Translator: Lordbluefire

  Headmaster Song didn’t forget that Shi Sheng had managed to ascend and become a secondary saint thanks to Sun Mo. Tong Xugao who had an outstanding talent in the field of the study of spirit runes had also headed to the Central Province Academy due to Sun Mo.

  One could say that currently, the strongest great teachers in the Central Province Academy were only gathered there because of Sun Mo.

  Headmaster Song who had clearly seen this point cast his gaze over at Li Ziqi and the others. He wanted to get Sun Mo even more because once he obtained Sun Mo, he would be able to obtain these geniuses.

  “Naturally, I can!”

  Headmaster Song’s reply had no hesitation. “If your esteemed school is willing to let him go, I’m willing to bestow the position of Headmaster of the Black-White Academy to Great Teacher Sun!”

  Headmaster Song changed the term address here from ‘Sun Mo’ to ‘Great Teacher Sun’. This wasn’t a form of politeness but was a form of approval and admiration instead.

  The entire dining room turned completely silent. Even the serving girls at the side were stunned into silence.

  Let Sun Mo become the headmaster of the Black-White Academy?

  (Sir, did you make a mistake?)

  Everyone from the Nine Provinces, regardless of whether they had studied before or not, knew that the Nine Greats were famous schools at the very peak. Those who could become their headmasters were all people overflowing with talent. They were saints with high prestige!

  “Headmaster Song, this joke isn’t funny!”

  An Xinhui’s expression was somewhat stiff. This temptation was truly too terrifying. She wasn’t sure if Sun Mo could withstand it.

  “Headmaster Song, please speak cautiously!”

  Mei Ziyu reminded him.

  As the daughter of the celebrity teacher Mei Yazhi of Jixia Academy, Mei Ziyu was clearer than others about the benefits one would receive by being the headmaster of a supreme-grade famous school.

  Naturally, she also knew the difficulties within. For example, her mother was already so outstanding, but she still had to face immense competition. And now, Song Yan actually promised the position of the headmaster to Sun Mo!

  (If word of this was to spread out, are you not afraid of your school’s reputation collapsing?)

  (After all, Sun Mo was a complete outsider. If you do this, what would the students and teachers nurtured in the Black-White Academy think?)

  “This should be a huge pancake that’s a lie, right? A pancake that can be seen but can’t be eaten?”

  Gu Xiuxun muttered.

  “Xiuxun, don’t be rude!” An Xinhui berated softly.

  “Sorry!”

  Gu Xiuxun hurriedly apologized. This was a saint, so she had to be courteous. If not, if he used a punishment-type halo, she would definitely be the one suffering.

  “The worries you guys have are understandable. After all, there are only nine of such positions in the entire Nine Provinces. Moreover, they are all people standing at the peak of authority in the great teacher world!”

  Song Yan drank a mouthful of tea. “However, I dare to guarantee that I will personally ensure Sun Mo can take on the headmaster’s position smoothly. I will make all the opposing voices vanish!”

  Si~

  After hearing the killing intent in Headmaster Song’s tone, everyone was shocked. This was especially so for Jin Mujie. She couldn’t understand this no matter how she thought about it.

  Was it worth doing so for a single Sun Mo?

  “As expected, my teacher is number one in the world!”

  Li Ziqi calmly lifted her cup of tea and drank it. In any case, she would follow her teacher wherever he went!

  “I wish to know the reason why you regard him so highly.”

  An Xinhui was curious.

  “In the great teacher world, there are still some people who can stand shoulder to shoulder with an absolute genius like Sun Mo. However, the number of people whose vision could match him……there’s none!”

  Headmaster Song recalled Sun Mo’s performance in the Black-White Game, especially the sentence he said to him during the last level. Remembering that, Headmaster Song involuntarily sighed.

  “Sun Mo’s way of thinking and method of acting has surpassed this era. I want him to forge a brand new school and create a new style of education concept!”

  Song Yan said his thoughts.

