Ascension Academy's System Design

A piece of information, if it contains elements related to celebrities, is sensational, and counter-intuitive, then it has a broad basis for dissemination.

The Yue Kingdom Prodigy, Yang Ning, has a certain level of fame, especially for the poem "Goose Goose Goose." He wrote it when he was five years old and taking the Tong Sheng exam. It has been widely spread over the past seven years, and most people his age, and even those a few years older, have learned it.

Therefore, Yang Ning is a celebrity.

This person skipped class on the very first day of school. The reason for skipping wasn't for fun, but because the knowledge in the library was too captivating. This is quite sensational because anyone who has been to the library knows how anti-human the books there are.

And this person's purpose for cultivating immortality isn't to become powerful, nor for power, nor even for eternal life, but to have a long life to pursue his hobbies!

This is very counter-intuitive. After all, everyone cultivates immortality to become powerful, to gain power and beauties!

Artifact forging and pill refining, shouldn't these be choices made out of desperation? Who naturally enjoys hammering iron next to a scorching furnace?

So, when these three elements combined, they turned into a sensational piece of news!

School had just started, and there wasn't much big news. Everyone was burying their heads in cultivation and classes. Life was already quite boring, and then this happened!

As a result, Yang Ning skipped class for a month, not cultivating or sleeping, but burying his head in books. The topic of cultivating immortality for better craftsmanship and ingenuity instantly became a trending search, becoming the hottest topic at Ascension Academy.

Debates erupted over whether cultivating immortality or hobbies were more important, and whether one should delay cultivation for hobbies. The incident spread from the first-year students to the upper grades. Even the sixth-year students, who were about to graduate and start worrying about their future, began asking who Yang Ning was.

"Brother Ning, you've become famous!" Xun Hu met Yang Ning in the cafeteria and excitedly patted his shoulder. "Even in our desolate Yue Kingdom, many people know about you now!"

Ning Rong and Zhao Bu followed behind him. Su Bai, who had ended his undercover mission, also looked spirited.

Yang Ning smiled shyly. If he were a local, he might truly believe this incident became popular by accident.

But he came from modern times and had witnessed countless public opinion events. He knew very well that such things wouldn't trend without a push.

Besides Ascension Academy itself, who else could guide public opinion at Ascension Academy?

As for Ascension Academy's purpose, after a month of investigation, he had also figured it out.

Just looking at Xun Hu's class schedule, he didn't need to learn about pill refining, artifact forging, herbs, or minerals. He only learned about meridians, Blood Essence, Blood Essence control, and various combat sorceries and weapon usage.

Cultivating immortality is for eternal life; this is beyond doubt. Anyone who says cultivation is for hobbies is completely misleading others.

Hobbies can wait until after achieving eternal life. Then you can pursue whatever you love.

But if you delay your immortal path because of your hobbies, it will be too late to regret it on your deathbed!

Ascension Academy offered a large number of courses unrelated to cultivation for the book boy servants and slaves. These courses wasted time and energy, but there was nothing else to learn besides these.

The library had books on sorcery and martial arts, but these were different from minerals. It didn't matter if you misidentified minerals; at worst, the furnace would explode.

Practicing martial arts scriptures blindly without guidance could truly be fatal!

Ascension Academy publicly opened its knowledge, but secretly, it divided disciples based on their background directly in the class schedule. Some were receiving elite education, while others were receiving vocational education.

It wouldn't be obvious immediately, but in three to five years, the combat power of these two groups would show a difference. Six years later, Taiheng Sect would logically recruit the capable disciples and symbolically recruit some talents in artifact forging and pill refining. Who could find fault with this entire operation?

Within the sect, because you studied artifact forging and pill refining, your combat power would still not increase. Thus, the sect would naturally have no reason to value you. Even if you were lucky enough to break through to the Qi Refining Stage, the sect would not give you good Divine Abilities and Sorcery, citing your lack of combat power.

Then, you would only be able to serve the sect as a Pill Refining Master or an Artifact Forging Master for your entire life.

Youngsters couldn't see through this operation at all. Even many veteran artifact forging masters and pill refining masters didn't find anything wrong with it.

But Yang Ning came from a country with a five-thousand-year history. He had witnessed countless political, economic, and public opinion struggles and was extremely experienced.

He only needed to see the class schedules on a few hundred jade tokens in the library to analyze the entire talent cultivation plan of Taiheng Sect. It wasn't that he was too amazing; it was just that he had seen too much.

Since he had analyzed the core reason, he could understand why Ascension Academy was promoting this public opinion, just like persuading people to take off their long robes – hoping disciples would voluntarily accept artifact forging and pill refining jobs.

"Tuo Buchuan didn't lie to me," Yang Ning thought of Tuo Buchuan again.

If he hadn't reminded him, Yang Ning wouldn't have paid special attention to this matter and would have discovered the truth much later.

"Why are you guys here?" Yang Ning asked.

"We're a team, so it's normal for us to come find you, right?" Xun Hu smiled.

Besides, the teacher said that on the path of cultivation, even the relationship between father and son, or brothers, is superficial. But the cultivation team organization set by Taiheng Sect, with one leader and three assistants, is very reliable.

At least before the Qi Refining Stage, he could only rely on these three teammates.

And these three teammates also had to rely on him and protect him, because Ascension Academy's system dictated that if he were eliminated or killed, the remaining three would not be able to stay at Ascension Academy.

