Elite Training, Favoritism

Yuan Chenyang did not explain much. He asked gently, "Did you need something from me?"

"I have a friend who says he has talent." Bai Fengxi's voice was crisp.

"A friend?" Yuan Chenyang frowned slightly and hesitated. "A refugee?"

"Mm." Bai Fengxi nodded.

Yuan Chenyang sighed. A flicker of killing intent passed through his eyes. "You're too kindhearted. You don't know how to refuse people. I'll send someone to warn him in the shantytown."

Bai Fengxi shook her head and explained, "Zhou Zong was investigating me. He helped fend him off."

"Zhou Zong?" Yuan Chenyang frowned, realizing something was wrong. "What right did he have to stand up to Zhou Zong?"

"He's already entered Southwind Academy as a transfer student..." Bai Fengxi explained.

"How did he get in?" Yuan Chenyang became interested.

After a brief hesitation, Bai Fengxi said, "Teacher Jiang He brought him in."

"Jiang He?" Yuan Chenyang was stunned again. A flash of disgust crossed his eyes, and he found himself irritated even by that unknown boy he had never met.

"I'm no longer taking students." Yuan Chenyang shook his head.

Bai Fengxi did not say anything. She merely lowered her head further and silently backed away.

Seeing her like that, Yuan Chenyang sighed helplessly and called out, "Fine. Give him a chance. Let him join this year's Elite Training Class."

"Thank you." Bai Fengxi bowed, then added, "His name is Su Chen."

"I understand. I'll have someone arrange it. And..." Yuan Chenyang suddenly remembered something, and his tone turned stern. "Don't get too entangled with him."

Anyone Jiang He had taken a liking to probably had a handsome face.

"What entanglement?" Bai Fengxi looked up, seemingly confused.

"It's nothing. Go on." Yuan Chenyang felt somewhat relieved.

Once she was outside, the confusion vanished from Bai Fengxi's face, replaced by indifference.

She knew where her strengths lay, and she knew how to make use of them.

Since arriving at Southwind Academy, she had never asked Yuan Chenyang for anything. But as long as she opened her mouth, she would gain something.

"Elite Training Class... this is all I can do. We'll see how far you can go on your own." Bai Fengxi had complicated reasons for helping Su Chen.

Partly because of Little Pigeon, partly because they shared some bond as "fellow townspeople," and partly because she admired Su Chen for managing to climb into Jiang He's bed.

Someone so "unscrupulous" deserved an opportunity.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The knocking was gentle. Su Chen was still wondering who it could be when he opened the door and found a stranger he had never seen before. The man wore black-rimmed glasses and had the bearing of someone who was clearly not a student. He held a stack of documents in his hands.

His tone was far from pleasant as he said flatly, "Su Chen, correct? I'm Wei Zhigao, the person in charge of Southwind Academy's Elite Training Class. You are now a member of the Elite Training Class. I'm here to inform you of several necessary matters."

"Elite Training Class?" Su Chen froze, startled. "Me?"

What was going on? Had that bitter brother pulled some strings?

Wei Zhigao ignored Su Chen's shock and walked straight in. He had already looked into Su Chen's background.

A complete and utter connected admission—first Jiang He, then Vice Principal Yuan.

The man had been shoved in halfway through, so naturally Wei Zhigao had no reason to be polite.

"Yuan Chenyang? Why that old bastard?"

In the room, the old man behind the desk had his brows tightly furrowed. Jiang He paced back and forth restlessly, muttering under his breath. "Why would Yuan Chenyang help Qi Chuan? Did I offend him somehow?"

"Father, didn't you say Qi Chuan was counter-fishing? Why did Su Chen get arranged into it too?"

"Troublesome..." The old man frowned deeply. "If it's that old bastard, then this matter can only end here."

"End here?" Jiang He stopped in his tracks, unable to believe it. "What do you mean? Are we just letting him get away with trying to kill me?"

