The academy had remained peaceful for a few days. Everyone was focused on either cultivating or recovering from their injuries.1

But news regarding the Willpower Grotto still started spreading in the academy. When news that even the myriad race students might also be allowed to enter the grotto spread, it was as though a massive stone had been tossed into a calm lake.1

...0

Heart Cultivating Pavilion.0

Yet another meeting was being held between the elders.0

For some reason, there were a lot more meetings this year compared to the previous years. It felt as though a meeting would be held every few days. This was also the first meeting Hong Tan attended in this semester.0

Meeting room.0

When Hong Tan saw Zhou Mingren, he was very friendly. With a big smile on his face, he asked, "Old Zhou, I hope your injuries aren't causing much trouble for you."0

Zhou Mingren ignored Hong Tan and sat down before shutting his eyes to wait for the start of the meeting.0

Hong Tan merely smiled and cupped his hands at the others, "I have only been away for a few months but the academy seems to have changed completely. We now have myriad race students and even the Willpower Grotto is going to be opened. Good thing I'm back now. Any longer and I might even find myself returning to an academy with an entirely different name."0

He looked at Xia Changqing and smiled, "Old Xia, maybe the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy can change its name to Changqing Cultural Research Academy. It has such a nice ring to it, right?"1

Xia Changqing said nothing. He decided to ignore the angry old man.0

Hong Tan did not mind. He laughed heartily, "Forget it. Sigh. Life sure is hard."0

He looked at a different person and asked curiously, "Old Nie, why are you here?"0

Old Nie shot Hong Tan a glance and sighed. What a pity. He had accidentally crushed the teapot. Otherwise, this would be...7