Divine Script Academy

Divine Script Academy

When the Commendation Conference ended, outside the school fence, Tu Rong tossed away his cigarette butt, pushed Tao Bing's wheelchair, and headed for the hospital.

Tao Bing opened his mouth several times, only to close it again.

The group did not say a word until they reached the hospital entrance.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Tao Bing said, "I told you, if something happened, I'd bear it alone. I wouldn't drag you into it. What, did the sight of him handing out awards scare you?"

"You really think the award ceremony is what scared me?" Tu Rong asked.

"Then what made you leave without saying a word?" Tao Bing raised his head and looked towards Tu Rong behind him.

The sunlight was blinding, and Tao Bing narrowed his eyes.

"On the way to Eighth Middle School, do you remember me saying we couldn't make a move near Eighth Middle School?"

"I remember."

"You asked about the other members of the Five Tigers of Shuizhou. I didn't answer."

"Yes."

"Then I'll answer now. Many years ago, a little thug harassed a female student from Eighth Middle School. The students there found out, and the two sides got into a fight."

"Three Eighth Middle School students were injured and hospitalized. Their parents were afraid of making things worse, so they swallowed their anger. But the dean of students at Eighth Middle School found out."

"Do you know what that dean of students did?"

Tao Bing and the others shook their heads.

"He led every Martial Path teacher and all the top-class students. First, they caught that little thug and his accomplices. Then they seized the thug's boss and his men, beat them until blood covered the ground, and crippled their dantians one by one. In the end, more than a hundred teachers and students went to the Martial Guard Bureau to report them."

"The teachers and students of Eighth Middle School were completely fine. Those whose dantians had been crippled were prosecuted for serious crimes such as organizing criminal gangs. Every case from their past was dug up from top to bottom. That gang boss was sentenced to death."

Tao Bing's face turned ashen, and he vaguely guessed at the implications.

Tu Rong lit a cigarette and took a drag. Only after white smoke slowly drifted from his nostrils did he continue.

"The boss who got the death sentence was the fourth of the Five Tigers of Shuizhou. Back then, the other brothers of the Five Tigers exhausted all their connections, but it was useless. Reports from over a hundred students not only alarmed the city Martial Mansion but also reached the highest authorities. The big shots in Ru City wouldn't be stupid enough to stick their necks out for Five Tigers who hadn't even reached the Innate Realm."

"That dean of students back then was the man who gave Zhou Leng an award today."

"I still remember his name: Lu Tainan."

"How do you know all this so clearly?" Tao Bing asked.

Tu Rong blew out a smoke ring and slowly said, "That year, I was a lackey for one of that boss's underlings, and a group of top-class students caught me. They wanted to beat me, but one top student saw how skinny and small I was and stopped them. He brought me before Principal Lu. Principal Lu saw that I was skinny as a starving wolf, kicked me in the ass, and told me to get lost."

"That day was probably the most dangerous day of my life. That's why I've never caused trouble near Eighth Middle School. If Zhou Leng hadn't already graduated and were still in high school, then even with all our years of friendship, I wouldn't have come."

Tu Rong lowered his head, looked at Tao Bing in the wheelchair, and said, "Tell me, how am I supposed to go looking for trouble with someone Principal Lu values so highly?"

Tao Bing was silent for a long while before saying, "Push me back to my hospital bed."

West Sea Martial University, school affairs meeting.

Numerous school leaders were present.

"The Commendation Conference at Eighth Middle School has had an extremely negative impact on our West Sea Martial University. In just a few hours, related videos have already appeared online."

"I heard about that Principal Lu from Eighth Middle School a long time ago. He's a man of temperament."

"As long as Shan Heyuan is here, even if he's the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, he won't be able to flip out of West Sea Martial University's Five-Finger Mountain."

"A Martial Arts Hall Student isn't worth discussing at a school affairs meeting."

"Let's stop talking about this matter. Right now, establishing a Divine Script Academy is our top priority at West Sea Martial University."

"Once we have a Divine Script Academy, our ranking among universities nationwide will rise by at least three places. This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity."

