Branch Academy

On the Rostrum, a tutor with streaks of gray in his hair grinned. "Fourteen martial artists who completed One-Limb Tempering, and two with deep Second Bone Tempering. That Su Yi at the front—tsk, tsk, Third Grade Mid Stage. Since Martial Universities were founded, there has never been a new student at Third Grade."

A tutor standing behind him spoke with a smile. "He's Su Mingjie's son."

"Su Mingjie? I vaguely remember him. His son is already this grown?" The tutor narrowed his eyes and smiled.

This tutor greatly appreciated Su Yi. He was powerful and knew how to consider others. That was a good thing.

Huang Jing nodded with a smile as well. "Yes. If this child hadn't already taken Wu Kuishan as his master, I really would have wanted to take him as my student."

Su Yi had worried that his Blood Qi was too powerful and would put pressure on the classmates around him, so he had deliberately waited until the end to register.

Though martial artists had to fight for every advantage, Su Yi had no need to compete with these freshmen for the tutors' attention.

Not to mention that he had already taken a master—even without one, his Third Grade Mid Stage realm would have been enough to suppress everything. Even at Magic Martial Academy, plenty of graduates failed to Breakthrough to Third-Rank.

"As for Kuishan, judging by the look of things, his Spiritual Power is about to manifest, isn't it?"

"Soon. It shouldn't take much longer."

"That's good. Having one more Grandmaster would be a wonderful thing. Things seem to be stirring up over there again; in a few days, I'll be taking a group over to provide support."

In front of the athletic field.

Su Yi swept his gaze around with a smile in his eyes, carefully studying the freshmen who had stepped forward and called out their names.

Wu Duoduo—so this was Wu Kuishan and Lyu Fengrou's daughter. She really did look delicate and frail, like she would be easy to bully.

While Su Yi looked over everyone, the others were looking at him as well.

Wu Duoduo lowered her head, a little shyly avoiding Su Yi's gaze.

"What's going on? How can he look so relaxed? Is he really that strong? I wonder how many times he's tempered his bones."

When Lu Yingyao noticed Su Yi examining him with a gaze that made him feel like a monkey on display, he shot him a glare.

Ignoring Lu Yingyao, Su Yi looked toward the next freshman.

"So strong. Is this what Third Grade Mid Stage is like? How exactly did he cultivate?"

There were always a few well-informed people among the freshmen. What had happened at the school gate had long since spread through the older students.

When Su Yi looked his way, he hurriedly turned his head aside. "Tsk, don't look at me. If I can't beat you, can't I at least hide from you?"

He had his own pride, but he also knew his limits.

Bai Ruoxi was indeed quite pretty, giving off a quiet and gentle impression.

Wang Yang—he had been Su Yi's high school classmate as well, a martial artist who had succeeded in bone tempering once. Su Yi winked at Wang Yang, who smiled and nodded in return.

Seeing that it was about time, Huang Jing finally spoke. "Everyone should have gotten to know one another today."

"Since that's the case, today's entrance ceremony ends here. Tomorrow, the academies and tutors will be assigned! All students, remember today's lesson: those who are late or absent will have 30 Credit Points deducted!"

Twenty had been deducted today, and thirty would be deducted tomorrow. After two such deductions, all of it would be gone. Who would dare make the same mistake again?

There were only so many free resources before First Grade. Once they were all gone, they would have to earn them themselves—there would be no more resources handed out.

After saying that, Huang Jing turned and left.

The other tutors had also noted the students they wanted to observe. They no longer lingered and departed one after another.

The tutors qualified to take the stage were at least Fifth Grade, while some had reached Sixth Grade Peak.

For example, Yan Bo was a Sixth Grade Peak tutor who used a spear, making him highly suitable for Cheng Wen.

Su Yi did not linger either. He had long since chosen Wu Kuishan. After greeting Wang Yang, he returned to the dormitory with him.

The next day.

Su Yi, Cheng Wen, and Wang Yang got up early, ate breakfast together, and headed for the Training Building on the northeastern side of Magic Martial Academy.

There were naturally more than just the three of them from the Martial Arts Class who had gotten into Magic Martial Academy, but only the three of them lived in the District One dormitories.

By the time they reached the plaza outside the Training Building, many freshmen had already gathered there.

Only one freshman tutor stood at the entrance: Yan Bo.

Yan Bo was a Sixth Grade Peak tutor and looked very approachable.

Su Yi raised his head to look toward the ninth floor. The other tutors should all be up there already, ready to watch the show.

After a while, Yan Bo loudly announced the rules. "The first floor is the Liberal Arts Academy, the second floor is the Manufacturing Academy, the third floor is the Tactics Academy, and the Fourth Floor is the Weapon Academy!"

"The building will be locked down at eight and reopened at nine! When it reopens, whichever floor you are on will determine which academy you belong to. Each floor can hold at most four hundred people! If that number is exceeded, every student on that floor will collectively have 30 Credit Points deducted!"

The moment those words came out, the students erupted in an uproar.

So this was Magic Martial Academy's rule—strength came first.

Go as high as your abilities allow!

Magic Martial Academy's Weapon Academy was the most famous. There would definitely be countless people desperately trying to squeeze their way in, and the number of applicants would surely exceed the limit. Those who wanted to stay would have to rely on force.

The moment Yan Bo finished speaking, Su Yi and the others ignored the noise from the students behind them. The three of them were bound for the Fourth Floor.

Seeing someone carrying an alloy weapon, Yan Bo called out loudly, "Metal weapons are not permitted in the Training Building. You are all freshmen and lack restraint when you attack, so it would be easy to cause heavy casualties. Solid Wood Weapons can reduce casualties. There are Solid Wood Weapons on the first floor; take what you need."

