Tradition

The information about the other world had greatly shaken Wang Tianyu.

So martial artists received special treatment not merely because they were powerful.

Because of what martial artists sacrificed, those special privileges were more like recognition and rewards for them.

All the freshmen present were digesting the information Zhao Zongyang had revealed.

"High mortality rates, invasions from the other world..."

Each one was more shocking than the last.

Zhao Zongyang also knew that the freshmen would not be able to accept it all at once.

However, declaring the responsibilities of martial artists to freshmen upon enrollment was also one of the school's traditions.

After briefly explaining humanity's crisis to the freshmen, Zhao Zongyang moved on to a somewhat lighter topic.

Just as Zhu Sirun had said, there was a fixed process for freshmen enrolling.

"Our Sichuan First Martial University has three divisions: the Combat Division, the Elixir Manufacturing Division, and the Equipment Forging Division."

"Students of the Combat Division specialize in combat techniques. They are the main force resisting invasions from the other world."

"The elixir and equipment divisions mainly teach students how to produce fine elixirs and equipment. Elixirs and equipment are indispensable to martial artists, so these two divisions are equally important."

"Since they handle logistics, the Elixir Manufacturing Division and Equipment Forging Division are relatively safer. They do not need to go directly onto the battlefield to kill enemies."

"The Combat Division handles combat, while the other two handle logistics. Each performs its own duty. And because the elixir and equipment divisions are technical divisions, their students usually do not have to fight for their lives."

Wang Tianyu knew the school's three divisions quite well.

Zhou Jing had told Wang Tianyu about them when he first enrolled.

"Wang Tianyu, which division are you planning to enter?"

Zhu Sirun had not asked Wang Tianyu about this before.

Now that it was almost time to choose a division, Zhu Sirun looked at Wang Tianyu, curious about which one he would choose.

"I'm going to the Combat Division!"

Wang Tianyu had decided long ago to join the Combat Division.

"Smart!"

Zhu Sirun nodded at Wang Tianyu, signaling that he had made a very correct decision.

Clearly, Zhu Sirun himself also planned to enter the Combat Division.

The reasoning was simple. Once a martial artist's personal strength increased, there were many ways to obtain things like elixirs and equipment.

The logic was simple, and quite a few people understood it.

As for Zhao Zongyang's words about not needing to go to the battlefield or fight to the death—

Hearing that, Zhu Sirun shook his head.

How could any egg remain intact when the nest had been overturned?

Zhu Sirun knew very well how powerful the other world was. If one did not want to be at others' mercy, the only thing one could rely on was personal strength.

What if the other world broke through the defensive line humanity had established someday?

Then these so-called technical talents would not even have the ability to flee for their lives.

"Before you make your choices, let me first introduce the deans of the three major divisions."

There were four people on the podium: three men and one woman. The one who had been speaking all along was Principal Zhao Zongyang.

The remaining three were the deans of the three major divisions.

Upon hearing Zhao Zongyang's words, the three division deans straightened their postures.

"This is Sun Hengqiang, dean of the Combat Division."

After Zhao Zongyang finished speaking, the man to his left stepped forward.

The man wore a buzz cut, and his stern expression gave him an imposing air without anger.

After stepping forward, Sun Hengqiang nodded to the freshmen before stepping back.

"This is Huang Qinglan, dean of the Elixir Manufacturing Division."

The dean of the Elixir Manufacturing Division was somewhat different. She was the only woman on the podium.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Huang Qinglan!"

Compared to Sun Hengqiang's aloofness, Huang Qinglan appeared much more approachable.

Huang Qinglan had an exceptionally distinguished bearing. Smiling warmly, she greeted the freshmen.

"This is Wang Yanguo, dean of the Equipment Forging Division."

After Huang Qinglan returned to the line, Zhao Zongyang began introducing the dean of the Equipment Forging Division.

Wang Yanguo was a dark-skinned man, with skin as black as coal and stubble on his chin like steel needles.

Combined with his loose-fitting clothes, Wang Yanguo looked like a blacksmith.

"Hello, students. I'm Wang Yanguo. Choosing our Equipment Forging Division definitely would not be a wrong decision."

Wang Yanguo gave his own division a subtle advertisement.

