Taking a Master

Bai Feng studied Su Yu closely. At this moment, he harbored a sliver of suspicion toward Su Yu. Liu Wenyan had once said that Su Yu was intelligent, resilient from an early age, and possessed a steady character. During their last meeting, the two of them had only spoken briefly. Su Yu had indeed been ignorant... but that only meant he lacked worldly experience. Ignorance did not equate to stupidity. If so, did Su Yu truly not know how much the things he mentioned were worth? He had been at the academy for two days now. Did he really not know what taking a master was usually like for others? Pondering this, Bai Feng looked at Su Yu again and saw that he seemed a little constrained and uneasy... He could not help but laugh and said, "Su Yu, taking a master really doesn't come with that many gifts. Besides... you haven't even reached the Qianjun Realm yet, so having all that is useless to you anyway. Once you truly reach a certain realm, those things won't amount to much. "Some things are worth far more than what you've asked for. "Your worldview is too narrow. Don't think that only these material goods are valuable. Often, even a seemingly insignificant opportunity is worth far more than any of them." Saying this, Bai Feng turned serious. "Right now, I'm offering you an opportunity—to work in the research institute left behind by my teacher! Such an opportunity is once in a lifetime! You can ask anyone else what getting into this research institute represents." Bai Feng said in a deep voice, "Material goods have a price, something you can measure! But everything you gain by entering the research institute might be immeasurable, far beyond your imagination!" Su Yu offered an honest, silly smile. "Teacher Bai, I'm only in the Kaiyuan Realm. I don't really understand all that." "You little brat..." Bai Feng chuckled. Not letting the hawk loose until seeing the hare, eh? After looking at Su Yu with a playful expression for a moment, Bai Feng asked again, "Did Martial Uncle really tell you to take the owner of that communication number as your master?" "Really. Teacher Bai can ask Teacher Liu." Su Yu nodded. Naturally, Liu Wenyan had never said those words. However, given Su Yu's understanding of him, if Bai Feng actually went to ask, Liu Wenyan would definitely give an affirmative answer. Bai Feng scratched his messy hair, looked around, thought for a moment, and asked, "Su Yu, are you reluctant to join my tutelage?" Su Yu shook his head. "Teacher Bai is my enlightenment mentor in the divine character path. Long before coming to the academy, I had already made up my mind. To be taken in early by Teacher Bai is my honor." "Then why..." Bai Feng paused, smiling. "Why intentionally create these obstacles?" By now, he had somewhat figured it out. Zhao Li, Wu Yuehua—Su Yu had deliberately brought them up. If he had genuinely intended to go to them, he could have just done so directly. Yet Su Yu hadn't gone! He had only spoken those words once Bai Feng arrived, and before this, Su Yu had already registered at the Divine Character College. Since that was the case, it meant Su Yu hadn't made any calls, nor had he continued communicating with Zhao Li. Maintaining his guileless smile, Su Yu shook his head. "I wasn't creating obstacles. Teacher, you must know that I come from Nanyuan, from an ordinary family. I have no clan to rely on, nor do I possess great personal strength... At the starting stage, I need more support! "I achieved a top-high rating in the assessment, so I should count as a genius. At the starting stage, having someone willing to provide me with more support and resources would be timely assistance in my hour of greatest need! "The path of cultivation isn't like other paths," Su Yu said softly. "On this path, if you fall behind right at the start, falling behind by just one step means you'll have to exert far more effort to catch up. But if your resources can't keep up, no matter how talented you are... in a few years, you'll still end up wasted." Su Yu looked at Bai Feng. "Since I came to the Great Xia Prefecture and achieved a top-high score, I hope to receive top-high treatment! I don't think I'm necessarily superior to other monstrous geniuses, nor do I think I'm stronger than other top-high students, but I don't believe I'm inferior to them either. "Whatever treatment they can receive, I hope I can receive as well." Su Yu said slowly, "Moreover... I care about these things far more than they do! Because I don't have the conditions they enjoy. All of this, I have to create for myself." Bai Feng said nothing, only looking at Su Yu thoughtfully. Su Yu