Chapter 2309: Chapter 2313: Rules
Outside the Demonic Beast Forest.
The crowd stood in groups outside the forest within a hundred-meter range, mostly consisting of young men and women, and even some teenagers aged seventeen or eighteen.
All teams were composed of twelve people, ten youngsters plus two elders or one elder and a middle-aged man.
Regardless of being young or teenage, all were of Divine Infant Realm cultivation, while the elders or the middle-aged men were of Unity Realm Stage strength!
As time passed, more and more people arrived, creating a noisy atmosphere outside the forest. The young ones looked at the forest with fervent eyes, for that was their path to one of the Six Great Academies, Changling Main Court!
"Why haven’t the main court’s people arrived yet?"
At a central position in the crowd, a haughty elder glanced at the sky and frowned slightly.
"That depends on Changlin Academy. I heard that this time Changlin Academy caused quite a stir, prompting the elders responsible for assessments to head there early."
The middle-aged man beside the elder spoke softly: "I heard even Canglan City sent people there once."
"Hmph! Just seeking attention!"
The elder sneered: "Changlin Academy isn’t good at teaching students but seems adept at these maneuvers. However, no matter how they clamor, it’s useless. After this time, Changling Main Court’s four branch academy titles will surely shift to our Qing Hai Academy."
"Elder Meng, let’s not underestimate. I’ve heard that Changlin Academy produced a student with a top-tier Five Elements Dao Affinity, who once single-handedly fought against six cultivators from top forces of Mingqian Realm at the Mingqian Banquet, and defeated them with a single move!"
The middle-aged man softly reminded, with a solemn expression.
"Elder Chen, don’t worry needlessly. No matter how strong Jiang Chen is, he’s only Mid Divine Infant Realm. Have you forgotten the little monster of Fengchen Academy?"
Elder Meng smiled lightly, dismissing it: "With him around, during the academy competition, Jiang Chen might not even achieve first place in the same realm, while our academy has those two youngsters. With them, securing first place in the Late Divine Infant Realm is surely certain."
"Moreover, there are other talented students from the three major regions. As long as Changlin Academy fails to obtain a first place title in the same realm this time, Changling Main Court will directly exclude them from the branch academies."
"At that time, we will be the strongest contenders for the branch academy title! Once we secure it, we can also enjoy the power of the Five Elements Dao Treasure. The first distribution of Dao Treasure power can benefit even us cultivators of Unity Realm Stage!"
Elder Meng’s eyes showed fervor, as if their academy had already defeated Changlin Academy, ready to obtain the Five Elements Dao Treasure power.
Elder Chen’s eyes also revealed a trace of greed. He had coveted the power of the Five Elements Dao Treasure for a long time. Though he wouldn’t underestimate Changlin Academy like Elder Meng, he was quite confident in his academy’s ranking this time.
Glancing at the two similar-looking youths within his team, Elder Chen’s lips curled slightly.
Swish, swish, swish!
The sound of piercing air kicked up, prompting everyone to look up. From the southern sky, a tiny black dot rapidly enlarged.
"The people from Changlin Academy have arrived!"
"Fifty spots, must be enviable for those branch academies!"
"What’s there to envy? After this year, Changlin Academy might just be removed from the four branch academies by Changling Main Court!"
"Exactly, they’ve failed to clinch first place in the same realm for four consecutive times during admissions competitions, and haven’t achieved any remarkable results in entrance assessments over the past century."
Watching the approaching fifty-plus figures, the crowd began discussing in whispers.
"Hmph! Let them be smug one more time. After today, they won’t get another chance for fifty spots in the main court assessment!"
Elder Meng spoke mockingly.
Not far from them, a team of students dressed in dark blue academy uniforms also raised their heads to watch the group approaching. In front of them, two elders’ eyes revealed a slight gloomy smile.
Glimpsing at the empty space among the crowd, they silently mused that the next time, that position would be reserved for their Fengchen Academy.
...
After Ouyang Song retreated for closed cultivation, Jiang Chen also entered training.
When Changlin Academy held the quota contest, Jiang Chen wasn’t even called. His participation in the assessment was a sure thing. No one in the same realm was his match. Even if called, it would only be a formality.
Students of the academy had no objections to this. Instead, they awaited Jiang Chen to bring glory to the academy in the entrance assessment and competition.
When Hu Yiqiu roused Jiang Chen from his training, it was already days before the entrance assessment started. Jiang Chen then traveled with other examinees via the Great Teleportation Array to the assessment site.
"So many people?"
As they approached the outskirts of the Demonic Beast Forest and saw the dense crowd outside, Jiang Chen was astonished.
By then, tens of thousands had already gathered outside the Demonic Beast Forest.
"These are only the ones selected from nearby eight large regions’ junior academies."
Beside Jiang Chen, Su Qingluan chuckled: "Since the Great Emperor implemented the academy teaching system, there are already hundreds of thousands of students on Canglan Continent, with junior academies making up four-fifths of that. Imagine how many are participating in the assessment!"
"How many get selected after so many joining the assessment?"
Jiang Chen felt a surge of admiration, wondering when Yuan Star’s Martial Warrior Academy would reach such scale.
"Each region selects five hundred to the main court, totaling two thousand."
Su Qingluan responded softly.
"Tens of thousands choose five hundred!?"
Jiang Chen was shocked by the high elimination rate!
"Haha, thanks for waiting, everyone."
By then, Jiang Chen and others arrived at the central position among participating academies, landing in the empty space left open by the crowd, while Lu Zhichen remained hovering above them.
"It’s about time. Everyone should be here, right?"
Lu Zhichen glanced at the tens of thousands below, releasing Divine Sense, enveloping them all.
After confirming the number of academies, Lu Zhichen nodded slightly and spoke again: "I won’t say much more. You all should know the assessment rules. Now, the assessment begins!"
