Chapter 320: Face

Upon returning to the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai naturally first made his way to the Student Union.

This time, Hua Zijing wasted no time, immediately putting him to work on the backlog of official duties.

Chen Mobai also reflected on the situation, realizing that delegating everything to his subordinates wasn't ideal. Furthermore, since Hua Zijing was graduating this year, he felt it was necessary to get more deeply involved and understand what the Student Union was truly busy with.

His decision made Hua Zijing overjoyed; she swiftly shifted her heavy burdens onto Chen Mobai, one by one.

It was during these two days that Chen Mobai came to understand what Hua Zijing's previous remarks about Zhuang Jialan truly meant.

"Highly adaptable" meant she lacked usable skills. "Great potential for improvement" implied she was currently at rock bottom. And "strong learning ability" simply meant she knew absolutely nothing.

The Student Union's tasks were actually quite tedious. As a bridge between the academy's teachers and students, they needed to communicate with all instructors across 18 major courses and 72 elective courses, and even with the students themselves.

Zhuang Jialan was competent in other areas, but her communication and coordination skills were somewhat lacking, which could only be developed through long-term experience.

Hua Zijing herself struggled initially, having been mentored by her predecessors.

Zhuang Jialan was not without her strengths; she had previously served as the academic representative in her class, coordinating the entire class's study plan alongside Si Guanyu, the class monitor. She had also liaised with the Student Union, giving her a certain foundation.

For this reason, Hua Zijing found guiding her a bit easier. Now, three months later, Zhuang Jialan has already been entrusted with coordinating communication between the Talismanic Arts Department and its four associated elective courses.

As Zhuang Jialan was most familiar with the Talismanic Arts Department itself, she was now handling these tasks quite competently.

"Why are all these matters piled onto our Student Union?"

"What are the academy's teachers doing?"

"I think it's necessary to reform the academy's system and have teachers re-engage in administrative duties."

After just one week, Chen Mobai found the Student Union's responsibilities overwhelming and suggested reducing their workload.

But Hua Zijing merely rolled her eyes, telling him not to even dream about it. The teachers had finally managed to offload these tasks; there was no way they would take them back.

The Student Union's most demanding task within the academy was to develop teaching schedules and coordinate non-conflicting course schedules across all major departments.

As the number of students enrolling in each major department varied annually, the academy had to create new teaching plans and allocate faculty resources based on student numbers each year.

This involved a significant credit expenditure, and since credits were directly linked to the resources in the academy's treasury, the process required extreme caution.

The Wuqi Academy had a tradition: Foundation Establishment cultivators who graduated, if they didn't have to serve in the military, wished to enjoy the benefits associated with Mount Chicheng's fifth-tier spiritual vein, and also sought to exchange for Core Formation spiritual treasures, would directly transition into assistant teachers at the academy.

All four major academies provided their students with an opportunity to achieve Core Formation.

Generally, after a ten-year academic career, successful Foundation Establishment cultivators would become assistant teachers. While cultivating, they would diligently accrue years of service under the academy's arrangements and accumulate credits to exchange for Core Formation spiritual treasures. This defined the lives of most academy students.

Teaching an elective course for one year earned 10 credits within the academy. For a teacher of a major course, that amount would be doubled.

The academy offered 18 major courses, 72 elective courses, and spanned ten academic years. If fully staffed, the nominal annual credit expenditure for its teachers would be 10,800 credits, all of which the academy had to bear.

In comparison, while the annual credit expenditure for students was also considerable, the academy could apply to the Immortal Sect for subsidies to cover this portion.

The Immortal Sect was even quite pleased, hoping the four major academies would apply for more. This was because more applications signified more new students enrolling in the four major academies, which in turn meant a brighter future for the Immortal Sect.

However, the four major academies were not swayed by the Immortal Sect's subsidies. Although they had increased enrollment in recent years, they always maintained a certain controlled number.

The reason the Immortal Sect did not subsidize the academy's teachers was, in fact, to encourage this group of talented individuals, who were remaining at the academy, to leave campus, enter society, and contribute more actively across all sectors of society.

In reality, the academy also hoped these individuals would venture out.

However, cultivators had few material needs; some didn't even require spiritual artifacts. Their sole focus was refining spiritual qi, advancing their cultivation, and striving to achieve Core Formation or even Nascent Soul Formation.

The Immortal Sect and the academy were at a loss regarding these true cultivators.

Hearing this, Chen Mobai remembered Zhai Jianbai from his cohort. Zhai Jianbai, the top sword cultivator of the 5012 class, had begun assisting with teaching duties for the Sword Cultivation Department early on. It seemed he had already decided, even while studying, to become an academy teacher after graduation.

Even Senior Sister Qu Hongyu, who had greeted new students, and Senior Brother Mi Yudao, whom he met in the Myriad Treasures Cave, had chosen this path.

After all, within the four major academies, as long as one accrued sixty years of service and sufficient credits, they could exchange for a Five Elements Golden Core Elixir.

True Lord Qingping was the best example, using it to achieve Core Formation, and even Nascent Soul Formation.