"Being at the very bottom of the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities and having those behind us staring at our asses doesn't feel good."

"Huadong Martial University and Rucheng Martial University in Ru City are both competing for it too. This is a battle to storm a fortress."

"How far has the Divine Script Academy application progressed?" the old man seated at the head of the table asked.

Everyone sat a little straighter.

"It's stuck at the expert review stage. The experts at the Divine Script General Bureau believe that West Sea Martial University emphasizes the Martial Path, demonization courses, and pills, but not Divine Script. Compared with the other two universities, we have no advantage whatsoever."

"The other two universities can offer better terms. Some Divine Script Experts are worried that West Sea Martial University's Divine Script Academy... won't receive enough support."

"In previous years, the country didn't place much importance on Divine Script, but support has increased in recent years. The Divine Script General Bureau's status has risen with the tide, and they're probably holding out for a higher price."

"Divine Script involves the secrets of High Civilization and will be crucial in the future. If the Divine Script General Bureau dares to open its mouth like a lion, we dare to raise the stakes. West Sea Martial University must secure the Divine Script Academy. If there are still problems, I'll make a trip to the Divine Script General Bureau myself."

Hearing the principal's words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

A principal in the Grandmaster Realm personally stepping in was enough to influence the Divine Script General Bureau's decision.

Outside Ru Da Affiliated Martial Arts Hall, Deng Zhijue walked onward while calculating in his heart.

"The hall master saw Zhou Leng as early as the examination site..."

"With his discernment, he definitely saw Zhou Leng's potential, which was why he placed him in Class 01..."

"Among all the instructors, my seniority is ordinary, and I'm not close to him. Originally, there was no way I would have been assigned Class 01..."

"I'm from Eighth Middle School, and so is Zhou Leng. Besides, he reminded me to attend the Commendation Conference..."

"Put nicely, it was Eighth Middle School's Commendation Conference. Put bluntly, it was really Zhou Leng's Commendation Conference..."

"Once everything was connected, it became very clear."

"For Zhou Leng."

"I looked into Zhou Leng's and the hall master's histories and discovered an interesting intersection. Zhou Leng's uncle, Ma Xingkong, had actually been the hall master's classmate in Cloud Splendor..."

"Although Ma Xingkong's identity is rather sensitive, so many years have passed. It shouldn't implicate me. Besides, if something happens, the hall master will be there to hold the line..."

After thinking it over and over, Deng Zhijue knocked on the hall master's office door.

"Come in."

"Greetings, Hall Master." Deng Zhijue saluted as soon as he entered.

"Mhm." Wang Boxiong lowered his head, studying the information on his tablet.

Deng Zhijue said, "I just returned from Eighth Middle School. Principal Lu and Zhang Xinglie jointly gave Zhou Leng an award, and it was even an Improvement Award named after Zhou Leng. Clearly, Zhou Leng is a rare talent."

"Mhm." Wang Boxiong did not even raise his head.

Deng Zhijue said, "On the way back, I suddenly thought of something. Various scholarships are slow to approve, and training camps have strict requirements, but there's one kind of subsidy that may suit Zhou Leng."

Wang Boxiong raised his head and looked over.

Deng Zhijue smiled. "The Civilian Basic Subsidy. It isn't much, but for Zhou Leng's financial situation, it would be considerable help. Bachelor's, graduate student, doctoral student, lecturer, associate professor, professor... I won't mention the higher levels. Our martial arts hall can directly grant him the title of Honorary Doctoral Student at the highest level, then add a Teaching Assistant Subsidy. The subsidy would double, and he could receive 6,000 yuan every month."

Wang Boxiong asked, "Does Zhou Leng meet the requirements?"

"As long as he has even a little research in any field such as pills, martial arts, Ten Realms languages, Ten Realms knowledge, Divine Script, or Demonized Items, and obtains any nationally recognized certificate, he meets the requirements."

"I remember now. There is such a route. Fine, go handle it. Apply through me when the time comes."

"Yes."

Grand Prosperity Restaurant.

Zhou Leng walked into the large private room. Around three tables, his classmates turned their heads one after another.