In the Assassination Academy, Dominic's office sat five people. They were the usual higherups of the Academy with Xue Mo and Lu Yao.
"So, the first to request us was the Battle Mage Academy?" Sarah held a chuckle.
"Yes, not only that, they even paid in advance."
"Those foolish nations that think they are going to have it easy at the start will get a big surprise now." Declan was also happy with this situation.
After having time to digest the order, everyone in the Academy got excited. Be it the students that want to show their worth or the teachers that want to exercise. Even the three higher-ups now want to see who deserves to be in their Academy.
Things turned out even better than Xue Mo had anticipated. 'This will help me move to the next phase soon…' While Xue Mo was planning, Declan interrupted him.
"Master Mo, can we spar a little bit?" Declan's request was evident severe on his face. His eyes looked determined.
Xue Mo didn't answer immediately. He just stared at Declan for a while before asking, "why?"
This question would have meant many things. Why do you want to spar? Why should I spar with you? Why are you so determined? And many other questions. Xue Mo wanted to see what kind of question Declan would perceive.
"I want to see how much I lack compared to Master Mo!" Declan's reply surprised both Sarah and Dominic.
"Declan…" Sarah stretched her hand while muttering while Dominic looked at the ground as if ashamed.
They knew that Declan was the only one among them that was seriously putting effort into Cultivation. The three of them used to be rising stars in the Main Sect before. However, they got injured due to an unfortunate accident. And even after healing, their drive for Cultivation diminished.
Contrast to them, Declan, who got the most injuries and couldn't heal entirely, still hadn't lost his drive. That accident made him even more resolved in Cultivating.
'This guy might be worth something,' Xue Mo saw all the expressions and the way the three acted once Declan made his request, and that made him interested.
There was a story behind them, but he didn't care. As long as it wasn't a human, he would recruit anyone that he deemed worthy. This was very unusual to him, and he didn't know why. He just felt it was necessary.
Declan, although looked old, it was because he hadn't advanced in his Cultivation for a long time. If he could heal him, then Declan's potential might be worth something.
Xue Mo didn't know all of that, but he would if he agreed to fight him. Unfortunately, Xue Mo wasn't a kind person that would fulfill requests without sufficient payment. He had a criterion that should get fulfilled before he agreed to anything. If Declan didn't meet his requirements, Xue Mo wouldn't glance at him.
"If you want me to agree, you have to put something that-" before Xue Mo can continue, Declan took out a ring and gave it to Xue Mo.
Declan knew that Xue Mo need an incentive to agree, and he prepared for that. "This is all the wealth that I currently have. Except for some Qi stones and Cultivation resources, that ring has everything."
Xue Mo inspected the ring, and he saw Arch Stones, Mana Stones, Qi Condensation Pills, and even some weapons that had both runes and inscription on them. One of them was a black spear that he took note of. He would check it later.
"Fine, I agree!" Xue Mo's reply made Declan happy. "However, if I win, you have to become my follower."
"Yes, yes. Of course, whatever you want, Master Mo!" Declan was too excited and agreed to all conditions.
"Declan, don't be hasty!"
"Declan, are you sure about this?"
Dominic and Sarah interrupted, worried about their friend and the condition that he just agreed to. Xue Mo wouldn't have meant to become a follower without making an oath.
"Don't worry, I know what I am doing," he stated. "And if you are worried about me making an oath, that's also fine. Master Mo wouldn't have stayed here if he didn't join the Dark Arts Sect, so even if I become his follower and make an oath, we would all still be Dark Arts disciples!"
"How clever," Xue Mo complimented blandly. "Are you two sure you can do your jobs?"
Although he didn't mean it as an offense, his words stung too hard, yet the two couldn't refute. How could Xue Mo do whatever he wanted if he didn't join the Dark Arts Sect, and if he did, what's the harm if Hesroth became his follower? The latter might even benefit and get healed.
Xue Mo got up to leave after saying this; he looked at Hesroth and said, "I will see you in a month. Prepare yourself."
Hesroth quickly nodded before getting up and leaving too. He was going to try and breakthrough the bottleneck that he had been stuck in for so many years. His fight with Xue Mo made him feel that he could do it, no that he had to do it. It was the only way for him to test his actual limits.
Dominic and Sarah, who stayed in the office, didn't speak for a couple of minutes before Dominic broke the silence. "Are we real Cultivators?"
He looked at his hands that were trembling and clenching them. "Hesroth got injured worse than us, yet his willpower didn't shake, his belief and strived for improvement didn't lessen. Even after we came to this Academy to act as overseers, he persevered! Yet what have we been doing? We took this as retirement and halted in Cultivation. We lost our will for improvement, yet the conversation just now," he stopped as he looked at Sarah in the eyes. He had a smile on his face as he said, "didn't it relit something in you?"
Sarah looked at Dominic before looking at her hands; she also had a smile on her face. Her heart was beating fast as adrenaline coursed through her. She clenched her fist and released it repeatedly and answered, "yes. Yes, it has!"
Thanks to Xue Mo and Declan, two old Cultivators regained their will. Only time would tell what would happen to them. Will they stay in their place or restart Cultivating?
Xue Mo was walking out of the Main Building before taking a turn and heading to a place further from the Academy. It was a training ground where Academy students go to either train or learn a lesson.
This place also had a small cave filled with enchantments and formations; only the Academy's high-level personal could access it. That place was where the Academy tortured their captives!