11: A multitude of geniuses

The candidates below the platform saw that none of the first 100 were recruited, and they immediately panicked.

It was too cruel; not a single decent Extraordinary Talent emerged from a hundred candidates.

However, seeing someone being specially recruited on the holographic screen slightly eased the candidates' anxious hearts.

Most of them showed expressions of envy.

"So Extraordinary Talents are useful; even Level 1 can be specially recruited."

"No wonder the enrollment quota used to be less than a hundred, but the final number of recruits always exceeded that."

Li Sheng took in the expressions of the candidates below and said in a low voice, "Teacher Qin, thank you."

Actually, Li Ming's 'Art', Plant Cultivation, wasn't a particularly good talent, and a Level 1 Extraordinary Talent was too difficult to cultivate.

Similar talents weren't rare. Although Qin Yan had special recruitment quotas as an admissions teacher, logically, he shouldn't have used one in the first round.

Qin Yan's actions might have been driven by compassion; if the first hundred students were completely wiped out, it would definitely affect the mindset of the remaining students.

Although it was said that Extraordinary Talents did not depend on one's background and that all beings were equal, who really knew the truth?

At least Lin Tao and Jiang Peng knew that while it was equal for 99.999999% of people, there were always exceptions, weren't there?

"Old Li, you're overthinking it," Qin Yan replied.

Li Ming's matter passed, giving the other candidates some confidence.

"The second round of Extraordinary Awakening begins. Candidates, please take your positions."

The Extraordinary Awakening ceremony continued.

Another hundred candidates ascended the God-Bestowal Platform.

A hundred beams of light shot out from the wormhole overhead once again.

Half a minute later.

"No. 4743, Zhao Juan, Extraordinary Talent, 'Skill', Level 1, Foot Massage."

"No. 2122, Zhang Sen, Extraordinary Talent, 'Skill', Level 1, Wood Carving."

"..."

One after another, the candidates' Extraordinary Talents were displayed on the screen in mid-air.

Batch after batch, candidates ascended and descended the platform.

The candidates walking down the platform looked ashen, and many burst into tears. Those left behind by the teachers were all incredibly excited, as it meant their lives had changed... "No. 9142, Wang Bing, Extraordinary Talent, 'Skill', Level 3, Shattering Void Palm."

...Suddenly.

The voice on the broadcast grew much louder. It had appeared—the first Level 3 Extraordinary Talent, and it was a 'Skill'.

"Wang Bing, you stay," Li Sheng said.

"Yes."

Wang Bing walked excitedly into the group of retained candidates, while the others in the crowd looked at him with eyes full of envy.

Teacher Geng from Yuntai University was the first to speak. "What do we say about this Wang Bing? A Spiritual Qi score of 26 and a Level 3 'Skill'."

Based on past experience, among these ten thousand candidates, there would only be five or six Level 3 Extraordinary Talents. A 'Skill' was already very good, and Shattering Void Palm sounded like a palm technique.

No one answered Teacher Geng's question; the several admissions teachers all turned their gazes toward Lin Tao and Jiang Peng.

Jiang Peng said, "I only want Level 3 'Arts'. If a Level 2 'Art' has something special about it, I'll also consider special recruitment."

Lin Tao simply said, "Level 4."

Hearing their conversation from behind, Wang Bing felt a slight sense of disappointment. It was obvious that these admissions teachers were led by Lin Tao and Jiang Peng. Through his Wristband, he had already learned that Jiang Peng represented Luo Jiang Academy, one of the top eight academies in the country.

As for Lin Tao, he didn't know; he couldn't find any information, but the fact that he only recruited Level 4 spoke volumes about what he represented.

"Old Li, the situation isn't looking good. A quarter of the candidates have already passed, and there's only one Level 3."

"No. 1332, Yang Lei, Extraordinary Talent, 'Art', Level 2, Swift Wind."

The broadcast voice rose another notch.

Li Sheng chuckled and said, "What's the rush? Isn't one coming right now?"

The candidate named Yang Lei was jumping for joy, incredibly excited. "Awesome! I'm so awesome! I succeeded!"

"Yang Lei, come over here quickly. This is a sacred place; no shouting allowed," a teacher in charge barked.

