Choice

"Now then, if there are any questions, please raise your hand and speak."

After homeroom teacher He finished speaking, Zhao Zihan, the class study representative, raised her hand and asked, "Teacher He, the admission standard for the special training class used to be third-stage Tempering Essence. Why has the standard suddenly been raised this year?"

After hearing Zhao Zihan's question, Teacher He asked the other students, "I'm afraid the study representative's question is also what all of you want to ask, isn't it?"

The moment he said this, a wave of complaints broke out.

"Yeah! I didn't even enjoy my summer vacation properly, all for this chance to get into the martial arts exam special training class. Then on the first day of school, they tell me the standard's been raised."

"Quiet."

Teacher He tapped the blackboard, and the students quieted down.

"I know many of you are complaining, but the school has its own considerations. The reason for this change is that after National Day ends next month, the province will hold an exchange league among the major high schools."

The students of Senior Year Class 3 were hearing this name for the first time, and they all asked, "Provincial High School Exchange League? We've never heard of it before."

" The Provincial High School Exchange League is organized by the Governor's Office. When the time comes, there will be..."

Teacher He briefly explained how the major prestigious universities, in response to national policy, had issued special recruitment quotas to every province.

Hearing that good results could earn them the chance to enter first-tier universities—or even the three top universities—without taking the exam, the entire class erupted.

"If I can get into the special training class, who the hell needs to study?"

"Once, an opportunity to attend Red University lay before me, and I did not cherish it. The rest, classmates, please fill in."

"Quiet!"

Seeing that the time was about right, Teacher He tapped the blackboard again and quieted the students.

"What I'm about to say is only a suggestion. How you choose is entirely up to you."

"The format of this Provincial High School Exchange League is as follows: first, there will be preliminary rounds divided by city. The strongest ten will be selected to represent their respective cities in the provincial finals. Only by entering the finals will you have a chance to attend a first-tier university. But before that, you must go through the brutal city selection matches."

"Take Golden City as an example. There are a total of fifty-three high schools across its districts, counties, and towns. If every school forms a special training class, then Lanzhou City alone will have 1,060 participants. Of course, quite a few schools will choose to forgo the competition or send only a small number of participants because they fail to meet the requirements. Even calculating with just 800 people, your chance of entering the provincial finals is only one in eighty."

"Fighting people your own age is several degrees more dangerous than the martial arts exam secret realm. Failing to qualify is only a small matter. But if you are injured during the competition, it will further affect your martial arts progress, and you certainly won't achieve good results in the martial arts exam."

"So, for students who have only just entered fourth-stage Tempering Essence, my suggestion is that rather than participate in the Provincial High School Exchange League, you should focus on the martial arts exam. From the start of school today until the martial arts exam in June next year, you still have a full ten months."

"As long as you work hard, there is a very great chance of reaching fifth-stage Tempering Essence."

"Besides, this year's strongest batch has already been taken away through special recruitment, while the universities have also answered the nation's call and expanded their martial arts exam admission quotas. In general, they are around 10% to 15% higher than in previous years."

"This year, your chances of getting into a first-tier university have increased greatly. There's no need to go to such lengths over special recruitment."

After giving his advice, Teacher He sat down in the chair beside the podium and formally announced, "Anyone who meets the requirements and wishes to participate in the league may come sign up with me now."

Homeroom teacher He's words sparked an intense discussion in the classroom.

Because Cool Province lay in the northwest, its educational resources lagged behind those of traditional populous provinces like Yu Province and Ji Province.

Therefore, its admission requirements were generally lower than those of other regions.

In previous years, forget fifth-stage Tempering Essence—even fourth-stage students had a chance to test into first-tier universities.

What Teacher He said did make sense. Those who had reached fourth-stage Tempering Essence truly had no need to risk participating in the league.

Class monitor Wu Yiming and study representative Zhao Zihan, both qualified for special recruitment, were therefore deeply conflicted.

After a summer of grueling cultivation, the two of them were expected to reach fifth-stage Tempering Essence this month. Even if they did not participate in the league, they could still achieve good results in the martial arts exam.

Watching the students discuss among themselves, Teacher He silently estimated how many people might come forward to sign up.

He had said all this under the principal's instructions.

For martial artists, struggle was like rowing against the current: if you did not advance, you retreated.

If they shrank back because of a few immediate difficulties, how would they win in future contests on the martial path and battles in secret realms?

What he had not said was that if they achieved a certain ranking in this high school league, they would not only receive extra points in the martial arts exam, but also earn points.

The special training class would not disband after the high school league ended. It would continue all the way until the martial arts exam was over.

Sometimes, an opportunity came only once. Once missed, it was gone.

It was better to teach them this principle now than wait until a true opportunity slipped away in the future.

After the first round of selections, Teacher He would tell them the truth and conduct a second round of selection.

Chen Wu, who had long since made his decision, saw through the calculation behind this and knew it was time for him to step forward and help certain classmates recognize their true hearts.

He rose directly from his seat and strode toward Teacher He.

Teacher He had not expected someone to make a decision so quickly. Nor did he recognize the completely transformed Chen Wu, so he asked in confusion, "Student, you are...?"

"Teacher, he's Chen Wu."

Wu Yiming fulfilled his duties as class monitor.

Upon hearing that it was Chen Wu, Teacher He first gave him a surprised look. "So it's Student Chen. What is it?"

"Teacher He, I want to participate in the league."

His resounding voice instantly silenced the previously noisy classroom.

Then, beneath the astonished gazes of the entire class, true qi appeared in Chen Wu's palm.

Teacher He was the first to react, exclaiming in shock, "External manifestation of true qi—that's something only those above fourth-stage Tempering Essence can do. Chen Wu, you've reached fourth-stage Tempering Essence!"

"Mm."

Chen Wu nodded calmly. "Teacher, I should be able to enter the special training class now, right?"

Though Teacher He was shocked by Chen Wu's progress, he still put on a smile. "Of course you can."

As he spoke, he took out his phone, recorded Chen Wu's name, and sent it to the principal.

"Student Chen Wu, your information has been registered. Please return to your seat and wait. During the break after morning self-study ends, someone will come take you to the special training class."

"Mm, thank you, Teacher."

After a simple word of thanks, Chen Wu returned to his seat, his expression unchanged, as though he had merely done something insignificant.

After him, Wu Yiming and Zhao Zihan gritted their teeth and rose in turn, walking over to Teacher He to register.

Zhang Qian followed close behind the three of them and registered as well.

Before morning self-study ended, a total of four people from Class 3 had registered for the special training class.

During the break, a tall, thin young man with a somewhat stern appearance entered the classroom.