A sure bet

Hu Fangyuan sighed as he looked at the speechless Wu Changkong.

He had actually rather wanted to see Wu Changkong tell him, with righteous conviction, that he could do all of that. He quite liked this cool-looking teacher. The aura of a powerhouse about him could not be faked.

Having a teacher like that would actually be pretty good.

Unfortunately, reality was reality.

If the facilities could not keep up, even the best teacher would be like a master cook without rice.

He did not want to say anything more. With a slight bow, he walked around Wu Changkong and continued toward the academic affairs office. His steps were unhurried but firm.

"Wait!"

Hu Fangyuan had only taken two steps when Wu Changkong's voice suddenly came from behind him.

Hu Fangyuan stopped, turned around, and raised an eyebrow. "Was there something else, Teacher Wu?"

Wu Changkong rubbed his temples, a measure of helplessness and compromise on his face. He looked at Hu Fangyuan and slowly spoke.

"How about this? I can provide you with a hundred thousand Federation Coins in support each month. Whatever cultivation resources you need, you can give me a list, and I can help you buy them all."

His words fell.

The calm on Hu Fangyuan's face vanished instantly. The corners of his mouth shot up, and even his eyes brightened. He walked back to Wu Changkong in a few strides, his face wreathed in smiles. The speed of that transformation was astonishing.

"Oh, Teacher Wu! I went too far just now. Please don't take it to heart."

His tone was warm, as though he were an entirely different person. "To have the good fortune to become the student of such an exemplary teacher-so upright, so handsome and graceful, so generous-is a blessing earned over three lifetimes. What was all that about withdrawing? I was only joking with you."

His affable manner made him seem like a completely different person from the calm, incisive boy of moments before.

Wu Changkong was amused by the sight of him and waved a hand. "Stop, stop, stop. Spare me that routine. There is one condition you have to fulfill for me to provide these resources."

"Please, go ahead." Hu Fangyuan immediately put away his smile and adopted a serious expression, though he could not hide the delight in his eyes.

As long as he could get his hands on actual resources, forget one condition-he would agree to ten. A hundred thousand Federation Coins a month was no small sum. An ordinary teacher at an intermediate Soul Master Academy only earned a little over ten thousand Federation Coins a month. Wu Changkong had offered a hundred thousand right off the bat. A powerhouse indeed-his pockets ran deep.

With that money, he could buy gu materials, spirit metals, anything.

Although he could not buy anything exceptionally rare, he would definitely have more than enough basic cultivation resources.

Getting through these years when he needed to develop would be no problem at all!

Wu Changkong looked at him, his expression turning serious, and slowly spoke.

"I want you to apply to and enter Shrek Academy within five years. If you pass the entrance exam, consider this money my investment in you. You won't need to repay it. If you fail, you will repay me a fixed amount of Federation Coins each year after graduating from the intermediate Soul Master Academy. No interest, either. Just return the principal."

After hearing this, Hu Fangyuan's eyes grew even brighter.

Shrek Academy?

That was the finest Soul Master Academy on the entire continent, the legendary holy land of Soul Masters. He had never even dared to dream of it before, feeling it was somewhere far beyond his reach. Now Wu Changkong was actually asking him to take Shrek's entrance exam and even funding him.

This was practically a meat pie falling from the sky!

If he got in, he would make a killing: not only would he receive resources, but he would also enter a place like Shrek.

If he did not, he would only have to repay the principal. With five years and his abilities, earning some money after graduation would be a breeze.

A deal with guaranteed profit and no loss.

"Absolutely! Absolutely!"

Hu Fangyuan agreed immediately, without even thinking. He stepped forward, reached out, took Wu Changkong's hand, and shook it firmly as he spoke with complete seriousness.

"I will definitely fulfill your dream, Teacher. Rest assured, I'll get into Shrek within five years, no question. I absolutely won't let you down."

With that solemn manner, anyone who did not know better would have thought he was about to accomplish some earth-shaking feat.

Wu Changkong froze for a moment as Hu Fangyuan shook his hand. He very much wanted to say that this was not his dream; he simply thought the boy had good talent and did not want it to go to waste. Besides, he kept feeling that Hu Fangyuan was somewhat unreliable. That speed at changing his tune, and that mercenary streak-something always felt off.

