39 Are you sure?

Kael was delighted that his conjecture was correct. This piece of news was probably the best news that he had gotten ever since he was reincarnated. However, he had to hide his emotions and didn't let it get to his head.

"Dear Vice-Principal, thank you for inviting me personally into the Institute. However, I have a nagging doubt in my mind. Why is it that there is such a special requirement before one gets admitted into the Institute? From my knowledge, other academies in other regions don't have such a practice."

Kael was naturally referring to his experience from his past life. Students are admitted through qualification tests before they become a part of the academy. The academies were not afraid of talent loss as a lot of the outstanding ones become part of the academy management, while others would leave with a sense of gratitude and belonging to the academy. Humane factors as well as practical ones form a network whereby the rate of students leaving without contributing back to the academy was greatly diminished.

On the other hand, Myriad Fledgling Institute had this requirement that only citizens could enroll in it. It was only a low-ranked school in the Myriad Lower Region, so it could hardly attract foreign talent into the academy. If there were foreign talent, the natural course of action was to tempt the foreigner with scholarships and additional cultivation resources. Their attitude of unfriendliness towards foreigners was thus a strange one given the circumstances.

"Naturally we have our reasons for doing so. Maybe when you become the top graduate in our academy, you will have the privilege of knowing the reason, just like the City Lord over here with us." Wallie Dawson didn't give an answer, but instead hinted that Kael might have a chance to unveil the mystery.

"Okay. Am I the first foreigner to be admitted into the Institute?"

"That's right. It's also the reason why we took so much time deliberating on the course of action when your news shook the whole Myriad Lower Region. We had to consider several factors and play the balancing game, weighing the pros and cons of admitting you into the Institute. Thus, that explains our tardiness."

"What are the pros and cons?" Kael was curious.

"One advantage is that you will be a morale booster to the students in the Institute. If a person as young as you can contribute greatly to the city, what reason is there for the others to not follow in your footsteps? Another advantage, according to our speculations, is that you have inherited something much more than just an ancient forging technique. We have no idea who your master or secret teacher is, but he definitely has imparted much more to you. Your ease in dealing with the Whitemoon Mines saga and the handling of the situation with Feron Nightbringer shows your maturity and calmness. These are indications that you have aces you haven't revealed yet to us."

"The cons, however, is equally weighty. Other cities and academies are eyeing you as well, most notably for the ancient forging technique. Having you enrolled in our Institute is equivalent to saying no to these powers and their unseen and untold invitations. It is as good as making 'enemies' out of them. No they won't go to the extent of declaring war with us, but certainly other factors such as rendering assistance in times of great need is out of the question."

"When will Fledgling City require assistance from other cities in the Myriad Lower Region? As far as I know the only factions we have to look out for are those from the Myriad Middle Region?"

"You are really a foreigner aren't you? We won't starve nor grow thirsty. The resources in the Black Heart Forest are abundant enough to sustain us. However, the very same source of food and water is also threatening us. From time to time, intelligent demonic beasts that have a higher cultivation level will gather numerous low level demonic beasts to form a demonic beast horde to try and eradicate the cities in the Myriad Lower Region."

"When that situation arises, neighbouring cities have a common understanding that we will dispatch our army reserves to the city under attack to help tide through the beast horde. However, now I'm afraid that this tacit agreement may no longer be in effect once it is confirmed that the ancient forging technique is not going to be made available to them."

"You must be referring to the demonic beasts in the Core Region of the Black Heart Forest?"

"That's right, and only the Principal and myself are capable of stopping demonic beasts of that level in Fledgling City."

Kael could feel a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy around Wallie Dawson, similar to a person who was breaking through to the Guardian Rank. He must be hovering between the Herald Rank Late Phase and the Guardian Rank Lower Phase.

In Fledgling City, the real powerhouse is not the City Lord faction, but the Myriad Fledgling Institute. They have real experts who were capable of contending with powers from the Myriad Middle Region. However, due to their obscurity, they had remained relatively well-hidden.

Kael was surprised that Wallie Dawson didn't know the real reason behind the demonic beast horde though.

"Vice-Principal, when demonic beast hordes appear, generally it could be prevented."

"Wha… what are you saying? Demonic beasts are in direct opposition to us. We feed on their monster cores to cultivate, and they also do the same to us. Apart from slaughtering us for their own good, what could possibly prevent them from clashing against us?" Wallie Dawson and Richard Duran were both baffled by Kael's words.

"In other regions, much higher up in the Hundred Realms, I have heard of stories of how demonic beasts transcend through the shackles of mortality, gaining human sentience. These demonic beasts are therefore looking for cultivation resources as well." Kael tried to give an earnest look, as if he was convincing the two men in front of him with his pure innocent face.

"Where did you hear this from? If that's what they want, will they retreat once we give them what they want?"

"From an esteemed master that once visited the Myriad Lower Region. I'm not 100% sure, but 90% sure at least." Kael had to fake this encounter with an old sage to hide the fact that he had reincarnated.