Civilization Fire

Nanyuan Middle Academy.

Chen Hao had gone to the Pre-exam Class. He had classes to attend, while Su Yu headed straight for the Resource Office.

"Su Yu, you want to exchange for Iron Winged Bird Essence Blood?"

The Resource Office manager was somewhat surprised. "Essence blood from the Qianjun Realm only helps those in the Qianjun Realm. For someone in the Kaiyuan Realm, it is not only useless—it is poison. What are you exchanging it for?"

"Teacher Zhang, can I exchange for it?"

Su Yu smiled. "You know I've always been researching Myriad Races materials. The Iron Winged Bird is one of the races I've studied more extensively, so I wanted to buy some essence blood for research. But it's too expensive, so I came to ask the academy first..."

"You can. Over the past few years, you've earned qualification certificates in eighteen Myriad Races languages. Aside from the three mandatory languages, the other fifteen all came with rewards, for a total of fifteen Merit Points. You also received three points for reaching Kaiyuan Three Stages, making eighteen Merit Points in total..."

The Resource Office manager checked the records and quickly said, "But you've already spent six points, all at the library. You have twelve left."

"Mm, I know."

Su Yu smiled. "Then how much Iron Winged Bird Essence Blood can I exchange for with those twelve points?"

"You want to exchange for that... It's really not very useful. What a waste!"

The manager had no choice but to remind him, "A Qianjun Realm Iron Winged Bird may be powerful to you, but on the Battlefields of the Heavens, it is cannon fodder. Merit Points are accepted at all major academies, and you can even save them until higher academy to exchange for some extremely valuable resources."

"You could easily accumulate eighteen points at a middle academy. Learning one Myriad Races language earns you one point. But once you reach a higher academy, it won't be so simple."

"It isn't worth exchanging them for this! At higher academy, some confidential materials, advanced cultivation techniques, and even certain courses may require Merit Points to exchange for. They can even be used in the military..."

"I know all that too, but what choice do I have?"

Su Yu gave a bitter smile. He knew.

Wasn't it because he had no money?

He did have money—more than two hundred thousand Anping Coin. Buying five drops would not be a problem. But he still had to live afterward.

There was no source of income in the Kaiyuan Realm. He also needed to save some money for higher academy.

Merit Points were the most important transaction system besides Anping Coin.

Money could buy many things, but many things could not be bought with money.

High-level strategic resources, advanced cultivation techniques, even certain inheritances—all required Merit Points. These points represented a human's contributions to the human race.

If you had made no contribution to humanity, then even if you had plenty of money, you might not be able to buy what you wanted.

Merit Point gains and expenditures were all recorded, including one's original accumulation. For example, Su Yu had earned eighteen points. Even if he spent every last one, those eighteen points would continue to count toward his accumulated total.

Once he reached one hundred points, Su Yu's authority would rise further.

This also prevented many wealthy humans with little actual contribution from privately buying up vast quantities of Merit Points to purchase scarce strategic supplies.

Some wealthy people might buy tens of thousands of Merit Points, but if their initial rank was insufficient, they still could not buy certain things no matter how many points they had.

Hearing this, the Resource Office manager sighed. "Then I won't try to persuade you. Honestly, it's still too early for you to conduct research! Nanyuan Middle Academy also lacks the conditions for this. Once you get to higher academy, you can apply for subsidies for certain research projects. The higher-ups may even allocate resources for your research."

"Iron Winged Birds are common on the Battlefields of the Heavens, and their research value is not particularly high. If you ask me, even if you want to conduct research, you should choose another kind..."

Su Yu smiled. "That makes sense too. Then does the academy have Liyu essence blood?"

"..."

The manager looked a little awkward. "No, we don't. Those things are in the Dishan Realm and are rarely seen on the Battlefields of the Heavens. And those who come to the Battlefields of the Heavens are at least in the Wanshi Realm, with some even in the Soaring Realm. Daxia Civilization Academy definitely has them, but naturally we don't."

Well, there it was.

Su Yu could identify some of the races he had dreamed about, and Liyu was among them.

But Liyu started at the Wanshi Realm. If he consumed Wanshi Realm essence blood now, even if that illustrated book absorbed the energy from it, his own body would not withstand it. He might just explode.

As for essence blood from other uncertain races, he dared not consume it carelessly. If it was from a race he had never dreamed of and the illustrated book did not absorb it, his body certainly would not be able to bear it.

After turning it over in his mind, Iron Winged Bird essence blood was still the safest choice for now.

"Teacher, then exchange some for me."

"How many drops do you want? One Merit Point per drop. It really isn't worth it..."

The teacher reminded him again, "Merit Points may not seem especially valuable. On the surface, one point is only worth ten thousand, but in reality, some things cannot be measured in money. You understand what I mean."

"Thank you for the reminder, Teacher!"

