Rise of The Demon General

Amon had researched the possible academic points given by the other classes.

The theory class had yearly written tests that were carried out in one full week, covering different subjects taught in the theory classes. Each of the seven days tests granted a maximum of 500 academic points. If a student got a full score on every test throughout the five years, the maximum they could get is 17,500 academic points.

The cultivation class was graded yearly. If a student fully advanced a small stage in one year, they got 5,000 scores. This small stage was the beginner to intermediate, or intermediate to peak. Continuing such a feat in five years would net them 25,000 academic points. Which was, of course, impossible. That meant one would need to advance almost two full stages in five years. At their cultivation level, this was not doable without some sort of miracle pills.

The practice class had four sparing sessions within a year. The maximum academic points a tutor granted on each sparing was 1000 academic points. If a student was granted a full score on every sparing session in the five years term, the maximum possible was 20,000 academic points.

The specialization class didn't have any estimated maximum score. In theory, if one could produce high-level products in big quantities, they could get as many academic points as possible. However, being freshmen, their skills and also the recipes provided to them were only the lowest-level ones.

Based on Amon's trial run on the specialization classes, it was safe to say that the average a talented student could produce was five products per day. With 1 academic point granted for each product, even if they spent a full 365 days working within the year. After five years, they would collect only 9,125 academic points. Again, this was considered if they only produce the lowest level products, but Amon thought it was safe to use this score as an estimate. There was no way a student spent 365 days just working on specialization classes. They would have neglected their cultivation and art practice then.

The last class, Mission, was also one that had no upper limit. One could amass as many academic points as the missions they completed. Hence, Amon used the standard minimum requirement for an estimate. A student was required to complete either twenty one-star missions or one five-star mission within a year, and the other stars in between.

Amon had visited the mission center. Even among the same star missions, they rewarded different academic points. Amon used the five-star mission for an estimate. Despite rewarding different numbers of academic points, the average a five-star mission rewarded was 3,000 academic points. In five years, this minimum requirement would give a student 15,000 academic points.

The academic points in the first three classes were if one considered the students getting perfect scores, which was highly unlikely. The average one most likely got was half those scores, which were 31,250 academic points. As for the latter two classes, they had no upper limits, but the combined average scores were 24,125 academic points.

In this way, as long as one performed averagely within all five classes, one would get 55,375 academic points. It's above the minimum standard of 50,000 academic points required to pass into the junior class.

Amon, of course, had to target more. He had experienced the benefit of living inside the top ten accommodations, he couldn't accept less. Hence, the 10,000 academic points debt and 5% fine meant he had to struggle more than the other students if he wanted to keep his first rank position.

But Amon didn't regret his action. It was necessary. After the brawl, the other factions wouldn't see his new faction as a pushover anymore. This should keep them at an arm-length and allow his faction to grow. That's why he intentionally made such a big scene of it. The next conflicts could be settled more covertly.

An Guan dismissed Amon and Yan Long after announcing their penalties. Their faction members were also released.

Yan Long gave Amon an angry look before leaving. He blamed Amon for the penalty. He was so eager to get back at Amon. But after experiencing how crazy Amon's response that resulted in the brawl just now, he didn't dare to make any move. He couldn't afford another penalty. The current one was already too much for him. He couldn't sacrifice his own future for the faction. The faction was supposed to help him advance within this academy, not the other way around. So, he buried his hatred and walked away.

Amon didn't spare him any glance. He just went directly to where his faction members were gathering. He then led them back to his territory. The only ones not with them were Tuang Yin and one of the members whose leg was cut by Yan Dose's erratic sword art. They were still in the infirmary. Wu Di didn't follow them. He was never a real member of the faction. He said goodbye to Amon and left.

After arriving in their territory, Amon gave each of them three hundred aer stones and three free wads of Thousand Dream Powder. The aer stones were only promised to those who followed Xin Wuming, but Amon still give the others equal pay.

They were stupefied. They had never heard the other factions giving payment. Those other faction members were forced to do the tasks or else they were not considered a member anymore. They couldn't help but feel grateful.

Paying such a sum for almost eighty members, Amon had to fork out more than twenty thousand aer stones. This amazed the members even more. They understood Amon didn't come from any prominent clan, which meant Amon had given them a considerable amount of his personal wealth. Their sense of gratitude went even deeper after thinking of this point.

"Does it feel good?" Amon asked them after handing out the rewards.

"Huh?" Everyone was lost hearing Amon's question.

"Beating up those people who have looked down and disrespect you all this time. Does it feel good?" Amon asked again.

"It certainly is!" Xin Wuming exclaimed. He was standing with the others facing Amon.

Amon nodded. He then uttered, "As have been promised to some of you. If you wish to leave and escape the retaliation of the Nobles faction, you are permitted. There will be no hard feelings. But you will have to bear the fact that you run away from the fight and will forever be the person they look down upon. If you have no problem with being such a person, then go ahead. I also don't need cowards in my faction. But if you stay, I will demand that you put all your hearts in. There will be consequences if you ask to leave this faction after today. But for those who stay, I can promise you this. We will climb atop the five factions and make them fear us. By the end of our stay in this academy, we will be the ones looking down upon them instead of the other way around. So, who wants to leave?!"

No one moved away. Even the ones who had worn face masks during the brawl. They had originally did plan to leave after receiving payment. But after Amon pointed it out to them, they did feel good after trashing those elite youths from wealthy clans. Usually, they had to avoid offending those youths, even when they were actually better or in the right. But now, they had beaten up quite a lot of those youths during the brawl. They had fought with all the pent-up rage against those bullies from their past. And according to their leader, they were not stopping anytime soon. Instead of feeling the need to avoid conflict as they had always done, they instead felt excitement and expectation. Together with friends who were not afraid to stand up against those bullies and fought together with them, they felt pride and strength like they never felt before.

Amon smiled. He could read their feelings from their expressions.

"Good. Now go back and rest. Come back here tomorrow. I will give you all your instructions then."

Everyone dispersed. Xin Wuming was about to leave as well but Amon called him over.

"Big brother? What can I do for you?" He asked.

"You have done a lot. You should be rewarded as well," Amon asked.

"Big brother. I will always be happy to help you, there is no need for a reward. I can't ever repay the special constitution you have granted me."

"You work for me, you follow my way," Amon said, handing him one thousand aer stones and an arcane art book.

Amon had spent quite a sum of aer stones rewarding his underlings, but from the wealth he had accumulated from White Cloud City and selling the Thousand Dream Powders to the other students, this sum was affordable. Buying his underlings' loyalties was more important at this time.

As for Xin Wuming, he was Amon's right-hand man. It was only fair that he was rewarded more than the others.

Xin Wuming didn't truly crave the aer stones, but the arcane art book that Amon offered was another matter. It was a book containing metal element arcane art. It was one of the books from Amon's pyramid legacy. It was a mid-tier practitioner art. It was a better grade than any art the academy provided for free at this moment.

"I... thank you, big brother," Xin Wuming said and bowed.

"Come to my house tomorrow morning. I will give you the next instruction, then," Amon said.

"Yes, big brother!" Xin Wuming answered, still bowing.