Chapter 18: The Speed of Cultivation with the Magic Core

"An additional first-grade magic core every month? Free access to the first five floors of the library?" After hearing Vice Principal Bai En's words, Jian Chen couldn't help but feel puzzled. Could it be that students in the academy can receive a magic core every month? And is there a restriction on entering the library?

After receiving the medal, Jian Chen planned to ask his elder brother Changyang Hu in detail when he returned. Although he had been in the academy for three or four days, he had spent three of those days in the competition, and on the first day, he only stayed for half a day, so he didn't know much about the academy.

After Jian Chen stepped down from the platform, Tietan and Tianmu Xiong also went up to the main stage to receive their awards. After everything was over, the more than a thousand students gathered below the platform gradually dispersed.

"Fourth brother, you are really amazing. You actually won first place in the freshmen competition. If Father knew about this, he would be very happy," Changyang Hu said excitedly as they walked back to the dormitory, his tone very agitated.

Hearing this, Jian Chen smiled slightly, but his mind couldn't help but think of his mother, Bi Yuntian, who had always been very loving to him since he was young.

"If Mother knew about this, I wonder how happy she would be," Jian Chen thought to himself.

Soon, Changyang Hu returned to the dormitory with Jian Chen. As soon as they closed the door, Changyang Hu couldn't wait to ask, "Fourth brother, quickly show me that third-grade magic core."

Seeing the still excited look on his elder brother's face, Jian Chen smiled slightly and took out the third-grade magic core from his spatial belt, handing it directly to Changyang Hu.

Changyang Hu took the third-grade magic core and examined it from all angles, as if it were a rare treasure, and praised, "Fourth brother, you are really amazing. You have a third-grade magic core just after coming to the academy. I have been in the academy for two years and have only used one second-grade magic core, which I had to buy."

Hearing this, Jian Chen chuckled and said, "Elder brother, I heard that your Holy Power is already at the peak of the tenth level, about to break through to the Saint level. You can take this third-grade magic core."

Jian Chen didn't value the third-grade magic core much. Although it could increase his cultivation speed, he was confident that even without the magic core, his cultivation speed wouldn't be slow.

Hearing Jian Chen's words, Changyang Hu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly reacted and immediately pushed the third-grade magic core back into Jian Chen's hand, saying, "That won't do. This third-grade magic core is something you worked hard to get, how can I take it?"

Seeing the third-grade magic core back in his hand, Jian Chen smiled faintly, appreciating his elder brother's behavior. At least, he didn't have to worry about Changyang Hu being as difficult as his third brother, Changyang Ke.

Jian Chen pushed the third-grade magic core back into Changyang Hu's hand again, saying, "Elder brother, you should take this third-grade magic core."

"No!" Changyang Hu refused very firmly, without any hesitation, and forcefully pushed the third-grade magic core back into Jian Chen's hand, saying, "Fourth brother, you keep this magic core for yourself. It's your reward for becoming the Freshman King, and it has great significance. I absolutely cannot take it."

Seeing Changyang Hu insist, Jian Chen had no choice but to put the third-grade magic core back.

Then, Jian Chen asked Changyang Hu about some specific matters in the academy, spending about three hours. Changyang Hu explained the rules of the academy and answered Jian Chen's questions in detail, making Jian Chen more familiar with the Kagas Academy.

First, the principal of the Kagas Academy is known for favoring commoner students. Whenever noble-born students bully commoner students, they will definitely be punished by the principal. However, for disputes among noble-born students, the principal turns a blind eye, as long as it doesn't cause too much trouble.

In the Kagas Academy, students can graduate once they reach the Great Saint level. After graduation, they can either stay in the Kagas Academy or be recommended by the academy to join the kingdom's army, where they will receive generous treatment, especially if they show potential.

In the academy, students below the Saint level can receive one first-grade magic core every month for cultivation. Students who have condensed a Holy Weapon can receive one second-grade magic core every month. Besides the fixed monthly distribution of magic cores, students can also go to a forest twenty miles away from the Kagas Academy to hunt for magic cores. Although the forest is not large, it covers several dozen square kilometers. All the monsters in the forest are released by the Kagas Academy, and they are all low-level monsters with the lowest attack power among all monsters, making them not very lethal.

The purpose of the academy in raising these low-level monsters is to train the students' practical combat skills and survival skills in the wild. The strongest monsters in the forest are only at the second level, and a large part of them are still beasts that haven't even reached the first level. However, if any monsters exceed the second level or are particularly powerful, the academy will send experts to eliminate them to prevent harm to the students.

The forest is divided into three areas. The first area is for beasts that haven't even reached the first level, the second area is for first-level monsters, and the third area is for second-level monsters. Each area is sealed by a powerful barrier set up by previous principals, so there's no need to worry about the monsters escaping.

The academy also has a library, which is divided into seven floors, containing a large number of books with rich content. Besides introductions to the continent, there are many cultivation manuals. Students who haven't reached the Saint level can only enter the first two floors of the library. Once they reach the Saint level and condense a Holy Weapon, they can enter the third and fourth floors. The floors above the fourth are only accessible to Great Saints or some teachers.

