Professor Cyntia's blunt criticism left Chen Xu unsure of how to respond, so he could only take another sip of tea to hide his embarrassment.
"If this is your only level, the knowledge within our school might not be suitable for you to learn," Professor Cyntia said slowly.
She gestured toward the window, and a tree branch reached inside, carrying an unknown seed and a bud that had yet to bloom.
"The school's teaching is meant to help mages find their own path, so a sufficient foundation of knowledge is required."
"It is much like this Moyang bud that has not yet blossomed."
Professor Cyntia took the bud from the branch and placed it in the palm of her right hand.
Under her gaze, the petals slowly unfurled one by one until the flower was in full bloom.
"However..."
Cyntia tossed the flower aside, letting it dissipate into the air, and then pointed a finger at the seed still wrapped by the branch.
"Your current level is only comparable to this seed, and the school has no formal means to intervene by force."
"I have epic-tier mental strength, so I cannot be that weak, can I?"
Chen Xu strongly disagreed with Professor Cyntia's analogy.
He was, after all, the top talent of the Daxia Dragon Seed Program this year, a person even Zhang Jingping had praised.
Seeing that Chen Xu still held onto his delusions, Professor Cyntia snapped her fingers.
The seed instantly became bloated, forced into rapid growth.
The seed, having lost its original proportions, looked quite hideous.
"My mistake. You are more like this bloated seed."
Faced with Professor Cyntia's directness, Chen Xu gave up the struggle and asked directly, "So, does this mean I failed the international student assessment?"
"Not necessarily. You were recommended by Archmage Zhang Jingping, after all."
"Even if you weren't his disciple, we would still have to give you a chance."
"But I really am Teacher Zhang Jingping's disciple."
'Probably,' Chen Xu thought, though he wasn't entirely certain himself.
However, since Zhang Jingping had insisted on giving him this recommendation letter, he must have seen some spark in him and wished to establish a master-disciple bond.
Even if that weren't the case, Chen Xu had watched so many of Zhang Jingping's online lectures, so how could he not be considered a student?
Professor Cyntia did not speak.
She returned to her initial posture, resting her chin on one hand while using her index finger to lightly tap the bloated seed in her other hand.
"What kind of chance is it?" Chen Xu understood that nothing he said now would change his image.
Only practical action could restore his dignity.
Since there was still a chance, the tables would turn eventually.
"The Enlightenment Temple in the capital just started its classes for the year not long ago."
"The school can arrange for you to enter and learn from the basics."
"You want me to go to primary school?!"
...
The next day, at the Enlightenment Temple in the capital, Chen Xu changed into the Enlightenment Robes.
Under the guidance of Karen, a resident teacher from the Balance School, he arrived at Class Al.
Originally, Chen Xu had refused to receive basic education at the Enlightenment Temple.
After all, it was far too embarrassing.
If word of this reached Daxia, it would be a major stain on his life.
However, he changed his mind after hearing Professor Cyntia say that the first group of humans from Blue Star who came to study the transcendent system of the Akhan Dynasty also started at the Enlightenment Temple.
Only then did Chen Xu accept the arrangement.
Even if someone found out later, he could make the excuse that he was following in the footsteps of the Blue Star sages, walking the path they once took to continue the legacy.
In truth, there was one thing Professor Cyntia hadn't mentioned.
Back then, the Akhan Dynasty had opened a separate class at the Enlightenment Temple specifically for that first group of Blue Star students.
It was nothing like Chen Xu's situation, where he was being dropped directly into a class full of Akhan children.
"Everyone, let me introduce you."
"This is the honorable Teacher Chen Xu, who has come from afar to study our enlightenment teaching methods."
"Starting today, he will be attending classes with all of you."
Karen led Chen Xu into Class Al and introduced him to the children below.
As for the cover story about being a teacher studying enlightenment pedagogy, it was only after Chen Xu emptied four gold coins to satisfy the greedy mage Karen that she agreed to help him craft that identity.
After all, being a student alongside a group of children was truly too humiliating.
"Well then, Mr. Chen Xu, you can sit next to Little Leo," Karen said, pointing to the only empty seat in the class.
Chen Xu looked over and discovered that the person sitting there was actually the little guide from yesterday.
It seemed the capital was a small place where one kept running into the same people.
Watching Chen Xu walk over, Little Leo waved happily and even took the initiative to pull out the chair for him.
Once Chen Xu sat down, Karen began the day's lesson.
