Chapter Twenty-Eight: Privilege

"Wait a minute, you said you want me to go to Tianyang Academy—what does that mean?" Chen Bo finally seized on the crucial point and asked in confusion.

Zhao Qing smiled and replied, "Ordinarily, with your current abilities, you wouldn't qualify for Tianyang Academy. But there are always exceptions to the rules. In this world, some people are privileged enough to enjoy special treatment."

"So, you mean I'm one of those privileged people?" Chen Bo asked.

"Exactly," Zhao Qing nodded.

"But the thing is, I don't have any powerful connections or impressive networks. Is it because of my sister?" Chen Bo's sister was undoubtedly a prodigy. Could Tianyang Academy be trying to win Chen Jingjing's favor by recruiting him?

"That's one reason, but there's another more important one—you have the skill to forge artifacts. And your technique isn’t like that of a mere apprentice; it’s more like that of an experienced craftsman," Zhao Qing explained.

"I can forge artifacts, so I get special privileges?"

"Yes. There are many artifact forgers on the Wildlands Continent, but they’re still quite rare—rarer even than alchemists. Even in Tianyang Academy, the Artifact Forging Department has fewer than a hundred students. The peak was only seventy-four."

Zhao Qing looked at Chen Bo with envy—he couldn’t help it! Back when he was a student at Tianyang Academy, he’d fought tooth and nail for a precious spot. But for someone like Chen Bo, an artifact forger, regardless of strength, as long as you have the skill, Tianyang Academy will always open its doors with privilege. Unless, one day, artifact forgers become as common as cabbages.

Even if that day comes, it will not be for countless generations.

"But why should I go to Tianyang Academy?" Chen Bo’s unexpected question nearly made Zhao Qing stumble. He stared at Chen Bo, his gaze strange.

"You don’t know the benefits of being a Tianyang Academy student?" Zhao Qing’s mouth twitched.

Chen Bo thought carefully and replied, "I guess I really don’t."

Zhao Qing felt defeated, struggling to maintain his composure. "There are many competitions inside Tianyang Academy; the top three winners always receive rewards."

He wanted to list dozens of benefits, but before he could continue, Chen Bo’s eyes lit up. That look was so much like Zhao Qing's own earlier.

"Rewards? What kind of rewards? What do they give?" Chen Bo asked eagerly.

"Uh, usually spirit stones, cultivation methods, things like that."

As soon as Zhao Qing finished, Chen Bo clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Why didn’t you say so sooner? You wasted so much of my time and breath—if you’d mentioned the rewards, I would’ve agreed right away!"

Zhao Qing felt aggrieved. Who could have guessed you’d be so materialistic? Now you’re blaming me—what kind of world is this!

"So, you’re saying you agree to enter Tianyang Academy?"

"Yes!" Chen Bo nodded with certainty. Spirit stones! Those were valuable! Right now, Chen Bo had no cultivation method to absorb ambient spiritual energy; he could only absorb the energy within spirit stones for his training.

Though it was inefficient and the energy from spirit stones was full of impurities that needed refining, it was still better than being stuck at the mid-level of body refinement forever, right?

Being recruited by a prestigious academy, Chen Bo felt a bit happy and followed Zhao Qing once again to the Chen family's training grounds.

The battle was now at its peak. On the six arenas, the talented youths from various families were holding their ground. The Chen family had three, the Qin family two, and the Zhang family only one.

Zhao Qing approached the group of mentors, spoke a few words in a low voice, and pointed at Chen Bo. The other two mentors immediately cast astonished looks at him, making Chen Bo feel awkward under their gaze.

"Old Zhao, are you sure you’re not tricking me? This..."