"Uncle, of course I want to enter the Divine启 Academy. After all, it not only possesses countless senior cultivators' experience and vast cultivation resources, but also immeasurable connections. However..."
Bai Shengyi paused and met Bai Ershu's gaze. "Why would the Divine启 Academy open these precious things to all cultivators for free? And I, I don't wish for strength to come at the cost of freedom."
A brief silence fell over the room after Bai Shengyi finished speaking.
"You... you think that way?" Bai Yu hadn't expected Bai Shengyi to have thought so much. A hint of helplessness crossed his usually expressionless face. "Ayi, you might have some misunderstanding about the Divine启 Academy."
Following that, he explained it carefully to Bai Shengyi.
"Although the Divine启 Academy is called an academy, it's more appropriate to call it a sect. After entering the academy, all cultivators will not have unified classes from teachers, but will be accepted as disciples by powerful beings of Nascent Soul stage or above, who will be responsible for their guidance."
"Furthermore, the Divine启 Academy is not open to cultivators for free. All cultivators who enter the academy need to pay twenty high-grade spirit stones to the academy each year."
"So much!" Even though Bai Shengyi used to be a rich woman, she couldn't help but gasp when she patted her own pockets at this moment.
Compared to this, she was truly poor! When would she become rich!
"Yes. What else did you think? The academy isn't doing charity."
Bai Yu tapped the table. "However, the academy will also provide many tasks. Cultivators can earn contribution points by completing these tasks, and then use these points to offset the spirit stones. So you don't need to worry about this at all."
After Bai Yu finished speaking, Bai Shengyi became even more confused. "Then why isn't it called the Divine启 Sect, but the Divine启 Academy? This is clearly the model of a sect."
Wearing the shell of an academy while doing the work of a sect developing disciples, she didn't believe that after so many years, no one had noticed this incongruity.
Bai Yu said no more. "I don't know."
Seeing that she couldn't get any more information from Bai Yu, Bai Shengyi put the doubt aside for the time being and changed the subject.
"Uncle, as far as I know, the Divine启 Academy has enrollment regulations. I can't just enter if I want to. You coming to ask me about this now, does it mean there's another way?"
The Divine启 Academy, being an undisputed existence on the Divine启 Continent, protected the cultivators who studied within its walls, so many people tried their best to squeeze in.
However, the academy only conducted a free test for each person at the age of fifteen, and only those who tested as having a medium-grade or above spirit root had a chance to enter the academy.
As everyone knew, Bai Shengyi was a cripple with no spirit root when she was tested back then.
"You are correct. In fact, the academy has internal recruitment quotas every year, known as secondary enrollment. Recommended cultivators can participate in the entrance assessment through a recommendation letter, and if they pass the assessment, they can also enter the academy."
Bai Yu said, "I have a recommendation letter here."
He had come to find Bai Shengyi for this matter today.
Bai Yu handed the letter to Bai Shengyi and earnestly instructed, "The assessment is on the sixteenth. Don't miss it. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
Bai Shengyi originally wanted to ask him if he knew anything about her father, but in the blink of an eye, the person was gone.
He came suddenly and left even more suddenly.
Bai Shengyi didn't know what to say to this cheap second uncle, so she focused her attention on the letter, which looked exceptionally grand and extraordinary.
The letter was inlaid with gold and jade around the edges, and in the center, a white magnolia flower carved from low-grade spirit stones, it was ridiculously opulent!
Upon opening it, she saw a simple inscription: "Recommending cultivator Bai Shengyi to participate in the assessment."
Bai Shengyi stared at it for a little longer and felt a bit dizzy.
"This is interesting. Is it residual spiritual energy fluctuations or something added?"
Bai Shengyi forced herself to look at it a few more times but couldn't discern anything. Instead, it made her dizzy.
She had no choice but to put it away and get up to return to the Duke of Rong's mansion.
At the entrance of the Duke of Rong's mansion, the same thin and fat guards were still on duty. Upon seeing Bai Shengyi, they were stunned and fearful. They no longer dared to stop her.
Bai Shengyi calmly returned to her courtyard, changed her clothes, and went to bed to replenish her energy.
After rushing around in the East Yue Jungle for several days, her spirit had been tense. Now, she could finally rest well...
Meanwhile, in the deepest part of the East Yue Jungle.
A figure in dark black streaked past, startling a flock of birds. With a few leaps, he landed in front of a Dark-eyed Tiger. This Dark-eyed Tiger, with wings spanning over three meters, had already reached the ninth stage! This was almost equivalent to the late Golden Core stage of humans!
"Master, why have you come?"
The Dark-eyed Tiger, which had been pacing restlessly, saw him, swept its tail, and its wings on its back suddenly retracted, adopting a posture of respectful submission.
Qin Si raised an eyebrow nonchalantly and curved his lips. "Didn't you say Xiao Yu'er was missing? This King came to help you find him."
The Dark-eyed Tiger's eyes lit up, then it gave a wry smile. "Thank you, Master. But it shouldn't be necessary."
"What's wrong?" Qin Si frowned. Could something unexpected have happened?
The Dark-eyed Tiger spoke with anger, its entire tiger body exuding irritability. "That brat is fine. He was injured and hid in his natal cave dwelling, which is why we lost contact! I almost overturned the entire East Yue Jungle looking for him, that brat!"
"It's good that he's fine." Qin Si knew that his natal contracted beast had a violent temper and was afraid she would destroy the area if she lost control, so he quickly spoke to pacify her. "Xiao Yu'er is still young..."
"Young my foot..." The Dark-eyed Tiger quickly stopped itself and softened its voice. "Ahem! Master is right, he is still young. I'll deal with him properly when he gets back!" That brat! Such a troublesome fellow!
Qin Si wasn't too worried about Xiao Yu'er in the first place. Not to mention that Xiao Yu'er himself had the strength of the fifth stage, and the highest-ranking demon beast in the East Yue Jungle was only at the seventh stage.
Moreover, Xiao Yu'er had his own life-saving natal cave dwelling. As long as he wasn't extremely unlucky in the East Yue Jungle, he shouldn't have any major problems.
However, as his contracted beast, he still needed to care for her more. He couldn't really leave the beast in the East Yue Jungle forever.
"Eh, Xiao Yu'er is back!"
"Where?" The Dark-eyed Tiger's nose twitched as it searched for the brat. However, the brat, seeing its agitated state, had already cleverly hidden back in the cave dwelling.
Without the permission of the owner, even a close relative several stages higher could not find or enter the Dark-eyed Tiger's natal cave dwelling.
The Dark-eyed Tiger bared its teeth in anger. "Brat! Get out here, you damn thing!"
The surroundings were utterly silent.
Qin Si couldn't help but let out a hint of a smile. This impatient Chui Ming, only when facing his own cub, was always at a disadvantage.
"Uncle Qin, you're helping my mother again!" Chui Yu grumbled vexedly.