Special Admission Assessment

"I'd heard rumors before, but I never expected Special Admission Assessments to actually exist," Yang Sheng said.

The news he had learned today already surpassed everything he had known over the past three years.

He had never imagined that after reaching Great Completion of Bright Force, there would be so many complicated matters to consider.

For martial artists like them, Bright Force was a rigid threshold. Only by crossing it could one see the people and events beyond the door.

Jiang Tian continued, "Ordinary students need to enter China Martial Arts University and Kyoto Martial Arts University through the Martial Arts Entrance Exam. But China Martial Arts University and Kyoto Martial Arts University each admit three thousand students every year, and nearly half of them do not enter through the standard Martial Arts Entrance Exam route."

"The Special Admission Assessment is one such route. You need someone to recommend you. After China Martial Arts University or Kyoto Martial Arts University evaluates you, they'll arrange for someone to assess you. If you pass, they may lower the admission requirements as appropriate. If your performance is exceptionally outstanding, you might even be directly admitted through special recruitment."

"Besides the Special Admission Assessment, there are various special competitions and tests. All of them are paths to enter China Martial Arts University."

Hearing this, Yang Sheng's breathing gradually quickened.

Before, he had only hoped to attend a Martial Arts University. Even a vocational martial arts college would have been enough for him to learn something useful.

Even if he could not go to the Starship Federation in the future, returning to his hometown would still qualify him for work with a higher entry threshold.

That would allow him to change his family's current poverty.

But now, he realized that as his strength rapidly grew, the upper limit of what he could achieve was also slowly rising.

Now, he actually had a chance to reach for the threshold of China Martial Arts University.

China Martial Arts University!

A prestigious institution countless students dreamed of attending.

It was a supreme school that only the best students from every school had a chance to attempt.

Now, a crack in its door had opened for him. How could Yang Sheng not be thrilled?

Yet that excitement lasted only a moment before Yang Sheng gradually calmed down.

He suddenly thought of a question.

"Teacher, I remember that Wang Chao, the class monitor in our class, reached Great Completion of Bright Force back in his first year. Did you recommend a master of his level for this Special Admission Assessment as well?"

Jiang Tian turned his back and looked out the window.

"I did apply for Wang Chao once, but I don't know the exact contents of the assessment. Wang Chao failed it."

Yang Sheng was startled.

Even a genius student like Wang Chao had failed the Special Admission Assessment. It seemed that although his teacher carried enough weight to invite people from China Martial Arts University to conduct an assessment, their requirements were extremely strict.

Jiang Tian seemed to have seen through Yang Sheng's thoughts.

"Are you thinking that if even Wang Chao failed, what makes you qualified to take this assessment?"

Yang Sheng nodded.

Jiang Tian's expression abruptly turned stern.

"Because my evaluation of you is that your potential exceeds Wang Chao's."

The instant he said that, there was suddenly a loud clatter outside the office door.

Principal Tang stumbled in, leaning against the door.

Jiang Tian snorted.

"You've been eavesdropping for half the day. Stop hiding and come in."

Principal Tang coughed awkwardly, turned to look both ways down the hallway, then carefully shut the door.

"Although I haven't met Class Monitor Wang Chao, from what the other students say, his potential can be called an absolute, once-in-years talent at Bay City Martial Arts High School," Yang Sheng said.

Jiang Tian said, "If Wang Chao were truly that talented, he wouldn't need to enter closed-door seclusion."

At that moment, Principal Tang beside them sighed.

"Yang Sheng, you don't understand. Wang Chao is indeed extremely powerful, but during the last Special Admission Assessment Teacher Jiang arranged for him, Wang Chao was eliminated by the people from China Martial Arts University before he had even shown much of anything. That's why he entered seclusion."

Yang Sheng had not expected the people from China Martial Arts University to act in such an overbearing and direct manner.

But that also meant that anyone capable of entering China Martial Arts University was an extraordinary genius, one in ten thousand.

But if even Wang Chao could not pass, how could he, whose current strength was still below Wang Chao's, possibly pass China Martial Arts University's assessment?

Doubt rose in Yang Sheng's heart.

Jiang Tian said, "Don't overthink it. China Martial Arts University's Special Admission Assessment targets talent, not current strength."

"Why do you think I chose you instead of Li Yan, whose strength is so much greater than yours? It's because I value this potential of yours. What you need to do now is train seriously and prepare yourself. The people from China Martial Arts University will probably arrive today or tomorrow."

Yang Sheng said, "So soon?"

Jiang Tian said, "That's how they've always done things."

It seemed time was short and the task pressing. Yang Sheng felt another layer of pressure settle onto his heart.

But without pressure, there would be no motivation.

As long as that pressure did not completely crush him, it could continue providing him with an endless source of drive.

"I understand, Teacher. I'll take my leave."

After saying that, Yang Sheng turned and left Principal Tang's office.

Only after Yang Sheng left did Principal Tang say with some concern, "Teacher Jiang, could this matter deal Yang Sheng a blow?"

"After all, China Martial Arts University's special admission standards are too high. Even Wang Chao failed. Although you say Yang Sheng has greater potential than Wang Chao, if he fails the special admission, then at such a critical time, it may disturb his martial heart. That could affect the Martial Arts Entrance Exam, and in the end, it will still affect you."

"Though he showed his edge in the school test, he is still a newly forged blade. I'm afraid the pressure you're putting on him is too great for him to bear."

Jiang Tian said, "You can doubt his strength, but do not doubt his mentality."

"Think about yesterday. If you were Yang Sheng, ranked tenth, with the nine people ahead of you either dead or surrendering, could you still hold fast to your heart and step into the arena?"

Principal Tang froze at those words. He truly had never considered it.

"It was precisely after yesterday's battle that I was finally at ease sending him to the Special Admission Assessment. Perhaps there will be a good result."

Yang Sheng left the administrative building, but he did not return to the training room. It was eight in the morning, the time Skysea Boxing Gym opened.

By the time he arrived at the gym, a long line had already formed at the entrance.

Although Skysea Boxing Gym had recently made quite a name for itself in Bay City, he had never seen such a queue there before.

Puzzled, Yang Sheng walked to the back of the line and asked a boy standing ahead of him, "Classmate, do you know what everyone is lining up for?"

The boy in front of Yang Sheng turned around and sized him up. "You still don't know? Yesterday at Bay City Martial Arts High School, a Lower Registry student broke through on the spot and crushed Li Ya with absolute strength. Do you know who Li Ya is? He's the rising star hailed as the star among stars of Bay City Martial Arts High School."

"I heard that guy's name is Yang Sheng. Skysea Boxing Gym put up an advertisement last night saying that Yang Sheng would be offering one-on-one guidance today, so we all came to take a look."

Yang Sheng suddenly remembered that the owner of Skysea Boxing Gym seemed to have mentioned this last night. He had not expected the man to be so efficient that he could spread the news that very night.

He patted the boy in front of him on the shoulder again. "How much does this one-on-one session cost?"

The boy suddenly spoke with a sense of superiority. "You don't understand, do you? The Skysea boss promised that these one-on-one sessions are only for Upper Registry children. It costs one thousand per session, with core guidance included."

Yang Sheng was stunned when he heard the price.

"So expensive! You're willing to pay that?"

The boy looked Yang Sheng over again. "You're Lower Registry, aren't you? What's a country bumpkin like you asking about martial arts training for? Lower Registry people won't even be able to practice martial arts in the future, got it? And you think this price is expensive? What a narrow-minded guy."

Yang Sheng stood where he was, staring from afar at Skysea Boxing Gym's sign.

No wonder the Skysea boss could make his business succeed. So this is how money can be made!