Chapter Fifty: The Mystic Isle Foundation Consortium

Yi Wu lifted his head and glanced at Jin Rui, Chu Bufan, and the others, silently asking if the information on the form was accurate. With Jin Rui’s nod, he passed the form to Lan Xinyue beside him. After reading it, Lan Xinyue’s expression remained unchanged as she handed it over to Du Licheng. Du Licheng examined the form carefully, yet his face betrayed no reaction. He returned the form to Yi Wu. As vice dean, one of Yi Wu’s main responsibilities was managing the students’ records.

Jin Rui watched Tang Yi calmly sipping his tea, unhurried and composed, his thoughts inscrutable. At a loss, Jin Rui spoke plainly, “Tang Yi, I’ll be straightforward—please don’t take offense.”

“Good, I prefer directness. Dean Jin, please go ahead,” Tang Yi set down his cup, ready to listen attentively.

“Then I’ll ask directly: Tang Yi, which profession do you intend to pursue?”

“To be honest, I’m more inclined toward the mage path. But since my talent is exceptional, I want to study all three disciplines. Is that possible?” Tang Yi’s words stunned the room into silence, no one responding for a long moment.

“What? Does your academy restrict students to choosing only one profession? I’ve heard some students train in both martial arts and magic, or martial arts and Taoism,” Tang Yi pressed when no one spoke.

Lan Xinyue opened her mouth as if to reply but ultimately remained silent. Jin Rui broke the quiet with a chuckle. “Well then, Tang Yi, you may return for today. Come back tomorrow afternoon to collect your ID card and textbooks. If you truly have the time, you can study all three professions. Our only concern is whether you’ll have enough time and energy to handle the curricula simultaneously. Of course, with your talent, success is likely. If you don’t mind, we could arrange specialized courses just for you.” Jin Rui offered an enticing proposal—private lessons! But Tang Yi wasn’t so eager. While learning all three was easy for him, it would complicate his true objectives.

“Dean Jin, I prefer not to make special arrangements. That might dampen other students’ enthusiasm and affect the academy’s steady development. Let things proceed as usual. I’ll take my leave now. See you tomorrow!” With that, Tang Yi rose and walked off, leaving the group exchanging glances.

The next day, Tang Yi returned to the Three Talents Academy. Led by Yi Wu, he arrived at the Student Reception to receive his full set of materials. Among them was the student ID card—slightly larger and thicker than a bank card, crafted from a unique material found on the Dream Blue Sphere. Engraved with Tang Yi’s name, dorm number, current cultivation level, and other academy-related details, this card was unlike others. It displayed three profession level codes in red, blue, and green—the colors representing warrior, mage, and Taoist students respectively. Other students’ cards bore only one color. The card’s information could be updated as levels increased, with changes made at the reception after passing examinations.

He also received a uniform, featuring a card sleeve on the left chest perfectly sized to hold the ID card. This allowed teachers and fellow students to easily identify one another’s information, aiding management. A school-issued backpack and three introductory textbooks for the three professions completed the package. After collecting these, Tang Yi followed Yi Wu to pay the enrollment fees. Both the issuing and receiving staff eyed Tang Yi curiously, wondering who he truly was. Only the vice dean accompanied him from start to finish, wearing a genuine smile—a treatment unusual even for someone of Yi Wu’s noble rank.

Back at his quarters, Tang Yi examined his belongings with satisfaction, occasionally breaking into a foolish grin. Hua Ruoxue noticed and teased, “You look silly. What, have you caught the eye of some other beauty? The jealous side is showing.”

“Not at all. I was just thinking of something amusing. Come on, time to eat,” Tang Yi chuckled.

The dining hall was vast, with enormous tables. Apart from Zhang Sanfeng and his two disciples, the rest had come down from the spaceship to the Great Zhou Kingdom. It was said that staying aboard the ship too long could turn one insane or worse. The isolation was unbearable.

Over a meal with a dozen companions, they discussed the week-long preparations for their business venture. Their company, Xuan Island Fund Association, had registered across seven countries in Central Continent. Each country’s largest coastal city hosted a flagship store, with branches planned to rapidly fill towns and cities. The flagship in East Port City of Great Zhou was set to open in two days. They deliberated on launch details.

Tang Yi suggested inviting officials to cut the ribbon, holding a grand opening sale with raffles, buy-one-get-one offers, and tiered membership discounts valid for seven days. After consulting Liu Mingde, they realized the preparations meant a three-day delay in opening.

“That’s fine; the academy starts classes in nine days anyway. The opening ceremony in six days must be grand to make a strong impression,” Tang Yi said. “Tomorrow, I’ll print some invitations and hand them out at the Three Talents Academy. I’m sure the big names there will honor us with their presence. Ha ha…” His expression prompted some to worry about those academy elders. Tang Yi was known as both greedy and cunning—so cunning that if he sold you out, you’d happily help count the profits.

The next day, not only the three founders of the academy but also Yi Wu, Chu Bufan, Shi Potian, and Megeson received invitations. Meeting in the academy plaza, they shook their heads and smiled wryly. Tang Yi’s talent was undeniable, and his plan to leverage their prestige for gain was obvious. Yet none could refuse. The seven returned home, pondering suitable gifts.

Five days later, the flagship Xuan Island Fund Association store officially opened in East Port City. Located on the bustling Three Talents Street, the storefront occupied five shops. The interior was luxuriously decorated with ultra-modern elements, refreshing to the eye. By ten in the morning, a crowd had gathered outside. Distinguished guests for the grand opening began arriving.

Suddenly, a voice shouted, “Oh my, it’s Lan Xinyue!” The crowd stirred instantly, heads turning and necks craning to catch sight of the woman called Lan Xinyue.