Chapter 3479: The Foundation of Dragon Academy

Caesar walked into the accessory shop. This was the trip to Dragon Academy. Su Xiao had sought out Caesar for two reasons: there might be unknown risks over there, and it would facilitate this negotiation.

The world where Dragon Academy was located had an extremely high power level. Arriving at Dragon Academy via a letter of introduction, as Su Xiao had, and then brute-forcing his way through would not be wise.

This trip to Dragon Academy had no kill rewards, nor were there any treasure chest rewards. Upon leaving, there would be no world settlement either, so getting in and out quickly was the wise choice.

Su Xiao took out the 【Dragon Academy Letter of Introduction】. Caesar, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang, and Baja all leaned in. As Su Xiao used the letter of introduction, spatial fluctuations appeared.

Hum—

Ripples spread through the air, and the surroundings turned dark. When everything calmed down, Su Xiao was already inside a guest room.

The room's style had a distinct steampunk feel, but it was neater and more refined. The second hand of the floor-standing clock ticked away, and the gas lamp occasionally dimmed due to the air intake.

【Prompt: You have arrived at the Ancient Capital, Wabolei.】

【Your current location is: Academy Post Station.】

【Your identity is: External Exchange Student.】

【Warning: You must not leave the area belonging to Dragon Academy. Once you leave this zone, you will be forcibly teleported back to the real world.】

【Warning: Dragon Academy is an ultra-high-tier area. Do not engage in suspicious behavior, or you will attract the attention of the "Academy Supervisory Team," who may investigate or even imprison you.】

【Because you entered this world via a special method, you may leave this world at any time under any circumstances.】

Su Xiao closed the prompt. It was close to what he had guessed; this place could not be breached by force. Relatively speaking, the knowledge and secret treasures possessed here would be even more precious.

He glanced out the window. It was 4:00 AM, the latter half of the night. The hook-shaped moon hung on the horizon, and the entire city of Wabolei was in the dimness of early morning. Most people were still asleep, but some eateries had already opened, restoring a bit of life to the old city.

Wabolei was quite prosperous. Although there were many old buildings here, it was clear that most were intentionally left to preserve history, and the later repairs and maintenance work were very meticulous.

Looking through the glass window, the most spectacular sight was naturally the academy tower, nearly a hundred meters high. At the top of this building sat a crystal emitting a faint light.

In front of this building was a sculpture dozens of meters high. It was an eyeless giant dragon, its entire body covered in crystalline scales, roaring with wings spread.

Originally, the power of crystallization belonged to the ancient giant dragons. The ancient dragon race enslaved other groups until one day, a wise man stole the ancient dragon race's crystallization power and added his own soul power to it, thereby defeating the dragons. It was also during that period that Dragon Academy was founded.

Whether this history was true or false could not be verified, but one thing was a fact: Dragon Academy was indeed the highest institution of learning regarding crystallization. Here, besides crystallization knowledge, soul magic was also quite famous.

The purpose of Su Xiao's trip was to exchange for crystallization knowledge. It was unlikely he would invest too many resources in this area, so Dragon Academy was the most suitable place.

Su Xiao was visiting as an external exchange student this time. He opened the letter of introduction, and the content on it gradually became clear.

The identity he represented this time was not the Alchemy Faction, but the Sun Faction.

This letter of introduction was obtained by Su Xiao on the planet Saier. It was true that he represented the Sun Faction, but there was one point: the current Sun Faction was nearly wiped out, so he figured the attitude of Dragon Academy would not be enthusiastic.

One point was important: although Dragon Academy made its fortune based on the crystallization knowledge of ancient flying dragons, Dragon Academy and the Ancient Dragon Faction were hostile forces. Thinking about it this way, Dragon Academy might have some connection with the Sun Faction.

Su Xiao didn't care much about this aspect. From the most realistic perspective, people leave and tea cools; otherwise, as a representative of the Sun Faction coming here for knowledge exchange, he wouldn't be arranged to stay at the Academy Post Station, but should have been invited to stay temporarily inside the academy tower.

The system of Dragon Academy was not complicated. The Dean lived in seclusion, and most decisions were made by high-level mentors. If unnecessary, no one dared to disturb the Dean.

Mentors were the managers and knowledge professors here, respected by others. However, those truly responsible for the order here were the Court Knights of the Supervisory Team.

The Court Knights of the Supervisory Team only obeyed the direct orders of the Dean and the Court. They had the right to detain or even kill all suspicious personnel, except for the mentors and students within the academy.

