Chapter 4360 — A Top-Tier Genius

Moments later, Vice Director Wei Hebei was the first to arrive, and the East Sea Divine Nun followed close behind—though two others trailed in her wake: Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao.

Seeing the two girls come in as well, neither Ling Yuanqing nor Wei Hebei found it the least bit strange; wherever the East Sea Divine Nun went, she brought her two personal disciples along.

This was, in truth, perfectly normal. Unlike Ling Yuanqing and Wei Hebei, she had only these two disciples, and both were of a caliber and potential that ranked among the academy's prized treasures. A little favoritism was only natural. So long as the matter at hand was not particularly core or confidential, bringing the two girls along neither caused any trouble nor failed to broaden their horizons.

Ling Yuanqing and Wei Hebei, however, could never do the same. As men, they simply did not think things through with such meticulous care—and more to the point, they had far too many disciples under them. Even their personal disciples numbered well beyond two or three; if they were to keep them all at their side for constant instruction, they would never get anything else done.

Ling Yuanqing gestured for everyone to be seated, then said to Qin Deli, "Tell everyone again what you just reported."

"Yes, sir." Qin Deli stole a glance at Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao, swallowed surreptitiously, and began: "Reporting to the three directors, this disciple has just learned that in Weihu City there is a local man by the name of Ling Yi, whose strength is truly extraordinary—he can actually kill an expert at the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage in a single blow, across the gulf of cultivation, despite being only in the early Golden Core stage himself!"

"What?" Wei Hebei and the East Sea Divine Nun were both startled, and they said in unison, "Is this true?"

Morning Star Academy was a place where geniuses gathered. Many disciples, once they went out into the world, proved capable of challenging opponents above their own cultivation level—such things were hardly unusual. But if the gap to be crossed was an entire major realm, that was exceedingly rare.

Even so, when people spoke of crossing a major realm to do battle, what they generally meant was an expert at the peak of the late Golden Core stage, or at Golden Core Great Perfection, challenging an early Nascent Soul expert.

After all, every major realm represented a qualitative transformation, a rebirth of the very self. Even between Golden Core Great Perfection and early Nascent Soul, the gulf was like a chasm between heaven and earth—nothing that any so-called genius could ordinarily bridge. Even in Morning Star Academy, where geniuses gathered like clouds, disciples who reached such a level were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

As for a mere early Golden Core expert being able to challenge a Nascent Soul opponent—and not just any opponent, but one at the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage—such a thing was sheer fantasy. Even Ling Yuanqing and the other two titans of the Initiation stage had never heard of the like. Surely even a heaven-sent prodigy could be no more than this?

The several titans of the Initiation stage were stunned—but at that moment, Huang Xiaotao and Wang Xinyan were even more stunned. For the Ling Yi this man spoke of was none other than Wei Zhao, the very person the two of them yearned for day and night!

The two girls could not help exchanging odd looks. Just moments ago they had been turning over in their minds how to secretly meet with Wei Zhao—and now someone had come forward to recommend him before they could. It caught them quite off guard.

"It is absolutely true. At the time, this Ling Yi was at the docks, and in a single exchange he crippled an expert at the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage. Many people saw it. Our Morning Star Academy has always thirsted for talent, so this disciple thought that such a genius should not be left in obscurity, but should be recruited into the academy as quickly as possible," Qin Deli said respectfully.

The three titans of the Initiation stage exchanged glances, and at last Director Ling Yuanqing spoke: "A heaven-sent prodigy of this order is indeed not to be missed. With strength and skill as formidable as his, even if his spiritual root attribute is ordinary, so long as we craft an artificial attribute for him, he will still be a rare and excellent seedling. What do the two of you think?"

"Quite right. Spiritual root attributes do not determine everything. Some people have poor attributes yet possess astonishing potential, and their future is equally boundless. This Ling Yi must be one such case!" Wei Hebei said, his eyes blazing, clearly taken with the idea. Among the three titans of the Initiation stage, he was the most zealous about taking disciples; basically any genius of note, he wanted to gather under his banner.

The East Sea Divine Nun nodded in agreement as well, though she said nothing. No matter how great a genius the other party might be, she accepted only female disciples—this was the ancestral teaching of the East Sea lineage, and she would absolutely never violate it. Hence she was not nearly so excited as Wei Hebei.

"Since both of you agree, do you think we should make an exception and admit him directly? Though this man may well take part in the selection trials, there is also the chance he might slip through our fingers," Ling Yuanqing proposed.

Admitting someone by exception was contrary to the selection rules and was in principle strictly forbidden. But rules are dead and people are living; before a truly heaven-defying, top-tier genius, all so-called rules could give way—though this required the unanimous consent of the three titans.

"I think it is only proper. Special talent naturally calls for special treatment. The competition among the various academies for genius disciples has already grown white-hot; our Morning Star Academy cannot afford to fall behind. For a top-tier genius of this heaven-defying caliber, it would not be excessive even to set aside our dignity and invite him in person—three visits to the thatched cottage, as they say," Wei Hebei said at once.

An early Golden Core expert was not worth mentioning—but an early Golden Core expert who could kill an early Nascent Soul peak expert in a single blow across the gap of cultivation was another matter entirely. If such a genius could be brought under one's command, the very picture of it was a delight to imagine.

"This old nun has no objection," the East Sea Divine Nun said with a nod. Though she herself could not take this disciple, if the academy could gain another top-tier genius, she was glad to see it.

"Very well, then. Since both of you agree, it is settled," Ling Yuanqing decided on the spot, then asked, "Which of you is willing to lead the party there?"

A heaven-defying, top-tier genius like this, even once admitted to the academy, would certainly be beyond the qualifications of an ordinary instructor to teach; he could only take one of the three titans of the Initiation stage as his master. And whoever led the party this time would essentially determine whose tutelage Ling Yi would enter.

The East Sea Divine Nun watched the two of them impassively, saying nothing. As for Ling Yuanqing, though his heart stirred somewhat, as director he could not simply rush off to go himself without a word; some courtesy had to be observed between them.

"How about... I go?" Wei Hebei said, barely able to contain his eagerness. He was a straightforward man; once he had set his heart on something, he paid no mind to such niceties.