Chapter 8 the fire of civilization

Nanyuan Secondary School.

Chen Hao went to the pre-exam class for his lessons, while Su Yu headed straight to the Resource Department.

...

"Su Yu, you want to exchange for Ironwing Bird essence blood?"

The resource manager was somewhat surprised. "The essence blood of the Thousand Pound realm is only helpful to those in that realm. For someone at the Kaiyuan stage, it's not just unhelpful; it's actually poisonous. What are you doing with this?"

"Teacher Zhang, can I exchange for it?"

Su Yu smiled. "You know I've been studying various races. I've been particularly focused on the Ironwing Bird, so I want to buy some essence blood for research. But it's too expensive, so I came to the school to ask if there's any way to get it cheaper..."

"You can exchange for it. Over the years, you've obtained 18 certificates in different racial languages. Besides the three mandatory ones, the other 15 each come with a reward, totaling 15 merit points. Being at the third level of Kaiyuan also gives you 3 points, making a total of 18 merit points..."

The resource manager checked the records and quickly said, "However, you've already spent 6 points, all in the library. So, you have 12 points left."

"Yes, I know."

Su Yu smiled. "So, how much Ironwing Bird essence blood can I get for the remaining 12 points?"

"You're going to exchange for this... It's really not worth it, such a waste!"

The managing teacher had to remind him, "The Ironwing Bird of the Thousand Pound realm is very strong for you, but on the battlefield of the heavens, it's cannon fodder. Merit points are a universal currency in all academies, and you can even save them for advanced academies to exchange for valuable resources."

"It's easy for you to accumulate 18 points at a secondary school by learning a racial language for 1 point each. But at advanced academies, it's not so simple."

"Exchanging for this isn't worth it! At advanced academies, some confidential information, advanced techniques, and even some courses might require merit points. Even the military uses them..."

"I know, but there's no other way."

Su Yu smiled bitterly. He knew all this.

But wasn't he out of money?

He had some money, over 200,000 yuan, enough to buy five drops. But he needed money for living expenses too.

In the Kaiyuan stage, he had no income. He needed to save money for the advanced academy.

Merit points were another important transaction system besides Anping coins.

Money could buy many things, but not everything.

High-level strategic resources, advanced techniques, and even some legacies required merit points, representing a person's contribution to humanity.

Even if you had a lot of money, you couldn't necessarily buy certain things without merit points.

Both earning and spending merit points were tracked, including the initial accumulation. For example, Su Yu had earned 18 points. Even if he spent them all, this accumulation would continue.

Once he reached 100 points, Su Yu's permissions would be higher.

This system prevented wealthy individuals with little contribution from privately purchasing large amounts of merit points to buy rare strategic materials.

Some rich people might buy thousands of merit points, but if their initial level was low, they couldn't buy certain things even with those points.

The resource manager sighed and said, "I won't try to persuade you anymore. But it's too early for you to do research! Nanyuan Secondary School lacks the necessary conditions. At an advanced academy, you can apply for grants, and they might even provide resources for research."

"The Ironwing Bird is common on the battlefield of the heavens and doesn't have much research value. If you want to do research, you should choose another..."

Su Yu smiled. "You have a point. Does the school have any Lu Fish essence blood?"

"..."

The managing teacher looked embarrassed. "No, that's found in the Di Mountain Realm and is rare on the battlefield of the heavens. Those who come to the battlefield are at least in the Ten Thousand Stone realm or even the Soaring realm. The Great Xia Civilization Academy certainly has it, but we don't."

"Then that's it."

Su Yu could identify a few of the races from his dreams, including the Lu Fish.

But since they were at least in the Ten Thousand Stone realm, consuming their essence blood now would be too much for his body, even if the book absorbed the energy.

As for essence blood from other uncertain races, he didn't dare to consume it. If it was from a race he hadn't dreamed of, and the book didn't absorb it, his body couldn't handle it.

After thinking it over, the Ironwing Bird seemed the safest for now.

"Teacher, please exchange some for me."

"How many drops do you want? 1 merit point per drop. It's really not worth it..."

The teacher reminded him again, "Merit points might seem to have a low value, even just 10,000 per point. But in reality, some things can't be measured by money. You understand what I mean."

"Thank you for the reminder!"

Su Yu nodded quickly and said, "I'll take three drops for now. If it's not enough, I'll come back."

"You!"

