As Ben, Rose, and Trex from White Sparrow Village arrived at the city where the Water Dragon Academy was located, they marveled at their surroundings. Throughout the journey, they had traveled by carriage, and with the elder's assistance, they reached the academy with ease.

The elder, noticing their curious expressions, spoke up. "I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? In our academy, all elders are referred to by numbers for various reasons, such as maintaining secrecy or personal identity. Many other academies follow a similar system. For you, I am Elder 8—the tenth most powerful elder in the Water Dragon Academy. The principal and headmaster are at the very top."

He continued, "There are rules and regulations you must follow once we reach the academy gates. After the initial assessment, you'll be assigned accommodations. Normally, all new students start from the Outer Hall."

Tapping his head, the elder added, "Oh, I forgot to mention—the academy consists of three halls, each with different entry requirements. The first is the Outer Hall, where students below level 31 reside. Some exceptional students can directly enter the Inner Hall, which is for those under level 40. Finally, the Core Hall is reserved for students above level 40. Those in the Core Hall hold the same authority as academy elders due to their immense power."

Listening intently, the trio nodded in understanding.

"Since the halls are separated, the opportunities available to students differ as well. Outer Hall students must rely on themselves for everything—from knowledge acquisition to cultivation resources. The academy provides access to information, but at a discounted price. This system is designed to push students toward self-improvement and prevent dependence on the academy."

He handed them a piece of paper. "Take a look at this list; it details the prices of various resources."

Scanning the list, the three saw that essential lectures on cultivation techniques cost ten white coins per week, and attendance was mandatory. Cultivation pills for those below level 30 were available but were priced steeply at 120 white coins each. Despite the cost, these pills were a rare find in their home cities. Weapon Master techniques were also listed. Everything required money, but the academy provided these resources at lower prices than the outside market. The trio was relieved to see that, at least here, they had access to such things, unlike in their villages where even money couldn't buy them.

Inner Hall students received free lectures, a 30% discount on resources, and access to additional benefits. The difference in treatment was clear.

As they approached the academy gates, they saw a vast walled area. The academy wasn't overly massive, but the land it occupied was extensive. From the outside, only a straight path leading to the entrance was visible, with a pointed structure at the back. The two-meter-high stone walls enclosed the entire area.

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Four individuals stood near the gate—two were guards with powerful auras, likely at level 25 or above, and two were seated at separate tables.

Elder 8 walked up to the person on the left and exchanged a few words. The man then turned to the trio and said, "You three, step forward one by one. State your names, cultivation levels, and other relevant information."

Trex moved first. "Trex, level 23, Water element."

The official at the desk nodded. "What are the ranks of your seeds? It's an important factor in assessing your strength."

"Two Common-ranked seeds," Trex responded.

The official's expression remained neutral as he waved Trex aside. "Next."

As Rose stepped forward, another group of six approached the gate. She assumed they were prospective students as well. Among them, one man appeared to be around Elder 8's age, possibly another academy elder, while the remaining five were young cultivators. However, neither elder acknowledged the other, suggesting he might not be affiliated with the academy.

Undeterred, Rose introduced herself. "Rose, level 25, Thunder element, two Common-ranked seeds."

The official's attention snapped to her upon hearing her element. Even those in the newly arrived group turned to look, drawn by her voice—though her beauty was likely a contributing factor.

However, the official sighed and shook his head. "It's truly a disappointment. With such a powerful element, your seed quality is too low. If even one of your seeds were Uncommon, you could have qualified for the Inner Hall as an elite student. But it's not too late—train diligently, and you may still rise to greatness like our esteemed elders."

Rose nodded, understanding that her limitations had been lifted now that she was at the academy.

Next, Ben stepped forward. "Ben, level 24, Wind element, two Common-ranked seeds."

The official barely reacted and simply motioned for him to move aside.

As the new group stepped forward for inspection, the trio realized just how weak their seed ranks were. Among the five students, three had one Common and one Uncommon seed, while the other two had Common seeds like them. Rose, however, had an advantage with her high-tier Thunder element.

The official then announced, "A student may qualify for the Inner Hall if they can defeat a level 39 cultivator in battle, even if they themselves are below level 30."

The trio understood that this rule was likely aimed at people like Rose, whose element or seed quality could allow them to fight above their level. For most, it was nearly impossible to defeat a level 39 opponent without external assistance.

"The academy is divided into two sections for the Inner and Outer Halls, with facilities separated accordingly. The Inner Hall occupies 70% of the academy's space, while the Outer Hall takes up 30%. Despite this, the Outer Hall has more students than the Inner Hall, meaning resources are more limited. You have a maximum of one and a half years to reach level 30 and enter the Inner Hall. If you fail, you will be expelled from the academy."

The trio was taken aback. Advancing from level 21 to 30 normally required at least three years, yet the academy imposed a strict time limit. It was clear that the institution encouraged students to buy cultivation resources and train intensively to accelerate their growth.