Class Three of the Preliminary Exam.
This was Su Yu's class. Over the past few days, he had barely attended school, though no one paid much attention.
With the advanced academy assessments approaching, everyone was too busy to care whether someone else showed up for class.
Besides, Su Yu wasn't the only special case.
Another student at the fourth level of Kaiyuan hadn't been attending either. At this point, adjusting one's mental state was more important than sitting in a classroom.
…
Su Yu sat at his usual spot without immediately going to see Liu Wenyan. It was still early—Professor Liu was probably reading, as was his habit in the mornings.
Chen Hao sat down beside him. The two were desk mates, though seating was unassigned—students sat wherever they liked.
Not long after they settled in, a plump woman in her thirties walked in with a book in hand.
She gave a quick glance around the room, didn't bother to count heads, and opened her book. "The assessment for the higher academies is drawing near. There's no point reviewing the basics anymore. Today, we'll talk about your future—what paths you might take after graduation."
"I won't go into the Four Great Academies—you're all familiar with them by now."
"So let's talk about what happens if you don't get into the Internal Affairs Academy, or if you do and choose not to go. What then?"
She smiled at the class. "We live in extraordinary times—where the mundane and the supernatural coexist. Some of you aren't content with an ordinary life. You want to walk the path of transcendence."
"Does failing to get into the War Academy mean you have no chance?"
"No—it does not!"
Even though the students had heard these things before, hearing them from a teacher made it feel more real. Excitement rippled through the room.
"The first and most dangerous option: enlist in the military!"
Her smile faded, her tone turned serious. "You all know this. For ordinary people, the military is the most accessible gateway to the supernatural. Kill enemies, earn merit—that's how it works. Many of you have relatives in the military. You know this well."
"And you know the risks. Each year, over a hundred thousand soldiers die in battle!"
"But today, I'm not here to talk about danger. I'm here to tell you that even within the military, there are different choices."
She looked toward Chen Hao, whose eyes were practically glowing with excitement. Smiling, she said, "Chen Hao, tell us—what are the main military forces in Great Xia Prefecture?"
Chen Hao stood up eagerly. "First is the Longwu Guard, the strongest elite force in Great Xia!"
"Second is the Prefectural Army, responsible for guarding Great Xia and maintaining peace."
"Third is the Wind Arrest Hall, which hunts down followers of the Myriad Clans Cult and keeps order."
"Fourth are the City Guard forces, defending the various cities."
"These four branches all serve as reserve forces for the front lines, except the Wind Arrest Hall. When things get bad, the other three are sent to the battlefield."
"Not bad," the teacher nodded. "But not quite complete. The Longwu Guard isn't technically a reserve force. They haven't been deployed to the battlefield not because they're unqualified—but because they haven't been needed. Yet."
"There are actually two more branches."
Chen Hao looked curious. The teacher smiled, "Fifth, the frontline legions. Some are even stationed here in Great Xia, though you rarely see them. They also handle new recruits."
"Sixth, the retired military corps. Many veterans from both the front lines and other branches settle into this role. They're a powerful force in their own right."
She paused slightly, then added, "And there's a seventh."
That drew confused looks from the students. A seventh?
"Yes, there is. The university security forces!"
"Don't underestimate them. Even here in Nanyuan, a mid-tier academy, you've probably seen the security office. Director Huang is a Ninefold Thousand Pound Realm cultivator."
"And that's just Nanyuan. In Great Xia, university security forces are extremely powerful. Many have even reached the Ten Thousand Stone or Soaring Sky realms. Combined with faculty and students from the War Academy, they're stronger than the Prefectural Army—just not quite on par with the Longwu Guard."
She explained briefly, and the students nodded in understanding—they'd never thought about it that way.
"So, even if you don't get into an academy, there are still paths to the extraordinary. Many ways to access power… but…"
"Danger walks hand in hand with opportunity!"
"If you don't measure up academically or physically, but still want to stand out—you'll have to pay a heavier price. Maybe even your life."
The teacher's tone was serious now. "Those of you aiming for the path of transcendence but unable to enter the War Academy should consider the military. The front lines are the most dangerous, but also the most rewarding. Second is the Prefectural Army—Longwu Guard is out of reach for most, but the Prefectural Army recruits every year. It's relatively safer."
"Apart from that, the Wind Arrest Hall has its own academy, though it's not well-known. The Wind Arrest Academy has a rougher training approach—you could graduate and be sent to field duty the moment you reach the Thousand Pound Realm."
