Cangqiong Academy

With Zhu Ping'an and the others back, the College Entrance Examination finally came to an end.

Given what had happened in 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, when they had defeated Zhenghao Wujun, the power of the Secret Realm of Star Gazing had run dry, and Star Light had vanished with it. In the end, they held an additional test on the arena to decide who would claim the places below Zhu Ping'an.

Ye Qingxian ultimately took first place, while Leng Tianjiao came in second.

Ye Qingxian's ranking was the same as in the original storyline. There, Leng Tianjiao had been named Top Scholar, with Ye Qingxian in second place.

Yet after he became Top Scholar, Ye Qingxian had managed to defeat Leng Tianjiao, only to end up in second place all the same. The power of the plot really was terrifying.

After Mr. Cheng returned to Kyoto and reported what had happened, the leadership of the Ancient Great Xia Kingdom publicly commended Zhu Ping'an, praising him for saving over a hundred examinees and awarding him a hefty bonus.

After this battle, Zhu Ping'an's name became a household one throughout Green City. Countless advertisers sought him out, hoping the newly crowned Top Scholar would endorse their products.

The country's top Martial Arts Universities all extended offers to him as well. As long as Zhu Ping'an agreed, he could take his pick of any Martial Arts University in the Ancient Great Xia Kingdom.

The admissions teachers had been camped outside his home for a full day and night. They offered incredibly generous terms, and Zhu Ping'an was so frightened that he didn't dare leave through the front door. He could only sneak down the drainpipe.

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

Just as Zhu Ping'an climbed down the drainpipe, a middle-aged man in square-framed glasses jumped out of the greenery beside him. A faint scent of fresh grass clung to him; evidently, he'd been hiding in the bushes for quite some time.

"Hahahaha! Student Zhu Ping'an! It seems we were destined to meet!" the Glasses Man roared with laughter.

"Who are you?" Zhu Ping'an was certain he'd never met this man before.

"Me? I'm an admissions teacher from Cangqiong Academy! I saw all those people crowding around your front door, and some even pitching tents there. I figured you'd take an unconventional route out, so I've been waiting in these bushes for a whole day!" The Glasses Man pushed up his glasses, looking terribly pleased with himself.

Zhu Ping'an: "..."

This guy was a lunatic!

Zhu Ping'an turned to leave, but the Glasses Man hurriedly grabbed him, firing off words at breakneck speed.

"Don't rush off, Ping'an! Out of all those admissions teachers, I'm the only one who found you. That's fate! Isn't it wonderful? Just hear me out about Cangqiong Academy's offer!"

"First of all, tuition and lodging are completely free—that goes without saying. While you're at Cangqiong Academy, you'll receive the highest-tier scholarship!"

"Second, while you're studying here, I guarantee every teacher will share everything they know with you. And Cangqiong Academy's library will be open to you without restriction!"

"Lastly, I'm begging you!"

The Glasses Man spoke with such heartfelt sincerity. He had no choice; he really needed Zhu Ping'an, this year's Top Scholar.

Cangqiong Academy hadn't recruited a single city's Top Scholar for five years straight. Five years! Nobody knew what those five years had been like for him as an admissions teacher!

"I'm begging you too. Let go of me! The whole crowd's coming!" Zhu Ping'an pointed behind the Glasses Man, close to tears.

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

"Student Zhu Ping'an! Look at me! I'm an admissions teacher from Zixiao Academy! If you come to our school, I guarantee our offer will be better than everyone else's!"

"Don't listen to his crap! Zixiao Academy is in the middle of nowhere, and even a taxi ride to get a bowl of malatang costs two hundred! Come to Dahai Martial Institute—we're right downtown!"

"What good is being downtown? The most important thing about a university is its faculty! Ping'an, Xiongya Academy's faculty is unquestionably among the best in the Ancient Great Xia Kingdom!"

"Ping'an, come to Jingshi Academy! The ratio of men to women at Jingshi Academy is one to nine!"

The admissions teachers had waited day and night just to catch a glimpse of Zhu Ping'an. How could they not be frantic now? Before they even reached him, they were already touting their schools' advantages.

Seeing this, Zhu Ping'an went pale. Before he could get a word in, the admissions teachers swallowed him up.

It took quite a while before Zhu Ping'an finally escaped the overly enthusiastic admissions teachers. He wasted no more time and hurried to the Martial Artist Association.

"Hey, Little Ping'an, did someone rob you?" Old Yin, dozing at the entrance, couldn't resist teasing him when he saw how disheveled Zhu Ping'an looked.

"Old Yin, please don't make fun of me. Those admissions teachers were terrifying." Zhu Ping'an gave a bitter smile.

"That's only natural. You're Green City's Top Scholar. Ever since Mutant Beasts and demons ran rampant, Beast Tides have wiped out many of the cities in my Great Xia. Fewer than a hundred and fifty remain. That means there are only a hundred and fifty Top Scholars each year. Compared with the tens of millions of examinees, you're truly one in ten million." Old Yin chuckled.

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

"Normally, the Great Xia Academy would undoubtedly be your best choice. It's in the heart of Kyoto, surely the safest place in all of Great Xia. But..."

Old Yang furrowed his brow slightly.

"You offended Cheng Fengzhong. That man is petty and vindictive, and he happens to be a teacher at Great Xia Academy. If you go to Great Xia, you'll probably run into trouble."

That Mr. Cheng again?

Zhu Ping'an frowned. That little dwarf had first coveted his legacy, then threatened him with his family.

Once he grew strong enough, he certainly wouldn't let that little dwarf off easy.

"With Great Xia Academy ruled out, your best choice should be Xiongya Academy, which ranks just below it," Old Yang advised.

"No! Xiongya Academy isn't the best choice!" A sharp glint flashed in Old Yin's eyes. "Little Ping'an, do you trust the two of us old men?"

"Of course! Though you two wouldn't let me formally bow to you as my masters, in my heart, you've long been no different from my masters!" Zhu Ping'an nodded.

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