CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 50: ASK FOR AN EXORBITANT PRICE AND PAY ON THE SPOT (SEEKING CONTINUED READING)

"Shengjing Academy definitely has the most resources. But with more resources comes more competition. Jiang Shu, it will be very hard for you to get resources in the early stages. Initially, resources are scarce and everyone is watching. If they give them to you, what about others?"

"Moreover, the academy is not just any ordinary university. With your Horse Stance Perfection and your blood qi circulating fully throughout your body, you would receive the best treatment at any top university right now. But at the academy, your treatment would be the same as the other students."

"After all, everyone who can enter the academy possesses similar talent and capabilities."

Zheng Yanbo’s voice was gentle. He paused momentarily, as if taking a sip of tea, before continuing, "Shengjing Academy will definitely not agree to your demands. You mentioned Jiangnan Academy, likely considering its proximity, but you must also be aware of its disadvantages."

"Compared to the other three great academies, Jiangnan Academy faces the most difficult transition. If our Xia Country emphasizes Martial Arts in the future, and Jiangnan Academy still cannot cultivate Martial Arts powerhouses, whether it can still be ranked alongside the other three great academies is another question entirely."

"So, from a certain perspective, Jiangnan Academy might be worth considering. How about this: I’ll contact the Martial Arts admissions officer at Jiangnan Academy and arrange for you to meet in person. You can talk things over and see what kind of treatment you can get. Anyway, there are still ten days until the actual college entrance exam, so there’s plenty of time."

"Thank you, Uncle Zheng."

"If you really want to thank me, the best way is to not be in a hurry to transfer your household registration out once you’re in an academy."

Zheng Yanbo laughed heartily. After some pleasantries, the call ended. He had transferred from Shengjing to Ji City specifically to promote Martial Arts at the grassroots level.

The more Martial Artists in Ji City in the future, the better his political achievements would be! And Jiang Shu was very likely to become the first Martial Artist among this cohort of high school students in Ji City!

「Two days later.」

Ji City. Culture and Tourism Bureau, Director’s Office.

"Mr. Li, this is Jiang Shu from Ji City’s Fifth High School; he has achieved Horse Stance Perfection and has full blood qi circulation," Zheng Yanbo said, introducing them. "Jiang Shu, this is Mr. Li from Jiangnan Academy, in charge of admissions."

Zheng Yanbo then sat to one side. Discussing the matter was up to the two of them; he didn’t need to interject excessively.

"Hello, Mr. Li. We’re meeting today to learn about Jiangnan Academy’s terms for new Martial Arts students," Jiang Shu said, standing up first and extending a handshake to Mr. Li, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.

"Hello, Jiang Shu," Mr. Li replied, his voice gentle, his expression unreadable.

Even Zheng Yanbo didn’t know that Mr. Li had come with a strict directive from his principal: under reasonable conditions, he had to recruit Jiang Shu to Jiangnan Academy at all costs!

But in negotiations... who would show their hand? Even if you’re holding nothing but a three, you have to pretend it’s an ace!

Once the decree for Martial Arts Students in Xia Country was issued, the first batch naturally attracted significant attention. Forget the Four Great Academies; even some top universities were planning to recruit a large number of Martial Arts Students.

"Martial Arts Students will enter our new Martial Arts department at Jiangnan Academy. Currently, our Martial Arts department has three teachers, all of whom are Dark Force Martial Artists."

"They will teach you the Guiding Skill. The academy’s Martial Arts resources can be exchanged for credits. As for earning credits, that will depend on your performance in class and your progress in Martial Arts."

"Here is a partial list of our school’s Martial Arts resources."

Prepared in advance, Mr. Li took out a list of resources printed on A4 paper from his briefcase.

Jiang Shu took it and looked.

[Exotic Beast Meat Chart]

"Blood Flower Pig. Exchange: 1 credit per jin. Requirement: Martial Artist with full blood qi circulation."

"Single-Horned Sheep. Exchange: 1 credit per jin. Same as above."

...

"Black Cloud Leopard. Exchange: 9 credits per jin. Requirement: Manifested Energy Martial Artist."

"Red Armored Tiger. Exchange: 10 credits per jin. Same as above."

...

[Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine Chart]

"Treasure Ginseng. Exchange: 100 credits per stalk."

...

Black Cloud Leopard, Red Armored Tiger... Indeed, this world has already changed drastically. A hint of surprise flitted across Jiang Shu’s eyes as he spoke calmly, "Mr. Li, how many credits can one earn from attending class, and how many from Martial Arts progress? If we really want to exchange for these Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicines and exotic beast meats, the credits provided by the school surely won’t be enough, will they?"

"Naturally," Mr. Li affirmed.

"There are many things I cannot disclose. I can only say that earning credits is something that, at the very least, Martial Artists need to consider. Before new students even enroll, our school will provide a base of one hundred credits, which can be used to exchange for these Martial Arts resources to improve yourselves during the summer vacation."

"Once enrolled, as long as you attend Martial Arts classes daily, you will earn one credit each day. That’s enough to exchange for the most basic exotic beast meat, Blood Flower Pig pork."

"If you need more, students will have to show more progress. For example, if a student breaks through to become a Manifested Energy Martial Artist, our school will directly award one thousand credits. Of course, this is limited to the first semester. The reward system might change in the second semester, perhaps reducing from one thousand credits to eight hundred."

