"General or Mastermind?" Duan Ling Tian was attracted by a set of words within the student handbook.
It turned out that the students who entered Paladin Academy were required to choose between two departmentsâŚ
These two departments were respectively:
The Star General Department and the Star Mastermind Department.
"Someone who can gallop into the battlefield, is able to command 10,000 soldiers, possesses fearless courage, can easily take the head of the enemy general in the midst of a powerful army, and is full of spirit as he treads through corpses to taint the azure skyâŚ. That is the Star General!"
"Someone who is hidden behind the scenes and possesses extraordinary wisdom. During peaceful times, he is able to govern the lands under him, whereas during times of war, he is able to map out a strategy and take control of everything, annihilating the enemy army with only the slightest effortâŚ. This is the Star Mastermind!"
Duan Ling Tian shook his head and laughed. Paladin Academy deserved the title of being the Crimson Sky Kingdomâs cradle for geniuses, because if one was able to graduate from Paladin Academy, then no matter where he goes, he will be a an exceptional and formidable person.
"Choose one out of two? Interesting." The corners of Duan Ling Tianâs mouth held a smile, and heâd already come to a decision within his heart.
Five days later.
Duan Ling Tian brought along Little Black as he left the house alone and walked towards Paladin Academy. According to the rules within the student handbook, students of Paladin Academy were disallowed from bringing an entourage into academy groundsâŚ
In next to no time, Duan Ling Tian arrived at Paladin Academy. At the main gate, an extremely grand sight of a long line of wagons could still be vaguely seen from one end of the street to the other.
Many students were either sent over by their elders or by their entourage; however, in the end, only the student may enter Paladin Academy.
"Thereâs actually so many female students." Duan Ling Tian couldnât help but be surprised when he noticed quite a few female students producing their proofs of qualification and entering the academy. "Looks like among the other counties, the tests for the qualification to either Paladin Academy are open to females, unlike the iron Blood Armyâs Genius Camp."
The Iron Blood Armyâs Genius Camp that Duan Ling Tian attended didnât accept females, and if a female from the Swallow Mountain County were to desire to enter Paladin Academy, then they would have to travel to another county to take part in a similar test.
"Where should I go now?" Duan Ling Tian noticed that after he entered Paladin Academy, he had been aimlessly walking and couldnât find his way. Eventually, his sharp eyes caught a group of people going east, and he hurriedly followed them.
On a vast field on the east side, some weapon racks were scattered about, as this place was obviously the Paladin Academy Martial Arts Practice Grounds.
Duan Ling Tian took a glance and noticed that there were many young men and young women that had already been waiting here for some time, and the ages of these people were all around 20 years old⌠Compared to them, Duan Ling Tian was obviously much younger.
"Xiao Yu!" Finally, Duan Ling Tian noticed Xiao Yu within the crowd. Presently, Xiao Yu was chatting with another young man that stood beside him.
Duan Ling Tian walked over, and before long, Xiao Yu noticed him as well. He notified the young man beside him before walking over.
"Duan Ling Tian, Iâve finally found you." Xiao Yu shook his head with a smile. "I arrived at the Imperial City half a month ago, but I didnât where you were."
"How about you? Whatâve you been doing for this past half month?" Duan Ling Tian asked with a light smile.
"I was at the Xiao Clan Estate," Xiao Yu said.
"Xiao Family? Xiao Clan?"
"Xiao He?" Duan Ling Tianâs expression stiffened. He recalled the genius alchemist, Xiao He, or in other words, a members of the Xiao Clan.
Could it be that Xiao Yu was related to the Xiao Clan? Or maybe Aurora Cityâs Xiao Clan was related to the Imperial Cityâs Xiao Clan. The facts of the matter proved that Duan Ling Tianâs guess was correct.
"Yes, the Xiao Clan. Our Aurora City Xiao Family is precisely a Branch Family of the Imperial Cityâs Xiao Clan. Iâve already been specially admitted as a member of the Imperial City Xiao Clan by the Patriarch after obtaining the qualification to study at Paladin Academy." Even though there was no change on Xiao Yuâs face, his eyes obviously had a trace of excitement within them.
Becoming a member of the Imperial City Xiao Clan meant that heâd taken one more step forward, and in the future he would be able to use it as a stepping stone to leap up higher and furtherâŚ
Meanwhile, Xiao Yu realized that the young man beside him had been left out in the cold, so he hurriedly introduced him. "Duan Ling Tian, heâs Xiao Xun, a genius martial artist of the Imperial City Xiao Clan, and my friend."
"Duan Ling Tian." Duan Ling Tian nodded to Xiao Xun as he introduced himself.
"Xiao Xun." Xiao Xun replied with a smile, without a trace of that type of arrogance from a disciple of a large clan.
"Duan Ling Tian, Xiao Xunâs elder brother, Xiao He, is the most gifted alchemist within our Xiao Clan. One year ago, he became a Grade Nine Alchemist at the age of 20," Xiao Yu added.
"Xiao He?" Duan Ling Tianâs face stiffened. Enemies were really bound to meet. He had only casually gotten to know a Xiao Clan disciple and it was already Xiao Heâs younger brother.
Xiao Xunâs pupils constricted as he slowly said, "I used to think that my brother was a rare genius alchemist, but that changed two months ago when an 18-year-old Grade Nine Alchemist appeared in the Alchemist Guildâs lobby. Only then did I realize that no matter how great a person is, there will always be someone greater! Itâs better this way; it can help lessen my brotherâs arrogance."
"Iâve heard of this as well. I heard that an 18-year-old alchemist even cheated your brother off 5,000,000 silver⌠Do you hate him?" Duan Ling Tianâs eyes narrowed as he asked curiously.