The resource manager saw that he wasn't listening and felt helpless. He quickly arranged for someone to fetch the essence blood and reminded him, "Your father went to the battlefield of the heavens a few days ago. The school knows. Be careful now that he's not home. The Myriad Races Cult is active in the Great Xia Prefecture, as you know."

"Yes, but what does it have to do with me?"

"How could it not!"

The teacher scolded, "Better safe than sorry! The Myriad Races Cult's main targets aren't just the strong or geniuses, at least not cultivation geniuses, but intellectuals!"

"You're not exactly an intellectual, but you're one of the few reserved for the Civilization Academy from Nanyuan Secondary School!"

"The damage caused by the strong is limited, but the damage caused by intellectuals is unlimited! In the battlefield of the heavens, humanity has held on for hundreds of years not just because of invincible warriors but also because of the intellectuals behind them!"

"Every top researcher in the Civilization Academy has faced assassination attempts! These people decipher the techniques of various races, deeply study their civilizations, and help humanity produce more strong warriors, making us more confident in facing the myriad races..."

The managing teacher spoke with some admiration, "They have quietly sacrificed a lot, not less than any invincible strongman! Most of them lack necessary combat abilities, so even in the rear, they often become targets of the Myriad Races Cult, and assassination attempts are common."

"The Myriad Races Cult disrupts humanity from within, not just to assassinate individual strongmen. Their main targets are people like them!"

"Although you haven't entered the Civilization Academy yet and don't know many languages, you are young. In some ways, you are more dangerous than a few cultivation geniuses in the academy. Even a Kaiyuan fourth or fifth level might not be worth their effort."

"A Kaiyuan level cultivator might take years to reach the Soaring Realm. But a scholar could, in ten or twenty years, decipher a cultivation technique, find their flaws, and devise ways to counter them... This is far more dangerous than a Soaring Realm cultivator."

Su Yu smiled bitterly. Was it really that serious? Although he had mastered 18 languages, it was too few for the myriad races, and most were just common languages.

"Don't take it lightly. Be careful and stay alert! If you encounter danger, seek help immediately. Nanyuan Prefecture has increased patrols, and the Fengchao Hall has already strengthened its deployments. Even a squad of the Dragon Martial Guard stationed in Nanyuan Prefecture has begun patrolling."

"If you run into trouble, call for help. Within seconds, someone will come to your aid."

Seeing the teacher's seriousness, Su Yu nodded quickly, "Teacher, don't worry, I understand! Nanyuan Prefecture is so small, those people might not come here. Even if they do... to be honest, I'm probably not high on their list."

"That's true."

The teacher laughed, "But you still can't be careless, especially when you go to Instructor Liu. Be extra cautious!"

"Hmm?"

Su Yu was slightly stunned. "Instructor Liu..."

"Don't get me wrong. I mean, Instructor Liu is the best instructor in Nanyuan Secondary School for the myriad races' languages. Almost all students who get into the Civilization Academy each year are taught by him."

"Instructor Liu is certainly the Myriad Races Cult's primary target. If they come to Nanyuan, their first target for assassination would be him, not the head of the school, nor the city lord."

"Instructor Liu is a spark, igniting the flame of civilization. At least in Nanyuan, that's the case. That's why I'm reminding you to be careful."

Su Yu's face changed. "Teacher, isn't Instructor Liu in danger?"

"It's fine, don't worry too much. The headmaster is personally protecting Instructor Liu now. The Dragon Martial Guard also has people protecting him secretly. The Fengchao Hall even sent a squad. I'm just reminding you to be cautious on your way to see Instructor Liu!"

Su Yu let out a sigh of relief. The Instructor Liu mentioned by the managing teacher was also Su Yu's mentor. Su Yu had learned 18 languages from this old instructor.

As the managing teacher said, Instructor Liu might not be significant in the Great Xia Prefecture, but in Nanyuan, especially in Nanyuan Secondary School, he was indeed a spreader of civilization.

He had been teaching for many years and had produced over a hundred students who went on to the Civilization Academy.

These students, many of whom had graduated, played a role in the Great Xia Prefecture and even the whole of humanity.

Maybe their impact wasn't huge, but the continuation of human civilization relied on these grassroots figures.

If the Myriad Races Cult came to Nanyuan City and wanted to assassinate someone, Instructor Liu was indeed more important than the city lord.

As they spoke, the staff brought the Ironwing Bird essence blood.