The mentors and students here were to a certain extent regulated by the Supervisory Team, but at most, they were temporarily detained and investigated. Once a Court Knight attacked and injured a student within the academy, they would be destroyed.

However, students within the academy didn't dare to be presumptuous with the Court Knights. The combat power of these Court Knights was something students couldn't reach; even mentors, in close-quarters combat, would be taken down by the Court Knights in a short time.

The prototypes of these Court Knights were war weapons. Only the Court had the technology to manufacture them. Sending them to Dragon Academy was, on one hand, to contain this powerful force, and at the same time, it was a protection for Dragon Academy, lest the precious knowledge here be stolen by enemy countries.

These Court Knights were cold maintainers of order. Brainwashed, they had no emotions, and everything followed the regulations of the academy and the Court.

Finally, the Dean of Dragon Academy—this old immortal was a monster. It was rumored that he was actually the founder of Dragon Academy, and he was prying into the secret of eternal life.

"Wang~"

Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang detached from the environment and even let out a quiet bark.

Su Xiao signaled Xiang Bubu not to act rashly. Not long after, the door was knocked. After Xiang Bubu opened the door, he found it was Baja.

Caesar's whereabouts were currently unknown. If unnecessary, Su Xiao would not act together with Caesar. This time, both sides had already agreed: Su Xiao would bring the other party to Dragon Academy, and afterwards, the benefits obtained there would be split fifty-fifty. Just bringing the other party into Dragon Academy without needing to do anything else to get fifty percent was already a lot.

Su Xiao began his daily meditation. He came here representing the Sun Faction, and Dragon Academy sent a mentor named Ian Leopold to make contact with him, thereby achieving a friendly knowledge exchange.

Meditating until just past 6:00 AM, the door was knocked. As it turned out, the person who came was not Mentor Ian Leopold, but a young girl wearing an apprentice's outfit and a tea-colored hood. She had a pair of beautiful amber eyes.

"Mr. Kuku Lin, I am very sorry. My mentor is feeling unwell today, so I can only come instead. I am truly sorry."

The apprentice named Nita bowed and saluted. From her apologetic expression, it could be seen that she was indeed deeply sorry for this meeting. After all, in her view, as an apprentice, coming to exchange knowledge with a representative of the Sun Faction was a very impolite act; her status didn't match at all.

Whether Mentor Ian Leopold was truly unwell, Su Xiao didn't know, but the fact that the other party sent an apprentice under him already had a clear meaning of a warning, implying that the Sun Faction was no longer what it used to be.

The fame of the Sun Madmen was great. Ian Leopold didn't come personally but sent a little apprentice here; in fact, it could also be seen as sending a cannon fodder first to probe. Heaven knows what extreme things the Sun Madmen would do if the knowledge exchange didn't go smoothly.

"So, Miss Nita, your mentor is not planning to see us?"

Baja spoke.

"No, it's not that. My mentor is critically ill, cough~, he is very sick."

Nita was a typical sweet-talker, almost sending her mentor away directly.

Su Xiao took out a piece of paper with a metallic texture, rolled it into a paper tube, handed it to Nita, and said, "Pass this to your mentor. I need knowledge regarding crystallization."

Whether the mentor named Ian Leopold showed up or not, Su Xiao didn't care. There were various unknown risks here. After getting the crystallization knowledge, he would immediately withdraw. He estimated that there wouldn't be many such ultra-high-tier worlds, and in the future, he would likely be able to enter this world in a normal way.

Nita apologized repeatedly before leaving the guest room. As soon as she went out, she left in a hurry. Clearly, coming to meet the Sun Madmen, even Nita knew it wasn't a good errand.

On the corridor paved with red carpet outside the guest room, a Court Knight wearing full plate armor stood there, occasionally glancing at the door of the guest room where Su Xiao was. He was clearly temporarily sent to prevent the Sun Madmen from doing anything shocking.

One couldn't blame Dragon Academy for being so cautious. Previously in the Northern Continent of the Tree-Born World, after the Sun Faction there developed, Su Xiao himself didn't want to get close; it was too dangerous.

The Sun Faction had two sides. Back then, Su Xiao developed a legion style on the planet Saier based on Sun worship, mainly because of the special group of Pig-headed Men. Otherwise, developing Sun worship with other groups would likely show signs of spiraling out of control, or like the Sun Church in the Painted World, becoming an uncontrollable organization. The Sun Church could be said to have truly achieved equality for all.

Inside the guest room, Su Xiao didn't go out. He had long sensed that powerful aura outside the door. Just one Court Knight was like this; if he were to break into Dragon Academy, he would surely die.

