Chapter 128: Chapter 127: Invitation

The next day, Xu Lingjun got up extra early.

He ate two eggs and a fried dough stick made by Wang Tiancheng himself…

Father Wang’s mindset was still stuck in the old ways, believing that eating like this could bring a perfect score, thinking it was auspicious.

Xu Lingjun didn’t have the heart to tell him that actually, of the five subjects, four have a full score of 150, leaving just one with 100. You’re not helping me; you’re cursing me.

But oh well…

He meant well, so why spoil it?

Besides, if I could get a perfect score of 100 in all five subjects, that wouldn’t be bad either.

At the very least, by then the Bei Xuanwu Martial Mansion would be completely secured, and there’d be a lot of extra academic credits to spare.

After breakfast.

Xu Lingjun said goodbye to Wang Tiancheng and walked to the academy alongside Wang Qingya.

Wen Sheng needed the martial test, and Martial Artists needed the literary test too.

Since these are not their forte, they need professional assistance during the assessment…

Otherwise, why bother traveling far to take the test at other academies? Why not just take it at their own institution?

But from this, it’s also evident how much the Empire values well-rounded development.

Reaching the school gate.

Xu Lingjun bid farewell to Wang Qingya, then stepped into the north campus, and immediately bumped into Zong Xiaoping, who was carrying a backpack and holding a book, muttering to himself as he walked towards the academy, looking every bit the bookworm.

Seeing Xu Lingjun come empty-handed, Zong Xiaoping curled his lips and said, “You sure are confident.”

Xu Lingjun replied, “Because a few days ago, Sister Yaya already helped me sharpen my weapon; it’s polished enough, what if I refine it further?”

Zong Xiaoping chuckled and said, “I’m not your match in the martial test, but in the literary test, Xu Lingjun, I definitely won’t lose to you.”

He seemed to have walked out of yesterday’s shadow.

He was full of confidence.

And they hadn’t walked far…

When they saw ahead, a graceful figure was quietly standing there.

Noticing Xu Lingjun and Zong Xiaoping walking side by side, she waved and smiled, “Hey, Xu Tongxue… uh…”

She paused, shocked, and said, “Your cultivation broke through to the True Transformation Realm?”

“What?!”

Zong Xiaoping turned his head towards Xu Lingjun in shock, exclaiming, “You… you broke through again?”

Xu Lingjun nodded with a smile and said, “Of course, the seven consecutive assessments last night were so tight, I was almost pushed to my limit, and suddenly had an epiphany when I got back, using it as a chance to break through a realm, which seems quite reasonable, right?”

“Yes, it’s very reasonable indeed.”

Gu Xi nodded, accepting this explanation.

But Zong Xiaoping was almost going crazy.

Reasonable?

Damn, mentor, don’t you know this Xu Lingjun just broke through to the late stage of Qi Gathering a few days ago, and now, in just a few days, he broke through again?

Oh right, she didn’t know.

Zong Xiaoping, who was stuck at the Qi Gathering Middle Realm for two whole years, looked at Xu Lingjun with a sour gaze again.

“Alright, Zong Tongxue, you go in first, I have something personal I want to talk to Xu Tongxue about.”

Gu Xi smiled at Zong Xiaoping and said, “It’s very private, so it’s not convenient for other men to hear…”

“Okay… okay then.”

Zong Xiaoping gave Xu Lingjun a resentful look.

Thinking, could it be that during yesterday’s assessment, I wasn’t anywhere near my limit?

Otherwise, why did he break through and I didn’t?

He turned and walked away resentfully, still mechanically reciting formulas he himself didn’t quite understand.

Xu Lingjun asked, “Mentor, did you need something from me?”

Gu Xi smiled and said, “Of course, I’m here to have you take responsibility.”

“Take responsibility for what?”

Gu Xi teased, “What if the bump you gave me yesterday doesn’t go away? If it doesn’t disappear, won’t you help me?”

Xu Lingjun: “…………..”

He thought for a while and finally understood what was swollen.

Noticing Xu Lingjun’s strange expression, Gu Xi chuckled and said, “Okay, I’m just joking, I came to see you for something serious, let’s talk while we walk, it won’t take too much of your time.”

