Chapter 19: Does This Mean I Don't Have to Go to School Anymore?

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Di Qiu shook her head vigorously. “Not for now.”

She smiled. “What a pity. Once you reach Earth Rank, all your benefits will rise by an entire tier. You will also receive ten portions of advanced energy for free each month, enough to raise your supernatural ability level. As for Sky-Rank logistics personnel, they receive twenty portions of advanced energy every month.”

“Free? Doesn’t that mean we can lie around collecting resources without even going on missions?”

Someone exclaimed in astonishment. The word “free” was irresistible when placed beside resources.

Deng Jingxiang smiled. “You could put it that way. However, after reaching Earth or Sky Rank, you must complete at least one S3-level mission each month.”

“But then again, shouldn’t every Sky-Rank ability user already be at S3 level? Would they still care about twenty portions of advanced energy?” An Lang asked, puzzled.

“Not necessarily. You’ll understand once you reach that level. Besides, supernatural ability levels are not so easy to raise. Don’t imagine it will be that simple.” Deng Jingxiang offered no further explanation.

After everyone had been identified, they entered the inner hall. No one was stationed there to receive them. Instead, a screen wall depicting two dragons playing with a pearl stood before them. They entered from either side of the wall, and the first thing that caught their eyes was the enormous waterfall cascading through the center.

Another wave of astonished exclamations rose around them. Di Qiu tilted her head back, unable to see the top, and a line came to mind at just the right moment:

“A waterfall plunges three thousand feet—
As though the Milky Way had fallen from the Ninth Heaven.”

Who could have imagined seeing such a scene indoors?

Looking around, she realized that the interior had been designed in a circular layout. As she surveyed the area, she spotted elevators moving up and down.

“At last, we won’t have to climb stairs anymore,” Di Qiu sighed.

She counted eight elevators.

For some reason, they reminded her of an Eight Trigrams formation. She took out her phone and checked the direction with its compass. Sure enough, the eight elevators corresponded exactly to the eight directions of the Eight Trigrams.

All along, she had regarded this world as a kind of half-parallel world. It seemed she had not been mistaken.

With the knowledge she had acquired, it was not difficult to discover that the underlying principles of certain things were actually identical. Most of them had merely been given different names.

…

“This floor is the area for Earth-Rank logistics personnel. It contains cultivation rooms, sparring rooms, and information on the characteristics of anomalous entities from F1 to E3 that the Zhongwei Bureau has eliminated.”

Deng Jingxiang led them around the floor. When they passed a room, she turned her head toward it. “This is the Earth-Rank Resource Department. After completing a mission, you can come here to collect your resources.”

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“This is the Guidance Room. If you encounter difficulties while improving your strength, there are specialists here who can provide one-on-one instruction and answer your questions. Earth-Rank logistics personnel receive ten guidance sessions a year; Bronze Rank personnel receive twenty; Silver Rank personnel receive thirty; Gold Rank personnel receive fifty; Earth Rank personnel receive fifteen every month; and Sky Rank personnel have access to guidance and answers around the clock.”

Following behind her, Di Qiu asked with a flight of fancy, “Once someone has reached Sky Rank, what problems could they possibly have?”

“Who knows? Perhaps every rank has its own troubles,” Yun Jiayu said indifferently.

Deng Jingxiang walked ahead of them, stopping to explain each area they passed. It was difficult to imagine that an Earth-Rank logistics officer could be so patient while introducing them to the Zhongwei Bureau.

After passing through a tunnel, they saw the scenery behind the mountain. To their surprise, there was another enormous building there.

“This is the Medical Base. It possesses the highest standard of medical care in the world. If you develop any health problems, you can receive free treatment here. Naturally, your family members are entitled to the same benefits.”

“This is the cafeteria. All the food inside is free. Just scan your watch.”

“The dormitory building for Earth-Rank logistics personnel is here. Each person has a private room, all furnished to a luxurious standard.”

Like a mother hen leading her chicks, Deng Jingxiang introduced the facilities available to the dozen or so newcomers who had just joined the Zhongwei Bureau.