didn't say any more either, lowering his head, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, Bai Feng smiled. "You want better treatment and higher conditions... but I'm poor. I don't have any of that." Su Yu looked up. "Then I will still take you as my master, Teacher Bai, but as for the Divine Character College... I will pursue it as a minor!" Bai Feng's gaze shifted slightly. "A minor?" "Yes!" Su Yu nodded and said seriously, "Perhaps Teacher feels these things aren't important, but... when Teacher was at the starting stage, did you truly think they weren't important? If I reached the Tengkong Realm today, I too would feel that cultivation techniques and Wanshi blood essence didn't matter. "The opportunity Teacher mentioned might be of great help to my future... but if I'm already inferior to others from the very start, how much of a future will there even be to speak of?" Su Yu took a deep breath. "When I took the assessment, I aimed for top-high precisely to get a faster start and climb higher than others. Otherwise, I might as well have scored a low grade upon enrollment and developed quietly. What difference would that make from what Teacher is saying?" Bai Feng laughed and said, "To be honest, I didn't expect you to score a top-high either. At the time, as long as you scored mid-high or high, it would have been all the same to me. You did remarkably well, which surprised me a bit... I just didn't expect you to develop such grand ambitions." With that, he nodded. "Not bad. Having ambition is a good thing! A cultivator without ambition won't go far." That said, Bai Feng continued, "Still, I really don't have that much stuff. Truth be told, I could have brought them out in the past, but not anymore. Everything has been sunk into the research institute. "Of all the things you asked for... the only thing I can provide is the advanced version of the *War God Art*. I can find a way to get that for you!" Bai Feng paused, then added, "As for the ten willpower texts... I can set aside some time to figure out a way to satisfy that, though not necessarily right away. "As for blood essence, I don't have any merit points left." Bai Feng looked at Su Yu, smiling faintly. "If you find that acceptable, come to my research institute tomorrow. If you still feel it isn't enough... you're free to find your own path; I won't hold it against you. Merit points... frankly speaking, really aren't that big of a deal. "Some things can't be bought with merit points," Bai Feng said seriously. "Many people want to enter the research institute, even offering tens of thousands of merit points as an investment or admission ticket, and we turn them all away! "If you come, you can enter the research institute, using that to substitute for the blood essence. If you think that's fine, then it's a deal. If not, so be it!" Having said his piece, Bai Feng turned and walked away. *Fascinating!* Earlier, he had accepted Su Yu simply because Su Yu was talented, thinking that if Su Yu progressed quickly, it might help him get promoted to a full researcher ahead of schedule. As for anything else, he hadn't cared much. He had seen far too many geniuses. There were even monstrous geniuses who failed to reach the Tengkong Realm. Only those who truly walked far could be called geniuses and prodigies. Su Yu was currently just at the starting line. Yet after speaking with Su Yu for a while, his interest was genuinely piqued. *** Watching Bai Feng depart, a smile appeared on Su Yu's face. Some things had to be fought for by oneself. Taking Bai Feng as his master was actually a foregone conclusion. Liu Wenyan was his enlightenment mentor in the path of civilization. Bai Feng was his enlightenment mentor in the divine character path. Su Yu had already been firmly stamped with the mark of this lineage. Taking someone else as his master at this point would truly be inappropriate. Even if others didn't mind, he wouldn't be able to get past his own conscience. Therefore, all he could do was fight for as much as possible for himself! If he hadn't spoken up today, Bai Feng might not have given him anything at all. Now that he had, setting everything else aside, Bai Feng was willing to help him secure the advanced version of the *War God Art*. That alone was worth a hundred merit points! The hundred merit points awarded by the academy could thus be saved. As for the willpower texts... whether Bai Feng actually wrote them or not was another matter, but since he had agreed, there was at least some hope. Taking a deep breath, Su Yu felt his mood lighten considerably. The next moment, his expression froze slightly... "Where is your research institute?" Feeling somewhat helpless, he thought, *Bai Feng sure ran off quickly, but where on earth is your institute?