"What is there to hate? Iâve heard of the sequence of events too. At the bottom of it all, the entire matter was my brotherâs wrong. If it wasnât for my brother being overbearing, the later events wouldnât have occurred. If I meet that genius alchemist, I might even thank him, as he caused my brother to undergo a change and become much more reserved than before." Xiao Xun shook his head, seeming to not mind.
Duan Ling Tian glanced deeply at Xiao Xun. Birds of a feather flock together, and Xiao Yuâs friend was indeed not like those usual profligate disciples of large clans.
"Duan Ling Tian! Xiao Yu!" Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from afar.
Duan Ling Tian looked over to a red-clothed young man walking over shoulder to shoulder with a robust young man. The person who spoke was precisely the robust young man.
The two people who were walking over, werenât they the two youths that passed the Genius Camp test with them and obtained the qualification to study at Paladin Academy, Su Li and Tian Hu?
After a yearâs time, the two of them had obviously matured. Su Li was much more reserved; the original him had a pressing drive, but now it was completely restrained, and his cultivation had obviously progressed.
"Su Li! Tian Hu!" Duan Ling Tian and Xiao Yu greeted them with light smiles.
"Duan Ling Tian, letâs have a battle when we have the chance!" Su Li looked at Duan Ling Tian, and within his sharp gaze, battle intent flaredâŚ
"Iâll be happy to accompany you!" Duan Ling Tian nodded with a smile.
"Duan Ling Tian, you need to be careful, this fellow Su Liâs already stepped into the seventh level of the Core Formation StageâŚ. What a fellow! When I met him a few days ago, he pulled me aside to battle and nearly finished me." Tian Hu seemed to have a slight lingering fear when he mentioned what happened a few days ago.
"Seventh level of the Core Formation Stage?" Duan Ling Tian pupils constricted and he was extremely shocked.
It had only been a year and Su Li has already broken through from the fifth level to the seventh level of the Core Formation Stage in one go? Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun were shocked as well.
"Seventh level of the Core Formation Stage? Such a cultivation can be considered one of the top among this yearâs intake of new Paladin Academy students," Xiao Xun praised, with a sigh.
"Yeah, there probably arenât many seventh level Core Formation martial artists within this yearâs new students." Xiao Yu deeply agreed.
Su Liâs gaze descended upon Duan Ling Tian as he lightly said, "I donât know about the others, but Duan Ling Tian is surely at the seventh level of the Core Formation StageâŚ"
"So certain?" Tian Hu was slightly surprised.
"One year ago, he was already at the sixth level of the Core Formation Stage!" Su Li added. He still remembered the scene from one year ago when he challenged Duan Ling Tian to a battle after the Genius Camp final test was concluded.
At that time, he thought that since he had broken through to the fifth level of the Core Formation Stage, it would be more than sufficient to battle Duan Ling Tian. But unexpectedly, Duan Ling Tian directly drew upon the energy of heaven and earth and condensed eight ancient mammothsâ silhouettes, causing him to instantly feel frustratedâŚ
Only Xiao Yu nodded without thinking it was unexpected when he heard what Su Li said. Tian Hu and Xiao Xun, on the other hand, looked at Duan Ling Tian in surprise.
Especially Xiao Xun. He was secretly startled in his heart. "This youth that has the same name as the Duan Clan direct descendants and looks to be around 18 was already a sixth level Core Formation martial artist last year?"
Even the Imperial Family and the few great clans of the Imperial City didnât have such a monster appear within their midst in the past few years! Such natural talent could already be compared to the student who entered Paladin Academy last year, Xu Qing!
Xu Qing was an existence that was publically acknowledged as Paladin Academyâs genius student with the highest natural talent within the last 20 years.
"Itâs you!" Suddenly, a figure walked over swiftly from afar. This voice emitted the conflicting combination of rage and joy.
"Hmm?" Duan Ling Tian looked over when he heard the voice. The person that appeared before him was none other than Duan Ling Xingâs cousin, Duan Rong!
Duan Rong walked over swiftly before staring at Duan Ling Tian and saying, "Iâve finally found you. I didnât think that youâd be a student at Paladin Academy as well. Now letâs see where you can hide."
"Hide?" Duan Ling Tian smiled indifferently, and the corners of his mouth held a disdainful smile. "You said I was hiding from you? As a person who lost to me, you⌠are you even worthy?"
Duan Rongâs expression went grim as he shouted, in a low voice,"Long story short, youâre a dead man!"
"Trust me, I can grant you death right now!" Duan Ling Tianâs gaze turned cold when he was threatened by Duan Rong. A terrifying killing intent swept out of his body to envelop Duan Rong when he took a step forward, causing Duan Rongâs face to turn ghastly pale before fleeing in panicâŚ
"Duan Ling Tian, whoâs he? Why does it seem like he has great enmity and deep hatred for you?" Xiao Yu asked.
"Just a profligate disciple." Duan Ling Tian shrugged before speaking of the conflict between Duan Rong and himselfâŚ
"The nephew of the Duan Clanâs second master?" Xiao Yuâs pupils constricted. He had gained quite an understanding of the various clans within the Imperial City during this past half monthâs time, and thus was extremely clear as to the ability of the Duan Clanâs second master.
"Duan Ling Tian, need any help?" Su Liâs gaze went cold as he looked at the far away Duan Rong. The sword in his hand seemed to be ready to leave its sheath at any moment.
"It isnât necessary, itâs only just a clown." Duan Ling Tian shook his head and paid no attention to Duan Rong even though the one standing behind Duan Rong was the Duan Clanâs second master, Duan Ru Lei!
If he was afraid, then he wouldnât have entered Paladin Academy with his real appearance when he already knew that Duan Rong was a student in Paladin Academy this year. If he were to come in disguise, it would be utterly impossible for Duan Rong to recognize him.