Chapter 20: Protection Money Extortion Has Come Knocking on My Door

"You bastard old man, you promised me I'd be in the same dorm as the campus beauty back then! Only then did I agree to come to Zhenling Academy!"

"Do you know what I've been through? You'll pay for my reputation! You'll pay for my campus beauty!!"

"I'm a strapping seven-foot man, yet I was pinned to the ground and rubbed by a bunch of women, and they forced me to sing 'Conquer'! When has your daddy Tiger ever suffered this kind of grievance!"

"I want to drop out! I want to drop out!"

Chen Xiaohu was wildly venting his bitterness and grievances, and as he went on he actually started wiping away tears.

This left Jiang Qin beside him staring in a daze, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Where did this weirdo come from—being sweet-talked into coming to Zhenling Academy just to share a dorm with the campus beauty. This reason is probably one of a kind since the Academy's founding.

Lin Lao certainly wasn't going to indulge this guy. Circulating his Spirit Power, he delivered two big slaps.

Chen Xiaohu's cheeks swelled up red on both sides, looking quite comical.

"Do you still want to drop out?"

Facing Lin Lao's question, he hurriedly shook his head and shrank his neck, afraid of getting two more slaps.

Miraculously, the swollen face subsided in less than a moment.

Lin Lao led the two toward a building not far away, explaining as they went:

"Although this little Tiger has SSS-Class Talent, he has a bit of a flaw, which is why this old man picked up a bargain."

"A flaw?"

"Mm, don't let his appearance fool you—as long as it's not a one-shot kill, even a Divine Image Realm Realm Martial Artist couldn't kill him. Put plainly, he's thick-skinned, tough, and immensely strong. As for the flaw… before his strength reaches the Law Realm, he can't control Spirit Power to attack enemies, and can only use his own brute force."

Jiang Qin glanced at Chen Xiaohu in surprise. This guy wasn't just a weirdo himself—his talent was weird too.

Unable to control Spirit Power to attack enemies—isn't that just a moving meat shield?

But being able to withstand attacks from a Divine Image Realm Realm Martial Artist at the Spirit Drawing Realm is truly heaven-defying.

Chen Xiaohu had already recovered by now, grinning as he sidled up to Jiang Qin and whispered:

"Bro, I didn't see you at yesterday's registration. Just arrived today? Judging by your outfit, you look badass. Add me as a friend, let's game together later. My Yao girl is wickedly good."

Yao girl? Isn't that just a pure feeder?

The corner of Jiang Qin's mouth twitched, and he ignored this guy.

Under Lin Lao's lead, they walked into the building and made their way to the Principal's Office.

Lin Lao didn't even knock, pushing the door open and walking straight in.

"Little Qin, this old man has brought back two good seedlings for you. I told you those admissions teachers were useless and you wouldn't believe me. With this old man taking action, I directly brought back two SSS-level talents for our Academy. Convinced or not?"

Principal Qin Xiaoyuan looked up, his expression helpless. He was already nearly used to the old man not knocking.

Jiang Qin sized up this Principal—temples streaked with white, inner radiance contained within, not a trace of aura leaking from his entire body. Definitely a top expert.

Qin Xiaoyuan was also sizing up Jiang Qin. Standing, he praised:

"You're Jiang Qin, right? I've heard from Lin Lao about the attack by the Gods Cult on the road—killing six Spirit Sea Peak cultivators at the Spirit Drawing Realm. That's a great feat."

"Welcome to Zhenling Academy!"

"And this student Chen, although you're a bit special, I believe that as long as you're willing to study and train diligently, you'll surely become another pillar of our human race in the future."

In the past, hearing such praise would have made Chen Xiaohu float on cloud nine, but at this moment he was staring wide-eyed at the expressionless black-clothed youth beside him, about his own age.

Spirit Drawing Realm killing six Spirit Sea Peak—holy shit!!!

Is this something a human can do?

If he treats Spirit Sea like dogs at Spirit Drawing, then once he breaks through to Spirit Sea, won't he be able to pin Divine Image Realm Realm cultivators to the ground and rub them?

This is a super-thick thigh to cling to!

Principal Qin took out a phone from his drawer and tossed it to Jiang Qin.

"This is the Investigator's dedicated phone. Your identity information has already been entered. There's also the Contribution Points rewarded for killing the Gods Cult members this time—1200 points in total—and every new student gets 200 Contribution Points as an enrollment gift, totaling 1400 points."

"Contribution Points can be exchanged for various cultivation resources. You can study it slowly later."