Su Xiao didn't have to wait long. In less than an hour, the apprentice Nita returned. After entering, she followed the usual practice and apologized a series of times. It could be seen that she was truly a bit afraid, afraid that Su Xiao would suddenly strike.

Su Xiao didn't care about the repeatedly apologizing Nita. He picked up the scroll on the table. This scroll was relatively new. After opening it, he began to read the crystallization knowledge recorded on it.

A moment later, Su Xiao placed the scroll on the table. Overall, he was very dissatisfied. Mentor Leopold was clearly bullying the guest with his power; this might also be the reason why the other party didn't show up personally.

What Su Xiao took out was not alchemy knowledge, but various Sun Miracles and applications of Sun Power. These pieces of knowledge were perfectly suitable for exchange.

These pieces of knowledge were very valuable, especially the application of Sun energy. Looking at Mentor Leopold's side, he just casually threw together an analysis of crystallization, the value of which wasn't even as good as one Sun Miracle.

If the other side was truly not interested in Sun Miracles and Sun energy applications, they could have completely returned them. This knowledge exchange was initiated by Dragon Academy to the outside; either it was an equal exchange, or it should be returned.

Now, not returning it and casually throwing together a piece of low-level crystallization knowledge was not much different from forced buying and selling.

"If there's nothing else, I'll first..."

Nita's words were only half-spoken when she heard a muffled thud from the corridor outside the door, as if some heavy object had fallen.

"As expected of a Court Knight, the poison resistance is really high."

Baja muttered, opened the door, and flew into the corridor. Not long after, he dragged the Court Knight in.

This Court Knight was indeed strong, but no matter what kind of hero, under the effect of alchemical lethal poison, they still had to fall.

"You... you guys."

Nita's expression gradually became terrified. She seemed to know why her mentor didn't come, and why there was a reward for running this errand.

"Shh!"

Baja made a gesture for silence. He landed on Nita's shoulder, his eagle claws, revealing a metallic luster, grabbing onto Nita's head.

Zzz, zzz~

Two spirit shadow threads were pulled tight. Su Xiao pulled the pin of a liquid bomb and wrapped the two spirit shadow threads around the trigger ring.

He took out the Ancient Mask and covered it on the Court Knight's face. Since this academy was bullying the guest with power, he didn't need to be polite either.

Scarlet tentacles probed out from within the Ancient Mask, swallowing the Court Knight whole within seconds. Su Xiao picked up the mask from the ground and wore it on his face.

Immediately, Su Xiao's figure changed rapidly. He felt a layer of energy wrapping around his body, making his physique look larger, reaching nearly 3 meters.

A few seconds later, Su Xiao successfully disguised himself as a Court Knight. He moved his five fingers wrapped in gauntlets, turned to look at the apprentice Nita, and asked:

"What's your name?"

"Ni... Nita."

"Hmm, hello Nita. Have you ever thought about one thing?"

Su Xiao sat on the coffee table, one hand pressing on Nita's head.

"Wh... what?"

Nita was not only panicked in her eyes, but also panicked in her heart. She had lived in Dragon Academy since she was a child. The worst person she had ever seen was a senior who bullied freshmen. She had never seen such a violent person as Su Xiao.

"Dragon Academy cultivated you. Shouldn't you be loyal to Dragon Academy?"

"Right?"

Nita didn't know how to answer.

"We poisoned the Court Knight. Why didn't you shout out?"

Su Xiao took out a pill and stuffed it into Nita's mouth. Nita's little eyes became even more desperate. She instinctively thought this was poison fed to her by the enemy.

What Nita didn't expect happened. This pill was not only non-toxic, but she felt her mental power growing wildly, the kind of normal wild growth. The side effect was just overdrawing some energy stored in her body.

Nita was stunned. She couldn't understand why the enemy would give her a buffing secret medicine.

"This is the reward for you not shouting out just now. Thanks to you, we weren't discovered by others."

"Eh?"

Nita seemed to have thought of something.

"Little sister, since you are so sincere, then we are accomplices from now on."

Baja's words made Nita understand the current situation. She had inexplicably become an accomplice of the enemy, and by the way, she had also eaten the reward given by the enemy.

"If we are caught, we will definitely bite back that you are our accomplice. But if you are willing to lead the way for us, even if we are exposed, we will say it was coercion that made you lead the way for us. Which one do you choose?"

Hearing Baja's words, Nita's heart began to struggle. A moment later, she said:

"If we walk faster, my mentor should still be in his study."

