7: Eight Universities

Seeing Jiang Peng introduce himself so seriously, Xiao Weiqing subconsciously straightened his body.

He solemnly said, "Linhai No. 2 Middle School, third year of high school, Xiao Weiqing, not yet Awakened."

"…"

Jiang Peng was a bit speechless. Was that the main point?

Who cared which high school he was from?

However, seeing Xiao Weiqing's serious expression, he found it hard to say anything.

Wei Lan covered her mouth and chuckled, "Brother Qing, my cousin wants you to apply to Luo Jiang Academy."

"Luo Jiang Academy?"

"Is that Luo Jiang Academy, one of the Eight Great Academies?"

"Exactly."

Xiao Weiqing said, "But Luo Jiang Academy isn't recruiting in our county this year, is it?"

"If they weren't recruiting, why would I be here?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Just tell me if you want to come."

"Senior Jiang, I haven't even gone through my Awakening yet. What if I get a 'Body' type?"

Jiang Peng shook his head, "Not very likely. If your simulated Awakening was one 'Art' type, or two different types of Extraordinary Talent, I wouldn't be 100% sure your Extraordinary Awakening would be 'Art' type."

"But all three were 'Art' type, and all were fire, and all reached Rank 3 or above. This can't be an accident."

"If I let you go, I might as well find a block of tofu and smash my head against it."

Finally, Jiang Peng stared intently at Xiao Weiqing, "I need you!"

Hearing this.

Xiao Weiqing got goosebumps and subtly turned his head away, "Senior, why don't you tell me about the academies of Great Xia?"

Jiang Peng nodded, "Alright, after I tell you, you'll find that Luo Jiang Academy is still the most suitable for you."

"Great Xia has 64 academies in total. Our Luo Jiang Academy is one of the eight most prestigious academies. You must have heard of the Eight Great Academies, right?"

Xiao Weiqing nodded. He had heard of them; they were equivalent to the famous domestic universities in his previous life.

"Then where does Luo Jiang Academy Rank?"

Jiang Peng stiffened at the question, "Ahem... because of our poor performance in last year's Exchange Competition, we are temporarily ranked eighth."

Xiao Weiqing: "..."

"But don't worry, last year was just an accident. In previous years, our results were quite good. Our academy used to be consistently in the top three."

"Oh."

"Then what was its Rank the year before last?"

Jiang Peng hesitated and did not answer.

"Hehe... it was seventh the year before last, and eighth the year before that, almost getting kicked out," Wei Lan laughed from the side.

Xiao Weiqing was slightly stunned. Good heavens, it felt like Luo Jiang Academy was just making up the numbers.

"Wei Lan, children shouldn't talk nonsense."

Wei Lan pouted, "That's just how it is, and you won't let others say it."

Jiang Peng explained, "Xiao Weiqing, although that's the truth, in the Southeast region, Luo Jiang Academy is definitely the best choice."

"Listen to me. First, in Linhai County this year, as far as I know, no other academies will come to recruit. Even if they do, they'll just be universities or colleges from nearby cities, all second-rate Supernatural Universities."

"You need to know that your Linhai County is remote, a weak county among weak counties. If you go to other academies, it will be difficult. You'd have to apply in advance, and it's far away, and they might not even send anyone over."

"I don't deny that there are indeed top academies with better resources than our Luo Jiang Academy, but they also tend to be more exclusive, or rather, most top academies are more exclusive."

"Xiao Weiqing, if I didn't tell you these things, you might not even know. If you truly obtain a high-Rank 'Art' type, you'll find that someone will come looking for you, and you'll still end up entering Luo Jiang Academy."

Xiao Weiqing nodded slightly, having gained new knowledge.

If he hadn't happened to meet Jiang Peng and Wei Lan today, he would have known nothing about these things.

"I understand. Thank you, Senior Jiang. If my Extraordinary Talent meets the application requirements, I will apply to Luo Jiang Academy."

"That's great! Then we can be classmates!" Wei Lan said happily from the side.

Jiang Peng nodded, "I guarantee, you won't choose wrong."

"Let's go, we'll head back first."

The three returned to the hotel.

Xiao Weiqing lay on the bed, recalling everything that happened today.

"Jiang Peng and Wei Lan don't seem like bad people. Luo Jiang Academy is also very good. If I can easily meet the requirements for an academy that was once unattainable, there's nothing wrong with that."