  “It has been several thousand years, but the education concept and model of the Nine Provinces hasn’t changed. This is a world of education and is as ordinary as plain water. If this continues, there’s no hope of winning at all!”

  “Win against what?”

  Gu Xiuxun asked in passing. Headmaster Song wanted to make the Black-White Academy become the number one in the Nine Provinces?

  (No. His thinking couldn’t possibly be so shallow, right?)

  “You guys will know when the day comes!”

  Headmaster Song didn’t explain.

  “I feel that education reform should suit the trends of time. In the current era, there are no changes to our education model yet. So, it would be best if it starts developing.”

  An Xinhui suggested a different opinion.

  To put it nicely, it was educational reform. Actually, it was being forced by the trends of the era. No one would know whether the ending was good or bad.

  In the Nine Provinces, because of the existence of the Darkness Continent, if all the countries wanted more land, wealth, and to ‘use up’ their excess population, they could simply venture into the Darkness Continent. Hence, war between the countries could be avoided.

  Without wars, no countries would fall. The iron rules of society wouldn’t change for thousands of years. This also indicated that since there was no external pressure, education reform naturally wouldn’t be happening.

  “Headmaster An, you cannot see the danger because the point you are currently standing at isn’t high enough!”

  Song Yan stared at An Xinhui. He then rose and bowed deeply to her. “Let him go. Sun Mo is an absolute genius. Please allow him to roam in a vaster world, stepping up on a larger stage to showcase his talent!”

  When everyone saw Song Yan actually bow to An Xinhui for the sake of obtaining Sun Mo, everyone was stunned.

  “When would I be so highly regarded by a Saint?”

  Gu Xiuxun was filled with envy.

  “Headmaster Song, there’s no need for you to act like this!”

  An Xinhui hurriedly rose and dodged Song Yan’s bow. Yet, she felt extremely helpless in her heart.

  She finally understood why Song Yan wanted to invite Gu Xiuxun and the others here as well.

  This was a checkmate!

  If she rejected him, it would mean that she was the one cutting off Sun Mo from his path of ascension. At the very least, these people would loathe her. Even her crazy supporter Gu Xiuxun was probably closer to Sun Mo.

  (But agreeing to it? I feel truly reluctant!)

  Everyone was too distracted to eat this meal.

  On the way back to the hotel, everyone was silent. Gu Xiuxun was eventually the one who couldn’t bear the awkward silence anymore and was the first to speak out.

  “Sun Mo has actually become so outstanding to this extent?”

  Even though the masochist had extreme confidence in herself and longed to become a saint one day, she had never once assumed that she would be able to become a headmaster of one of the Nine Greats.

  Because it was as difficult as ascending the heavens!

  Although there weren’t many saints in the Nine Provinces, there were still over 30 of them. However, there were only nine headmaster positions for the Nine Greats.

  “Yeah, Headmaster Song has scared me!”

  An Xinhui was depressed.

  Making a great teacher from an outside school to be your school’s headmaster? Even in ordinary schools, this incident would cause a huge commotion. The headmaster would surely have to suppress all dissent and arguments with an iron fist before this motion could be smoothly passed.

  It could be considered that Song Yan had gone all out for the sake of obtaining Sun Mo.

  After returning to the hotel, Li Ziqi informed Sun Mo of this matter.

  “Becoming the headmaster?”

  Sun Mo was astonished. “Doesn’t Headmaster Song regard me too highly?”

  Lu Zhiruo deeply agreed. “Yeah, I feel that he’s treating you like how he would treat his son!”

  Pak!

  The little sunny egg lifted her hand and smacked the papaya girl’s head.

  “What are you blindly speaking about?”

  “Don’t hit my head, I’ll become stupid!”

  Lu Zhiruo protected her head with her hands and stared at Li Ziqi with resentment in her eyes. “If I, the second eldest martial sister, become even stupider, how can I still convince the others?”

