"Student Bai Xing," the servant walked over to the boy who look scared. "come with me, you have been chosen by the Principal to become his student directly. No time for goodbyes as your senior sister has already arrived and is most likely waiting because of this now."

The servant walked away after saying that. Bai Xing scurried to get up and follow behind. The students were in an uproar as Bai Xing was from a small town on the outskirts. They were known for fishing and not much else.

"Ok, the tests are over. Please return to your seats, those who did not meet the expectations follow Teacher Murasame." Old Jin said. "According to tradition, the highest in attendance gets to choose first." He cast a gaze out among the students out of courtesy before announcing. "I choose Leroy Agu Shentai, Victoria Dark Rose, and Chu Xue Light Lion-ice."

He chose Leroy because of the purity of his Qi just then and the fact he was older and sure of himself. As the rumor goes the young man already had a profession in mind and the only real drawback was that he was older thus wasting years already of prime cultivation.

Unless something happens, the Akademy wouldn't give any major resources to help him. It would be seen as a waste when there were younger students who could benefit from it. Despite how valuable a Spiritual Root like his was. It would be up to the teacher to give the right resources and teaching.

If they only knew he made it to this Cultivation within the first 2 months of starting.

Old Jin, however, would find a way to circumvent those unspoken laws if he had to. If Leroy were to step into the Foundation Establishment Realm before he turned 25 then it would be more than enough to prove he was a good cultivator.

As the others were selected, things turned rowdy again. The young troublemaker Pin Feng was whispering to Chu Xue. Informing him about the vice principal's status and rank and planting seeds to use further on. Budding up to him even more than before.

Both "Light" Tier Families were known to have uneasy lives. Especially the Light Lionice family that was more than suffering under the Dark Tiger-fire Family.

To make the waters even muddier, a young scion moved over.

"Congratulations, we will be studying side by side now." Victoria gave a pretty smile that caused even Pin Feng to lower his guard. "I'll be in your care." She gave a forced polite look over to Leroy. He stopped her before she said anything, however.

"Keep your false words. People who force themselves to be polite, are just as bad as the spineless people." Leroy spoke neutrally, he was still thinking about how to deal with the exposure of the Pure Fire earlier. The trio looked at him shocked. 'I know I saw that old tiger in there, but I can't find a single trace of it now.'

"Humph!" Victoria turned her nose up at him. Something about the other just brought out the worst in her. "You are just upset you are not the only one with a high Tier Spirit Root!"

"The Spirit Roots results were determined by the strength of the soul. He was beaten in the past and for stupid actions throughout life helped shape the Spiritual Root. Hard work before coming here definitely influenced his soul even more so. He has not committed suicide yet, thus a strong soul. If you look closer, a few other students that went through the same lifestyle as he revealed at least three branches. Also taken the temperament of the person's character as well during the test. Well, a little busybody whispering in his ear may have had an effect as well beforehand I suppose."

"Chu Xue.. this guy is.." Victoria wanted to say something but was too sheepish to really do so.

"He is right. I thought about how bad my family situation was during the test." Chu Xue was somewhat ashamed but also took strength from this.. "So.."

"..your instructing Masters and Teachers will definitely teach you patiently to cross that threshold." Old Jin said raising his voice slightly. The kids were too involved and rowdy again. "Training will begin starting tomorrow! Go back and rest." He turned to Chan-Yeol. "Take them to the lodgings."

"Yes." Chan-Yeol bowed and led the students away. Not saying anything but looking at the students over intently as they made it through the area. "This will conclude the exam. Practice lessons will begin actually in two days. Try to rest up accordingly."

.

Quarters-

.

"Is this the place?" Chu Xue asked.

"Yes, this is it." Chan-Yeol looked over his shoulders back at him. "You'll live in these quarters." The two talked a little. Leroy was coming back from his courtyard after locking it. He overheard the final part. "Your task now is to practice well. Don't let Vice-principal Jin be disappointed in you!"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Yes!" Chu Xue bowed. He looked up to see Leroy in front of him. "Lord Leroy.." After speaking with some of the others he was starting to believe the rumor that Leroy was part of the Dark Tigerfire Family as well.

"Look dumb dumb.." Leroy spoke as neutrally as possible. "That snake Pin Feng is not your friend. He will slowly get close to you and convince you he can be trusted. But that will cause you problems later on. Do not let the "Affinity" shared between you lead you astray."

He was not referring just to the fact they were subordinate families but to the element of affinity. Pin Feng was naturally affixed with Water in his body. Chu Xue was naturally affixed with Ice in his body.

"How do you know he can't really be trusted?" Chu Xue was suspected of Leroy after hearing he produced fire and broke through during the test. 'Too many coincidences between him and the Dark Tigerfire Family.'

