The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 318 - 166: First Lesson at the Southern Campus, the Ten Talents Arrive in Person!_1

"Have you heard? Master Han is transferring academies!"

"Ah? He’s only just been promoted to mentor, and the academy has actually approved his teaching in the Southern Campus? That’s impossible..."

"I don’t understand it either. Even if he’s been elevated to the second rank, possessing a powerful Witch’s Fond Spirit, the risks of going to the Southern Campus are just too great."

"Exactly, my cousin is at the Southern Campus and from what he tells me, the competition there is nothing like at the North Campus. There are always mentors who, not meeting the expectations of the academy in teaching ability, have to be transferred back to the North Campus."

"What’s more, there are even those who, having made elementary mistakes in front of students, lose all face and quit their jobs to leave Canghai Pavilion, and nobody would find that unreasonable..."

...

"Giddy up! Go, go!"

Ye Hanjun riding his six-legged cow horse through the streets could occasionally overhear students discussing topics about himself.

On reflection, it’s not hard to understand.

As a newly-promoted second rank mentor, no matter what he would have authority over first-rank students, so his status, reputation... would not be too much questioned.

—But the Southern Campus is different!

Even the weakest students there are second rank. On an even playing field, how can a new mentor of a similar age easily earn their respect?

"Master Han, the Southern Campus is a viper’s nest, be very careful!"

"Master Han, if you can’t handle those senior students, welcome back to the North Campus, we will be here to cheer you on!!"

...

A group of old students from the student club shouted at the top of their lungs.

Ye Hanjun waved his hand, the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth barely perceptible.

The North Campus had plenty of "cuties."

But the Southern Campus might not be a dragon’s den or tiger’s lair...

With no need for a whip, Lao Liu sped up at Ye Hanjun’s command, clattering across the street with six legs thundering.

Suddenly, Shuiyue Tower appeared in front, and Ye Hanjun dismounted, leading the animal on foot.

"You have no luggage?"

The mentor guarding Shuiyue Tower gave him a once over and couldn’t help but open his mouth to remind him:

"Past that middle door, under normal circumstances, ordinary mentors can’t freely pass through..."

"They’re all things of little value; I can simply purchase them anew," Ye Hanjun replied with a smile.

"Then, I wish you luck."

The guarding mentor activated the token in his hand, and a metallic gate over 150 meters wide rumbled open.

"Hee-hee... Moo!"

Lao Liu, delighted, began to run again.

He hadn’t gone far when he was stopped by a man and a woman.

"Master Han, I’ve long admired you."

On the other side of the door, two people had been waiting.

Seeing the silver-white pentagonal badges they wore on their chests, it was clear they were mentors, not assistants.

"I’m Xia Dongnian, and this is Fangting."

The neatly-dressed middle-aged mentor offered a slight bow, greeting:

"We’re with the academic affairs office, in charge of personnel transfers."

"Hearing that Master Han was joining the Southern Campus, we specifically waited here, but we had only just arrived when Master Han was already on his way."

"Well, that’s quite a coincidence."

Ye Hanjun exchanged a few pleasantries and let out a small burst of his perceptual power.

He immediately discerned that the latent threat of these two people differed from a second-rank Patron’s; the only possibility was that they were third rank, unlikely to be special talents like those of the Bingji level.

"If Master Han has any questions, feel free to ask us."

"We will help you get familiar with the Southern Campus initially and assist you in choosing and settling into your residence."

"Then, I thank you both for your efforts," Ye Hanjun expressed his gratitude and asked anything he wanted to know without reservation.

The more he understood about the campus’ management system, cultivation system, and key figures, the more assured he felt.

"Whoosh—"

Xia Dongnian summoned his Contracted Spirit, an Iron-skinned Tree Bear from the Jade Infant Virtual Leading class.

The creature was enormous. Xia Dongnian, sitting on its back and grabbing onto its neck, looked like a man perched atop a small mountain, the difference in their sizes stark.

"Roar!"

The Iron-skinned Tree Bear was somewhat lazy and lumbered forward at a leisurely pace.

But its strides were wide enough that, in reality, its speed was not slower than Lao Liu with the Rainbow Light Void Extraction.

And Fangting, who held the E-rank ’Nurse’ title, had a ’Green Wood Ant’ as her Contracted Spirit, also from the Jade Infant Virtual Leading class.

This entirely emerald creature moved much more quickly and had to deliberately slow down, or it would easily outpace the bear and horse, leading from afar.

"...Master Han, that’s roughly the situation at the Southern Campus. You’ll have to learn the specifics on your own; it’s hard to explain in just a few words," Xia Dongnian said, pointing at a road to the side and then changing the subject:

"As for the residences... they are very scattered around the Southern Campus."

"Surrounded by green forests, near mountains and water, muddy grounds, man-made little volcanoes... you can choose entirely based on your preferences, your titles, or your Contracted Spirit’s needs."

"It’s certain that the residences at the Southern Campus are much more luxurious than those at the North Campus."

"Whether it’s a flat, a duplex, country homes, retro, metal, or casual styles... you can basically find anything."

"If you still aren’t satisfied, you can pay cost price and we can have a professional ’Architect’ team tailor-made one for you..."

Having listened to Xia Dongnian’s introduction, Ye Hanjun inquired:

"Is there something bigger, like a manor, which also has private training space?"

"Yes!" Fangting replied with a friendly smile, "But that kind of specification is top-end, usually only near-celebrity mentors, or those who are already celebrity mentors, are willing to rent them."

"Since it exceeds the rights of formal mentors, renting such a small manor requires payment of certain maintenance and administration fees. If Master Han is willing to spend the money, you could move in tonight."