Nita's tone changed, entering traitor mode. She chose to sell out her mentor Leopold. In fact, it was normal. If her mentor really thought highly of her, he wouldn't have let her receive the Sun Madmen. Clearly, he didn't want to take risks himself, so to be safe, he let her be the cannon fodder.

Su Xiao's plan was simple and crude. After paying a not-low price to poison a Court Knight, he disguised himself as the other party, held Nita hostage, and went to find Mentor Leopold.

Afterwards, he used "Dark Blade" to kill Leopold in one slash at close range, then used the Ancient Mask to disguise himself as Leopold, thereby heading to the Grand Library in the back courtyard.

With Mentor Leopold's status, at the very least, he could get to the third floor of the Grand Library. If he could get to the fourth floor that Nita mentioned, that would naturally be best. At that time, after taking away a few books on crystallization knowledge, plus other precious items, he would withdraw at high speed.

Facts proved that conducting knowledge transactions with a Charisma attribute of -12 was really not reliable, plus placing hope on others' decision-making was far less reliable than striving for it oneself.

Su Xiao took out a crystal bottle, pinched the top and bottom with his middle finger and thumb, and displayed it in front of Nita.

"This is a J4-type agent. Its dosage cycle is very long, with 5~7 cycles. During the period of taking it, you will be in excruciating pain. It will gradually change your transcendent aptitude. Using the metaphor of your Dragon Academy, it can improve your talent."

"Talent is innate, it cannot be improved..."

Nita suddenly became firm, but before she could finish her words, she was interrupted.

"That's what's said to those from civilian backgrounds. Talent can be improved acquiredly, but such resources are limited and only controlled by a small number of people."

Su Xiao placed the medicine bottle in his hand on the table. Nita opposite hesitated for a moment, then picked up the medicine bottle.

"Lead the way ahead."

"Okay."

After Nita took a few deep breaths, she began to lead the way in front. Although they encountered other Court Knights along the way, because of the identity Su Xiao was disguised as, the other Court Knights just glanced at them and didn't pay much attention. The effect of the Ancient Mask was top-notch.

Passing through the elegantly landscaped courtyard, Su Xiao arrived in front of the academy tower. Walking up the steps in front of the main entrance, after arriving at the first-floor lobby, Nita led the way to the stairs going up.

Occasionally, students passed by. They were dressed differently; some had heavy dark circles, already addicted to mystery, while others were spirited.

Going up to the third floor, Su Xiao switched to the elevator. The metal elevator was very stable and stopped at the twelfth floor.

Walking in the corridor on the twelfth floor, this was the living area for mentors. Su Xiao finally stopped in front of a door and signaled Nita to knock.

Knock, knock, knock~

"Who?"

A slightly aged voice came from inside the door.

"Mentor, it's me."

"Who are you?"

"Ni... Nita."

Nita's face flushed with embarrassment.

"Come in."

After speaking, there was no sound in the room. Just as Nita was about to push open the door, she was grabbed by the arm by Su Xiao.

Su Xiao took off the Ancient Mask from his face. He quickly returned to his original appearance and signaled Xiang Bubu and Baja to step back. He took out the 【Time Hourglass】, held it in his hand, and pushed the door to walk into the study.

In the study, which was carpeted and furnished with an antique style, there were two people. One of them was wearing a white robe, looking to be in his early 50s, standing respectfully to the side. This person was Mentor Leopold.

The other person's robe looked worn out. His skin was withered, his lips had cracks, and the whole person was completely thin to the bone, but those eyes were like crystal eyeballs. Just seeing this old man made one feel fearful from the heart.

"Law-Breaker, come in."

The old man spoke, his voice a bit hoarse. This person was the old Dean of Dragon Academy, an old monster who didn't know how many years he had lived.

Su Xiao grabbed Nita's neck with one hand and dragged her in like a hostage.

"Nita."

Mentor Leopold, who was standing respectfully to the side, spoke. He was originally the main target Su Xiao wanted to eliminate, but now he wasn't.

Su Xiao sat down opposite the old Dean, then released Nita's neck.

"Leopold has a great prejudice against the Sun God Race. Prejudices in people's hearts will blind wisdom."

The old Dean spoke. Hearing this, Mentor Leopold to the side lowered his head.

"Outsider, where do you come from?"

The old Dean slowly raised his hand and pointed at the light tea in front of Su Xiao, signaling Su Xiao not to be polite.

"Reincarnation Paradise."

Hearing this, Mentor Leopold standing to the side had his expression change slightly. Sun believers were madmen, that was true, but the madmen of Reincarnation Paradise were even more terrifying. The behavioral patterns of Sun Madmen at least had traces to follow; what the madmen of Reincarnation Paradise would do was completely unpredictable.