"What are you thinking about?"

"You haven't even participated in the Extraordinary Awakening yet, and you're already celebrating prematurely."

"Sleep."

Having experienced so much today, Xiao Weiqing fell asleep shortly after.

The night passed without a word... Ding! Ding~

The alarm rang. His identity wristband was flashing, indicating unread messages.

He opened it and took a look.

It was for all candidates in Linhai County.

This year, four Supernatural Universities are recruiting in Linhai County: Yuntai University, Sanshan University, Dongfeng Academy, and Hongye Academy.

A total of 98 students will be admitted.

And several other comprehensive universities.

"Hmm, four?"

Xiao Weiqing suddenly sat up.

"Why isn't Luo Jiang Academy listed?"

That's not right. Didn't Jiang Peng say yesterday that he represented Luo Jiang Academy to recruit and invited me to apply?

What's going on?

Did Jiang Peng lie to me?

There's no reason for him to.

He opened his identity wristband.

Xiao Weiqing quickly searched for information about Luo Jiang Academy.

"Luo Jiang Academy... found it."

It took a full five minutes before Xiao Weiqing finally relaxed.

"So that's how it is."

No wonder it wasn't on the notice. Luo Jiang Academy, as one of Great Xia's Eight Great Academies, had the right to recruit freely. Even if they came to recruit, only a few people would know.

Simply put, they would only take outstanding students with good Extraordinary Talents. If there weren't any, they wouldn't recruit.

This was common practice for the Eight Great Academies. For a small county like Linhai, they would privately send people to check. If there were students with a Rank 3 'Art' type or Rank 4 Extraordinary Talent, they would reveal their identity and take them away directly.

If not, it would be as if they never came.

No one chosen had ever refused; that was the reality.

Xiao Weiqing finally understood Jiang Peng's meaning. "Alas, it seems fair, but ordinary people don't even have the right to know."

The less information is disclosed, or the less transparent it is, the more room there is for manipulation.

He stopped thinking and got up to wash.

Today was the day of the theoretical exam.

Dong! Dong~

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Brother Qing, Wei Lan."

"Just a moment."

Soon, Xiao Weiqing opened the door.

"Brother Qing, you're also taking the theory exam at Linhai No. 1 High School, right?"

"Yes."

"Alright, are you ready? Let's go together."

Xiao Weiqing nodded, "Okay."

"Oh, Wei Lan, your eyes?"

Xiao Weiqing was surprised; Wei Lan's eyes were different from yesterday, without the red, just like an ordinary person's.

"I'm wearing colored contacts. My cousin said that red was too flashy."

"I see. By the way, where's Senior Jiang?"

Wei Lan said, "Oh, he went to the county."

Xiao Weiqing nodded. As the recruitment director for Luo Jiang Academy, he probably had his own matters to attend to.

The two arrived at Linhai No. 1 High School.

After scanning their identity wristbands and passing through layers of checks, they finally reached the base of several teaching buildings.

"Brother Qing, I'm on the 3rd floor of Building B. How about you?"

"I'm on the 4th floor of Building C."

"Okay, then you have to wait for me after the exam. Don't run off."

Xiao Weiqing smiled and nodded, "Alright, I'll wait for you at the milk tea shop at the entrance after the exam."

"Okay, good luck."

He entered the examination room.

"Group C, seat number 4..."

Xiao Weiqing found his seat, sat down, and waited quietly.

Ding~ Ding~ Ding~

The urgent bell rang.

Two teachers walked in, carrying a small box.

One man and one woman, both with short hair.

"Hello, students. We are members of the Demon Suppressing Army, 7th Legion, 4th Regiment, 23rd Squad."

"I am Zhao Lei, and this is my teammate Li Lan."

"We will be invigilating this exam. We hope everyone does well."

Respect flashed across Xiao Weiqing's face, as it did for the other examinees in the classroom.

The Demon Suppressing Army, Great Xia's most dangerous profession, without exception, always on the front lines of demon suppression.

Zhao Lei opened the box he was holding and distributed the contents to all the examinees one by one.

"Everyone should have received a card by now. Please place the card in the center of your desk."

Everyone complied.

After another three minutes, a bell rang.

"Time's up. Scan your identity wristbands against the card, and you can begin the exam. The exam duration is four hours."

"Remember, no loud talking."