"Thank you, instructor!"
"Hmm, you may go now, and I hope you become a pillar of the Human Race,"
the instructor said with a smile before leaving.
Only Shen Ye remained.
"Alright, I should look as well..."
As he walked, he recalled the words that had come from the Flying Sword:
"Just choose that miner. He's always wearing a black duckbill cap and likes to stand still to bask in the sun."
Miner...
A figure who had extinguished the existence of eight Evil Gods was so highly regarded, thinking, "Xi Rang is also appropriate for him."
Should I try to find him?
"Hey, big Skeleton, do you think there's a future in mining?" Shen Ye asked nervously.
"Of course mining has no future, but you need to change your thinking and look at it from another perspective," the Skeleton said.
"Explain it to me."
"You see, I've spent quite a bit of time in your world now, and I know Xirang Middle School is for digging up Great Tombs, right?"
"Yeah."
"These tombs are quite dangerous and haven't been fully excavated, right?"
"Right."
"While everyone else is digging Tombs here, he is mining—this seems to have a somewhat unique meaning."
"...That makes some sense."
Shen Ye nodded.
The Skeleton's analysis wasn't bad.
And a miner being a mentor in itself said something.
—Miners should be in the mines, right?
Shen Ye found a soldier and asked for directions to the mines, then quickly made his way there.
—Actually, the mines here weren't deep and appeared to only have been superficially explored.
Groups of miners were gathered in the underground passages of the mine, playing cards, drinking, and smoking.
Is it so leisurely today?
Shen Ye found this odd and grabbed someone to ask:
"Uncle, do you know someone who wears a black duckbill cap and likes to sunbathe?"
"That guy? Didn't you see him? He's right at the entrance of the mine, basking in the sun."
"...Thank you, uncle."
Shen Ye walked back, returning to the entrance of the mine.
There was nobody in front of the mine.
Look again.
Hmm...
There was a statue covered with a cloth.
Next to the statue was a sign:
"Not suitable for display today."
—Yes, I saw this statue when I passed by.
But I was here to find someone, so I didn't pay attention at the time.
Could this statue be the person I'm looking for?
Shen Ye approached and pulled off the cloth, only to see that the statue was indeed a man with a black duckbill cap on his head, expressionless and motionless.
—Just by seeing this cap, I'm right on track!
"Hello," Shen Ye said.
The statue remained still.
"I'm a new student this year, my name is Shen Ye."
The statue showed no reaction.
Shen Ye became uncertain.
Could this just be someone's statue after all?
He took out the letter of recommendation, placed it in front of the statue, and said:
"Hello, teacher, this is my letter of recommendation."
The statue didn't move.
Shen Ye scratched his head.
—Speaking to a statue like this seems foolish.
He might as well be foolish to the end.
"To be honest..."
Shen Ye continued, "There's a woman using a Flying Sword from the Tower of Tarot, she said you are a very good mentor and told me to bring this letter of recommendation to you."
The letter was suddenly snatched away.
—The statue came to life!
The "metallic feeling" that the statue had vanished, and his skin, facial features, and even hair all changed to that of a normal person.
The man looked to be in his forties with a square face and a robust physique, wearing a leather jacket with ripped jeans, his demeanor fierce and fierce.
As he opened the letter, he asked:
"Did she really say that?"
Shen Ye suppressed the surprise in his heart and replied, "She said you're the only passable one in the entirety of Xi Rang."
"Hmph, brown-noser."
After reading the letter, the statue hopped down from the base and sized up Shen Ye.
"I'm just a miner, won't following me interfere with your studies?" the man said, lighting up a cigarette lazily.
"Ah? No, shouldn't you be the most awesome one? I think that woman wouldn't deceive me," Shen Ye said.
"I am certainly the most awesome," the man took off his cap, stroking his buzzcut, "but if you follow me you can only learn to fight and mine. What about your other courses?"
"Other courses?" Shen Ye asked, puzzled.
He admitted he was the most awesome without any modesty!
That did fit his too-cool-for-school demeanor.
The man crossed his arms and said:
"Courses are divided into major and minor ones, and the major courses are mandatory for everyone."
"You have a lot of major courses like attribute training, history, science, weapons and armor, techniques, mech operation and maintenance, etc."
"What about the minor courses?" Shen Ye asked.
"Mentors are responsible for teaching minor courses to their students, but I'm a bit different—I might not be at the school for seven to eight days at a time, so I can't guarantee your class schedule," the man explained.