"Oh, sorry, sorry."

The Extraordinary Awakening ceremony continued.

"No. 4412, Xie Ying, Extraordinary Talent, 'Spirit', Level 2, Beast Taming."

"Good! Xie Ying, come to me quickly," Teacher Wu from Sanshan University laughed heartily.

Beast Taming was a very useful 'Spirit' talent that allowed mental communication with other dimensions to summon a Spirit Beast as a partner. A Level 2 Beast Taming talent was generally not bad.

"Hey, I say, Old Wu, that's going too far. Xie Ying hasn't even chosen yet, and you're already forcing her to join?"

"What? Old Geng, did you forget what one of the mountains at my Sanshan University is for? Our Beast Taming department is no worse than the Eight Great Academies."

"Hmph." Teacher Geng from Yuntai University snorted coldly and said nothing more.

It was a fact, and he was just saying it; if he forcibly competed with Sanshan University, it would only harm Xie Ying... "No. 5321, Li Yi, Extraordinary Talent, 'Skill', Level 3, Sunset Archery."

..."Haha... Not bad, not bad." Li Sheng laughed. Things were looking up; from the looks of it, this year's Great Supernatural Exam would be much better than last year's.

Below the platform.

Zhang Dawei said to Xiao Weiqing, "Brother Qing, I'm going up."

"Good luck!"

"Mhm."

Zhang Dawei then walked onto the platform with an expression as if he were heading to his execution. But after a few steps, he gasped and slowed down because he felt his bladder could no longer take it.

Seeing that Zhang Dawei was in position through the screen, Xiao Weiqing silently cheered for his good friend, hoping he would obtain a good Extraordinary Talent.

"No. 1234, Takemoto, Extraordinary Talent, 'Body', Level 1, Hand Speed."

"No. 4321, Lin song, Extraordinary Talent, 'Art', Level 1, Invisibility."

Once Lin Qu's talent was announced, it drew a lot of attention. Many people showed envious expressions, mostly the male candidates.

However, Level 1 Invisibility was really not very useful, and he was not retained.

After Lin Qu stepped down in disappointment...

Li Sheng said to the person beside him, "Record that candidate with Invisibility in the files to prevent him from doing evil in the future."

"Understood!"

The ceremony continued; the Extraordinary Awakening would not stop for the sake of any individual's departure or stay.

"No. 6666, Zhang Dawei, Extraordinary Talent, 'Art', Level 3, Water Manipulation."

The voice on the broadcast was incredibly excited, its volume suddenly peaking.

Boom!

The candidates below erupted into a commotion.

It had appeared.

The first Level 3 'Art', and it was Water Manipulation—highly practical. Everyone could already envision Zhang Dawei slaying demons on the battlefield in the future.

"Level 3, 'Art'? Me? Was that just talking about me?"

At this moment, Zhang Dawei was still in a daze.

"Zhang Dawei, come over here."

Jiang Peng called out to the stunned Zhang Dawei.

"Ah, oh, is the Extraordinary Awakening over?"

"Yes, it's over. Your Spiritual Qi score exceeded 30 points, and you have a Level 3 'Art'. I'll take you on behalf of Luo Jiang Academy. Any questions?"

Zhang Dawei nodded. "Teacher, I have a question."

Jiang Peng frowned slightly. He had only asked casually. At Luo Jiang Academy, aside from specially recruited Level 2s, almost everyone was Level 3. This candidate was being a bit tactless, but since he had asked...

"Go ahead, what's the question?"

"Teacher, can I go to the bathroom first? I can't hold it in much longer."

Zhang Dawei pleaded while squeezing his legs together.

Jiang Peng: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Li Sheng said, "Go ahead. There are no toilets on the God-Bestowal Platform. Go to the Floating Train; there are toilets there."

"Thank you, thank you, Teacher."

Zhang Dawei rushed off the platform. As he passed Xiao Weiqing, he didn't forget to encourage him, "Good luck, Brother Qing!"

Xiao Weiqing smiled and nodded, truly happy for Zhang Dawei.

Another half hour passed.

The Extraordinary Talent Awakening had entered its final stage.

At this moment, the appearance of a girl caught everyone's attention.