Starting from the Planetary Governor

As of now, there are still some Psychic Academies, but their proportion in the overall training of psychics in the Empire has become very low; their direct power still exists, but really cannot support the Psychic Cultivator’s Association in obtaining a seat at the table.

The Psychic Cultivator’s Association now increasingly resembles a place where the Empire’s psychics gather to exchange and learn, possessing insufficient actual strength, making it difficult to attain particularly strong political status.

The Chief Grandmaster theoretically still holds the qualification to enter the High Lord Council, but for the last one or two thousand years, the presence of the Psychic Cultivator’s Association has not been seen among the High Lords.

This is the current situation of the Psychic Cultivator’s Association.

They are certainly unwilling to accept this.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have reached out to Gu Hang.

But also because of their unwillingness and their desire to maintain the stature of a powerful Central Empire institution, they have received some follow-up commentary from Salihoovich about them.

They maintain their dignity, acting as if the Psychic Cultivator’s Association never declined, striving to keep face; but they are often very adaptable, attaching themselves to anything with the slightest opportunity related to them, to show their value.

With such an easily exploited target, why would others let them go?

All sorts of unsavory dealings involve dragging this group of pretentious Psychic Cultivator’s Association members in.

If a key figure disappears, the Psychic Cultivator’s Association sends an advisor to see if it is related to Spiritual Energy; if the person is found, there is credit, but as an advisor, what more benefits could you seek? If the person isn’t found, you’ll take the blame;

If there’s a war, let the Psychic Cultivator’s Association deploy some direct psychic troops. No? At least send a few, otherwise, even the remaining budget could reasonably be withheld.

These are still the relatively additional matters. If a spiritual energy disaster occurs somewhere, there’s no escape; be prepared to take significant blame.

As if it’s a trash can into which any filthy matter can be thrown, desolate, manipulated, and stifled…

Pathetic.

The foundation is still relatively strong, within the Empire, also in the Holy Terra, there are still some Psychic Academies as a foundation, forcefully continuing to survive.

However, if this trend continues, the ultimate fate of the Psychic Cultivator’s Association is likely to be inevitable collapse in the foreseeable future.

After hearing all this, Gu Hang recalled one of the pathways Galaraldo had arranged for him earlier, which was to come over and become the leader of the Psychic Cultivator’s Association.

At the time he was thinking, after all, the Psychic Cultivator’s Association is a top-tier force; could they really let an outsider like Gu Hang become the leader just like that?

Unexpectedly, it was really that simple.

No need to strive for it, they eagerly offered it with open hands!

However, pushing the Chief Grandmaster onto the position of High Lord is no small feat, but rather exceedingly difficult.

Of course, Gu Hang did not think that Galaraldo was talking nonsense back then. In fact, Gu Hang could already guess how to operate this matter: it was simply about ‘selling’ his merits from the Iron Armor War.

That wouldn’t do.

Refocusing on the matter at hand, Gu Hang asked: “So, do you have any suggestions? My ambassador.”

In his gradual narration just now, Salihoovich had actually revealed his inclined stance: “I suggest staying away from them, Governor, getting too close to them could bring misfortune.”

After a brief pause, he continued to provide reasons: “The Psychic Cultivator’s Association now is only left with a name, a framework. If you want to lead them to revival, not only will it require a large infusion of resources, but it is also fraught with difficulties. Worst of all, the more progress you make, the greater the resistance you will encounter. The stronger the Psychic Cultivator’s Association becomes, the more it will inevitably form conflicts of interest with multiple parties, which is very detrimental to your major affairs.”

Gu Hang pursued: “What if I only want its name and framework?”

After all, it was given for free.

As long as Gu Hang nodded, he could obtain the so-called ‘Chief Grandmaster’ title without almost any cost.

To say the least, it is a top-tier title that can get into the High Lord Council.

