My Mind Is Made Up!

Knock, knock, knock! Just as Su Yu and Chen Hao were talking, a knock sounded at the door. "Who is it?" "Is student Su Yu home?" A little puzzled, Su Yu stood up and walked toward the door, casually taking up his saber. Keeping some distance from the door, he asked again, "Who's there?" Beside him, Chen Hao clicked his tongue in surprise when he saw him waiting by the door with a blade in hand. Was there really a need to take it that far? "A comrade-in-arms of your father's!" Outside, Old Xie chuckled. "Quite vigilant, young man! But I'm in the Tengkong Realm, so that saber won't do you any good." Su Yu felt a flash of awkwardness and had nothing to say to that. The person outside had actually sensed it directly. Even if he wasn't in the Tengkong Realm, he was far stronger than Su Yu. Setting the saber down, Su Yu opened the door. Two men stood outside. In front was Old Xie, while the other looked somewhat familiar to Su Yu. After a moment, he recognized him and hurriedly said, "Uncle Qian, it's you!" The middle-aged man known as Uncle Qian smiled and nodded. "Ah Yu, it's been nearly a year since we last met." "Please come in, Uncle Qian!" Su Yu invited them in at once. This was a friend of his father's, though Su Yu had not interacted with him much. He was also an old comrade of his father's, though they hadn't served during the exact same period; he had merely been a soldier in the Demon Suppression Army. Su Yu had forgotten what he did specifically here in Nanyuan, but he was likely a minor official in some department. Old Xie strode right inside, laughing heartily. "Good vigilance, lad! Just like one of us who's served. Truly a child of the military! Looks like your old man taught you well by word and example. You didn't disgrace our military folks!" Su Yu smiled without replying, looking curiously toward Uncle Qian. Who was this other man? Uncle Qian cleared his throat lightly and introduced him. "Ah Yu, this is Lord Xie of the Longwu Guards." "No need for such formalities! I've merely lived a few more years than you—just call me Uncle Xie!" Old Xie said this to Su Yu as he strolled around the room with easy familiarity, then looked at Chen Hao and laughed. "And this friend of yours is... Chen Hao?" Chen Hao was completely baffled and didn't know who this was, but hearing that the man was from the Longwu Guards, he said with some excitement, "I'm Chen Hao. Uncle, you're really from the Longwu Guards?" "That's right! Back then, I served in the Demon Suppression Army too, and later transferred to the Longwu Guards. Longwu and the Demon Suppression Army are of one blood—we're all one family!" Old Xie laughed heartily, showing none of the typical sternness of a soldier. "Su Yu, aren't you going to invite us to sit?" Only then did Su Yu snap out of his daze. He hurriedly invited the two to sit and nudged Chen Hao with a kick. "Go pour some tea!" "Ah Yu, you don't have any tea leaves at home!" "..." Su Yu cursed inwardly. *Couldn't you just fake it and bring some boiled water?* Old Xie chuckled. "No matter, no tea needed!" As he spoke, he waved at Su Yu. "Sit down and let's chat. It's your own home, so don't be a stranger, and don't be tense. We're all family here." Su Yu sat down, still feeling somewhat doubtful. His father wasn't home, yet these people had come to his house to visit him... Why did something feel off? "Oho, looking over the admissions process, are we?" Old Xie suddenly spotted the schedule on the table and smiled. "Where do you two plan to take the exam for? We're all family—are you planning to go to Longwu Academy? Well, that makes sense. If you go to Longwu Academy, we're all family, and there'll be people to look out for you if anything comes up." Standing off to the side, Chen Hao murmured sheepishly, "We might not pass the exam." "Who said that?" Old Xie laughed. "Longwu Academy is difficult for outsiders, of course, but for our own people, isn't it as easy as can be? Xiao Chen, you have a thirty-point bonus, don't you? And I see you're at the Kaiyuan Fifth Layer. In that case, Longwu Academy is a breeze. Take my word for it: you're admitted!" "..." Chen Hao stared blankly. *I'm admitted? What's going on? Uncle, are you messing with us?* Meanwhile, Su Yu seemed to realize what was happening. Caught between laughter and tears, he gave a light cough and asked, "Uncle Xie, are you... from Longwu Academy?" "Oho, you figured that out too?" Old Xie chuckled. "That's right. I'm currently working as a training instructor at Longwu Academy. For this examination in Nanyuan, I'm also one of the invigilators, so when I say you can get in, you definitely can!" "We're all family, the descendants of my brothers in the Demon Suppression Army. How could I not look out for you?" Chen Hao desperately wanted to say that his father had never served in the Demon Suppression Army! Su Yu gave him no chance to speak, smiling faintly. "Uncle Xie, then I'll thank you on Chen Hao's behalf!" With that, he turned to Chen Hao. "Haozi, if you don't get into Great Xia War Academy, then go to Longwu Academy. Uncle Xie knows the ropes there, so someone will look after you." "..." Old Xie chuckled without saying anything. *How interesting. The kid actually turned the tables and played me.