**Chapter 28: Second-Tier Cultivation Protocol**

“Dear Father and Mother, apologies for the brevity, but I think I’m in deep trouble this time… wait, no, I might actually survive!”

In the chaos, Jie Ming was “escorted” away by several wizards from the enforcement team, clad in standard wizard robes, to a secret chamber deep within the academy.

The room was small, its walls forged from a cold, black metal, windowless, with only a heavy metal door.

Jie Ming sat on a comfortable chair in the center of the room, initially tense but soon realizing things weren’t quite as he’d imagined.

Though the chamber appeared heavily guarded, the wizards didn’t seem particularly concerned with him.

He wasn’t restrained, nor did he sense any coercive energy fluctuations.

The enforcement team wizards had simply brought him here, then stood silently outside the door, neither entering nor engaging with him.

On a small round table nearby, there were even a few delicate pastries and a cup of glowing, warm beverage.

“What’s this? Some kind of waiting game?”

The peculiar kindness left Jie Ming puzzled, but it also eased his nerves slightly.

“Maybe… it’s not as bad as I thought?” He cautiously picked up the drink and took a small sip.

The liquid slid down his throat, bringing an indescribable comfort, as if soothing his mental fatigue.

If he had truly been exposed for practicing a cultivation system outside wizardry or suspected of being a spy, they wouldn’t be this courteous.

Wizards dealt with enemies—especially those who might threaten the entire civilization—with ruthless efficiency.

No restraints, no interrogation, and even snacks and a drink… this didn’t feel like an interrogation for a spy.

Waiting for judgment wasn’t pleasant, but this lack of pressure made him somewhat relaxed.

He leaned back in the chair, his Internal Circulation running ceaselessly within, a hidden layer of refined gold coating his body’s surface, ready to respond to any sudden situation.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the heavy metal door let out a *clank* and slowly opened.

A familiar figure, slightly balding and dressed in the long robe of an alchemy mentor, stepped inside.

Mentor Clark.

Seeing it was Clark, Jie Ming’s instinctive fear of his head instructor kicked in, and he immediately tensed, sitting upright and barely daring to breathe.

He expected a cold interrogation or scrutiny to follow.

To his surprise, Clark showed no signs of probing or questioning.

His face remained as expressionless as ever, but his gaze seemed slightly less rigid than usual, carrying a hint of…

“How to put it? The look of someone appraising the value of a commodity?”

Jie Ming’s mind swirled with questions, but he didn’t dare voice them, only waiting silently for his judgment.

Fortunately, Clark didn’t beat around the bush. He sat down on a chair opposite Jie Ming and got straight to the point.

“The ‘White Iron Insulation Material’ you submitted has passed the highest-level evaluation, showing significant potential. Additionally, your performance during the public laboratory incident—calm, decisive, and accurate in assessing the equipment’s core—demonstrated exceptional reaction speed and talent.”

Jie Ming swallowed hard, unsure of what his mentor was getting at, bracing for a “but” to follow.

But things didn’t unfold as he feared. Mentor Clark paused, then uttered a term that felt unfamiliar to Jie Ming:

“The academy has decided to initiate the second-tier cultivation protocol for you.”

Second-tier cultivation protocol?

Jie Ming was momentarily bewildered.

What was that?

He vaguely recalled Amy mentioning something about the academy’s apprentice cultivation plans, but the second-tier cultivation protocol… it sounded similar but seemed like a different concept.

Noticing his confusion, Mentor Clark, in a rare display of patience, explained:

“The second-tier cultivation protocol is established by the Star Ring Federation for apprentices assessed to have the potential to surpass formal wizard ranks and aim for higher tiers. It signifies that the entire Federation will prioritize your development.”

“Specific privileges include: your credit account will gain expanded purchasing authority. While ordinary apprentices are limited to items and knowledge related to first-level formal wizards, you, with sufficient credits, can purchase nearly all non-restricted items within the academy’s mana network, including some regulated knowledge and items.”

“Additionally, you are granted the right to establish a private laboratory. You can own a lab in the designated workshop area, enjoying better research environments and equipment resources. Of course, you’ll bear the associated costs.”

“Most importantly, through the academy’s channels, you can sell your research products across the Star Ring Federation’s energy communication network. Unlike the task center’s campus-limited network, this is a cross-plane, cross-faction trading platform, giving you access to vastly broader markets and resources.”

Listening to Mentor Clark’s explanation, Jie Ming grasped the immense value of the second-tier cultivation protocol but still had some doubts.

“Mentor, these… seem like permissions, not tangible support?” Jie Ming hesitated. “Does the academy provide substantial aid, like free materials or credit subsidies?”

At this, Mentor Clark’s perpetually stoic face displayed his signature “you’re an idiot” look, familiar from class:

“Credits? Subsidies?”

He stared at Jie Ming, his tone shifting to the analytical cadence Jie Ming knew well from lessons:

“Apprentice Jie Ming, if you can’t even earn the credits needed for your cultivation and research, you don’t deserve the second-tier cultivation protocol, let alone prove your ability to reach higher tiers.”

“These permissions are the greatest support. They remove the ceiling on your resource acquisition and expand your channels for obtaining them. How much you earn and how far you go depends entirely on your own capability.”

Hearing this, the weight on Jie Ming’s heart finally lifted completely.

So that’s how it was!

Not only was he not treated as a spy or suspected of hiding some grand secret, but the academy had confirmed his “investment value” and “cultivation potential”!

In other words…

I’ve cleared my name as a “genius” regarding the material issue?!

The sense of relief washed over Jie Ming like a tidal wave.

He was finally safe!

At least, within this academy, under the protection of the rules, he was temporarily safe!

Jie Ming felt a surge of gratitude, mixed with a touch of embarrassment.

The massive shift in his emotions made him chuckle, his expression visibly relaxing.