"Fang Chong, are you going to join Da Han Yi Academy?" a crisp female voice rang out.
Several people turned their heads and saw a beautiful girl with blonde hair and large eyes standing in front of them.
"Ai Xi?" Qin Qiang and Zeng Yi both looked at the girl from Europe in surprise.
It wasn’t because Ai Xi was beautiful, but her reputation was no less remarkable.
In the recent Blue Star Ten Great Colleges assessment, Ai Xi ranked fifth, just behind Fang Chong.
Fang Chong knew Ai Xi, but that was about it. The last time, it was Ai Xi who had approached him to talk, and the two of them had once been to a bookstore together.
"Dean Qin, Vice Dean Zeng," Ai Xi greeted in fluent Chinese.
After Hua Xia became the center of the world, Chinese had become the global language. You might not know your own mother tongue, but you must learn Chinese.
"Ai Xi, on behalf of Martial Vein Mountain, I formally invite you to join us. Though our ranking isn’t at the very top, our dedication to nurturing our students is always wholehearted."
Qin Qiang took the initiative to invite Ai Xi without hesitation.
Zeng Yi was equally prompt in saying,
"Ai Xi, Guardian is truly the best choice for you. The Guardian ranks fourth among the Blue Star colleges, and with a talent like you, you’ll certainly be able to learn Heart and Mind Mixed Element Skill."
Before Ai Xi could answer, another voice chimed in:
"Dean Qin, Vice Dean Zeng, you’re really being quite shameless. Recruitment hasn’t even started, and here you are, snatching up students who rank in the top five. This is going too far."
As he spoke, three people arrived, with a slightly chubby man leading the way; this greasy-looking middle-aged man had just spoken.
Two others followed behind him, one with a full beard and one tall and skinny.
"Now who do we have here? If it isn’t Director Qian from True Universe Academy, Dean Mondi from Future College, and Dean Steve from Air Ocean Academy," greeted Qin Qiang with a warm smile.
Fang Chong, Lv Zi, Li Wanran, and Ai Xi also hastened their greetings.
They were here to make their college selections, and they had done their homework. Even without Qin Qiang’s introductions, they knew who the three men were.
The greasy middle-aged man was Qian Dongping, a native of Hua Xia and the director of the recruitment office of True Universe Academy, the leading institution of the Blue Star Ten Great Colleges.
The bearded fella was none other than the Dean of Future College, Mondi, rumored to be a Second Level gene cultivator, though it was unclear if it was true or not.
As for the tall and skinny man, he was the Dean of Air Ocean Academy, Steve.
But it was Steve who was the most mysterious. This guy also had a Chinese name, Zhang Youming.
When talking about cultivation, he always claimed to be merely a Second Level gene cultivator.
Yet many rumors suggested that he was actually a Fifth Level gene cultivator, one of the few on Earth who had reached the highest realm of Genetic Cultivation.
"Ha ha, Lv Zi, Li Wanran, and Fang Chong, come and join True Universe Academy. It’s the leading academy among the Blue Star Ten Great Colleges," Qian Dongping said with a smile, and upon seeing Ai Xi, his expression grew even more eager, "You’re Ai Xi, right? Good, good. Coming to Hua Xia, our True Universe Academy is very suitable for you."
Qin Qiang smiled, "Director Qian, that’s not very proper of you. Li Wanran has already joined Martial Vein Mountain, and you’re trying to poach her right in front of me?"
"Have you joined Martial Vein Mountain?" Qian Dongping looked at Li Wanran in bewilderment and asked.
Li Wanran quickly replied, "Yes, I promised Dean Qin not long ago and joined Martial Vein Mountain."
Seeing this, Zeng Yi hurriedly said, "Director Qian, Lv Zi is also now a student of Guardian. Please don’t try to recruit from us."
Qian Dongping was even more astonished, completely perplexed as he looked at Lv Zi.
This was the top-ranking student. Weren’t the first few ranks usually eager to join True Universe Academy by tradition?
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What’s going on now? Both first and third ranks joined other colleges?
To think that today he had come over specifically for recruitment; in past years, both first and second ranks would’ve proactively come to the True Universe Academy recruitment area to express their intent.
"Yes, Director Qian, I have joined Guardian," said Lv Zi hurriedly.
"What about you? You’re not going to join another college, are you?" Qian Dongping turned towards Fang Chong, feeling a loss of face, no, he felt as if True Universe Academy had lost face.
Fang Chong quickly replied, "I’ve just decided to join Da Han Yi Academy, thank you for your kind consideration, Director Qian."
Qian Dongping was dumbfounded. Could it be that True Universe Academy wouldn’t be able to recruit any of the top five this time? That would certainly be a laughingstock to others.
