"Worship Ji Mo, strengthen the physique!"
"Believe in Ji Mo, no inner demons!"
...
Such inexplicable sayings actually began to circulate within the academy.
Moreover, some students swore that it was indeed effective. Since worshipping Ji Mo, everything had gone smoothly, and their cultivation was unimpeded.
In this way, Ji Mo inexplicably gained some fervent fans.
Subsequently, more and more students intended to take Ji Mo as their master, wanting to borrow some good luck, but all were rejected.
Just as Ji Mo had said before, "You ignored me today, and I will make you unable to reach me in the future."
In the past, when he actively took students, he was met with sarcasm. Naturally, he would not easily accept disciples now.
Ji Mo was not a magnanimous person and still held a grudge.
Of course, there was another reason: he was a bit nervous. He didn't even know how to teach his three students, so how could he dare to take more? He was afraid of misleading them.
Song Zhenwei sighed secretly. It seemed that Langya Academy could only produce three prodigies. It was also the fault of these students for not being more ambitious. If they had the same good judgment as Lin Mengmeng, the entire academy would probably be filled with dragons.
Three were three. When Lin Mengmeng and the other two grew up, Langya Academy would regain its glory.
Due to the emergence of the three geniuses Lin Mengmeng, Xuan Yang, and Wang Wenjian, Langya Academy also experienced a surge in cultivation enthusiasm.
The previously decadent campus atmosphere gradually improved, and the academy began to flourish.
Langya Academy was gradually improving, but a calling card broke the academy's peace.
The sender was the renowned Shengling Academy in the Southern Domain, under the guise of an inspection and exchange.
Song Weixi, holding the calling card, frowned, as the other party had not given any prior notice, and the delegation had already arrived outside the academy.
The so-called inspection and exchange between academies was almost like a challenge.
And Shengling Academy did not give Langya Academy any time to react. They only delivered the calling card after arriving at the gate, indicating ill intentions.
What Song Weixi couldn't understand was that Shengling Academy ranked third among all academies in the Southern Domain. There was no need for them to seek validation from Langya Academy.
The other party's sudden visit must have had ulterior motives.
"Could it be related to the academy ranking competition held every five years?" a guessing academy elder said.
Every five years, a ranking competition would be held among the major academies, and this year was another five-year cycle.
The academy ranking competition was expected to take place in two months, so Shengling Academy's visit at this time was likely related to it.
Outside Langya Academy, the Shengling Academy group was chatting and laughing.
Although they were called a delegation, there was only one leading elder and five students, a mere six people.
Such a visiting lineup clearly showed that they did not take Langya Academy seriously.
"Elder Liu, is there still a need to annex an academy like Langya Academy, which is on the verge of collapse?"
A student couldn't help but voice his doubts.
During this period, their group had already visited several academies ranked lower, with the sole purpose of annexing them and making them affiliates of Shengling Academy.
Although those academies were inferior, they at least had some outstanding students. Langya Academy, however, was said to accept anyone, which made this student feel disdainful.
An academy that could not even make the cut would only be a burden after annexation.
Elder Liu chuckled, "Langya Academy was once extremely glorious. Although it has declined now, there should still be many good things. Our academy aims to compete for the title of the number one academy in the Southern Domain this year, so we must fully integrate resources from all sides. We only want Langya Academy's resources. As for those trash students, they will all be expelled."
"I heard that Langya Academy possesses a broken immortal sword. We must get it," another student said excitedly.
Anything related to the word "immortal" was irresistible, let alone a weapon of immortal spiritual grade.
"The people of Langya Academy will probably be so happy they'll be dreaming when they know they can be annexed by our academy. They will surely offer all sorts of treasures obediently."
Several students joked, their expressions arrogant.
In their opinion, Langya Academy's submission should be a matter of course. The previous few academies were like this. As soon as their intentions were made clear, the other party would joyfully agree to be annexed and become an affiliate of Shengling Academy.
Those academies thought they had hitched a ride on Shengling Academy's high branches, but they didn't know they were walking into a tiger's den, only to be devoured without a trace.
Not long after.
Song Weixi led a few teachers to welcome the guests.
"Elder Liu Song, I welcome your esteemed presence on behalf of Langya Academy."
Song Weixi had met Liu Song several times. After greeting him, she introduced the academy teachers beside her to Liu Song one by one.
However, in the face of the enthusiastic greetings from several Langya Academy teachers, Liu Song put on a grim face and did not respond politely.
In the previous cases, the deans of the academies personally came out to welcome them. Why was it only Song Weixi sent out by Langya Academy? This was clearly showing him no respect.
"Where is your father, Song Zhenwei? Even if not, Zeng Qiyan should have appeared. Why, does your Langya Academy look down on my Shengling Academy?"
Liu Song's face darkened, and he shouted in a very unfriendly tone.
The five students from Shengling Academy also had stern faces and showed displeasure.
"My father rarely manages the academy's affairs anymore, and Vice President Zeng Qiyan is in seclusion. This time, I will be the one to host Elder Liu."
Song Weixi said neither servile nor overbearing.
Liu Song was only an elder, yet he was so arrogant. If it weren't for the fact that the visitors were guests and came under the banner of the Shengling Academy delegation, with Song Weixi's personality, she would have likely lost her temper.
"Hmph!"
Elder Liu snorted heavily through his nostrils, suppressing the anger in his heart.
He would endure for now. After annexing Langya Academy, he would find a way to slowly deal with those who dared to slight him.
Under Song Weixi's guidance, the Shengling Academy group entered Langya Academy.
Looking around at the students of Langya Academy, the students of Shengling Academy all revealed expressions of disdain, their sense of superiority clearly displayed on their faces.
"The students of your esteemed academy are all rotten wood and decaying walls."
Liu Song commented unceremoniously.
Not only the students but also various buildings and so on were subjected to his criticism, rendered worthless.
Song Weixi's expression grew increasingly unpleasant, and the other academy teachers also had ashen faces.
No matter how bad Langya Academy was, as a guest, one should not ridicule and insult it in such a manner. It was truly uncivilized.
Sensing the palpable malice from the other party, Song Weixi no longer wished to play polite games and directly asked, "Elder Liu, what is your purpose in coming here this time?"
"The five-year academy ranking competition is fast approaching. This time, I have brought five outstanding students to have a good exchange with your academy's students."
Elder Liu said with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
Feeling that he had been slighted, he felt it necessary to first dampen Langya Academy's spirit before slowly discussing the annexation.