Su Zhen's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly cupped his hands. “So it is Director Qin from Kyoto Academy. My apologies for the lack of a proper welcome.”
Qin Ruolan, the Admissions Director of Kyoto Ability Academy, was a Tier 5, Level 5 ice ability user. Her name was renowned throughout the education circles of the entire Dragon Nation.
Her appearance here meant that Kyoto Academy was interested in Su Qingyue.
And Kyoto Academy was the foremost of the four top academies in Dragon Nation.
“There is no need for such formalities, Head of the Su family.” Qin Ruolan nodded slightly, her gaze falling upon the white figure in the center of the arena, a trace of admiration flashing in her eyes.
“Your daughter's talent is indeed rare. S-rank ice, Tier 1, Level 3—if I remember correctly, it has only been ten days since her awakening?”
“Indeed.” Su Zhen tried his best to keep his tone calm. “Qingyue is a hardworking child.”
“Tier 1, Level 3 in ten days is not something that can be summarized by the word ‘hardworking’ alone.” Qin Ruolan offered a rare smile.
“The gates of Kyoto Academy are open to your daughter at any time.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the surrounding family heads shifted.
Kyoto Academy! That was the sacred land that every young ability user in the entire Dragon Nation dreamed of!
Su Zhen was ecstatic. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, a lazy voice cut in from the side.
“Oh, Director Qin is moving quite fast.”
The speaker was a man who looked to be in his early thirties, wearing a rumpled gray jacket, with messy hair and an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth.
He leaned back in his seat, radiating an aura of “I'm lazy, don't bother me.”
But the moment Qin Ruolan saw him, her brow furrowed.
“Gu Cheng, why are you here too?”
“Magic City Academy isn't owned by your family; why can't I come? Our Magic City Academy is also quite interested in an S-rank ice user.”
The man named Gu Cheng took the cigarette out of his mouth and gestured toward the center of the arena with his chin.
Qin Ruolan sneered. “Didn't your Magic City Academy say you weren't accepting ice users?”
“Rules are dead, but people are flexible.” Gu Cheng grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
“Besides, our Magic City's hot pot is unparalleled. Even ice ability users say it's great after eating it.”
“...What on earth are you talking about?”
“Recruitment promotion.”
Qin Ruolan took a deep breath, deciding not to speak further with this frivolous fellow.
However, just as she turned her head, she saw a burly bald man in a white training uniform walking over with large strides, followed by a refined young man wearing glasses.
The bald man's voice was like a resonant bell. “So this is the Donghai Arena? Not bad, not bad—it's bigger than I imagined!”
Qin Ruolan's eyelid twitched.
People from the National Martial Arts Academy had arrived as well.
The bald man was named Lei Meng, a physical technique instructor at the National Martial Arts Academy and a Tier 5, Level 8 fortification system ability user. His muscles looked as if they were cast from iron.
The bespectacled youth behind him was a theory teacher from the National Martial Arts Academy named Chen Mo, who was said to have an absurdly high IQ.
“Lei Meng, why is your National Martial Arts Academy joining the fray?” Qin Ruolan's tone was unfriendly. “Don't you specifically recruit fortification and combat types?”
“Who said that?” Lei Meng glared. “Our National Martial Arts Academy believes in teaching students according to their aptitude! What's wrong with the ice system? Ice users can train in physical techniques too! Ice fists hurt even more when you punch people!”
“...”
Qin Ruolan felt her blood pressure rising.
Just then, another voice joined in.
“You all arrived quite early.”
The speaker was a woman in her thirties wearing a deep green military-style uniform. Her short hair looked capable, and her back was as straight as a spear.
Someone from the Shencity Ability Military Academy.
Shencity Academy was different from the other three—it was directly affiliated with the military, training combat-oriented ability users who entered military service immediately upon graduation.
In terms of overall ranking, it might not match Kyoto or Magic City, but in terms of actual combat capability, the students of Shencity Academy were definitely the strongest among the four top academies.
The woman in uniform was named Ye Lin, a tactical instructor at Shencity Academy and a Tier 5, Level 6 wind ability user. It was said she had participated in several demon cave clearing campaigns and was a ruthless character who had fought her way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
The representatives of the four top academies were all present.
The atmosphere on the viewing stand instantly became subtle.
Qin Ruolan said with a cold face, “Shencity Academy is also interested in the ice system? Don't you prefer combat-type abilities?”
Ye Lin glanced at her indifferently. “Why can't the ice system be combat-oriented? Director Qin, you are an ice user yourself; such prejudice should not come from your mouth.”
Qin Ruolan was momentarily choked for words.
Gu Cheng laughed gleefully from the side. “Fight! Fight!”
“Shut up,” the three female voices rang out simultaneously.
Gu Cheng tactfully raised his hands, but the smile on his face could not be suppressed.
Lei Meng scratched his bald head and said bluntly, “If you ask me, there's no point in us arguing here. It's up to the girl herself to decide where she wants to go. Since the four of us are here, let's just see who has the better pitch.”
“Better pitch?” Qin Ruolan sneered. “What pitch does your National Martial Arts Academy have? Teaching a young girl to swing her fists?”
“What's wrong with swinging fists!” Lei Meng was unconvinced. “I'm telling you, physical techniques are the kingly way! No matter how strong your ability is, if your body can't keep up, it's all for nothing. What use are those fancy theory classes of yours at Kyoto Academy?”
“Theory guides practice,” Qin Ruolan said coldly. “Without the support of a systematic theoretical framework, even the strongest talent is just brute force.”
“Enough, enough,” Gu Cheng interjected. “Stop arguing, you two. If you ask me, our Magic City Academy is the most well-rounded. We have theory, we have combat, and most importantly—”
“Hot pot?” Ye Lin added expressionlessly.
“Yes, hot pot.” Gu Cheng nodded solemnly.
Ye Lin was silent for a second, then turned to Qin Ruolan. “I suddenly understand why you didn't want to talk to him just now.”
“Right?” Qin Ruolan reached a rare consensus with Ye Lin.
The teachers from the four academies traded barbs, none of them willing to back down.
The local big shots of Donghai City watched in stunned silence—these were all major figures from the four top academies; why did they sound like they were arguing in a wet market?
Su Zhen stood to the side, the smile on his face nearly frozen.
He never dreamed that his daughter's appeal would reach such a level.
To have the four top academies extend olive branches simultaneously was a first in the history of Donghai City.
But at the same time, he felt a faint sense of unease.
Everyone's gaze was focused on Su Qingyue.
Everyone's expectations were weighed upon her.
And the person who was truly standing in the center of the arena—
Su Zhen's gaze involuntarily shifted to the other side of the arena.
There, a black-haired youth was unhurriedly walking into the field.
No one noticed him.
Because everyone's sight had been stolen by the white figure in the center of the arena.
Rate on N.U.