Seeing Qian Dongping’s gaze turn to Ai Xi, Mondi quickly said, "Ai Xi, you’re from Europe, come join our Future College."
Ai Xi smiled, "Thank you, Dean Mondi, but I decided to join Da Han Yi Academy just a moment ago."
"What?"
This time, it wasn’t just a few deans who were shocked by Ai Xi’s words; Fang Chong and the others were too.
There was no way to play it like this.
In previous years, those with good scores generally joined True Universe Academy or Planet Academy.
Those with lower scores typically chose local academies to join.
For example, European students would mostly choose Future College, Second Gene College, or the West Hemisphere.
African students would go for Yongzhou City, while American students, if they couldn’t get into Planet Academy, would opt for Air Ocean Academy.
Now look, four out of the top five had chosen their colleges, and not a single one was going to True Universe Academy.
Qian Dongping panicked; he had thought he wouldn’t need to intervene personally, assuming that these students would naturally choose True Universe Academy.
Now, not a single one had been recruited by True Universe Academy. Wouldn’t he be deposed if he went back like this?
Even if he wasn’t deposed, how could he face Dean Nong Yizhen?
Then there was one more, Qian Dongping suddenly thought of Alvin, who ranked second.
Knowing that there was a ninety percent chance Alvin would join Planet Academy, Qian Dongping still wanted to try intercepting him first.
Seeing Qian Dongping hurriedly leave, the others also understood his intentions. They greeted Zeng Yi and Qin Qiang before hurrying off as well.
Mondi and Steve thought Ai Xi had already joined Da Han Yi Academy, but Zeng Yi and Qin Qiang knew that Ai Xi hadn’t joined yet; she had only said so casually.
"Ai Xi, Da Han Yi Academy really isn’t the right fit for you," Qin Qiang spoke up again.
Ai Xi quickly said, "Deans, I have truly decided to join Da Han Yi Academy."
Seeing Ai Xi assert this, Qin Qiang and Zeng Yi had no choice but to leave with Li Wanran and Lv Zi.
Recruitment and school selection is a two-way process; you can persuade, but once the student is unwilling to engage, forcibly recruiting them would be a violation of the rules.
Lv Zi, watching Fang Chong and Ai Xi still standing there, suddenly started to regret his own choices.
Why did Ai Xi first ask Fang Chong which academy he had joined? After learning he joined Da Han Yi Academy, she chose it too?
Was it a mistake for him to choose Guardian? At that moment, Lv Zi didn’t know if he should have joined Da Han Yi Academy as well.
But he had already agreed to follow Zeng Yi, and it was clearly not the time to go back on his word.
"Are you really going to join Da Han Yi Academy like me?" Fang Chong asked with disbelief.
Ai Xi nodded. "Yes, is there a problem?"
"Of course not, I’m just curious why you want to join Da Han Yi Academy?" Fang Chong truly didn’t understand.
Ai Xi earnestly said, "I really want to study under Mr. Ding like you."
Fang Chong covered his forehead and said, "Mr. Ding isn’t at Da Han Yi Academy, and he’s not teaching me anymore either."
"I know that, but you’re at Da Han Yi Academy; wouldn’t Mr. Ding come to see you? Or will you not go to see Mr. Ding in the future? Couldn’t you just take me with you then?" Ai Xi sounded even more serious.
Fang Chong could only explain, "Ai Xi, Mr. Ding taught three students, and I’m just one of them. You could be at the same academy as Lv Zi, right?"
"No, I believe if Mr. Ding is going to approach any one of you... no, I should say, if anyone could receive Mr. Ding’s real guidance, it would definitely be you."
Ai Xi’s words even made Fang Chong suspect she had been following him.
"Ai Xi, I, ah..."
Fang Chong didn’t know how to explain.
Ai Xi smiled, "That day you went to the bookstore with me, and you left midway, was it because Mr. Ding found you?"
"You knew?" Fang Chong was taken aback; after all, Ding Huan had disguised himself that day.
"Of course, I’m certain you joined Da Han Yi Academy because Mr. Ding told you to."
After saying this, Ai Xi looked at Fang Chong.
Fang Chong froze, impressed by the girl’s smarts. How did she figure out that he joined Da Han Yi Academy because Mr. Ding had told him?
Could she have followed behind and overheard Mr. Ding’s words?
(By the way, the sequel to "Mythology" isn’t going on sale today; it will be about midday on June 12th. The reason for adding a chapter is twofold: one, to ask for monthly votes, and two, because I worry our loyal readers might think it’s going on sale on the first and find there’s no update. Sending blades to Lao Wu. Asking for monthly votes is the emphasis, it bears repeating.)