With Xiyue Feng's introduction, Feng Hao, as the owner of the Miao Medicine Tower, met the Dean of Rongcheng Academy.
Inside the Dean's office, Zhou Chen, the genius who had just caused a sensation, was also present. He stood beside Elder Gu with an arrogant expression, glancing at Feng Hao a few times with a look of indifference.
"Dean Zhao, this young man didn't pass the test. He'd like to become an auditor student through a sponsorship," Xiyue Feng said, getting straight to the point.
Perhaps because he had just recruited the genius, Zhou Chen, Zhao Hao was in an excellent mood, his face beaming. "Since the Xiyue Family Head himself is making the recommendation, I'll naturally grant him this favor. However, I should be upfront—the sponsorship fee for an auditor isn't cheap."
"Don't worry. Feng Hao is the disciple of the Miao Medicine Tower's Alchemist. He's more than wealthy enough," Xiyue Feng said with a sinister smile.
Zhao Hao looked surprised. He sized Feng Hao up and down, clicking his tongue in amazement. "I've heard the Alchemist from the Miao Medicine Tower is exceptionally skilled. I wonder if he would be interested in a position at the academy? The compensation would be extremely generous."
"Thank you for your kind offer, Dean, but my master has his reasons for not making public appearances," Feng Hao said awkwardly.
"That's a real pity," Zhao Hao said, looking slightly disappointed. He then changed the subject. "Young man, since you want to sponsor your enrollment, I assume you're aware of the rules. Are you sure you want to be an auditor?"
"I am," Feng Hao nodded. "How much is the sponsorship fee?"
"Auditing for one year costs 10,000 Level 1 Magic Crystals. We offer a discount for three years at 25,000 Level 1 Magic Crystals. That's already the lowest price of any academy in the area."
Feng Hao was stunned. 'I can't believe it's so expensive.' Luckily, he wasn't short on Magic Crystals at the moment, or he really wouldn't be able to afford it. "Alright, I can pay now. What paperwork is required?"
"Auditors don't need any real paperwork. We just do a simple registration and give you an auditor's pass." Seeing how readily Feng Hao agreed, Zhao Hao was also quite pleased. "With this pass, you can come and go from the academy as you please and sit in on most classes."
Without wasting any words, Feng Hao took out 250 Level 2 Magic Crystals and placed them on the desk.
Zhao Hao gleefully swept up the Magic Crystals and took out a simple registration form. He began to ask, "Name is Feng Hao, right? And your age?"
"Twenty."
"Current genetic level?"
"Level fifteen."
"And genetic activity?"
"Forty-eight."
"With aptitude like that, you definitely couldn't enroll through normal means," Zhao Hao sighed, taking out a palm-sized ID card and handing it to Feng Hao.
On the other side, Zhou Chen and Elder Gu hadn't been paying Feng Hao any mind. They only showed a hint of surprise when he took out the Magic Crystals, but after hearing the details of his aptitude, their expressions turned to contempt.
In their eyes, Feng Hao was nothing more than some rich upstart trying to buy his way into a prestigious affiliation with the academy.
"That's it?" Feng Hao looked at his auditor's pass, completely dumbfounded. 'All that money for this crappy little card. It's a real ball-ache just thinking about it.'
"What else were you expecting? Other than the school rules, there are no restrictions on auditors. You can come and go as you please. What you learn in these three years is entirely up to you." Zhao Hao pursed his lips, his expression casual. "I'll mention it to the academy's instructors at the meeting this afternoon. You can start tomorrow."
"Alright then. I'll take my leave," Feng Hao said, smacking his lips before turning to go.
Xiyue Feng, whose gaze had been fixed on Zhou Chen, said, "You go on ahead. The Dean and I still have things to discuss."
Feng Hao found it a bit odd, but he didn't say anything and strode out of the office.
That kid, Miao Feng, should be a second-year student by now, busy with his own academy life, so Feng Hao didn't bother him and went straight back to the Miao Medicine Tower.
He was starting at the academy tomorrow, so he needed to sort out the business at the shop. 'After all, being an auditor is incredibly expensive. I can't let my source of funding dry up.'
"Boss, you're back?" The new shopkeeper, Wang Gui, hurried over with a fawning expression, as did several of the shop hands.
"Yes. I'll be starting my studies at the academy tomorrow, so I need you all to look after the shop. If anything urgent comes up, you can find me there. I'll also be dropping by to check on things from time to time," Feng Hao said, hands clasped behind his back, putting on a commanding air.
Wang Gui and the others nodded hurriedly. They were ordinary people, so it was only natural for them to be completely respectful toward a Mage. Besides, the pay at the Miao Medicine Tower was excellent. They'd be hard-pressed to find a better job.
"Make sure the golden packages in the warehouse are delivered to the three great families on schedule. Oh, and if anyone from the Beixing Family comes by, you don't need to be pleasant with them. If they cause any trouble, contact me immediately."
"This humble one understands," Wang Gui nodded knowingly. Who in all of Rongcheng didn't know about the feud between the Miao Medicine Tower and the Beixing Clan?
"Good. Now, get back to work." Feng Hao flicked his sleeves and headed straight upstairs.
He spent the entire night using Tier One Magic Crystals to aid his cultivation. The Genetic Tree within him grew slowly but steadily. For a Mage like him, with a genetic activity of only 48, constantly using Magic Crystals was the only way to keep from falling too far behind everyone else.
'It couldn't be helped. The fundamental magical aptitude of people from Earth was just too poor.'
A genius like Zhou Chen, with a genetic activity of 121, could cultivate much faster than him even without the aid of Magic Crystals. That was reality. The stark, naked reality.
'Time to head to the academy. I wonder what the legendary Demon Patterns look like?'
He roused his spirits, gave a few brief instructions to Wang Gui, and then set off for Rongcheng Academy, full of anticipation.
When he arrived at Rongcheng Academy again, the scene before him had completely changed. The start of the new semester, combined with the enrollment of new students, made the campus exceptionally lively. Young men and women filled the grounds, their cheerful laughter suffusing the air with youthful energy.
Among the flowerbeds and groves of trees, the air was thick with hormones. Fresh-faced junior girls fell prey to the advances of the upperclassmen, while many flashy senior girls put their own charms on display, capturing the attention of all the young wolves.