She talked at length, mostly about joining the military.
Then she shifted topics. "Actually, if you're worried about the competition in the Prefectural Army and don't qualify for the War Academy, you can try the City Guard. Their entrance exams are easier, and their training system is more established."
"Nanyuan City may be small, but the City Guard is still formidable. Everyone wants to go to Great Xia City—it's over a thousand miles from here. But why not start right here at home?"
"The current Commander of Nanyuan's City Guard, Zhang Qian, is a peak Ten Thousand Stone expert. He values new recruits highly and often gives personal training. The City Lord himself also supports the City Guard…"
By now, most students understood—this was another recruitment pitch.
No one minded. It was the season for this kind of thing.
Every year, local governments needed fresh blood. Despite being small, Nanyuan's City Lord wanted to turn the City Guard into an elite force.
Plenty of students who didn't make it into the War Academy still joined the City Guard. Some of them were Kaiyuan Tier 3 with decent talent. With a bit of nurturing, reaching the Ten Thousand Stone Realm wasn't impossible.
"Think it over carefully. Don't rush your decision…"
She let the class break into discussion and strolled toward Su Yu and Chen Hao's seats.
Her main target was Chen Hao.
"You're Kaiyuan Tier 3. You might make it into the War Academy, but chances are slim. If you don't pass, consider the City Guard. Your father works here in Nanyuan, and new recruits get three days off each month. That's a solid opportunity…"
Chen Hao looked miserable. Why me? he thought. Why not Su Yu? What—am I not good enough?
The teacher noticed his expression and chuckled. "What's this? You think you're too good for the City Guard?"
"N-no… I just want to try first. If I don't make it, I'll consider other options."
She didn't press further and turned to Su Yu, smiling. "You're marked as a candidate for the Civilization Academy. Professor Liu already informed me, so I wasn't going to say anything. But—if you're having second thoughts, the City Lord is looking for talent. You'd be well treated."
"There's a position in the secretariat. You'd be safe and well compensated. It's a rare opportunity."
Su Yu thought for a moment. "The City Guard doesn't get deployed to the battlefield much, right?"
"Very rarely."
She assumed he was worried, and answered quickly.
Su Yu nodded and smiled. "Understood. Thank you, I'll consider it."
Which, of course, meant no way.
In the past, maybe. If his father had stayed, and the City Guard offered good terms, he might've stayed in Nanyuan.
He even knew about the secretariat. It was a high-security, high-benefit department.
But now his father was gone. Why stay?
Besides, how could he get his hands on the blood essence he needed in Nanyuan?
Thinking of that, Su Yu suddenly asked, "Teacher, do you think the War Academy has more blood essence—or the Civilization Academy?"
She hesitated. "The War Academy, of course…"
"I mean in terms of variety. Since the Civilization Academy does research, wouldn't they have more types?"
"Oh… probably?" she said, uncertain. "The Civilization Academy likely has more samples from the battlefield, even if the War Academy has greater quantity. For instance, blood essence used in training is more plentiful at the War Academy. But yes, the Civilization Academy probably has the broader selection."
Su Yu nodded. That made sense. He'd suspected as much, but now he felt more confident.
Quantity was important—but variety mattered more.
Without variety, how could he unlock new pages?
Even if he managed to open them, he'd still need to understand the languages. Was he supposed to ask others to translate?
Looks like the Civilization Academy is still the better choice…
Just then, someone called from outside the room: "Su Yu! Report to the Teaching Office. Professor Liu is looking for you!"
"Coming!"
Su Yu responded, bowed to the teacher, and quickly ran off.
…
When he arrived at the Teaching Office, he wasn't alone.
Su Yu recognized a few familiar faces—not close friends, but people he knew by name.
There were Kaiyuan Tier 4 talents, as well as students who had mastered several languages of the Myriad Clans.
Liu Yue was among them.
In addition to Professor Liu, the dean and several top instructors—each a Ninefold Thousand Pound Realm expert—were present.
As more students arrived, the room filled up.
After about seven or eight minutes, 25 students stood in the room.
The dean smiled. "You 25 represent the hope of our academy this year. Most of you are headed for the Civilization or War Academies. The Research Academy usually only selects a handful."
The dean was a martial cultivator. Before he could finish, Liu Wenyan, the scholar, interrupted him.
"Enough chatter. Get to the point—we don't have time for pleasantries!"
The dean looked a bit awkward. This old guy… can't he see the students are right here?
"This is outrageous. I really want to break that old bastard's legs."