Xu Lingjun nodded.

They walked side by side, and Gu Xi said, “I’m here to see you because I want to become your person.”

Xu Lingjun said speechlessly, “Teacher, you’re joking again.”

“This is no joke, this time it’s serious.”

Gu Xi seriously said, “To be precise, I want to become your exclusive teaching assistant.”

“Exclusive teaching assistant?!”

Hearing a strange term, Xu Lingjun asked with confusion, “What do you mean?”

“I told you before, whether it’s the academy or the Martial Mansion, academic credit is the most basic survival indicator, money doesn’t circulate in the Martial Mansion, you can only rely on your academic credits. Without credits, you might even starve to death.”

Xu Lingjun asked, “Can’t you buy credits?”

Gu Xi shook her head and said, “You can exchange credits for money, but it’s very difficult to buy credits with money… Generally speaking, no one is willing to sell. Xu Tongxue, besides the most basic credits you get upon entering the school, do you know where else you can earn credits?”

“Where?”

“There are many ways, you’ll naturally know by then, it’s not my place to explain.”

Gu Xi said, “But once you reach the Middle Realm Martial Artist, there’s a very simple way, which is to become a teaching assistant, recruit new students, and earn credits by tutoring them.”

She smiled and said, “This can also be seen as a benefit for old students and new students. After all, as you know, within the sect, as long as you can become an inner sect disciple, there will basically be a dedicated steward elder to teach you. Our Martial Mansion can stand alongside them because of our tradition of seniors nurturing juniors.”

Xu Lingjun asked, “Are you saying you want to become my master?”

“Not a master, just a teaching assistant.”

Gu Xi explained, “The Bei Xuanwu Martial Mansion has its own mentors, but their time is tight as they also need to focus on their cultivation, and what they teach are some generally acceptable knowledge. So what do you do when you encounter problems you don’t understand? Spend credits to consult a mentor? Also, the primary way for new students to gain credits in the Bei Xuanwu Martial Mansion is by acquiring resources in exchange for credits, but resources are not easy to get. Some newbies tend to rush in recklessly, which can be dangerous. Your lives are precious, and dying in such cases would be a huge waste, wouldn’t it?”

“And because of this, a new profession emerged, the teaching assistant.”

She said, “A teaching assistant may not be as strong as a mentor, but they have at least reached the Middle Realm Martial Artist level, ensuring the student’s safety isn’t an issue. They can also solve some of your Martial Tao puzzles. Most importantly, they can gain points from your progress to fuel their own advancement. This is a right that the Martial Mansion gives you, allowing you to enjoy the care and concern from seniors without any cost, because the reward is already paid by the Martial Mansion.”

Xu Lingjun summarized, “So basically like a counselor?”

“Something like that.”

Gu Xi smiled, “This is probably also a tradition of the Bei Xuanwu Martial Mansion, so older students are especially kind to newcomers because if they want to earn credits, it’s either fighting hard or being good to juniors… And I see potential in you, so I want to invite you to be my student. In fact, the reason I’m here for the assessment is to select suitable students, and I’ve chosen you.”

Xu Lingjun thought for a moment and asked, “Are there any benefits?”

“Of course there are.”

Gu Xi smiled, “I am now a Martial Artist in the Middle Realm of Profound Mystery, among the strongest group of teaching assistants. You’ve experienced my strength firsthand; with me around, at the very least if you want to go to the Secret Realm to get some resources, your safety won’t be a problem. Besides, I have no other students, meaning I can devote all my energy to you.”

Xu Lingjun curiously asked, “You didn’t have any students before?”

Gu Xi said, “Oh, I’ve taken in five students before.”

“And they all graduated?”

Gu Xi smiled and said, “No, they all died.”

Xu Lingjun: “…………….”

“After all, being a Martial Artist comes with risks, and experiencing danger is quite normal. Since there are risks, dying is also plausible.”

Gu Xi shrugged and said, “But death only suggests they had bad luck, but I have confidence in you. I think with your resilience and protective gear, you should be able to break my title of ‘New Student Terminator.’