Jiang Tian's Unfathomable Connections (Please Keep Reading)

Jiang Tian was the first to react. He reached out, grabbed Yang Sheng by the shoulders, forcefully tore open his clothes, and exposed his entire back.

Principal Tang cried out in alarm. "He really swallowed an entire Jade Marrow Crystal whole!"

Dark red marks covered Yang Sheng's back.

These were burn marks left behind when his blood had overheated last night.

After thoroughly examining him and finding nothing unusual, Jiang Tian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good. They're only minor burns. You brat, do you think a Second-Tier Great Medicine is something you can just swallow whenever you want?!"

His tone was extremely stern.

"Like Thunderclap Stone, Jade Marrow Crystals need to be taken in portions. Every dose brings a burning sensation. You swallowed an entire one in a single go, yet your blood didn't boil. That's truly a miracle."

"Uh..."

Yang Sheng scratched his head awkwardly.

He had originally thought the medicine's effects were too strong. He had not expected his body to be too strong instead.

Or rather, the Martial God Soul was simply too overbearing.

Jiang Tian's face darkened. "From now on, you must report to me before taking any Great Medicine. Only take it after I've guided you."

"Under no circumstances are you to use Great Medicine recklessly on your own. Without proper guidance, taking medicine carelessly can really get you killed."

Hearing Jiang Tian's lecture, Yang Sheng nodded humbly.

"Understood, Teacher Jiang. Next time, I'll definitely use medicine under your guidance."

Only after the two of them had lectured him a while longer did Principal Tang solemnly hand the prize money and Great Medicine to Yang Sheng.

"For this Special Merit Scholarship, Principal Zhou requested that we not hold a ceremony to present it. This is a critical time, after all, and everything must prioritize the Martial Arts Entrance Exam. Principal Zhou also asked me to pass along his wishes. He hopes you can achieve outstanding results in the Martial Arts Entrance Exam."

The fact that Zhou Mohai could say such things proved that he was still willing to support Yang Sheng within certain basic limits.

Of course, the burden weighing on Yang Sheng had not changed: Li Yan, who would be there to stop him during the entrance exam.

Now, Li Yan's hatred for Yang Sheng had deepened by another degree.

If Yang Sheng truly wanted outstanding results in the Martial Arts Entrance Exam, he had to cross the mountain that was Li Yan.

So he still needed to keep growing stronger. Only by constantly becoming stronger could he defeat the enemies before him and those yet to come.

Only then could he truly fulfill his old dream: get into a Martial Arts University and rise above the rest.

"Zhou Mohai having this attitude already isn't easy," Jiang Tian said.

"Old Tang, step outside for a moment. I have something to say to Yang Sheng."

Principal Tang froze, then said softly, "Teacher Jiang, um... isn't this my office?"

"Do you have a problem with that?" Jiang Tian asked.

Principal Tang immediately shut his mouth, quickly left the office, and closed the door behind him.

Only after Principal Tang left did Jiang Tian leisurely ask, "How many companies came looking to sign you last night?"

Yang Sheng had not expected Jiang Tian to know even about that.

"Three in total: Liu Group, Wang Group, and the Newly Established Commerce Guild."

Jiang Tian nodded. "Just as I expected. You didn't agree to any of them, did you?"

Yang Sheng shook his head. "No. I think the Martial Arts Entrance Exam should be my priority for now. I want to wait until after the exam before making any plans."

"I knew it. With your personality, you wouldn't sell your freedom so easily. You did the right thing."

"Teacher Jiang, do you mean it would be best if I didn't sign with those companies?"

"For ordinary martial artists, signing with a company is an excellent deal. Their potential is basically fixed, so a contract not only secures the rest of their lives, but also gives them more support to reach their limits."

"But you're different. Do you remember why I applied for the Special Merit Scholarship for you?"

"My family isn't well-off. Thanks to your help, Teacher, I was able to receive this scholarship."

Jiang Tian raised a finger and shook it.

"No! You didn't receive this scholarship because I applied for it. You received it because it was yours by right—because you had to receive it. You're an extremely talented student. Your potential doesn't end here. Like those legendary predecessors, you should become a Stellar Martial Artist."

At the words "Stellar Martial Artist," Yang Sheng's pupils constricted slightly.

Stellar Martial Artists was a broad term encompassing Astral Martial Artists and Origin-Star Martial Artists.

Only by entering the Starship Federation and venturing into outer space could one become a Stellar Martial Artist.

Becoming a Stellar Martial Artist was also the dream of countless martial artists.

But the overwhelming majority ultimately lacked Stellar Affinity and could advance no further than the peak of the Subtlety Realm.

Although the peak of the Subtlety Realm was already the ceiling for Earth's martial artists, it still had not freed them from the state of ordinary mortals.

Stellar Martial Artists, however, were different. Yang Sheng had learned about them more than once in his textbooks.

A martial artist needed Stellar Affinity to sense the Astral Phase and become an Astral Martial Artist.

"If you want to become a Stellar Martial Artist, you must enter one of the nation's top Martial Arts Universities. Those places are the cradles that produce Stellar Martial Artists."

Jiang Tian picked up a pen from the desk, his thoughts drifting far away.

"As one of the core member nations of the Starship Federation, Hua Nation has seven top Martial Arts Universities qualified to produce Stellar Martial Artists: China Martial Arts University, Kyoto Martial Arts University, Jiaotong University, Yue University, Zhen University, Jinling Martial Arts University, and Ninggu Martial Arts University."

"At those schools, you'll find higher-level cultivation methods and more outstanding teachers to guide you in awakening Stellar Affinity."

Yang Sheng suddenly caught a key point.

"Awaken Stellar Affinity?"

"Isn't Stellar Affinity something you're born with?"

"For some martial artists, Stellar Affinity accompanies them from birth. But those are extremely rare cases. After they're born, such children are taken to the Starship Federation to be raised. They skip the Body Tempering Realm altogether and begin directly as Astral Martial Artists."

"Skipping the Body Tempering Realm..."

Yang Sheng's eyelids twitched at those words.

What was a ceiling to countless people did not even count as a floor to those with absolute talent.

"The Starship Federation needs more Stellar Martial Artists. To that end, they created certain methods that allow one to sense the Astral Phase, helping martial artists cultivate."

"But that doesn't mean every martial artist can sense the Astral Phase through those methods. Only students with comparatively exceptional talent can fully grasp them. That was the original foundation for establishing the Martial Arts Entrance Exam system."

"It was meant to provide those seven Martial Arts Universities with enough talented students. As time passed, more Martial Arts Universities emerged, but the other Martial Arts Universities cannot produce Stellar Martial Artists."

Yang Sheng had never heard any of this before. Hearing it today gave him quite a shock.

"Teacher, don't worry. I definitely won't let down your expectations. I'll work hard and get into a top Martial Arts University."

"Bullshit. I only told you all that to explain the background. If that were all I wanted to say, there'd have been no need to send Old Tang away."

Yang Sheng froze. "Then what exactly did you want to tell me?"

Jiang Tian stood up. "I have an old acquaintance at China Martial Arts University. I've already asked him to give you a Special Admission Assessment. Make sure you perform well."

Yang Sheng's eyes went wide.

His teacher actually had connections like that?!