Some of the instructors chuckled quietly. The head of the academy shot them a glare, and the room instantly fell silent.
Only then did the head speak up directly, "These days, things have been restless in Great Xia Prefecture. The bastards from the Myriad Clans Cult are stirring up trouble everywhere. They might not be a real threat yet, but Nanyuan is just a small city, and we lack the manpower to properly guard it."
"So, the academy's decision is to send all of you to Great Xia Prefecture early. It's safer there."
"There have already been incidents in other small cities where geniuses were attacked. The Myriad Clans Cult is trying to create chaos…"
Su Yu remained silent, but someone in the crowd anxiously asked, "Go to Great Xia Prefecture? What about the entrance exam?"
"You'll take the exam there—it's the same. In fact, your chances might even be better since they have more slots. You're being specially recommended by the academy. Just wait for the assessment once you arrive."
"How long will we be staying there?"
A girl hesitated, reluctant. "There are still more than two months until the exam. Are we supposed to stay in Great Xia Prefecture the whole time?"
"Not necessarily. If the cult members are rooted out and killed, you can return at any time."
The head's face darkened. "The point is, those rats are wreaking havoc. Nanyuan is small and doesn't have enough protection to keep you safe. Better safe than sorry. If they target you, there will be plenty of opportunities to strike."
"On the road, at home, even inside the academy—you may not be truly safe."
"Instead of spreading our forces thin trying to protect you all, it's better to send you away in one group. Once you're gone, your families and classmates will also be safer. Because... from the cult's perspective, the others aren't worth the risk."
Everyone nodded. They weren't fools—they understood what he meant.
The Myriad Clans Cult never acted without a reason. Killing regular people was meaningless and risky.
But killing a few young talents? That was different. Human geniuses had clear bounties on their heads within the cult. If they succeeded, the rewards were considerable.
Nanyuan's students might not be exceptional, but the city's defenses were lax. Small-town talents were easy targets.
Seeing that everyone understood, the head continued, "So get ready. Those of you willing to go, come to the academy in three days. The city guards will escort you to Great Xia Prefecture. All your expenses will be covered by the academy. You don't need to worry about anything."
Liu Wenyan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke in a calm voice. "It's best if you all go. Things have been unsettling lately. The Myriad Clans Cult is on the move again, ambushing talents, raiding merchant convoys, even committing bloody crimes outside the city… Though it hasn't reached Nanyuan yet."
"But something feels off."
Liu Wenyan said softly, "You're not children anymore. You should be able to judge for yourselves. There's more to this than meets the eye—it might be a distraction, a feint."
"The ones getting caught or killed are all small fry—fanatics from the Bloodfire Faction. They're brainwashed lunatics who don't fear death. They're just cannon fodder."
"The real threats haven't shown themselves. They're stirring the pot, drawing the Dragon Martial Guard's attention, stretching our defenses."
Su Yu couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, doesn't Great Xia Prefecture know about this?"
"Of course they do!"
Liu Wenyan smiled. "Great Xia has no shortage of talent. But even if they're aware, can the Dragon Martial Guard just sit on their hands? The provincial troops are stationed and can't move easily. The most mobile force is the Dragon Martial Guard. They have to act."
"The Intelligence Division is overwhelmed. There are just too many places to defend, and they don't know the cult's real target."
"The shadows give them the advantage. They can strike anywhere, anytime. Even if Great Xia can crush them instantly, if they can't locate them, there's no thunderous blow to strike."
"So the best move now is to reduce the number of potential targets. Sending you away allows us to focus more strength on rooting them out."
The students understood now. So that was the plan.
One of them shouted in anger, "Those animals! Once I graduate from the War Academy, I'll kill every last one I see!"
The instructors smiled faintly. Everyone had thought that before. But the truth was, those cultists were too good at hiding. Many had infiltrated deep.
"Go home and think about it. Those who decide to leave, come to the academy in three days. The city guards will escort you."
"Got it."
Everyone responded. Under the current circumstances, staying didn't seem like an option.
Leaving would even lighten the burden on Nanyuan—they understood that too.
…
After everyone left, Su Yu stayed behind.
He'd actually come to ask Liu Wenyan to teach him a few more foreign languages, including the Lu fish language. He had dreamed about it before, but hadn't studied it yet. For the past few days, his dreams had stopped.
The Lu fish language was obscure. Su Yu wasn't sure if Liu Wenyan even knew it.
As for going to Great Xia Prefecture, Su Yu had no particular reaction. He lived alone anyway—made no difference to him.