Su Yu hurriedly nodded and quickly said, "Three drops for now will do. If it isn't enough, I'll come exchange for more."

"You..."

Seeing that Su Yu would not listen, the manager was somewhat helpless. He soon arranged for someone to retrieve them. While waiting, he thought for a moment and reminded him, "Your father went to the Battlefields of the Heavens two days ago. The academy knows about it. Since your father isn't home, be careful lately. Those fellows from the Ten Thousand Races Cult have been active in Great Xia Prefecture. You should know that."

"Mm, but that has nothing to do with me, does it?"

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

The teacher rebuked him, "It never hurts to be careful! The beasts of the Ten Thousand Races Cult do not primarily target the strong, nor do they target geniuses—at least, not cultivation geniuses. Their targets are the wise!"

"You may not count as one of the wise, but you are one of the few reserve students for Civilization Academy at Nanyuan Middle Academy!"

"The damage caused by the strong is limited, but the damage caused by the wise is limitless! Humanity has held the Battlefields of the Heavens for centuries not merely because of those invincible experts, but also because of the wise people in the rear!"

"Which of the top researchers at Civilization Academy has never faced assassination? They decipher Myriad Races cultivation techniques, deeply study their civilizations, increase humanity's number of experts, and give humanity greater confidence in facing the Myriad Races..."

The manager spoke with admiration. "They have silently given so much, no less than any invincible expert! Yet most of them lack sufficient combat strength, so even in the rear, they often become targets of the Myriad Races. Assassinations are a common sight."

"The Ten Thousand Races Cult causes destruction within humanity not to assassinate individual experts. Their main targets are people like them!"

"You have not entered Civilization Academy yet, and you do not know that many languages, but you are young. That makes you even more dangerous than several cultivation seedlings within the academy. Those at Kaiyuan Fourth Stage or Fifth Stage may not even be worth their effort."

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

"But a wise person may, in ten or twenty years, decipher a cultivation technique, uncover their weaknesses, and find ways to kill them specifically... That is far more dangerous than a Soaring Realm expert."

Su Yu smiled bitterly. Was that really necessary?

He might have mastered eighteen languages and scripts, but that was far too few to the Myriad Races of the Heavens, and most of them were common languages.

"Don't take it lightly. Be careful and stay alert! If you encounter danger, call for help immediately. Nanyuan Prefecture has also strengthened its patrols. Jifeng Hall has begun increasing its deployments, and even a squad of Dragon Martial Guard stationed in Nanyuan Prefecture has started patrolling."

"If you run into trouble, shout for help. At most, someone will arrive within a few dozen seconds."

Seeing how serious the teacher was, Su Yu hurriedly nodded. "Don't worry, Teacher. I understand! Nanyuan Prefecture is so small that those people may not even come here. Even if they do, to put it bluntly... I probably wouldn't even rank among their targets."

"That is true."

The teacher laughed. "But you cannot let your guard down, especially when you go to Instructor Liu's place. You must be careful!"

"Mm?"

Su Yu was slightly stunned. "Instructor Liu..."

"Don't misunderstand. What I mean is, Instructor Liu is the strongest instructor of Myriad Races languages at Nanyuan Middle Academy. Of the students from our academy who enter Civilization Academy every year, eight or nine out of ten were taught by him."

"Instructor Liu is definitely the Ten Thousand Races Cult's greatest target here. If they come to Nanyuan, the first person they would assassinate would be him—not the Academy Head, and not the City Lord."

"Instructor Liu is a spark, a spark that ignites the fire of civilization. At least, that is what he is to Nanyuan. That is why I reminded you to be careful."

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

"It's fine. Don't worry too much. The Academy Head has personally gone to protect Instructor Liu now. Some Dragon Martial Guards are secretly protecting him as well, and Jifeng Hall has even sent over a whole squad. I'm only reminding you to watch the road when you go to see Instructor Liu!"

Su Yu let out a breath of relief. The Instructor Liu the manager spoke of was also Su Yu's teacher. Of the eighteen Myriad Races languages Su Yu had mastered, nearly all had come from this old instructor's teachings.

Just as the manager had said, Instructor Liu might be nothing remarkable in Great Xia Prefecture, but in Nanyuan—especially at Nanyuan Middle Academy—he truly was a spreader of civilization.

Over his many years as an instructor, he had sent more than a hundred students to Civilization Academy.

More than half of those hundred students had already graduated. They now played some role in Great Xia Prefecture, even throughout the entire human race.

Perhaps their roles were not great, but humanity's civilization was passed down by relying on these grassroots people to hold it up.

If the Ten Thousand Races Cult came to Nanyuan City to assassinate someone, Instructor Liu was indeed more important than the City Lord.

As they spoke, a staff member brought over the Iron Winged Bird Essence Blood.

Three drops!

