Volume One, Chapter 12: Special Recruitment

“Mr. Chen, our vice dean has been waiting for you for quite some time.” Outside the door, Chen Fei was greeted by a young man who looked somewhat stout.

Despite his youth, the man carried an inexplicable weight about him, as if he bore the burden of a great mountain.

“Truly a member of Silver Moon Academy; his cultivation must surpass mine,” Chen Fei thought with quiet admiration.

Upon entering the courtyard, Chen Fei met the venerable Mr. Sun.

Sun Qianyi, Vice Dean of Silver Moon Academy.

“Mr. Chen, I’m very pleased you could come here,” Sun Qianyi said, his white hair contrasting with his spirited demeanor and kindly smile, reminiscent of a benevolent elder.

“Senior Sun’s invitation is an honor I dare not neglect,” Chen Fei replied humbly.

“Young and promising, single-handedly suppressing the entire Qin family, your reputation has soared. You’re not the only one they came for last night.”

“Mr. Chen, it would be my honor if you would join Silver Moon Academy,” Sun Qianyi said directly, reiterating the contents of his letter.

“Senior Sun, I’ve long admired Silver Moon Academy, but I’m more curious about what great upheaval is about to befall Huangwu City?” Chen Fei inquired.

Joining Silver Moon Academy was acceptable, but he needed to ascertain whether they simply wished for him to cultivate within the academy or if they intended for him to serve during the coming turmoil in Huangwu City.

“Young Mr. Chen, your mind is astute,” Sun Qianyi smiled slightly and said, “In truth, this matter is no longer a great secret. Even if I didn’t tell you, you would learn soon enough.”

“A month ago, a powerful spirit mage passed through here and sensed that a secret realm was about to emerge.”

“My visit on behalf of Silver Moon Academy is to compete for the treasures and opportunities within this secret realm.”

“A secret realm?”

Chen Fei’s expression shifted slightly, finally understanding why so many formidable forces had gathered in Huangwu City.

A secret realm is both an opportunity and a deadly place—danger and fortune intertwined.

Sun Qianyi undoubtedly knew more details, but since Chen Fei was not yet a student of Silver Moon Academy, he did not reveal everything outright.

“Mr. Chen, if you agree to become a specially recruited student of Silver Moon Academy, I can bring you into the secret realm. Moreover, you may not yet know that Silver Moon Academy holds a prestigious position in the Daqing Kingdom. Accepting this special recruitment means that upon successful graduation, you could become a City Patrol Envoy of Daqing, wielding considerable power.”

“As for what fortunes you may find within the secret realm, that depends on your own destiny,” Sun Qianyi continued.

“Senior Sun, which other major powers are aware of this? When will the secret realm open?” Chen Fei asked.

“The main competitors are Qinghai Academy from the Zhou Kingdom, Tianjiao Academy of the Lu Kingdom, the Hunyuan Sect from Qinling, and the International Commerce Guild. Additionally, elders from several great families have brought their gifted disciples here.”

“The exact time the secret realm will open remains unknown.”

“The competition is fierce!” Chen Fei frowned, surprised by the number of powerful factions present.

“To rise above and become a true powerhouse, one must be tempered by life-and-death trials.”

“What we can offer is the opportunity for such trials, ensuring the competition is conducted in a relatively fair environment.”

“Mr. Chen, are you willing to join Silver Moon Academy and compete fairly against the gifted disciples of these other factions?”

Sun Qianyi smiled warmly at Chen Fei.

“Thank you for your trust, Senior Sun. I will gratefully accept,” Chen Fei replied with enthusiasm.

Clearly, gaining access to the secret realm required the permission of these great powers; without it, even entry was impossible.

“Chen Yang, on behalf of Silver Moon Academy, I welcome you,” Sun Qianyi said joyfully, producing from his robe a bottle of elixir, a spirit-level martial technique manual, a sword nearly four feet long, and two sets of outer garments exclusive to Silver Moon Academy.

Chen Fei was stunned.

Such a collection was obviously not hidden in Sun Qianyi’s clothing and must have come from a storage pouch.

Storage pouches themselves were precious, and only spirit mages who had reached the Spirit Master Realm could wield them.

“These are items provided by the academy to aid your cultivation. Should you perform outstandingly in the competition within the secret realm, you will earn even greater rewards from the academy.”

“Silver Moon Academy never neglects its students,” Sun Qianyi said solemnly to Chen Fei.

“Thank you, Senior Sun,” Chen Fei accepted everything without hesitation.

“Junior fellow disciple, you should now address him as Dean Sun or Teacher Sun,” the stout young man beside them teased.

“Senior brother is right!” Chen Fei nodded, changing his address to Sun Qianyi accordingly. “Student Chen Yang greets Dean Sun.”

Having become a student of Silver Moon Academy naturally meant Chen Fei had become part of the academy. To further solidify their bond, Sun Qianyi took Chen Fei and Lu Yijun to Huangyue Pavilion for a meal.

Only then did Chen Fei realize that the stout young man, who seemed to carry the weight of a mountain, was actually the grandson of the academy’s dean.

Though barely twenty, Lu Yijun was already a great spirit mage at the ninth level of the Spirit Master Realm, ranking among the top ten prodigies of Silver Moon Academy’s current students.

His purpose in coming to Huangwu City alongside Sun Qianyi was to seize the opportunities within the secret realm to break through to the Spirit King Realm.

The dean’s warm invitation for Chen Fei to join as a specially recruited student was truly aimed at having Chen Fei assist Lu Yijun in breaking through during the secret realm expedition.

Chen Fei appreciated their candor, understanding that nothing in this world comes without cost or effort.

“Dean Sun and Senior Brother Lu, rest assured that once inside the secret realm, I will do my utmost to help Senior Brother break through,” Chen Fei promised earnestly.

“May I ask, junior brother, what level spirit mage are you currently?” Lu Yijun asked. “Don’t misunderstand; you are now a member of Silver Moon Academy, so we are brothers in cultivation. I ask merely to better understand each other and coordinate our actions.”

This question made Chen Fei somewhat embarrassed.

He was only at the third level of the Spirit Master Realm, but he possessed the Void Heaven Cauldron. With sufficient cultivation resources, increasing his level was as easy as eating and drinking.

However, he could not reveal this to others, lest someone like Qin Shuang covet the Void Heaven Cauldron and bring him danger.

“Senior brother, allow me to keep you in suspense,” Chen Fei responded evasively. “In any case, once we enter the secret realm, you will see that I am truly worth the costs you have borne.”

Lu Yijun’s expression darkened slightly, clearly displeased, and he glanced toward Sun Qianyi.

“If young brother Chen Yang wishes not to say, then so be it,” Sun Qianyi said, brushing the matter aside.

What Chen Fei did not know was that after leaving Huangyue Pavilion, Lu Yijun brought up the issue again to Sun Qianyi, puzzled.

“Grandpa Sun, we’ve given Chen Yang such valuable elixirs and martial techniques, yet he refuses even to disclose his cultivation level.”

“Can such a person be trusted?”

Lu Yijun asked Sun Qianyi earnestly.