After apologizing to the Grand Elder Cui Wen led the Cui Clan members back to the table. Once he sat down he motioned for everyone to do the same.
"Everyone, how many of you are in any academy currently?" Cui Wen asked simply.
When reaching the age of 16+ anyone can join an academy and stay there for 15+ years to cultivate. These institutions are also used as recruiting sites for various factions.
"Senior Brother Wen all of us are in an academy currently" Cui Yin replied quickly at the table.
"Alright, on this paper write which academy you're in and then give it to me." Cui Wen continued taking out paper and ink pen out of his spatial ring.
Many were puzzled at this however agreed. After the paper was passed around it eventually came back to Cui Wen.
Cui Chen - Black Dragon Academy
Cui Yin - Black Dragon Academy
Cui Xinxin - Black Dragon Academy
Cui Tian - Water Tortoise Academy
Cui Longyi - Supreme War Academy
Cui Feng - Supreme War Academy
Cui Shui- Flame Phoenix Academy
...
....
And the list went on with various different academies. There are above a thousand academies all around the Great Xi Land owned by various different sects, clans or other organizations however there is one specific school classed at number one.
Royal Xi Academy a institution founded by the Xi Royal family. Its rankings have stayed number one for over 2000 years undefeated.
Black Dragon Academy was second place founded by the Great Black Dragon ancestor according to legends.
Supreme War Academy was founded by a coalition of sects willing to open it for personal interests.
Water Tortoise Academy is founded by an Ancient Divine beast the Tortoise still alive to this day.
The Flame Phoenix Academy is the same founded by a Divine Beast.
In these academies thousands of cultivators reside with various associations to protect them. Anyone could create a organization however only the strong will stay.
"Listen, I will make my own association at the Royal Xi Academy, I want you all to open subsidiary associations connected to mine. With this we will trade with different academies, buying and selling items, materials, beast cores anything. However the most important is power." Cui Wen continued explaining his future plans.
"Once I have stabilized my own association at Royal Xi Academy open your own branches and using your own contacts or friends make them join. We will make a untouchable association spread across all academies!" Cui Wen declared putting his hand onto the table showing his intentions clearly.
Obviously this concept isn't new however the most difficult part was being able to handle and control these associations. Trusting partners at different branches are important. However if you are strong this is no problem. Simply beat them to death and teach them a lesson.
At these Academies it's everyman for themselves and that's why associations were created. However why should an association only be used in the academy? Why not after graduating continuing the organization in the world. By already monopolizing the various geniuses at each branch manpower will be filled enabling larger operations.
This is only the beginning for Cui Wen, his tru ambitions are much greater much more ambitious, almost defying.
"Are you sure about this Senior Brother Wen? This will be really hard.." Cui Yin the more scholarly cultivator said in fear.
"No worries, I will be number one at Royal Xi Academy. After that spread my reputation as the association owner." Cui Wen simply stated with confidence.
In this world the organizational structure is completely different featuring elders, sect masters, different hall pavilions etc. However Cui Wen will utilize the commonly used pyramid hierarchy. These are often used in companies with large amounts of members.
By incorporating a top level management, middle level management and lower level management delegating the various tasks will be much easier and simpler.
Cui Wen will completely monopolize and take advantage of the academies squeezing out every single resource!
"After the banquet, come with me to plan, of course I will give you tips on cultivation as well." Cui Wen said cutting of any resistance to his plans.
Everyone agreed and waited patiently for the banquet to end. However as the CEO Cui Wen had to get some more contacts and probe others intentions.
Standing up he left the table taking a walk around before finally arriving at the well known Ji Merchant Group.
Seeing Cui Wen approach the manager greeted him with honor. Cupping his hands.
"I have seen Young Master Wen." The middle aged manager said calmly.
"Nice to meet you Manager?" Cui Wen cupped his hands and asked for his name.
"I am Ji Zhang, Young Master Wen." Ji Zhang replied.
"In the future I have a feeling I will meet you." Cui Wen said one last time before leaving the table.
As Cui Wen had no real connections he could only rely on the Cui family and their members.
He will instead delegate the major issues to Cui Yin or Cui Chen as they have connections. Right now it's important to make a good first impression so others are willing to make contact with him in the future.
Walking along to the next table it was the Bai family known to have larger numbers of women.
Cui Wen popped out of nowhere and surprised their gossip.
"Greetings to the Bai family" He cupped his fists and greeted at the table.
The girls in a little bit of shock greeted him back with courtesy.
