High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2549: Chapter 770: Opening Address of Shanglin Garden

”... Distinguished witches, warlocks, elves of all races, and all our most precious magical companions, living and undead creatures under the protection of magic, blessed by our ancestors, we are able to gather here. Today is the day before the Spring Equinox. In this bright and clear day of spring, where everything revives, and the air is crisp and refreshing, I am pleased to announce that the annual Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt is about to unfold once again.”

”... This is an ancient yet new activity that allows our young generation to understand each other, foster friendships, enhance their knowledge of the magical world, and deepen their respect for life during the cooperative hunt. At the same time, it enables us to maintain pure, independent, and objective as wizards, unclouded by the dazzling realities.”

”... Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt is one of the oldest hunting events in wizard history. Participants come from different races within the alliance, various organizations, different families, and individuals, representing alchemists, diviners, magic potion masters, talisman masters, array masters, curse masters, and other wizards dedicated to the path of truth... Yu Rui, Chen Wen Yuan, Gene Black O’Brien, William Tapott, Jiang Qianli, Edward Jenner, Zhang Shishi, Smell Note, etc., these most talented and influential wizards in the magical world have shone brightly during the Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt... Flamenco De, Money Ladder, Qin Xiaoguo, Albert Hettris Jin, etc., these elite hunters in the alliance have also achieved their respective goals in the Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt.”

”... In recent years, various hunting activities within the alliance have been thriving... Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt will not rest on its laurels, but will embrace the most free voices with the most positive attitude... expand the scope and content of the Spring Hunt... develop new, larger hunting grounds. At the same time, we must realize that merely relying on internal reforms within the Spring Hunt is far from sufficient. We must leverage and accept more external forces coming to Shanglin Garden to maintain the status of Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt in the entire wizard world, meeting the constantly changing and evolving needs of the world.”

”... The wheels of history crush ordinary wizards, like a summer thunderstorm, with thunder, strong winds, and the natural fragrance after rain moistens the earth... there are huge holes in the opened fishing net, and there are always light-leaking gaps in the falling iron curtain... like an iron cage, where the bars can even allow you to put your fingers through, making you feel as though things are no big deal, and life will always go on. But once the iron curtain truly forms, you realize you are forever trapped in the cage. Looking back suddenly, as the wheels leave, only ordinary wizards hear the sound of their bones shattering.”

”... Through accepting new members and organizations, we gain richer resources, more partners, and a more accurate position, spreading our voices to a wider region... Magic represents infinite possibilities, each new face embodies a moving legend, and we will be delighted to become their companions and loyal partners in the magical world.”

”... Supporting every wizard worthy of respect is a principle we must persist in, and it is the foundation that allows us to cross the long river of time. We will continue to adhere to these correct decisions to fulfill our mission.”

”... We are full of expectations for the future of Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt and thank our guests, staff, and families for their support in welcoming the arrival of the new spring ... We are not bound by blood, but shared beliefs bind us together... In the future, Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt will continue to maintain the highest level of social hunting within the alliance and the most professional level of hunting guidance, making more new and excellent young wizards stars in our hunting ground.”

”... Thank you all for taking the precious hunting time to listen to this old man ramble. I hope in the coming time, every young wizard can find like-minded companions, and every hunter can capture their desired prey. We will share these wonderful news with flowers, applause, and gifts. Thank you.”

Dull and full of all kinds of correct angle nonsense, speeches are essential for every meeting.

Zheng Qing originally thought he would listen drowsily, but he suddenly realized he was listening carefully when the applause started. He expected this to be a routine article covered in flowery words to mask its dull essence, but in just a few short paragraphs, the young wizard for the first time realized he had understood many ’overtones’ and ’unfinished meanings’.

He even felt this opening speech was somewhat overly sharp, contrary to the warm atmosphere at the entire hunting party venue.

What does it mean by ’must leverage and accept more external forces coming to Shanglin Garden’? What are ’iron curtain,’ ’bars,’ and the ’sound of bones shattering only ordinary wizards can hear’? How does one ’expand the scope and content of the Spring Hunt’ ’develop new, larger hunting grounds’? Which new members does Shanglin Garden plan to ’accept’?

If he had heard this opening speech last spring, Zheng Qing would likely have let it go in one ear and out the other, paying no attention at all.

But perhaps because he became a teaching assistant at Edge Academy, or perhaps because his small shop employed two mouse people, maybe because he once had a wonderful encounter with a Gypsy witch, or perhaps because he visited the Black Prison World, witnessing the collapse and rebirth of the entire world.

He naturally linked this opening speech with the establishment of the Edge Academy at First University, the emergence of new high-tier wizards after the rise of the magic tide, the alliance’s expansion in the New World, and various other news, realizing the direction and content Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt intends to expand.

”I always thought Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt and Alpha Academy would place great emphasis on pure wizard bloodlines,” Zheng Qing whispered to the witch beside him. ”But today... it’s rather surprising.”

Jiang Yu snorted lightly.

”Don’t associate ’noble’ with those guys at Alpha. Strictly speaking, I, Li Meng, Zhang Ji Xin, Matthew Karen, your classmates, all count as noble wizards. Do you have biases against us?” She said, holding the warlock’s arm and greeting every young warlock and witch Zheng Qing did not know but she did: ”... Also, aren’t you really planning to take off your hat to meet some new friends?”

Then be seen by that Mr. Little William Blair, who would then write a strange article and let the Big Fox at Greenhill Mansion read it out loud in front of me?

Zheng Qing mocked himself inwardly, shaking his head very firmly—both in saying he had no bias and emphasizing he didn’t plan to take off the hood—at the same time, he raised his hand to pull the brim of the hood lower over his face.

Just as mentioned in the opening speech, the atmosphere at Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt was very ’free’, no one would stop guests from wearing hoods, Zheng Qing even saw a few guys wearing masks and wrapped entirely in bandages.