Xun Hu realized he had neglected his companions a bit before. After understanding this, he had been trying to make up for it. However, Yang Ning was rarely seen in the dormitory, and later it was discovered he spent all his time in the library.

But Ning Rong mentioned he was going to specialize in artifact forging, which was good news.

Seeing Yang Ning staring at him intently, Xun Hu raised his hands. "Alright, alright, there is indeed something. Do you know about Demon Subduing Valley?"

"I know!" Yang Ning nodded. "A secret realm, and then what?"

"There's a rumor that the Demon Subduing Valley secret realm will open in two months, and all of us will have to go in then!" Xun Hu said.

"Although it's just a rumored prophecy, this one is too outrageous!" Yang Ning frowned. "The Fierce Beasts in Demon Subduing Valley start at the Fourth Level of Body Refinement. Can we handle that?"

"It's said we'll only observe at the edges and not enter the center. Plus, the teachers will be there to support us!" Xun Hu said excitedly. "In the past, such practical training was only for second-year students. We first-year students have a chance to perform. We can't miss it! If we can even kill a Fierce Beast, we might instantly become famous throughout Seacloud City!"

Demon Subduing Valley is a secret realm inhabited by a large number of demonic beasts. The entrance to the secret realm is controlled by Ascension Academy. Ascension Academy organizes disciples to enter for training every year. Students who achieve results there often become popular figures for a period.

Those who show talent there will also receive favor and sponsorship from merchants in Seacloud City. Those with high popularity can even earn several years' worth of cultivation resources in one go!

"Have there been similar events for first-year students to experience the world before?" Yang Ning asked.

"This, this year should be the first time!" Xun Hu thought for a moment and said, "This is also an opportunity for us to show ourselves. Is there any problem?"

"That should be fine then!" Yang Ning nodded, though he wasn't optimistic.

The entire city was watching, it was a grand affair, and it seemed like there wouldn't be any problems.

But precisely in such an environment, if something did go wrong, he could distance himself from all responsibility.

Yang Ning had even prepared the post-incident statements. He'd written about how it was his first time organizing such an event, his unfamiliarity had caused inconvenience to the people of Seacloud City, negatively impacted society, and so on and so forth.

Of course, Yang Ning might be overthinking things. But when it came to life and the path to immortality, how could he not overthink? This wasn't like LOL, where if your lane got pushed, you could just wait 15 minutes for the next match.

"So, should we start preparing now?" Yang Ning asked.

"Yes!" Xun Hu nodded. "Out of the four of us, you're the smartest. See what we should do over the next two months. Also, aren't you learning Artifact Forging? Want to forge some treasures to help us kill Fierce Beasts?"

"Over the next two months, we definitely need to focus on cultivation. At least reach the Body Tempering Triple Layer," Yang Ning said. "As for Artifact Forging, I've only just started. I can't forge any high-level treasures. Can't we just buy them?"

"Haven't you read the Ascension Academy's regulations? Students can buy pills, but they're not allowed to purchase Magic Artifacts from outside! Anyone caught will be immediately expelled!!" Ning Rong said from beside him.

"There's a rule like that? Why?" Yang Ning was shocked. This wasn't a society governed by law, yet they prohibited buying weapons?

"They say Pill Refining has enormous costs, like a bottomless pit that consumes resources with little output. But Artifact Forging materials can be reused, with low consumption and high output. To prevent students from adopting a 'buy rather than make' mindset, they're not allowed to purchase Magic Artifacts while enrolled!"

"Then what happens if a team has no one who can forge artifacts?" Yang Ning asked in surprise.

"That's basically playing with your team's lives!" Xun Hu shrugged. "Luckily, we have you!"

Tsk, it was all interconnected, not only setting up branching paths in the curriculum but also delving into team organization and institutional design.

"Alright!" Yang Ning nodded. "But I don't have any money either. What about the Artifact Forging materials?"

"I'll provide them!" Xun Hu thumped his chest. "You forge with confidence. Whatever you make, we'll use!"

"I won't be too outlandish!" Yang Ning asked, "So what kind of Magic Artifacts do you want? I'll focus my research in that direction!"

"We were all issued a Magic Sword when we enrolled, so we don't lack weapons!" Xun Hu said. "It'd be best to make some defensive gear, like armor, shields, helmets. Oh, I almost forgot, you were Minister of Works before, you should know more about these things!"

"Then I'll decide!" Yang Ning nodded. "I'll go back and think about it. Who can come to my room later to get the materials list?"

"I'll go!" Ning Rong smiled. "We're close by, and I live on the 12th floor too!"

"Is there anything I can do?" Su Bai asked.

"Investigate the situation at Demon Subduing Valley. Specifically, what Fierce Beasts are there, if there's a map, pictures, and what their combat styles are," Yang Ning said. "Since Demon Subduing Valley opens every year, many people should have this information."

"Okay, I'll go ask now!" Su Bai immediately got up. He was best at external communication.

"So, is that it for now?" Yang Ning looked at Xun Hu. Taiheng's institutional design was primarily Xun Hu's doing, but in their small team, he was actually the leader.

He hoped there wouldn't be any conflicts later.

"Mhm!" Xun Hu nodded. "Then it's settled. I'll go check the material prices first, on Seacloud City's material street. Ning Rong, when you get the list, come find me there!"

"Okay!" Ning Rong nodded.