Norton Academy

Although Ryan is usually a bit mischievous and tends to be indifferent about most things, Leah knows that deep down, he has a stubborn streak. Once he sets his mind on something, he rarely gives up.

"Mother, I'm worried..." From Ryan's reaction earlier, Leah could tell that he was full of anticipation for cultivation. She was afraid that Ryan wouldn't be able to accept the fact that his talent might be too low.

"Don't worry. At a place like Norton Academy, anyone can attend as long as they have money. Most children from poor families who test low in talent choose to give up, but for families like ours, even if the talent is average, we won't easily give up. It's not a problem to send two or even ten children to the academy."

"Your father has spent countless resources over the years to barely reach the level of a Grandmaster. Not everyone can become a strong cultivator. This is an important step for Ryan to accept becoming an ordinary person. It's better than keeping him in the dark about cultivation forever," Alice said thoughtfully.

Although Leah felt somewhat unfair on Ryan's behalf, there was nothing she could do but silently accept it. Perhaps her parents' choice was the right one.

The only thing that comforted Leah was that this was the first time she had heard about her father's true strength—he was actually a Grandmaster-level cultivator. In all of Sweet Spring Town, Grandmaster-level cultivators could be counted on one hand. Even at Norton Academy, only the headmaster was at that level. In Leah's heart, her father was truly remarkable, and a look of admiration couldn't help but appear on her face.

Alice seemed to notice her thoughts and suddenly changed the tone, speaking sternly.

"You must surpass your father. Whether in talent or intelligence, you are stronger than him. Moreover, you have the pendant as an opportunity. So you must surpass him and strive to go beyond Sweet Spring Town."

"Looking at the entire Purple Cloud Continent, your father's strength is insignificant. He can only maintain a small corner of peace in this little town. The future of House Stark can only rest on your shoulders. Do you understand?"

At this moment, Leah suddenly realized the weight of her mother's expectations and the importance of becoming stronger. She nodded heavily and said, "I will!"

In this world where the strong prey on the weak, House Stark would need her to stand up and protect it in the future.

Alice smiled with satisfaction and gently stroked Leah's hair. "In three days, take Ryan to the academy to test his elemental affinity. Then go ahead and complete the enrollment procedures. Your father is having dinner with the headmaster today to discuss Ryan's admission."

Leah patted her chest confidently. "Don't worry, leave it to me. If there's nothing else, I'll go check on that little guy."

Leah couldn't help but laugh when she thought about Ryan's shocked expression earlier. She was sure he must have many questions for her now, and she couldn't wait to tease him a bit.

Alice chuckled and scolded, "You naughty girl, you just want to see your brother embarrassed."

Leah stuck out her pink tongue playfully and ran off...

Ryan, seeing Leah approaching his room through the window, quickly opened the door and welcomed her in. "Hey... Sister, come sit. Let me get you some water."

Leah looked at the little rascal with amusement and smiled. "No, thanks. I had too much egg drop soup earlier. I'm full."

Ryan could tell Leah was mocking him for his earlier embarrassment. He forced a smile and said, "Hehe... Yeah, that soup was really good. I even got some on my face. How about some fruit instead?" He quickly placed a fruit platter in front of Leah.

"Cut the act. Just tell me, do you want to know something from me?" Seeing Ryan like this, Leah couldn't help but laugh. It was rare for Ryan to be so obedient, so she decided not to give him a hard time.

Ryan nodded without hesitation. "I want to know how to cultivate elements and become an elementalist."

Leah picked up a piece of fruit and popped it into her mouth. "Alright... Since you're being so good, I'll teach you."

Hearing this, Ryan was overjoyed and sat down to listen attentively.

Leah explained that there were many elemental attributes in this world. Once a person turned ten, they would naturally awaken their elemental perception. Earth, fire, wind, and water were the four basic elements, and everyone could sense one or two of them. The strength of one's perception determined their future achievements in cultivation. Of course, there were exceptions. Some people might rise to greatness due to rare opportunities, but such cases were few and far between.

Every year, when the academy recruited new students, ten-year-old children would go to test their elemental perception and affinity. The tests were free because the academy didn't want to miss any geniuses from humble backgrounds.

Hearing this, Ryan couldn't help but interject, "Sis, did you only awaken one water element?"

Leah glanced at him and said, "Hmph! You underestimate me. I can lower the temperature of water elements. The headmaster said I might be able to turn water elements into ice elements. There's a good chance I can cultivate two elements."

Facing his sister's proud demeanor, Ryan chuckled dryly. "Yes, yes, Sis, you're the best. You're a genius. So, how many elements are there in total?"

Leah thought for a moment. "Besides the four basic elements, there are ice, light, dark, lightning, and so on... These elements aren't as common as the basic ones."

