Lies

"Professor Li, forgive my ignorance, but what is this free redemption voucher for a first-tier spell?" Huo Ling asked after listening.

"Let me explain. In university, whether it's spells or combat skills for combat-class professionals, anything above the first tier requires credits to redeem. A first-tier spell costs at least ten credits, while some powerful spells can even require twenty."

"In other words, five first-tier spell redemption vouchers are worth at least fifty credits," Guan Borong explained.

Huo Ling calculated silently. Compared like this, Southern Heaven University really did offer the best benefits—more money, and closer to home.

Seeing that Huo Ling was still thinking, Professor Li cleared his throat and continued, "Student Huo, given that fate has brought us together, if you sign the application agreement with us today, I can also personally introduce you to an associate professor- or professor-level mentor."

"What!"

"Huh?!"

Huo Ling and Guan Borong both cried out in surprise.

"You should know that even if you apply to a top-tier university, you might not get a mentor of that level. Professors and associate professors are all high-level professionals of the Gold tier."

"As for ordinary university teachers, they're merely Silver tier. When you first enroll, the teaching assistants instructing you may even be Black Iron tier. If a professor is willing to be your mentor, you'll hold an exceptional learning advantage right from the start!"

"Really?!" At that thought, Huo Ling's breathing grew heavy.

That was true. Having a good teacher gave one a tremendous advantage in learning, not to mention the mentor's connections.

Those taught by a Gold-tier mentor were surely genius-level students as well. Aside from the teacher's network, those senior students would also be outstanding connections.

Huo Ling had come from a poor background. If he could make use of those connections, it was not impossible for him to accomplish something great.

Then he thought of Professor Li before him. He was a professor too—could it be...?

Huo Ling looked earnestly at Professor Li. He understood now; everything fell into place. This Professor Li must have taken a liking to him, and after he enrolled, he would probably take him on as a student.

Professor Li, seeing Huo Ling's gaze, merely smiled and gave him a look that said, You understand.

Meanwhile, Guan Borong stared blankly at the two of them. He looked at his own teacher, then at Huo Ling across from him.

The two were exchanging glances full of unspoken affection. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"I'm willing to apply to Southern Heaven University!" There was no need to hesitate. Huo Ling chose Southern Heaven University.

"Good! Little Guan, bring out the contract!"

Professor Li was overjoyed and quickly called for Guan Borong to take out the contract.

Guan Borong took out two copies of the agreement and handed them to Huo Ling.

After receiving them, Huo Ling carefully read through the terms. Seeing no issues, he signed his name.

"Good! Student Huo, I look forward to meeting you at Southern Heaven University in two months!"

The two then prepared to leave. Before they left, Huo Ling added both of their contact information.

After going downstairs and leaving the residential complex, Guan Borong looked around to make sure there was no one behind or beside them, then hurried over to his teacher.

He said gloomily, "Teacher, did you get carried away just now? With your connections at the university, where are you going to find him a professor-level mentor?"

"Teacher, if you have those kinds of connections, could you solve my employment problem first? I'm still just a probationary teaching assistant, and the university hasn't even given me an official position yet!"

"Watch your mouth."

Professor Li slapped Guan Borong on the back of the head.

He let out a long sigh. "Didn't I say I'd personally introduce one to him? That wasn't written into the contract."

"Besides, once I get back to the university, I'll ask around and see whether any professor is willing. That still counts as introducing one to him. It's just that they might not agree—what can I do about that?"

"Teacher, you really are the old hand with the hotter ginger! But what if Student Huo makes a fuss when the time comes?"

Guan Borong rubbed the back of his head, then gave his teacher a thumbs-up.

"What's there to fear? I'm a seasoned mage, after all. If he makes a fuss, then at worst I'll be his mentor myself." Teacher Li clasped his hands behind his back, standing like a mountain peak beside an abyssal pool.

"Teacher, stop fooling around. Student Huo kept calling you professor, and you actually started thinking you were one! You're only Silver!" Guan Borong snickered.

"You bastard, no respect for your elders!"

Teacher Li's carefully posed stance immediately fell apart, and he gave Guan Borong another slap to the back of the head.

"I've already touched the bottleneck of the Silver tier. It won't be long before I break through. Then I can personally become his mentor, and it won't count as breaking my word."

"What are you talking about, Teacher? You said that when I first became your student. It's been years, and you're still wandering around the Silver tier. Who knows when you'll break through to Gold?"

"You just had to talk, didn't you? You just had to talk..."

"Ah, Teacher, I was wrong, I was wrong! You're beating me to death! Stop hitting me..."

At home, Huo Ling put away the contract. This was something worth a fortune.

One credit was practically equivalent to one hundred thousand yuan. Southern Heaven University had given him one hundred and fifty credits altogether—that was fifteen million yuan right there.

How should he put it? He had not even done anything yet, and he had already earned such a huge sum.

There was truly an unbridgeable gulf between extraordinary professionals and ordinary people.

However, there were still nearly two months before school began. It would be great if he could find some way to make money.

Credits were credits, and money was money. The two were still different.

From what Huo Ling understood now, it would be best to keep these credits. Exchanging credits for money was like trading high-quality assets for low-quality ones.

But his family's circumstances really did need improving. His parents were still working overtime at the factory every day.

They worked over twelve hours a day. It had been manageable when they were younger, but now that they were in their forties, if they kept this up, their bodies would not be able to take it.

It was time for him to share some of the family's burden. His top priority now was to find work that could earn money and put his apprentice-level mage abilities to use.

In any case, spending two months meditating on Blue Star would not improve his strength. As for spells, there was nothing he could do about that—the three spells in his spellbook had all been learned already.

If he wanted to further improve the casting speed and power of those three spells, he could only accumulate it through time and repeated casting.