Genius Is Merely the Threshold for Meeting Me

"Jiang Wanyu, elemental-type ability, tier—Open Source Realm Second Tier," the teacher in charge of the test announced loudly, his voice echoing through the gymnasium.

"Damn, Open Source. Is she another family scion?"

"I thought it was only talent I couldn't match. Turns out there's background too." Everyone sighed. The students in the stands wailed, their eyes filled with envy and a trace of jealousy.

The admissions teachers were also very pleased and extended olive branches to Jiang Wanyu. Eager smiles covered their faces as they hoped to recruit the young woman to their respective academies.

Just as everyone was still immersed in amazement at Jiang Wanyu's talent and background, the Lingxiao Academy admissions teacher's voice came through the loudspeaker and reached the stands. "Jiang Wanyu, total written score on the college entrance exam: 656."

"Total written score of 656? Add her Guixu points, and wouldn't that put her just shy of 700!? A good background, great talent, and excellent grades too. How can all three land on one person at once—" a student said, eyes wide with disbelief.

Another student put on an exaggerated show of weeping. "Boo-hoo, she's good-looking too. Heavens, how can she bear so much all by herself? I'm willing to help shoulder some of it."

Jiang Wanyu stood below the stage, listening to the discussion around her, her expression as calm as ever.

The Lingxiao Academy teacher spoke again. "Student Jiang Wanyu, would you be willing to join our Lingxiao Academy?"

As one of the five great academies, Lingxiao Academy's teaching resources were beyond question.

Naturally, Jiang Wanyu did not hesitate and agreed at once.

As the tests continued, a few dazzling talents occasionally appeared, but with Jiang Wanyu's example before them, they seemed rather ordinary.

That state of affairs lasted until another person stepped onto the stage for the test.

"Mo Chengyuan, mental-type ability, ability tier..." The testing teacher stared at the tier display in surprise, his mouth open for a long time without another word.

The students below the stage began whispering to one another, guessing what could have surprised the teacher so much.

The admissions teachers also looked up in puzzlement. Under everyone's gaze, the testing teacher continued, "Ability tier, Condensation Realm First Tier."

His words struck like a thunderclap out of a clear sky. The admissions teachers all sprang to their feet in excitement. Their burning gazes were fixed on Mo Chengyuan, who stood on the arena stage, their eyes full of excitement and delight. At that moment, they did not even look at his written scores and began competing for him outright.

Mo Chengyuan swept his gaze around the stands above, finally fixing it on Jiang Wanyu. He picked up the loudspeaker, turned his thumb down, and smiled provocatively. "Heh, a genius? See that? Now this is what you call a genius. Forgive me for being blunt, but every student here is trash."

The stands erupted at once. The students' faces filled with anger, and they hurled curses at him.

"That guy's way too arrogant!"

"So what if his ability tier is a little higher? What's so great about that?"

Yet despite their anger, they did not dare take any actual action. After all, the strength Mo Chengyuan had displayed really did make them wary.

"Silence!" an admissions teacher shouted, and the commotion immediately died down.

They did not blame Mo Chengyuan for his inappropriate words. Instead, they scolded the students in the stands.

"What right do you have to shout and yell? On the strength of failing to break through to the first tier even after more than ten days?"

Only when the gymnasium had fallen silent did they continue. "Next, He Piaojian."

The Dawnlight Academy admissions teacher raised his head slightly, a puzzled look on his face. "Who?"

A teacher beside him noticed his uncertainty and asked, "What's wrong?"

The Dawnlight Academy teacher shook his head. "Nothing. I just suddenly heard a familiar name, but it's probably someone with the same name."

"Sorry, I'm late." He Piaojian emerged from the entrance with his hands in his pockets.

He did not take the usual path. Rather than walk down the main aisle, he wove directly between the teachers and onto the arena stage.

"I just heard someone call himself a genius?" He Piaojian placed his hand on the tier-testing stone. Instantly, brilliant light shone in all directions, and even the students in the stands could clearly see the tier revealed by the phenomenon.

"Fu... Fusion Realm! Fuck, is he even a college entrance examinee? Why's he taking the test? What eighteen-year-old is in the Fusion Realm?!"

"What's going on today? Did all the genius freaks come out for a team-building event together?"

"I thought the gap between the Condensation Realm and the Fusion Realm was a threshold that was hard to cross. Mom, tell me, what's with this eighteen-year-old Fusion Realm cultivator—"

The minimum age for entering Guixu was sixteen. If he was an examinee this year, then he had only had two years. How could he possibly be in the Fusion Realm? Even popping pills and using cheats shouldn't be this outrageous.

None of the students could make sense of it, their hearts full of shock and confusion.

On the arena stage, He Piaojian raised his head and addressed Mo Chengyuan, who had provoked everyone earlier. "I've met many geniuses in my life, and they all called me a genius."

Arrogant. Far too arrogant. Yet even with him being that arrogant, there was not a single person cursing him on the spot.

"Student He Piaojian, which school would you like to join?" The admissions teachers' expressions had turned ingratiating.

What a joke. None of them had reached the Fusion Realm themselves. If they recruited a Fusion Realm student, wouldn't that give them tremendous face? They wouldn't have to worry about future academy competitions.

He Piaojian scratched his head. "I don't know. Boss didn't say anything either. I just came to go through the motions, and I don't know what to pick."

Hearing that, the teachers immediately said there was still time and told He Piaojian to give it some thought.

After several more rounds of testing, things finally became a little more normal, and no more geniuses as astonishing as the previous ones appeared.

When Fan Daoyi's name was announced in the gymnasium, the students grew restless again.

They thought the name sounded familiar, and after talking with the people beside them, they got their answer.

It was that wonderful person who had slain the final boss single-handedly and saved them, allowing them to escape Guixu!

"He killed the boss by himself, so his tier probably won't be low, right?"

"Please don't let him be another Fusion Realm. My poor little heart can't take it."

"He's pretty handsome, but isn't his complexion a bit unhealthily pale?"

The students chattered among themselves, their gazes all focused on Fan Daoyi, who was about to go up for his test.

"Fan Daoyi, spatial-type ability, tier—Initial Illumination Realm First Tier."

The moment those words came out, the gymnasium fell dead silent. Even the admissions teachers fell quiet.

A faint voice asked doubtfully, "What did he... say?"

"Initial Illumination Realm First Tier, and he killed the final boss?"

The disbelief in the voices immediately gave rise to doubts.

"It can't be true..."

More and more voices questioned it. They began looking around and whispering to one another.

Fan Daoyi was not interested in their discussion. He yawned and jumped off the arena stage.

"Don't you think that's incredibly awesome?" a voice called out from among the crowd, and more voices like it rose above the others.

"Initial Illumination Realm First Tier, and he killed the final boss! He was the only one in the instance at the time, so how could he have faked it? That's so damn cool!"

"No matter what, he saved us. How can you doubt him? Killing a boss at the Initial Illumination Realm—Dao God, fucking awesome!"

With that shout, the gymnasium instantly erupted.

"Dao God, fucking awesome—!"