93: Chapter 93: You're a genius? All the work is yours!
Faced with Lin Yuan's public challenge, the atmosphere of the entire square grew tense.
The generals on the rostrum looked grim. In their eyes, this wasn't just a difference in philosophy; it was a challenge to discipline and an act of public defiance against the state.
"Nonsense!" an explosive-tempered general cursed under his breath. "Where do you think this is? A vegetable market? You think you can just say whatever you want? Zhao Lixin, have the guards take him away! Disqualify him!"
"Leaders, wait!" Director Zhao Lixin hurriedly intervened. "The kid is arrogant, but his talent is truly one-of-a-kind. Engineer Jiang specifically mentioned before that we shouldn't discard such good prospects easily. Besides... look at Engineer Jiang, she doesn't seem angry."
Everyone's gaze turned toward Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning finally stood up from her seat. She didn't go to the lectern but walked directly to the edge of the rostrum, looking down at Lin Yuan below.
Her gaze remained as calm as ever.
Lin Yuan met her gaze, puffing out his chest even further with a smug smile on his face. He felt that her reaction was a sign of a guilty conscience, as if she didn't know how to refute him.
"Your name is Lin Yuan?" Jiang Ning spoke. Her voice wasn't loud, but through the amplification formation, it spread clearly throughout the square.
"Yes," Lin Yuan answered with full arrogance.
"Heavenly Spiritual Root?"
"Yes."
"Do you feel your talent gives you the right to break the rules and question our teaching policy here?" Jiang Ning's tone was flat, as if she were asking about a trivial matter.
"I'm not questioning it; I'm doing it for the good of the academy, for the good of the country!" Lin Yuan said righteously. "I'm just stating a fact! Making geniuses move bricks is a crime! We should spend our energy where it is most needed!"
His words caused some of the students below to nod.
"Well said!"
"Senior Lin Yuan is right! We didn't come here to be laborers!"
"We support Senior Lin Yuan!"
Hearing the support from below, the smile on Lin Yuan's face deepened. He felt he had the moral high ground and that the people were on his side.
He looked at Jiang Ning, waiting for her weak defense so he could use his talent to deliver the final blow.
But unexpectedly, Jiang Ning's next words completely threw him off.
"What you said... makes sense."
Jiang Ning nodded.
The entire square fell silent.
Everyone was stunned.
Including Lin Yuan himself.
He had a stomach full of arguments ready for a rebuttal and was prepared to channel his spiritual energy for a show of power, but... she just admitted it?
This... how was he supposed to respond?
The leaders on the rostrum also looked at each other, unable to understand what Jiang Ning was up to.
"Engineer Jiang, this is..." Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo rubbed his hands anxiously. "How can she agree with his twisted logic? Isn't this boosting others' morale and undermining our own?"
Professor Chen adjusted his glasses, looking at Jiang Ning's back, and whispered, "Don't worry, Old Wang. When have you ever seen Engineer Jiang do something she wasn't sure of? She must have her reasons for saying this. Just watch, the good show... is yet to come."
On the square, Jiang Ning looked at the dazed Lin Yuan and continued in her flat tone:
"Talent is indeed a good thing. Using good things where they are most needed aligns with the principle of 'efficiency' that we've always emphasized."
"From this perspective, I personally agree with your viewpoint."
Lin Yuan was completely bewildered. He felt like he had thrown a punch with all his might only to hit a ball of cotton—it was an indescribably frustrating feeling.
"Then... then you mean..." he stammered.
"What I mean is," Jiang Ning's gaze swept over Lin Yuan and then over the faces of all the students below, "you say geniuses shouldn't move bricks. I also think that true geniuses shouldn't just do basic labor."
"However, there is a prerequisite."
Her voice rose slightly.
"That is, you must first prove that you are truly a genius."
"And not just... a self-righteous fool who thinks he's a genius."
As soon as those words came out, the color drained from Lin Yuan's face, leaving him deathly pale.
The students who had just been cheering for him also shut their mouths, their faces burning with shame.
"You!" Lin Yuan was both embarrassed and angry, pointing at Jiang Ning. "What right do you have to call me a fool!"
