Firmament Academy's Offer

At Beijing University, Chen Dong had already reported everything he knew about Ye Chen.

Including the fact that Ye Chen had injured Yan Feng.

But the higher-ups seemed uninterested in Ye Chen, which baffled Chen Dong.

Had Beijing University become so full of itself that it could dismiss a talent like him?

What Chen Dong never would have guessed was that Yan Feng was behind it.

Getting someone into Beijing University might be difficult.

Keeping someone out was all too easy.

In any case, Chen Dong had done his job: he had visited Ye Chen and submitted his report.

The rest was beyond what a mere admissions officer could control.

Ye Chen sat cross-legged on the floor. The Spirit Stone in his hand was visibly dissolving.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen's body was undergoing sweeping changes.

The Nine Awakening Realms corresponded to the nine major systems of the human body.

Advancing through each realm meant pushing the human body past another limit.

In other words, the Nine Awakening Realms existed to strengthen the flesh.

As a shackle within his body shattered, a rumble sounded from deep inside him.

Ye Chen's eyes flew open, his delight impossible to hide.

So... breaking through was this easy?

If anyone else had heard him say that, they would probably have slapped him twice on the spot.

Li Mo had reached Ye Chen's front door and was about to knock when he sensed a faint ripple from a breakthrough.

Shock filled his eyes!

How was that possible? He'd awakened today and broken through just a few hours later?

Li Mo held back his excitement and knocked on Ye Chen's door.

Knock, knock, knock!

Li Mo had arrived feeling quite apprehensive. Even someone with SSS-grade talent would struggle to achieve greatness without hard work.

But now he had only one goal: he had to bring Ye Chen into Firmament Academy!

Ye Chen's elation had yet to fade when he heard the knock.

What Ye Chen failed to notice was that his hearing had sharpened after his breakthrough.

Ye Chen checked the time. Two in the morning?!

What the hell? Who came knocking in the middle of the night?

Li Mo swallowed and steadied himself.

The instant the door opened, Li Mo thrust out both hands.

Before Ye Chen could react, Li Mo seized his hand.

"Student Ye, come to our academy!"

Ye Chen froze. Watching Li Mo pull his hand over, he felt the corner of his eye twitch uncontrollably.

He pulled his hand free in disgust. "Mister... who are you?"

Only then did Li Mo collect himself. He strode into the room, took Ye Chen by the hand, and sat down with him on the sofa.

"Well, let me explain. Come on, sit down first."

Ye Chen: ???

Whose home was this, yours or mine?!

Like an ugly bride meeting her mother-in-law, Li Mo held Ye Chen's hand and spoke gently.

"My name is Li Mo. You're Ye Chen, right? Such a fine-looking young man! Zhang Daosheng was right about you. You're quite handsome!"

Ye Chen was dumbfounded. What was going on?

Why did it feel like he'd come to arrange a marriage for me?

If Zhang Daosheng had seen Li Mo today, his jaw would have hit the floor.

Was this really the taciturn Li Mo? I feel like his main job is public relations!

"Mister... can we get straight to the point?" Ye Chen said with a look of distaste.

"Haha, I like that. I'll be direct, then. I'm here on behalf of Firmament Academy, and we'd like you to join us." Li Mo's expression turned serious.

Ye Chen froze. Two in the morning? An academy recruiter? Holding my hand? Seriously?

Wait... was this even a legitimate school?

Li Mo noticed the strange look on Ye Chen's face.

"Our academy will spare no effort to make you a powerhouse of the Upper Three Realms!"

Ye Chen whipped his head around and stared at Li Mo, his mouth hanging open.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course! You have my word!"

"You're not running a scam, are you? I'm telling you, I've downloaded the National Anti-Fraud App!"

Li Mo's face darkened. You're the scammer!

"As for spirit stones, you'll have as many as you can use. However many you can absorb in a day, the academy will provide them!"

"And for living expenses, there are ten million in this card. You can take it and use it for now." Li Mo produced a black card from somewhere as he spoke.

Looking at Li Mo, Ye Chen could tell he wasn't joking.

Ye Chen frowned slightly. "I'm only a Wood Element user. Surely I'm not worth this much to you? And you know exactly how much what you're offering is worth."

Li Mo narrowed his eyes. "It's easy talking to someone smart!"

"Firmament Academy has one requirement: even after you graduate, you must remain on the academy's books as a professor!"

"And once you reach the Upper Three Realms, you must step forward if the academy ever faces a crisis!"

Ye Chen lowered his head in thought. Those terms were far too easy to accept...

Li Mo seemed to see what he was thinking. "Those two requirements barely count as conditions."

"But Firmament Academy hasn't enrolled an SSS-grade student in ten years. Even SS-grade students have been few and far between..."

"For years, we've hovered near the bottom of the top-tier schools. If we fail to enroll a student with exceptional talent this year, we may fall to the second tier..."

Ye Chen said nothing.

"So Firmament desperately needs a genius right now! Even one with a support ability!"

"Zhang Daosheng told me he wanted to create a 'god'!"

"A 'god' with a support ability is still a god!"

Ye Chen glanced back at Li Mo. "Zhang Daosheng?"

Li Mo had mentioned the name earlier. Now that Ye Chen thought about it...

Wasn't that the name of Zanghai No. 1 High School's principal?

"Yes, the principal of Zanghai No. 1 High School..."

Li Mo seemed reluctant to say more.

A top-tier school had failed to recruit a single SSS-grade student for ten straight years.

Something about that didn't add up!

SSS-grade talent might be rare, but the Human Race had a population of two billion, with young people turning eighteen every year.

Nearly ten SSS-grade talents emerged each year.

That meant roughly a hundred in ten years, yet not one had chosen Firmament Academy?

Ye Chen smiled.

Seeing that smile, Li Mo lost his confidence. Was Ye Chen mocking Firmament Academy?

But Ye Chen suddenly looked up at him. "How many spirit stones do you have on you?"

Li Mo had taken Ye Chen's silence as a rejection.

He had not expected that question. Thinking he must have misheard, he blurted out, "What?"

"I asked how many Spirit Stones you have. You said you'd give me as many as I could absorb, so let's start with a thousand or so. I have a big appetite."

Li Mo's eyes widened. "You agree?!"

"Of course. I look forward to learning from you, Teacher Li."

Overjoyed, Li Mo rummaged through his pockets.

Something landed on the table with a thud.

"This is all I have on me right now. Tomorrow, I'll..."

"No, I'll tell the dean what's happened right now and have a batch of Spirit Stones delivered!"

He immediately pulled a phone from his pocket. Okay...

You carried a lot of stuff in those pockets!

Ye Chen quickly stopped him. "A few hours won't make a difference. Don't disturb the dean at this hour."

Li Mo gave Ye Chen an odd look...

At this hour?

But he said nothing more.

After they settled the remaining details, Li Mo said goodbye to Ye Chen.

As Li Mo put it, once Ye Chen joined Firmament Academy, it would spare no expense to help him reach the Upper Three Realms!

"Student Ye, I'll be off, then. If you need anything, you can contact Old Zhang or me."

Ye Chen nodded. "All right."

He watched Li Mo leave.

A faint smile touched his lips. "Firmament Academy? Interesting..."