Chapter 555: Should a Probationary Dao Master Be Cowardly?

The speaker was a man with a white beard, Fang Bei, the Discipline Supervisor of the Yonghuang Spirit Technique Academy's Dao Master Monitoring Office.

He oversaw part of the discipline and academy-level rewards for Dao Masters, making him a figure with some real authority.

"Using a probationary Dao Master—wouldn't that be too…?" said a two-star Dao Master, uncertain.

In fact, the cultivators admitted to the Yonghuang Spirit Technique Academy were either those with exceptional exam scores or those with powerful family backing.

The two-star Dao Master was worried the cultivators' families would come to demand accountability.

Fang Bei snorted: "If probationary Dao Masters never take students, will they remain probationary forever?"

The academy recruits probationary Dao Masters and gives them so many resources each month—not so they can come here and act like lords."

The benefits for probationary Dao Masters at the Yonghuang Spirit Technique Academy were indeed excellent; even Ding Huan, at the lowest rank, received at least ten thousand superior immortal crystals per month, plus a pile of various immortal pills and materials.

In addition, the spirit gathering immortal array in his residence could be arranged freely, and no one would disturb his cultivation.

Most importantly, he had partial access rights to the Scripture Library.

"Then let these two probationary Dao Masters take it—one named Ding Huan, the other Niu Chang?" Deputy Academy Head Lu Chenzhou immediately decided.

He was tired every year dealing with this kind of nonsense, and he was deeply frustrated—but it was a duty he absolutely had to handle.

"Deputy Director Lu, Ding Huan is fine—he's in seclusion. But Niu Chang won't work; he's already joined Xuan Dao Class Seven."

Another Dao Master stepped forward to speak.

Lu Chenzhou was helpless; many Dao Masters who joined the Yonghuang Spirit Technique Academy quickly found powerful backers.

It was rare to find someone like Ding Huan—who joined the Spirit Technique Academy without seeking any backing…

Wait, wasn't Ding Huan also backed by someone? Deputy Director Gu Min.

He rubbed his temples: "Go fetch Ding Huan first. We'll decide the rest later."

Ding Huan, who was in seclusion, was awakened and was deeply annoyed.

But as a probationary Dao Master, when the Deputy Academy Head summoned him, he had no choice but to end his seclusion and go to the Dao Law Hall.

"Ding Dao Master, over here." Seeing Ding Huan enter, Lu Chenzhou immediately waved him over.

"Greetings, Deputy Director Lu, greetings to all fellow Dao Masters." Ding Huan bowed in turn as soon as he arrived.

He had the least seniority, so naturally he had to greet first.

Lu Chenzhou spoke with a pleasant expression:

"Ding Dao Master, the Yonghuang Spirit Technique Academy is preparing to participate in the Great Dao Corridor Academy Competition.

Many Dao Masters will leave the academy to join the competition, and now we're short on Dao Masters—we hope you can temporarily take charge of the Zhengdao Class."

Although Ding Huan had just joined the Yonghuang Spirit Technique Academy, he wasn't ignorant—he had already studied the academy's class assignments and enrollment details.

Zhengdao Class sounded impressive, but in truth it was a class for underachievers, composed of the worst cultivators rejected by the classes preparing for the competition.

They were making him take the blame.

If he taught well, everyone would be happy; if he taught poorly, even if the cultivators' families didn't tear him apart, they'd ruin his reputation completely.

Ding Huan didn't care much about reputation—but once his reputation was destroyed, how could he ever lead a normal cultivator class again?

If he couldn't lead a normal cultivator class, how could he win rankings?

Without rankings, how could he earn a promotion to Immortal Sovereign?

So this was a one-time deal: take it, and he'd never be able to serve as a Dao Master again.

These bastards—he'd just arrived here, and they were already trying to cut off his Dao path.

Seeing Ding Huan silent, Lu Chenzhou spoke again:

"Of course, the academy offers compensation. You may state your demands—anything within the academy's capacity, we'll try our best to fulfill."

"Fine, I agree." Ding Huan said without hesitation.

Lu Chenzhou was overjoyed: "I knew you'd—"

Before Lu Chenzhou could finish, Ding Huan interrupted him:

"I need one promotion slot to Immortal King and one to Immortal Sovereign. I won't ask for any other compensation—leave the rest for other Dao Masters."

Silence fell over the entire Dao Law Hall.

Can you be any more shameless?

What was the main reason most people came here to become Dao Masters? Wasn't it to compete for a promotion slot?

And you? You're taking charge of a trash cultivator class and demanding two promotion slots. People truly are invincible when they have no shame.

"Ding Probationary, do you know what you're saying?" Before Lu Chenzhou could speak, Fang Bei exploded.

"Who are you?" Ding Huan looked calmly at Fang Bei—the man wore only a Yonghuang Spirit Technique Academy administrative badge, no star, meaning he wasn't a Dao Master.

"Discipline Supervisor Fang Bei of the academy." Fang Bei spoke coldly.

He had never seen a probationary Dao Master as brazen as Ding Huan.

"Bullshit supervisor…"

"I am Fang Bei. Mind your tone." Fang Bei's anger flared at Ding Huan's pronunciation.

Ding Huan ignored the man and continued: "Just now, Deputy Director Lu himself said I could state my own demands.

