matter back then was complicated, you aren’t clear about it, it’s best not to judge it lightly!"
"I am not clear about it, that is true. But I know my master was injured for the academy, my teacher’s wife, whom I’ve never met, fell for the academy, and my master returned without even a single God Concealing Spirit Herb, leading to a century without progress in his cultivation! Isn’t that a fact?"
Jiang Chen looked coldly at Taiyuan Chancellor, with no trace of respect in his eyes, loudly questioning.
"Jiang Chen, the academy isn’t as terrible as you think. If it truly were as you say, you’d have been slapped to death for shouting at the chancellor like this!"
Su Ruoyun sharply interjected.
"Thank you, Senior Su, for your mercy!"
Jiang Chen bowed to Su Ruoyun, giving her a cold glance, "But, may I ask the senior, what do you mean by it’s not as I say? Am I not speaking the truth?"
Su Ruoyun’s face changed slightly, and her brows furrowed lightly.
"In this world, power is respected! The cultivation realm is cruel like this, I understand all of these. But, since this is an academy, shouldn’t you truly practice the fairness and justice you preach?"
"No rules, no boundaries. Why were the academy’s rules and regulations established? Are they just for show?"
Jiang Chen took a deep breath, looking seriously at Taiyuan Chancellor, "Senior Taiyuan, I believe you are clear about my identity. In my hometown, I also established a Martial Warrior Academy."
"Martial Warrior Academy?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, and a hint of astonishment flickered in their eyes.
"The rules and regulations of the academy were established by several seniors and myself. Once the rules are set, even I must abide by them."
Jiang Chen ignored their thoughts and continued speaking to Taiyuan Chancellor, "Back then, you should know the kind of status I had in my hometown. Why did I abide by them? Would anyone dare say anything if I didn’t?"
"No! I can assure you, absolutely no one! Even if I didn’t follow them, no one would dare say anything, no one would say anything, so why did I abide by them?"
Upon saying this, Jiang Chen solemnly declared, "Because, no rules, no boundaries!"
"An academy is an academy, a sect is a sect. If an academy can’t act as one, and can’t make students feel at home when they return,"
Jiang Chen continued with a solemn face, "And if it can’t make students willingly contribute to the academy, or make students feel their contributions are worthwhile, it’s merely attracting students with cultivation resources, then what difference does it have from a sect?"
Everyone’s eyes revealed contemplation, and the dissatisfaction in Taiyuan Chancellor’s eyes faded, revealing deep thought.
"Allow me to speak bluntly."
Jiang Chen continued, "If one day, Changling Academy faces a catastrophe like Changlin Academy, Senior Taiyuan, how confident are you that many students of the academy would willingly lay down their lives for it?"
"How confident are you that when the academy survives the disaster and wins, students feel that ’our academy is saved,’ and not ’our cultivation place is saved’!"
"You are the chancellor; you should understand the significant difference between these two notions!"
Taiyuan Chancellor’s heart trembled profoundly, a hint of shock appearing in his eyes.
He had never considered these questions before, but now, having been awakened by Jiang Chen, a sense of dread surged within.
The few questions Jiang Chen asked, upon self-reflection, yielded the same astonishing answer.
That is... no confidence!
"I shall say no more. I ask Senior Taiyuan to reflect upon this. However, I want to make one thing clear; I don’t act for Changling Academy, nor does Changling Academy need me to do anything. I act for those in the past, present, and future who will come from Changlin Academy to study at Changling Academy."
Jiang Chen inhaled deeply again, slowly saying, "Because in my heart, Changlin Academy is my home!"
A trace of nostalgia flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes, though he had not been there long, he still felt a sense of longing for Changlin Academy.
Upon catching the expression in Jiang Chen’s eyes, a vague pain stirred in Taiyuan Chancellor’s heart. Have I ever seen such an expression in the eyes of the students at Changling Academy?
Turning to Hu Yiqiu, Jiang Chen bowed deeply, "Master, I’m sorry, I’ve let you down. As a cultivator, cultivating strength, Dao, and heart, continuing my training at Changling Academy would go against my true heart and affect my Dao Heart."
With that said, before Hu Yiqiu could say anything, Jiang Chen continued, "However, rest assured, I will definitely return for the matter a year from now. Master, you can exact your revenge, and I will take some interest from the opposing students."
With that pronounced, the entire crowd fell silent!