Neither Su Yi nor the others had brought their own weapons. Wang Yang had originally wanted to bring his, but after asking the other two, he learned that weapons were not allowed.

Yan Bo's implication was simple as well: reduce casualties, not eliminate them.

Clearly, as long as the casualties were not too high, Magic Martial Academy could accept them.

Yan Bo added, "Other than metal weapons being forbidden, anything else goes. Whether you team up or gang up on someone is your own choice."

While waiting to enter, Su Yi and the others headed straight to the Fourth Floor.

By the time they reached the Fourth Floor, quite a few freshmen had already arrived.

There were two large doors in the Fourth Floor hall, with several martial artists standing in front of each one.

Su Yi saw through their intentions at a glance and smiled as he nodded to them.

The martial artists guarding the doors recognized Su Yi's group as well. All three of them had made names for themselves among the freshmen, so naturally, no one dared stop them.

Especially Su Yi—Third Grade Mid Stage! They were not so overconfident as to overestimate themselves. Smiling in return, they stepped aside and opened a path for them.

They casually found a place to sit, and Su Yi said to Cheng Wen and Wang Yang with a smile, "Go show them what you can do in actual combat."

Yesterday's gathering on the athletic field had tested Blood Qi and Bone Tempering. Today, it was time for actual combat.

Naturally, Su Yi was the exception. He had no need for it.

There had still been people yesterday who did not know his strength, but no one admitted to Magic Martial Academy was a fool.

They would definitely have asked around. He did not believe anyone would be so full of themselves as to come looking for him.

Before long, a sharp rebuke came from outside the doors. "The Fourth Floor isn't somewhere you people can come."

Someone beside him loudly echoed, "Fourth Floor—those without more than 140 cards of Blood Qi are forbidden entry!"

Quite a few martial artists in the hall merely glanced over before losing interest. Since someone was willing to clear away the trouble, they were happy to take it easy.

Otherwise, without a threshold, everyone would come up later, and that would be a nuisance too.

As the Fourth Floor filled with more people, some freshmen had already begun seeking out opponents.

The instructors were all watching. If they wanted better resources and preferential treatment, they had to fight for them.

Cheng Wen and Wang Yang also each began selecting their opponents.

Su Yi watched with great interest. Most freshmen had not learned much in the way of Battle Arts.

This was the Fourth Floor. Some of those who could come upstairs were already martial artists, and they had at least practiced basic Battle Arts.

Ninth Floor.

The instructors watched the freshmen's performances, occasionally offering a few comments.

One instructor spoke up, pointing at Su Yi on the screen with a smile. "Wu Kuishan, look how relaxed that kid is. Did he come here to watch a live movie?"

Wu Kuishan raised an eyebrow, amusement in his eyes. "Su Yi is too strong. Among the freshmen, he stands alone at the top. No freshman would go out of their way to provoke him.

"He doesn't need to prove anything either, so he might as well leave the opportunity to the other freshmen."

"You got yourself a fine student without lifting a finger."

The instructor who had spoken sounded somewhat unconvinced.

He was far from the only one who had set his sights on Su Yi. Many instructors had planned to make a strong effort to recruit him, yet Wu Kuishan had snatched him away before enrollment had even begun.

Hearing that, Wu Kuishan said blandly, "That was his own choice. He uses a sword, so his first choices were Huang Jing and me. What are you, a saber user, joining in the fun for?"

"Exactly." Qin Nansheng chimed in from the side. If Su Yi had really wanted to learn the saber, how could it have been that man's turn? Qin Nansheng would have taught him long ago.

"Hmph! Old Huang, what do you think?"

The instructor snorted indignantly and dragged Huang Jing into the discussion.

"Me? I don't think!"

Huang Jing did not want to pay him any attention at all. Su Yi had already become Wu Kuishan's student. What was there for him to think about?

Was he supposed to go snatch him away?

Seeing that he had failed to drag Huang Jing into it, the instructor was not disappointed. He had only mentioned it casually in the first place.

Qin Nansheng laughed instead and said to Wu Kuishan, "Old Wu, when Li Changsheng learned that you'd taken Su Yi on, he was furious. Back in the Underground Cave, he was shouting that he wanted to duel you."

"Let him come!"

Wu Kuishan was not afraid of Li Changsheng. Li Changsheng might be able to challenge Sixth Grade opponents while at Fifth Grade.

But Wu Kuishan was not like Su Zhan and the others. Essence Blood Unity was on a completely different level from ordinary Sixth Grade martial artists.

Wouldn't having Li Changsheng teach Su Yi be a complete waste?

Could Li Changsheng even teach students?

He could not. If he really did take students, then the next time they entered the Underground Cave, he might well lead them straight into the enemy's encirclement.

An instructor from the Liberal Arts Academy behind them cleared his throat and said, "I really can't imagine what Li Changsheng would be like as a teacher. With his temperament, he'd either find it too troublesome and let them run wild, or get his students killed."

The instructors around them all burst into laughter.

"Li Changsheng is still in the Underground Cave. At the end of July, after learning that Old Wu had recruited Su Yi, he went down there, saying he needed to vent his anger properly."

"Let him vent. He's not getting any younger, yet his temper is always so fierce. How can anyone feel at ease letting him teach students like that?"

"He still lacks the ties of a family. Wasn't Nansheng a thorn in everyone's side back then too? After getting married and having children, he was still prickly, but much better than before."

"Hmph. Only those with ability have the right to be a thorn in everyone's side."

Qin Nansheng raised his chin high and spoke with utter confidence.

"Now that's the spirit!"

"Haha... ha..."

An older mentor shook his head lightly and said with some regret, "Changsheng really was such a pity. If only back then..."

"Enough. It's all in the past." Huang Jing cut off what the mentor was about to say.

Very soon, the Branch Academy had come to an end.