Chen Lang wanted to go to Parthenon for the experience, and Pang Lai and the others were not very surprised.
"Alright, the rest of you go back and rest." After saying this, he dismissed the other National Academy Cadets.
The others who were not going to Parthenon meant they could return home. When leaving, Jiang Shaojun smiled and said to Chen Lang, "Chen Lang, remember to contact me after returning to the country..."
"Okay."
Chen Lang replied, but for some reason, he always felt that the look Jiang Shaojun gave him was a bit strange?
Was this rascal trying to drag him along to find a totem beast!
Thinking of this, Chen Lang's mouth twitched involuntarily...
After his teammates left, Pang Lai looked at Chen Lang and said, "Tomorrow, I will send you to Parthenon for a month of study and training..."
As he spoke, he hesitated for a moment, but instead of continuing, he looked at Chen Jin beside him.
Chen Jin spoke the truth: "Xiaolang, actually, when you go to Parthenon, you don't really need to train or study anything. This time, they are simply providing an extra reward for the World Academy Champion. So you only need to go there and cultivate in peace for a month. After receiving the blessing of the Divine Seal Praise, remember to come home early."
Chen Lang had originally been pondering what he was supposed to do at Parthenon.
He hadn't expected it to be like this... Even from a White Magic Leader faction, they were really a bit stingy!
Suddenly, Chen Lang seemed to understand why the next World Academy Competition would reward the entire champion team.
That period would coincide with the selection phase for the new goddess, and Parthenon simply wanted to gain more attention...
At the same time, he also heard the meaning behind Chen Jin's words and what Pang Lai found inconvenient to say out loud—it was nothing more than the worry that he might join Parthenon.
What they didn't know was that even if he didn't have the fate of a young master, it was impossible for him to be a servant to others. He understood the place called Parthenon better than anyone else, alright!
"Got it."
Chen Lang didn't make any promises, just nodding.
Seeing that the talk was almost done, Chen Jin said, "Old Pang, what needs to be explained has been explained. I plan to take him to see the Grand Speaker now."
"What are you seeing him for?"
Seeing that both of them were silent, Chen Lang curled his lip and continued, "I won the championship of the World Academy Competition, is there still any need to see him now?"
He had no interest in listening to any grand notions of country and nation, nor did he need to receive Shao Zheng's verbal praise.
Besides, if Shao Zheng intended to see him, he would have come along entirely. In his view, Chen Jin probably just wanted to push him in front of Shao Zheng to make a good impression.
But in reality, in the eyes of people at that level, someone like Chen Lang might be seen today and completely forgotten tomorrow.
Hearing what Chen Lang said, Chen Jin felt a sense of disappointment that he would not amount to anything!
What a great opportunity!
Chen Lang continued instead: "Old Master, I understand your meaning, but before I catch the Grand Speaker's eye, blindly squeezing forward is completely meaningless."
Chen Jin wanted to say something more, but Pang Lai on the side nodded in agreement: "With a kid like yours in the family, will you ever have to worry about not having a chance to stand out in the future?"
Hearing what Pang Lai said, Chen Jin did not deny it.
Since reasoning with him failed, he simply couldn't be bothered to talk anymore, only instructing Chen Lang that when he was at Parthenon, he still needed to follow other people's rules.
The Chen family had a vast estate in the country and could shoulder a lot. Internationally, however, the Chen family had not yet reached the status where they could do whatever they pleased.
To this, Chen Lang nodded in agreement; if it was just going through the motions, naturally he wouldn't act recklessly...
The next day.
Pang Lai and Chen Lang arrived at Parthenon Temple.
The two followed the Goddess Mountain's Ten Thousand Man Ladder and walked toward the Faith Hall.
People coming to the Faith Hall to pray every day formed an endless stream. In order to gain health and longevity, many people would not hesitate to spend a fortune just to exchange it for a tiny bit of faith contribution so they could obtain the Goddess Hall's blessing.
The blessing of an intern female attendant could protect an infant from getting sick or infected by plagues for ten years, and the people of the Goddess Hall could not possibly provide this blessing to everyone individually. Therefore, they would screen from the most devout believers and those willing to pay huge tribute money.
It could be said that among the major global organizations, the one least lacking in wealth was undoubtedly Parthenon.
"How does this place feel?" Pang Lai asked as they climbed.
"Instead of taking it one step at a time, I'd rather just fly straight up." Chen Lang curled his lip.
This was truly suffering for no reason!
"There are flight restrictions here."
Pang Lai paused in his steps, then gazed around: "Walk slowly, and take the opportunity to appreciate the scenery of the Sacred Mountain."
The Sacred Mountain was lush and green, filled with the fragrance of flowers. Every time they crossed a side of the mountain, they could often see large patches of flowering trees covering the mountainside. When the mountain breeze blew, colorful flower petals danced lightly in the air—as beautiful as a painting and as fragrant as a perfume, it truly was an earthly holy land.
On the cliff walls between this mountain and another light-blue fragrant mountain, a swing resembling a fairy-tale cottage hung there, thrilling yet as yearning as a fairyland.
They had to admit that Aurelia was indeed a favored child; she entirely enjoyed treatment that Ye Xin Xia had never experienced...
The Ten Thousand Man Ladder only went as far as the Knight Hall, and unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter above it. The restrictions here were even stronger, turning anyone who touched them slightly into ashes. Only by continuing along the mountain path named Milky Way could one officially enter Goddess Mountain.
Of course, there were other roads.
But those were reserved exclusively for Parthenon's internal personnel or some international superiors who were qualified to tread them.
After arriving here, however, Chen Lang discovered that quite a few knights were sizing him up.
Chen Lang strongly disliked this experience of being watched like a monkey. Especially since in their eyes, Chen Lang could see a certain expression...
'So this is it? The World Academy Competition—couldn't I do this myself if I went up?'
Chen Lang had captured the World Academy Champion, but this did not make anyone hold any awe for him.
Not to mention far-off things, just looking at the Parthenon knights right now, which of them didn't consider themselves the cream of the crop?
In their view, the World Academy was merely children playing house. It was simply incomparable to people like them. They had to know that everyone present had experienced various battles against Demon Beasts from the moment they entered Parthenon!
Parthenon knights were called the strongest armed force internationally. This was actually not just empty bragging; after all, even a Blue Star Knight of Parthenon was at the High-level Mage tier.
Although Parthenon had Blue Star, Silver Moon, and Golden Radiance tiers, this did not mean Parthenon knights were at the Intermediate Level, High-level, or Super-level.
One could not become a knight without being a High-level Mage. In fact, some Super-level Mages might still only be at the Silver Moon stage at this time.
Advancement had nothing to do with cultivation level...
Chen Lang completely turned a blind eye to these provocative gazes.
When the two arrived, a Golden Radiance Knight responsible for waiting for them walked over.
"I am Ajit, the two of you must be from the Great Xia National Academy Team, right?" After introducing himself, he directly inquired.
"Mmm." Pang Lai nodded.
"Follow me, the Hall Mother is already waiting," Ajit said.
"Right now?" Pang Lai was somewhat surprised.
"Yes, our Hall Mother is very busy; she doesn't have time every day."
Although he had guessed from the very beginning that the so-called training and studying were just a formality, it now seemed he had still thought a bit too much.
Moreover, the youthful geniuses in their own eyes didn't seem to receive any special treatment here either...
Before you continue