* Still, with Chen Hao's grades, barring any accidents, getting into Longwu Academy wouldn't be much of an issue anyway. He didn't object, waiting until Su Yu finished before asking, "Aren't you two brothers going together? If you go to the same academy, you can look out for each other. In an unfamiliar place, sticking together means you won't be lonely." "The strong can endure loneliness." Su Yu tossed out the line, then smiled and continued, "Uncle Xie, to be honest, my primary path of cultivation is still the Dao of Civilization. I've looked into Longwu Academy before. It seems you offer courses for Civilization Masters, but..." He left the rest unsaid, and Old Xie understood. Hearing this, Old Xie couldn't help but laugh. "That was before! This year is different! Since you have Liu Wenyan as a teacher, you should know what researcher ranks mean. Of course, that's the ranking system used by Civilization Academies, but you can basically understand it as a measure of strength." "This time, over ten intermediate researchers and several senior researchers from the Longwu Guards will be returning. With warfare decreasing on the All-Heavens Battlefield going forward, all of them will be teaching at our academy! And our academy has very, very few Civilization Master students. You could say there's one full researcher for every ten students!" "Whereas Great Xia Civilization Academy—I admit their strength in that field is formidable, but they also have huge numbers of students. Between graduates, current students, and those just idling their days away, tens of thousands of them haven't reached the Tengkong Realm!" Old Xie said seriously, "The researchers still teaching at their academy number fewer than three hundred, which means each of them is responsible for an average of a hundred students! Su Yu, do you really think you can learn anything at the Civilization Academy? The competitive pressure there is immense, full of scheming and deception. Especially recently, with plans to open the All-Races Training Academy, the whole place has turned into a tangled mess!" "Once you get there, you might go years without ever seeing a full researcher, and even if you do see one, they won't pay you any mind." "At Longwu Academy, it will be different. You're a child of the military, so there's an inherent bond of affection, and your talent is decent. Once you arrive, there might even be a senior researcher dedicated to guiding you personally. That's a completely different level of treatment!" Old Xie spoke with utter sincerity, remarking with emotion, "I also think very highly of you, because I believe the offspring of soldiers are always the finest..." Su Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. If you put that out there, the entire Great Xia Prefecture had millions of soldiers and even more descendants; the claim meant practically nothing. "Uncle Xie, let me think about it some more." "Don't think about it—just come straight over! Why even bother with the examination? I'll recruit you under special admission!" Old Xie spoke with immense generosity. "There's no need for that examination nonsense! We're family—just come right in! Specially admitted students receive extra rewards upon entering the academy: a full 100 merit points right off the bat! If you go to the Civilization Academy, you wouldn't earn that much in years!" "Without merit points, you'll be nothing more than an errand boy at the Civilization Academy. Spend a few years doing odd jobs, get older, pass the prime window for cultivation, and by then, you'll be ruined." At these words, Chen Hao's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Do I get that too?" "..." Old Xie dearly wanted to tell him to look in a mirror. Swallowing the words back down, he chuckled. "If Su Yu goes to Longwu Academy, how about I give you a mid-Yellow-grade battle saber?" Chen Hao's jaw dropped. Over a hundred thousand! Was Longwu Academy really that rich? A moment later, Chen Hao came to his senses and felt a bit disheartened. He wasn't stupid; it only applied if Ah Yu went, and Ah Yu definitely wouldn't go. Who at the Kaiyuan Eighth Layer would choose Longwu Academy? Wouldn't going to Great Xia War Academy be far better? Although Longwu Academy had risen swiftly, it had been established for far too short a time, after all. It still couldn't compare to Great Xia War Academy's deep foundation. If nothing else, Great Xia War Academy had vastly more experts in the Shanhai Realm than Longwu Academy. Seeing Su Yu remain unmoved, Old Xie stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point. "Su Yu, give it serious thought! One hundred merit points, ten drops of yuanqi liquid, and one entry into a secret realm—this is the highest treatment available at Longwu Academy, or indeed at any academy in the entire Great Xia Prefecture!" "Even among geniuses at the Kaiyuan Ninth Layer who have outlined a complete divine character, a good portion can't secure terms like these. Only those granted special approval by an academy get to enjoy such treatment." "It's the same at any academy. If