24: overbearing

The zhi yong ship descended slowly, docking at an air port at the south gate of the academy.

"Let's go, I'll take you to register."

Everyone stepped out of the hatch in turn.

Looking out, they were shocked—beyond shocked.

Whether it was the six zhi yong ships before them, the endless city walls, or the towering giant tower rising from within those walls, every sight stimulated their nerves.

"What are those towers?"

Jiang Tao said, "Spiritual Energy Tower, Meditation Tower, Body Tempering Tower, and so on."

"You will be visiting them often in the future."

"What about the one in the middle? That largest, most magnificent golden giant tower?"

Jiang Peng said, "That is the Extraordinary Talent Tower."

"Extraordinary Talent? Is Luo Jiang Academy going to hold an Extraordinary Awakening as well?"

Wang Fu said, "No, it's the Extraordinary Talent Tower. It's different from the God-Gifted Towers in your cities.

Many Innate Skills are stored there. The top floor is for the Second Awakening. If you can reach the top floor to awaken before you graduate, your trip to Luo Jiang Academy won't be in vain."

"Senior, what Awakening? Haven't we already awakened?"

"Don't ask. You don't have the clearance to know yet."

"Oh, what's it like up there? Senior, have you been up?"

Wang Fu: "..."

"I haven't been there."

Everyone: "..."

Wang Fu explained, "Over 99.9% of Trainees have never been up there. Your Senior Sister Ye has been once, though. You can ask her."

Everyone turned their gaze toward Ye Hanmei.

Ye Hanmei thought for a few seconds, then parted her red lips and said, "Up there, it's very high."

"..."

"Stop asking. Register first. After joining Luo Jiang Academy, if you have questions, look them up yourself. Most of it is on the official website and the forums."

"What you need to do now is focus on tomorrow's assessment. It will determine your academy branch."

Afterward.

Jiang Peng led the group to the south gate.

The city wall was incredibly tall, estimated to be over a hundred meters high, stretching as far as the eye could see to the left and right.

The plaque at the city entrance bore four large gilded characters—Luo Jiang Academy.

Passing through the entrance, Jiang Peng and the others arrived at a place where several machines were lined up.

Jiang Peng, Zhou Zhen, Ye Hanmei, and the others stepped forward and operated them briefly.

Then he said:

"Everyone, come over and swipe your bracelets to record your information. You can then join the internal network. You'll have to figure out the rest yourselves."

"Gather here tomorrow morning. Do not be late."

After saying that, the group left, no longer minding the newcomers.

Everyone looked at each other.

Qin Sheng said, "Let's start. It's going to be dark soon."

The people from Anqiu City lined up in order and swiped their bracelets.

Xiao Weiqing also swiped his bracelet.

Immediately, he received a request on his bracelet asking whether to connect to the Luo Jiang Academy internal network, which required identity verification.

It took a minute.

Xiao Weiqing finished the setup quickly.

He received a few more emails.

The first one.

"Welcome, Xiao Weiqing, Citizen ID XXXXXX, to Luo Jiang Academy..."

Below was a series of notices.

The second one.

"Trainee Xiao Weiqing, please gather at LYT-06 Port tomorrow at 9:00 AM to participate in the 2122 New Trainee Admission Assessment. Assessment project: Dragon Fish Platform. Late arrival or absence will be considered a forfeit, and the academy will not grant admission..."

Qin Sheng said, "Everyone's swiped, right? Let's go find the dorms first."

The more than 600 new Trainees began to part ways, scattering based on their home cities.

The group from Anqiu City curiously observed Luo Jiang Academy as they followed the instructions to a cluster of buildings.

"Let's go, we're in Building L11."

The group walked for two minutes.

Arriving at the foot of Building L11, they saw a fight breaking out at the entrance of the adjacent Building L12.

One side had over a hundred people, while the other had only ten, but it seemed the ten people had the upper hand.

"Bastards, what do you people from the Prefecture City want? How has our Hengze City offended you?"

"Hehe... We don't want much. You just need to agree to join the Lower Academy."

"In your dreams! Why should we?"

Everyone knew from the emails that there was a huge difference in resources among the Upper, Middle, and Lower Academies.