Ever since they had entered the valley—or, more precisely, ever since the vehicle had stopped—they had done little more than exclaim in amazement. They had run out of any other novel words.

Inside this towering building, there truly seemed to be another world beyond the heavens and another mountain beyond the mountains. It was impossible to imagine that such an unassuming exterior concealed so many levels and mechanisms within.

After touring the floor for Earth-Rank logistics personnel, they continued on to the Bronze, Silver, and Gold floors, followed by the Earth and Sky floors. All of them possessed similar facilities.

For the newcomers, this might be their only chance to visit the Earth- and Sky-Rank floors.

At this point, someone asked, “There doesn’t seem to be much difference between them.”

Deng Jingxiang glanced back at them, reluctant to dampen their enthusiasm. “If your aspirations are modest, then there truly isn’t much difference. Of course, I’m talking about not pursuing an increase in resources.”

They understood.

One’s rank determined the upper limit of one’s resources.

Di Qiu understood that well enough. People naturally climbed higher, and the benefits they received should rise along with them.

But when she remembered that there were dormitories here as well, another question occurred to her.

“There are expert instructors for one-on-one guidance, as well as dormitories and a cafeteria. Doesn’t that mean we don’t have to attend school anymore?”

With facilities like these, why should she continue going to school? She could simply move in with a suitcase.

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“Of course you can, provided that you complete the required coursework and assignments from the school. As far as I know, that is what the ability users from the academy who have joined the Zhongwei Bureau do.

“Most ability users who join the Zhongwei Bureau don’t spend much time at school. I’ve heard them say that if they receive an emergency mission from the Zhongwei Bureau, they may skip class first, but they must make up the lessons after returning.”

An Lang walked beside her with both hands clasped behind his head and continued, “Still, someone like you is rare. You only just registered, yet you passed the Zhongwei Bureau’s assessment before you had even officially enrolled.

“There really hasn’t been anyone like you at our school. You’re the first in history. The only people who would dare do something like this are ability users who have already undergone practical training outside and therefore have a chance of passing the Zhongwei Bureau’s assessment.”

By the time they had finished touring the entire facility, dusk was approaching, and it was time for dinner. Everyone was now seated in the cafeteria, eating heartily. When Deng Jingxiang heard someone discussing the matter, she looked up and turned toward Di Qiu.

“Joining the Zhongwei Bureau does not conflict with attending the Ability Academy at all. The academy is a place for learning. If you do not yet have a clear understanding of supernatural abilities, anomalous entities, or how to cultivate and advance, then the academy is the most suitable place for you at present.

“However, you are already a member of the Zhongwei Bureau, so you may move into the dormitory here at any time.

“Of course, if you feel that fifty guidance sessions a year are sufficient for learning about supernatural abilities and anomalous entities, then given your current Gold-Rank evaluation, the Zhongwei Bureau can help you apply for graduation. You would no longer need to attend the academy.”

Di Qiu pondered for only a few seconds before smiling decisively. “I think I still can’t afford to miss the final school experience of my life.”

At the academy, there might still be room for mistakes. Here, however, the weapons would be real. The saying that life and death were determined by fate, and wealth and honor by heaven, was no joke.

Although she had awakened a supernatural ability, compared with the other ability users who had received an education at the academy, she was still more or less ignorant.

At the very least, she first needed to learn how to move up and down like everyone else. She did not want to climb stairs again.

…

It was already eight in the evening when they returned to the Ability Academy. After getting off the vehicle, only an old woman and a young woman stood before the dormitory building, staring at each other in silence.

The various departments of the Ability Academy were currently beginning their summer break one after another. Most students would remain on campus, while most others chose to return home. Therefore, the people in the vehicle who had passed the assessment could choose to move directly into the Zhongwei Bureau and begin accepting missions.

Only Di Qiu and Zhu Yufang were still in the enrollment stage as new students. They had to attend the assembly the following day, so they had no choice but to hurry back that night.

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