After leaving the residential area, Su Ba leaned against a tree by the roadside, deep in thought about his next steps.
There was no need to rent a place anymore.
After all, these next few days were when martial institutes from across the kingdom would begin recruiting new students. With his current strength, getting accepted into one was practically guaranteed!
The Nine Yang Divine Technique—a supreme divine martial art—was likely even stronger than Heaven-tier techniques. He had just started cultivating it and hadn't even fully opened a single acupoint, yet his mid-stage One-Star strength could already rival that of a late-stage Two-Star martial artist!
Maybe even...
Su Ba clenched his fists, feeling the surging power coursing through his body. Facing a peak two-star martial artist might not be impossible!
The thought filled him with anticipation!
If, one day, he could open all 720 acupoints throughout his body… He might be able to face even Innate Realm experts as just a Postnatal Realm cultivator!
On the martial path, every realm represented a massive leap in power. Especially in the later stages, even a single minor realm difference could spell hopeless defeat!
In the early stages, being able to fight one small realm above was considered a genius. In the later stages, being invincible within the same realm was already incredible. If one could fight across a minor realm at that level, they'd be a genius among geniuses!
But to challenge someone from the Innate Realm while still in the Postnatal Realm?
As far as Su Ba could recall, that was unheard of. If anyone had done it, they must be a peerless genius from one of the legendary martial sects.
That said, even if he couldn't do it now, he had a trump card—his system.
Though it didn't talk and acted like a mute, its functions still made Su Ba's eyes light up!
As long as he had enough Enhancement Points, he could become endlessly stronger!
For now, it seemed that common items weren't worthy of recycling—he couldn't earn points from them. He'd have to find a chance to test out higher-value items.
Like pills, weapons, cultivation techniques...
Those things would likely become accessible once he entered a martial institute.
"Whew… I'll worry about the future later. First things first—get into a martial institute."
Su Ba's eyes gleamed as he pulled himself out of his thoughts. He followed his inherited memories and found a nearby inn to stay the night.
He had no choice.
His rental home's door was broken, and it was too late to find someone to fix it. Su Ba wasn't the kind of person who could sleep soundly with the front door wide open and the cold wind blowing in. Not to mention, someone might stir up more trouble during the night.
The next morning arrived.
Just as he walked up to the gates of Phantom Night Academy, he ran into Yan Hua, the chief martial instructor for the third-year students.
"Su Ba, come here. I've got something to discuss with you."
Su Ba raised an eyebrow and walked over.
Half a minute later—
Su Ba's face darkened. He stared at the instructor and asked coldly,
"Chief Instructor… Are you saying the academy wants to expel me?"
"No, no, no—you're misunderstanding."
Yan Hua gave a faint smile. "While it's true that you've been absent for several days and violated academy rules, the leadership has decided to be lenient. They're not planning to expel you."
"The current suggestion is that you take a temporary leave. You don't need to come these next few days. Just stay home and cultivate for a while. Try again next year."
"Oh? Why?"
Su Ba's eyes narrowed.
"Heh… Su Ba, you know your own level. To be frank, the martial institutes from all over the kingdom are here today to recruit."
"With your strength, going up there would just embarrass yourself. Wouldn't it be better to stay home, train hard, and come back stronger next year?"
Heh… embarrass myself?
More like… You're afraid I'll embarrass you!
Su Ba sneered inwardly.