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"You're too kind." Xu Jintang smiled back.

The five-second countdown ended, and all the examinees were teleported out of the simulated battlefield.

Everyone's point rankings were locked at the same time.

Inside the simulation room, Zhuang Silin and the other four military academy teachers wore rather peculiar expressions.

Finally, Shi Lekang spoke with a smile. "That result really was unexpected. Still, I certainly didn't expect Xu Jintang to suddenly pull out so many Inscription Talismans at the end."

"Isn't she an examinee from a lower star region? She was actually willing to spend over a hundred thousand star coins entirely on level-one inscriptions?"

"Is it possible that she's an inscription master herself?"

The military academy teacher who suggested this regretted it as soon as the words left their mouth.

Everyone knew that Xu Jintang's ability was a domain-type support ability.

But awakening a star-attribute ability was a prerequisite for becoming an inscription master.

Another military academy teacher speculated, "My guess is that these were trump cards Xu Jintang prepared specifically for the joint examination. The examination takes place entirely in a simulated battlefield, which means the Inscription Talismans wouldn't actually be consumed. After using these inscriptions in this examination, she can still resell them secondhand. That way, the actual cost isn't too high."

Shi Lekang nodded. "That sounds more plausible."

Zhuang Silin didn't dwell on it either and was the first to stand. "All right, let's go greet the examinees."

"Let's go, let's go." Shi Lekang stood with a broad smile and followed Zhuang Silin out of the simulation room.

In the joint examination area, the examinees were all studying Xu Jintang and Wei Zixuan.

Everyone had known from the start that these two came from a lower star region.

Although they had made the Red Ranking, few people had paid them much attention.

Only when their rankings kept rising and their reputations grew increasingly bandit-like did everyone set aside their disdain and begin treating them with caution.

Yet they had never expected that the two would still end up snatching the prize!

Noticing the various probing looks around her, Xu Jintang cleared her throat and quietly straightened her back.

Beside her, Wei Zixuan also stood ramrod straight, looking proud.

Just then, Zhuang Silin and the other four military academy teachers entered the examination area one after another.

"First, congratulations to everyone on successfully completing this joint examination. Your point rankings were automatically locked when you exited the simulated battlefield. When you apply to military academies, these rankings will serve as the primary reference."

An examinee soon raised a hand. "Teacher, some of us were unlucky and had our points stolen midway through, then got eliminated from the examination early. Will we have a chance to retake it?"

Zhuang Silin's gaze fell on that examinee. "If you were eliminated early, it was because you weren't strong enough. But as I just said, the point rankings will only serve as the primary reference. Your own abilities and other overall qualities will also be considered."

"The detailed point rankings will be published across the network in two days. Please complete your military academy preference forms over the coming week based on your rankings."

At this point, Zhuang Silin looked toward Xu Jintang and smiled. "Congratulations to examinee Xu Jintang for taking first place in this joint examination. Along with the other nine examinees on the Joint Examination Red Ranking, you will have the right to choose directly among the five great military academies. You may select your academy based on your personal circumstances and preferences. Just report your choices to the Military Academy Command Center before this week."

Envy appeared on the faces of the surrounding examinees.

"They have it so good. They can pick any of the five great military academies without even worrying about being reassigned when they submit their preferences."

"Oh well, we're just not as good as they are. Not one of those ten people on the Joint Examination Red Ranking is someone you want to cross."

Under everyone's envious gazes, Xu Jintang, Wei Zixuan, and the other three turned and left.

After they exited the examination area, Jing Yuanzheng looked toward Xu Jintang and Wei Zixuan. "Which military academy are you two planning to apply to?"

On the other side, Yu Wanyao also silently looked over.

Xu Jintang answered without hesitation, "Leikedasi."

Wei Zixuan chuckled. "What a coincidence. I'm applying to Leikedasi too."

Yu Wanyao snorted. "What kind of remark is that? Who wouldn't want to apply to the First Military Academy if they had the ability?"

"So you're applying to Leikedasi too, little sister Wanyao?" Xu Jintang turned to look at her.

Yu Wanyao froze, then retorted, "Who's your little sister? Don't go calling me that. But I am applying to Leikedasi."

Xu Jintang calculated the dates. "I'm sixteen this year."

Yu Wanyao immediately added, "I'm sixteen too!"

"My birthday is in November," Xu Jintang continued.

Yu Wanyao fell silent.

Jing Yuanzheng said with a smile, "A-Yao's birthday is in December, so Jintang is indeed a little older."

"Little sister A-Yao, you let me win." Xu Jintang cupped her hands and smiled.

Yu Wanyao put on a stern face, folded her arms, and turned to walk ahead of everyone, beginning to play the aloof type.

