Cangqiong Academy

With Zhu Ping'an's return, the college entrance exam finally came to a close.

Given what had happened inside the secret realm, it came as no surprise that Zhu Ping'an was named this year's Top Scholar of Green City.

As for the others, since the Secret Realm of Star Gazing's power had been exhausted when they eliminated Zhenghao Wujun, the Star Light vanished as well. A supplementary arena match was held to determine the remaining rankings below Zhu Ping'an.

In the end, Ye Qingxian took first place, and Leng Tianjiao took second.

Ye Qingxian's ranking actually matched the original storyline—in the original, Leng Tianjiao was the Top Scholar, with Ye Qingxian in second.

But after he became Top Scholar, Ye Qingxian managed to defeat Leng Tianjiao instead, yet still ended up in second. The power of the plot was truly terrifying.

After Mr. Cheng returned to Kyoto and reported the situation, the higher-ups of the Great Xia Ancient Kingdom publicly commended Zhu Ping'an, praising his actions in saving over a hundred examinees and awarding him a substantial cash prize.

After this battle, Zhu Ping'an's name became a household word in Green City. Countless advertisers sought him out, wanting the newly minted Top Scholar to endorse their products.

Top-tier Martial Arts Universities across the country all extended olive branches to him. As long as Zhu Ping'an nodded, he could choose any Martial Arts University in the Great Xia Ancient Kingdom.

The admissions teachers had been camped outside his door for a full day and night, offering extremely generous terms. Zhu Ping'an was so intimidated by them that he didn't dare step out, sneaking down the drainpipe instead.

He didn't know much about the universities in this world, so he wanted to hear the opinions of the Yin and Yang Elders. They were old acquaintances of Mr. Cheng and clearly understood this world better.

Just as Zhu Ping'an climbed down the drainpipe, a middle-aged man in square-rimmed glasses jumped out from the nearby greenery. A faint scent of grass clung to him, a clear sign he'd been hiding there for a long time.

"Hahaha! Zhu Ping'an, my friend! We truly are fated!" the Glasses Man laughed heartily.

"Who are you?" Zhu Ping'an was sure he'd never seen this guy before.

"Me? I'm an admissions teacher from Cangqiong Academy! I saw all those people blocking your door, some even pitching tents, and I figured you'd take an unconventional route. So I waited for you in the bushes all day!" The Glasses Man pushed up his spectacles, looking immensely pleased with himself.

Zhu Ping'an: "..."

This guy—he's insane!

Zhu Ping'an turned to leave, but the Glasses Man quickly grabbed him, words spilling out at lightning speed.

"Don't rush off, Ping'an! Out of all those admissions teachers, only I ran into you—that's fate! Wonderful, isn't it? Hear me out on what Cangqiong Academy is offering!"

"First, tuition and dorm fees are waived, obviously. While you're at Cangqiong, your scholarship will be at the highest tier!"

"Second, during your time here, I guarantee every teacher will teach you everything they know, and the Cangqiong Academy library will be open to you unconditionally!"

"Finally, please!"

The Glasses Man spoke with heartfelt sincerity. He really needed this Top Scholar from Green City.

Cangqiong Academy hadn't recruited a single city's Top Scholar in five consecutive years. Five years! No one knew how he, as an admissions teacher, had survived that time!

"I'm begging you too—let me go! The main force is coming!" Zhu Ping'an said, on the verge of tears, pointing behind the Glasses Man.

There, admissions teachers from various Martial Arts Academies were charging toward him like zombies from Train to Busan.

"Zhu Ping'an! Look at me! I'm from Zixiao Academy! If you come to our school, I guarantee better terms than anyone else!"

"Don't listen to his crap! Zixiao Academy is stuck in a mountain valley within a mountain valley—eating a bowl of spicy hotpot costs two hundred in cab fare! Come to my Dahai Martial Institute—we're in the city center!"

"What good is the city center? The most important thing in a university is the faculty! Ping'an, the faculty at Xiongya Academy is top-tier in the Great Xia Ancient Kingdom!"

"Ping'an, come to Jingshi Academy! Our male-to-female ratio is one to nine!"

Having staked out for a day and night just to catch a glimpse of Zhu Ping'an, how could these admissions teachers not be frantic? They shouted their academies' advantages before they even reached him.

Seeing this, Zhu Ping'an's face paled. Before he could speak, he was swarmed by the admissions teachers.

After a long while, Zhu Ping'an finally broke free from the fervent crowd. He didn't dare delay any longer and hurried to the Martial Artist Association.

"Oh? Little Ping'an, did you get robbed?" Old Yin, dozing by the entrance, couldn't help teasing when he saw Zhu Ping'an's disheveled state.

"Old Yin, please don't make fun of me. Those admissions teachers are terrifying," Zhu Ping'an said with a wry smile.

"Normal. You're Green City's Top Scholar. Ever since the Mutant Beasts and Demons ran rampant, many of our Great Xia's cities have been destroyed by Beast Tides, leaving fewer than a hundred and fifty. That means only a hundred and fifty Top Scholars each year. Compared to the tens of millions of examinees, you're truly one in ten million," Old Yin said with a chuckle.

"Old Yin, I came to ask you and Old Yang which academy I should choose," Zhu Ping'an said, nodding.

"Originally, your best choice would definitely be Great Xia Academy. It's located in the heart of Kyoto, the safest place in all of Great Xia. But..."

Old Yang frowned slightly.

"You've offended Cheng Fengzhong. That guy is petty and vindictive, and he happens to be a teacher at Great Xia Academy. If you go there, you'll likely stir up trouble."

That Mr. Cheng again?

Zhu Ping'an frowned. That short man—first coveting his inheritance, then threatening his family.

Once his strength was up, he'd definitely make that little man pay.

"Excluding Great Xia Academy, Little Ping'an's best choice should be Xiongya Academy, which is second only to Great Xia," Old Yang offered his opinion.

"No! Xiongya Academy isn't the optimal choice!" Old Yin's eyes gleamed with sharp insight. "Little Ping'an, do you trust us two old men?"

"Of course I do! Even though you two refused to let me perform the formal apprenticeship ceremony, in my heart, you've long been no different from my masters!" Zhu Ping'an nodded firmly.

"Good. Since you trust us, I suggest you go to Cangqiong Academy!"