...

After Changyang Hu finished explaining the matters in the academy to Jian Chen, it was already late at night. Changyang Hu then hurriedly left Jian Chen's dormitory and ran to his own.

At the same time, in the top floor of a high tower at the center of the Kagas Academy, Vice Principal Bai En was standing respectfully in front of a desk, while the principal of the Kagas Academy, whom Jian Chen had met once, was sitting opposite him.

The principal of the Kagas Academy stroked his long beard and looked at Vice Principal Bai En with a faint gaze, saying, "Bai En, you said that the Freshman King who won first place in this year's freshmen competition is a boy named Changyang Xiangtian?" The principal's tone carried a hint of surprise.

Bai En nodded and said, "Yes, Principal. I found that Changyang Xiangtian is not ordinary. With only the eighth level of Holy Power, he can easily defeat freshmen with the ninth level of Holy Power. His attacks are very fierce, and his speed is very fast, indicating rich combat experience, which is far beyond what he should have. Even Tietan, who has innate divine strength, was defeated by him, and the defeat was very tragic, with almost no chance to fight back."

Hearing this, the principal frowned and said, "Bai En, are you sure about what you said? Is Changyang Xiangtian really that powerful?"

"Principal, every word I said is true," Bai En said firmly.

The principal slowly stood up from his chair and muttered, "It seems that Changyang Xiangtian is even more talented than what Old Chang said. Without using any precious materials or magic cores, he can reach the eighth level of Holy Power at the age of fifteen, which is already surprising. Now, he even has rich combat experience, which is quite unbelievable." The principal's tone carried a hint of surprise.

Hearing the principal's muttering, Bai En also showed a look of surprise. Not using any precious materials or magic cores and reaching the eighth level of Holy Power at the age of fifteen, such talent is considered a genius in the entire Gassen Empire.

"Principal, it seems that Changyang Xiangtian has a limitless future," Bai En said with a sigh.

The principal nodded and said, "If he can grow smoothly, with the talent he has shown, he will definitely become a powerful figure in the future. It seems that our Kagas Academy will finally produce a powerful figure standing on the Tianyuan Continent. I hope he can grow smoothly and not be cut off halfway."

"If he really becomes a powerful figure standing on the Tianyuan Continent, not only our academy, but even our Gassen Kingdom will have a significant increase in status on the Tianyuan Continent. The neighboring countries are becoming increasingly unstable. If our Gassen Kingdom doesn't produce some powerful figures in the next few decades, we will eventually be attacked by the neighboring countries."

Hearing this, Bai En's expression also became serious. Although the Gassen Kingdom is not a large kingdom, it occupies a rich land that is envied by neighboring countries. If it weren't for the six powerful figures in the kingdom, some neighboring countries would have invaded long ago.

Bai En thought for a moment and then asked cautiously, "Principal, should we provide Changyang Xiangtian with first- and second-grade magic cores for free to cultivate and build a good relationship with him now?"

The principal thought for a moment and then shook his head, saying, "No, absorbing the energy from magic cores can indeed increase one's strength quickly, but it also has its drawbacks. Changyang Xiangtian is still young, and he shouldn't become addicted to using magic cores for cultivation. Otherwise, when he advances to higher levels in the future, his foundation will be unstable, hindering his ultimate achievement. At his age, he should be trained more to lay a solid foundation for advancing to higher levels."

"Yes, Principal, I understand," Bai En said, not daring to disobey the principal's words, and the principal's words made a lot of sense.

"Principal, what do you plan to do with Tietan?" Bai En asked.

"Bring Tietan to me tomorrow morning. If he is willing, I will take him as my disciple," the principal said after thinking for a moment.

"Yes, Principal!"

After Changyang Hu left, Jian Chen sat on the bed, deep in thought, digesting the information he had just received. Then, he sat cross-legged on the bed again, holding the third-grade magic core in his hand, and began to try to absorb the energy from the magic core to cultivate.

The energy inside the magic core is the essence of each monster, not only very pure but also very powerful. When Jian Chen began to absorb the energy from the magic core according to the method Changyang Hu had taught him, he immediately felt a very pure and powerful energy emanate from the magic core, flowing slowly into his body through his arm.

Jian Chen controlled the energy flowing from the magic core to circulate continuously in his body, continuously refining it into his own energy. When the energy was completely converted into the Holy Power he needed, he finally controlled the energy to slowly gather in his dantian.

Using the magic core to cultivate is indeed several times faster than normal cultivation. According to the usual cultivation method, the first step is to absorb the energy of heaven and earth, then slowly refine it, and finally convert it into one's own energy. However, the speed of absorbing the energy of heaven and earth is far slower than directly absorbing the energy from the magic core, and the purity is also far inferior to the energy in the magic core. Since the energy in the magic core is the essence of a monster, directly absorbing the energy from the magic core to cultivate