But looking into Hu Fangyuan's bright eyes, so full of earnestness, he found it awkward to take back what he had said.

"All right, all right. Enough glib talk."

Wu Changkong withdrew his hand and put on a stern face. "Make a list of whatever resources you need and give it to me. If there's any money left over, I'll transfer it to your card. But remember, you mustn't fall behind in your cultivation. I'll assess you every month. If your progress falls short, the funding stops."

"Don't worry, Teacher Wu. There definitely won't be any problems." Hu Fangyuan thumped his chest in assurance. "I guarantee I'll improve every month. I absolutely won't disappoint you."

What a joke. With money coming in and a big shot helping him buy resources, only an idiot would fail to cultivate properly.

"Then what are you still standing around for? Get back to class." Wu Changkong shot him a glare, then turned and walked toward the classroom.

"Right, you got it." Hu Fangyuan eagerly trotted after him, feeling thoroughly pleased with himself.

He had thought he would have to withdraw and find another school, which would have been a real hassle.

Who would have thought the winding mountain path would take a turn, and he would latch straight onto Wu Changkong's powerful leg?

A hundred thousand Federation Coins in monthly funding, plus a powerhouse helping him make connections to buy resources-this treatment was far better than being an ordinary student at one of those top academies.

As for Shrek Academy, although getting in was difficult, it was not entirely beyond reach. He had the Heaven Refining Furnace and a complete inheritance. As long as the resources kept up, his cultivation would certainly not be slow. Five years would be enough for him to build up sufficient strength.

The two returned to the Class Five classroom, one behind the other.

Inside, Xie Xie was still fuming, Tang Wulin looked worried, and Gu Yue sat quietly in her seat. The moment they saw Wu Changkong enter, everyone immediately sat up properly.

Then they saw Hu Fangyuan follow Wu Changkong inside, smiling broadly and even closing the classroom door behind him.

Xie Xie's eyes widened at once, his face full of disbelief.

Wasn't this guy going to withdraw? Why had he come back with Teacher Wu? And why was he smiling so happily?

Tang Wulin froze too, then smiled. Fangyuan wasn't leaving. Wonderful.

Gu Yue's gaze lingered on Hu Fangyuan's face for a few seconds before she looked at Wu Changkong at the front, thoughtful.

Hu Fangyuan walked straight back to his seat. As he sat down, he even raised an eyebrow at Xie Xie beside him.

Utterly baffled, Xie Xie mouthed at him, "Weren't you going to withdraw?"

Hu Fangyuan smiled without speaking.

Withdraw?

Withdraw from what?

With Wu Changkong backing me and a hundred thousand Federation Coins a month, only an idiot would withdraw now.

Eastsea Academy might be trash, but I have a private sponsor.

Who would leave with treatment like this?

At the podium, Wu Changkong tapped the desk and began the lesson.

"Today, we'll cover the basic cultivation system for Soul Masters, as well as things to watch out for when increasing your Soul Power. Everyone, pay attention."

What Wu Changkong taught in class genuinely had substance. Much of it was practical knowledge they would not hear elsewhere. He explained both his understanding of Soul Power circulation and techniques for using Soul Skills in depth, yet in accessible terms.

Hu Fangyuan listened attentively. He discovered that Wu Changkong's level truly far surpassed that of an ordinary Intermediate Academy teacher. Many cultivation details he had never been able to puzzle out became clear with just a few words from Wu Changkong.

Looks like this really wasn't a bad deal.

The lesson soon passed. The moment the bell rang, Wu Changkong left, making a point of glancing at Hu Fangyuan before he went.

As soon as the teacher left, Xie Xie leaned over, his face full of curiosity.

"Hey, what's going on with you? Weren't you going to withdraw just now? Why did you come back? What did Teacher Wu say to you?"

Tang Wulin also leaned over, his face full of concern.

Hu Fangyuan leaned against his chair, laced his hands behind his head, and drawled, "Nothing much. My conscience suddenly stirred, and I realized Eastsea Academy seemed pretty good after all. Pleasant weather, beautiful scenery-it suits me."

"Tch!"

Xie Xie folded his arms and looked at Hu Fangyuan disdainfully, not wanting to bother with him.