you go to the Civilization Academy, even if you've outlined a divine character, your willpower is still too weak. I doubt they'd ever offer you a starting opportunity like this!" Old Xie said earnestly, "Within the scope of my authority, I am striving to secure the greatest benefits and the best treatment for you! And when I say the Civilization Academy is a mess, I'm not lying. You can ask your teacher what the situation is like at the Civilization Academy right now." Su Yu nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Xie. I will think it through carefully." "Give it some good thought. If you come to us, you'll also have chances to see your father. The Demon Suppression Army rotates posts; once your father is pulled back from the frontline, you'll have opportunities to visit him at any time. You won't get that anywhere else..." Those words struck a chord with Su Yu. Su Yu went quiet for a moment, then repeated, "I will give it serious thought!" "Then I won't disturb you any longer!" Seeing that Su Yu still wasn't visibly moved, Old Xie felt a bit disappointed. But with matters having reached this point, pushing further would serve no purpose. ... Old Xie left. Uncle Qian had only accompanied him to vouch for his identity, so there was no need for Su Yu to overthink his presence. Once they were gone, Chen Hao said with an envious expression, "Ah Yu, did he just come in advance to specially recruit you?" "Yeah." "Is that what top students get to do?" Chen Hao looked miserable. Their plight was so wretched—he was still worrying about whether he could pass the exam, while this guy was already receiving special admission offers. The perks offered were enough to make Chen Hao want to turn to robbery, yet Su Yu still hadn't agreed. Su Yu chuckled and said, "The Great Xia Prefecture isn't lacking in geniuses. Longwu Academy seeking me out... is probably because of something else." It wasn't merely because he had studied many languages of the myriad races, nor was it just because of his Kaiyuan Eighth Layer cultivation. Longwu Academy wouldn't lack candidates like that. The key lay in his assisting the Wind Arrest Hall in killing a Wanshi cultivator. The other party could likely guess that he had finished outlining a divine character. Captain Liu had said it wouldn't be leaked, but it wasn't surprising for the military to know. The Longwu Guards were, after all, the true face of the Great Xia Prefectural military. "The Longwu Guards..." Su Yu murmured inward, feeling a surge of emotion. In the past, his greatest wish had been to join the Longwu Guards, and his father's had been the same. Yet today, a Tengkong Realm expert from the Longwu Guards had come to recruit him, and Xia Bing had brought up the subject before as well. As expected, everything had to be earned by oneself. If he were still at the Kaiyuan Third Layer as before, no one would have come to recruit him. Su Yu didn't feel anything wrong with that. If you lacked value, why should anyone think highly of you? Being a so-called child of the military was nothing more than a stepping stone. It gave you a natural sense of affinity, but expecting that identity alone to achieve anything was a fool's dream. What the Great Xia Prefecture lacked least of all was children of the military. However, once you proved your worth, that identity became extremely useful. Between two geniuses of equal cultivation, if one was a child of the Demon Suppression Army like Su Yu and the other was not, the Longwu Guards might not even spare a glance for the other candidate, yet they would certainly view Su Yu in a different light. That was the natural affinity brought by background. Su Yu understood all of this clearly. Right now, what occupied his mind wasn't this, but whether going to the Civilization Academy would allow him to secure more resources. His teacher had told him to perform well, but to keep a card hidden. Keep a card hidden... Would keeping the album hidden count as impressive? He could unleash the striking power of the Qianjun Seventh Layer—did that count as keeping a card hidden? He had mastered two divine characters; if he only used one, would that count as keeping a card hidden? Calculating it like this, he actually had plenty of hidden cards! *Perform well, and you receive good treatment. In this world, no favor comes without reason. If you're useless mud that can't stick to a wall, no one will look up to you. Only by demonstrating excellence will people actively try to win you over.