In District 2, the Education Department building blazed with light.
Like a towering pagoda, it stood on a bustling street.
There was only one office on the building's top floor. The rest of the space was filled with recreational facilities and all sorts of potted plants.
Inside the office, a square-faced man was reviewing documents.
Knock, knock, knock. Someone knocked on his office door.
"Come in."
"Minister Xiao, we've received dozens of letters from university principals and research institute deans."
A young staff member walked in, holding a stack of freshly printed papers.
"Dozens? What do they want?"
"They're hoping to start this year's special admission early."
The square-faced man frowned. "Early? How early?"
"As early as today..."
"Today?! Have they lost their minds? Special admission has major implications. How can they just start it whenever they please?!"
The square-faced man tossed down his pen, stood up, and took the dozens of printed emails.
"The Four Glories and Five Revivals are all here. What are they trying to do? ... Why are even the Three Prosperities and Five Virtues Research Institute getting involved?! They answer to the United Government, yet they're joining this nonsense too?!"
"Apparently... it's because of a meeting."
"A meeting? What meeting? A meeting for universities and research institutes organized by the Education Department? Why didn't I know about it?"
"It was held by that boy who got the Vine Heart."
"He held a meeting?"
"It was essentially a meeting to introduce himself."
"What did he say?"
"I only heard about it from a professor at the Heavenly Prosperity Research Institute. At the meeting, he said he would take the Vine Heart to whichever university accepted him through special admission."
"Li Tianming also said he would teach at whichever university accepted the boy through special admission. And