All Things Are Contracts

In Sun City, everything was as before. Standing in front of the illumination Goddess statue, Zhanyue looked at the giant goddess statue with mixed feelings. Revisiting old places, things remained the same but people had changed. This goddess statue was the beginning of everything.

“I can’t believe Sister was once placed in the mysterious space inside this goddess statue. I wonder how that person managed it,” Zhanyue mused. The power of faith had been maintaining the illumination Goddess’s divine soul, which allowed Zhanyue the opportunity to bring her back to life through a contract.

“It’s a pity I didn’t have the chance to thank her back then,” the illumination Goddess said regretfully. After thousands of years, the Vermilion Bird Lord had probably passed away long ago.

“Let’s go,” Zhanyue said after visiting the illumination Goddess statue, heading towards the city defense army camp. Now he wasn’t afraid of exposing his identity; even if there were Profound Realm assassins, they wouldn’t be his match. Wearing the Silver Moon Armor, he had even slain ‘Wild Blade’.

“Stop, this is a military area. Outsiders are prohibited,” a soldier at the camp gate stopped Zhanyue.

Zhanyue smiled and said, “Please, brother, could you announce my arrival? Tell Captain Cheng Lu that Zhanyue is here to see him.” According to the previous schedule, Cheng Lu should be in the camp now.

“Captain Cheng? Which Captain Cheng? We don’t have a captain surnamed Cheng here,” the soldier shook his head. He didn’t seem to be pretending; it appeared he really didn’t know any Captain Cheng.

Zhanyue’s heart sank. Could something have happened to Cheng Lu?

Just then, a man in officer’s uniform walked out. He saw Zhanyue and was first slightly stunned, then looked as if he’d seen a ghost. “Zha-Zhanyue, aren’t you… aren’t you dead?”

This man was an old soldier who used to be under Cheng Lu’s command, now promoted to captain of the city defense team.

“Brother Zhang?” Zhanyue said, recognizing the man. He had stayed in Cheng Lu’s team long enough to know him.

“It’s a long story. I didn’t die back then, luckily surviving,” Zhanyue didn’t say much, then asked, “Do you know where Captain Cheng Lu went?”

Captain Zhang laughed heartily, “Still calling him Captain Cheng. Brother Cheng has already advanced to the Profound Realm and been promoted to general. He’s now gone to the Academy Town to take up a position.”

“He’s gone to the Academy Town for a position?” Zhanyue sighed in relief. It was good that nothing had happened. After more than two years, Cheng Lu had indeed successfully broken through and seemed to have been given important responsibilities.

“Wait, your cultivation level?” Captain Zhang looked at Zhanyue, rubbing his eyes, “No way, the aura of Soul Control Realm, seventh stage? It’s only been three years, and you’ve… you’ve risen from Spirit Contract Realm to Soul Control Realm, seventh stage?!” For geniuses, Soul Control Realm, seventh stage might not be impressive, but for people with ordinary talent, Zhanyue’s aptitude was enough to shock them. He had spent over a year in the Mountain Goblin territory, another year on Ghost Island, and then unhurriedly made his way back from the Thousand Charms Empire. It had indeed been three years since Zhanyue first arrived in Sun City. Three years was just the blink of an eye for Profound Realm cultivators, but for those below the Profound Realm, it was a very long time.

“Just some fortuitous encounters,” Zhanyue said, “Since Brother Cheng isn’t in the camp, I won’t disturb you further.”

Captain Zhang asked, “Are you planning to go to the Academy Town to find him?”

Zhanyue nodded.

“That’s great then. The Academy Town’s annual recruitment exam is coming up. I think you have a chance. Even if you don’t get into the Imperial First United Academy, you can try other academies. Give it a try. You’re still young, and with such good talent, it’s not wrong to learn more,” Captain Zhang suggested.

Zhanyue smiled in thanks, then turned to leave. He naturally had to go to the Academy Town, but he didn’t need to take the exam because he could enter without testing. As Captain Zhang said, the annual recruitment day was coming soon, and people were flocking to the Academy Town from all directions. Zhanyue easily hitched a ride with a merchant caravan, not even needing to pay for the journey because it happened to be a Thousand Steeds Association caravan heading to the Academy Town. As a contracted Alchemist, Zhanyue had this extra benefit. Everyone knew he was a Alchemist and treated him with great respect.