Shen Ye pondered.
—Actually, that's fine!
If this mentor is really busy, I'll just have the time to go with the big skeleton from Nightmare World to Hell.
In the long run, I can also go to the Human Race Imperial Military Academy in Nightmare World to learn something.
It won't delay anything!
This is what you call, "If the east isn't bright, the west will shine."
"That's actually pretty good."
Shen Ye muttered to himself.
He suddenly noticed that a line of text appeared above the man's head:
"Serious man."
"Description: He lives his life very seriously."
What kind of "title" is this...
The Dharma Realm actually recognizes seriousness? Isn't that a bit overreach?
The man looked up and exhaled a ring of smoke.
The smoke ring was round and flawless, drifting towards the sky, not dissipating, just floating up, and soon it was high up, out of sight.
"Cool, huh?" the man asked.
"Cool," replied Shen Ye.
"Want to learn this?"
"Does it grant immortality?"
"Immortality my ass, I'm not teaching a class here, I'm just asking if you smoke."
"Ah, no, I don't smoke."
"Boring."
The man seemed disappointed, but still perked up and said:
"You're a descendant of the Chaotic Heaven Gate, you performed very well yesterday, and she recommended you too—by rights, I shouldn't refuse, but I want you to think it over, so you don't regret choosing me later."
"I won't regret it, I choose you!" Shen Ye decided on the spot.
"Really?" The man seemed surprised.
"I don't think what you're saying is a problem. If you're willing, please teach me," Shen Ye said with a slight bow.
The man scratched his head, pondering, "Well then... go and complete this task."
He handed a scroll to Shen Ye.
"Task?" Shen Ye was curious.
"That's right, according to the tradition of Xi Rang, mentors must issue trial tasks."
"Only students who complete the tasks can become official students of the mentors."
"This is the task I prepared."
"Honestly, I don't think it's necessary, but it's a tradition of Xi Rang, so just go through the motions," the man explained.
Shen Ye unrolled the scroll and saw that it read:
"Use this scroll to teleport to the first-level Mausoleum Labyrinth underground, wander randomly to pass this test."
Wander randomly...
This is way too casual.
Since it's tradition, might as well follow local customs and complete it.
Shen Ye placed his hand on the scroll.
With a 'swoosh' sound, he disappeared from the spot.
In the open space in front of the mine.
Only the man remained.
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He held a cigarette in his mouth, took a card out of his pocket, and spoke to someone on it:
"Hey! You woman, busy playing games every day, yet you make me take a Chaotic Heaven Gate descendant?"
"You're the strongest," a woman's voice came from the card.
"I've been dodging all day just because I've never taken students before, afraid of messing it up," the man sighed.
"Everything has a first time, you need to find something to do. After all, Chaotic Heaven Gate matters must be taken seriously," the woman said.
"But... that planet is getting closer and closer to us..." the man fell into thought. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"We can handle fighting, but we have never tried teaching and nurturing talent. You're the only one we can rely on in this regard—great warrior, please help and guide the newcomer," the woman said sweetly.
The man continued to think.
"I won't bother you with ordinary affairs anymore, just focus on exploring how to teach and nurture talent, okay?" the woman continued.
"I have already given that student a challenge," the man said.
"What challenge?"
"A so-so challenge for a newcomer—since I'm taking a student for the first time, I've got to make it convincing for others."
"Then there's no problem," the woman breathed a sigh of relief.
"You have that much confidence in him?" the man was curious.
"He's got an Evil God's gamble on him and was set up by Song Qingyun, yet he's still living just fine to this day—don't underestimate the young these days," the woman stated.
"Well, if he passes the test, I'll take him," the man finally decided.
"—That settles it then, I'll be in touch," the woman quickly said.
"See you later."
The connection ended.
Overseas.
Penglai Fairy Island.
The woman ended the call and let out a relieved sigh as she set down the card.
She walked out of the room and into the living room, looking at all the different people filling up the house.
Everyone showed an expectant look, staring at her without blinking.
The woman smiled slightly:
"It's settled, he's going to start taking students."
"Yay!"
The people cheered.
Excitement showed on everyone's face, and someone even stood on the table and shouted:
"Let's have a party!"
"I'll pay!" another person said.
"Such a great thing, I'm in too!" a third person yelled.
"Stop arguing, I'll pick up the bill today!"
After a brief quarrel, everyone started laughing together.
No helping it.
They were just too happy!
That guy—
He won't have time to manage everyone anymore!