The Disaster

At these words, Minke and the others were dumbfounded, completely at a loss for words.

Chen Tong's face also turned extremely grim, and he said unwillingly,

"Then it should be fine if we take the Outer Academy exam, right?"

"That's right. The Outer Academy is easier to get into, with a thousand spots available. But you should know that last year, only 101 people from the entire Thirteenth District got into the Outer Academy. Of those, 72 were students from First Intermediate Academy · Haiheng, while only three students from our academy made it. And among those 101 people who got in, quite a few had used connections. So think about it—how many got in entirely through their own abilities?"

Zhou Wei explained with a smile.

Hearing this, Su Ming's brows furrowed slightly. He had never expected the difficulty to be this high.

"To tell you the truth, the three people from our academy who got in last year were all Special Training Students—in other words, people like us. The Imperial Court Academy was never something people like you could get into. You're only qualified to fight for a chance at the other trash academies."

Zhang Tai mocked them without the slightest restraint.

"How could this be? They clearly gave our district so many spots. If they only admitted this many people, would the Imperial Court Military Academy be able to fill all its places?"

Zhao Ran and the others found it hard to believe.

Zhou Wei looked at Zhao Ran and replied with a beaming smile,

"You don't need to worry about that. They'll definitely fill all the spots. You should know that we're the Thirteenth District, and every one of the twelve districts ahead of us is stronger. Besides, the students from the Three Upper Cities enjoy resources that we can't even touch. They're on an entirely different level. If the academy still couldn't fill its spots, there are also students from the External Planets. Their conditions may be even worse, but out of tens of millions of people, there will always be one or two geniuses, right? With their population base, that's still a considerable number."

"Hmph. So stop dreaming. You're a bunch of idiots who don't know how high the sky is or how deep the earth is. Work hard and see whether you can get into one of the other trash academies. Afterward, you'll be assigned to the Mecha Reserve Force and slowly endure a few years there. Maybe you'll get the chance to become a full member and touch a real mecha."

Zhang Tai sneered.

"Stop talking. Let's go."

Lin Chuyu spoke calmly to Zhang Tai and the others.

Seeing that Lin Chuyu had spoken, Zhang Tai and Zhou Wei said no more and left with her.

At this moment, Minke and the others were all devastated. They looked like eggplants beaten down by frost, completely wilted.

Some of the girls were so crushed that they squatted down, burying their heads in their folded arms.

Su Ming felt a headache coming on when he saw this scene. They were all finished this time, thoroughly drenched in cold water and chilled to the bone.

Meanwhile, after Tang Yan finished speaking with Chen Yi, he entered the training ground with a slightly heavy heart. The matter of the spots kept replaying in his mind.

The so-called spots actually referred to the number of students who got into the Outer Academy of the Imperial Court Military Academy. As long as a teacher guided a certain number of students into the academy, they could apply for a transfer to a school in another city.

Of course, the quality of the school they could transfer to depended on the number of spots.

The minimum requirement for a transfer was ten spots. As for Teacher Chen Yi, he needed to gather thirty spots so that he could leap straight to a school within the Three Upper Cities.

He had worked desperately toward this ideal for more than twenty years.

"Sigh!"

Tang Yan let out a sigh. He also needed thirty spots, but after all these years, he had only managed to complete three.

Of course, there was a shortcut. As long as he cultivated a student who got into the Inner Academy, he could be promoted unconditionally.

However, Tang Yan quickly adjusted his dejected mood and walked toward the training area.

Yet when Tang Yan returned to the training area, he froze on the spot. The students who should have been training enthusiastically were all squatting or sitting on the ground, each one listless.

The entire area was filled with negative energy—depression and dejection.

Tang Yan seemed to see all the wheat seedlings he had painstakingly cultivated withering. He hurriedly asked,

"What happened? Why aren't you training?"

"What's the use of training once? We still have no hope."

"Forget it. Stop wasting your effort."

One student after another spoke dejectedly.

"Hey, Minke, what exactly happened?"

Tang Yan grew anxious as well and immediately looked at Minke.

Minke raised his head and asked Tang Yan with a complicated expression,

"Teacher, is what they said true? No one from the Thirteenth District has gotten into the Inner Academy of the Imperial Court Academy for five years, and only Special Training Students have any hope of getting into the Outer Academy? Do we really have no hope at all?"

Su Ming and the others also raised their heads and looked at Tang Yan.

Hearing this, Tang Yan immediately understood what had happened and cursed Zhang Tai and the others inwardly.

He had invested so much, painstakingly fertilizing his seedlings, only for them to be on the verge of collapse now.

No, he couldn't let this continue. Tang Yan encouraged them,

"What they said is true, but you have to believe in yourselves. As an old saying goes, 'The outcome is not yet decided; you and I may both be dark horses!'"

"Really?"

Minke and the others looked at Tang Yan expectantly.

"Of course it's true. You have to believe in miracles!"

Tang Yan spoke with absolute conviction.

"Miracles? It's over. We're done for."

After hearing Tang Yan's words, Minke and the others became even more dispirited. Wasn't a miracle basically the same as winning the grand prize? In an instant, negative energy radiated from every one of them.

The corner of Su Ming's mouth twitched involuntarily. Teacher Tang was truly good at comforting people.

Tang Yan's heart jolted, and he immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing. He hurriedly tried to encourage them.

"Don't lose heart! I was only speaking figuratively. There's still hope!"

Unfortunately, it had no effect. Everyone still looked listless.

Looking at this scene, Tang Yan gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and said,

"Don't lose heart. Where there's a will, there's a way. Today's training ends here. I'll treat all of you to barbecue!"

"Really?"

The students, who had been devastated moments ago, all stood up from the ground and asked excitedly.

"Of course it's true. Let's go!"

Tang Yan felt the pain in his wallet, but he could only spend lavishly. They were all his students, and he was counting on them for those spots.

"Great!"

Minke and the others answered happily.

Half an hour later.

Near Mient Junior Academy · Niu Niu Barbecue Restaurant.

The originally deserted restaurant was now bustling. The not-so-large establishment was packed full with fifty students.

A somewhat plump middle-aged woman urged the waitstaff along with a broad smile.

"Quick, quick, quick! Bring all the meat out!"

Business was difficult these days, so it was rare to have so many customers come in at once.

Sizzle~

As grease seeped out, the entire dining hall filled with the rich, charred aroma of meat.

"Delicious!"

"It's so delicious! Food really does taste different when someone else is paying."

Everyone chatted and laughed as they ate their barbecue. Although the meat had all been quickly raised on feed, it still tasted excellent when grilled.

Su Ming stared at the meat, roasted until golden and crisp, swallowing repeatedly. His reason told him that he couldn't eat it, but his body's instincts were being completely honest.

It left him terribly conflicted, and sitting there was pure torture.