After exchanging for three drops of essence blood, Su Yu had nine Merit Points left. His heart ached a little. He had spent only six points after checking countless materials in the library over the years, yet he had used three in one go now. It was far too extravagant.

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

"He's working as usual. We asked him to temporarily take shelter at the City Lord's Mansion, but he refused. We could only let him continue working."

"Then I'll go see Instructor Liu."

Su Yu had originally planned to go home and try it after getting the items, but now he changed his mind. He should go see Instructor Liu instead and ask him a few questions while he was there.

Instructor's Office.

Liu Wenyan, already past sixty, was making notes without even raising his head. "Academy Head, there's no need to follow me around all the time. We're inside the academy. How could it be so dangerous?"

Beside him, the Academy Head, who was likewise past sixty, smiled cheerfully. "I'm not disturbing you. Why are you trying to chase me away?"

"Your breathing is disturbing me."

"..."

The Academy Head did not know whether to laugh or cry. Soon, Liu Wenyan struck him again. "Besides, you only just entered the Wanshi Realm. You're so weak that even if something came, you wouldn't be of any use."

"I..."

The old Academy Head was helpless. Was he weak?

A little, perhaps.

He was already past sixty and had only just entered the Wanshi Realm. That truly was not much. But this was the rear, Nanyuan City, the smallest of the twenty-eight cities under Great Xia Prefecture.

He was not the City Lord. He was merely the head of a middle academy. Why did he need to be so strong?

The truly powerful had either gone to Great Xia Prefecture or the Battlefields of the Heavens. In Nanyuan City, he was actually fairly capable, all right?

"Hmph, do you think I wanted to accompany you?"

The old Academy Head said irritably, "Isn't it because you old fellow are too important? Over the past twenty years, Nanyuan City has sent three hundred and twenty students to Civilization Academy, only sixteen per year on average. Half of them were taught by you. How could you not be a thorn in other people's eyes?"

"Not necessarily."

Liu Wenyan smiled as well. "After all, this is only little Nanyuan City. Only so few people enter every year. To all of Great Xia Prefecture, that is hardly worth mentioning. Do you think the Ten Thousand Races Cult would set its sights on me?"

"Hard to say. In any case, you're more important than this old man. I'm only a weak Wanshi. They would probably not even bother looking at me. I'm not worth killing."

The Academy Head made a joke, but it was indeed true. The Wanshi Realm was not weak, yet it could not play a major role on the Battlefields of the Heavens.

Killing a sixty-year-old Wanshi in the rear might cost several lives. The Ten Thousand Races Cult truly would not make such a losing bargain.

As the two chatted, the Academy Head's ears twitched. He soon smiled. "Su Yu is here. That boy has more promise than his father!"

"Don't belittle Su Long. Just because he refused your offer to become head of the academy's guard division, you still hold a grudge?"

Liu Wenyan smiled as well and looked up. "That fellow Su Long still has hot blood in him. I saw it years ago. He was unwilling to simply return and retire like that. Before this, he had been plotting to join the Dragon Martial Guard. He only gave up after realizing he had no hope."

The old Academy Head snorted disdainfully and struck back, "It was obvious he couldn't get in. If he had reached Thousand Jun Ninth Stage before thirty, he might have had a chance. At his age, he still wants to join the Dragon Martial Guard? He might as well hope for Wanshi Ninth Layer."

"Even so, he's stronger than you. If he doesn't die on the Battlefields of the Heavens, then when he returns in two years, he will probably be in the Wanshi Realm."

As Liu Wenyan spoke, he smiled again. "Su Yu is not bad either. Once he goes to Daxia Civilization Academy, he may not be a genius, but he will become a mainstay in resisting the Myriad Races in the future. That father and son are better than you and me..."

The old Academy Head nodded slightly, then soon sighed. "If I hadn't damaged my foundation on the Battlefields of the Heavens back then, I wouldn't have returned to become this lousy Academy Head. It's no fun at all."

"It's already good enough that you returned alive. Among the soldiers on the Battlefields of the Heavens, there aren't many whose foundations were not damaged. In that kind of place, if you didn't forcefully break through to at least Qianjun Seventh Level in time, you wouldn't even have the value of cannon fodder."

Liu Wenyan sighed as well. More than half the soldiers on the Battlefields of the Heavens would likely never have any hope of reaching the Soaring Realm. There was nothing to be done about it.

That damned place was filled with brutal slaughter. If they did not break through quickly, new recruits would die after only a few days. Who had the leisure to care about so much?

The War Academy took away the talented seedlings, while the rest could only struggle to survive.

As they spoke, Su Yu entered.

Liu Wenyan smiled. He was quite satisfied with Su Yu as a student. The boy could endure hardship and had patience. Though he was not one of those top-tier geniuses, humanity needed not only geniuses, but also promising young people like him—steady and grounded, advancing one step at a time.