"I didn't say it was you," Jiang Ning shook her head. "I'm just stating a standard. A standard to distinguish between a 'genius' and a 'fool'."
She paused, finally revealing her purpose.
"It's very simple."
"You say you disdain learning 'Principles of Psionic Pipe Laying' and 'Introduction to Formation Foundations'."
"Fine."
"From today on, any student who considers themselves a 'genius' and has no need for these 'basics' can apply to the academy."
"Once your application is approved, you will enter the 'Genius Special Training Class'."
"In the special training class, you won't have to attend any basic courses. Your curriculum will consist of only one thing—practice."
"I will provide you with the best materials, the most advanced equipment, and... the most difficult projects."
"You will use your 'talent' to complete them."
"If you can't complete them, or if you make a total mess of it, then it proves your 'talent' can't support your arrogance. You'll have to obediently crawl back to the Ordinary Class and pick up those 'bricks' you look down on, one by one. Only when you've understood those bricks will we talk about being a 'genius' again."
"Conversely," Jiang Ning's gaze fell back on Lin Yuan, looking at him like an interesting experimental subject.
"If you can use your 'talent' to complete the same project faster, more efficiently, and better than the students in the Ordinary Class..."
"Then, not only can you skip all basic courses..."
"I will personally guide you."
"I will teach you the highest-level 'divine powers' I know—the ones you desire, like 'moving mountains and filling seas'."
Jiang Ning's words were like a bomb exploding across the entire square.
The eyes of all the students instantly lit up!
Especially those children from elite families who thought highly of themselves; their breathing grew heavy.
No need for boring basic courses!
Directly handling high-level projects!
And even... getting personal guidance from this legendary instructor!
This was simply a windfall from the heavens!
Lin Yuan's heart also pounded wildly.
This was exactly what he wanted!
What he wanted was a stage, a stage where he could leave those 'mortals' in the dust!
He felt that Jiang Ning had made a concession under the pressure he applied.
He had won!
"Fine!" Without even thinking, he shouted back, "I, Lin Yuan, am the first to apply for the 'Genius Special Training Class'!"
"Me too!"
"I apply too!"
"Count me in!"
All of a sudden, over a hundred people stepped out from the student formation, each holding their head high, their faces full of confidence and pride.
The leaders on the rostrum frowned as they watched the chaotic scene.
Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo was so anxious he almost jumped: "Nonsense! This is complete nonsense! How can Engineer Jiang do this? Isn't this just categorizing students and creating conflict? How will we manage them later?"
Only Professor Chen looked at the excited 'geniuses' below, then at the calm Jiang Ning on the stage, and smiled.
He whispered to Wang Jianguo, "Old Wang, don't you understand yet?"
"Engineer Jiang isn't compromising."
"She is... doing a precision screening."
"She's rounding up all the self-righteous troublemakers together, and then..."
Professor Chen paused, saying something that made Wang Jianguo's blood run cold.
"And then, she'll use reality to slap all their faces swollen at once."
"Just you watch. Before long, these so-called 'geniuses' will be crying and begging to come back... to move bricks."
Jiang Ning looked at the 'geniuses' eagerly signing up below and felt certain.
Good.
The fish have all entered the net.
She was worried about these arrogant fellows not studying the basics properly, all wanting to reach the heavens in a single step. Now it was perfect; rounding them up together made it convenient for her to deal with them.
She cleared her throat and announced to the crowd below:
"Since you are all so confident, that's very good."
"Now, I announce that the Kunlun Academy opening ceremony is concluded."
"All students, proceed immediately to your respective training grounds."
"Your first lesson of the semester begins now."
"The task for the Ordinary Class is to learn and build a 'Standard Type-I' Defense Formation."
"As for you, the task for the 'Genius Special Training Class' is..."
Jiang Ning looked at Lin Yuan, emphasizing every word.
"The better the talent, the stronger the ability, and the greater the responsibility."
"Your task is to do a bit more work."
"You will handle the Defense Formation quotas for all ten classes of the Ordinary Class."