Chapter 54: The Dual Honorary Count
After Ye Wen's successful interaction with Yu Yuanzhen, the details of their discussion gradually spread throughout Spirit City. This was partly due to Yu Yuanzhen's intentions; as a powerful Title Douluo with a son labeled as "waste," he naturally felt some embarrassment. Now, thanks to the continent renowned Master Ye Wen's endorsement, it became clear that his son's issue stemmed from a mutation error during martial soul awakening, which temporarily impacted his cultivation foundation.
It was widely acknowledged that the best light attribute training environment on the continent was under the control of Spirit Hall. After all, the Angel Martial Soul wielded by Spirit Hall's elite was a god level martial soul of light and fire. Yielding to Yu Xiaogang's fervent pleas and frustration at his own physical limitations, Yu Yuanzhen ultimately gave in. By paying a substantial price in resources, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan secured access for Yu Xiaogang to train in the light environment he had longed for.
This exchange stirred discontent within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, especially since Ye Wen's theory suggested that, at most, Yu Xiaogang could reach the rank of Soul Emperor. The same resources could have produced several Soul Emperors instead. However, Yu Xiaogang happened to have a father who was a Title Douluo, so he prevailed. Meanwhile, Yu Yuanzhen set his clan members to the task of locating a thousand year dragon type soul beast with a light attribute to support Yu Xiaogang's recovery.
Ye Wen couldn't help but admire the wealth of the great clans. When he needed to find a suitable light attribute beast in the Star Dou Forest, he'd spent a long time searching, whereas all Yu Yuanzhen had to do was issue the command, and his clan would mobilize.
At the same time, other major powers also began to appreciate the depth of Ye Wen's theories. Previously overlooked aspects of martial soul mutation were now viewed in a new light, leading some to wonder if proper nourishment could yield powerful mutations in martial souls. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan also approached Ye Wen, eager for insight. They had always wished for a way to advance their Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to its full potential as the Nine Treasures Pagoda. Although rare eight tiered pagodas had occasionally appeared throughout history, they were few and far between, often regressing to seven in the next generation. Thus, their clan had long been searching for a means to enhance their martial soul.
After analyzing the Glazed Pagoda's innate sensitivity to precious energy, Ye Wen suggested that for their martial soul to advance further, the family should ensure that expectant mothers within the clan are exposed to such "precious energies" as much as possible or create a cultivation method that absorbs precious energy. This could increase the chances of giving birth to children with an Eight Treasures or even Nine Treasures Pagoda. Inspired, the current clan leader, Ning Fengzhi's father, was elated by the realization and decided to implement Ye Wen's advice.
In gratitude, the clan leader awarded Ye Wen the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's Honorary Elder title and promised support if he ever faced difficulties. In exchange, the clan hoped Ye Wen would occasionally offer guidance to their younger members. Given that Ye Wen was already planning to establish an academy, he readily accepted the request.
Though the details of his meeting with the Seven Treasures Clan were not fully disclosed, it was clear that they had benefited significantly, as they bestowed an honorary title typically reserved for figures on par with a Title Douluo. Ye Wen's reputation soared even higher.
After a long wait, Ye Wen finally received news from Qian Xunji: his request for academy land was approved. Furthermore, he met the imperial representatives from the two empires, the Crown Prince Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire and Prince Dai Lie of the Star Luo Empire, both of whom attempted to recruit him to their respective sides. Ye Wen skillfully declined, carefully navigating their questions with respectful but firm responses. Backed by Spirit Hall and Qian Xunji, the two empires refrained from pressing him too hard.
Knowing his aversion to war and understanding the circumstances of his father's passing, both sides instead offered Ye Wen an honorary nobility rank as a means of deterrence and recognition. He was officially made an honorary count by both empires, granting him the title of "Dual Honorary Count," a diplomatic gesture that both secured goodwill and forestalled his potential alignment with Spirit Hall.
For Ye Wen, it was a straightforward decision to accept. Alongside his title, the two empires would pay him an annual stipend of 100,000 gold soul coins, as well as provide tax exemptions and other perks. Taking advantage of this support, Ye Wen also requested construction crews from both empires to help build his advanced soul master academy on the designated land. When he presented them with the architectural plans, they were especially pleased.
While the academy's buildings were relatively modest, the outer walls featured three distinctive gates. The gate facing Star Luo was crafted in the shape of a roaring tiger's mouth, symbolizing the empire's emblem, while the gate facing Heaven Dou took the form of an elegant swan archway. The main entrance, a more understated gate adorned with blue silver grass intertwined in a cross like pattern, conveyed his commitment to neutrality. This design subtly reassured both empires that Ye Wen's academy held no ill will toward either.
(End of Chapter)
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