"Our teacher said that anyone who can sense elements beyond the basic ones is worth cultivating. As for how many elements there are, I'm not sure. The world is vast, and there are countless extraordinary people and things. That's what our teacher said."

Ryan pondered for a moment and then asked, "Sis, which element is the strongest?"

Leah frowned and thought for a while. "Well... I'm not sure. Our teacher said each element has its unique strengths. When cultivated to the extreme, they can all be powerful. Cultivation is the process of perceiving and comprehending elements. Everyone comprehends differently, and the way they use elements varies. For example, water and fire counteract each other, so it's hard to say which is stronger. But in a battle between two elementalists, the one with higher comprehension and better control will win."

Hearing Leah's explanation, Ryan nodded repeatedly. He hadn't expected his usually bickering sister to know so much!

"Sis, if you knew so much, why haven't you mentioned it before? Are you hiding something from me?" Ryan asked slyly.

Knowing Leah as he did, it was strange that she had never mentioned anything about cultivation in all these years.

Leah was momentarily stunned but quickly explained, "What... what secret? You can only perceive elements after turning ten, and you just turned ten. It's not too late to tell you now, right? Besides, if I had told you earlier, you'd have been pestering me with questions all the time. How annoying! Anyway, if you have more questions, ask them quickly. If you keep asking nonsense, I won't tell you another word."

Leah wiped the sweat from her forehead and quickly changed the subject, afraid that Ryan might suspect something.

"Oh... I also want to know how they test elemental affinity and perception." This was Ryan's main concern, as he would be undergoing the test in three days. He was full of expectations for this test.

"Oh, that's simple. You just need to hold a crystal ball with both hands and close your eyes to meditate. The color of the crystal ball will determine your elemental affinity, and the brightness of the light will indicate your perception level. Perception is divided into five levels: Level 1 is inferior, Level 2 is low, Level 3 is medium, Level 4 is high, and Level 5 is supreme. When I tested, I was Level 4, high. Although it's not supreme, I can control the temperature of water elements, so I'm a key student at the academy. After all, there's only one supreme-level student in the entire academy. He's really amazing." As Leah spoke, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

To Ryan, who was still young and inexperienced, Leah's expression seemed like she was boasting about how amazing she was. He couldn't help but say, "Sis, being a key student is great, but why are you blushing? Really..."

Leah reached out and gave Ryan a light smack on the head. "You little brat, what do you know? Hmph! I'm done with you." She stood up, her face flushed with embarrassment, and stormed out of the room.

"Hey... Sis, I haven't finished asking yet. Why are you leaving?"

"I'm in a bad mood now. Don't bother me, you annoying little..." By the time her voice trailed off, Leah was already out the door.

Left alone in the room, Ryan sat there rubbing his head, completely baffled.

At his age, no matter how clever he was, he couldn't understand the heart of a young girl who was just beginning to awaken to romance. It was no wonder he got smacked.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Leah took Ryan in a luxurious carriage to the academy. Today, Ryan was unusually quiet, sitting in the carriage without saying a word, his hands clenched tightly, clearly nervous.

"Come on, stop being so nervous. It's just a test. Father has already pulled some strings. No matter the result, you'll be able to enroll. There's nothing to worry about," Leah said, though her words were meant to comfort Ryan in her own way.

"You knew I was nervous and didn't say anything earlier? Ugh, you're the worst..." Ryan's tension gradually eased because of Leah's words.

The siblings' pleasant conversation ended there, and they sat in silence for the rest of the ride. After getting out of the carriage, Ryan followed closely behind Leah as they walked into the academy.

In all of Sweet Spring Town, Norton Academy was a landmark. Located in the center of the town, it covered a vast area, surrounded by walls over two meters high. If not for the golden plaque at the entrance that read "Norton Academy," no one would have guessed that such a grand structure was an academy.

Inside the gates was a massive square that could accommodate tens of thousands of people. On either side of the square stood rows of two-story stone buildings. Although they couldn't compare to the grandeur of the five-story headmaster's building in the center, they still exuded an air of elegance and scholarly refinement. In the center of the square was a stone platform where new students would undergo their tests.

The academy was also filled with flowers and trees. As soon as Ryan stepped inside, he was greeted by the fragrant scent of blossoms. The gentle chirping of birds echoed in his ears, and just standing there gave him a sense of being in a paradise untouched by the outside world.

The academy opened its doors to the public twice a year: once in September for student recruitment and again in March for student exhibitions and sparring matches. Essentially, it was a chance for top students to showcase their skills, with rewards given to the best performers. The main purpose was to invite influential figures and the public to witness the academy's achievements, thereby attracting wealthy families and sponsors.

It had to be said that Norton Academy was indeed one of the top primary academies in the dozens of towns surrounding Sweet Spring Town. Many wealthy merchants and nobles were willing to send their children here to receive their foundational education in elemental cultivation.