Everyone's playing as a roguelike, starting with an extra Mythical Relic.

Chu Yang ultimately decided against equipping the skill now.

His idea was: there are many different kinds of items in this domain, and perhaps he could find a way to retain the shield after he releases this skill.

After resting, everyone headed towards Gate No. 5.

Chu Yang had originally planned to enter the battle gate and complete the trial mission first.

However, he saw a special door in Gate 5.

When he inquired, Xiao Men explained: "This is the [Adventure Gate], which requires an adventure item to enter."

The other two doors are the most common type: the "simple combat doors".

Chu Yang then asked, "If I don't choose this door for now, will I encounter it again later?"

Xiao Men replied, "I'm not sure, but the probability of encountering it again after skipping the [Adventure Gate] once will decrease."

Chu Yang glanced at the [bracelet woven from grass] in his backpack, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped into the [Gate of Encounters].

[I finally got this lucky item, I can't just let it go to waste...]

Seeing Chu Yang enter the [Adventure Gate], the middle-aged man hesitated for a moment before also wanting to push the door open and enter.

The result was a system message: "You do not have any adventure items and cannot enter this door."

Seeing everyone looking at him, the middle-aged man gave an awkward laugh: "Haha~ You're a real expert! I didn't even know what a lucky item was..."

When Chu Yang opened his eyes again, he found himself in front of a tall and majestic jade gate.

Chu Yang looked up and saw the four large characters "White Pagoda Academy" carved on the top of the jade gate.

In front of the Jade Gate is a thousand-meter-high blue stone staircase, and behind the Jade Gate is a stretch of green mountains.

Several scholars, chatting and laughing, passed by Chu Yang and entered the Jade Gate.

But instead of entering the green mountains, they vanished into thin air!

Chu Yang, puzzled, also walked towards the jade door, but simply passed through it.

Several more scholars climbed the steps and saw Chu Yang hesitating before the jade gate. One of the scholars stepped forward and asked, "Young brother, do you wish to enter the White Pagoda Academy?"

Chu Yang thought for a moment and nodded.

The scholar then asked, "Do you have a visiting card, or do you know anyone at the academy?"

Chu Yang shook his head.

Just then, Chu Yang heard a somewhat familiar voice!

"Brother Chu Yang?"

Chu Yang looked in the direction of the sound and saw a handsome young scholar emerge from the jade gate and wave to him.

"Brother Chu Yang! It really is you!"

As the scholar approached, Chu Yang finally saw clearly that the fair-skinned and thin young scholar in front of him was actually Xiao Cao, the girl he had rescued from the bat cave!

"Are you... Little Grass?"

Little Grass laughed happily, "Yes! It's Little Grass! When I sensed the bracelet I gave you just now, I thought I was sensing something wrong!"

"Brother Chu Yang, how did you know I was at White Pagoda Academy? Where have you been for the past year?"

[More than a year? Could it be that more than a year has passed in this world?!]

Chu Yang didn't know how to explain, so he changed the subject: "Little Grass, what about you? How did you get here... at this academy?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaocao immediately said excitedly, "Brother Chuyang, I've taken Xiaohua and Xiaoshitou back to the village."

"Then we encountered other monsters near the village, which terrified us..."

"Fortunately, the older brothers and sisters from White Pagoda Academy arrived in time to save us..."

"My older brothers and sisters brought us to the academy, and then I met my teacher..."

"I'll take you to see my teacher right now! He's such a nice guy! Brother Chu Yang, hold my hand tight, or we won't be able to get in!"

As she spoke, Xiaocao took Chuyang's hand and walked into the jade gate.

This time, Chu Yang did not walk through the door.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a world that combined technology and classic elements.

Of course, the technology mentioned here is a technology centered around runes.

There are rune airships, pavilions and towers, neon lights, and elegant study buildings.

As Chu Yang walked along with the grass, he felt as if he were in a fantastical dream.

After a long while, the two of them walked into a quiet courtyard.

There is a pavilion in the courtyard, and an old man is sitting in the pavilion.

The old man was tall and looked kind and approachable. He had been enjoying his tea alone when he sensed someone enter and said, "Zhenzhen? What brings you here? Have you finished your basic course?"

"Teacher, I met Brother Chu Yang! He's the Brother Chu Yang I told you about who saved me and Xiao Hua!"

"Oh??" Little Grass's master glanced at Chu Yang, put down his teacup, took a step, and instantly teleported several meters across to appear in front of Chu Yang.

He placed one hand on Chu Yang's shoulder, and Chu Yang frowned slightly.

Fortunately, the old man only gently touched Chu Yang's shoulder before letting go.

"Awakened Shield Guard... come in with me."

Chu Yang was slightly amazed by the old man's abilities, then sat down with him in the tea pavilion in the courtyard, while Xiao Cao brewed tea for the two of them.

While brewing tea, Xiaocao said to Chuyang, "Brother Chuyang, I have a new name, Ye Zhenzhen. It comes from the poem 'The peach tree is young and tender, its leaves are lush and green.' My teacher gave it to me. Isn't it nice?"

Before Chu Yang could answer, the old man chuckled smugly, "Of course, the name I chose sounds good!"

Little Grass stuck out her tongue at the old man and said, "Hehe~ Little Grass was asking Brother Chu Yang, not you."

Chu Yang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and smiled, "Hmm, it sounds nice, and the meaning is good too. It goes well with the little grass."

Little Grass blushed and said shyly, "Hehe~ It's not that good~"

The old man pursed his lips, looking somewhat jealous.

After a cup of tea's time, Xiaocao gave the old man a wink.

The old man suddenly asked Chu Yang, "Young man? Have you taken a teacher or attended the Awakened Ones Academy?"

Chu Yang shook his head; he certainly didn't have any of those things.

Then the old man said, "I can write you a letter of introduction. You can go to any Awakened Academy except for the Nine Great Academies."

While Chu Yang was still processing the meaning of those words, Xiao Cao exclaimed anxiously, "Master~ that's not what I meant! I want Brother Chu Yang to get into White Tower Academy too!"

The old man shook his head and said, "His awakened profession grade is too low. White Tower Academy is one of the nine major academies of the prehistoric human race. Scholars must pass a written test to enter, and the minimum requirement for martial artists to awaken their profession grade is blue advanced."

"These are the school rules, there's nothing I can do about it."

Little Grass tugged at the old man's sleeve and pleaded, "Teacher~ please~ you're the vice dean~ you must have a way~"

[Blue-grade? People in this world can awaken high-grade professions from the start?]

Could the reward for this serendipitous encounter be admission to a university? ...

Chu Yang has never liked to force others, and since the old man has said so, he naturally has no reason to insist on staying.

Besides, he's not from this world! How can he enroll?

So Chu Yang said, "Little Grass, I know you mean well, but I don't want to go to the academy."

The old man looked at Chu Yang with some surprise upon hearing this, and said, "Heh, interesting~ There are actually young people who don't want to enter the Nine Great Academies? And they're not lying..."

"The academy's rules cannot be broken. How about this, I'll give you a chance to observe the [Divine Grace Stone Wall]!"

"Consider it repaying the favor Zhenzhen did for you a year ago."