Zhang Junsheng nodded, having been dazed for a long time before realizing someone was calling him.
"I'll take that as a good omen."
Zhang Junsheng thanked them, somewhat perplexed, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Immortal Ciyuan is seventy to eighty years my senior, my old schoolmate. He did his undergraduate studies at Qingfeng University, followed by graduate school at Beidou University."
Jiang Ding felt a sourness in his heart and nodded gently.
"Among my students, the one with the highest talent and cultivation base, Wu Mengsha, is approaching five hundred years old this year at the age of four hundred and fifty. She's still polishing her mana and Divine Sense, and decades ago, she resigned from her position as a researcher at the Great Sun Relic Laboratory to travel through various Small Worlds and refine her Dao Heart," Zhang Junsheng continued with reluctance.
"Compared to her peers, she is doing quite well, having received an opportunity for Infant Formation."
"A few days ago, we spoke; she still needs about a hundred years before she'll attempt Infant Formation."
Once again, Jiang Ding felt the flow of time before his eyes, as if something was about to leave him.
"The Great Sun Ruins emergency excavation major is very important. Tens of thousands or even more years of Immortal Path exploration contained within the Great Sun Sword Pavilion are to be unearthed, benefiting the Xianmen Sect immensely," Zhang Junsheng explained.
"Looking at it now, if Wu Mengsha can't achieve Infant Formation ahead of time, and do it successfully, you'll have to take over as the professor for this major yourself."
With a soft sigh, Zhang Junsheng said, "In at most seventy years, I will ascend to the Nascent Soul Peak. By then, like Immortal Ciyuan, I too will enter the Sleep Secret Realm."
"At that time, everything concerning the department will depend on you."
"During these remaining seventy years, don't just focus on cultivating and studying the Sword Dao; also learn management with me—train undergraduates, graduates, and Ph.D. students as well. Modern science isn't a solo fight of extra-terrestrial Immortal Sects; it's a whole huge scientific research team. Just in our niche major, there are tens of thousands of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage or above, engaged in various fundamental, logistical, and R&D tasks," he continued.
"And knowing how to write papers, pull in projects and such is a fundamental skill for securing one's position, and cannot be neglected."
"Hmm, you only need to get some understanding of that last point," Zhang Junsheng added.
"Also, regarding liaising with the school and the Xianmen Science Institute, sometimes these institutions will assign certain scientific research tasks down..."
Zhang Junsheng kept giving endless advice, his words extremely plentiful today, covering all aspects from one topic to the next, then back again.
Jiang Ding listened attentively, asking about anything he didn't understand whenever necessary.
Not until quite some time had passed.
"Teacher, don't worry. We will meet again in the future, and it won't be too long, so there's no need to feel so melancholic," Jiang Ding comforted, "Who knows, by the time you awake, your student may already be a Spirit Transformation Heavenly Monarch. Then, if you have any difficulties with cultivation, you can ask me. I'll explain it to you."
"You're going to teach me about cultivation? I might even be better than you when it comes to the Immortal Sects' Sword Dao!"
Zhang Junsheng chuckled and scolded, his spirits somewhat lifted by the jest.
"By the way, Teacher," Jiang Ding interjected after remembering something.
"Will Immortal Dinghai and Immortal Luling also succumb to slumber?" he inquired. These two were well-known mentors within the Xianmen Sect, who had taught him since he was a boy and were a significant part of his life.
"Almost, the two of them were my classmates," Zhang Junsheng replied with a slight nod.
"Don't worry, the new headmaster and teachers of Qingfeng University are all top talents of the Xianmen Sect, with strong ideals and political beliefs, and outstanding capabilities. You'll enjoy working with them," he reassured.
"The cycle of renewal, it is an unchanging sight within the passage of time."
Jiang Ding sighed lightly in his heart.
How could his teachers and others, who had been with him since his childhood, be completely the same, and how could their emotions be identical?
"Let's not talk about this anymore, let's continue watching the news."
