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*****
"What?"
The Shangguan brothers' expressions shifted dramatically upon hearing Su Wen's demand. They had anticipated many things, but this particular request caught them entirely off guard. This was no small matter.
When a powerhouse at the Heavenly Emperor level declares their intention to establish a new power, that faction is destined to be formidable from the start. With a Heavenly Emperor presiding over it, attracting one or two Heavenly Kings would be child's play. Such an organization would immediately rank among the top-tier powers of a major empire, and with just one more step, it could potentially reach the level of a Great Sacred Land.
Are there enough resources on the continent to go around? The answer was a resounding no. No matter how much there was, someone would always be left unsatisfied.
The Five Great Sacred Lands appeared to only occupy five major empires. Beyond those lay other large nations without Sacred Lands to govern them. In reality, however, the empires radiating outward from these five hubs were all influenced to varying degrees; the resources produced within their borders were continuously funneled toward the five central powers.
Take the Zhongtian Empire, for instance. As the core of the entire continent, it bordered several large nations. Although these neighbors were powerful empires in their own right, there was a undeniable gap in combat strength. The Zhongtian Empire held a magnetic attraction for Heavenly Jewel Masters; talent and resources flowed ceaselessly from the surrounding nations into its heart.
The Zhongtian Empire benefited from a vast array of sources, though it also had to bear the burden of resisting invasions from the Wan Shou Empire to the north, which was ruled by Snow God Mountain. Aside from the Zhongtian and Wan Shou Empires, the remaining three Sacred Lands were situated in different corners of the continent, each "bleeding" their own respective directions. They guarded their interests fiercely and would never permit a power approaching the level of a Sacred Land to rise in their neighboring empires.
This did not mean the Boundless Palace would be any more permissive. Any rise of a major power inevitably triggered a redistribution of resources, which was a direct assault on the interests of the established elite—especially since Su Wen was now asking for the Boundless Palace's explicit support.
If he needed the backing of a Great Sacred Land, what exactly was he worried about? This was the true reason for the brothers' alarm. They felt they had finally glimpsed the true scale of Su Wen's ambition.
A position beneath the Sacred Lands was clearly not Su Wen's ultimate goal. However, if a sixth Sacred Land were to truly emerge, the entire continent could be plunged into endless war.
"Please rest easy, Palace Masters. The power I intend to establish is not a traditional one," Su Wen explained, noticing their grim expressions.
"Oh?" Shangguan Tianyang and Shangguan Tianyue were now genuinely curious to hear what kind of organization Su Wen had in mind. Not a traditional power? What format could possibly convince the Boundless Palace to lend its support?
"The power I plan to create is, strictly speaking, similar to the Skill Storing Palace or the Consolidating Equipment Pavilion. It will span the continent while remaining uninvolved in the struggles between nations and factions."
Su Wen's single analogy gave the two brothers their first concrete impression of his "Academy."
Similar to the Consolidating Equipment Pavilion and the Skill Storing Palace!
As for Su Wen's second half regarding "not involving himself in struggles," the brothers essentially treated it as hot air. Even the Consolidating Equipment Pavilion and the Skill Storing Palace had their biases. Such organizations always claimed neutrality at their inception, but as they developed, they inevitably leaned toward certain factions or Sacred Lands through deep-seated cooperation.
The Consolidating Equipment Pavilion was a prime example. Its headquarters was located right here in the Boundless Palace. To say it was an ally of the Boundless Palace was an understatement; there were even rumors that the Pavilion was effectively a subsidiary of the Palace.
This was because the Consolidating Equipment Pavilion was far less widespread than the Skill Storing Palace. It was only firmly established on Heavenly Jewel Island; elsewhere, it had no presence. Jewel Masters in other empires or cities had to seek out individual Consolidating Equipment Masters or independent shops that employed them, as there were no dedicated Pavilions to provide a standardized marketplace.
The Skill Storing Palace was different. It had branches across the continent, though not in every corner—only in major cities. Building a Skill Storing Palace required a massive investment of manpower and resources, as well as the cooperation of local powers. Consequently, they were forced into partnerships everywhere.
Unlike the Consolidating Equipment Pavilion, the Skill Storing Palace had a tendency toward cooperation, but different branches leaned toward different local interests. This created a macro-level balance that allowed the organization to survive as a whole.
Broadly speaking, these two unique continental powers existed through different means: one relied on the indispensable status of Consolidating Equipment Masters, while the other relied on being "everyone's friend" to maintain equilibrium.
Rather than a unified power, the Skill Storing Palace was more of a format—a way for various factions to keep Heavenly Beasts in captivity and provide a venue for their own Jewel Masters to store skills. The various branches across the continent today might be called "branches" of the Skill Storing Palace, but in reality, they belonged to their respective empires.
For example, the branch in Feituo City was technically a division of the Fei Li Empire's Skill Storing Palace; more specifically, it was a joint venture built and maintained by the various local factions of Feituo City. These branches had little real connection to the Skill Storing Palace on Heavenly Jewel Island.
They spanned the continent and possessed great fame, but they had "prestige" without any "substance" or deterrent power. That was the Skill Storing Palace—fragmented into various appendages of other powers.
In fact, when Su Wen first founded the Academy on the Douluo Continent, the Spirit Hall and the two great empires had intended to force it into such a fate. Fortunately, Su Wen's creation of the "Academic Realm" had caught them off guard, preventing the Academy from being carved up.
Clearly, the current Skill Storing Palace was a "failed version" of his Academy. Perhaps because they were too scattered, they failed to unify and were gradually marginalized, leading to the current situation.
By comparing his intended Academy to these two organizations, Su Wen instantly neutralized most of the Shangguan brothers' hostility. To them, these two organizations were essentially "failed" models of power.
For a powerhouse like Su Wen, establishing such an organization was actually a good thing for the Five Great Sacred Lands. It satisfied the "ambition" of a Heavenly Emperor-level master without posing a substantive threat to their rule. After all, an organization aimed at benefiting all Heavenly Jewel Masters usually met one of two fates: it either became a vassal or it was fractured into pieces. The Pavilion and the Palace were the two classic examples.
As for why a powerhouse would pursue such a path despite knowing the outcome, it was clearly for fame—simply to leave behind a legendary legacy. As for what happened to the organization in the future? They wouldn't be around to care. This was a common mindset among rogue Heavenly Emperors.
Even someone like Long Shiya could suddenly announce he was opening an "Elemental Pavilion" to teach elemental control techniques, and the Five Great Sacred Lands wouldn't bother to lift a finger against him.
"Oh? And what unique features would your organization possess?" Shangguan Tianyang asked, though the bulk of his anxiety had dissipated. He remained cautious.
(End of Chapter)