The Flame of Civilization

Nanyuan Middle Academy.

Chen Hao went to the preliminary examination class; he had to attend class, while Su Yu headed straight for the resource department.

"Su Yu, you want to exchange for Iron Winged Bird essence blood?"

The resource department administrator asked in surprise, "Essence blood from the Qianjun realm is only helpful to the Qianjun realm. For the Kaiyuan realm, it's not only unhelpful but also poisonous. Why do you want to exchange for this?"

"Teacher Zhang, can I exchange for it?"

Su Yu smiled, "As you know, I've been researching the Myriad Races. The Iron Winged Bird is one of the races I've studied extensively, so I wanted to procure some essence blood for research. However, the price is too high, so I came to the academy to ask..."

"It's possible. In the past few years, you've obtained qualification certificates for 18 Myriad Races languages. Except for the three mandatory ones, you received rewards for the other 15, totaling 15 merit points. Kaiyuan triple realm grants 3 points, so that's 18 merit points in total..."

The resource department administrator checked the records and quickly said, "But you've already spent 6 points, all on the library. You have 12 points left."

"Yes, I know."

Su Yu smiled, "How much Iron Winged Bird essence blood can I exchange for with the remaining 12 points?"

"You want to exchange for this... This really isn't very useful, what a waste!"

The administrator teacher couldn't help but remind him, "The Qianjun realm Iron Winged Bird is very strong for you, but it's cannon fodder on the Battlefields of the Heavens. Merit points are universally accepted by all academies, and you can even accumulate them to exchange for valuable resources at higher-level academies."

"You can easily accumulate 18 points at a middle-level academy. Learning one Myriad Races language rewards 1 point, but it's not that simple at higher-level academies."

"Exchanging for this is not worth it! At higher-level academies, some secret data, advanced cultivation techniques, and even some courses may require merit points to exchange for. Even the military accepts them..."

"I know all of this, but what else can I do?"

Su Yu gave a wry smile. He knew.

He was out of money, wasn't he?

He did have money, over 200,000. He could afford to buy 5 drops, but he still needed to live.

There were no income sources in the Kaiyuan realm, and he had to save some money for higher-level academies.

Merit points were the most important transaction system besides Anping currency.

Money could buy many things, but many things couldn't be bought with money.

High-level strategic resources, advanced cultivation techniques, and even some legacies required merit points. This was a manifestation of human contributions to humanity.

If you haven't contributed to humanity, even with a lot of money, you might not be able to buy things.

The acquisition and spending of merit points were all recorded, including the initial accumulation of merit points. For example, Su Yu had earned 18 points, and even if he spent them all, these 18 points would continue to accumulate.

Once he reached 100 points, Su Yu's authority would increase.

This also prevented many people who only had money but not significant contributions from privately acquiring large amounts of merit points to purchase scarce strategic materials.

Some wealthy individuals, even if they acquired tens of thousands of merit points, couldn't buy certain items if their initial level was insufficient.

The resource department administrator sighed, "Then I won't try to persuade you anymore. Actually, it's too early for you to be doing research! Nanyuan Middle Academy also lacks the conditions for this. When you get to a higher-level academy, you can apply for research subsidies, and the higher authorities might even provide resources for research."

"Iron Winged Birds are very common on the Battlefields of the Heavens, and their research value isn't that high. If you ask me, you should exchange for something else if you're going to research..."

Su Yu smiled, "You're right. Does the academy have Luy fish essence blood?"

"..."

The administrator teacher looked a bit awkward. "No, we don't. That thing is from the Dishan Realm. It's rarely seen on the Battlefields of the Heavens, and the weakest people who come to the Battlefields of the Heavens are at the Wanshi realm, or even the Soaring Realm. Daxia Civilization Academy definitely has it, but we naturally wouldn't have it here."

Then that settles it.

Su Yu could recognize a small portion of the races he dreamed of, including the Luy fish.

However, starting from the Wanshi realm, even if his body could withstand the essence blood of the Wanshi realm, his own physical body wouldn't be able to handle it if the picture book absorbed the essence blood energy. It might even explode.

As for the essence blood of other uncertain races, he didn't dare to consume it casually. If it was a race he hadn't dreamed of, and the picture book didn't absorb it, his own body wouldn't be able to withstand it.

After thinking about it, the Iron Winged Bird was the safest option for now.

"Teacher, then please exchange some for me."

"How many drops do you want? 1 merit point per drop, it's really not worth it..."

The teacher reminded him again, "The value of merit points doesn't seem very high. Even on the surface, it's only 10,000 points for one, but in reality, some things cannot be represented by money. You know what I mean."

"Thank you for the reminder, teacher!"

Su Yu quickly nodded and said, "Just exchange for 3 drops first. If it's not enough, I'll come back to exchange."

"You!"

