The Elder and Kent arrived at a massive training ground, where several disciples and servant students watched from the sides. A giant slab of black jade stood in the center, glowing with defensive runes.
The elder folded his arms. “This is a Human Tier Reinforced Jade. No unworthy creature can break it.” He smirked. “If you can’t even crack it, leave the academy now.”
Gasps erupted from the onlookers.
“That’s insane! Even Bai Wei struggled to make a dent in that rock!”
“This new guy is dead.”
Kent stepped forward without a word. He raised his fist and lightly tapped the jade with his knuckles.
The elder burst into laughter. “Hah! What are you doing, tickling—”
CRACK!
A terrifying golden lightning arc danced across Kent’s fist as he drove his knuckles through the jade slab like it was mere glass. The stone shattered into pieces, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.
Silence.
The elder’s face twitched. “…What?”
Kent dusted his hands. “What’s next?”
The elder gritted his teeth and led Kent to a table filled with over 100 rare herbs.
“You have five minutes to identify at least 50 of them,” he said smugly. “These are advanced alchemy materials—most new disciples can’t recognize ten.”
Kent took one glance at the table.
“Heh. Too easy.”
One by one, he picked up the herbs, naming them without hesitation.
“Purple Frost Lotus.”
“Starfire Ginseng.”
“Nine-Hell Blossom.”
“Draconic Sage Root.”
By the third minute, he had named them all.
The elder’s expression darkened. “Next test!”
They moved to a caged area, where a raging Fire Serpent hissed, its eyes blazing with fury.
“You have to tame this beast,” the elder declared. “It has eaten three disciples before. Let’s see if you’re next.”
Kent calmly approached. The serpent lunged at him, its fiery fangs snapping.
The crowd gasped—
But then Kent simply stared at the serpent, his golden lightning aura crackling. His domineering presence made the beast halt mid-air, its body trembling. Within seconds, the once-monstrous creature lowered its head in submission, rubbing against Kent’s leg like a puppy.
The elder’s jaw dropped.
Kent patted the serpent’s head. “Good boy.”
The elder was seething now. “Fine!” He pointed at a muscular disciple, standing at the same cultivation level as Kent.
“Defeat him, or get out of my sight!”
The moment the fight began, the opponent charged at Kent with a battle-axe, his aura exploding.
Kent vanished.
Before anyone could blink—
BOOM!
The opponent was slammed into the ground with enough force to create a five-foot crater.
Kent hadn’t even moved from his spot.
The elder trembled with suppressed rage.
Kent smirked. “Are we done?”
The elder had no choice but to hand Kent the official Academy Disciple Robe. He threw it at Kent’s feet before storming off in humiliation.
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
“Who is this guy?!”
“He destroyed every test like it was nothing!”
“I heard his name is Kent King…”
Kent picked up the robe, a victorious glint in his eyes.
The Royal Academy was now his domain.
Kent came to the Administration hall along with Academy Robes…
The room smelled of old parchment, spiritual ink, and a faint trace of medicinal herbs.
Kent walked up to the Hall Master, an elderly man with a long white beard, wearing the traditional deep-blue robe of the administration department. His sharp, eagle-like eyes flickered with authority as he observed Kent.
“You must be Kent King,” the Hall Master said, his tone neutral.
Kent nodded and placed his trial pass on the desk. “I came to receive my disciple token and residence key stone.”
The Hall Master picked up the pass and raised an eyebrow. “Hmm. Let me verify which trial you passed.”
Kent crossed his arms, waiting.
The elder ran his fingers over the spiritual inscription on the trial pass, and a flickering golden light revealed the four trials Kent had completed.
Silence.
The Hall Master’s expression froze. His brows furrowed. Then, in a stunned voice, he asked, “You passed four tests?”
Kent blinked. “Yes. Wasn’t that required?”
The Hall Master’s mouth opened slightly before he let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his temples. “You were only supposed to pass one test!”
Kent tilted his head. “Only one?”
“Yes!” The Hall Master’s tone turned exasperated. “Each of the four trials determines which division a disciple belongs to! If you passed herb identification, you would join the Alchemy Division. Beast taming is for Beast Tamers, shattering jade is for Body Cultivators, and defeating an opponent places you in the Combat Division!”
Kent raised an eyebrow. “Then what happens if someone passes all four?”
The Hall Master stroked his beard, looking at Kent as if he were staring at a monster. “That… never happens.”
Kent found it amusing. “Then what division should I join?”
The Hall Master sighed. “That depends on what you value. Each division offers resources and training suited to their craft.”
Kent tapped his fingers against the desk. “Which division offers the most Mana Pearls?”
The Hall Master’s expression changed. A knowing smirk formed on his lips. “Ah, I see. You want wealth, not status.”
Kent chuckled. “Status is nice, but resources matter more.”
The Hall Master nodded approvingly. “Then there is only one option—the Alchemy Division. Alchemists control the market. A single high-grade pill can be worth ten years’ worth of resources for a combat disciple. If you seek fortune, this is the best path.”
Kent’s lips curled into a smirk. “Then I’ll take the Alchemy Residence Token.”
The Hall Master pulled out a green jade token, inscribed with golden runes. He pricked Kent’s finger with a silver needle, letting a single drop of blood sink into the token. The jade trembled before glowing faintly, recognizing its new owner.
“From this moment, you are a disciple of the Alchemy Division,” the Hall Master declared.
Kent took the token and twirled it between his fingers. “What’s next?”
The elder hesitated for a moment before his face turned serious. “Before I assign you a master… I need to ask—where are you from?”
Kent didn’t hesitate. “Slave Village.”
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
The Hall Master’s expression darkened instantly. His casual demeanor vanished, replaced by a stern, unreadable look. He seemed deep in thought for a moment before pulling out a sealed letter with a black wax emblem pressed onto the parchment.
“Take this,” he said, pushing the letter toward Kent. His tone was more formal, almost distant. “Deliver it to Master Ling at Green Poison Peak. Do not open it.”
Kent glanced at the letter, then back at the Hall Master. He sensed something was off. “Is there a problem?”
The elder hesitated before replying, “Green Poison Peak… is not a place for ordinary disciples. But since you come from Slave Village, Master Ling will want to see you personally.”
Kent narrowed his eyes. “That sounds ominous.”
The Hall Master avoided his gaze. “Just take the letter and follow my instructions. Master Ling will decide what happens next.”
Kent took the letter, his fingers brushing against the cold wax seal. His instincts screamed that this was no ordinary assignment.
Still, he casually tucked the letter into his robe, unfazed.
“Where is Green Poison Peak?” he asked.
The Hall Master gave him a reluctant look before pointing toward the northwestern mountains, where a dark green mist swirled ominously.
“Go straight through the inner sect grounds. Once you reach the Venomous River, follow the path up the cliffs. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the poison vines. Be careful. The area is… dangerous.”
Kent smirked. “I’ll manage.”
Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, his alchemy token gleaming under the light.
As he left, the Hall Master sighed, staring at the boy’s retreating figure.
“A disciple from the Slave Village… going to Green Poison Peak… Master Ling will not take this lightly.”
He could only hope Kent was prepared for what awaited him.