Chapter 99: Getting To Know The Cultural Research Academy (1)
26th of June.
The internal affairs and scientific research examinations were being held. Of course, this event was unrelated to Su Yu. In fact, these examinations did not receive a lot of attention. This was an era ruled by the strong. Thus, the more mundane affairs were very easy to neglect.
Even though the mundane was part and parcel of life, the masses still couldn't help neglecting it. Only students who had failed in the war academy and cultural research examinations would consider taking the other two examinations.
...
At the moment, Su Yu was busy receiving guests.
He had a lot of guests. Some were from the cultural research academies. Some were from the war academies. Great Xia War Academy, Great Xia Cultural Research Academy, Martial Dragon War Academy, Nine Heavens Cultural Research Academy, Daoseeking Cultural Research Academy...Every single academy of some repute had sent someone to visit Su Yu today.
High-low evaluation for the war academy examination and high-high evaluation for the cultural research academy examination.
This was not the capital. In the capital, nobody would bother recruiting a genius like this. Why? Because such a genius would have been recruited long before their debut.
Wu Lan was a good example of that. Everyone knew she would join the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy. Nobody would bother recruiting her. But Su Yu was different. He had not been well-known for long.
For now, Bai Feng was the only person with eyes on him. Sure, Bai Feng was a genius, but he was still weak. The academy had plenty of Skysoar cultivators. Bai Feng still wasn’t that important yet.
The visiting proctors started walking around Su Yu’s house curiously. They appeared to be in high spirits. The commander from the Devil Subduing Army had been silently staring at Su Long's picture in the living room.
After a while, he muttered, "He comes from lowly beginnings, but he has his country in his mind. At his country's moment of need, he enters the battlefield with but a single command. A true hero of humanity."
The other proctors merely glared at him. Was he done? This guy was basically a brute. What was he doing acting all scholarly and reciting a shitty poem here?
The old man from the Nine Heavens Cultural Research Academy was more straightforward. With a smile, he said, "Su Yu, I already gave you my offer. I guarantee no academy in Great Xia can give you a better offer. Everyone, let us talk about the pros and cons of each academy.
"First, let's talk about the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy. They have plenty of experts, freaks, and geniuses.
"I'll be frank, Su Yu. Even with Bai Feng backing you, his faction isn't doing well at the moment. Senior Hong went to the Allheaven Battlefield and nobody knows when he's coming back. Bai Feng is the leader of their faction for now..."
The old man smiled, "Bai Feng is only a Skysoar cultivator. He isn't even qualified to voice his opinion in the Heart Cultivating Pavilion. What can he get for you? Can he help you enter a secret grotto? Can he get you more willpower texts?
"It's different for the Nine Heavens Cultural Research Academy—"
Huang Sheng interrupted the old man, "He can always pick a different teacher in the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy. Bai Feng is only an assistant researcher. As a high-high student, he can easily get a senior researcher as his teacher."
Old Xie from Martial Dragon War Academy joined in, "Why must he join a cultural research academy? Su Yu is a genius in physical cultivation. He should join a war academy. He has the courage to help the Windchaser Department with an Infinite Strength cult member. This kid is like his father. A person's true nature will only be revealed on a battlefield."
Old Xie persuaded, "Su Yu, join the Martial Dragon War Academy. You can study during your first year and join the Martial Dragon Guards for practical lessons during your second year. There, you can slay the enemies of humanity and explore the countless secret grottos. Can you get this from a cultural research academy?"
The person from the Great Xia War Academy chimed in, "That's right. A true man should join a war academy. With one swing of your saber, you sever mountains and oceans. With a swing of your sword, you behead countless enemies. A true man should bathe in the blood of your enemies. How can you hide behind the frontline and spend your time writing and drawing?"
Those words instantly provoked the cultural researchers.
Huang Sheng and the others were staring at him in an unfriendly manner. The old man from the Nine Heavens Cultural Research Academy narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Good. Since you're so amazing, I guess the military does not need any cultural researchers anymore. We can disband the Cultural Research Regiment."
"I'm not referring to the cultural researchers in the military..."
"Are you talking about us, then?" Huang Sheng asked coldly. "Ask the tens and thousands of cultural researchers in Great Xia if they agree with your words."