Three drops!

After exchanging for three drops, Su Yu had 9 merit points left. He felt a bit distressed. He had spent only 6 points over the years in the library, and now he had spent 3 points at once. It was extravagant.

Taking the bottle with the essence blood, Su Yu asked, "Teacher, has Instructor Liu been to the school recently?"

"He's working as usual. We suggested he go to the city lord's mansion for a while, but he didn't want to. So he's continuing his work."

"Then I'll go see Instructor Liu."

Su Yu originally planned to go home and try out the essence blood, but now he decided to see Instructor Liu and consult on some matters.

...

Teaching Office.

Liu Wenyan, an elderly man over sixty, was taking notes and said without looking up, "Headmaster, there's no need to follow me around. It's not that dangerous within the school."

Beside him, the headmaster, also over sixty, smiled and said, "I'm not bothering you. Why chase me away?"

"Your breathing is disturbing me."

"…"

The headmaster was helpless. Liu Wenyan then said, "Besides, you've just broken through to the Ten Thousand Stones realm. You're too weak, and it won't help much if danger comes."

"I…"

The old headmaster was exasperated. Was he really that weak?

Maybe a bit.

At his age, just breaking through to the Ten Thousand Stones realm wasn't impressive. But this was the rear, Nanyuan City, the smallest of the 28 cities under the Great Xia Prefecture.

He wasn't the city lord, just the headmaster of a secondary school. How strong did he need to be?

The real strongmen either went to the Great Xia Prefecture or the battlefield of the heavens. In Nanyuan City, he was considered decent enough.

"Hey, do you think I want to stick with you?"

The headmaster said grumpily, "It's because you are too important. In the past 20 years, 320 students from Nanyuan City have been admitted to the Civilization Academy, an average of 16 per year, and half of them were taught by you. Isn't that a big deal?"

"Not really."

Liu Wenyan smiled, "After all, it's just a small Nanyuan City. Only a few students get admitted each year, which is negligible to the entire Great Xia Prefecture. Do you think the Myriad Races Cult would target me?"

"Hard to say. Anyway, you're more important than me. I'm just a weak Ten Thousand Stones cultivator; they wouldn't even bother with me."

The headmaster joked, and it was somewhat true. The Ten Thousand Stones realm wasn't weak, but it wasn't highly impactful on the battlefield of the heavens.

Killing an elderly Ten Thousand Stones cultivator might cost a few lives, so the Myriad Races Cult probably wouldn't bother.

As they chatted, the headmaster's ears perked up, and he soon smiled, "Su Yu is here. This kid is more promising than his father!"

"Don't belittle Su Long. Just because he refused your offer to be the chief of the security department, you're holding a grudge?"

Liu Wenyan also smiled, "Su Long still has his spirit. I saw that long ago. He wasn't willing to retire quietly. He planned to join the Dragon Martial Guard for years and only gave up when he saw no hope."

The old headmaster scoffed, "He never had a chance. Reaching the ninth level of the Thousand Pounds realm before 30 had some hope, but he's older now. Joining the Dragon Martial Guard would be unlikely, maybe the ninth level of Ten Thousand Stones."

"That's still better than you. If he doesn't die on the battlefield of the heavens, he might reach the Ten Thousand Stones realm in a few years."

Liu Wenyan said with a smile, "Su Yu is also good. When he goes to the Great Xia Civilization Academy, although not a top talent, he will be a pillar in the fight against the myriad races. This father and son pair are better than you and me..."

The old headmaster nodded slightly and sighed, "If I hadn't been injured on the battlefield of the heavens, I wouldn't have retired and become this headmaster. It's meaningless."

"Surviving is already good. Few soldiers from the battlefield of the heavens remain unscathed. In that place, if you don't forcefully break through to at least the seventh level of the Thousand Pounds realm, you're just cannon fodder."

Liu Wenyan sighed too. Most soldiers in the battlefield of the heavens had little hope of reaching the Soaring Realm. There was no choice in such a brutal place.

In that environment, if you didn't break through quickly, you would die within days. No one could afford to take their time.

The War Academy selected the genius seedlings, and the ordinary people could only struggle to survive.

As they spoke, Su Yu entered the room.

Liu Wenyan smiled. He was quite satisfied with this student. Su Yu was hardworking and patient. Although not a top genius, humanity needed not only geniuses but also reliable individuals who could progress steadily.