* Su Yu sighed, increasingly feeling that Bai Feng wasn't very reliable! Whatever, he could ask Xia Huyou later. *** A short while later, Su Yu arrived at the Weapon Forging College. Zhao Li was just finishing up his work. Seeing Su Yu, he blurted out, "Kid, did you register with the Divine Character College?" "Yes." Su Yu nodded, looking a little embarrassed. "Teacher Zhao, Teacher Liu mentioned it before, and... Teacher Bai also gave me a heads-up beforehand. I can't switch to another college right now, or I won't be able to answer to them." "You brat..." Zhao Li felt some regret and sighed helplessly. "Actually, I know you're more suited for their college, but it's still a shame! You kid... what you did the other day was truly to my taste. I just have a feeling you have a bright future ahead of you. Even those monstrous geniuses entering this year might not compare to you!" "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Teacher!" Apart from Liu Wenyan and Bai Feng, Zhao Li was the first researcher to express high regard for him, which made Su Yu feel even more grateful. At this point, Su Yu did not beat around the bush and said frankly, "Teacher, the academy said we can take a minor. If I want to register with the Weapon Forging College, would you be willing to take me in?" "Hmm?" Zhao Li was taken aback, staring at Su Yu in surprise. After a long pause, he said, "Kid, forging weapons wouldn't be your major. Frankly speaking... there are things I might not be willing to teach you! "Teaching them to someone taking this as a minor just feels like a waste, and unfair to myself..." Su Yu smiled. "That doesn't matter. I'm not very familiar with the academy and know very few people. My newly acknowledged master... Teacher Bai, always seems very busy and might not have much time for me. So I mainly hope to learn more about various things through veteran figures in the academy... Even if Teacher Zhao isn't willing to teach me confidential secrets, just chatting about things casually could be of immense help to me." "You really think so?" Zhao Li laughed in amusement. "If you minor in weapon forging, I won't provide you with free resources. A minor student is essentially an auditor. Expecting resources from me is out of the question—I still want to save up my family assets for my closed-door disciple." "That's perfectly fine." Su Yu smiled. "Teacher, I don't actually expect to make a name for myself in my minor. I just want to gain a deeper understanding of cultivation. I only hope Teacher won't mind." "You rascal..." Zhao Li chuckled. "A top-high student willing to minor in weapon forging—why would I refuse? Once you come to the Weapon Forging College, you can be my trainee student. It won't count as being an officially accepted disciple. If you have no objections, I'll submit a recommendation report. Aren't you going to think it over?" "Thank you, Teacher Zhao!" Su Yu expressed his thanks with genuine gratitude. "This is already wonderful. I might trouble Teacher from time to time, and I hope you won't mind." "Not a problem. Feel free to ask me whenever you have questions!" Zhao Li laughed as well. Though it was a pity he couldn't take Su Yu as his formal disciple, having him minor in the Forging faction wasn't bad either. As for answering a few questions, that was a trivial matter. Su Yu's attitude toward Zhao Li was completely different from his attitude toward Bai Feng. Bai Feng was his primary master; Su Yu had to showcase his worth to obtain more resources and greater esteem, while respect... was actually secondary. Between him and Bai Feng, it was more of a mutually beneficial relationship. Zhao Li was different. A minor student was, after all, an outsider from another college. Getting whatever benefits he could was a bonus, and if none were given, there was nothing to complain about. With Bai Feng, failing to provide benefits meant failing in his duty as a master. Seeing Su Yu's respectful demeanor, Zhao Li thought for a moment and smiled. "Since you're majoring in divine characters, you probably won't have much time to come to the Weapon Forging College during this period. On the eighth, eighteenth, and twenty-eighth of every month, you can come to my research institute to attend my lectures. "Of course, I suggest you study some basic coursework on your own first, or audit some introductory weapon forging classes before coming to me, lest you fail to understand a single word I say and waste your time." "Understood. Thank