Academy Plans, I Am Willing to Join

"Now that you've explained the benefits, what price do we have to pay?"

After calmly listening to the Academic Affairs Office teacher, Sun Qian, Yu Yan asked a question the other party had not mentioned at all.

There was no such thing as a free gift in this world. If joining the Balak Kingdom brought benefits, then it would inevitably mean bearing the cost of those benefits.

Yu Yan was someone who valued loyalty and gratitude. He could not accept others' favors without repaying them. This was the real reason he had been unwilling to join any other faction early on.

With a Companion Martial Soul beyond the current era, Purple Qi and Moon Essence accelerating his cultivation, and the advantage of foresight, Yu Yan was confident that he could become a powerhouse in the future.

At worst, he could take Xiao Wu into hiding and wait until she became a Title Douluo. They would then be free of worries for the rest of their lives.

Hearing Yu Yan's question, Sun Qian froze for a moment. Whenever he recruited children of this age in the past, none of them had ever considered things from this angle. They only cared about what benefits they could gain.

"Once you become Soul Masters of the Balak Kingdom, you must naturally accept the Balak Kingdom's arrangements completely and work for the Balak Kingdom."

Sun Qian hesitated for a moment before finally explaining the price of accepting those benefits. Yu Yan and Xiao Wu were far more talented than he was; deceiving them would bring Sun Qian himself no benefit whatsoever.

"What if we encounter something we don't want to do?"

Xiao Wu had initially thought this was a good thing, but after hearing the price Sun Qian described, she frowned and asked another fatal yet crucial question.

"Then naturally, you must obey the king's orders."

Having decided to speak frankly, Sun Qian answered Xiao Wu's question without any hesitation.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Sun Qian. Xiao Wu and I are still young, and even we don't know what our futures will look like. So, for now, we don't plan to join the Balak Kingdom."

Yu Yan refused the invitation again, but he did not make his words absolute.

He and Xiao Wu were still within the Balak Kingdom's territory. Neither of them was powerful yet, so they could not completely burn bridges or speak too decisively.

"All right, then think over my proposal carefully."

"Actually, for commoner Soul Masters to join the Balak Kingdom and become nobles with their own territories, that is already a very good path forward."

Sun Qian was a commoner Soul Master himself. He had once been young, and he had seen many high-spirited commoner geniuses at Balak Junior Soul Master Academy. He understood what these youths were thinking. Yet in the end, only a handful truly grew into powerhouses. After offering one final piece of advice, Sun Qian asked again:

"Since you are unwilling to join the Balak Kingdom, would you be willing to join Balaque Academy's Team Reserve Member Program?"

"Teacher Sun, what is this Team Reserve Member Program?"

Since Sun Qian had proposed this Team Reserve Member Program after learning that they did not wish to join the Balak Kingdom, it presumably would not be like the previous offer. Yu Yan was interested in learning about it.

"Do you know about the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament?"

Sun Qian did not immediately explain the program. Instead, he brought up a competition Yu Yan knew very well.

"I know about it. It is a competition between the younger generation of Soul Masters across the continent. The winners receive tremendous honor as well as substantial rewards."

As Yu Yan answered, he also explained the competition to Xiao Wu, who did not know what it was.

"It's good that you know. Balaque Academy is qualified to participate in this competition, and the Team Reserve Member Program is a talent-training program prepared for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. You two are very talented and qualify to join."

"The Team Reserve Member Program does not require you to pay any great price. You only need to cultivate diligently. If, before the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament begins, you qualify to join the Balaque Team, then join the Balaque Team and represent the academy in the competition."

"In return, the academy will provide you with certain cultivation resources and conveniences, allowing you to cultivate better within the academy."

Sun Qian briefly explained the origins and details of the Team Reserve Member Program, as well as the benefits of becoming reserve team members.

For Yu Yan and Xiao Wu, this was an entirely beneficial arrangement with no downside.

"Teacher Sun, I am willing to join this program."

Yu Yan gave Xiao Wu a look and took the initiative to say that he was willing.

Receiving Yu Yan's signal, Xiao Wu also nodded vigorously to show that she was willing to join the program.

"Mm. I will submit both your names. Once Balaque Academy's approval comes through, someone will explain the specific benefits and terms to you."

At least one matter had finally been settled. Today had not been a wasted trip; this was the first step toward success.

After recording the information, Sun Qian looked at Yu Yan and Xiao Wu. "By the way, may I see your first Soul Rings?"

"Of course."

Yu Yan was the first to reveal his Martial Soul and Soul Ring: the circling Ice and Fire Twin Fish, along with the yellow Soul Ring rising and falling around him.

After Yu Yan, Xiao Wu revealed her own Martial Soul and Hundred-Year Yellow Soul Ring.

After seeing that both of their first Soul Rings were Hundred-Year Yellow Soul Rings, Sun Qian nodded in satisfaction and left. If their Soul Rings had been white, they might not have passed Balaque Academy's approval.

"Teacher Sun was right about one thing. For commoner Soul Masters to join the Balak Kingdom and become nobles with fiefs truly is a very good path forward."

After Sun Qian left, Fang Chunlan, who had remained quiet the entire time, prepared to persuade these two youngsters who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth.

"Teacher Fang, I know you mean well, but we truly have no intention of joining the Balak Kingdom for now."

Yu Yan smiled and repeated his earlier response. After chatting with the two for a few more sentences, Fang Chunlan got up and left.

"Yu Yan, why do you think Teacher Fang wanted to persuade us to join the Balak Kingdom? Once we join, we'll have to do things we don't want to do. That obviously isn't a good thing. How annoying!!"

Watching Sun Qian and Fang Chunlan walk away, Xiao Wu, her heart full of confusion, was the first to voice what bothered her the most.

Before this, Xiao Wu had held a favorable impression of Fang Chunlan.

"Everyone has different life experiences, different talents, and different perspectives on things."

"To them, joining the Balak Kingdom and becoming nobles is a good thing. They gave us advice out of kindness. We can choose not to accept their advice, but we cannot assume they did not mean well."

"Believe it or not, if Grandpa Yu were here, he would have been eager to agree on our behalf. He cares about us, yet he would also want us to join the Balak Kingdom and become nobles. Those two things are not contradictory."

Wanting to reshape Xiao Wu's worldview and the way she viewed things, Yu Yan broke down his thoughts and explained them carefully to her. He even used Old Man Yu as an example, hoping she could understand these principles.

After listening to Yu Yan, Xiao Wu pondered for quite some time before understanding what he meant.

"I understand now, Yu Yan. You're right."