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*****
"I believe that when it comes to the control of the elements, we share a significant amount of common ground. We could explore these concepts together and refine our skills," Su Wen said with a faint smile, looking at the stunned Long Shiya.
He was confident that his methods of elemental manipulation would be irresistible to the old man.
Long Shiya possessed six attributes and had created the Six-Way Control Technique. His greatest achievement was the ability to independently mobilize those six elemental forces, no longer being restricted to the specific skills stored within his Physical Jewels. Instead, through his technique, he could perfectly manipulate the elements to replicate any skill belonging to those six attributes.
However, he only mastered six. Su Wen, on the other hand, had demonstrated at least eight, including the supreme Saint attributes.
Given the effortless grace Su Wen displayed in wielding these powers, Long Shiya suspected that Su Wen could achieve effects similar to his Six-Way Control—perhaps even superior ones.
This was the source of Long Shiya's shock. Replicating any skill of the six elements at will was his claim to fame; he had never imagined anyone else could achieve such a feat, let alone with more attributes and of a higher quality than his own.
Long Shiya took a deep breath, staring intensely at Su Wen, trying to discern the man's true objective.
A partnership?
At this point, Long Shiya had to take the proposal seriously. Clearly, they had much to discuss. A flicker of excitement rose in his heart; while he didn't fully understand Su Wen's method of mobilization, he could tell it was fundamentally different from his own.
This meant Su Wen's techniques could potentially complement his Six-Way Control. Perhaps this was the catalyst he needed to take his technique to the next level—maybe even the key to breaking through to the God Tier.
Su Wen's hands began to move, the elemental forces within them evolving.
A strand of Evil energy emerged, merging into the Wind attribute. The originally green currents transformed into sharp, black-and-red wind blades. Next, he summoned Lightning, fusing it with Evil to form crackling grey bolts of electricity.
"This is..." Long Shiya's gaze sharpened as he focused on the specialized Wind and Lightning in Su Wen's palms.
"This is the version of Wind and Lightning that Zhou Weiqing awakened," Su Wen explained. "They are mutated products of fusion with the Evil attribute, effectively making them equivalent to Superior attributes."
Fused with the Evil attribute?
Long Shiya's heart skipped a beat. Recalling the list of Zhou Weiqing's six attributes, he became even more intrigued.
If Wind and Lightning were already fused with Evil, that meant three attributes were already working in harmony. To inherit the Six-Way Control Technique, the boy would only need to harmonize the remaining three—Time, Space, and Darkness. And those three already shared points of convergence.
Perfect!
Even without meeting him, Long Shiya was already starting to feel satisfied with Zhou Weiqing. Since Su Wen had demonstrated mastery over nine attributes—adding Lightning to the previous eight—his claim about Zhou Weiqing having six attributes was highly credible.
In fact, watching Su Wen evolve the mutated Wind and Lightning, Long Shiya felt that Su Wen hadn't just "mastered" these nine attributes; he had truly integrated them into his being, allowing him to evolve them at will.
This was a path Long Shiya had once contemplated. After achieving mastery over Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Light, and Darkness, he had looked for a way to advance his technique. One of his theories involved fusing multiple attributes to create entirely new ones.
Seeing Su Wen demonstrate the mutation process confirmed that his theory was indeed viable.
"May I ask exactly what this partnership entails?" Long Shiya finally spoke up, unable to wait any longer as Su Wen seemed content to simply focus on the elemental flow in his hands. He was fascinated by the display, but the curiosity was gnawing at him.
Su Wen looked up and asked, "Emperor, what do you think I am doing here on Heavenly Jewel Island?"
The question caught Long Shiya off guard. Su Wen—a Heavenly Emperor who had previously held no reputation—had appeared in Zhongtian City and was sitting in the VIP section of the tournament rostrum. This clearly signaled a connection to the Vast Expanse Palace.
"Is your Excellency engaged in some sort of deal with the Vast Expanse Palace?"
Su Wen then explained his collaboration with the Palace and his plan to establish the Academy.
"You're inviting me to join this Academy?" That was Long Shiya's first reaction. Then, a realization struck him.
"You aren't just seeking fame!" He looked at Su Wen with a mix of suspicion and awe at the man's ambition. Inviting another Heavenly Emperor to join one's faction was a clear sign of a desire to expand and dominate.
However, he couldn't understand how Su Wen expected to integrate academies across so many different cities. If he couldn't unify them, the "Academy" would be nothing more than a loose association spread across the continent, unable to become a truly powerful force. By choosing a structure similar to the Stored Skill Palace, Su Wen was essentially forfeiting the chance to compete as a major power.
Establishing the Academy in this way to maximize its status quickly while trying to build a genuine powerhouse seemed contradictory and difficult. While Long Shiya had his doubts, he didn't voice them immediately. He figured a Heavenly Emperor wouldn't be so short-sighted; if Su Wen had a plan, he must have the confidence to back it up.
"Correct. The Academy will become the sixth Saint Land of the continent. However, the Academy will not hoard resources. As I said, its purpose is to spread knowledge, engage in academic research, train Heavenly Jewel Masters, and pioneer new paths for cultivation."
Su Wen spoke with absolute conviction. His confidence moved Long Shiya. It wasn't just the audacity of claiming to build a sixth Saint Land; it was the fact that even after admitting his ambition, Su Wen's definition of the Academy remained pure. In that moment, Long Shiya sensed no deceit. Su Wen truly believed in this vision.
"What can I gain?" Long Shiya asked solemnly.
This was his primary concern. Joining an organization was one thing, but he needed to know what Su Wen was offering in exchange. Su Wen held the elemental control methods that Long Shiya craved, so he couldn't simply walk away. He had to weigh the pros and cons.
This wasn't just about a rogue Heavenly Emperor doing as he pleased. Attempting to establish a sixth Saint Land would trigger a reaction from the existing five. At that point, they wouldn't care if he was a "rogue" or not.
"Actually, the elemental control techniques are secondary," Su Wen replied. "The Academy's theories and records will be completely open to the public; you will understand them in time. The many methods I have mastered are not just for you, Emperor—any Heavenly Jewel Master with sufficient confidence can attempt to learn them."
(End of Chapter)