* Su Yu pondered many things. Shaking himself back to the present, he looked at Chen Hao. "Haozi, what are your thoughts?" "Huh?" "Are you going to Great Xia War Academy or Longwu War Academy?" "I... I don't know!" Chen Hao said blankly. "Whichever one I get into works. Both are great. I'm just afraid I won't pass either." "It's about the same. If you go for Great Xia War Academy, with their lowered admission criteria, you shouldn't have a problem getting in. But once you're there, you'll be at the very bottom of the pack—if not the weakest, then definitely someone dragging behind." "If you go to Longwu Academy, as long as you perform reasonably well, you can at least count as an average student." Su Yu said seriously, "However, Great Xia War Academy has greater potential because of its deep foundation. It was founded by the King of Great Xia back in the day, and it has more powerhouses." "Of course, Longwu Academy has its strengths too. Backed by the Prefect and the Longwu Guards, it has developed at tremendous speed over the past decade or so." Chen Hao put on an aggrieved look. "Stop analyzing, you're giving me a headache. Now I have even less idea how to choose. Ah Yu, where do you think I should go?" "Each has its merits... You should go to Longwu Academy!" "Ah? Didn't you just say Great Xia War Academy is better?" Su Yu snapped in annoyance, "You're too dim! Longwu Academy has a better atmosphere. It's run by the military, which makes it fairer and more impartial! It was founded recently, so internal factions aren't as entrenched, and resources are distributed more evenly. Great Xia War Academy has too many people, with families that have been rooted there for generations. If an unbacked guy like you goes there without standing out, unless you become someone's lackey, people will just look down on you for being slow!" Chen Hao felt even more wronged. Was he really that dumb? "Then... I should go to Longwu Academy?" "Yeah!" Su Yu said seriously, "I recommend Longwu Academy. It'll be better for you there! If you had background, talent, and wit, then I'd advise Great Xia War Academy, where you could reach greater heights. But you don't... so go to Longwu!" "The way you put it, I sound completely worthless. Ah Yu, don't I have any strengths at all?" "You do!" Su Yu said seriously. "Right now, you can run down and run an errand for me, buying some good food and bringing it up. That's a strength." Chen Hao looked utterly hopeless. This was pure bullying! Su Yu chuckled and teased, "Just kidding. You do have strengths. Once you get to Longwu Academy, don't worry too much. Be high-profile or low-profile as you like—the only thing you need to do is... stay straightforward!" "What?" "No need to change. Just stay true to who you are! The military likes that sort of person." Su Yu smiled. "My dad likes you a lot, not because you're handsome, but because you're simple. Not too stupid, mind you, but simple enough on the outside—honest and earnest. Once you get there, just be obedient and listen to what the academy instructors tell you." Some of it went over Chen Hao's head, but some made sense. He nodded solemnly. "Got it! Ah Yu, what about you?" "I'm going to the Civilization Academy. Great Xia Civilization Academy!" "Huh?" Chen Hao looked surprised and asked in bewilderment, "Just a few days ago, you said you didn't want to go..." "Just casual talk," Su Yu said with a light laugh. "That place... is the true center of Great Xia's Civilization Masters! A gathering of myriad races, a convergence of top prodigies. If I were seeking security and peace, I shouldn't go." "But I... want to go further!" Su Yu murmured, "I'm a genius too! Bai Feng said I'm not, and Teacher said I fell a bit short, but in truth, I am a genius! One of the prodigies of this generation! If not, why would Longwu Academy come trying to recruit me?" "They were just afraid I'd become arrogant. But I won't. I know exactly what I'm worth. I won't overestimate myself, nor will I look down on myself." "Haozi, before a Civilization Master reaches Manifestation, their physical body is frail. Going out into the world is dangerous, and when that time comes, I might need you to block a blade for me. Cultivate well—when the chance comes, we brothers will venture out onto the All-Heavens Battlefield together!" "Frail physical body..." Chen Hao looked at him, then looked down at himself. *You're at the Eighth Layer, and I'm at the Fifth Layer!* *Right, you're 'frail.' You're not as tall as me, not as burly as me, but you could take on ten of me alone!* *How on earth are you frail?* Chen Hao wore a face of sorrow. He couldn't even beat someone aiming for a Civilization Academy. His mindset was on the verge of collapsing. "Ah Yu... do you think by the time you reach Manifestation, I'll still be in the Kaiyuan Realm?" Chen Hao felt like crying. He was just too weak. "No way. Qianjun Realm doesn't take long—at most a year. Within a year... there probably isn't much hope of me reaching Manifestation." Su Yu smiled and comforted him, then added, "Within a year, at most I'll be at the Qianjun Eighth or Ninth Layer, or Wanshi at the absolute outside. Don't worry!" "..." Never mind. Chen Hao didn't want to talk to him anymore. Su Yu chuckled again and took a deep breath. Wind and clouds surged across the Great Xia Prefecture, but none of that had anything to do with him for now. At this moment, his task was to make his mark in the Higher Academy Examination, to show his mettle and step onto that grand stage! He certainly didn't want to be some nameless bystander! *Keep a card hidden... I'm a prodigy too!* Su Yu said inwardly, *Teacher, rest assured, I won't let it go to my head. My sights are set far beyond.* The album inside his mind was still waiting for him to unlock it. Without slaying a few gods and demons, how could he unlock more of it?