  Li Ziqi ignored Lu Zhiruo. She excitedly asked Sun Mo in a low voice, “Teacher, what do you plan to do?”

  “I don’t like the uniforms of the Black-White Academy!”

  Sun Mo chortled.

  Outside the door, Gu Xiuxun, who pretended to be passing by, couldn’t help but snort disdainfully when she heard this. She felt that Sun Mo would definitely be reluctant to leave Jinling due to its red-light district.

  After all, the famous courtesans and queen of flowers there could fill up the two shores of Qinhuai River.

  However, she didn’t seem to hear any stories about Sun Mo visiting brothels. (Could it be that his thing cannot…?)

  …

  Sun Mo’s recruiting plan was proceeding smoothly. The number of graduate students who came to give their resumes kept increasing. In fact, he even had the option to choose the ones he wanted to hire now.

  The Black-White Star Disk was the ultimate treasure of the school. It contained that difficult game that had remained unsolved for thousands of years, but Sun Mo merely used one year to clear it.

  This caused Sun Mo’s status in their hearts to surge greatly.

  If someone like that became their headmaster, the Central Province Academy would surely rise, right?

  So, if they went to join the Central Province Academy now before its eventual rise to glory, they might even be able to get the positions of doyens!

  Those students who majored in the study of spirit runes didn’t care too much about these things. They merely wanted to follow Sun Mo’s side and be his assistants so they could learn from him.

  In fact, some high star-ranking great teachers even came to ask discreetly, wanting to transfer school.

  But it was a pity Sun Mo didn’t need so many spirit runists. Besides, if he really recruited all the teachers of a subject away from the Black-White Academy, Wan Kangcheng would go all out and fight him.

  …

  “Teacher Li, I heard that you went to look for Sun Mo. How is the negotiation?”

  Wan Kangcheng stopped Li Feng in the office building.

  “Vice Headmaster Wan, don’t speak nonsensically. I didn’t look for Sun Mo!”

  Li Feng corrected him.

  “But there’s someone who saw you entering and leaving the hotel Sun Mo is staying at.”

  Wan Kangcheng mentally mused that even if the spy he hired had bad vision, the image-recording stone couldn’t be wrong, correct?”

  “Eh!”

  Li Feng’s scalp turned numb. She wanted to curse. (Are you shameless? You actually monitor people’s movements?)

  “Teacher Li, the school has never let you down, right?”

  Wan Kangcheng decided to act from the standpoint of them being in a wretched situation.

  “But the research fee given to me hasn’t increased in three years!”

  Li Feng spread her hands wide.

  “The funds of our school aren’t something that is blown over here magically by the wind. Moreover, the others also need to have a share of the pie!”

  Wan Kangcheng felt a headache.

  He really didn’t dare to over-promise her. If not, what should he do when others came to complain to him?

  “So, I can only apologize!”

  Li Feng shook her head.

  “Ah. From your meaning, you intend to leave?”

  Wan Kangcheng was anxious now. Her alchemy skills were ranked number five in the entire school.

  “Don’t blame me. Sun Mo has truly offered me too much.”

  “How much?”

  Wan Kangcheng mentally mused that he could match that amount too.

  Li Feng raised one of her hands.

  “50% more than now?” Wan Kangcheng gritted his teeth. “I can also give you the same amount!”

  “It’s five times more!”

  Li Feng’s tone contained excitement that was hard to mask.

  “Ah? Is he crazy?”

  Wan Kangcheng was stunned. The school paid Li Feng 20 million taels every month, so five times that meant 100 million.

  Where did Sun Mo get so much money from?

  “I don’t know if he’s crazy or not. In any case, he promised to give me herbs worth this amount of money every year. If he cannot do it, I can scold him!”

  Li Feng was very happy. After that, she shrugged and continued with her experiments.

  “…”

  Wan Kangcheng smiled bitterly. He didn’t dare to match this price and he couldn’t afford to do so.

