The east of the secret realm world revealed a touch of fish-belly white, and the morning light shone, making the fairyland even more hazy and illusory.
But the beautiful, tranquil, and peaceful early morning was broken by bursts of noisy sounds.
"Why, why are you sending me back!"
"I am a dignified Six-Sense expert, and my student status has also been approved by your academy's Mythical Lord! Moreover, the three-month period is far from over, and your Blaze Academy is breaking the rules!"
In the residential area, at the entrance of District D.
A young-looking Six-Sense expert was shouting angrily, his voice vibrating the air with buzzing sounds.
Xu Feng recognized this person, a titled expert active in another super city—Lei Huo Xiong·Qilun. This person, like him, was a lone wolf, relying on cooperating with some top mercenary groups or accepting employment from wealthy merchants to earn strange crystals for a living.
This Lei Huo Xiong was going to be expelled?
It had indeed only been half a month since they entered the academy for cultivation, far from the three-month assessment period.
In front of Qilun were three members of the academy's enforcement team.
The enforcement team, composed of regular students, was responsible for maintaining internal security and resolving disputes, making it an important department within the Blaze Academy.
Ye Luo, wearing the identification of an enforcement team member and the 'Flame Wielder' emblem on his chest, was the main person in charge of this matter.
He was once an ordinary college student on Blue Star and one of the first students to enter the Blaze training camp after the mysterious world was officially revealed.
To this day, he had become a resolute and steady warrior.
He glanced at the man babbling in front of him and sneered.
"The academy has set a standard period of three months, but that doesn't mean we won't dismiss some individuals who perform exceptionally poorly. Not to mention that you attempted to damage academy property and steal academy items... If you hadn't failed in your theft, the punishment you'd be receiving now would be more than just expulsion."
Seeing that the man was still preparing to argue, Ye Luo didn't waste any more words and directly threw out surveillance footage from a training ground.
The lurking figure on it was exceptionally clear.
He looked at the other reserve students around him, "Your status as reserve students was hard-earned. Don't attempt to do anything that will make you regret it."
If they had been told similar words half a month ago, most reserve students would have sneered.
But now, they had to take it seriously.
If they were kicked out due to their own foolish actions and lost the opportunity to cultivate and learn inheritance, they would truly regret it immensely!
Not only should they not be foolish, but they must also... must go all out to seize every opportunity to gain formal status.
Many people's eyes flickered with thoughtful light, reflecting the retreating figure of Lei Huo Xiong Qilun being escorted away.
...
Compared to the still rather quiet Blaze Academy, the outside world was much livelier.
Those who truly entered the academy's secret realm to explore and stayed to become ordinary reserve students were only a minority among these 'fortune seekers'. The vast majority were still observing.
After all, entering a secret realm controlled by a certain force was too dangerous.
They needed to wait, assess whether there was danger, and whether they could profit from it.
Waiting was the safest approach.
Those who waited never lost.
They were waiting for the first batch of people who entered the secret realm to come out, and they waited for half a month.
"Half a month, it's been half a month, why haven't we even seen a shadow of them! Could it be..."
An awakened one muttered, making a gesture of having their waist broken.
His companion shook his head, "Not likely. This force looks very strong, they wouldn't be interested in the waists of ordinary people like us. Besides, didn't someone come out briefly on the first day? They will cultivate for a period of time within the Blaze Academy as reserve students."
"It's just that they've been staying too long."
As they were wondering, a few figures appeared at the open palace gate in the distance.
A burly man was being escorted out by two people wearing Blaze Academy uniforms.
"Is that Lei Huo Xiong·Qilun?"
Someone recognized this titled expert.
In an era where the traces of Mythical Lords were rare, titled experts were considered important figures and masters in the eyes of most people. However, at this moment, this titled expert showed no arrogance; he was desperately pleading.
"Give me another chance, give me a chance!"
This was the titled expert Lei Huo Xiong?
Those who recognized him widened their eyes, finding it hard to believe.
More people, with the mentality of onlookers, pricked up their ears and gradually understood the reason—the titled expert Lei Huo Xiong had performed poorly and was expelled from the academy.
Wait, what was the big deal about being expelled? Why was Lei Huo Xiong so desperate to get back?
Was there a big secret here?
The burly titled expert, seeing that he couldn't get his way, his face turned grim and suppressed. He snorted coldly and walked outside.
The crowd blocking his path shivered and involuntarily stepped aside, clearing a wide passage. They watched Lei Huo Xiong disappear into the gray mist, completely perplexed.
But it didn't matter, there were still other 'acquaintances'.
After half a month, some familiar figures finally emerged from the palace... Qing Ye Jian·Xu Feng, Lei Ting Zhang·Tian Ming, Ji Xie Zhang Yu·Ban Bo Te, and so on.