Zhang Junsheng, unwilling to endure the atmosphere mixed with a tinge of parting sorrow, changed the subject, "Have you been following it? Today is the day the Sun Extinguisher Heavenly Monarch's Divinity Transformation Strategy is released. How about we guess what's in the Divinity Transformation Strategy?"
"Divinity Transformation Strategy?"
Jiang Ding felt a slight stir in his heart.
In the next hundred years, the entire celestial industry of the Xianmen Sect would undergo certain adjustments and Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive!
The two fell silent, quietly watching the television.
It wasn't until the last ten minutes that the male presenter picked up a sheet of paper, speaking with solemn joy, "Members of the 274th Xianmen Citizens' Congress, we warmly congratulate the Sun Extinguisher Heavenly Monarch on his ascension to Divinity."
"The Sun Extinguisher Heavenly Monarch was born in the tumultuous war era of the Xianmen, fighting selflessly for the citizens, exhibiting remarkable bravery and earning the respect of the world. Now, after more than four thousand years, he finally achieves the rank of Heavenly Monarch. This is great fortune for the Xianmen…"
As the presenter spoke, the image of a towering figure, noble in character and steadfast in will, a paragon of the era, emerged before everyone's eyes, beckoning their hearts irresistibly.
"To celebrate the birth of the Heavenly Monarch, in accordance with his will, the following Divinity Transformation Strategy is hereby announced:"
"First, strengthen the investment in the industry related to the 'Divine Light All-Illuminating Scripture' and Yang Attribute Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures, particularly the Fifth Order Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures, for synthetic industrial research."
"Second, establish the Sun Extinguisher Investment Company Limited, with the Xianmen Sect contributing 3.2 trillion low-grade Spirit Stones, holding ninety percent of the shares, and the Sun Extinguisher Heavenly Monarch contributing 355 billion low-grade Spirit Stones, holding ten percent of the shares, to Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive!"
"Third, establish the Zhuitan Research Institute to explore and research tracking Magic, with funding and talent Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive!"
"Senior Mieri did not choose a Divinity Transformation Strategy centered on war."
Zhang Junsheng's expression revealed a sense of 'I knew it', whether it was disappointment, relief, or something else altogether.
"Ah, that's right, the Xianmen Sect already has enough hardliners, and it took a lot of effort to suppress the internal disputes. The old senior understands the bigger picture and wouldn't add fuel to the fire at this moment."
As time went on and his life span increased, he truly hoped for war to start soon.
There were too many formidable figures in hibernation throughout the history of the Xianmen Sect!
If he had to wait in line in such a standard manner, the chance for a Divinity Transformation might not come even until death, only to wake up thousands of years later and have to stake his life without any assistance—chances were incredibly slim.
"Was Senior Mieri in war as well? Standard, stable, and balanced?"
Jiang Ding uttered in admiration.
This was different from the image Sun Extinguisher Heavenly Monarch gave people, which was distinctly that of a maverick.
A Divinity Transformation Strategy, as a rule, does not specify a number of points; it could be one or even dozens.
However, the investment from the Xianmen Sect was fixed. The more points and directions in the Divinity Transformation Strategy, the more scattered the investments would become, and in the end, it might amount to nothing—a lot of noise and no substance.
Throughout history, Heavenly Monarchs mostly only chose one or two points for their Divinity Transformation Strategy.
The Sun Extinguisher Heavenly Monarch did the same.
It seemed like three points, but in fact, it was only one, just broken down for implementation. Overall, it meant facilitating a change in the environment and industry of the Xianmen Sect to become more suited to his own Cultivation Method and personal needs, making his cultivation more convenient and easier.
"The Heavenly Monarch believes that swordsman cultivators make excellent scouts, capable of enhancing the Xianmen Sect's strength on the battlefield. Therefore, adult swordsmanship majors will be established in the Cultivation Departments of the Xianmen Sect for a duration of one hundred years."
Jiang Ding was taken aback.