Next, he began explaining the Academy's rules.

"Our Zhenling Academy is different from the other three academies. Newly enrolled students can freely choose their teachers. If you want cultivation resources, you can only enter Otherworld Rifts to hunt Fierce Beasts and earn Contribution Points to exchange. Students whose strength hasn't reached Spirit Sea Realm within one year will be expelled."

"Students who reach Spirit Sea Realm after one year advance to second year."

"Second-year students' Intern Investigator status will be converted to full Investigator. They must complete 10 B-level Tasks issued by the Zhenling Bureau within one year."

"As for third-year students, they will be assigned to various cities to serve as persons in charge…"

Principal Qin explained in great detail. In short, Zhenling Academy students are quite free—attend class if you want, skip if you don't. As long as you meet the Academy's requirements, you can graduate smoothly.

Next up was naturally the matter of the Blood Pool.

Jiang Qin was already itching to enter the Blood Pool and begin cultivating as soon as possible.

This is a world where strength is respected. His Spirit Drawing Realm cultivation gave him no sense of security.

Principal Qin pondered: "Opening the Blood Pool requires some preparation. Once everything is ready, I'll have Lin Lao notify you. I hope you'll cherish this opportunity."

"Thank you, Principal."

"Thank you, Principal."

Lin Lao waved his hand: "You two go familiarize yourselves with the campus first. I'll chat with Little Qin for a bit."

Jiang Qin and Chen Xiaohu left the Principal's Office, casually closing the door behind them.

Chen Xiaohu unsealed his mouth again and started chattering away.

"Brother Qin, didn't expect you to be this badass. From now on, you're my boss! I'll follow you."

"Boss, let me show you around the school. I know every corner!"

"Boss, why aren't you talking? Are you the quiet type?"

Jiang Qin ignored the buzzing in his ear, looking down at the Contribution Points interface on his phone.

1400 Contribution Points for a new student was absolutely a fortune.

【Spirit Awakening Pill: Can help Mortal Embryo Realm to Spirit Guiding Realm Martial Artists accelerate their cultivation speed, 10 Contribution Points per pill.】

【Sea Spirit Pill: Contains a massive amount of Spirit Energy, can instantly replenish the Spirit Energy within one's body during combat, suitable for all Martial Artists below Spirit Sea Realm, 20 Contribution Points per pill.】

……

【Refining Spirit Liquid: Exclusively for Spirit Sea Realm Martial Artists, can purify the Spirit Energy within one's body and consolidate one's foundation, 100 Contribution Points per bottle.】

Besides pills, there were also cultivation techniques and martial skills.

【Thunder Rush Fist (C-grade): Momentum like thunder and lightning, can numb the enemy's meridians, recommended to be paired with a C-grade or above movement technique, price 100 Contribution Points.】

【Grand Kun Steps (C-grade): Figure like a wild chicken pouncing on prey, impossible to guard against. Due to the movements being overly provocative, use with caution! Price 100 Contribution Points.】

……

【Wind-Riding Steps (B-grade): A castrated lower version of the S-grade movement technique 【Wind Thunder Limitless Steps】. The body follows the long wind away, the shadow chases the flowing clouds back, one step one ride of the wind, ten thousand miles of carefree wandering, price 300 Contribution Points.】

【Thunder Shock Steps (B-grade): A castrated lower version of the S-grade movement technique 【Wind Thunder Limitless Steps】. Thunder shock rises, the human figure vanishes, when the thunder's echo falls, the palm has already reached the throat, price 300 Contribution Points.】

Looking at these two movement techniques, Jiang Qin's face showed contemplation.

If these two B-grade movement techniques were both split off from Wind Thunder Limitless Steps, then after he learned these two movement techniques, could he rely on his talent to deduce that S-grade movement technique?

After all, B-grade techniques already cost several hundred Contribution Points, let alone an S-grade technique.

His meager Contribution Points were nowhere near enough.

Suddenly, Jiang Qin, who had already walked out of the building, stopped his steps, because a group of people was blocking his path.

A purple-haired youth stepped forward two paces with arms folded, grinning as he said:

"You must be Student Jiang. First time meeting you, I am Student Union member Ji Yun."

"I won't say much else. Hand over 100 Contribution Points, and our Student Union will ensure you can cultivate peacefully within the Academy for the next two years. This isn't just targeting you—every new student entering the Academy must pay. This is the rule."

Jiang Qin fell silent. This pitch sounded a little familiar.

This was... collecting protection money and coming to him?