Fanning himself with his folding fan, Xue Zhongqi squeezed up beside Xu Jintang with a smile. "Then by that reckoning, I should call you little sister Jintang. Allow your big brother to ask: where exactly did those sixty-odd Inscription Talismans come from?"

"As far as I know, the lower star regions don't produce many Inscription Talismans. Even ordering through the Star Network, it wouldn't be easy to buy that many at once, would it?"

As he spoke, a meaningful glint flashed through Xue Zhongqi's eyes, and he gave Xu Jintang a probing look.

But Xu Jintang didn't take the bait at all.

"Guess. If you get it right, I'll tell you," Xu Jintang replied with a smile.

The smile froze on Xue Zhongqi's face, and his mouth twitched. "If I could guess correctly, why would I ask you?"

The annual All-Star-Region Joint Examination Competition ended, and the list of ten names on the Joint Examination Red Ranking spread to every star region as quickly as possible.

At Dawn Academy in the FM795 Lower Star Region.

"Am I seeing things? Am I hallucinating? This... the name in first place in the joint examination... is Xu Jintang?!" Jiang Lu grabbed Huang Binhan by the collar, his questions tumbling out incoherently.

Huang Binhan nodded at him, beaming. "You're not seeing things. It's Xu Jintang. Our academy produced the joint examination's first-place finisher this year!"

"Quick! Go tell the dean! No, no, no..." Jiang Lu rushed out of the office in excitement. "I'll tell him myself!"

A few minutes later, Dean Wang slapped his desk and sprang to his feet in excitement. "Wonderful! Hurry and put up banners and notices. Share this good news with the other students."

That very day, red banners went up around Dawn Academy, bearing the message: [Congratulations to our student Xu Jintang for taking first place in the All-Star-Region Joint Examination Competition.]

Every student who saw the banners wore the same shocked expression.

"A student from our lower star region actually took first place in the joint examination?!"

"Our senior has really done our academy proud! First place in the joint examination! That's first place!"

"I heard Senior Jintang even has a support ability. We support ability users finally have a chance to shine too!"

After the joint examination ended, the rush to submit academy preferences soon began.

Once news of Xu Jintang taking first place reached Dawn Academy, year director Liu Hongfang boarded an aircraft that very night and traveled to the Federation Star Region.

"Your choice of academy is extremely important, so the academy sent me to accompany you." As soon as they met, Liu Hongfang was all smiles, and even his voice was much warmer, completely unlike his previous stern image as the year director.

Xu Jintang gave a couple of dry laughs. "Director, I've already decided to apply to Leikedasi."

"Leikedasi?" Looking proud, Liu Hongfang gave Xu Jintang a firm pat on the shoulder. "Good. You have ambition. Just what I'd expect from a student I taught."

"By the way, your homeroom teacher, Old Lu, still has classes to cover, so he couldn't come congratulate you in person. He asked me to pass on a message. He said that no matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, Dawn Academy will always be your staunchest support!"

Xu Jintang smiled and nodded. "All right."

In the days since the joint examination ended, many examinees' families had come to help them work through their academy preferences.

It made her seem rather lonely on her own.

But Liu Hongfang's arrival dispelled that trace of sadness.

A week later, Xu Jintang submitted her application with only one preference: Leikdasi Military Academy.

As she left the Military Academy Command Center, she happened to run into Zhuang Silin.

"Teacher Zhuang." Xu Jintang quickened her pace.

Zhuang Silin stopped and turned. Seeing Xu Jintang, she smiled. "You've certainly become famous these past few days. Quite a few military academy teachers and students are discussing you. How does it feel?"

Xu Jintang scratched her head, still looking rather modest. "Not bad. Just a normal performance."

Zhuang Silin shook her head helplessly. "What did you need?"

Xu Jintang took the visiting student nameplate she had kept for so long out of her bracelet's storage space. "Teacher Zhuang, I can return this to you now."

Zhuang Silin took the nameplate and looked at her with a smile. "Congratulations, and welcome to Leikedasi."

A few days later, an admission letter bearing Leikdasi Military Academy's emblem was delivered to Xu Jintang by drone.

The package also contained a Leikdasi Military Academy student identification nameplate and two sets of dark blue military-style school uniforms.

The uniforms looked very sharp. Both male and female students wore the same white short-sleeved shirt and blue trousers, topped with a well-tailored dark blue military jacket.

With anticipation, Xu Jintang changed into her uniform and pinned the military academy emblem to her shoulder.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Sister Jintang, let's go register together tomorrow."

Xu Jintang walked over and opened the door, revealing Wei Zixuan outside. He had also changed into his military-style school uniform and looked much sharper than usual.

"We can register tomorrow already?" Xu Jintang froze.

Wei Zixuan nodded and took the admission letter out of his uniform pocket. "You haven't read the letter yet, have you? It says military academy students from other star regions like us can enter the academy tomorrow to register and complete the dormitory check-in procedures."