Chapter Ten: The Interviewer's Tea Party

"First University oversees four colleges, several research institutes, and many other related organizations."

"The four colleges are Jiuyou Academy, Alpha Academy, Atlas Academy, and Starry Sky Academy. I've heard the school has been planning to open another college in recent years to accommodate an increasing number of new students, but as far as I know, there hasn't been much progress yet."

"Jiuyou Academy, where you've enrolled, is the oldest academy in the world. A long time ago, there were two or three others that were comparable to Jiuyou Academy, but they've all vanished into history. Perhaps you can still find traces of them in the college cultures of Alpha or Atlas."

"Every year, the four colleges independently set their own exam topics and recruit outstanding students who fit their respective academies. However, their focuses differ – this is the most fundamental distinction between the four colleges. Simply put, Jiuyou Academy selects students through exams, Alpha values innate talent, Atlas only recruits students with firm beliefs, and as for Starry Sky Academy..." Thomas wore a nostalgic smile. "As long as you can fight, you can stay peacefully at Starry Sky Academy."

"What do you mean by 'can fight'?" Zheng Qing, recalling the four doors in that grand hall, couldn't help but feel curious.

"Exactly what it means," Thomas's smile faded. "Starry Sky Academy is the only school among all universities that measures a student's qualification by their combat power."

Concise yet profound.

Zheng Qing swallowed, as if picturing a passionate wizarding high school.

Names like Genji and Serizawa flashed through his mind, and he wondered which persona the serious Thomas would fit.

"The original intention behind establishing First University was to resolve the conflicts and contradictions between major global powers. As things stand, although there's surface-level unity, there has always been, well, some healthy competition between the major academies. Once you're at school, you'll have to get used to it."

"Healthy competition?" Zheng Qing crushed another peanut, chewing on the word along with the nut.

"Let me put it this way," Thomas scratched his smooth chin and added, "In the eyes of a Starry Sky Academy student, Jiuyou Academy students are all bookworms, Alpha's are hypocrites, and Atlas's are religious fanatics. Of course, in the eyes of the other academies, Starry Sky Academy students are all battle-crazed. The differences are as distinct as a well-mixed cocktail, appearing as one but with clearly defined colors.

"I still don't quite understand," Zheng Qing pried open a fig with his fingernail and popped it into his mouth, looking somewhat worried.

"What don't you understand?" Thomas seemed very patient.

"I was just following a master," Zheng Qing said, then quickly corrected himself, feeling it was inappropriate, "I mean, I was just practicing a few minor tricks with a Taoist priest. I can't even subdue a fierce spirit and can only draw simple talismans. Also, why have I never heard of these things before?"

"Did you expect the daily news broadcast to also introduce the latest laws passed by the wizarding world? Don't be ridiculous... Just like the Blood Clan's seclusion treaty, the wizarding world has its own hidden rules," Thomas scoffed unceremoniously.

"Rules."

"Yes, the wizarding world has its own rules. Like the word 'minor tricks' you just used, it violates the rules of wizards." Thomas warned very seriously, "Never say those words to a proper wizard; it's the greatest insult to a wizard. Countless duels have been triggered by those words every year. Even the Wizard Alliance is helpless about it."

"I saw your newspaper mentioned the Wizard Alliance just now," Zheng Qing couldn't help but add.

"The Wizard Alliance is the organization that governs all wizards in the world. You can think of it as the government of wizards. The Wizard Alliance has three major bodies: the Wizard Council, the Lunar Council, and First University."

"First University is a government agency?"

"You can understand it that way. To be precise, First University is a university, and more importantly, the core force of the wizarding world."

"Then why admit me? Won't it be a bit hasty? What if I can't keep up with the studies and get kicked out?" Zheng Qing sounded a bit uneasy. "If I get sent back, will I have to repeat a year to get into other universities?"

"As mentioned earlier, Jiuyou Academy selects students through exams. For students of this academy, grades represent almost everything. Since you achieved a high score in the global unified wizarding entrance examination, you are undoubtedly a qualified new student for First University."

"As for falling behind in your studies," Thomas put down his cup, staring at Zheng Qing with equal curiosity, his emerald green eyes sparkling, "Every year, hundreds of new names and their information are added to the school roster. These are the new students for that year. I can tell you clearly that some of them, like you, have had no prior contact with formal education, and that doesn't prevent them from becoming outstanding students at First University."

"It's about time," before Zheng Qing could ask further questions, Thomas stood up, signaling Zheng Qing to go with him. "It's time to get your things ready. I have to travel thousands of miles tonight to report and fill out forms. Being an interviewer is a tough job."

"There's still an interview?" Zheng Qing, just realizing Thomas's role, asked nervously, "Do I need to prepare anything? Are there any interview materials or anything?"

"From the moment we met, the interview has already begun. For new students of Jiuyou Academy, this interview is just a procedural step. Your exam score has already secured your admission to First University."

"But," Zheng Qing felt his questions were becoming too many, yet he still asked hesitantly, "Do my parents know about all this? How should I explain it to them? My master doesn't allow me to talk randomly."

"No, they don't know," Thomas's tone was gentle. He pushed open the glass door, ushering Zheng Qing out of the tea house, and said as they walked, "They don't even know the nature of the school you're attending. In fact, they only know that First University is a good school guaranteed by the Education Bureau, and you were lucky to get a full scholarship. Your major is, in their eyes, a perfectly normal astronomy major. Of course, we've promised you a continuous bachelor's, master's, and doctoral program, with the only difference being the school's location abroad."

Zheng Qing nodded with satisfaction, his ahoge bobbing along.

"Let's see what you need," after stepping out of the tea house, Thomas picked up Zheng Qing's admission notice and squinted at it. "You know, although the school has a supermarket, it's not a great one... It's more cost-effective to buy many things in the market. Your scholarship is quite limited."

"This paper," after taking out the slightly yellowed A4-sized paper, Thomas's finger merely brushed over it before handing it back to Zheng Qing, "If you've received intermediate education, well, actually, primary education should suffice, and you'll know what to do."

"Don't worry, these things are actually quite simple," as if sensing Zheng Qing's unease, Thomas comforted him, "Although it involves some basics, what you'll learn in university has little relation to your previous foundation, except for some specialized subjects... Seeing as you seem to have some foundation, you should be able to integrate into this world quite easily."

Zheng Qing sighed heavily and took the yellowed paper. Dense, regular script Chinese characters were already displayed on it.

He became even more certain that he would definitely be at the bottom of the class.