"Greetings Young Master Wen, this sister is Bai Daiyu." She responded humbly to Cui Wen.
"Sister Daiyu are you enjoying the banquet? Are there any targets of your gossip?" Cui Wen said in a playful tone gazing upon the beautiful women.
"Young Master Wen, we don't dare gossip at the Grand Elders banquet." She replied diplomatically not trusting Cui Wens playful conversation.
"Hmm, enjoy yourselves then sisters. If you need anything don't be afraid to ask my Cui Clan." Cui Wen stopped probing them and left with a wave of his hand.
The reason Cui Wen targeted them was due to their easy usage. Give a middle sized families some benefits and boom they are now loyal. In the Bai family's case their several businesses involving entertainment are very popular almost monopolizing the industry. They only lack a powerful cultivator to rise up.
Cui Wen dares not underestimate any clan or family who knows what secrets they hold. In any case the banquet would be ending soon and Cui Wen only managed to contact two in person. Not great but not bad either.
In this banquet he had successfully asserted his reputation as a genius cold blooded Young Master daring to punish his Junior Brother in public. Also managing to connect with the various Cui members.
Eventually Cui Wen returned to his seat after a successful banquet waiting for it to end. Finally the Grand Elder ended the birthday celebration drinking several different spirit wines and eating exotic dishes.
On the way out Cui Wen decided to wait for the others to leave first, it looked like someone was exiting a goddamn Taylor Swift concert.
After a few minutes alongside the Cui Clan members he left the Grand hall and led them to his pagoda home courtyard.
"This is where Senior Brother lives? Truly worthy of being his home." Cui Yin said in awe of the pond and trees.
Usually they only had a boring plain flat courtyard to train in. Sitting in the mini forest everyone followed suit.
"I will go to the Academy very soon, in any case I will establish the Heavenly United Association. When I have received a good standing in the academy I will send someone to all of you so just follow the instructions." Cui Wen explained simply.
"First off I will explain our ranks, there will be no elders, leaders, whatever that is. The ranks will be split up into 3 ranks.
First the top level management, these will include the leaders of each branch. Second the middle level management these include Managers who have been appointed by the leaders, they will be your closest aide and must report everything. Once you have received that report if needed report to me.
Under the Managers are the supervisors, think of them like enforcers making sure everything is going well with the members.
So it goes like this:
Me ->
Branch Leader ->
Manager ->
Supervisor ->
Inner Member ->
Outer Member
Now these inner members will get more benefits for writing a contract or oath to the Heavenly United Association.
Does everyone understand?" Cui Wen finally finished explaining after a few minutes.
"Young Master Wen, we understand however how will we keep the members in the association later on?" Cui Tian asked curiously.
"It is simple our association will give them better benefits, whoever dares to mess with us will get beaten! Protection is a big deal, these average cultivators don't have backing like us. Using this many average cultivators will flock to join.
Now when we get more members I plan implementing a promotion system without the need of backing. Usually in these associations you would need connections to rank up and receive better rewards, benefits you name it.
However we will let them prove their worth, if they serve the Heavenly United Association then they will be rewarded.
Another thing, once our association gets going we will assign different tasks separate of the academy to get revenue. Our association won't simply be academy related, we will deal with other real world organizations trading, selling anything.
Now to do this the Supervisors will be able to give out tasks, for example go pick herbs or protect this establishment for spirit stones and materials. After that they will submit it and trade for the Heavenly United Association currency the Heavenly Point.
Using Heavenly points our members can purchase different services in our association, for example maybe they have a grievance with another cultivator we will then send a enforcer to help them settle this feud.
Basically cut short we will be a mini Clan or Sect disguised as an academy association. This way we will avoid those arrogant strong organizations." Cui Wen explained his ambitions and plans for a few minutes.
The various Cui Clan members were shocked at Cui Wens plan of the academies. It's simply genius no one had ever done it before.
"I will join you Senior Brother, whatever happens I will always follow!" Cui Chen motivated by Cui Wens goals and ambitions felt a fire of recognition flicker in him.
"Senior Brother you are terrifying.." All Cui Xinxin could say was that. She didn't think much of associations before but now a whole new page of information had been opened.
The Cui Clan members agreed to Cui Wens plan however for now he would start at the Royal Xi Academy then to the Black Dragon Academy and so forth.
"Anyways let me give you some pointers now." Cui Wen coughed lightly before standing up.
The rest of the day he helped the Cui Clan members with their various martial issues. Wrong posture, incorrect breathing almost everything.
The day eventually ended with the Cui Clan members departing from his abode.