He said if the academy could fulfill them, they would do so—so why ask me to state them if they can't be fulfilled?"

Ding Huan was annoyed because this was clearly an attempt to trap him, a probationary Dao Master.

"That's not how you make demands. You're a probationary Dao Master—how dare you ask for an Immortal Sovereign promotion slot?

Do you think I can't expel you from the Yonghuang Spirit Technique Academy right now?" Fang Bei's voice carried a chill.

As Discipline Supervisor, he had the authority to recommend the expulsion of Dao Masters.

Of course, that was only a recommendation—not an actual expulsion.

And even a recommendation required the Dao Master to have committed a serious offense.

Ding Huan turned and walked away.

"Where are you going?" Fang Bei laughed bitterly, ignored by Ding Huan.

Which Dao Master doesn't treat me, the Dao Monitor Officer, with courtesy?

Does this new intern Dao Master think he's protected by Vice Dean Gu Min, so he can act without restraint?

Ding Huan turned back, surprised, and looked at Fang Bei: "Monitor Officer, you yourself just said you were expelling me. Since I've been expelled, I'm naturally leaving Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy."

What? Are you not only expelling me, but also trying to forcibly detain me?

Fang Bei froze, instantly speechless.

Ding Huan had just said not a single false word—how could he dare expel Ding Huan?

He'd only been threatening and scaring Ding Huan earlier.

Who knew this new intern Dao Master wasn't the least bit afraid of his threats, leaving him utterly humiliated.

Every Dao Master recruited by Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy, once they pass the assessment, are precious resources of the academy.

Precisely because of this, the academy's Dao Master assessment is extremely strict, admitting only one or two candidates each time.

Not to mention Fang Bei lacks the authority to expel Ding Huan, the intern Dao Master, without cause—even if he had such authority, he'd need to present valid reasons and evidence.

"When did I say I was expelling you?" Fang Bei's face darkened with rage.

Ding Huan raised his hand and summoned a crystal ball: "Monitor Officer, watch your own words just now—am I wronging you?"

If you don't have that authority, don't wave false banners and spout nonsense."

Inside the crystal ball, Fang Bei had clearly said he would expel Ding Huan.

Cold sweat seeped from Fang Bei's back—if this crystal ball leaked out, his position as Dao Monitor Officer was finished.

The other Dao Masters in the Dao Law Hall were secretly startled—this new intern Dao Master was no ordinary man.

Lu Chenzhou smiled awkwardly: "Dao Master Ding, my wording was mistaken just now. The promotion slots to Immortal King and Immortal Sovereign are not mine to promise."

Ding Huan naturally had no intention of abandoning this good place—he stopped.

"I'll lead the Zhengdao Class, but only if you meet a few conditions: First, I must be the sole Dao Instructor."

If anyone forces me to abandon the Zhengdao Class, it's equivalent to automatically granting me one promotion slot to Immortal King, one to Immortal Sovereign, and one to Immortal Emperor.

Second, I must have full authority to allow or bar disciples from entering or leaving my class. Third, no other Dao Law instruction duties may be assigned to me.

Fourth, if my class wishes to register for any combat competitions, no one may block it."

Ding Huan didn't want to spend hard work training students only for others to reap the rewards.

Lu Chenzhou finally breathed a sigh of relief—were these even conditions?

Who would want to snatch the Dao Instructor position of the Zhengdao Class?

Register for competitions? Ha—the academy would be glad if every class signed up.

But if a class finishes last, the first reputation to suffer isn't the academy's—it's the Dao Instructor's.

In the Great Dao Corridor, there's a saying: There's no such thing as the worst academy, nor the worst disciple—only the worst Dao Instructor.

"Fine, I agree," Lu Chenzhou said immediately.

Ding Huan nodded: "Write down these conditions on a Dao Rhythm Jade Slip, and seal it with Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy's official stamp."

"No need to stamp it…" a two-star Dao Master frowned.

Ding Huan didn't even bother to explain.

"I agree—but on the condition that if you expel any disciple, you must have sufficient justification," Lu Chenzhou cut in, refusing to let Ding Huan speak further.

These conditions posed no problem.

In just one hour, Ding Huan swiftly secured what he needed and left.

"Arrogant fool," Fang Bei spat the moment Ding Huan was gone.

If he didn't find a chance to expel this intern Dao Master, how could he keep face as Dao Monitor Officer?

But even if he wanted to expel Ding Huan, he'd have to wait a year—until Ding Huan finished leading the Zhengdao Class—then he could claim Ding Huan failed his probation.

Lu Chenzhou ignored Fang Bei and walked away—he too found this fellow distasteful.

Even an intern Dao Master is a precious resource within the academy.

Fang Bei thought being Dao Monitor Officer gave him power over Dao Masters—how laughable.

Ding Huan didn't rush to the Zhengdao Class—he returned to his quarters.

He needed to investigate whether this class qualified for this year's Grand Competition. If not, he'd leave it alone—he had no interest wasting time teaching.

If it had a chance to compete, he'd spend some time securing a promotion slot to Immortal Sovereign first.

If he got expelled for neglecting the Zhengdao Class, then let him be expelled.

He refused to believe that Zuo Shanwei could ascend here—while he, Ding Huan, could not.