Strictly speaking, what Wang Yanguo did was against the rules.

However, Zhao Zongyang knew the current situation of the Equipment Forging Division.

The Equipment Forging Division had the fewest students, and Wang Yanguo was under considerable pressure.

Therefore, Zhao Zongyang did not stop Wang Yanguo's harmless little gesture.

"Alright, now it is time for you to make your choices."

"Freshmen who want to enter the Equipment Forging Division, stand on my right."

"Freshmen who want to enter the Elixir Manufacturing Division, stand on my left."

"Those choosing the Combat Division, just stay where you are."

After briefly explaining the three major divisions, Zhao Zongyang directly had the freshmen begin choosing.

Every division needed to take in fresh blood, but the school's tradition was to let freshmen choose their own division.

The school would not forcibly assign freshmen to any particular division.

Compared with the deans of the Elixir Manufacturing and Equipment Forging Divisions, Sun Hengqiang, the dean of the Combat Division, appeared much calmer.

The pursuit of strength was human nature, and with the threat of the outside environment added in, most freshmen would choose the Combat Division.

Just like in previous years, the first choice of this year's freshmen was also the Combat Division.

Wang Tianyu took a rough look. A little over two hundred people had chosen the Elixir Manufacturing Division.

Compared to the Equipment Forging Division, the Elixir Manufacturing Division was already doing quite well.

At this moment, only around ten people stood with the Equipment Forging Division.

After all, the Elixir Manufacturing Division sounded relatively prestigious, and many freshmen who did not enjoy fighting chose it.

Moreover, the dean of the Elixir Manufacturing Division was a woman, which also led more girls to favor it.

But the Equipment Forging Division was in a miserable state. Equipment forging sounded just like being an ironworker.

Adding to that, the dean himself looked like a blacksmith.

Thus, practically no freshmen were willing to choose the Equipment Forging Division.

"Old Wang, you've got it rough. Last year, there were around fifty people in the first wave, weren't there?"

Sun Hengqiang spoke to Wang Yanguo, the dean of the Equipment Forging Division.

Sun Hengqiang's expression was serious when he said this. He was not mocking Wang Yanguo.

As the dean of the Combat Division, Sun Hengqiang naturally wanted as many freshmen as possible in his division.

The more freshmen there were, the more school resources they could obtain.

Moreover, the Combat Division was the main force resisting invasions from the other world. When facing creatures from the other world, martial artists suffered heavy casualties.

Therefore, Sun Hengqiang greatly needed fresh blood to join them.

But Sun Hengqiang also knew that relying on the Combat Division alone was not enough to resist invasions from the other world.

Just as Principal Zhao Zongyang had said, only when the three major divisions each performed their own duties could humanity's strength become greater.

The Elixir Manufacturing Division produced elixirs, allowing martial artists to cultivate faster.

When martial artists were injured, they also needed elixirs to recover quickly.

The importance of elixirs to martial artists went without saying. It could be said that not a single martial artist could do without the aid of elixirs.

But did that mean the Equipment Forging Division was unimportant?

Of course not. Students of the Equipment Forging Division could create sharper weapons and sturdier armor.

Equipment could provide an enormous boost to a martial artist's strength.

When martial artists of the same realm fought, the side with better equipment would certainly hold the advantage.

After all, a person's energy was limited. For one person to master everything was basically impossible.

Sun Hengqiang hoped that more people would choose his Combat Division, but he also did not want to see the other two major divisions left unattended.

"I'm used to it. Our Equipment Forging Division really isn't very appealing."

Wang Yanguo stroked his beard, wearing the expression of someone who had already accepted it.

At that moment, the number of people choosing the Equipment Forging Division changed again.

Perhaps because they saw that hardly anyone had chosen the division—

Several freshmen who were not particularly resolute quietly slipped back into the Combat Division's ranks.

"Only nine people left!"

Wang Yanguo counted those who had chosen the Equipment Forging Division. At present, only nine people were still standing there.

Seeing this, Wang Yanguo's face darkened several shades further.

Though he claimed not to care, Wang Yanguo was still deeply concerned about the freshmen's choices.

Wang Yanguo shook his head and let out a silent sigh.

However, Wang Yanguo still held onto a trace of hope, because next came one of the martial university's "traditions."