you, Teacher." Su Yu committed it to memory and thanked him again. Seeing that he had no complaints, Zhao Li grinned again and lowered his voice. "Since you've taken me as your minor teacher to learn more things... I'll share a piece of advice with you today... Did Bai Feng tell you to enter Hong Tan's research institute?" Su Yu nodded. "Good!" Zhao Li smiled. "It seems Bai Feng values you quite a bit, or rather, trusts you... After all, you come from Nanyuan and belong to Liu Wenyan's lineage. "As for Hong Tan's research institute, I know what they're researching. The main result hasn't come out yet, but I'm aware of some of the byproducts." Zhao Li whispered, "When you go there, don't worry too much about whatever lofty project they're researching! Their institute has a filtration chamber. Whenever you're free, just cultivate near that filtration chamber and be done with it." Su Yu looked puzzled. Zhao Li laughed. "It's good stuff! Those madmen took countless high-grade blood essences, constantly separating and filtering them, extracting only the most quintessential portions. Most of the blood essence was wasted and settled at the bottom of the filtration chamber. Because the energy was too chaotic, they stopped using it and just dumped it there..." Saying this, Zhao Li stopped speaking aloud and switched to voice transmission: "Kid, you've seized quite the opportunity! Actually, I visited that institute once and tried several times to borrow the filtration chamber, but they never gave me the chance... If you get in, come find me. I'll give you a civilization weapon blank. Find an opportunity to toss it in, and after a while, you'll strike it rich!" Zhao Li's tone held a hint of excitement. "The blood essence energy in that place is extraordinarily dense—nurturing a civilization weapon there is incredibly fast! Even an Earth rank civilization weapon could probably be successfully nurtured. What a shame those bastards wouldn't let me use it. Even when I offered five thousand merit points, they still refused... Of course, nurturing an Earth rank civilization weapon consumes too much energy, but since you're only in the Kaiyuan Realm, nurturing a Profound rank civilization weapon won't be an issue." Zhao Li gave a mischievous chuckle. "Don't tell them I told you. Come find me later, and I'll see what kind of civilization weapon suits you and give you a blank. The blank isn't worth much, but you can milk them for all they're worth!" Su Yu was inwardly stunned. Nurturing a civilization weapon? The research institute Bai Feng belonged to really seemed formidable. Zhao Li had offered five thousand merit points just to borrow that filtration chamber, which was astonishing. Sure enough, the veterans knew best. If Zhao Li hadn't mentioned it, Bai Feng probably wouldn't have either, and Su Yu would have remained completely in the dark. "Teacher, won't there be any trouble?" "None at all!" Zhao Li chuckled. "It's just leftover waste energy. If you're worried, you can casually ask Bai Feng and the others about it. Just don't say it came from me!" "Understood. Thank you for the tip, Teacher." Su Yu took it to heart. Nurturing a civilization weapon... His current strength was still weak, so he hadn't considered civilization weapons yet. He actually possessed a mid-Yellow rank standard saber, which could be used all the way up to the Wanshi Realm, but that was a martial weapon, not a civilization weapon. He had read some brief introductions to civilization weapons in the general handbook. They were truly miraculous. Their most notable feature was that they could be stored inside the sea of consciousness! Just like Zhao Li's Hundred Swords Casket from before, it could directly vanish into the body—a truly mystical weapon. Its value was far higher than that of a martial weapon! *** Bidding farewell to Zhao Li, Su Yu had completed his tasks for the day. Both his major and minor were settled. It had gone rather smoothly! Although Bai Feng felt somewhat unreliable, Su Yu hadn't counted on him for immense help anyway. He hadn't hit any bottlenecks yet; at this early stage, a teacher's role was primarily to answer questions and resolve doubts. In that regard, Su Yu hadn't encountered many issues so far. Instead of returning to the Character Cultivation Garden, Su Yu turned and headed toward another important hall. *** A few minutes later, at the Merit Office. Su Yu handed over his merit card. The young woman working at the counter checked it and said, "A high-grade genius enrollment bonus: one hundred merit points and two secret realm entries. Student Su, are you planning to make an exchange?" "No." Su