Bai Shan's sect was not well-known on the Kyushu Continent, which meant it could not provide him with sufficient resources.
While ten thousand yuan was not a small sum for others, they might have been able to gather it with some effort.
However, for him, it was an almost unimaginable amount.
At this moment, his face turned from pale to flushed, his eyes darting about as he pondered something.
"What, you can't even afford this small amount? It seems your desire to enroll isn't that strong."
Seeing everyone hesitate, the dean's expression cooled considerably, his words laced with mockery.
"Dean, there are ten of us signing up this time. Can we get a discount on the tuition?" Xu Yi asked, pressing a hand to her chest and speaking with a sheepish grin.
"No!"
The dean refused outright, unconcerned.
Xu Yi immediately lowered her head, her expression contorted, pinching her palm fiercely.
To get a glimpse of Kunlun Academy, she had to endure, she absolutely had to endure!
"I'll pay for you."
Lu Zaiye's clear voice sounded from above Xu Yi's head.
Xu Yi looked up at him and, after a slight pause, her expression became even more peculiar.
"Oh no, she forgot about Lu Zaiye."
She was Lu Zaiye's grand-master, so shouldn't she be helping to pay his tuition?
But paying for herself was already agonizing enough. If she had to pay for Lu Zaiye as well...
Xu Yi felt like she was suffocating.
Xu Yi paid no attention to what Lu Zaiye had said, instead lost in her own inescapable sorrow.
Lu Zaiye frowned. He had expected Xu Yi to be at least a little moved or to offer him a smile for his offer, not this expression.
He felt that he was understanding his young grand-master's thoughts less and less.
"Have you considered it yet?"
The dean couldn't help but urge them on, as he had many other matters to attend to and no time to dally with them.
"Dean, Fairy Jinghong once said that jade cannot be made into a useful object without being worked, and that a person cannot know propriety without learning. We are determined to attend this academy, but regarding the tuition, you must give us some time to gather it."
For some reason, Xu Yi suddenly recalled a sentence she had heard Liu Jinghong say in a dream.
She had found the sentence peculiar at the time, but now it seemed quite fitting.
"Jade cannot be made into a useful object without being worked, and a person cannot know propriety without learning?"
The dean savored the sentence, repeating it in his mind. He found it simple yet containing a certain charm.
Having taught for many years, he naturally understood the deeper meaning, and his expression softened.
"Indeed. Considering you said this, I will grant you a reduction in tuition..." Seeing Xu Yi's eyes light up at this, the dean chuckled and continued, "a reduction of one high-grade spirit stone."
Xu Yi choked, "Hah, what a generous discount."
"Sister Xu, could you lend me some spirit stones? I'll definitely repay you later,"
Bai Shan, who had quietly approached, said in a low voice, his face flushed.
Among the people present, he was most familiar with Xu Yi, so after much thought, he decided to ask her for a loan.
Xu Yi felt a pang in her heart, but thinking of Bai Shan's situation, she dared not show it, only nodding stiffly, "Of... of course. How much do you need to borrow?"
"Just a little less, just a little less..." Xu Yi thought to herself.
"Would nine thousand high-grade spirit stones be okay?" Bai Shan asked, looking somewhat embarrassed. He could only gather about a thousand high-grade spirit stones himself.
"Of course."
Under Bai Shan's expectant gaze, Xu Yi shakily took out an inconspicuous storage bag from her storage ring.
Bai Shan snatched it up and, after a quick scan with his divine sense, his face instantly broke into a brilliant smile.
"Thank you, Sister Xu. I will definitely repay you double later."
"You don't have to be so polite..."
Bai Shan's eyes widened with surprise. Did Xu Yi mean to say she wouldn't ask for repayment? That would be too awkward.
"Just return to me the amount I lent you."
Xu Yi's next words made Bai Shan's mouth twitch. "Alright, it seems I misread your kindness."
If Xu Yi knew his true thoughts, she would have throttled him and demanded the money back.
Unfortunately, she didn't, and could only watch with a heartache as Bai Shan clutched the storage bag.
"Lu Zaiye, your tuition..."
Xu Yi finally managed to pull her gaze away from Bai Shan's hands and turned to Lu Zaiye with a conflicted expression.
"I'll handle it myself."
Lu Zaiye was not foolish. He had a rough idea of Xu Yi's intentions now and did not want her to suffer any further.
"Then... alright."
Xu Yi pretended to hesitate for a moment before nodding her assent.
The reason she agreed so readily was that she knew Lu Zaiye had enough spirit stones. She had recently given him a substantial sum, more than enough to cover the tuition.
The ten people took some time to gather their tuition fees and then stepped forward one by one to hand them to the dean.
When it was Xu Yi's turn, her outstretched hand tightly gripped the storage bag. It took the dean several attempts to pry the bag from her grasp.
"Welcome, everyone, to Qiming Academy. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Deng Chuanjun, the dean of Qiming Academy, and this is Old Liu, who manages miscellaneous affairs within the academy."
Having received the tuition, the dean was in high spirits, his voice booming as if he had found a second spring.
"Greetings, Dean. Greetings, Old Liu."
The ten people respectfully greeted them.
Now that their tuition was paid, they naturally intended to perform well. No one knew what further assessments awaited them.
"You will begin your studies tomorrow. Today, Old Liu will take you to familiarize yourselves with the academy's environment and your living quarters."
As the dean finished speaking, he was about to have Old Liu lead them away. But then, as if remembering something, he called out again, "Oh, and there's one very important point I forgot to mention. Although you have paid your tuition and are now enrolled, you must still participate in the academy's assessments. If you fail the assessments, you will be required to leave immediately."
The dean's words sent a shiver through everyone.
The assessments at Qiming Academy were clearly also part of the assessments for Kunlun Academy.
Failing the assessment would mean no chance of entering Kunlun Academy.
"Students will keep that in mind!"
The dean nodded, gave Old Liu a signal, and then leisurely turned to leave, his steps light.
Xu Yi looked at his cheerful retreating back and had reason to suspect he had been extorting them.
"Follow me."
Old Liu had been even more taciturn after the dean appeared. It was only after the dean had left that he spoke again.
The group followed silently, and soon, after winding through numerous paths, they arrived at a row of simple wooden huts.
"You will be staying here. Tomorrow, when you hear the bell, come out and assemble, and someone will tell you what to do."
After saying this, Old Liu left on his own, giving the group no opportunity to ask questions.
Xu Yi looked at the wooden huts before her, her eyes stinging. This was the accommodation she had exchanged for ten thousand high-grade spirit stones.