Chapter 1653 - Meeting (5)

Dyon watched as the man entered a sort of pseudo rant and how many nodded their heads in agreement.

If one kept up the pace Dyon set for the main sect, they would have the talent of an elite King at worst. An entire Sect of high level Kings, just how ambitious was that? As for the branch sects, their minimum requirement was the talent of a Duke.

To now, Dyon always remembered that the mark of a true genius in the tower quadrants was celestial by 100 and dao expert by 1000. How could he lower the standards of Soul Rending Peak below that standard? In fact, he would push it even further.

What they didn't know was that if it was up to Dyon, the requirements would be even more exaggerated than they were now. He wanted the world to tremble in fear whenever the title of the Peak Disciples was mentioned. He wanted them to move unhindered across the world!

Their request seemed reasonable. Even if he wanted to keep those strict standards, fine. But, at the very least, he should allow the establishment of sects with weaker standards so that they could live. As things stood now, it wasn't enough.

"Mm." Dyon nodded. "Clara, read me the numbers of outer disciples for the past 8 years."

"On the first year, there were only 3 total. These were outer disciples you directly appointed, not ones who met the requirement.

"The second year, there were 0. The third year, there were 0 once more. The fourth year, there were 0 once again."

As Clara spoke, the clan leaders felt gratified. See? It was far too difficult.

"The fifth year, there were 63. 4 who managed to enter the main sect and 59 who were split randomly amongst the branch sects.

"The sixth year, there were 172 new additions. 9 who entered the main sect, and 161 who dispersed themselves among the branch sects.

"The seventh year, there were 586 new additions. 23 entered the main sect, 563 entered the five branch sects.

"This eighth year, there were 6708 new additions. 804 entered the main sect, 5904 entered the branch sects."

The massive jump in the eighth year caused the leaders' eyes to widen in shock. Were these fabricated numbers? No, that couldn't be. It was too easy to verify if this was true or false…

This eighth year, Dyon had spent more than half of it right here, how could there not be improvements? If there weren't, wouldn't he be too incompetent as a leader? Many of the blatant forms of corruption stopped when he arrived, allowing the academies to flourish as they should.

"These numbers do not include those who didn't meet the age requirements, but did pass the sect trials. If those numbers are accounted for, the branch sects have an average of 1783 outer disciples, while the main sect has 851." Clara finished her report calmly.

Dyon knew quite well that these numbers wouldn't translate upward to the inner sect and subsequent core sect. After all, as one progresses in cultivation, the more difficult progression became. Those who weren't able to keep up with the age requirements would be demoted to branch sects. And, if by some oddity they couldn't keep up with the branch sect requirements, they would find their places as academy instructors while some of the better ones would become working, outer and maybe inner sect elders. Of course, Dyon would also give them the choice of simply remaining outer disciples, if they so chose.

"Before I continue, I'd like to ask, do any of you have any more complaints to bring up?" Dyon asked calmly.

Seeing no one seemed to, Dyon nodded. "Good. I wonder, do any of you have any idea why the numbers shot up so much during this eighth year?"

Dyon once more received no response, but he could see some break out into a cold sweat.

"When I established the academies, I guaranteed that every youth would receive free admittance, allowing them and their parents to live worry free from the time they were 7 to 16 years old or until they became an essence gatherer.

"I established a grading system. Not only for the students, but for teachers as well. It was my way of keeping you all accountable. I even provided a dao expert to teach your children and had my Demon Generals take time out of their busy schedules to guide the youth.

"But, who would have known that I would come to find my good will had been corrupted beyond recognition?

"Teachers and Clans in cahoots, using their superior population to boost the rating of certain instructors so that they keep a job they're undeserving of. Then, those very same teachers hoarding resources I've provided for the sake of the next generation's growth, and giving them out in exchange for favors and backing. Then there are a bunch who can't seem to follow my rules. Circ.u.mventing and manipulating my words so that they can establish guilds and alliances.

"I bet you all had pretty good incentive to suppress the students of my academies, hm? If they were held down by a system I created, they would go running off to you once they didn't meet the sects' requirements. Then, you would bolster your numbers all while uses the resources I provided as your own.

"By the time this absent leader of yours returned, you would have consolidated your power and entrenched yourselves too deeply for this single ol me to uproot you all, is that it?"

The more Dyon spoke, the stiffer those in the room became.

"I have to say." Dyon laughed. "When I first got here, I was so angry that I thought of killing every single last one of you. These 6 months I took weren't for my sake, but for yours!"