The other instructors and the head eventually left, leaving only Su Yu and Liu Wenyan behind.
When Su Yu asked about the Lu fish language, Liu Wenyan chuckled. "Lu fish are rarely seen on the Battlefield of the Myriad Races. They mostly dwell in the Dishan Realm. Their language is obscure, their script even more so. At least among the materials the human race has seized, there's not much. I haven't learned it. But in Great Xia Prefecture, someone surely has…"
Su Yu wasn't disappointed. Seeing that his teacher didn't know it, he prepared to leave.
Liu Wenyan hesitated. "Your father went to the battlefield, right? You're living alone?"
"Yes."
"Then be extra careful at home…"
Su Yu paused. Things were that serious?
"The streets and academy have some protections. Other families mostly have people at the Thousand Pound level or higher. You're alone—that's more dangerous."
Liu Wenyan paused again, then said, "Honestly… I don't entirely agree with this plan—"
"Liu Instructor!"
A firm voice interrupted from outside.
Liu Wenyan remained calm and continued, "His father served in the Demon Suppression Army. You mean to say we can't trust even his son?"
"Anything is possible. Su Long retired 18 years ago!"
"Then assign someone to protect him. I can't rest easy otherwise."
"We don't have the manpower to protect individuals!"
Liu Wenyan frowned, clearly annoyed. "You Dragon Martial Guards follow orders—I won't question that. But I believe Su Yu is trustworthy. If you're still concerned, he'll stay with me these next few days. Otherwise, sending him home is just irresponsible."
"…"
There was a pause outside, as if a decision was being made.
Su Yu felt lost. What's going on?
The people outside were Dragon Martial Guards?
He hadn't noticed anyone when he arrived...
"Fine."
Moments later, a reply came, followed by silence.
Liu Wenyan turned to Su Yu, smiling slightly. "The cult has gone deep underground. We believe there's more behind this chaos, so... we can't just sit and wait. We have to strike first."
"But we don't know if the academy or even the city guards have been infiltrated. Someone may be hiding among us. That's why... we need a trigger."
"A trigger?"
Su Yu was half-understanding, half-confused.
"Exactly. A trigger."
"Nanyuan is just a small city. There's not much of value. If anything's a target, it's the academy—or the City Lord's mansion. But the latter is heavily guarded."
"We don't know if any cultists have come to Nanyuan. But just in case, we're setting a trap—draw them out."
"You're the bait... sort of."
Liu Wenyan sighed. "If there are cult members here and they're plotting something, once word gets out that you're being sent away, they'll have a few possible reactions."
"First, they might strike early and try to kill you."
"Second, they could attack en route. But with the city guard escorting, they'd need lots of manpower. Plus, Great Xia's army will likely meet us partway."
"Third, they might sit back and wait. Once you're gone, you'll take some city guards with you, weakening Nanyuan. That's their chance."
"Fourth, they abandon Nanyuan, since you're gone and we've reallocated resources, making it harder for them to act."
Su Yu frowned, thinking it over. "So you're saying, if their real target is us, they might strike early?"
"Exactly. They'll be forced to act."
"And if it's not us…"
"Then you leave for Great Xia. It's safer. Within a month or two, the Dragon Martial Guard will root them out."
Liu Wenyan looked serious. "So yes, you're technically bait. But very few know this, because... we don't know who might be watching."
"Will it be dangerous?"
"For most of you, no. But for you—it might. Because you live alone."
"That's why I'm telling you. So you're not caught off guard. Stay with me for the next two days. If nothing happens, you leave in three days."
Su Yu nodded. Nanyuan's move made sense. If nothing happened, all was well. If something did—they'd at least have some initiative.
In terms of danger… with proper precautions, it was still safer than doing nothing.
Su Yu accepted the reasoning. He smiled, "Don't worry, Teacher. I understand. But… the cult has really infiltrated so deeply?"
"They have."
Liu Wenyan sighed. "Why do you think they're called rats in the gutter? They're too good at hiding. Hopefully, Nanyuan stays quiet. But if not, we must be ready."
"For the next two days, just say you're learning a new language and stay at my place."
"Alright!" Su Yu didn't really care where he stayed. But he was curious. "Teacher, don't you have Willpower? Can't you sense whether someone is a cultist?"
Liu Wenyan just smiled mysteriously, saying nothing.
Guess for yourself.
Against a rookie like you, maybe. But adults? Who doesn't hide their true thoughts? Cultists who survive this long? They don't give themselves away that easily.