"Alright, class, our topic for today is the five senses and mental strength."
While Karen lectured at the front, Little Leo whispered to Chen Xu with excitement and curiosity.
"Sir, I didn't expect you to be a magic teacher as well."
"Of course. In my hometown, I am also a remarkable genius."
"It is just that the teaching regarding spells and mental strength back there is relatively backward."
"For the sake of the children back home, I traveled thousands of miles alone to the Akhan Dynasty to study, hoping to bring this teaching model back with me."
Chen Xu bragged to Little Leo without even blinking.
Looking at Chen Xu's serious and solemn expression, a sense of admiration rose in Little Leo's heart.
"Wow, Sir, your dream will definitely be a success."
Tap! Tap!
On the podium, Karen's wand flew to the desk in front of Chen Xu and Little Leo, tapping it a few times.
"Please observe classroom discipline, Mr. Chen Xu. This is also something you need to learn."
Little Leo was so startled that he immediately lowered his head, leaving only Chen Xu to put on an apologetic expression.
Over the next week, Chen Xu stayed buried in the Enlightenment Temple.
Because most of his gold coins had been given to Karen and he didn't know how long he would be studying, he checked out of the room he had rented near the Tower of Balance.
He simply stayed in the faculty office with Karen and the others.
For mages like Chen Xu and Karen, replacing sleep with meditation was already the norm, so the lack of a bed didn't matter.
The faculty office had become a resting area for the resident teachers.
There were resident teachers from other schools in the office as well.
They were responsible for different grade levels and taught different content, making it convenient for Chen Xu to use the excuse of studying teaching methods to learn about enlightenment knowledge.
This was because the teaching progress of Class Al could no longer satisfy him.
Even though Chen Xu had only attended a few of Zhang Jingping's online classes regarding the mental strength path, his powerful mental strength brought with it a highly clear mental logic.
Furthermore, Chen Xu felt that he might actually have a little bit of talent when it came to mental strength.
At the same time, the skeleton army's campaign against the monster strongholds was going very smoothly, and they had scavenged many good items from the sites.
These items were used as gifts for the other mages in the office.
Consequently, Chen Xu became a very popular figure among the staff.
After all, those stationed at the Enlightenment Temple taught commoner children.
Aside from the points earned for completing their missions, these mages had no other income.
Now, simply by answering some basic questions about the system, they could obtain various items.
Some of these items would normally require a significant amount of points to exchange for.
Once, Chen Xu even brought out a staff from a Fallen Demon leader, which nearly caused two mages to fight over it.
To avoid ruining the atmosphere, Chen Xu had to produce a second staff and ask each mage a question.
During his rest at night, Chen Xu would also check on the growth of his skeleton army.
With their massive numbers and the bonus from combat, several summoning skills were growing rapidly.
The Skeleton Archer, Skeleton Mage, and Skeleton Priest had all reached level 10, triggering the opportunity to choose an enhancement affix.
【Skeleton Archer has reached level 10. 996 talent triggered. Effect obtained: Overtime Pay (Where did you find such hardworking employees again?). Choose one of the following three enhancements.】
【Multi-Shot: Skeleton Archer will fire 3 arrows at once.】
【Magic Resistance: All magic resistances of the Skeleton Archer are increased.】
【Fire Enhancement: Skeleton Archer's attacks carry fire attribute damage, fire resistance is increased, and an explosion is released upon death.】
【Skeleton Mage has reached level 10. 996 talent triggered. Effect obtained: Overtime Pay (Is this a legitimate company?). Choose one of the following three enhancements.】
【Cold Enhancement: Skeleton Mage becomes proficient in cold spells, increasing ice attribute damage. In addition to basic ice bolts and ice arrows, it can also cast Blizzard and Ice Ring.】
【Aura of Strength: Skeleton Mage unfolds an Aura of Strength, providing strength to itself and surrounding allies.】
【Teleport: Skeleton Mage will cast Teleport to move to a safe location when its life is threatened.】
【Skeleton Priest has reached level 10. 996 talent triggered. Effect obtained: Overtime Pay (I suspect you of labor fraud now. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.). Choose one of the following three enhancements.】
【Hardened Skin: The Skeleton Priest's bones will become very hard, significantly increasing physical resistance and strike resistance.】
【Mana Burn: Skeleton Priest's attacks will burn the enemy's mental strength, interfering with their spellcasting.】
【Extra Strong: All attributes of the Skeleton Priest are comprehensively increased.】
Rate on N.U.