Yu shook his head. The girl smiled and said, "Student Su, have you cultivated the *War God Art*? If so, you should know that there is an Earth rank version of the *War God Art*, which can be exchanged for one hundred merit points." "No need." Su Yu shook his head again and asked, "I'd like to ask, how much does a willpower text of the advanced *War God Art* cost?" The young woman was slightly surprised, but quickly realized that Su Yu probably already possessed the cultivation technique. Without prying further, she helped him look it up and quickly said, "That is an Earth rank version, so there are several requirements. "First, accumulated merit points must exceed one hundred! "Second, an academy researcher must act as a guarantor! "Third, it can only be studied within the academy and cannot be taken outside. Entering the academy is easy, but leaving involves inspections; carrying a willpower text must be reported. "Fourth, everything mentioned above applies only to the Qianjun chapter. The Wanshi chapter and above have different requirements." After finishing, the young woman added, "Exchanging for the Qianjun chapter requires three hundred merit points..." Su Yu was dumbfounded. The girl smiled. "Three hundred points really isn't expensive. Writing one requires a massive amount of blood essence. While Qianjun Realm blood essence isn't expensive, the production cost isn't low either. For an Earth rank technique, some Wanshi Realm blood essence must be mixed in, and it requires beast hide or beast bones from peak Wanshi or even Tengkong Realm beasts to write on. "Furthermore, the researcher proficient in this technique must expend a substantial amount of willpower to write it. "Actually, I suggest you check the course schedules to see if any researcher will offer a class to write it. If a class is opened, the academy provides a subsidy, and the cost is split among the students. Under normal circumstances, you can observe it for around ten points." Buying it individually was far too expensive. However, the academy had the advantage of classes. One could register and learn alongside a group of students, which drastically reduced the cost. Su Yu abandoned the thought of exchanging for it himself! He couldn't afford it! "What about the standard version?" "The standard *War God Art* is also a peak Profound rank technique, so it is quite pricey as well—one hundred and fifty merit points to exchange." The girl smiled. "If you join a class, five merit points are enough, because many people study this technique, so there are quite a few researchers proficient in the standard version." "I see." Su Yu acknowledged her answer, completely giving up on exchanging for it himself. He couldn't even afford the standard version! It was too expensive! The *Thunder Yuan Saber* was also a Profound rank martial technique. Even though it was only low-Profound rank, looking back now, it certainly wasn't cheap either. It had to be worth at least a hundred merit points! At the time, he truly hadn't realized it would be so valuable. In retrospect, the copy of the *Thunder Yuan Saber* Teacher Liu had gifted him was the most valuable treasure on his person. One hundred and ten merit points—that was Su Yu's current net worth. If Bai Feng hadn't agreed to provide the advanced *War God Art*, he would only have had ten merit points left. *I must make good use of these hundred and ten merit points!* Once Xia Huyou's goods arrived, Su Yu would check the effects of the Wanshi Realm blood essence before deciding how to utilize his merit points. *I hope they last me for a while!* Su Yu lingered no longer and quickly left. As soon as he departed, the smiling young woman immediately dialed a number and said swiftly, "Divine Character College freshman Su Yu is suspected of possessing the advanced version of the *War God Art*." The other end of the line acknowledged it and hung up shortly after. As for the origin of Su Yu's technique, it would naturally be strictly investigated. If no legitimate source could be found, Su Yu's identity would come under suspicion. This was the Civilization Academy! And if the source was traced, whoever had disseminated the technique had to possess the right to do so, report it, and pay a certain price. Anyone attempting to exploit loopholes would inevitably suffer a major loss. *** At the same time. Yawning, Bai Feng held his communicator and spoke into it, "That kid is truly a genius! Little Liu, when he grows up, suppressing him will bring you massive profits... I don't ask for much: one copy of the advanced *War God Art*, a thousand merit points, and ten willpower texts... Earth