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Chapter 62: Kali Academy
The concentration of elemental energy within Kali City was already richer than in the outside world, and here, it was even more concentrated than in other areas of the city that he had visited. Cultivating in such a place would yield twice the result with half the effort. Indeed, it was a great place!
After walking for about ten minutes, Tang San could feel the terrain undulating upward. Far away, a tall wall appeared before them. These towering courtyard walls, built from the trunks of giant trees, were about fifteen meters high, completely obscuring the view inside from the outside.
In front were two large gates, the largest Tang San had seen in this world aside from the city gates of Kali City.
The gates were even taller than the adjacent walls. A colossal plaque hung at the top, bearing several engraved characters.
Tang San read out the words. ”Kali Academy!”
Zhang Tianxiao nodded and said, "Correct, this is Kali Academy. It's the highest-level academy in all of Kali City. A higher education institution exists in every main city of the demon and nymph clans. Only those with exceptional talent or nobility are qualified to study here. The higher academy has many entry requirements, including age, cultivation level, background, and bloodline. Only those who meet these criteria are eligible to enroll."
"Is this our Redemption Society Academy?” Tang San asked, puzzled.
Zhang Tianxiao's mouth twitched slightly. "Ha, I wish it was. If we had such an academy, would humans still be vassals? Come with me."
Saying this, he pulled Tang San along, not continuing toward Kali Academy but instead taking a modest path into the mountains.
Walking through the forest, they followed the outer walls of Kali Academy. After a long walk along the wall and continuing uphill, they seemed to have circled to the back side of the academy. In the distance, a cluster of houses came into Tang San's view.
Due to the tall walls, Tang San couldn't see the interior of Kali Academy. But the wooden houses before him felt familiar; they were similar to the buildings in Wind Wolf Town.
These wooden houses were just outside the thick walls of Kali Academy. As Tang San followed Zhang Tianxiao closer, he immediately noticed that the area was predominantly inhabited by humans.
Some people saw Zhang Tianxiao returning and greeted him with a smile.
"Old Zhang, you're back. How about a drink tonight?"
"Not now, just got back, a bit tired," Zhang Tianxiao replied cheerfully.
"Tired? Did you get up to some mischief? Hahaha!"
The atmosphere here was surprisingly relaxed. Walking into this area, which was like a small town, Tang San saw that it was populated entirely by humans.
He suddenly felt like he was in a different world.
The number of humans living here was not small, there were at least a few thousand. To his surprise, all these thousands of people didn't have the numbness typical of slaves. Most of them appeared calm and composed, just like the humans he’d known in his previous lives.
Thousands of people! Are they all vassals? Are there this many vassals in Kali City?
The atmosphere here was completely different from anywhere else. At least here, humans walked with their backs straight.
"This place. Is it..." Tang San was just about to say something when his voice was silenced by a hand placed on his mouth.
"The name I told you, it's enough that only you know it. Don't speak it out loud, understand?" Zhang Tianxiao said softly.
"Mhm," Tang San nodded.
As they walked, Zhang Tianxiao led him into the town. “Are you curious about why there are so many people here and they're not slaves?"
Tang San nodded.
Zhang Tianxiao said, "This town exists because of Kali Academy. For both the demon and nymph clans, nurturing their offspring is paramount. Higher education institutions hold a high status among these two clans. Almost every higher academy is headed by the city's lord. The highest level of educational institutions is in the Sanctum Spiritus City, overseen directly by the ancestral court. Therefore, the level of Kali Academy is even above the city lord's mansion. Regardless of race, any demon clan member who can pass the entrance examination to study is an elite. Our town exists to serve Kali Academy. Do you understand?"
Tang San suddenly realized why the town was dependent on Kali Academy. Indeed, such a large academy would require vast resources and services. Although humans lacked innate abilities, only gaining some strength through Demonic God Transformation, their clever minds and skilled hands made them well-suited to serve as vassals for the academy.
He also understood why the so-called Redemption Academy could exist here. Namely, the Redemption Society could maintain its presence here with the prestigious academy as a cover. It was clearly one of their most important strongholds.
Zhang Tianxiao led Tang San to a wooden house deep within the town and pushed open the courtyard door.
He brought Tang San into the wooden house, instructed him to rest for a while, and then left.
After Zhang Tianxiao left, Tang San observed his surroundings. The wooden house was simply furnished but had all the necessary living supplies.
The elemental energy here was vibrant. Although he didn’t know how it compared to the inside of Kali Academy, it was undoubtedly much more potent than in Wind Wolf Town and even richer than in other parts of Kali City.
How far was this place from Mei Gongzi's tea shop in the city center? Once he settled down, he planned to find out.
Tang San sat down in silence, thinking to himself.
Thousands of human vassals lived here. This place was the first sanctuary for humans he had seen. At least, it was a sanctuary compared to the places he had seen before.
Not long after, Zhang Tianxiao returned. Accompanying him was a tall, imposing man.
This man appeared to be in his late thirties or forties, and he stood over two meters tall. His body clearly brimmed with muscles, and his bare arms were as thick as a normal person’s legs. His face was resolute, but his eyes were surprisingly calm.
"Is he the one?" the tall man asked Zhang Tianxiao.
Zhang Tianxiao, obviously respectful, replied, "Yes, I've tested him. If you're not convinced, feel free to test him yourself."
The middle-aged man nodded silently and said to Tang San, "Follow me."
Tang San didn't say much. Now that he was here, he had decided to go with the flow. He stood up and followed behind the middle-aged man and Zhang Tianxiao.
The middle-aged man's status in the town seemed to be high, as people greeted him actively along the way.
Mayor!
That was how people addressed him. This middle-aged man was the town's mayor.
Tang San thought that a human mayor, not someone sent by the demon clans, was somewhat unusual. But he didn't ask further, simply following behind the middle-aged man.
They arrived at a wooden house towards the back of the town, and the mayor and Zhang Tianxiao led Tang San inside.
The wooden house had only minimal decoration, but everything in it exuded strong vitality.
The mayor looked calmly at Tang San and said, "Introduce yourself, including what you're good at."
Tang San answered briefly, “My name is Tang San; I am from Wind Wolf Town, nine years old. I have the Wind Wolf Transformation ability and I specialize in the Wind Blade ability."
Hearing Tang San's confident voice, the mayor's eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked Zhang Tianxiao. "You said he's at the fourth order?"
Zhang Tianxiao nodded, "Yes. I've sparred with him. I could hardly withstand his wind blades. The way he controls them is the most exquisite I've ever seen. I also asked Wang Yanfeng, and he said that Tang San might have encountered our society’s members a few years back and received some guidance. In any case, regardless of how he did it, to cultivate to the fourth order at such a young age, his talent is indeed remarkable."