  “Old Wan. Honestly speaking, even if Sun Mo only gives me 20 million, I’m planning to leave as well.”

  Li Feng spoke from the bottom of her heart.

  “Why?”

  Wan Kangcheng didn’t understand.

  “Because he is handsome!”

  Li Feng chortled before turning to depart.

  In truth, she coveted Sun Mo’s ancient massaging technique and wanted him to do a beautification surgery for her.

  “.……”

  Wan Kangcheng felt like collapsing. He suddenly discovered that if Sun Mo used God Hands as a bargaining chip, those aged female great teachers of the Black-White Academy would probably follow him no matter where he went.

  It would then be strange if he could stop this!

  Chapter 1169: Honorary Headmaster, Black-White Soldier Chapter!

  Translator: Lordbluefire

  There were no impermeable walls in the world. Moreover, Song Yan didn’t hide his desire to have Sun Mo become the next headmaster of the Black-White Academy, so only two days had passed before everyone learned of this news.

  In the eyes of 1,000 people, there were 1,000 Hamlets.

  Even noblemen, who had great achievements in history, wouldn’t be praised by everyone. In fact, they would be frequently smeared by haters.

  Sun Mo was a 4-stars. This was merely a minor achievement and naturally had no way to gain their approval. Hence, the teachers and students decided to ally and gather below the office to plead with Headmaster Song, wanting him to take back his order.

  Among them, some came from the conservative faction.

  In any case, such an esteemed and honorable position definitely couldn’t be given to an outsider.

  In the headmaster office…

  Sun Mo stared at the people quietly sitting down below through the window and felt somewhat helpless.

  “Headmaster, why must you create trouble for yourself?”

  Sun Mo sighed.

  “Don’t you want to join us?”

  Although Song Yan had guessed at the possibility of being rejected, after personally hearing it, he was still quite hurt.

  This indicated that the school he built up wasn’t good enough and had no way to attract such a genius.

  “Each school has its own style. Do you feel that my style matches that of the Black-White Academy?”

  Sun Mo counter-asked.

  “You can build it the way you want to!”

  Song Yan smiled.

  Sun Mo started. He didn’t expect Song Yan to say something like this. This meant that Sun Mo could wipe away all the traces left behind by the previous headmasters of the Black-White Academy and paint it in his own colors.

  This was already reaching an extreme in the kindness of recognizing someone’s worth.

  Sun Mo bowed to thank Song Yan for his doting and love.

  “Please seriously consider it?”

  Song Yan pleaded. “I know that this school might not be the best, but you can make her become the best in your hands.”

  “Headmaster Song, what are you pursuing?”

  Sun Mo changed the topic.

  “I wish to see the extreme limits of education. How much change can it bring to an empire?”

  Song Yan’s voice turned heavy. “Actually, I’ve long since seen the signs that I can break the void. But as long as the Black-White Game isn’t cleared yet, my heart finds it hard to feel content. Hence, I gave up on ascending. I decided to risk my life and enter the Black-White Game.”

  When Sun Mo heard this, he was filled with solemn respect.

  It was said that when one reached perfection in the Saint Realm, they would be able to see a certain path that mortals couldn’t see. After that, they could choose to ascend up from that path and break the void to ascend to another place.

  No one knew where those hegemons in the past went after breaking the void.

  But everyone felt that for a place that required someone to cultivate to the very limits to be able to go, if it wasn’t the divine realm, it should be a place that was similar to it,

  One could say that the ultimate goal of many cultivators was to break the void and ascend. They wanted to take a look at the world above this world.

  Now, Song Yan had given up the opportunity for the sake of deciphering the Black-White Game. The word ‘immense’ could no longer be used to describe such a sacrifice.

  In any case, if it was Sun Mo, he definitely would be reluctant to do so.

  After all, in the modern world, there were tons of games he couldn’t complete. He didn’t mind it.

  “But this time around, the risk paid off and allowed me to see a brand new world. It also answered some questions I long had!”