To take a step back, even a wrecked ship has three pounds of nails; the remaining power of the Psychic Cultivator’s Association still has some extent; they can still get dozens, sometimes over ten billion in budgets annually; serving as a trash can in the Central Empire, they can also somewhat gather connections…

“No, that’s not realistic,” said Salihoovich, “Regardless of other factors, just within the Psychic Cultivator’s Association, there are significant issues. They invited you to become the Chief Grandmaster hoping you would lead them to revival. If you delay making critical moves, it will be difficult for them to consistently adhere to your will. At that point, not only will they be challenging to become your ally, they might even become a hindrance.”

Gu Hang thoughtfully stroked his chin and agreed with Salihoovich’s assessments.

However, during the conversation, he also had his own ideas.

“What if I were to build the Psychic Cultivator’s Association?”

“Hmm?” Salihoovich was a bit puzzled.

Hadn’t they discussed this?

“Abandoning the power to govern all the Empire’s psychics, is this not the greatest contradiction between the Psychic Cultivator’s Association and other Imperial factions?”

Salihoovich, also a very intelligent person, immediately caught on: “Are you saying… to focus on building the Psychic Academy and the association’s direct troops?”

“Yes.” Gu Hang replied, “The future Psychic Cultivator’s Association will transform into a training base for Spiritual Energy. The existing Psychic Academy is a solid foundation, they have enough talent, as long as resources follow up, the Psychic Academy can quickly expand. Enhancing training efforts for psychics can both accept entrusted training from other Imperial factions and produce their own to send into direct psychic forces and anti-spiritual forces.”

“As one of the independent highest-level institutions in the Empire, its direct troops, if I remember correctly, can operate without anyone’s consent, only needing the Chief Grandmaster’s command to execute tasks anywhere in the Empire, responsible only to the Grandmaster, right?”

Salihoovich nodded: “Yes.”

“That means, doesn’t it mean I then have the power to intervene in any affairs across the Empire’s entire territory?”

Salihoovich calmly reminded: “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. Apart from strength and the negative influence of excessive intervention, even from a legal perspective, the Psychic Cultivator’s Association’s authority to handle affairs in various parts of the Empire is limited to spiritual matters. Although actions require no one’s approval, only accountability to the Grandmaster, the Grandmaster also needs a reasonable reason.”

“Ah, that is indeed a problem.” Gu Hang’s smile grew wider, “In this world, anything can be related to Spiritual Energy, isn’t that right?”

“…Indeed, if you wish it so.”

A Governor that even an Alpha-level cannot describe, with a professional spiritual energy institution, what can’t they turn to be related to Spiritual Energy?

Or rather, in this universe, what cannot be related to Subspace?

Yet, Salihoovich remained worried.

“Will the Psychic Cultivator’s Association agree? They’ve clung to their glory for thousands of years, dreaming of returning to the pinnacle era when all the Empire’s psychics united under the association. Giving up this claim, they will find it hard to accept; if you push this, you’ll face significant resistance.”

Gu Hang subdued his smile: “That will be Master Dou’s task, why should I directly be the villain in this? Hopefully, he can clear out the stubborn old guards within the Psychic Cultivator’s Association and deliver a clean association into my hands.”

“Let the matter of joining the Psychic Cultivator’s Association as the Grandmaster be postponed for now. However, didn’t Dou Zhao say before leaving that he wanted me to have an exchange with the Psychic Cultivator’s Association?”

“Agree to it, is three days of preparation time enough?”

“I’ll clean up the house for him and provide some assistance.”

Speaking here, Gu Hang waved his hand, removing the mental veil he cast over the observers.

In daily life, Gu Hang attempts to remain as open as possible. But when sensitive content is discussed in conversations, it’s best to prevent them from hearing it.

These observers with anti-spiritual means have no idea whom they are monitoring.

As long as Gu Hang desires, whatever they can hear and see, is only what Gu Hang wants them to hear and see.

It’s simply about minimizing its use and keeping its intensity low to avoid detection.