However, Luo Jiang Academy admitted nearly ten thousand students every year, yet only 100 could enter the Upper Academy, 1,900 could enter the Middle Academy, and the rest went to the Lower Academy.

"Why? By the power of our fists, of course. For you hicks, being able to enter Luo Jiang Academy is already a blessing. Don't be ungrateful."

The Short-haired Youth clenched his fists, acting high and mighty, as if the fact that the Hengze City Trainees could enter Luo Jiang Academy was his personal charity.

"Get lost! Do you think we're afraid of you?"

The leader from Hengze City charged straight ahead.

"Trash."

Bang!

Without any resistance.

The new Trainee from Hengze City was sent flying by a single punch.

"What?"

"How is that possible?"

"Xie Jun has a Level 4 'Technique'. How could he not even take one hit?"

The Short-haired Youth smiled contemptuously. "Level 4? In Luo Jiang Prefecture, I wouldn't say they're everywhere, but they're certainly common."

"This year, nearly 5,400 people from our Prefecture City entered Luo Jiang Academy. There are 4,809 with Level 3 Extraordinary Talent and 233 with Level 4."

"And 26 with Level 5."

"And I, Zhong Chen, am one of them."

Everyone was horrified by the news. "200 Level 4s?"

"And 26 Level 5s?"

Xiao Weiqing and the others were equally shocked by these numbers.

Anqiu City had a major breakout this year, yet they only produced four Level 4s.

There are a total of 30 cities in Luo Jiang Prefecture. Even if other cities were better than Anqiu City and had one more, and the five cities near the Prefecture City were counted, all 30 cities combined wouldn't exceed 200—they might not even reach 150.

Even if there were 150, not all of them would come to Luo Jiang Academy; some would go to other academies. For instance, from Anqiu City, only Qin Sheng entered Luo Jiang Academy.

But the Prefecture City? They started with 200 Level 4 Extraordinary Talents right off the bat.

Not to mention the 26 Level 5s.

One must realize that among the four cities including Anqiu and Donglin, there was only one Level 5.

Add to that the nearly 5,000 Level 3s—it was a staggering number.

The Short-haired Youth was very satisfied with their expressions. "Now you know the gap?"

"Now that you're at Luo Jiang Academy, if you're a dragon, coil up; if you're a tiger, lie down. Don't compare your backwater wilderness to the Prefecture City. You can only take what we give you; you cannot snatch what we don't. Understand?"

"The Dragon Fish Platform assessment lasts for seven days. Enjoy yourselves."

The Short-haired Youth laughed and led his people away.

As they passed the Anqiu City group, Zhong Chen shouted toward Building L11.

"Zhou Ming, hurry up, or we won't wait for you when it's time to eat."

He then cast a sympathetic glance toward Qin Sheng and the others before walking away.

"Got it."

A deep, powerful voice came from inside the building.

A burly youth emerged from within, followed by six others.

Qin Sheng and the others felt their hearts tighten at the sight.

Zhu Dong said, "They don't look friendly."

Qin Sheng whispered, "Act according to the situation."

Qin Sheng stepped forward. "Excuse me..."

"Kneel."

"What?"

The youth looked at Qin Sheng with disdain. "I said, kneel."

Zhu Dong was furious. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Swish!

A black shadow suddenly darted out from behind the youth, attacking Zhu Dong.

A punch was thrown.

"Watch out!"

Qin Sheng pushed Zhu Dong aside and threw a punch in return.

The black shadow stumbled back a few steps, while Qin Sheng was sent flying backward.

Xiao Weiqing took a step across and caught Qin Sheng with one hand.

"Are you okay?"

Qin Sheng grunted and exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. "I'm fine."

The black shadow stood firm. He was dressed in all black and chuckled. "Not bad, but your strength is a bit lacking."

"Take my advice and kneel obediently. Otherwise, Zhou Ming won't be as easy to talk to as I am."

The youth in black pointed at the burly youth who had just spoken.

Qin Sheng snorted coldly, his face contorted. "Kneeling is impossible."

Zhou Ming smirked and said, "Not just you—all of you."