Seeing that he wouldn't listen to his advice, the administrator teacher was a bit helpless. He quickly arranged for someone to get it. While waiting, he thought and reminded him, "Your father went to the Battlefields of the Heavens a couple of days ago. The academy knows about this. Your father is not home, so be careful recently. The people from the Ten Thousand Races Cult are active in Great Xia Prefecture, you should know this too."

"Yes, but it has nothing to do with me, right?"

"How can it have nothing to do with you!"

The teacher reprimanded, "Better safe than sorry! The beasts of the Ten Thousand Races Cult don't primarily target the strong or geniuses, at least not cultivation geniuses, but rather wise individuals!"

"Although you can't be considered a wise individual, you are one of the few reserve members of the Civilization Academy at Nanyuan Middle Academy!"

"The destruction caused by the strong is limited, but the destruction caused by the wise is infinite! On the Battlefields of the Heavens, humanity has been able to hold its ground for hundreds of years, not just because of those invincible powerhouses, but also because of the wise individuals in the rear!"

"Haven't some of the top researchers at the Civilization Academy been assassinated? These people deciphered the cultivation methods of the Myriad Races, delved deep into their civilizations, increasing the number of human powerhouses and giving us more confidence in dealing with the Myriad Races..."

The management teacher said with some admiration, "They have contributed silently, no less than any invincible expert! Yet, most of them lack the necessary combat power, so even in the rear, they often become targets of the Myriad Races, and assassination attempts are frequent."

"The guys from the Ten Thousand Races Cult are causing internal damage to the human race, not to assassinate individual powerhouses, their main targets are them!"

"Although you haven't entered the Civilization Academy yet and don't know too many languages, you are still young. You are actually more dangerous than some of the promising cultivators within the academy. Those at the fourth or fifth level of Kaiyuan might not even be worth their attention."

"How long does it take for someone in the Kaiyuan Realm to cultivate to the Soaring Realm?"

"But a wise person, perhaps in ten or twenty years, can decipher a cultivation method, find their weaknesses, and devise ways to kill them... This is much more dangerous than a Soaring Realm expert."

Su Yu gave a wry smile, 'It can't be that bad, can it?'

Although he had mastered 18 languages and scripts, it was too little for the Myriad Races, and most of them were common languages.

"Don't take it lightly, be careful, and pay attention! If you encounter danger, call for help at any time. Nanyuan Prefecture has also strengthened its patrols, Jifeng Hall has begun to strengthen its deployment, and a squadron of the Dragon Martial Guard stationed in Nanyuan Prefecture has also started patrolling."

"If you encounter trouble, shout for help loudly. In at most a few dozen seconds, someone will arrive."

Seeing the teacher speaking seriously, Su Yu quickly nodded, "Don't worry, teacher, I know! Nanyuan Prefecture is so small, those guys might not even come here. Even if they do, to put it bluntly... I probably haven't made the list yet."

"That's true."

The teacher smiled, "But you can't be careless, especially when you go to Instructor Liu's place, you must be careful!"

"Huh?"

Su Yu was slightly startled, "Instructor Liu..."

"Don't misunderstand, I mean Instructor Liu is the strongest instructor in Nanyuan Middle Academy when it comes to Myriad Races languages. Eight or nine out of ten students who get into the Civilization Academy each year are taught by him."

"Instructor Liu is definitely the biggest target for the Ten Thousand Races Cult. If they come to Nanyuan, he will be the first one they want to assassinate, not the Academy Head, nor the City Lord."

"Instructor Liu is like a spark, igniting the fire of civilization, at least in Nanyuan. That's why I'm reminding you to be careful."

Su Yu's expression changed, "Teacher, isn't Instructor Liu in danger then?"

"He's fine, don't worry too much. The Academy Head is personally protecting Instructor Liu now, and there are people from the Dragon Martial Guard secretly protecting him. Jifeng Hall has even sent a small team. I'm just reminding you to be careful on your way when you go to see Instructor Liu!"

Su Yu breathed a sigh of relief. The Instructor Liu mentioned by the management teacher was also Su Yu's instructor. Su Yu had mastered 18 Myriad Races languages, almost all of which were taught by this old instructor.

As the management teacher said, Instructor Liu might not be much in Great Xia Prefecture, but in Nanyuan, especially in Nanyuan Middle Academy, he was indeed a propagator of civilization.

In his many years of teaching, he had taught hundreds of students who went to the Civilization Academy.

More than half of these students had already graduated and were now playing a role in Great Xia Prefecture, and even in the entire human race.

Perhaps not a very significant role, but the inheritance of human civilization was supported by this grassroots force.

If the Ten Thousand Races Cult came to Nanyuan City to assassinate someone, Instructor Liu's importance was indeed greater than the City Lord's.

As the two were talking, a staff member brought the Iron Winged Bird's essence blood.