It was precisely for this reason that the academy was under immense pressure to support so many assistant teachers and teachers. Once the number of teachers was sufficient, teaching assignments would become competitive.

Apart from the full professors of various departments who had already achieved Core Formation, whom the academy hired annually and permitted to select their desired major or elective courses to teach, the remaining Foundation Establishment assistant teachers even needed to pull strings to get teaching assignments.

For example, Zhai Jianbai had already been assisting with teaching during his student days, which naturally allowed True Lord Zuogong to recommend and arrange for him to become a teacher for junior classes after graduation.

As for those with average talent like Qu Hongyu and Mi Yudao, who also didn't have Core Formation cultivators sponsoring them, they could only wait for openings in the courses they excelled at before filling in as teachers.

If they taught effectively and received unanimous positive feedback in subsequent student surveys, they would be given increasingly more teaching assignments, and might even become teachers for major courses in the future.

Among these tasks, questionnaire surveys, course arrangements, and similar duties all required the Student Union's participation.

Of course, the Student Union certainly did not have the authority to assign teaching roles; that power rested with the Academic Affairs Office.

Hua Zijing informed Chen Mobai that due to the scarcity of resources, the academy's annual credit expenditure for teachers was generally controlled at around three to four thousand. If the enrollment for many courses was low, several academic years would be merged into a single class to save credits and teaching resources.

The merging process, along with all the administrative minutiae involved in communicating with both students and teachers, also fell under the Student Union's responsibilities.

To foster a more focused teaching and learning environment, allowing teachers to concentrate solely on instruction and students on study, the academy, long ago, had delegated almost everything except core matters like teacher assignments onto the Student Union.

Consequently, Chen Mobai, serving as the Student Union president, began to get a headache after participating for only a week.

After all, communication and coordination could not be accomplished by individual effort alone. They required individual phone calls, and even scheduling in-person meetings for discussions, but everyone's schedules didn't always align perfectly.

"The Academic Affairs Office wants to arrange a trial class for the Artifact Forging Department's elective course, 'History of Spiritual Artifacts.' They've asked us to coordinate the time and schedule."

Hua Zijing mentioned a recent matter that needed to be resolved.

She and Zhuang Jialan had been deliberating this matter for half a month, but it had yet to be settled.

With no other option, Chen Mobai had to intervene personally.

Since it was his first time dealing with such matters, Hua Zijing didn't hold much hope for him; she merely wanted him to experience the difficulty of their work.

But that day, Chen Mobai went out in the morning, and by the time he finished lunch, he called to announce that the matter had been settled. The class would be held tomorrow.

"How did you do it?"

After returning, Chen Mobai, who was petting a white cat in the office, looked at Hua Zijing and Zhuang Jialan, who had rushed in with wide, disbelieving eyes, and pointed to his own face.

"Is your influence that great?"

"Not really. While I do have some minor influence, the reason Teacher Liu of Artifact History was so accommodating was because I invited him to Teacher Che's office in Building One to discuss the matter."

Hearing this, Hua Zijing couldn't help but give Chen Mobai a thumbs-up, her gaze full of admiration.

All teaching arrangements at the Wuqi Academy were handled by the Academic Affairs Office, and its director was Chen Mobai's teacher, Che Yucheng.

Inviting someone to Che Yucheng's office to discuss matters made even the most difficult tasks seem trivial.

"You two will have to put in some effort; Teacher Che also happens to be free tomorrow and will be observing this trial class."

Readily convinced, Hua Zijing took Zhuang Jialan to arrange this matter.

Given the considerable number of Foundation Establishment cultivators residing at Mount Chicheng and the limited major and elective courses each year, the academy needed to provide opportunities for newcomers, at least giving them a chance to prove themselves. Thus, the concept of a "trial class" came into being.

A "trial class" meant selecting a course for the new teacher to teach, with students attending as usual, but a row of academy professors and senior teachers would sit at the back to observe and evaluate the new teacher's teaching ability.

After the trial class, the Student Union would conduct a questionnaire survey. If both the professors and students were satisfied, then the following year he would begin to be assigned as a teacher for junior classes of this elective course. If his teaching level improved thereafter, he would then be arranged to teach senior classes.

Beyond that, they could become teachers for major courses.

However, the competition in this area was more intense. Every teacher's teaching ability was already highly impressive, and the academy could only ensure an equal playing field, with teachers taking turns: this year it's you, next year him, the year after that someone else, and the year after that yet another…

Since cultivators had a lifespan of 240 years after Foundation Establishment, and graduates came out annually, fierce internal competition was unavoidable.

But even under these circumstances, the senior leadership of the Wuqi Academy was still willing to give young Foundation Establishment cultivators a chance to shine.

As long as you received unanimous positive feedback during the trial class, you would be given the opportunity to teach an elective course for one year.

"Given the level of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, meticulously preparing a class that satisfies most people should be quite simple, wouldn't you say?"

On the day of the trial class, Chen Mobai, as the Student Union's representative, reported to Che Yucheng, the dean of academic affairs, and also posed some questions that were on his mind.

