The new students who had already been measured and sorted were fine, but those who hadn’t were in an awkward position. Many of them shot Tu Xiao’an resentful looks; they simply didn’t know whether to love him or hate him.

’If you’re going to show off, fine, but now we don’t even know which class to go to because of you.’

"The measurement stone is broken. New students who have yet to be measured today will be delayed by one day. Please report back tomorrow," an aged voice announced from the sky.

This voice had been heard before; it was the vice principal of the academy.

"Instructor Mengxi, bring this boy who blatantly destroyed the academy’s measurement stone to my office," the vice principal’s voice rang out again.

"Yes."

The middle-aged instructor bowed slightly in one direction, then looked at Tu Xiao’an and said, "You heard him. The vice principal specifically asked for you. Come with me."

Then, under a sea of adoring gazes, Tu Xiao’an followed the middle-aged instructor away from the small plaza.

They crossed the plaza and went straight to the faculty building. Finally, the middle-aged instructor walked up to a study, knocked on the door, and entered. "Vice Principal, I’ve brought him."

Tu Xiao’an looked and saw an old man with a full head of white hair sitting before the study’s desk. Despite his age, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit were exceptionally vigorous. This was clearly the vice principal of the Ancient Academy.

"Mengxi, thank you for your trouble. You may leave now."

The vice principal waved his hand, and the instructor departed with the utmost respect.

The vice principal immediately fixed his smiling eyes on Tu Xiao’an, staring at him endlessly without saying a word. His expression was the very definition of a dagger hidden behind a smile, sending a sinister chill down one’s spine.

The vice principal didn’t speak, and neither did Tu Xiao’an. ’I’d like to see how this old geezer plans to deal with me,’ he thought.

’He already knows I’m a Snake Spirit, anyway. As someone with nothing to lose, I have nothing to fear.’

"That night, when you came to my Ancient Academy chasing a Cat Spirit, I had my doubts. Your aura is clearly suffused with the essence of the Snake Race, yet deep within your bones, there seems to be the imprint of a human soul. Can you tell me what that’s about?" After staring for a long while, he finally cut straight to the chase.

The moment he spoke, Tu Xiao’an’s expression changed. ’This old man is unfathomably perceptive! He could even tell that?’

’It’s not surprising he could tell I’m a Snake Spirit, but could he really see that I’m a snake reincarnated from a human soul? No way.’

’That would be just too damn insane.’

"Use Conscious Insight..."

*Ding!* "...Insight failed."

’As expected of the vice principal of the Ancient Academy.’ Tu Xiao’an’s expression grew solemn. He said faintly, "I’ve always lived in human society, so it’s not strange for me to have a human imprint."

"Oh..." the vice principal intoned, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. "I know you became a Demon in Bai Town. You’ve also done many good deeds for its people. Your Snake King Temple is now thriving, and you are worshipped by the populace. So tell me, what is your purpose for coming to my Ancient Academy?"

This question was simple. "I’m here at someone’s request."

"Dr. Chen Mo?"

"That’s right. Since the Ancient Academy gave me an admission notice, you must already be well aware of the situation. Why ask redundant questions?"

The vice principal gave a wry smile. "Is that all there is to it?"

"That’s all," Tu Xiao’an replied, his composure unwavering.

The vice principal said, "You are a Snake Spirit. That in itself is not an issue. All things in heaven and earth are living beings, humans included. As Cultivators, we are simply of different races."

"If you harbor no evil intentions and wish to remain at the Ancient Academy, then I welcome you. However..."

Tu Xiao’an was a little surprised by his words. ’He’s that open-minded?’

"However what?"

"It’s just that humans and Demons are ultimately different. Having you at the Ancient Academy is like having a ticking time bomb; it’s inevitable that something uncontrollable will happen."

Dark lines formed on Tu Xiao’an’s forehead. ’And we’re back to where we started. So much for being open-minded.’

"Unless you can show your sincerity," the vice principal said suddenly, his eyes crinkling into a smile.

