The overall situation in the Glazed Royal City had been settled for now, and the various negative effects brought about by the rumors concerning the Peacock Great Emperor had been temporarily quelled.
Yet within the Glazed Royal City itself, there were still some dissenting voices, spreading a pessimistic narrative about the city's future.
The Peacock Great Emperor had vanished, and both the Shura Great Emperor and the Ocean Great Emperor had departed. In one stroke, the Glazed Royal City's original eight Great Emperors had been reduced by three.
With that, it was inevitable that some pessimism would surface within the city.
However, such sentiments were quickly drowned out by the voices of the masses.
"So the Shura Great Emperor and the Ocean Great Emperor are gone — what of it? Even when they were still in the Glazed Royal City, what had they actually done for it over these years? To put it bluntly, they were parasites drawing a salary for nothing! Sitting on the throne without doing any work!"
"That's right. Whether the Glazed Royal City has them or not makes no difference. Perhaps without their interference, Young Lord Zhen will be able to lead the Glazed Royal City forward with even greater strides!"
"We support Young Lord Zhen — young, accomplished, and full of vigor! If the Glazed Royal City fell into the hands of someone as selfish as the Shura Great Emperor, that would truly be a disaster!"
"Indeed, the Shura Great Emperor had neither virtue nor ability. He could never have commanded the Glazed Royal City. Choosing him would have been far worse than choosing Young Lord Zhen."
"Apart from being a bit young and not yet possessing overwhelming martial strength, Young Lord Zhen is practically flawless! Even the Peacock Great Emperor, setting aside his martial prowess, wouldn't necessarily surpass Young Lord Zhen in other domains. Perhaps in the Dao of talismans he might still hold a slight edge?"
"The waves behind push the waves ahead. This is the natural order. His Majesty the Peacock Great Emperor gradually withdrawing over these years — I believe he was paving the way for Young Lord Zhen's ascent."
"Exactly. Though the Peacock Great Emperor is immensely powerful, his attention in recent years has genuinely not been as focused on the Glazed Royal City's affairs as before. He must have wanted Young Lord Zhen to take the throne sooner."
"The Peacock Great Emperor truly has a discerning eye for talent. A genius like Young Lord Zhen — one can hardly imagine how he was cultivated. With such a genius in our Glazed Royal City, we can enjoy at least ten thousand more years of fortune!"
Within the Young Lord's manor atop Peacock Sacred Mountain, informants from various factions continued to relay the voices circulating through the Glazed Royal City to Jiang Chen's ears.
"Young Lord, while there are some doubting voices in the Glazed Royal City at present, the mainstream sentiment supports you. They believe you can lead the Glazed Royal City to even greater glory."
"Yes, the few dissenting voices have already been drowned out by public opinion."
The most delighted people right now were actually the Four Great Monarchs. Peacock Sacred Mountain's defeat of the Shura Dojo had solidified its dominant position.
The current Young Lord Zhen displayed a temperament and tact that were in no way inferior to the Peacock Great Emperor of old. In fact, when it came to handling all manner of affairs, his boldness and vision were even more decisive and vigorous than those of His Majesty the Peacock Great Emperor in years past.
Jiang Chen nodded. "Everyone, speak freely. Regarding the establishment of the Alchemy Academy, share whatever thoughts you may have — this is just us, our own people. When the time comes to discuss it with all the regional lords together, I want you to be mentally prepared."
"I have no objections. Establishing an Alchemy Academy is a tremendous undertaking — a legacy that will benefit generations to come. We naturally give it our fullest support."
"There is just one point: the students we recruit must be loyal. They must support Peacock Sacred Mountain and harbor no divided loyalties. These people, when they grow into their abilities in the future, will all be your proteges, Young Lord — the very foundation upon which you control the Glazed Royal City. Their loyalty to you must be absolute." Cloud Monarch offered his opinion.
Mo Wushuang nodded in agreement as well. "Cloud is quite right. Young Lord, you are building the Alchemy Academy for the sake of the Glazed Royal City's future — that goes without saying. But from a personal standpoint, you must also strengthen control in this regard. Even if it means washing their brains, they need to understand that you, Young Lord Zhen, are the master of the Glazed Royal City. You are the one they must swear loyalty to."
"Huang'er, what do you think?" Emperor Wushuang smiled faintly and turned to Huang'er.
Ever since Huang'er had defeated Li Jiancheng, the entire Peacock Sacred Mountain had come to see her in an entirely new light. Everyone suddenly realized that the always-gentle Miss Huang'er possessed such profound martial foundations. From that point on, her standing among them only grew more respected.
Naturally, her opinion carried considerable weight at this moment.
Huang'er smiled elegantly. "I agree with Brother Mo. Setting aside personal motives, even for the sake of the Glazed Royal City's greater good, an authority must be established. Otherwise, what happened with the Shura Great Emperor could happen again. The Glazed Royal City needs only one authority — that is enough."
Jiang Chen actually laughed. "The way you all put it, am I becoming a tyrant?"