Chapter 28: Second-Level Cultivation Agreement

"Dear father and mother, preface, I'm probably going to flop this time... wait no, I seem to be able to live!"

Jie Ming, who was "invited" away in the chaos, was brought to a secret room deep in the academy by several law enforcement wizards wearing standard wizard robes.

The room was not big, the walls were cast from some kind of cold black metal, there were no windows, only a heavy metal door.

Jie Ming sat on a comfortable chair in the center of the room. He was relatively nervous at first, but then found that things seemed to be different from what he had imagined.

Although this secret room looked heavily guarded, those wizards didn't seem to care much about him.

He was not bound, nor did he feel any mandatory energy fluctuations.

The law enforcement wizards just brought him here, and then stood quietly outside the door, not coming in, nor having any communication with him.

Even on the small round table next to him, several exquisite snacks and a drink emitting warm light were placed.

"What is this? Placement PLAY?"

This weird kindness made Jie Ming a bit confused, but he still breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

"It seems... the problem doesn't seem to be as serious as imagined?" He carefully picked up the drink and took a light sip.

The liquid slid down his throat, carrying an indescribable comfort, which seemed to relieve the exhaustion of his spirit.

If he really exposed that he had a cultivation system other than a wizard or was suspected of being a spy, the other party would definitely not be so polite.

Wizards treat enemies, especially enemies who might threaten the entire civilization, with absolutely cold and direct means.

No binding, no interrogation, and even snacks and drinks... this treatment doesn't look like interrogating a spy at all.

The taste of waiting for judgment is not good, but this waiting without pressure made him relax a bit.

He leaned on the chair, his internal circulation running non-stop, and that Essence Gold plating was also secretly covering his body surface, ready to deal with emergencies at any time.

He didn't know how long he waited, but the heavy metal door of the secret room made a click sound and slowly opened.

A familiar figure with a slightly bald head and wearing an alchemy mentor robe walked in.

Mentor Clark.

Seeing that the person who came was Clark, out of the natural fear of students for their head teacher, Jie Ming's heart immediately tightened.

He immediately sat upright, his body tense, not even daring to breathe.

He thought that what awaited him next would be the mentor's cold questioning and scrutiny.

What surprised him was that Clark didn't show any attitude of scrutiny or questioning.

His face was still that expressionless look, but his eyes seemed to have a bit less rigidity than usual, and a bit more...

"How to say? Is it a gaze that examines the value of a commodity?"

Jie Ming was full of questions in his heart, but didn't know how to say it, so he could only wait quietly for his judgment result.

Fortunately, Clark didn't beat around the bush, walked to a chair opposite him, sat down, and opened his mouth straightforwardly.

"The 'white iron-based isolation material' you submitted has passed the highest-level detection assessment, and the potential is huge. At the same time, your performance in the sudden accident in the public laboratory, calm, decisive, accurate judgment of the equipment core, showed extremely high reaction ability and talent."

Jie Ming swallowed his saliva, not knowing what the mentor wanted to say, fearing that a "but" would pop out of the other party's mouth next.

Good things didn't develop as he imagined. Mentor Clark paused, and then said a term that made Jie Ming feel unfamiliar:

"The academy has decided to start the second-level cultivation agreement for you."

Second-level cultivation agreement?

Jie Ming was a bit dazed for a while.

What is this thing again?

He had heard Amy and the others talk about some apprentice cultivation plan of the academy before, but the second-level cultivation agreement... although it sounded very similar, it didn't seem to be the same concept.

Mentor Clark seemed to see his confusion and explained quite rarely with patience:

"The second-level cultivation agreement is established by the Star Ring Alliance for those apprentices who are assessed to have the potential to cross the official wizard level and impact higher tiers. This represents the focus of the entire alliance on cultivating you."

"Specific privileges include: Your credit account has opened more purchasing permissions. Ordinary apprentices can only buy items and knowledge related to first-level official wizards at most, while you, as long as you have enough credits, can buy almost all non-contraband items in the academy's Magic Net, including some controlled knowledge and items."

"At the same time, you are granted the qualification to form a private laboratory. You can have your own laboratory in the area designated by the workshop, enjoying a better research environment and equipment resources. Of course, you have to pay for this yourself."

"The most important point is that you can sell your research products on the energy communication of the entire Star Ring Federation through the academy's channels. This is different from the energy communication that can only connect to the school in the mission center. It is not just within the school, but also a trading platform across planes and across forces, which can contact countless broader markets and resources."

Listening to Mentor Clark's introduction, Jie Ming roughly understood the gold content of this second-level cultivation agreement, but still had some doubts.

"Mentor, these... seem to be qualifications?" Jie Ming was a bit hesitant, "It feels like there is no substantial support? For example, will the academy provide a large amount of free materials or credit assistance?"

After Mentor Clark finished listening to Jie Ming's question, that expressionless face that never changed for ten thousand years habitually revealed a look of looking at a fool:

"Credits? Assistance?"

He looked at Jie Ming, his tone carrying the analytical tone that Jie Ming was familiar with in class:

"Apprentice Jie Ming, if you can't even earn the credits needed to satisfy your own cultivation and research, then you are not qualified to obtain the second-level cultivation agreement at all, let alone prove that you have the ability to impact higher tiers."

"These qualifications themselves are the greatest support. It removes the upper limit of your resource acquisition and broadens the channels for you to acquire resources. As for how much you can earn and how far you can go, that depends on your own ability."

Hearing Mentor Clark's words, the heart that Jie Ming had been hanging finally let go completely.

So that's it!

It seems that he was not regarded as a spy or thought to have hidden any shocking secrets, but the academy side even confirmed that he had "investment value" and "cultivation potential"!

In this way...

Did I wash away the problem of the material with the identity of a "genius"?!

Thinking of this, a feeling of relief instantly flooded Jie Ming.

He was finally safe!

At least, in this academy, under the protection of the rules, he was temporarily safe!

Jie Ming felt a burst of joy in his heart, and also a bit embarrassed.

The huge psychological change made him couldn't help but smile, and his expression looked a bit relaxed. ===== CHAPTER 29 =====