Applying for an Instructor Position, Undercurrents Stirring
The middle-aged man in charge of recruiting mentors was named Zhou Hai.
He was leaning back in his chair, feeling utterly bored, watching the bustling registration area for new students not far away, his heart filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
[Sigh, comparing yourself to others is just so frustrating.]
[They're making a fortune over there, but I've been assigned to this godforsaken job.]
Just then, a figure appeared in front of his desk.
Zhou Hai raised his head, and when he saw the young man in front of him, who was tall and upright, with a restrained aura, yet looked excessively young, he was first stunned, and then his eyes flashed with unparalleled brilliance!
So young?!
[Could it be... that he is truly a master of Innate strength?!]
His heart instantly burned with passion!
Although Dragon Firmament Academy is constantly embroiled in internal strife, its Innate experts, regardless of which faction they belong to, are absolutely considered the backbone of the academy!
What's more, the other party is so young!
[If we could recruit such a genius for the Grand Elder, that would be an absolute great achievement!]
In an instant, the languor on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by unprecedented enthusiasm and friendliness!
"Young man," he quickly stood up, his face beaming, "Are you... are you here to apply for a guest instructor position at our academy?"
"Hmm." Dongfang Yueming nodded.
"Excellent! Excellent!" Zhou Hai clapped his hands and laughed, his excitement growing. "May I ask your name, young brother?"
"Dongfang Ri."
"Young Master Dongfang, you are indeed a man of exceptional talent, a dragon among men!" Zhou Hai subtly flattered him.
He then rubbed his hands together and said with a businesslike tone and a smile, "Young Brother Dongfang, according to the rules, I need you to demonstrate... your Innate abilities."
"After all, as you know, spiritual arts are the hallmark of Innate powerhouses. We're doing this to prevent unscrupulous individuals from infiltrating."
Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yueming nodded.
He simply and casually extended his palm.
Then, a fist-sized, seemingly ordinary, orange-red fireball silently appeared in his palm.
The fireball emitted no heat whatsoever, nor did it possess any earth-shattering power.
It was just like... an ordinary tinderbox, with a flame lit.
The smile on Zhou Hai's face froze instantly.
He stared blankly at the "small fireball" that he couldn't sense even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation, his mind completely blank.
[What... what is this?]
[A magic trick?!]
His once passionate heart was suddenly doused with ice water, leaving him completely chilled from head to toe!
The enthusiasm on his face vanished instantly, replaced by undisguised disappointment and contempt.
[After all that, it turns out it was just a showpiece!]
[Can't even cast a decent first-tier low-level spiritual spell! He must have just barely broken through to the Innate First Level?!]
[This kind of scum dares to apply for a tutor position? It's truly... absurd!]
He waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away a fly, and said, "Alright, alright, I know. You... you've passed."
Immediately, he picked up a pen and wrote a few words on a jade tablet in a flamboyant style, then casually tossed it to Dongfang Yueming.
"Take this and go report to the vice dean."
He sneered inwardly.
[Since you're a good-for-nothing, then let's just pass this hot potato to that stubborn old man, the vice-dean. That way, you won't offend the Grand Elder's eyes.]
Dongfang Yueming accepted the jade token, seemingly unconcerned about the other party's complete 180-degree change in attitude.
He simply asked, "I'm looking for someone, Shi Qing. Do you know where she is?"
"I don't know!" Zhou Hai frowned in disgust. "How could I possibly know about a newcomer?! Get out of here! Don't waste my time! If you need to find someone, go find the vice dean! He has the list of all the students!"
Dongfang Yueming nodded and turned to leave.
Watching that departing figure, Zhou Hai spat out a curse.
"Pah! What is that?!"
Just then, a sudden inspiration One Flash in his mind!
[Shi Qing...]
[This name... why does it sound familiar?]
He suddenly remembered!
It seems that Shi Hao, the arrogant and domineering grandson of the First Elder, once mentioned this name!
[Could it be...?]
A thought quietly arose in his mind.
Dragon Firmament Academy, Elders' Council Hall.
The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
"Shi Tianxiong! You are severing the very foundation of my Dragon Firmament Academy!"
Lin Bo'an, the vice dean with white hair and a gaunt face, slammed his hand on the table and pointed at the sinister-looking old man in the main seat, trembling with anger!
"Sever the roots?" The First Elder, Shi Tianxiong, sitting on the main seat, merely sneered disdainfully upon hearing this. "Lin Bo'an, I think you've gone senile!"
"A wise bird chooses a good tree to perch on! Merging with the Heavenly Star Sect is a tremendous boon for our Dragon Firmament Academy! In the future, we will receive genuine resource support from a second-tier power! This is true ascension to the top in one step!"
"Bullshit!" Lin Bo'an roared in fury. "Don't think I don't know your wolfish ambitions! You just want to offer up the Foundation Establishment technique treasured by my Dragon Firmament Academy to the Heavenly Star Sect as a... pledge of allegiance!"
Shi Tianxiong's face instantly darkened!
A terrifying pressure from the Early-stage Foundation Establishment descended with a deafening roar!
"Lin Bo'an! Watch your words! This Dragon Firmament Academy is not your place to point fingers!"
Under this oppressive force, Lin Bo'an's blood and qi surged, and he staggered back several steps, his face filled with endless sorrow and helplessness.
Ultimately, the argument ended unhappily.
Outside the main hall, countless students and mentors who support the Grand Elder's lineage are waiting respectfully.
When they saw Shi Tianxiong's gloomy figure walking out, they immediately fell silent.
Following behind him was a young man dressed in brocade robes with an arrogant face, who was completely surrounded by countless compliments and flattery!
He is the grandson of the Grand Elder, and also the nominal "Number One Prodigy" of the Dragon Firmament Academy — Shi Hao, a Grandmaster!
Enjoying the praise from everyone, Shi Hao's face was filled with undisguised pride.
Suddenly, he remembered something, and a glint of ruthlessness and pleasure flashed in his eyes.
[Shi Qing...]
[Back then, that ungrateful wretch dared to embarrass me in public! She was truly... courting death!]
[However, by now, she's probably already dead in that ' Nine Nether Secret Realm,' right? Even if she's not dead, she should be tormented beyond recognition by the Yin energy within!]
He was filled with a vengeful pleasure!
Just then, his gaze fell upon three incongruous figures not far away.
It was Yun Qian, Yun Han, and Qu Yutang who had just completed their enrollment procedures.
"Oh, isn't this the 'prodigy' from the Cloud Water Dynasty?" Shi Hao walked over slowly with a playful smile on his face.
Yun Qian and Yun Han's expressions changed instantly!
They could clearly sense that although the young man in front of them was only Grandmaster, his arrogant and domineering aura was even stronger than that of many Innate experts!
More importantly, they have realized the insurmountable gap between themselves and the other party!
"Senior Brother Shi..." Yun Han forcibly suppressed his resentment and bowed respectfully.
Shi Hao nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to the icy beauty who had remained silent throughout.
What? You're not convinced?
Qu Yutang merely glanced at him coldly, without saying a word.
"Very good!" Shi Hao laughed angrily, "You have backbone!"
He turned to a mentor beside him whose aura had reached the Mid-stage Innate and instructed, "Instructor Zhang, these are 'distinguished guests' from a subordinate dynasty. You must take good care of them."