145: Just call me Lao Zhang! (Sixth update!)

The moment they passed through the clouds and mist, Fang Jianguo and Wang Li’s screams caught in their throats.

A magnificent academy gate, indescribable in words, stood majestically before them.

It was a colossal archway carved entirely from a single piece of white jade, towering into the clouds, with six large characters – Kunlun Cultivation Academy – engraved upon it in flying Dragon and Phoenix script.

Beneath the archway was a vast white jade plaza, wide enough for dozens of trucks to drive side-by-side, its surface smooth as a mirror, reflecting the flowing clouds above.

“My heavens…”

Fang Jianguo muttered to himself. He had traveled all over the country in his life, believing he had seen a lot, but the scene before him completely shattered the worldview he had built over fifty-plus years.

Could this thing be made by humans?

How much would this cost?

No, this wasn't about money!

This was an engineering feat that modern technology simply couldn't accomplish!

Wang Li’s legs were even weaker; she tightly gripped Fang Yuan’s arm to barely stand steady.

“Son, is this… is this really your school?”

She felt as if she were dreaming, a dream incredibly absurd yet terrifyingly real.

Just then, a gentle comment from a middle-aged man came from the side.

“More than just human effort, this is practically a miracle. When Immortal Li first presented the blueprints, my company’s top engineering teams were dumbfounded. All we could do was assist the Immortal in some basic construction.”

His words carried a heartfelt pride of being a part of it.

Fang Yuan’s parents subconsciously turned their heads.

They saw a distinguished middle-aged man in a custom-tailored suit standing not far away, looking at them with a smile.

Behind the man were several respectful bodyguards in black.

Fang Jianguo and Wang Li were both stunned.

This person… why did he look so familiar?

It seemed like he could be seen every day on the provincial financial news!

“Are you… Chairman Zhang Tianwang of Tianhong Group?” Fang Jianguo asked uncertainly, his heart starting to pound uncontrollably.

That was the richest man of nan province! A truly important figure!

Zhang Tianwang actively stepped forward, extending his hand with an approachable smile on his face.

“Hello, Brother and Sister, I am Zhang Tianwang, Zhang Qiqi’s father.”

He didn't shake Fang Jianguo’s hand but naturally turned to Fang Yuan.

“Student Fang Yuan, you also brought your parents to the ceremony? Coincidentally, my daughter Qiqi is also in the Magic Cultivation Department. In this final selection, the two of them might even become teammates.”

Fang Yuan’s parents were completely bewildered.

The richest man of nan province was speaking to their son so politely?

And calling him a student?

Fang Jianguo’s mind went blank, and he stood there awkwardly, while Wang Li was so nervous she forgot to breathe.

They were just ordinary working-class people; the highest official they had ever met in their lives was the factory manager. When had they ever interacted with such a prominent figure who only appeared on television?

Seeing Fang Yuan’s parents' reserved demeanor, Zhang Tianwang waved his hand.

“Brother, Sister, please don’t be nervous, and don’t call me Chairman.”

“Our children are classmates, so we are peers, all parents.”

“I’m about your age; if you don’t mind, just call me Old Zhang.”

With that, he took out his phone and naturally opened the QR code.

“Come, Sister, let’s exchange contact information. Later, when the children are at school, it’ll be good for us parents to look out for each other and communicate more.”

Wang Li looked at the phone extended before her, feeling it wasn't a phone but a red-hot branding iron.

Add the richest man’s WeChat?

She looked to her son for help.

Fang Yuan nodded at her, giving her a reassuring signal.

“Uncle Zhang is right, Mom, just add him.”

Then he turned to Zhang Tianwang, with a hint of apology.

“Uncle Zhang, my parents are here for the first time and are a bit nervous. I’ll have to trouble you to look after them later.”

“No problem! Leave it to me!” Zhang Tianwang clapped his chest readily, then affectionately put his arm around Fang Jianguo’s shoulder.

“Come on, Brother Fang, Sister Wang, I’ll show you around the school and tell you about the ins and outs here.”

“This school is extraordinary, I tell you, for my daughter to get in here, it means my Zhang family’s ancestral grave is smoking with good fortune!”

Fang Jianguo and Wang Li were thus half-coaxed, half-led by the richest man of nan province, beginning their tour of this Immortal Cultivation Academy.

Their brains were still in a crashed state, and they merely followed mechanically.

But in their hearts, a massive wave was stirring.

What kind of divine place had their son entered?

Even the richest man of nan province treated him with such an almost ingratiating attitude, even saying something about his ancestral grave smoking with good fortune?

An indescribable sense of pride surged from the deepest part of their hearts, instantly dispelling all their previous worries and unease.

Watching his parents and Zhang Tianwang’s receding figures, Fang Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With Zhang Tianwang there, he was a hundred percent at ease about his parents’ safety and reception.

He turned and walked towards the Martial Arts Training Ground.

Before he even got close, he heard a commotion.

When he arrived at the Martial Arts Training Ground, he found that it had undergone a significant transformation.

Around the originally empty arena, several huge crane cameras had been set up, along with dozens of fixed camera positions, all facing the main arena in the center.

Around the venue, several large electronic screens had been erected, continuously playing promotional videos for the Kunlun Cultivation Academy.

The entire venue was arranged like a large stadium about to host a top-tier event.

And in the very center of the venue, Han Li was holding a large megaphone, spitting as he directed a group of students from the Artifact Refining Department and Talisman Department.

“Hey! Who’s that! Move camera three a little to the left! Yes! I want a forty-five-degree upward shot, to highlight our Dean’s majestic image! Understand?”

“And the lighting crew! What are you doing? I want that sacred, solemn, and slightly mysterious ambient light! What do you mean by giving me all these colorful lights like a disco? Do you want global audiences to think we’re having a wild party?”

“Props team! Where’s that one-to-one ‘Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence’ plaque I ordered? It needs to be hung behind the Dean’s throne later! Hurry up and bring it up!”

Han Li stood with his hands on his hips, jumping up and down, clearly acting like a head director.

Fang Yuan looked at the lively yet somewhat comical scene and walked over.

“What are you doing? You’re making it look quite professional.”

Han Li’s eyes lit up when he saw Fang Yuan, he tossed the megaphone aside and hooked his arm around Fang Yuan’s shoulder.

“Old Fang! You’re just in time! Come quickly and see my setup, how is it, does it have that vibe?”

“I’m telling you, for this global live broadcast, I’m the head director and host! We absolutely must make Kunlun shine!”

“When I stand on stage and say, ‘Welcome to the First Mid-term Assessment Competition of Kunlun Cultivation Academy,’ that Aura will definitely be at its peak!”

Han Li spoke with great enthusiasm, his face full of excitement.

Fang Yuan was also infected by his demeanor.

He knew that in one day, this place would become the focus of the entire world.

And they, as the first Cultivators, would officially step onto the stage of human history.