Regarding the mission, of course, Li Xin and Luo Jin didn’t tell anyone else. Li Xin’s overall profile was well-suited for this task. If everything went smoothly, entering the Order Academy could be a viable option. If it didn’t work out, he could always return to the Night Watchmen. At least in that area, Luo Jin could still look out for him.
Luo Jin’s arrangement was very thorough; he wasn’t just throwing Li Xin headfirst into the task.
The Order Academy was indeed prestigious, but not everyone could adapt to its environment. Luo Jin believed in Li Xin’s abilities, but his only concern was whether Li Xin, who was used to a wild and free lifestyle, could integrate into such a structured setting and handle relationships with the other trainees.
Being too unconventional could easily lead to isolation. When Luo Jin was younger, he didn’t fit in with the rest of the Order Academy. Over time, he adjusted a bit, but ultimately, he chose the Night Watchmen’s path.
Li Xin had already done some research on the Tianjing Tianwu Divine Machine Order Academy. This mission was also a chance for him. He wanted to see if he could find any clues within the academy. Even if Luther didn’t leave behind any diaries, he would have left behind something.
As for the cultists hiding in the academy, he would deal with them as they came. Luo Jin was a prominent figure and would undoubtedly attract the enemy’s full attention. But Li Xin was different. A talent like him was exactly the type of person that the cultists would want to recruit.
The annual freshman enrollment at the Tianjing Order Academy was a major event. Although the Order Academy was supported by the Moon Goddess Church, it maintained religious freedom.
Upon entry, students were not evaluated based on their faith. Followers of other gods could also enroll. Naturally, with the Order Academy being so close to the Moon Goddess Church, students would be exposed to the Moon Goddess’ benevolence and greatness, so establishing or changing one’s faith was quite common.
It was the same throughout the Lilon Unified Kingdom. The Order Academy was a comprehensive knowledge palace. Originally, it was a Knight Academy, exclusively for the sons of nobles and prominent merchants, monopolizing the path to advancement.
Luther’s reforms cleverly leveraged the church’s doctrine of “equality for all.” Of course, he didn’t actually intend to break down the class system. Even as Chancellor, he couldn’t withstand the backlash that would ensue. The transition from Knight Academy to Order Academy took a lot of time, but the institution, in line with the era, gained more support and gradually replaced the Knight Academy.
The influx of talented commoners led to rapid development. As it expanded, it incorporated psionics, Hextech, history, art, theology, philosophy, and other subjects. Under Chancellor Luther’s rule, both Hextech and philosophy saw explosive growth, especially Hextech, which had almost reached the level of psionics.
Before Chancellor Luther’s era, the Daoyuan Continent had a dismissive attitude toward Hextech. However, as Hextech became increasingly important in military and civilian applications, every country began to value it. The emergence of Hextech psionic pistols and Hextech airships significantly elevated its status. Now, Hextech was widely used across all nations. The Lilon Unified Kingdom, having been the first to recognize its potential, naturally saw the greatest rise in power — both militarily and economically.
Luther’s later policies were all based on national power. The church was not so easy to deal with, but under Luther’s rule, the kingdom enjoyed a period of harmony. This growth prompted the neighboring long-established powers to follow suit.
But not everyone was like Luther. In the field of psionics, Lilon was not particularly strong. However, in terms of Hextech, other countries were still in the imitation phase.
As the pilot site for the original reform, the Tianjing Order Academy was also Luther’s place of origin. The Knight Academy that preceded it was quite mediocre. At that time, Tianjing was not yet one of the Five Capitals of Lilon. It was the rise of Hextech that brought fame to the city, attracting elites cultivated by major churches and organizations.
The Order Academy in Tianjing was particularly known for its Hextech program. As one of the first places Chancellor Luther invested in, it had a solid foundation and reputation. This attracted even more talent. In this regard, only the capital, Longjing, could rival it. The sons of nobles and wealthy families saw entry to the academy as a critical stepping stone to future success.
When a place gathers the church, nobles, wealthy elites, and talented commoners, it naturally draws the attention of all factions, including those from other countries. This was one of Chancellor Luther’s most controversial policies, allowing foreign students to enroll. Of course, the admission requirements were extremely stringent.
Li Xin changed out of the ominous, intimidating Night Watchmen uniform and into the Order Academy’s standard uniform. He even spent 16 beans for a haircut from Tony the barber. In an instant, he was transformed into a bright young man with the aspirations of the Daoyuan Continent.
Breathing in the fresh air of the Order Academy, Li Xin felt unusually happy. It wasn’t a question of adapting — hell, this was youth!
Looking at the youthful, radiant girls around him and hearing the endless bursts of laughter, Li Xin thought, “This… this is life.”
For the first time, he felt that the scenery in Tianjing was so beautiful, so bright. The gentle sunlight bathed everything in a surreal glow.
What was Old Luo even worried about? Wasn’t youth the most beautiful thing in the world? Li Xin was only seventeen or eighteen years old… probably. Regardless, he was still a kid.
Li Xin’s cheeks were flushed as he looked at the people coming and going, feeling exceptionally cheerful. Finally, he was living a normal life. As for the mission? A mission was something you kept in your heart, not something you wore on your sleeve.
His dormitory had three other roommates.
As for Li Xin, he didn’t go overboard with a fabricated backstory. He simply said he came from the underground city and that his life improved after finding his long-lost uncle.
Originally, Luo Jin had considered giving him the identity of a wealthy merchant’s son to make it easier for him to blend in. Noble status was out of the question — too easy to expose. The idea of posing as a nouveau riche was also scrapped.
After all, to act rich, you needed real wealth. Li Xin didn’t have it. Luo Jin didn’t either. Although Luo Jin’s salary and rewards over the years were quite substantial, he was generous in spending, adhering to the philosophy of “You can’t take it with you.” Thus, a modest family background was the most suitable.
(End of Chapter)