They were also here to watch. At this moment, the show was over, and the reserve students were preparing to return, thinking about taking on some missions and working more jobs to exchange for another inheritance.
Passersby in the distance flocked around them.
Whether they had met them once or twice before, or didn't know them at all, these passersby struck up conversations, speaking with extreme flattery.
And what they asked, one way or another, was always about one thing—what was inside the academy's secret realm? What made them stay for half a month without coming out?
Actually, they hadn't stayed indoors for half a month; they went out to work every day.
But why work so hard? Naturally, it was to exchange for one or two more inheritances.
A Six-Sense expert was about to speak, to show off his knowledge of the academy and see if he could shock a few people.
But as the words were about to come out, he paused, as if he had thought of something, and changed his tune.
His raised eyebrows drooped, and his face fell.
"Alas, we live a life of hardship in the academy. Our living quarters are cramped, and we are exhausted every day... This life is simply killing us."
Other experts who were also about to brag and had the words on the tip of their tongues heard this and swallowed back what they were about to say.
They waved their hands and said similar things.
"Alas~"
"Miserable!"
"This life is exhausting."
The impromptu bragging session instantly turned into a pity party.
The reserve students understood.
Bragging was good, but was the opportunity to become official more important?
The status of a formal student was extremely difficult to obtain. The difficulty of the assessment was one aspect, and the number of spots was another. If all these people from the outside flooded into the academy, their already limited chances of becoming formal students would become even slimmer.
How could that be!
After a few complaints about their hardship, the reserve students who had come out to watch the show slipped back into the secret realm like thieves, leaving behind a group of bewildered awakened ones.
They suspected these people were fabricating stories, but they had no proof!
If the Blaze Academy was a place of hardship, why would Lei Huo Xiong desperately want to return? And why would you all enjoy it so much?
Something fishy!
There was something big going on!
They inquired everywhere, and since there were quite a few reserve students, some experts representing major forces were often in contact with the outside.
News, like an undercurrent beneath the lake, quietly spread.
"Brother, I'll tell you a secret, a big secret."
"There are opportunities within the Blaze Academy. As long as we can get in and get a share, the gains will be no less than discovering a Kandra ruin!"
"And it is rumored that as long as we are willing to study, the Blaze Academy will give us the status of reserve students."
No one was willing to miss such a free and profitable opportunity.
Thus, before long, a large group of Four-Sense, Five-Sense, and Six-Sense experts gathered in front of the palace, looking at each other with awkwardness, as if they had run into each other.
They coughed and made requests to the guards of the Blaze Academy.
What they received were strange looks from the guards.
"Since when did you have the illusion that reserve student status was supplied without limit?"
"It's just that our academy has just entered the world, and on the first day, we gave you a great opportunity. It's a pity that most of you couldn't seize it."
"Now, only those who are sufficiently outstanding will be given the status of reserve students."
"Oh, of course, after some time, our academy will hold a recruitment convention, and those who pass will be granted the status of quasi-official students."
...
An assessment, a recruitment convention, and only quasi-official students after passing? This was too harsh!
They were experts, guests of many major forces.
Someone muttered.
However, as more and more news spread from within the academy, many people's expressions changed repeatedly. Especially those scattered experts and those from small and medium-sized forces were envious of the academy's inheritance grounds.
Just as they were pondering how to get the status of reserve students, within the Blaze Academy, a group of reserve students welcomed the three-month period.
"We have seen your performance over these three months, and now, I will announce the list of personnel who have passed the assessment and advanced to become formal students."
Gou Ping'an reappeared, also using his max-level 'Disguise' skill to alter his appearance and physique.
After all, it was a thankless task like expulsion, and if one could avoid appearing in person, it was better not to.
The over a hundred reserve personnel were stunned, "No assessment needed?"
"Your performance is the assessment. We have been assessing you every day for these three months."
He announced the list of those who passed.
Only a few dozen names were announced, and then it ended.
Out of over a hundred people, only a dozen passed the assessment? They should know that these were not ordinary awakened ones. To be able to rush to the Commander or Throne level on the thorny path of awakening, they were already geniuses in the conventional sense, one in a thousand, one in ten thousand.
Yet, they were defeated so thoroughly.
"Why?"
Someone mumbled, then immediately felt it was normal.
It was difficult to truly remain in a cultivation sacred land like the Blaze Academy, wasn't it normal?
But even thinking this, they were still unwilling.
"Not cultivating hard enough, only focusing on the inheritance grounds, impure intentions, etc. You all have some of these shortcomings, which is one of the reasons why you are not qualified."
Gou Ping'an said, then changed his tone, "Of course, the academy will hold a formal recruitment convention, and you can still participate then. There is still a chance to enter the academy."
"Now, please go back."