"If one can prepare a satisfying class, then they can prepare every class. As long as they are willing to work hard, our academy is willing to provide opportunities."

"Moreover, as they continue to work hard, they will adapt to the rhythm of meticulously preparing for lessons. In fact, in their initial years, these new teachers are more responsible and focused than even more experienced teachers."

"It is precisely for this reason that we are willing to give every newcomer a chance. Besides eliminating some teachers who have lost their motivation and original intention, it is also to ensure equality of opportunity."

"The Immortal Sect's ability to maintain long-term stability and prosperity lies in its capacity to offer every cultivator the hope of advancement. Even if this glimmer of hope is extremely faint, at least when they look up, they can see that ray of light in the darkness."

If everything around them was pitch dark, cultivators would easily fall into despair and cultivation deviation.

Fairness and justice, with everyone having an opportunity—this was also the bedrock of the Immortal Sect's rule over Diyuan Star.

Chen Mobai was thoughtful after hearing Che Yucheng's guidance.

On the Immortal Sect's side, as long as one possessed talent and was willing to work hard, it was possible to achieve Foundation Establishment even if they couldn't enter the four major academies; the ten major academies below them, or even the 120 prefectures, offered opportunities.

After achieving Foundation Establishment, by specializing in one of the hundred cultivation arts and becoming a top practitioner in that field, one would have the opportunity to join major corporations and gain the chance to exchange for a Five Elements Golden Core Elixir.

For example, Wu Shangru, who was exceptional at talisman crafting, was brought in as a talent by the Immortal Sect's First Talisman Factory.

After the trial class ended, members of the Union immediately entered to distribute questionnaires to each student.

As for the professors and senior teachers in the back row, Chen Mobai personally distributed the questionnaires to them. They were also very deferential to Che Yucheng, who was seated in the middle, and completed them on the spot.

After collecting them, Chen Mobai handed them to Hua Zijing, then departed with Che Yucheng, who had risen.

"Teacher, at the end of the year, I will lead a team to Jumang Academy. Do you have any instructions for me?"

On the academy's mountain path, the master and disciple walked one behind the other.

Che Yucheng asked, "Do you have any thoughts?"

Chen Mobai replied, "Not really, just like with Little Scarlet Heaven, I'll aim to uphold the prestige of our academy."

Che Yucheng said, "Offline, you might not be enough on your own."

Che Yucheng spoke frankly. Although Chen Mobai had mastered the Sword-Light Transformation, a Foundation Establishment second-layer cultivator fighting against the seventh-layer Foundation Establishment chief disciples from the other three major academies would have virtually no chance of winning.

"Then, Teacher, what do you mean…?"

"Chunyang Academy wants Xiahou Weihuan and Sima Xingyu to participate as well, claiming it's for graduated seniors to guide current students. I've played along and persuaded the other three major academies to agree."

Che Yucheng's words left Chen Mobai somewhat bewildered. Even if he were a skilled fighter, he wouldn't be confident against these two former chief disciples of Chunyang Academy, who cultivated the Chunyang Scrolls and the peak-tier Yuanyang Sword Art.

"Could it be, Teacher, you want Lan Haitian to also participate in this offline sparring session again, using the excuse of guiding younger generations?"

Chen Mobai thought of this, believing the Wuqi Academy was about to repeat an old trick.

"Lan Haitian has already consumed the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill and entered a critical closed-door cultivation."

Che Yucheng shook his head, saying something that made Chen Mobai feel wistful: When would he be able to reach that stage?

"It's precisely because Lan Haitian can't come that Xiahou Weihuan is confident he can defeat anyone as long as he participates. Since that's the case, I simply informed three ninth-layer Foundation Establishment graduates of the academy; they will accompany you when you lead the team this time."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but feel curious.

"Teacher, can these three seniors defeat Xiahou Weihuan?"

"To be honest, it's not certain they can defeat him, but I've already made arrangements. Hong Mengkui's disciple cultivates the Can Tong Qi, and I've sent her to Senior Sister Duanmu."

"Vice Principal Duanmu? To her… *hiss*…"

Chen Mobai was initially a bit confused, but he realized halfway through the explanation, involuntarily gasping.

Duanmu Longrong was in charge of the Myriad Treasures Cave, where it was possible to find spiritual artifacts of up to the fourth-tier.

Recalling that Che Yucheng had specifically stated that this senior cultivated the Can Tong Qi, Chen Mobai immediately understood the full extent of his teacher's plan.

"Teacher, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even at the perfected realm, isn't wielding a fourth-tier spiritual artifact a bit too strenuous?"

Chen Mobai himself found it very strenuous to control the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror, a spiritual artifact he had already fused with using the Spiritual Artifact Cohabitation Art to make his natal artifact; he could only activate it a maximum of three times.

After three activations, he felt his spiritual energy drained, dizzy, and his qi and blood weakened.

As for a fourth-tier spiritual artifact, he felt that even if he were completely exhausted, he might not be able to activate it.

"You're underestimating the Can Tong Qi…"