"A lot of stuff is going around in the background. Whispers amongst the noble houses about rebellion. Especially from the Light Sparrow-water Family." Leroy spoke softly as he leaned in close to him. "Think of your family, staying close friends with someone like this, will hurt them. This is not in the long run but short term. Children such as yourself just don't understand how Politics work."

Leroy pulled away looking back to make sure no one was listening in on the two. It would be really bad if they did. Bad enough he risked telling this much to Chux Xue.

If not for a few of the body's information taken at the Corpse Pit, a lot of secret allegiances between the various families would not be known to him. Tang Ansui only could tell him so much.

"Why should I believe you!?" Chu Xue barked the question out. "My family is not treated the best, which is because of your own mind you."

"No.. my kind is not even alive. " Leroy shook his head agitated. "I am not a member of the Dark Tiger-fire family. They lack the true conviction to even be remotely related to me. You should know the hierarchy of your own family best and those who are breaking laws and various policies. As well as how you act with those who come to inspect the situation. Always keep your head down... cowering in fear. How much did you honestly miss in regards to loyalty to your family?"

"Tch!" Chu Xue looked away ashamed with a flushed face. His fist clenched tightly as he knew for a fact he couldn't refute the way he acted during inspections. In his mind, he did the right thing to keep his family safe and trouble-free.

It's what the Patriarch and Elders advised them to do!

"I have warned you enough. A stubborn coward does not listen to even good advice." Leroy walked away carefree. "The deaths will be on you soon. I assure you, they will not be pretty and they will be plentiful. Cowards always die clinging in the dark if not smart and you.. well, you know how smart you are."

Getting a scope of the land so to speak, Leroy bumped into the Hamlet members and the Clear Tang Family members. Of course, he had no reason to prevent them from joining him and the fact several of them were wanting to exchange information on medicine he figured it was a good way to make money.

He explained to them better how to do the graft and muscle transplants. As well as how to do blood transplants and why blood type mattered. That one was the hardest and caused the Medical martial Artist to have an entire journal in its regard. To save himself from missing something, Leroy added in that they are more than just the few blood types he listed.

Due to their being families with special bloodlines from repeated generations of certain cultivation manuals, it definitely was a safe bet.

"Well, it is a good thing we made improvements to the Blood Testing Array!" Tang Xuan, the former guard said as they made it to the market area. More than happy to switch to becoming a student of the Akademy, the young man was glad to even be assigned to the group that was to get close to Leroy. "Even those who have no interest in Arrays can do it."

"Yeah but at least you are at the Qi Refining Realm and can make good use of it along with this.. medical procedure." Tang Ansui's daughter, gifted and young but not to gifted and young was more or less part of the group sent to the Akademy to study and prepare for the immediate future. "Because of the Hamlet, you all come from.."

"It's a Town now." Tessei said very firmly as he interjected. He didn't care she was a young Noble in the least. Something he definitely cared about before he took that Sucking Plant Egg made from Leroy.

"Right, Town of whatever it will be called," Only a little angry about the interruption, she gave the commoner an evil glare. "had so much Amp Flower, the Clear Tang Family made sure to secure it. This is all well and good since the Nests are still a priority to getting cleaned up. However... you.."

The young teen called attention to Leroy who was scribbling a few notes in the Medical Clear Tang Guards journals. Which at this point became several volumes of Blood Groups & Antigens alone. Because all of them were in the Qi Gathering Realm of various Ranks, he didn't have to repeat himself a single time with the exceptional hearing each had.

"..you should have just joined the Clear Tang Family and no effort could have been wasted."

"That helps your Family only and doesn't affect or benefit me directly." Leroy gave her a once-over before going back to add to each of the particular notes. "..alright make sure to put her that only 300 hundred Combination of Antigens is generally researched but that the number is quite higher due to heredity conditions of certain types and hermitic lifestyles of several groups."

"We may not be the best but we are a decent Noble Family. Not a single one of the Hamlet's in the area was missed in the aftermath of the Demon Plant cleanup. You don't hear about any others helping like that." It was pitch if Leroy ever heard one. Of course, it went nowhere considering he had no way to confirm or unconfirmed what she just said. "Think of the resources you can obtain if you do join up with our Branch directly."

Those from the Hamlet were fidgeting a little. All except Tessi as he knew this would not change Leroy's mind.

"You guys will need more books if you are coming to me for information on the additional medicine I know. As well as some good resources to pay for my services."

"Tsk," Tang Xui sucked her teeth in as she knew it was a failure. Which was fine as she was more concerned about increasing her individual strength anyway. Let the Elders and Heirs fight for family improvement. "I have a few tons of Amp Flower and about 250,000 gold, what does that get me?"