"Let's part on good terms."
"Those who passed the assessment, please follow me. I will take you to meet the chief instructor, who will preside over your status conferment ceremony."
...
The ceremony venue was located on the main peak, several kilometers above the mission hall.
Here, a giant black stone tablet stood on the ground, exuding an ancient and vicissitudinarian aura. Upon seeing this monument, the students felt as if they saw countless figures holding torches, rushing towards the vast darkness.
"This monument carries the history of the Blaze Academy."
Gou Ping'an said, looking up, with reverence in his eyes.
The chief instructor, dressed in black and wearing a mask, arrived at the scene. This was undoubtedly a more powerful and respected Lord. Even Mentor Gou, a Seven-Sense Mythical, seemed obedient in front of this chief instructor.
Meeting his gaze, Xu Feng and other reserve students felt as if they were seeing mountains of corpses and seas of blood, countless severed, floating corpses of eerie evil in the sea of blood.
They trembled and stood like ants.
At this moment, the chief instructor spoke:
"Our academy does not have many restrictions on ordinary students, but there is one point you must remember: the fire is passed down, and humanity endures forever. We must be the torchbearers, illuminating the darkness ahead."
"Now, take an oath to the stone tablet, if you have decided to join the academy."
The decision, naturally, had already been made.
They didn't actually care whether the academy had many restrictions. Many scattered experts pursued freedom, but it was only because the price offered by major forces was not high enough.
The Blaze Academy offered too much, it was irresistible.
This was what they thought, but when they stood before the monument bearing the heavy history and solemnly swore, something seemed to sprout in their hearts.
...
After being promoted to formal students, Xu Feng and others had a wider range of activities. Most areas within the academy were accessible, and as long as they accumulated enough academic credit points, they would even be eligible to exchange for an epic-level inheritance!
Whether they could learn it was another matter, but the epic-level inheritance seemed within reach.
How generous this was!
Praise be to the Dean, praise be to the Blaze Academy.
"However, Senior Ye Luo from the upper grades said that above formal students, there is the status of core students... Only core students can enjoy the real, incredible benefits."
Benefits even more enticing than epic-level inheritance? They couldn't imagine, but their chests were full of drive, wishing they had 48 hours a day. 24 hours for cultivation, and 24 hours for earning academic credits.
Xu Feng took on an external mission: to scout for young geniuses for the academy.
To scout and discover young boys and girls who had sufficient potential but lacked cultivation opportunities.
This was a long-term mission.
Xu Feng also planned to return to Jiuliu Port to handle his mortal affairs. This mission was a win-win in his eyes.
He packed his luggage simply and set off soon.
...
The Yunhui Great Domain was vast, with a large human population.
On such a large base, naturally, geniuses were born one after another.
He wanted Six-Sense experts who could advance to Mythical level in a short period.
He also wanted young geniuses with high potential.
"The class structure in the Yunhui Great Domain has long been fixed. Potentially talented individuals sometimes lack a starting opportunity, causing their potential to go unexploited and ultimately leading to mediocrity."
"Perhaps I can emulate the Kandra Empire and build welfare homes in some areas of the Yunhui Great Domain?"
"No need to be as advanced as the Kandra Empire, as long as it can serve as a simple screening mechanism?"
Fang You pondered.
Time slowly passed, and the Blaze Academy held one public recruitment session after another.
The number of formal students was increasing.
From the initial dozen people, to dozens, and then to hundreds.
The reputation of the Blaze Academy was spreading steadily, though not rapidly. Naturally, it also attracted the attention of more top forces in the Yunhui Great Domain.
Central Sacred Court, Luoxia Province.
Governor's Mansion.
"Your Excellency, the latest intelligence report on the Blaze Academy has arrived. This academy force truly has some substance."
A subordinate handed over the intelligence report and continued, "A titled expert named Qing Ye Jian·Xu Feng, after cultivating in the Blaze Academy for just a few months, his combat power has rapidly improved. He is now among the elite of titled experts, capable of defeating three six-star eerie creatures with one against three."
"In addition, there is..."
The Governor of Luoxia Province raised his eyelids, his face expressionless.
After a long pause, he said, "Is that all?"
"Uh... Your Excellency, these... aren't these enough?"
"It's just some inheritance grounds."
The Luoxia Governor said, "High-level inheritance grounds can allow people to learn inheritances in a short period, and their combat power will naturally increase. There is nothing strange about this; we in the Central Sacred Court have more inheritance grounds."
"This Blaze Academy has probably obtained some ruins from the Kandra Empire."
"We can pay attention, but there's no need to take it seriously."
They, the Central Sacred Court, were the nation with the most inheritances and the most superior cultivation treasures.
As noble citizens of the Sacred Court, why should they care about backward forces outside?