Shangguan Yuan called Yan Jiaojiao to his courtyard.
"Have you truly made up your mind? Actually, the other sect leaders and I are all of the opinion that we should simply forfeit this time. Go Nan Academy has consecutively won first place many times. Although Master Xuan Chen is no longer guarding it, with the honors Go Nan Academy has accumulated, it's still quite possible to skip one Grand Competition."
"At worst, we'll pay some other price. If it can grant the other disciples of the academy a chance to recuperate, paying some price is worthwhile."
Shangguan Yuan spoke slowly, his brows furrowed, clearly not in good spirits.
Yan Jiaojiao was not a pharmacist and couldn't discern Shangguan Yuan's current condition. However, they had directly faced A Ruoxi that day, and the impact on them must have been far greater. It was likely due to demonic energy entering their bodies that they were feeling so unwell. Yan Jiaojiao knew she couldn't help much right now, so she pretended not to know about it.
The Wood Sect Leader was still here, and naturally, he would convene the Wood Sect disciples to treat the Sect Leader. If there were no solutions, they would have certainly sought everyone's collective wisdom. Now, they were just working silently, and the few sect leaders showed no reaction. It must be because these things could be cured, and it just required some time.
With this thought, Yan Jiaojiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Shangguan Yuan treated her well. If possible, Yan Jiaojiao naturally wished for him to recover.
"You all are thinking too simply."
Yan Jiaojiao shook her head and said regretfully, "If it were just that Go Nan Academy's master was absent, other academies wouldn't be so rampant. They're afraid of causing too much trouble. We have backing, so even if other academies want to surpass Go Nan Academy, they have to weigh their own strength."
"Now that they are so fierce and have directly orchestrated the academy grand competition, it's already very clear. Go Nan Academy's weakness has been leaked. The other party's motive in organizing this grand competition is not just to make Go Nan Academy disband directly, but to ruin its reputation!"
"You think that if the other party knew about A Ruoxi's existence, they would definitely stand with us and together crusade against the demon king A Ruoxi. But in their eyes, A Ruoxi disappeared after appearing in Go Nan Academy, and Go Nan Academy, now without a powerful protector, can be bullied however they please."
"Can you decline this time, and then decline the next time?"
"If this academy grand competition is pushed back, and then someone else initiates another one, and another academy gathering occurs, how do you plan to handle it then, you sect leaders?"
Shangguan Yuan was speechless.
Seeing this, Yan Jiaojiao sighed.
"Sect Leader, this is not me overthinking things, but you underthinking them. Go Nan Academy's internal relationships are simple, and externally, it has always relied on overwhelming strength. With Master Xuan Chen guarding it, even those outside academies wouldn't dare to use schemes against Go Nan Academy. On this boundless continent where strength is paramount, you should understand what Go Nan Academy represents now."
"Go Nan Academy recruits disciples with talent. Regardless of how far they can go in the end, their talent is undeniable. Some disciples have already left early, and I believe they have joined various academies, sharpening their knives to deal with us. As for the disciples who stayed behind, not to mention their cultivation levels, they probably haven't even experienced hardship, have they?"
"If we continue to be this naive, our academy will truly be finished."
Yan Jiaojiao spoke so much because there were people she cared about in the academy.
Otherwise, she would have simply taken these people and left, why bother with this troublesome affair?
Go Nan Academy was the spiritual home for many. Although she didn't feel that way, she had indeed spent a period of peace in Go Nan Academy. Even though she encountered a lot of difficulties, they weren't fatal to her.
Her friends were reluctant to leave this place, and naturally, she didn't want to leave in disgrace.
In life, everyone must have something worth protecting.
Otherwise, what's the difference between that and being a walking corpse?
"You are right," Shangguan Yuan rubbed his temples.
"We indeed thought too simply. Go Nan Academy was respected wherever it went before, but now it has become the lowest, with everyone wanting to step on it. If we back down now, we'll likely continue to be trampled."
Yan Jiaojiao said, "Actually, there's no need to worry so much."
Shangguan Yuan suddenly looked up at Yan Jiaojiao. "What do you mean by that?"
Yan Jiaojiao said, "At least they are still wary of us, aren't they? The academy grand competition is indeed unfavorable to us, but it is precisely the best protection."
"If direct combat were to occur between academies, we would be even more passive. Furthermore, the absence of Master Xuan Chen would make them unrestrained. But now, with the rules of the academy grand competition binding them, as long as we win, all their schemes will turn to dust."
Shangguan Yuan's eyes gradually brightened. "But everyone's condition is not good right now..."
Hearing this, Yan Jiaojiao smiled playfully. "This is simple. All it takes is..."
The little black dog, who was resting, twitched its ears upon hearing this and let out a cold snort from its nostrils.
This woman, her calculations were so intricate that he could hear them even from the dormitory building!
Shangguan Yuan stated that what Yan Jiaojiao proposed was something he couldn't decide alone and would have to discuss with Luo Guiyuan and the others first.
Yan Jiaojiao nodded in understanding and immediately returned to her dormitory.
In less than half a day, Shangguan Yuan came to inform Yan Jiaojiao that the other sect leaders had agreed.
Yan Jiaojiao smiled, thinking, as expected.
"It seems Go Nan Academy is truly about to usher in a brand new look."
Before, those sect leaders were still concerned about rules and order, and the reputation of Go Nan Academy. Now, their sole focus was on the safety of their disciples.
The disciples of Go Nan Academy also clearly felt this. Upon realizing that the Scripture Repository was open, their excitement and sense of belonging reached their peak at this very moment.
"All disciples participating in the selection grand competition, spend three hours here meditating every day. In the afternoon, find me at the Water Sect Square. Also, quickly pair up two by two. I need you to develop tacit understanding quickly."
Since Yan Jiaojiao had taken on this task, she wouldn't slack off. While recovering her own body, she also taught some cultivation techniques. Although each person's cultivation method was fixed, rapid improvement in a short period was very useful.
Moreover, Yan Jiaojiao had also prepared many talismans for everyone.
"Calm yourselves, and take one step at a time. We will definitely improve within a short period."
With Yan Jiaojiao constantly encouraging them and the blessing of various never-before-seen techniques, the disciples who signed up genuinely felt their progress.
Wei Congling also worked hard, and the barrier that had not budded for a long time finally showed signs of loosening. On the third day of training, she broke through to the Yellow Rank.
Under the impact of immense spiritual energy, she even leaped to Yellow Rank Level Two.
Seeing that everyone was making progress, Yan Jiaojiao called everyone for a meeting that evening.
"For this academy grand competition, the first round is up to fate. In the individual matches, as long as you see that the situation is unfavorable, surrender immediately and conserve your strength. Our battlefield will be the second-round team match and the third-round group match."