3 drops!

After exchanging for 3 drops of essence blood, Su Yu had 9 merit points left. He felt a bit pained. He had only spent 6 points after consulting countless materials in the library over the years, and now he had spent 3 points at once. It was too extravagant.

Taking the bottle containing the essence blood, Su Yu asked again, "Teacher, has Instructor Liu come to the academy these few days?"

"He's working as usual. We suggested he temporarily take refuge at the City Lord's mansion, but he refused, so he has to continue working."

"Then I'll go see Instructor Liu."

Su Yu had originally planned to go home and try it out after getting the items, but now he changed his mind. He decided to go see Instructor Liu and consult some questions.

Instructor's Office.

Liu Wenyan, in his sixties, was making records and said without looking up, "Academy Head, there's no need to follow me all the time. Just within the academy, it's not that dangerous."

Beside him, the Academy Head, also in his sixties, chuckled, "I'm not disturbing you, why are you chasing me away?"

"Your breathing is disturbing me."

"..."

The Academy Head was speechless, then he heard Liu Wenyan say dismissively, "Besides, you just broke through to the Wanshi Realm. You're so weak, you wouldn't be of any use even if you came."

"I..."

The old Academy Head was helpless. 'Am I that weak?'

He was already in his sixties, and only breaking through to the Wanshi Realm was indeed not much. But this was the rear, Nanyuan City, the smallest of the 28 cities under Great Xia Prefecture.

He wasn't the City Lord, just the head of a middle school academy. Why would he need to be that strong?

The truly strong ones had either gone to Great Xia Prefecture or the Battlefields of the Heavens. In Nanyuan City, he was considered quite good, wasn't he?

"Sigh, do you think I want to accompany you?"

The old Academy Head said irritably, "It's all because you old fellow are too important. In the past 20 years in Nanyuan City, 320 students have been admitted to the Civilization Academy, averaging only 16 per year. Half of them were taught by you. Aren't you a thorn in others' eyes?"

"It's not that bad."

Liu Wenyan also smiled, "After all, it's just a small Nanyuan City, and only so many people get admitted each year. It's insignificant to the entire Great Xia Prefecture. Do you think the Ten Thousand Races Cult would target me?"

"Hard to say. He's more important than me anyway. I'm just a weak Wanshi; they probably wouldn't even bother looking at me. Not worth killing,"

The Academy Head joked. The fact was, while the Wanshi realm wasn't weak, it didn't play a major role on the Battlefields of the Heavens.

Killing a Wanshi in their sixties from the rear might cost a few lives. The Ten Thousand Races Cult wouldn't engage in such a losing transaction.

As the two were chatting, the Academy Head's ears twitched slightly. He soon chuckled, "Su Yu is here. This kid is more promising than his father!"

"Don't belittle Su Long. Just because he refused your offer to be the head of the security department at the academy, do you have to hold such a grudge?"

Liu Wenyan also smiled and looked up. "That guy Su Long, his passion is still there. I saw it years ago. He wasn't willing to just retreat like this. He'd been planning to join the Dragon Martial Guard for a long time, only giving up when there was no hope."

The old Academy Head scoffed, striking him down. "It's obvious he couldn't get in. If he hadn't reached the ninth level of Qianjun before thirty, there might have been a chance. How old is he now? Still hoping to join the Dragon Martial Guard? Reaching the ninth level of Wanshi would be more realistic."

"That's still better than you. If you hadn't died on the Battlefields of the Heavens, you'd probably be in the Wanshi realm by now."

Liu Wenyan said, then smiled again. "Su Yu is also good. When he goes to Daxia Civilization Academy, even if he's not a top genius, he'll be a pillar of future resistance against the Myriad Races. This father and son are stronger than you and me..."

The old Academy Head nodded slightly, then sighed. "If I hadn't injured my foundation on the Battlefields of the Heavens back then, I wouldn't have retreated to become this damn Academy Head. It's meaningless."

"Just coming back alive is good enough. Not many soldiers on the Battlefields of the Heavens escape without injured foundations. In that situation, if you didn't break through to the seventh level of Qianjun or higher in time, you wouldn't even be worth being cannon fodder."

Liu Wenyan also sighed. The majority of soldiers on the Battlefields of the Heavens would likely never reach the Soaring Realm in their lifetime, but there was nothing that could be done about it.

That hellish place was a brutal battlefield. If you didn't break through quickly, new recruits would die within days. Who would have the time to worry about all that?

The War Academy picked the talented seedlings, leaving ordinary people to struggle for survival.

As they spoke, Su Yu entered the room.

Liu Wenyan smiled. He was quite satisfied with Su Yu as a student. He could endure hardship and had patience. Although he wasn't a top-tier genius, humanity didn't just need geniuses; it also needed such steady, step-by-step growing talents.