rank ones..." "Get lost!" On the other end, Liu Hong's face turned pitch-black. "Really, I promise he'll charge into the Top 100 Rankings within three months! Don't you think that's impressive?" "Are you messing with me?" "I'm serious!" Bai Feng said earnestly, "Would I lie to you? What good would that do me? With such a genius rising in our lineage, tsk tsk, someone's about to lose sleep over it!" With a cold face, Liu Hong said, "Bai Feng, you haven't shown me any returns up to now, yet you keep demanding this and that. Don't you think you're crossing the line?" "How could returns come so quickly?" Bai Feng laughed. "How about this: I'll find time in the next couple of days to beat Vice Head Zhou's prized disciple half to death and provoke them. That'll put pressure on them and show them that I, Bai Feng, am not someone to be trifled with. Wouldn't that highlight your importance? What do you say?" "..." Liu Hong said in a low voice, "Are you kidding me?" "I'm serious!" Bai Feng chuckled. "What is Hu Wensheng compared to you? In my eyes, he can't hold a candle to you, Liu Hong! He's just at the ninth layer of the Tengkong Realm. If I go all out, I'll hammer him to death!" "..." Liu Hong was skeptical. He said in a low voice, "Hu Wensheng is very strong, and he has always been my biggest stumbling block!" "Tch, he doesn't amount to shit!" Bai Feng said dismissively. "In my eyes, the only ones of this generation who can compete with me are Xia Yuwen and Wu Qi. Hu Wensheng... is worthless. Just wait. Once you transfer the money, I'll take care of him for you!" "If you capsize and can't beat Hu Wensheng, then my value... will be gone too. You know what I mean!" Bai Feng narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Don't trust me? If I capsize, isn't that good for you? You can cut your losses in time, can't you? But what if I win?" "Then your importance will only rise!" Liu Hong said darkly. "Will they believe I can fight you?" "Aren't you at the eighth layer of the Tengkong Realm, or about to reach the ninth? That'll do, won't it?" "I just reached the seventh layer of the Tengkong Realm!" Liu Hong snapped angrily, "How could I be at the eighth or ninth layer?!" Bai Feng smiled broadly. "Is that so? If I remember correctly, don't you still have one entry to that secret realm? Just use it! Once you use it, won't you advance faster..." "I was saving that for when I reach the Lingyun Realm!" "Use it now! Once you take down Hu Wensheng, you'll be the top figure of this generation. Are you afraid you won't have chances to enter secret realms then?" "You..." Liu Hong gritted his teeth. "I don't have that many merit points left. I used them all." "How is that possible!" "I really used them all!" Liu Hong said through gritted teeth. "Yesterday, the Academy Guards swept through..." "Your family has plenty!" "..." Liu Hong was fuming. Bai Feng added, "Are you in or out? If this succeeds, you'll gain more than me. As long as I don't break through to Lingyun, they won't dare send a Lingyun cultivator after me. Without Hu Wensheng in the Tengkong Realm, who else will step up if not you? How could they not support you? "Old Liu, think long-term. Vice Head Zhou and the others are filthy rich—why would they care about a few thousand merit points?" "..." Liu Hong felt utterly exhausted. He felt that this pirate ship he had boarded was becoming increasingly unsteady. "Fine, but I have a condition. Since you want me to invest so much in Su Yu, you have to give me hope... Hu Wensheng has a disciple who enrolled last year, currently in the Character Cultivation stage and at the seventh layer of the Qianjun Realm. Within three months, Su Yu must surpass him! As for the Top 100 Rankings... don't give me that bullshit. Did you think I'd take it seriously?" Saying that, he added, "Also, a monstrous genius from the Xia family enrolled this year named Xia Chan, who took Vice Head Zhou as her master. Even if Su Yu isn't as good as her, he can't be suppressed so badly that he can't lift his head. Otherwise... there's no reason for me to bother with Su Yu at all!" "No problem!" Bai Feng agreed readily, laughing. "Don't worry, small matter. Just send the money, and it's a deal!" "Fine, I'll trust you one more time. If you capsize, you, Bai Feng, will lose far more than me!" "No problem!" Bai Feng hung up the call, grinning ear to ear. Soon, however, he developed a headache and muttered, "Hu Wensheng... won't be easy to deal with! Liu Hong... has that fellow been hiding his true strength or not?" He really wasn't sure. If not, what was a mere seventh-layer Tengkong cultivator even competing for!