Outside of Alchemy Capital, Alchemists were very rare in other places. They became objects of everyone’s eager flattery. No wonder Night Lord’s people specifically went to the Thousand Charms Empire’s border to capture Alchemists; they probably would find it difficult to find so many suitable targets elsewhere.

No accidents like last time occurred, and after more than ten days, the caravan safely arrived at the Academy Town.

The Eastern Kingdom’s Academy Town, originally named Tianshu City, became the academic center of the Eastern Kingdom due to the Imperial First United Academy being located there, earning it the name Academy Town. It didn’t have the prosperous commerce of Pearl City, but the atmosphere of martial arts and other miscellaneous studies was particularly strong. Tianshu City was large, large enough to have two illumination Towers illuminating it. Even the imperial capital only had one illumination Tower for protection. This showed the Academy Town’s status in the Eastern Kingdom. Because of the many academies here, a larger and more open teaching environment was naturally needed, so people understood the need for two illumination Towers.

The architectural style of the Academy Town was quite low-key, not as flashy as Wanzi City. Neat and clean was Zhanyue’s first impression. Walking on the streets, he could often hear passersby discussing various topics – some discussing martial arts cultivation, some discussing artifact refining techniques, and naturally some discussing pill refining insights… Everyone seemed open, willing to share their insights. The academic exchange atmosphere was unlike any other city.

“Academy Town, I really came to the right place,” Zhanyue mused. The most common shops on both sides of the street were bookstores.

“Elder, do you know how to get to the First Academy?” Zhanyue randomly asked an old man on the street for directions. The old man was dressed in plain clothes but had an extraordinary aura, seeming well-read.

“Go east, walk to the end of the road, then look left. The location of the illumination Goddess statue is there,” the old man said kindly, then added, “You’re here to take the First Academy’s exam, right? Good luck.”

Zhanyue thanked the old man and quickly found the Imperial First United Academy. The first thing that caught his eye was the huge illumination Goddess statue. Every city had a goddess statue as a memorial, and the Academy Town’s goddess statue was inside the First Academy. This also showed the status of the First Academy.

Although the Imperial First United Academy was actually managed by the Eastern Kingdom, it wasn’t solely owned by the Eastern Kingdom, but jointly owned by the Eastern Kingdom, Rising Sun Kingdom, and Fierce Earth Kingdom. It was also the highest institution of learning in the entire Eastern World. The three countries provided people and resources to jointly build this largest comprehensive academy in the world, recruiting students from across the entire Myriad Spirits Realm. Not only could Contractors enter the academy for further studies, but ordinary people also had suitable subjects for them at the First Academy. Astronomy, geography, agriculture, and metallurgy were all taught here. After all, most people in the world were ordinary people, and their power couldn’t be ignored. Even if they couldn’t cultivate, their wisdom was no less than others. That’s why it was called a truly comprehensive academy, a holy land in the hearts of all people, especially ordinary people. Here, these people who couldn’t cultivate could find dignity and respect. The Eastern Kingdom’s abundance of talent originated from here.

However, at the bustling entrance of the Academy Town, an interesting incident occurred. An old man in tattered clothes tried to rush into the academy gates but was picked up and thrown out.

“What’s going on? Who’s this old guy? At his age, does he still want to apply to the First Academy?” people around discussed.

“No, it’s even more bizarre. I heard this old guy wanted to teach at the First Academy and even wanted them to set up a special course just for him. It would be strange if the guards let him in. This person must be crazy for fame,” someone explained.

“What? He wants to be a teacher in the academy and even have a special course set up? In his shabby state, what does he plan to teach us, begging?” someone mocked.

Zhanyue frowned, not bothering with these matters. But while he didn’t want to find trouble, trouble found him.

“Young man, would you like to learn derivation studies from me?” The speaker was the old man in tattered clothes. Unable to enter the academy gates, he was now trying to recruit students at the entrance, wanting to charge a hefty fee for his lessons, but no one was falling for it.

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