"..."
"I have no time for this. You guys are being unreasonable," said the person from the Great Xia War Academy.
If he continued arguing, these cultural researchers would probably join hands against him.
All their gazes focused on Su Yu.
He nervously said, "Teachers...I'm still young. I know nothing. If it's up to me, I wish I can join all these academies..."
Su Yu carefully continued, "But...you are aware of this. I am Instructor Liu Wenyan's student. Instructor Liu already warned me last night that I must join the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy."
Old Xie and the others were furious.
"Damn that Liu Wenyan! A shameless old scoundrel! How can he mess with his student's decision making? Su Yu, ignore him. Your father is in the Devil Subduing Army. Ask him instead..."
Su Yu helplessly said, "Even if my father is home, he will listen to Instructor Liu. After all, Instructor Liu had taught me for five years. He is my first teacher. He has been teaching me tirelessly without asking for anything in return. Neither me nor my father are the type to forget favors and kindness."
Su Yu sighed, "Since the instructor said that the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy is better, I'll go there. My apologies, teachers."
They weren't upset with Su Yu. He was still a kid who had never even been to the capital. What did he know? This was all Liu Wenyan's fault! If they were going to be upset with anyone, it would be the shameless old scoundrel, Liu Wenyan!
Old Xie was unwilling to give up. "Su Yu, are you not going to consider the Martial Dragon Guards? At our academy, you will be able to join the army after a few years and become a part of the most elite army of Great Xia."
"Hmph!"
Those words provoked the Devil Subduing Army commander. He coldly said, "The Devil Subduing Army guards the front line and sweeps away all oppositions. Since when is the Martial Dragon Guards the most elite army?"
Old Xie merely rolled his eyes before shutting his mouth. If he continued talking, the military would probably start fighting among themselves.
As the two strongest armies of Great Xia, although the Devil Subduing Army was weaker when it comes to individual soldiers, they make up with quantity and experience. After spending all their time guarding the front line, they would not agree that the Martial Dragon Guards was the best army in Great Xia.
Su Yu pretended to not notice any of the argument. Instead, he poured tea to all the guests and gratefully said, "Thank you for giving me all these opportunities, teachers. I am overwhelmed by all this. My deepest apologies for disappointing you."
"This is not your fault."
Old Xie waved his hand. But he still wasn't willing to accept the fact that he was going to miss out on this talented student. He said, "Why aren’t you asking about the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy's offer before agreeing to join them?"
Su Yu flashed a wide smile and said, "Instructor Liu said that there is no need for me to ask for benefits. The Great Xia Cultural Research Academy is filled with experts and rich with resources. They won't treat a new student unfairly. If I really start making demands and cause all of you to spend time giving me different offers just to end up rejecting them, wouldn't it be a waste of your time?"
The proctors couldn't help but to laugh.
Huang Sheng smiled and said, "Instructor Liu is right. The Great Xia Cultural Research Academy treats all their students fairly. We will never mistreat a genius. Even if you have been accepted as Bai Feng's student, that won't change. You will get what you deserve.
"Of course, you can also rethink your choice of a teacher. You don't really need to pick Bai Feng as your teacher."
He was pleased with Su Yu's choice here. This kid had not wavered in his determination to join the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy. Sure, Liu Wenyan had played a role there as well, but it was also good to see the lack of hesitation on Su Yu's part. That was much better than being all indecisive and wasting all the proctors' time arguing with each other to recruit him.
Since Su Yu had decided, the proctors could only accept his decision with regret. The old man from the Nine Heavens Cultural Research Academy stood up and said, "Su Yu, you are free to change your mind anytime before entering the academy. My offer still stands. You will no longer have the chance to change your mind after entering an academy."
Old Xie said, "Since you've made your choice, we won't waste your time. You're from a military family. You can always come to the Martial Dragon Guards after graduation. But I need to give you some advice..."
Old Xie paused slightly before saying with a wide smile, "The cultural research academies are worse than the war academies. There are too many old foxes, families, and powerful factions in the cultural research academies. On the other hand, physical cultivators can continue researching even without any inheritance. There are many such experts on the battlefield. As for the cultural research academies, inheritances are very important yet there are too many factions and powerful families around. Be careful in the academy."