’A dagger hidden behind a smile, just as I suspected.’ Tu Xiao’an laughed as well. "And what exactly is your definition of sincerity?"

"Help this old man with one thing," the vice principal said, "and I’ll turn a blind eye. If you want to enter the Super Genius Class, I’ll grant you that qualification. I’ll even treat you exactly like a normal new student."

In other words, he wouldn’t treat Tu Xiao’an as a Snake Spirit.

This whole routine felt oddly familiar to Tu Xiao’an. He suddenly recalled Leng Shuang from the Demon Management Bureau, who had told him that if he, a Snake Spirit, wanted to stay in Wencheng, he had to do something for her.

Otherwise, he would be considered an illegal, unregistered entity.

She wanted him to find the "Snake Spirit" hiding in Ping’an Village, which turned out to be a Rank Three Snake Flood Dragon. She had maliciously tried to use Tu Xiao’an, but in the end, she reaped what she sowed, and her actions only ended up helping him.

This old man was using the exact same tactic as Leng Shuang. Tu Xiao’an was cursing up a storm in his head.

’Can’t people just be a little more sincere and trusting with each other?’

"Tell me," Tu Xiao’an said, keeping his guard up.

The vice principal gave him a profound look. "There’s no rush. You just need to agree. When the time is right, I will naturally tell you what it is. I still need to observe you for a while; otherwise, I wouldn’t feel comfortable entrusting this matter to you."

’So mysterious.’

"You won’t tell me what it is, yet you expect me to agree? Do you really think I’m going to say yes?"

The vice principal said, "You should be able to sense that I mean you no harm. Otherwise, the first time you broke into my Ancient Academy, did you really think you could have left so easily? The Ancient Academy is not a place where a Demon can just come and go as they please."

Tu Xiao’an pondered for a moment. ’He doesn’t really have a reason to set a trap for me. And even if he did, I’m not afraid.’

’In the face of absolute power, all schemes and plots are meaningless.’

"Fine, I agree. As long as what you ask of me in the future isn’t unreasonable, I’ll help you."

’What could a man of his standing possibly need my help with?’ Tu Xiao’an couldn’t imagine what it could be, and he was too lazy to dwell on it.

"It’s a deal," the vice principal said with a smile. "Now, about you blatantly destroying the academy’s measurement stone... it’s not unreasonable for me to ask for compensation, right?"

Tu Xiao’an was a reasonable person. He had only destroyed the stone because he was afraid it would reveal his secrets. It was perfectly logical for the vice principal to demand compensation.

"How do I compensate you?"

The vice principal said, "The measurement stone is a treasure. Its value can’t be measured in mere money, of course."

Tu Xiao’an mulled it over, wondering what he could possibly offer as compensation. Suddenly, he had an idea. With a mere thought, a fragrant, bright red Snakeberry materialized and floated before the vice principal.

"This is the Divine Fruit of the Snake Race, called a Snakeberry. It contains the purest form of Energy."

The vice principal’s eyes lit up. He plucked the floating Snakeberry from the air and examined it closely. "This can certainly be considered a rare treasure, but a single berry is hardly enough to match the value of the measurement stone."

"Then name your price," Tu Xiao’an sneered.

"At least ten."

Pfft...

’The vice principal of the great Ancient Academy, and this is all he asks for?’ Tu Xiao’an said with disdain, "I’ll give you twenty."

Immediately, twenty bright red snakeberries floated in a row in front of the vice principal.

’The Snakeberries are treasures, sure, but I have plenty of them. It’s no big deal to let the old man get the better end of the deal. After all, I’ll need him, the vice principal, to watch my back while I’m at the Ancient Academy.’

’If I really get into some trouble, he’ll have to go easy on me since he took my stuff.’

"Ten is ten. I’m not one to take advantage of you," the old man said, as if seeing right through Tu Xiao’an’s little scheme.

’Wily old fox,’ Tu Xiao’an thought to himself.