  Song Yan bitterly smiled. “But it’s precisely because of it that I understand if I allow these people to become the headmaster, that would be a future with no brightness. The world in their eyes is simply too small compared to the world in yours!”

  “I also have no idea what the extreme limit for education is.”

  Sun Mo admitted his inadequateness.

  “But if you lead the Black-White Academy, she can take fewer detours!”

  Song Yan stood before the window and stared at those people protesting downstairs. “Should I feel angry when facing so many fools of the world?

  “No, I shouldn’t be. Rather, I should work even harder in advancing and imparting knowledge to dispel their doubts and confusion. This is my responsibility as a saint!

  “Sun Mo, you shouldn’t cast your sights on a small piece of land. Why don’t you come on up to a larger stage and display your brilliance?”

  Sun Mo fell silent. One couldn’t help but say that these words were filled with immense attraction.

  Which men wouldn’t want to have great achievements so their friends and families could sit up and take notice, having a whole new level of respect for them?

  Many people felt that they were mediocre and had ordinary lives because they didn’t have an opportunity. But now, Sun Mo was standing before a heavenly opportunity.

  Becoming the headmaster of the Black-White Academy? This starting point was considered relatively high.

  “You don’t have to worry. I’ll settle these people for you!”

  Song Yan’s tone turned ice cold. If some stubborn people refused to yield to Sun Mo, he didn’t mind killing people.

  Sun Mo sank into contemplation.

  Song Yan patiently waited.

  It was only after a whole 15 minutes did Sun Mo finally speak.

  “Sorry, I cannot agree to your request!” Sun Mo shook his head. “I’m afraid I cannot live up to your expectations!

  “I’m just a minor character and once, my greatest dream was to buy a house in the city I lived in. After that, I simply wanted to nurture a few students who could go into prestigious universities so I could prove my capabilities.

  “To the vast majority of students, I hope I can guide them so when they enter society in the future, even if they cannot live a valued life, they wouldn’t have to suffer too much.

  “After that, I came to Jinling and wanted to become a saint. However, I realized that what I wanted, even more, was not to let down the trust of my disciples.”

  Sun Mo recalled the scene where Li Ziqi accepted him as a personal teacher with no reluctance.

  “Actually, I don’t have too deep of an understanding with regard to saints!”

  Sun Mo reflected on himself.

  “Haha, by saying this…… I actually admire you more!”

  Song Yan had admiration in his gaze as he looked at Sun Mo. “You are still not a saint yet, so how can you understand this cultivation realm? It’s like when you ascend a mountain and peer into the distance, as long as you have not reached the summit, how can you truly admire the scenery?!

  “But I can wait. I can wait until you become a saint and your glory illuminates the entire Nine Provinces!”

  Ding!

  Favorable impression points from Song Yan +1,000. Reverence (11,000/100,000).

  Sun Mo felt a headache. (The pressure is so great if you admire me so much!)

  “Alright, maybe I was too anxious for quick results. After all, you are only 23 years old!”

  Song Yan sighed and decided to settle for second best. “How about this? You can be the honorary headmaster of the Black-White Academy.”

  This position was usually given to people who had contributed greatly to the school.

  An honorary headmaster could obtain all sorts of benefits from the school. Although they couldn’t directly participate in the school’s management, they could give their opinions and they could even hire or fire some great teachers.

  The higher the school’s rank, the more serious they would treat this title. The candidate they chose would also represent a part of the school’s ‘face’.

  The Nine Greats had never established such a position before because there was no need to.

  The headmasters of the Nine Greats were all saints, and which school in the Nine Greats didn’t have secondary saints to stabilize the fort? Also, any of their vice headmasters was more than enough to become a headmaster in other normal schools.

  Sun Mo wanted to reject it. This position was too scalding, so it wouldn’t be good to sit in it.

  “Sun Mo, if you even reject such a request, it will really make my heart go cold.”

  Song Yan stared straight at Sun Mo.