Huang Sheng's face changed, but he didn't say anything. Old Xie was not lying. The path of a warrior was much more straightforward. As for the path of a cultural researcher, it split into a lot of smaller paths.
Some believed in the supremacy of Divine Characters, some believed in the prowess of willpower, some believed in a combination of both, and so on.
Some placed a lot of importance on studying the myriad races, and some believed in human supremacy. Some loved tools, such as unique combat armors and so on, while some loved body transformations, such as transforming parts of one's body into the body parts of a beast. In short, the path of a cultural researcher was extremely complicated.
There were a lot of experts walking this path. But there were also a lot of madmen walking this path. Strictly speaking, there were less top experts walking this path compared to the path of warriors. However, nine out of ten warriors would not be able to defeat a cultural researcher of the same cultivation level in true combat.
There were limited ways in which a warrior could fight. But for cultural researchers, each individual could be entirely different from the other. It was basically impossible to guess what a cultural researcher would be capable of.
Old Xie was merely advising Su Yu out of kindness. After all, Su Yu's background was too ordinary. His father was only a 100-man commander in the Devil Subduing Army. Meanwhile, there were a lot of cultural research families with inheritances spanning hundreds of years. In fact, some of the cultural researchers from Great Xia King's generation were still alive today.
As for the warriors, such inheritances were much less important. Each year, some new warriors would rise to prominence. Many of these new rising stars had appeared from the battlefield. And many of them also came from ordinary families.
"Thank you for your reminder, teacher."
Su Yu expressed his thanks but did not say anything else. Since there were cultural researchers present, it wouldn't be proper for him to comment on the internal conflict of cultural researchers.
"Just keep what I said in mind. I'll be taking my leave."
Old Xie was still regretful that he failed to recruit Su Yu. However, he didn't hesitate and left in a straightforward manner. The others also stopped pestering Su Yu and started leaving one after another. Finally, only Huang Sheng and a governmental staff member from Nanyuan were left in the house.
With all the other proctors gone, Huang Sheng smiled and said, "Su Yu, good choice. Ninety percent of the geniuses in the capital would choose to join the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy. That is a place where the strong compete against each other and freaks run rampant. In the path of great dao, you will be accompanied by a bunch of freaks. That way, you won't feel lonely during your journey to the top."
As Huang Sheng spoke, his mood turned melancholic. "There, you can witness the rise of heroes. There, you can witness the decline of geniuses. Many years later, you will feel proud of being an ex-schoolmate of some people. Someone else will also feel proud of being your ex-schoolmate or your teacher.
"Some of you will become the center of the myriad races, illuminating the world with your glory. Some of you will die early, returning to the soil. The Great Xia Cultural Research Academy will stand witness to all that."
Su Yu felt his blood turning hot from excitement after hearing all that, but he was able to quickly calm down. All that was too far away from him.
"Teacher, since I've made my choice, I won't regret it."
Instead of pretending to be clueless, Su Yu went straight to the point, "So when am I getting my rewards for placing first and the 20 merit points? Also, I remember that I can also get an original Great Strength myriad race cultivation method for placing first as well. When am I getting that?
"Also, as a high-high student, I should receive some benefits for joining the academy, right? I won't receive nothing, right? Can you tell me more, teacher?"
Huang Sheng did not mind the honesty. He smiled and said, "I doubt Instructor Liu had actually forced you to join the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy. You made that choice yourself, right?"
"Yeah." Su Yu nodded, "I want to go further. Therefore, I'll naturally pick the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy. The Nine Heavens Cultural Research Academy and Daoseeking Cultural Research Academy might be able to give me better offers, but those are short term benefits. The Great Xia Cultural Research Academy will give me long term benefits."
"Smart choice." Huang Sheng smiled, "Let's speak frankly. You will receive your contribution points this afternoon, including the rewards for the war academy exam. You will also receive your source qi liquid soon.
"After joining the academy, you will naturally receive additional benefits from being a high-high student."
Huang Sheng's face turned solemn, "After entering the academy, you will get 100 merit points, one opportunity to study a willpower text for free, free one time entry into the source character grotto of the academy, and free one time entry into the battle character grotto."