Chapter 8: The Decision

“Hmm?” Zong Ling and Tong San both looked at Dongbo Xueying, waiting for his decision.

In their hearts, they were actually reluctant to part with Xueying. After all, the Changfeng Academy was over thirty thousand li away from Xueying Domain. Once enrolled, one had to live within the academy grounds, often for more than six years—some even stayed for over a decade before being allowed to graduate. Such a long separation—how could they bear it?

These two old men had no children of their own, and they shared a deep bond with Dongbo Lie and Mo Yangyu. In Tong San’s heart, Mo Yangyu was his most important master. Zong Ling, too, had secretly harbored feelings for Mo Yangyu, but obviously, as a six-armed serpent demon, he could never be accepted by her. Back then, within their adventuring party, Mo Yangyu eventually ended up with Dongbo Lie.

Later, when Mo Yangyu became pregnant, both old men were overjoyed. They followed the couple and came along as well. When Xueying was born, they watched him grow up. Deep in their hearts, they had come to regard Xueying as their own child.

To be separated for such a long time? They truly couldn’t bear it.

Yet the Changfeng Academy was the best place in the Anyang Province, and it would greatly benefit Dongbo Xueying’s growth.

“I’ve decided not to go,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Why not?” Zong Ling asked urgently.

“Why wouldn’t you go? The Changfeng Academy is the best place to become a powerful knight. It’s the dream of many to be admitted. After the New Year, you’ll turn eleven, and then you won’t have another chance to enter,” Tong San also urged anxiously.

The weak have no future.

This was a world ruled by the strong! The noble families all possessed formidable martial might.

“Are you reluctant to leave Stone?” Zong Ling suddenly asked.

Dongbo Xueying nodded. “Yes, I do miss Stone. He’s only four this year, and he’s not close to you two. He’s always been attached to me, even sleeping beside me every night until now. Stone barely remembers our parents anymore—he only has me as his older brother. I don’t want his childhood to lose both parents and even his brother!”

Zong Ling and Tong San fell silent. They could truly feel Xueying’s deep care for his younger brother.

“I at least had my parents until I was eight, but my brother, at four, has neither parents nor an older brother…” Dongbo Xueying continued. “I can’t do that to him.”

“And besides—”

“Will going to the Changfeng Academy really help me rescue my parents?” Dongbo Xueying asked. “I doubt it!”

“Hmm?” Zong Ling and Tong San looked puzzled.

“The training at Changfeng Academy is indeed good, capable of nurturing many high-tier knights, even some who become Meteor Knights. But… even if I become a Meteor Knight, will that be enough to save my parents? Hmph, my uncle is a Silver Moon-ranked Grand Magician, yet he couldn’t do anything about the Mo Yang Clan’s rules,” Dongbo Xueying said. “To rescue my parents, I fear I must surpass my uncle. I must become a Named Knight! Or even an extraordinary being!”

Zong Ling and Tong San exchanged glances, somewhat taken aback.

They had never spoken in detail about the Mo Yang Clan’s true strength, yet Dongbo Xueying had deduced that only a Named Knight or an extraordinary being could have a chance. This child was indeed brilliant, for his deduction was spot on.

“Named Knights are extremely rare.”

“As for extraordinary knights, they are legendary. I’ve collected many biographies and stories about extraordinary knights. Some of the tales might be exaggerated or fictional, but their paths to power are real,” Dongbo Xueying said. “I’ve compiled the cultivation paths of these extraordinary beings.”

“Among the 125 extraordinary beings recorded in history, 109 of them cultivated on their own, enduring countless life-and-death trials to become extraordinary!”

“And among those who trained in academies, there were only sixteen!”

Dongbo Xueying looked at Zong Ling and Tong San. “What does that tell you? If you wish to become an extraordinary being, the academy path is actually at a disadvantage!”

Zong Ling and Tong San were both stunned.

They had never considered this perspective before. They had always thought academies founded by extraordinary beings were sacred places—the best of the best! With so many high-tier knights, even Star-ranked knights… Yet, according to ancient records and tales passed down through the ages, the vast majority of extraordinary beings had never attended any academy!

They had all walked their own paths alone!

“How could that be?” Tong San stammered in disbelief.

“The books are in my study. I even specially sent someone to collect books about extraordinary beings from Yishui City,” Dongbo Xueying said. “The facts are clear. Although many talented individuals join academies, they ultimately fail to become extraordinary!”

“I’ve also studied carefully why this is the case.”

“Based on the spear techniques book left behind by my father, I’ve formed a theory,” Dongbo Xueying continued. “To become extraordinary, one must walk a path that is truly one’s own. However, knights trained in academies, guided by their teachers, find early cultivation easier. They keep breaking through and improving. But when the time comes to forge their own path, suddenly there’s no teacher to guide them anymore. They become blind, not knowing how to move forward!”

“And those who trained outside academies, without systematic guidance—”

“They had to explore alone, facing each obstacle by themselves, figuring out how to overcome it. Each step was difficult. But along this path, they gained their own insights! This was a path they walked themselves, discovered themselves! And in the end, many of them still managed to step into the realm of the extraordinary!”

Dongbo Xueying’s eyes shone brightly. “Detailed and systematic guidance is indeed beneficial for mass-producing knights. But when it comes to cultivating a true extraordinary being, such detailed teachings instead become a hindrance! Breaking free from that hindrance is extremely difficult.”

Tong San stared at Dongbo Xueying, dumbfounded. “No wonder you’re the master’s son. You sure know how to talk!”

Zong Ling smiled. “Never thought those biographies contained such profound truths! At the very least, your reasoning makes a lot of sense.”

“My reasoning might be wrong!”

“But the data doesn’t lie!”

“Out of the 125 extraordinary knights who left their mark in history, 109 never attended any academy! So, I won’t be joining any academy either,” Dongbo Xueying declared.

“Haha, that’s because your aspirations are higher. For many children, becoming a high-tier knight is already enough. Becoming a Star-ranked knight is already remarkable. How many dare to set their sights so high as to aim for an extraordinary being?” Zong Ling laughed. “When it comes to cultivating knights below the extraordinary level, the academy path still offers clear advantages. After all, the majority of knights are academy-trained.”

“Hmm,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

He agreed with this point.

But his goals stretched even further!

“You analyze data from those biographies like a true scholar. No wonder you’re A Yu’s son. If you became a magician, you’d probably have a bright future,” Zong Ling praised. Magicians needed to dissect and study the mysteries of the world, and this kind of analytical thinking was crucial. Every truly powerful magician was also extremely wise.

“Unfortunately, my spiritual power isn’t strong enough,” Dongbo Xueying chuckled. “I’m just not cut out to be a magician.”

Unlike knights,

Knights could fight for strength through sheer determination and hard training, regardless of gender.

Magicians required extremely high talent, starting with immense spiritual power. Without sufficient spiritual power, one didn’t even have the qualifications to try.

“Stone will turn five after the New Year. We can test his spiritual power now and see how strong it is,” Dongbo Xueying said. “Perhaps he’s already reached the threshold.”

The earlier one reached the spiritual threshold, the higher the talent.

Most children who hadn’t reached the threshold by age ten had no hope. His mother had reached it at six.