"This base credit initiative was proposed by our principal. As far as I know, Shengjing Academy doesn’t offer such a base credit. Over there, you must compete. There are even monthly contests, and if you end up at the bottom, you’ll lose credits," Mr. Li explained unhurriedly.

Given his position, he naturally only highlighted Jiangnan Academy’s positive aspects. In truth, Shengjing Academy was intensely competitive, but its resources were far more abundant than Jiangnan Academy’s.

And as for credits, although they could be deducted, they could also be bought. Each student could buy up to one thousand credits per semester for their own use. It was just that the price was somewhat high: one credit for one thousand yuan.

"Mr. Li, if Shengjing Academy is as you say, then wouldn’t everyone want to come to Jiangnan Academy? It seems to me that the competition at Jiangnan is too great. I might as well just list Shengjing Academy as my choice for the college entrance exam," Jiang Shu sighed, shifting slightly as if about to stand up.

After all, in his previous life, he had reached an age of independence; how could he take Mr. Li’s one-sided statements at face value?

Sure enough, before he could rise, Mr. Li, seated nearby, became visibly restless and quickly said, "Shengjing Academy certainly has its own advantages too..."

"Mr. Li, let’s be direct. In the academy, credits are paramount, but credits can also be bought with money, correct?"

Silence. The oppressive silence made Mr. Li feel as if he were about to break.

How could a kid not even eighteen know about such things? Did Zheng Yanbo tell him? Impossible.

"As you said, Mr. Li, credits are the most important thing in the academy; they can be exchanged for all resources. For students from wealthy families, it should be possible to buy some credits with money. So, can I understand this to mean that credits equal money?"

"Since credits equal money, and banks offer loans, then it shouldn’t be too much for me to borrow some credits from the school, right?"

"I’m still young; how about I start by borrowing three thousand credits?" Jiang Shu asked, a bashful expression on his face, his voice tinged with embarrassment. But the words he uttered nearly made Mr. Li’s heart stop.

Three thousand credits! That’s equivalent to three million yuan! This Jiang Shu, so young, yet so ruthless! Impossible. Three thousand credits are absolutely out of the question.

One thousand credits was the academy’s bottom line. After all, these resources were limited. The so-called exchange of credits for money was merely a small loophole to prevent people from resorting to illegal means to obtain resources. It’s better to dredge than to block. If it were one thousand credits, he, as an admissions officer, might grit his teeth and agree. Three thousand was simply too much. Besides, it would be unfair to the other new students.

"Mr. Li, don’t think three thousand credits is too much. Consider this: I’ve already achieved Horse Stance Perfection. Once I enroll and start learning the Guiding Skill, isn’t it likely I can become a Manifested Energy Martial Artist within one semester and earn back one thousand credits?"

"So, the academy could advance me one thousand credits now. That would be justifiable publicly. As long as I become a Martial Artist, I can definitely repay this. And if I do become a Martial Artist, I believe the school will recognize my Martial Arts talent. The sooner one becomes a Martial Artist, the better their talent, making them a worthy investment for the academy."

Mr. Li felt himself being persuaded. It made sense; three thousand credits wouldn’t be given all at once. The initial one thousand credits would essentially be a one-million-yuan loan from the academy to Jiang Shu. For the academy, this really wasn’t a big deal... No, no, what am I thinking?

Mr. Li looked at Jiang Shu, feeling he needed to step out and cool down.

"Three thousand credits is too much. How about this, I’ll apply to the principal..."

"Okay."

Jiang Shu sat back down. He had aimed high in his demand, ready to negotiate down. One thousand credits was his real bottom line.

He urgently needed Martial Arts resources right now. Shengjing Academy certainly had more resources, but as someone who had only achieved full blood qi circulation, he lacked the leverage to negotiate with them. Shengjing Academy definitely wouldn’t worry about losing one student. That city had too many people who had received news in advance.

Although Jiangnan Academy wasn’t as good as Shengjing Academy, if he could access Jiangnan Academy’s Martial Arts resources ahead of time and become a Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist as quickly as possible, then, with the strength of a Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist, he could cultivate the Guiding Skill. Perhaps within minutes he could achieve entry-level proficiency with it, manifest Manifested Energy, and become a Manifested Energy Martial Artist on Xuanxing! Forming a perfect closed loop.

The beginning is always the hardest. As for subsequent resources, he would think about acquiring them after becoming a Manifested Energy Martial Artist. If Manifested Energy wasn’t enough, then he would aim for Dark Force. After all, he could still travel to another Great World. Skin Grinding, Bone Forging, Organ Training. In Pingling County, he had enough to cultivate to the Bone Forging Realm. What he lacked were only the initial resources!

Jiang Shu sipped the tea, which had grown somewhat cold.

「Half an hour later.」

Mr. Li walked back into the office. His earlier confidence was entirely gone, replaced by an expression of barely concealed discomfort. He looked at Jiang Shu with a complicated gaze and forced a smile.

"Jiang Shu, please take a look. Our Jiangnan Academy is willing to advance you one thousand credits..."

"These credits can be used to purchase Martial Arts resources within Jiangnan Academy, but both the credits and the resources are for your personal use only and cannot be traded..."

"Here is the agreement. If there are no issues, Jiang Shu, you can sign it."