Su Xiao didn't feel worried about the current situation. With the return permission in hand, if anything went slightly wrong, he would withdraw.

"So it's the Paradise Faction. In that case, the letter of introduction you obtained is a 'prop' from your side? Leopold, he is not the target you want to take revenge on. If I'm not mistaken, he has nothing to do with the Sun God Race."

The old Dean signaled Mentor Leopold and Nita to both step down. There were some things they shouldn't hear.

When Su Xiao was just teleported to the Academy Post Station, the old Dean knew. Inside Dragon Academy, there was a device specially used to sense Law-Breakers. The cause was that many years ago, a Law-Breaker came for "exchange and learning." At that time, Dragon Academy was very arrogant, with an attitude of "who do you think you are."

Afterwards, that Law-Breaker broke the academy tower from the root and slammed it onto the ground like a green onion. According to incomplete statistics, two-thirds of Dragon Academy was destroyed afterwards.

The person who did this was named Green Gillian. When she left, she even left a sentence, meaning that she would let other Law-Breakers know there was such a good place, and subsequent Law-Breakers would come for "exchange and learning."

This worried the old Dean greatly. He, along with many mentors, spent many years finally researching the Green Steel Shadow energy sensing device, and then this device never played a role again.

Today, this device was activated. The old Dean sensed it at the first moment and secretly monitored Su Xiao through academy facilities.

At the very beginning, the old Dean seriously doubted whether Su Xiao was a Law-Breaker, as he was so law-abiding, until Mentor Leopold showed hostility and Su Xiao immediately poisoned a Court Knight. This fearlessness of power and ferocity made the old Dean immediately determine that it was indeed that group of robbers.

In the study, the old Dean placed a large scroll on the table. This scroll was at least 20 centimeters thick and nearly 1 meter high when stood up. The content recorded on it must be a lot.

"This is Dragon Academy's crystallization knowledge?"

"No, this is the catalog. You find which part you need yourself."

"..."

Su Xiao opened the huge scroll. Sure enough, it really was a catalog. The crystallization system was more complex than he imagined. He flipped through it for a while and found two parts: "Energy Crystallization" and "Soul and Crystallization." He was very interested in these two aspects.

"I want these two parts."

Su Xiao pointed at the records on the scroll. Seeing this, the old Dean smiled and shook his head, saying:

"This is the secret of our Dragon Academy that is not passed on. They are all stored on the top floor of the Grand Library. Even if mentors of our academy want to borrow them, they have to make equivalent contributions."

"I will exchange with the records of the second half of the Sun Book."

"Young man, your generosity is gratifying."

The old Dean closed the large scroll. What secret not passed on? After the price was high enough, it was immediately passed on.

The old Dean stood up. Seeing this, Su Xiao also did the same. After leaving the study, Mentor Leopold and the apprentice Nita were both waiting outside.

Seeing the old Dean's expression, Mentor Leopold immediately changed his attitude. He walked side by side with Su Xiao, stuffed a small bottle containing blue liquid into Su Xiao's hand, and said, "If there's a chance in the future, let's cooperate again."

Mentor Leopold smiled, not mentioning a word about the previous events, meaning that this page was turned.

Along the way, Mentor Leopold began to talk about the history of Dragon Academy and how many excellent students had come out of here.

After the group arrived in front of the Grand Library, they went through several checks before entering, even if led personally by the old Dean.

The Grand Library had a total of four floors. The first three floors were connected, and the layout was a bit complex, while the fourth floor was completely independent.

Half an hour later, the group arrived in front of the metal door on the fourth floor. The old Dean took out the key and opened the door personally. In the entire Dragon Academy, only the old Dean had the key to the fourth floor of the Grand Library.

"Bai Ye, the knowledge reserve on the fourth floor of the Grand Library will absolutely exceed your imagination. Many people have tried to steal the precious books inside, but no one has ever succeeded."

While Mentor Leopold was speaking, the metal door on the fourth floor of the Grand Library slowly opened.

"This is the foundation of my Dragon Academy."

Mentor Leopold put his hands behind his back and slightly raised his chin. When he saw the scene in front of him clearly, he almost had a cerebral hemorrhage.

Inside the large fourth floor of the Grand Library, let alone ancient books, even the bookshelves were gone, leaving only three or five sheets of paper on the ground.

Seeing this scene, Su Xiao immediately activated the return permission. The transaction regarding crystallization knowledge didn't need to continue; someone had packed up the fourth floor of the Grand Library and taken it away. ===== CHAPTER 3480 =====