"Sigh, Yuan Chenyang..." The old man sighed. "The academy has been attacked. If he really wants to stir something up and drag you and me into it, things will become troublesome."

"Don't show your face for a while. Focus on advancing to a second-tier Arcane Scholar."

"That's all we can do?" Jiang He was still unwilling to accept it. "What about Su Chen?"

"Don't bother with Su Chen for now. Let Qi Chuan do as he pleases. This matter ends here for the time being." The old man's eyes flickered.

"For the time being?" Jiang He keenly caught that phrase.

The old man tapped the armrest, his voice growing lower. "First, I need to find out why Yuan Chenyang is supporting Qi Chuan. Also, Yingfeng Megacity will be sending someone. If Yuan Chenyang fails to find the attacker, he may face censure..."

"Why would Yuan Chenyang pay attention to an unknown nobody like Su Chen?"

Though the voice by his ear was calm, it made cold sweat bead across Qi Chuan's forehead. He gritted his teeth. "Rest assured, he was only transferred into the Elite Training Class. He still has to leave the city for patrols."

"If Yuan Chenyang holds you accountable, can you bear that responsibility?"

"I'll bear it. I'll bear all of it." Qi Chuan said in a low voice, "That man definitely knows a great deal!"

"So there are this many benefits..." Su Chen licked his lips, rather excited.

This Elite Training Class really was different. First were the resources: every week, students received three portions of concentrated nutrient solution.

If they used them up through high-intensity training and had to buy more themselves, they would receive a fifty-percent academy discount.

They were also granted the right to purchase supplementary training potions, such as Blood-Activating Potions.

However, even after the discount, each one still cost 500 gold.

There were also customized career paths and professional instructors.

Naturally, after graduation, these students were required to serve Southwind City for free for three to five years in return for the resources spent on them.

"However, the academy-wide talent assessment at the start of term has already passed. I'm not authorized to apply for the equipment to test you separately, so there's no way to determine where your strengths lie." Wei Zhigao remained expressionless.

"No need." Su Chen did not care. Then he thought of a key question. "Do I still have to leave the city?"

"The requirement to leave the city was set by the city lord." Wei Zhigao sneered inwardly. If this guy could pull strings all the way to the principal, he would admit the man was impressive.

"Looks like I can't avoid it after all." Su Chen sighed helplessly.

Afraid of leaving the city? Wei Zhigao's gaze grew even colder. Vice Principal Yuan had such a bold and powerful personality—why would he arrange for someone like this to enter through the back door?

He took out another sheet of paper. "Will you take the physical route or the mental route? Once you decide, I'll arrange the appropriate training courses for you."

Su Chen glanced over it. It listed two columns of professions, divided into physical and mental paths.

There were more physical-side professions, five in total, while the mental side had only three.

"Are there any top-tier professions here?" Su Chen asked, earning a look from Wei Zhigao as though he were an idiot.

Su Chen did not mind. "Then I'll choose physical."

There were at least five professions to choose from on the physical side, while the mental side only had two. The only higher-tier profession there was Arcane Apprentice.

The physical side, on the other hand, had one first-tier higher-tier profession.

"You're choosing [Gale Walker]?" Wei Zhigao frowned. The words overambitious might as well have been written across his face.

He had read Su Chen's file. A refugee with no foundation had no chance whatsoever of taking up a first-tier higher-tier profession within three years. It would do nothing but waste resources.

He had wanted to offer a few words of advice, but when he thought of Su Chen's background, he closed his mouth again. The man had forced his way in through connections. If Wei Zhigao said too much, Su Chen might even think he was meddling.

Let him play around on his own.

"Your student ID has been updated. The next physical training class is this afternoon. When you get there, the instructor will give you the career materials."

"This is a Spirit Communicator, rented to you for temporary use. If you lose it, you'll have to compensate for it."

Wei Zhigao tossed down a palm-sized metal device, then left without looking back.