Opening the School and Accepting Apprentices

Riverside Academy.

forecourt.

Five young people stood in front of Zhong Xuan.

"Dean."

The five people bowed respectfully to Zhong Xuan.

"Get up, all of you. From now on, you will work diligently in the academy. I will not deduct a single penny from your tuition or meals. If you do well, I may even help you get a promotion."

The five young people's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Zhong Xuan runs the school, but the academy cannot rely on just one person, otherwise where would Zhong Xuan find the time to practice his skills?

In a typical village, a private school usually has only one teacher, and two or three other people are hired to help manage things.

However, Zhong Xuan's Riverside Academy had the reputation of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School, and it was because of this prestigious name and his status within the school that the five of them heard the news and came to seek refuge there.

Four of the five were formal disciples of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School, and the other was a student from a neighboring village who had come to learn from their reputation.

Chen He, a formal disciple of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School, was among them.

Zhong Xuan looked at the five energetic people in front of him and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Although his academy has a great reputation, it is newly established after all, and he is neither a literary master nor a martial arts expert. He lacks a solid foundation, so naturally he cannot find famous teachers.

It is already quite remarkable that a local academy has so many people serving as instructors.

His gaze fell on Chen He.

Now I finally understand why Zheng Yue was so reluctant to accept the young Chen He as his disciple; it turns out he had already planned to accept the disciple on behalf of his master.

Chen He clearly reserved this place specifically for his first disciple.

Zhong Xuan's judgment is indeed excellent.

Chen He had only been at the academy for a few days, but he already showed signs of becoming a pillar of the academy, taking care of most of its affairs and saving Zhong Xuan a lot of trouble.

"Go on with your own business."

Zhong Xuan waved his hand.

The list of the first batch of students for the Riverside Academy has been finalized. They are all school-age children from Xiahe Village, and without exception, they have all raised money for the academy.

The academy is a long-term endeavor; stability should be the priority, while excelling is secondary.

As long as no one in the first batch of students deviates from the norm, it will be fine.

Zhong Xuan established the school primarily for fame.

"People generally say that fame is useless, and even some young scholars scoff at the pursuit of fame."

"They are all completely wrong."

"If one is nameless and no one recognizes their own name, how can the officials of the Ministry of Personnel know them, and how can they ascend to the Emperor's court?"

of course.

The pursuit of fame is a subject of considerable learning.

The timing and temperature of the heat are very important.

Many young people fail to grasp this opportunity, being too eager for quick success. In contrast, Zhong Xuan's age and extensive experience have proven to be an advantage.

Not long after.

The sounds of craftsmen starting their work echoed again from the backyard of the academy.

A thriving and prosperous scene.

Zhong Xuan arrived at the main hall of the academy with satisfaction, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to practice his breathing technique.

......

......

Langzi Bay.

The barbican, the statue of the Dragon King.

at this time.

The Dragon King statue in the center of the pool is entirely crimson, with an eerie blood-red glow around it, sending chills down one's spine.

Shi Yuanbai and Mo Sha stood side by side.

Mosa's eyes were filled with excitement.

"It's done!"

The shaman bestows blessings.

Mo Sha rubbed his hands together and grinned, "Shi Yuanbai, I need to go to Yongning Prefecture to retrieve a crucial item. During this time, do not let anyone approach the Dragon King statue."

"Oh, and don't forget about the search for that person."

He didn't forget to remind him before he left.

"it is good."

Shi Yuanbai nodded.

He stared at the eerie stone statue, his gaze deep, memories flooding his mind.

three years ago.

When the leader of the Sand Gang, who was also his father, felt hopeless about breaking through the three major cultivation levels and was disheartened, the Black Water Grand Priest, one of the nine Grand Priests of the Black Witch Cult, appeared.

"The lowest level of martial arts training is physical strength, the middle level is internal cultivation, and the highest level is nourishing one's vital energy."

"It is said that the previous Imperial Preceptor reached the highest level by using the Qi-absorbing method, becoming the number one person in the world."

The Black Water Grand Master passed on half of the Qi-Eating Method to Shi Yuanbai's father.

They promised that if one could raise a dragon king, they would bestow upon him initiation.

According to the Blackwater Grand Master, raising the Dragon King is a crucial step in absorbing vital energy.

Therefore, Shi Fengsha, the leader of the Sand Gang, attached great importance to raising the Dragon King.

Once Shi Fengsha becomes a martial artist in one of the three major training camps, his son Shi Yuanbai will surely be able to advance further, and there may be an opportunity for them to enter the three major training camps together.

Shi Yuanbai gazed in the direction Mo Sha had left.

Thoughtful.

......

......

This day.

Zhong Xuan left Xiaohe Village and arrived in Baisha County.

They went straight to the shop in the backyard of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School.

Zheng Yue flipped through the account books as usual.

Zhong Xuan already knew that the reason his senior brother liked to flip through the account books was because when their master was still alive, he felt that Zheng Yue was unsettled, so he came up with this method.

Checking accounts requires meticulousness and a great deal of patience.

This is an excellent way to cultivate one's character.

Over time, Zheng Yue got used to it and began to cultivate his character by turning over the curtains every day.

"Junior brother, what brings you here?"

Hearing the noise at the door, Zheng Yue looked up and asked with a smile.

Zhong Xuan placed the small wooden box on the counter: "Senior brother, I have a favor to ask of you."

talking.

He then opened the wooden box, revealing the leg bone of the monster inside.

Upon seeing the demonic beast's leg bone, Zheng Yue's brows furrowed slightly.

This is good stuff.

Zhong Xuan didn't keep him in suspense and went straight to the point: "Senior brother, this is a congratulatory gift sent by the Zhang family when the academy opened a few days ago. I don't have any connections, but could you help me think of a way to exchange it for a demon core by adding some money?"

"A demon core?"

Zheng Yue gave Zhong Xuan a meaningful look.

Demon cores, as the name suggests, are pills made from the blood and bones of demonic beasts.

It is purer than the Nine Blood Pill.

But... that's something you only need to break through to the Bone Refinement stage.

Zhong Xuan's pursuit of the elixir signifies that he is about to break through to the next level.

Zheng Yue didn't press further, but simply placed his hand on the large wooden box and moved it an inch toward himself.

The attitude is self-evident.

"Then thank you very much, Senior Brother."

talking.

Zhong Xuan then took out two Nine Blood Pills that he had obtained from Shi Yuanbai.

"If it's not enough, use this to make up the difference."

Although he didn't intend to use the two pills, exchanging them for silver would be a good idea.

Zheng Yue accepted the Nine Blood Pill and nodded slowly:

"If you need anything else, your senior brother will cover it for you first."

He added right after saying that, "Even close brothers need to keep clear accounts; nine out of thirteen must be returned."

Zhong Xuan felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this.

Demon cores are precious and not so easy to obtain.

Zheng Yue's willingness to step in was already a huge help to him, and he was even willing to advance the money for him.

"it is good."

"Nine out and thirteen back."

Zhong Xuan gladly agreed.

......

......

Five days later.

Zheng Yue handed Zhong Xuan a small jade bottle containing a round red pill, along with an IOU for five hundred taels of silver.

"A single demon core costs over a thousand taels of silver; it's truly expensive."

Zhong Xuan couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

But... as long as I can break through to the Bone Refinement stage, it's all worth it.

They did not return to Xiahe Village.

Zhong Xuan decided to stay in the backyard of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School.

They stayed there for half a month.

This day.

Zheng Yue, who was enjoying the cool air in the courtyard, heard the noise coming from inside the house and a look of joy flashed in his eyes.

"It has to work!"