Chapter 67 - 67: Academy, Appointment of All Staff
Maintaining the good habit of attending classes, Zhu Minglang now wanted to become a learned man.
Today’s class happened to be taught by the incomparably elegant Teacher Bai Yishu, and Zhu Minglang found that today’s classmates were mostly girls.
No wonder he was the most handsome teacher at Li Chuan Academy, his charm and influence could even compete with his own!
At the end of class, the teacher assigned homework.
This assignment wasn’t arranged by Teacher Bai Yishu alone, but was distributed by the entire Li Chuan Dragon Taming Academy as a collective mission.
Since it was mandatory, basically every Dragon Shepherd with a dragon needed to participate, and of course, the academy’s rewards for this mission were also very high.
Big Black Tooth was a glutton. The academy had its own ranch, which Zhu Minglang had visited. Recently, some Dragon Shepherds had captured many wild black pigs and confined them at the ranch, where they could be exchanged for academic credits.
Since black pig was Big Black Tooth’s favorite and the price of black pigs outside had tripled this winter season, considering the growing expenses in his future, Zhu Minglang naturally prioritized using academic credits to exchange for Big Black Tooth’s food.
The academic credit rewards for the all-member mission were quite generous, and many students had already set out in advance upon hearing about it. If they performed excellently, they could also receive academy honors!
The academy’s honors and rewards were very tempting, including offerings of young dragons, Soul Beads, Dragon Balls, Spirit Fruits, Magic Diamonds, Different Corpses, and more…
“This time, the academy will award an outstanding student with a Spiritual
Realm Fruit. I suppose some students who have only recently entered the Dragon Shepherd Spiritual Domain might not know what the Spiritual Realm Fruit is for, right?” Teacher Bai Yishu said, looking at the students.
Indeed, many students nodded in agreement, including Zhu Minglang.
Teacher Bai Yishu glanced at Zhu Minglang.
Ha, what are you pretending to be, a novice Dragon Shepherd? Wasn’t it you who knocked me off the Flying Bird Pseudo-Dragon!
Despite his internal complaints, Teacher Bai Yishu still patiently explained to the students: “The Spiritual Realm Fruit, as the name implies, enhances the spiritual domain. The direct effect is that it allows you to add one more Spirit Contract; the other effects depend on the individual’s absorption.”
Zhu Minglang’s eyes immediately lit up.
Anxious about not being able to buy a Spiritual Realm Fruit, and since Little Qingzhuo had taken up the third Spirit Contract, Zhu Minglang no longer had a spare Spirit Contract. Even if he encountered a good Juvenile Spirit Dragon sprout in the future, he wouldn’t be able to establish a Spirit Bond.
No matter how many dragons one might have in the future, keeping a spare Spirit Contract was always best.
The Dragon Taming Academy was indeed a Dragon Taming Academy.
Offering Spiritual Realm Fruit as an annual end-of-year academic reward, an item even the major families of the city-states were reluctant to give away casually was being given as a scholarship by the academy!
The other female students were also thrilled; the academy’s rewards were always the most anticipated event of the year and never disappointed the students.
“Of course, this all-member mission is not without its difficulties,” Teacher Bai Yishu continued.
The mission list was written up, not in much detail, but Teacher Bai Yishu took the opportunity to discuss the specifics of this mission with the students attending his class.
“In winter, when all things wither and prosper, many creatures are driven by this white season to desperation. Upstream on the Li Chuan River, there are numerous towns, villages, and nomadic groups who have been harassed and attacked by many Demon Spirits after winter began.”
“According to information from the Nan Family at Ancestral Dragon City, these Demon Spirits have been ravaging our towns because they are led by a very powerful Demon Spirit with Spiritual Wisdom. Many Monster Creatures and Demon Spirits, driven to the brink of starvation in the mountains and prairies, have joined the ranks of this Great Demon Spirit with Spiritual Wisdom, continuously plundering our human cities, including a number of man-eating monsters and Demon Spirits.”
“If it were only a matter of taking livestock, we would not need to go to such lengths, but with man-eating creatures involved, we cannot ignore the situation!”
To feast upon humans, such monsters are extremely dangerous in any city-state, and these Demon Spirits are often very cunning, knowing too well how to exploit the vulnerabilities of human population centers…
In the upper reaches of the Li Chuan River, there are many affluent towns that are basically unscathed by war, and the local military force is relatively small. If a powerful Demon Spirit were to suddenly break into the city walls one night, a blood-drenched massacre could ensue.
Some monster spirits can consume a hundred people in just one night!
Not to mention this time it’s a group of monsters plundering, with even a Demon Spirit commander!
If the Demon Spirits invade the city, it would surely be a slaughter, a truly horrendous atrocity.
Moreover, while the military is skilled in warfare, they are often helpless against those powerful demon spirits. No matter how numerous they are, what can the army do if the demon spirits flee? How can they give chase?
As for searching the mountains and hunting them down, that’s an absolute fantasy. Some of the smarter Demon Spirits might even seize the chance when the military leaves the city and attack the defenseless settlement!
Even with a large army, they can only defend. Not all towns have high walls, nor do all civilians live within the safety of tall walls. Therefore, the army is quite passive when facing Demon Spirits.
Only Dragon Shepherds can handle these wanton Monster Groups more effectively.
“Of course, we teachers will also be stationed in various major towns. Your goal is to eliminate those Demon Spirits and monster spirits that are lurking around different towns and villages. Do not provoke those of the Demon Spirit level. If you encounter any, immediately notify your academy’s mentor. Do not overestimate your strength and lose your life,” Teacher Bai Yishu specifically cautioned.
Being a Dragon Shepherd has always been a dangerous profession. Every year, a number of students who go out for practice never return. This all-out mission is not some academy cleaning or a visit to comfort the elderly in nursing homes. One wrong move, and both person and dragon could be devoured by the monster group!
Therefore, Bai Yishu repeatedly emphasized to the students that they must travel in pairs.
Acting alone will not earn any credits.
Zhu Minglang had originally thought about operating solo. With his current strength, he could definitely handle crises on his own. However, seeing that a mandatory rule of partnering up had been enforced, he suddenly made a sour face!
This rule was designed partly to ensure the safety of the students and also in the hope that the stronger students could lead the weaker ones.
So who should he choose as a partner for this mission?
There should be some strong individuals among the students, but he didn’t know any of them. They were usually too arrogant and prideful, and they didn’t mingle much with someone humble and gentle like himself—a true gentleman.
He did know a few people from his dormitory.
But they haven’t even passed the Dragon Gate yet.
Students without a True Dragon don’t even have the qualification to go. They should stay at the academy with peace of mind, do the cleaning, and help the local grandmothers find their lost kittens.
The Spirit Fruit from the Spiritual Realm—he was determined to get it.
And he needed to earn the full amount of credits.
It’s just the problem of finding a partner…
“Junior Zhu,” a refined senior sister approached, looking at Zhu Minglang’s worried face.
“Are you offering to partner up with me?” Zhu Minglang’s heart leaped, and he quickly asked.
“Ah?” Chu Yanyan’s purpose wasn’t actually that. She was simply curious whether the woman who went to the River Battlefield with Zhu Minglang that day was Li Yunzi.
Gossip keeps one forever young.
That was all Chu Yanyan was interested in..