Tan Mingyang, the Freshman Competition!

Modu Metahuman University had four cafeterias. Xu Jingming went to the one closest to the dormitories.

As soon as he reached the cafeteria entrance, he caught waves of meaty fragrance.

After entering, he discovered that aside from ordinary food, the cafeteria even offered dishes made from ferocious beast meat.

Although ferocious beasts were thick-skinned, tough-fleshed, and naturally violent, every part of them could be considered valuable.

Their resilient hides were not only excellent materials for making combat suits.

Even when made into leather bags, they became luxury goods fiercely sought after by wealthy people.

Ferocious beast bones, when ground into powder, were also an excellent medicinal ingredient.

As for ferocious beast flesh and blood, consuming them over a long period could likewise strengthen one's physique.

It was precisely because of this that many Metahumans formed Adventurer Teams and risked entering the Wilderness Area to hunt ferocious beasts.

They would then bring the beasts' corpses back to the city and sell them for high prices.

In fact, the ferocious beasts Xu Jingming had killed during the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination could also have been sold for a high price.

But those had been property of the Military Region, so naturally he could not take them away.

Of course, the dishes made from ferocious beast flesh in this cafeteria were far more expensive than ordinary dishes.

A serving of ordinary food only cost 0.001 credits, or 10 Great Xia Coins.

But ferocious beast dishes cost at least 0.1 credits, or 1,000 Great Xia Coins!

Xu Jingming even saw ferocious beast dishes priced at 10 credits, worth as much as 100,000 Great Xia Coins!

"Good lord, if you don't have enough credits, you can't even afford to eat."

Xu Jingming shook his head, then chose a ferocious beast dish costing 0.1 credits to try something new.

It had to be said that the school's chefs were highly skilled.

The tough ferocious beast flesh had been cooked until it melted in his mouth, leaving behind a lingering fragrance.

More than ten minutes later, after filling his stomach, Xu Jingming reluctantly got up and left the cafeteria.

Besides providing dormitories for students, Modu Metahuman University also provided accommodation for its instructors.

Naturally, they were villas as well.

And they were even more luxurious than the student dormitories.

After all, teachers qualified to teach at Modu Metahuman University were at least Sixth-Order Metahumans.

Even in the outside world, they would be remarkable figures.

Yang Zhentian, the dean of the Weapon Academy, lived in Villa No. 23 of the Teacher Villa District.

After leaving the cafeteria, Xu Jingming spent another twenty-odd minutes arriving at the Teacher Villa District.

Compared with the student dormitory area, the environment here was even better.

The villa complex was backed by mountains, with a sizable artificial lake in its midst.

In addition, scenes such as little bridges over flowing water, ornamental rockeries, and waterfalls could be seen everywhere.

They actually placed a whole mountain inside the school as a backdrop. Can you believe that? Only elite universities could afford to be this extravagant.

Muttering to himself, Xu Jingming easily found Villa No. 23 based on the map at the entrance to the Teacher Villa District.

It was a villa steeped in the style of ancient Great Xia Country, its outer walls painted the same color as wooden structures.

Light bluish-green wind chimes hung beneath the eaves, making it look both rustic and elegant.

Xu Jingming walked straight up to the villa's front door. Just as he was about to ring the bell, a smiling voice sounded behind him.

"Are you here to take Teacher Yang as your master?"

Xu Jingming turned around and saw a young man in white standing five meters behind and to his left.

The young man had delicate features, short hair, and a smile on his face.

Unlike an ordinary person's smile, his seemed somewhat uninhibited and cynical.

Xu Jingming frowned slightly at his words but did not reply.

He didn't even know this person. How did he know what Xu Jingming was here for?

The young man did not mind. Seeing that Xu Jingming remained unmoved, he continued with a smile, "The people who usually come looking for Teacher Yang are either his disciples or people who want to take him as their master. I've met most of Teacher Yang's students, and you're not among them. That means you can only be here to take him as your master. Of course, I'm here for the same reason..."

Before the young man could finish, he suddenly noticed something unusual about Xu Jingming's aura. "An Awakened?!"

But he quickly recovered, raising a brow. "A specially recruited student?"

"Yes."

Xu Jingming did not hide it.

In fact, even among specially recruited students, he was probably the only one who was merely at the Awakened level.

Moreover, college application submissions for the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination had only just begun, and Modu Metahuman University had not even announced its admission list yet.

He was not surprised that the young man had guessed he was a specially recruited student.

"In previous years, specially recruited students were either First-Order High-Rank or First-Order Mid-Rank. I didn't expect there to be an Awakened specially recruited student this year."

The young man clicked his tongue in amazement, but he did not look down on Xu Jingming because of it.

After all, anyone who could become a specially recruited student of Modu Metahuman University while still at the Awakened level was undoubtedly strong.

And his potential was even more terrifying!

"And you are, Senior?"

Though the other man was somewhat overly familiar, he did not seem malicious, so Xu Jingming took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

"Weapon Academy, second year... no, I should be a third-year student now. Third-year student, Tan Mingyang." Tan Mingyang introduced himself, then asked, "And you?"

"Xu Jingming. First-year freshman. I just registered today."

"You already knew to seek a master on the day you registered, Junior Xu. You move fast. Most freshmen only learn to seek a master after the Freshman Competition."

"The Freshman Competition?"

Xu Jingming frowned at that. Zhang Chaoyang did not seem to have mentioned this earlier.

"The Freshman Competition is a tradition at Modu Metahuman University. It is usually held three or four days after freshmen finish registering. At that time, most of the school's teachers will come watch. Freshmen who perform well in the competition will be fought over by the various academies, and mentors will personally step forward to accept them as disciples."

Seeing that Xu Jingming did not know, Tan Mingyang briefly explained.

"Of course, specially recruited students like you really don't need to wait until the Freshman Competition to seek a master."

Tan Mingyang did not deny Xu Jingming's approach.

However, what he did not say was that even for specially recruited students, the odds of being accepted by a dean-level mentor right after enrollment were as low as winning a jackpot lottery prize.

Most likely, Xu Jingming would only be making a wasted trip.

But specially recruited students were often provincial or city champions and geniuses, with pride in their hearts.

Even if Tan Mingyang told him that, Xu Jingming probably would not listen, so he did not say it aloud.

"Thank you for explaining, Senior."

Xu Jingming thanked him, then asked curiously, "Senior Tan, are you also here to ask Teacher Yang to take you as his master?"

"Yes." Tan Mingyang nodded, his tone rueful. "Over the past half year, I've come several times, but I've never managed to meet the standard for becoming his disciple. I'm nearly ready to give up, but I still can't accept it. Forget it, enough of that. Let's go in together."

Tan Mingyang sighed, then pressed the doorbell outside the villa.

Before long, the villa door opened, and a butler-like middle-aged man appeared.

"Welcome, both of you. Teacher Yang is already waiting inside. Please follow me."

The butler's smile was as warm as a spring breeze.

Xu Jingming, who was here for the first time, did not sense anything unusual, but Tan Mingyang beside him was somewhat flattered.

This was not his first visit. The butler had always been polite before, but never this enthusiastic.

And judging by the butler's words, Teacher Yang was actually waiting for them inside?

How was that possible?!

Seventh-Order Metahumans were not idle people with nothing to do. On the contrary, they were all extremely busy.

Previously, even when Tan Mingyang came to visit, he often had to wait half an hour or even an hour in the villa before seeing Yang Zhentian himself.

And now, the busy dean of the Weapon Academy was waiting for them in advance?

What was going on?

Filled with doubts, Tan Mingyang entered the villa together with Xu Jingming.