  “I……I agree!”

  Sun Mo agreed. This position had no responsibility but came with many benefits. If he still refused, he would truly not be giving face to Headmaster Song.

  Song Yan laughed and patted Sun Mo’s shoulder happily.

  He simply wanted to form a good relationship with Sun Mo. With this relationship, when Sun Mo stood at the peak of the Nine Provinces, he would naturally show care for the students and teachers of the Black-White Academy.

  That was right. Song Yan was currently hugging a thigh. He was betting on Sun Mo’s future to be boundlessly glorious.

  “Oh right, I heard that you can draw a spirit rune that allows flight?”

  After official matters were finished, there was naturally a need to ‘peel’ the skin of this fellow who had just received benefits.

  “I will bestow ten Skyward Spirit Rune tattoos to your esteemed school. As for the candidates, you can choose them yourself.”

  Sun Mo had intended to only give three, but the identity of ‘honorary headmaster’ made him feel embarrassed to give so few.

  “What do you mean by ‘your esteemed school’? Our teachers and students here are your children as well!”

  Song Yan didn’t treat Sun Mo as an outsider. After that, he smiled bitterly. “Also, are you really giving me a favor? This is a hot potato!”

  Given Sun Mo’s identity as a great-ancestor level spirit runist, no one could get him to act even if they had money and status. For example, if the royals waved banknotes at him wanting a Skyward Spirit Rune, Sun Mo would definitely tell them to scram.

  This was prestige.

  So, since Sun Mo was willing to give ten sets of Skyward Spirit Runes out, it meant ten favors. Song Yan didn’t need these. He was a saint, and people usually owed him favors.

  (But I have so many friends, kins, old acquaintances, and disciples. Who should I give these slots to?)

  For these favors, Song Yan still decided to accept them.

  …

  On the third morning, outside one of the school’s operating rooms, Song Yan led 20 teachers and students over.

  “Your Ancient Dragon Capturing Hands can test one’s aptitude, right? Choose the best ten from these people.”

  Song Yan wanted to maximize his harvest.

  “Sure!”

  Sun Mo didn’t say anything in the lines of him tattooing the runes for all of them. This spirit rune had too significant of a meaning with regard to combat strategy. What if they fought against his students in the future?

  “Also, this is the [Black-White Soldier Chapter], the ultimate divine art of our school. I will hand it to you now!”

  Song Yan took out a manual from his sleeves and passed it to Sun Mo.

  “Isn’t this too valuable?”

  Sun Mo didn’t accept it.

  “Take it. With your temperament and aptitude, you have the qualifications to learn it!”

  Song Yan wasn’t a petty character that would lock the school’s ultimate divine art in a basement. Hence, in the Black-White Academy, other people other than reserved headmasters could learn it too.

  Sun Mo wasn’t going to be stubborn. After thanking Song Yan solemnly, he accepted it with both hands and also activated Divine Sight in the passing.

  The Black-White Soldier Chapter was a peerless saint-tier cultivation art!

  The divine art was more inclined toward battle formations and strategies. It was a book on the art of war!

  But after training in this, one could convert their spirit qi into soldiers and generals to fight in their stead!

  This book emphasized nurturing an individual’s macro-outlook, making one into a famed general and marshal, someone capable enough to lead elite troops.

  Sun Mo wasn’t surprised by this at all. In the various countries of the Nine Provinces, the vast majority of high-ranking military officers were from the Black-White Academy. Over half of the famous generals in history had graduated from this place.

  Sun Mo’s personal combat strength was relatively strong. He was basically invincible among his peers. However, his ability to use soldiers for war was clearly insufficient. Now, this book could just so nicely mitigate his inadequateness in these areas.

  “Finally, I have something to teach Helian Beifang!”

  Sun Mo knew that the youth from the plains had always wanted to learn the military arts. However, Sun Mo himself wasn’t proficient in these things, so how could he teach him?

  Now, there was no need to worry anymore!