Imperial Academy!

It was situated in the south of the capital, right next to its southern end, spanning an area a tenth of the capital.

It was a massive place considering the fewer number of students enrolled there. However, things had changed in the past year, with the students filling in at times after admission.

It was all thanks to the launch of the County Arms. Those part of the younger generation that had obtained them joined the Imperial Academy to train themselves further and become the future pillars of the Daxia Empire.

After all, they were now no longer just prospective Imperial Meisters, but also possessed real power of their own. So, things had to be changed a lot in order to accommodate the new variable.

So, the past year had been pretty chaotic, an adaptation phase, to be exact. And from this year onward, all the changes had finally cemented.

Following the month's break after the year ended, a new term began in the Imperial Academy as countless students streamed in, from ages fifteen to twenty. They joined when they were fifteen years old and graduated when they were twenty.

Usually, a year after graduation, they would marry and settle down. That was the process taken by those joining the Imperial Academy.

Krune landed at the entrance, carrying his bags as he looked around, watching many students in a similar situation as him. There were those that were confident, full of spirit as they confidently strode into the academy. They were students in their senior years.

Then, there were those that had joined this term, looking around everything with a curious gaze.

"Hello there. Are you a freshman as well?" A slightly chubby boy approached Krune, asking him, for some reason, feeling that he should follow this student and befriend him.

"Nope, I'm a second year," Krune smiled in response as he replied, waving his hand as he walked past. He didn't wish to waste any time with unnecessary things. As Daxia Ting had already informed his friends of his arrival, he was waiting for them.

Slowly, there was a clamor among the senior students as they parted ways, allowing two people to walk out, drawing gazes from everyone.

There was admiration, envy, and other various expressions among their gazes. Walking in the highlight were two students that now appeared like prestigious children favored by the heavens. They had an air of aesthetic coldness and grace in their actions.

Wang Hao and Chen Xue!

Upon seeing Krune wait at the entrance, they were excited, rushing towards him happily.

"Man, I missed you," Wang Hao said, pouncing upon Krune like a bear that had found its prey.

"Haha!" Chen Xue snickered from the side, watching Krune's helpless figure trying his best to break free from Wang Hao's hold.

"Who's that? Why are Wang Hao and Chen Xue treating him so well?"

"I have no idea. He seems to be a new student."

"I do have to say that he's quite dashing. Is that perhaps the reason?"

The surrounding students engaged in a flurry of discussions, watching Krune being escorted by the two most popular students of the academy.

After all, those that possessed a County Arms were able to sense that Wang Hao and Chen Xue were different from the rest, concealing unfathomable power within them.

Even though the Liu Clan only gave eight County Arms per family a year, that was still enough to equip the students the respective families prioritized.

After all, even after getting the County Arms, they needed to obtain positions accordingly to make the best use of it. Moreover, things were changing in the Empire thanks to them. The first place to reflect that change was the Imperial Academy.

So, every family, no matter how much money they had to gather, once they obtained permission from the Emperor, ensured that everyone from the younger generation of their respective families in the Imperial Academy obtained the County Arms first.

The rest were only given the preference of choice after that.

So, from this year onwards, everyone in the Imperial Academy possessed County Arms, completely changing its dynamic from the previous years.

"The residence here is separated by gender. There are countless manors, with each having four rooms facing each other, with a small training ground in the center," Chen Xue spoke. "We'll be allotted residence based on our year. Since we joined at the same time, your room is next to Wang Hao's. So, he'll fill you in on the details later."

"That's great." Krune nodded, whispering once they walked out of the range of prying ears, "How's the situation that I told you to investigate?"

"There's been a lot in that regard." Chen Xue sighed, massaging her forehead as she looked around, speaking, "There are spies in our empire that have pledged their loyalty to the Demons. They are typically from territories with tyrant lords or unscrupulous merchants, dissatisfied with their lies due to the tragedy they had experienced in the past."

"So, they will do whatever they can to destroy the empire," Wang Hao continued where Chen Xue left off.

"What about the Su Family?" Krune asked.

"This is where things turn confusing." Wang Hao furrowed his brows, expressing mild anger. "The Su Family of the past and the present have remained the same. But, any and every shady thing they had done till now have been blamed on your predecessor, even the recent ones, masking them to be incidents that had happened long ago."

By Krune's predecessor, Wang Hao meant Su Zixin.

"So, they've become corrupted to this extent." Krune nodded, sighing as countless images flashed across his eyes.

"Well, I can't say for sure about that," Chen Xue replied. "That's where things have become confusing."

"They look like they're harboring some secrets. But at the same time, they're also trying their best to uphold their duties to the Empire with even more zeal than before. After all, after losing one of their four Imperial Arms, their status has taken quite a hit," she continued.

"Is there anyone from the Su Family in the Imperial Academy?" Krune asked, intending to probe for information from them.

"There are quite a few, in fact," Chen Xue said in response.. "There's also the youngest daughter of the Clan Head that's among our batch."