“Three stones of strength.”
“Fail. Next.”
“Eh?” Stunned, Zhuang Xun, who had thought he passed, set down the stone lock with difficulty. Confused, he asked, “In previous years, wasn't lifting a three-stone lock enough to enter the Martial Academy?”
Behind the desk, the tall and robust instructor shook his head. “You said it yourself—that was previous years. The threshold has been raised this year. You need four stones of strength.”
...Unbelievable, even in another world they raise the admission cutoff every year.
Zhuang Xun was speechless.
“Alright.” He turned to leave.
Seeing that Zhuang Xun did not make a scene and showed no sign of disappointment—as if failing was merely a trivial matter—the instructor found himself slightly intrigued.
After all, around Zechuan City, failing to enter the Wanxing Martial Academy meant one's prospects of becoming a martial artist were essentially zero...
Unless they came from an illustrious family.
But looking at Zhuang Xun's attire, he did not seem to possess much wealth.
“Failing to enter the Martial Academy, are you not disappointed at all?”
Zhuang Xun nodded. “I am. Are you going to make an exception and admit me?”
So he just has a good attitude, the instructor thought.
The instructor chuckled. “I'm just an ordinary instructor. I don't have that kind of authority.
“The academy's admissions last for two days. Go back, buy some precious meat, and get a good night's rest. Who knows, maybe you'll wake up tomorrow and be able to lift the four-stone lock to pass the entrance exam...”
Midway through, he suddenly realized how unrealistic his words were.
Precious meat capable of increasing someone's strength by a hundred pounds overnight would cost at least a hundred taels of silver. If this youth had that kind of wealth, how could he possibly fail the entrance exam?
The instructor sighed and offered some encouragement. “Maintain this mindset. Even if you don't enter the Martial Academy, I believe you will still achieve great things in the future.”
“Thank you.” Zhuang Xun cupped his hands in respect, turned to step out of the testing line, and took a deep breath of the cold air.
Then, he heard someone arguing behind him.
“Give me another chance! Just one more chance! My family sold our fields just to support my martial arts training! They're all relying on me! I... I cannot fail!”
“Shoo, shoo! Don't waste everyone's time here. If you can't lift it, you can't lift it. What's the point of giving you another chance?”
“Don't touch me! Don't touch me! Last year, you only had to lift a three-stone lock to get in... It's you! You're targeting me on purpose!”
“Drag him away! Don't let him make a scene here!”
A heavy rain ruined my dream of becoming a martial artist... Watching the youth being dragged away, Zhuang Xun felt a twinge of shared sympathy.
“The Wanxing Martial Academy only recruits fifteen-year-old disciples each year. If you don't get in this year, you won't have another chance.
“In Zechuan City, the entrance exam is the only way for ordinary people to change their destiny. Its importance far exceeds the college entrance exam of my past life. After all, calling martial artists and ordinary people different species wouldn't be an exaggeration.
“Many families even sold their fields just to support their children's martial arts training.
“If they fail, the pressure must be absolutely explosive.
“Fortunately, I'm different. I have two bodies. Even if this clone failed, I still have another fully-talented clone to rely on. If I still manage to fail with that, I'll really have to go to a tavern and give a passionate speech.”
Zhuang Xun smiled faintly as he looked at the light screen visible only to him.
—Character Creation Panel—
[Character 1: Yan Pingsheng]
[Age: 15]
[Realm: Three Stones of Strength]
[Aptitude: 50 (Average Aptitude)]
[Comprehension: 50 (Average Comprehension)]
[Charm: 50 (Average)]
————
[Character 2: Bai Yujing]
[Age: 15]
[Realm: Nine Stones of Strength]
[Aptitude: 100 (Supreme Aptitude)]
[Comprehension: 100 (Supreme Comprehension)]
[Charm: 100 (Celestial Grace)]
————
[Character 3 (To Be Created)]
【Current Points: 2】
Two years ago, during a boring winter break at home, Zhuang Xun had randomly downloaded a shady mobile game. To his surprise, right after creating his character, his vision went black. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in the body of the character he had just created, having transmigrated into a martial arts world with a setting similar to ancient society.
Fortunately, the game's character creation panel had transmigrated with him.
The panel could convert Zhuang Xun's flesh and blood into points, which could then be used to create characters and modify their talent values.
Aside from failing to adjust at the very beginning and starving for a few days, things had gone well.
Afterward, relying on the character creation panel, Zhuang Xun thrived in Zechuan City and accumulated a significant amount of wealth. Finally, a week before the entrance exam, he spent all his wealth and fused all his clones except for Yan Pingsheng to convert them into points, creating his greatest masterpiece.
—Bai Yujing.
...
In an empty corner of the martial arts field, a jade-like youth who looked like a descended immortal stood quietly—doing radio gymnastics.
After warming up, Zhuang Xun did not immediately control Bai Yujing to head out. Instead, he closed his eyes to get into character.
After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes. His once-clear gaze turned indifferent and detached, and his entire being exuded a cold, aloof, and otherworldly aura.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Wanxing Martial Academy, I have returned... Maintaining his poise, Zhuang Xun slowly walked out.
“Which family's young master is that? He is incredibly handsome.”
“Is he also a disciple of this year's Wanxing Martial Academy? I really hope we get assigned to the same courtyard.”
“Miss, Miss! Look at that young master! He looks just like an immortal descended from the heavens!”
“You silly girl! Don't shout so loudly!”
I spent two whole years designing this face. Of course it's handsome... Listening to the whispers around him, Zhuang Xun felt secretly smug.
The young girl waiting ahead of him looked at Bai Yujing with bashful shyness. “Y-Young Master, please go ahead of me...”
“Yes, yes, please go first!”
Others in the queue chimed in, voluntarily stepping aside to both sides to clear a path for Bai Yujing.
They're treating me like a VIP... Zhuang Xun nodded slightly to the crowd, calmly uttered a word of thanks, and stepped forward.
“Next... Uh?!”
Behind the desk, the instructor, who had previously maintained a strictly businesslike attitude, was completely stunned by his first glimpse of Bai Yujing.
This appearance was clearly extraordinary!
Was the Wanxing Martial Academy about to produce a true dragon this time?
Realizing his loss of composure, the instructor coughed lightly to cover it up and continued, “...Ahem, next. What is your name?”
Zhuang Xun handed over his token.
The instructor glanced at it and said, “Bai Yujing. Your age matches. Let's begin. As long as you lift the four-stone lock, you will pass the exam and enter our Wanxing Martial Academy.”
You didn't say nearly as much to me earlier... Zhuang Xun grumbled inwardly as he walked toward the row of stone locks on the left.
This time, he bypassed the three-stone lock that had stopped him when he was in Yan Pingsheng's body, walking all the way to the very last and largest stone lock.
It weighed a full nine stones, stood half a person tall, and was equivalent to about one thousand and eighty catties!
This single action caused everyone present, including the instructor, to gasp.
Was he actually going to lift that stone lock?
It was simply unbelievable!
Yet, no one voiced any doubt. They only held their breath in anticipation, because Bai Yujing's appearance practically had the words “I am a genius” written all over him.
Rate on N.U.
