Chapter 4304 — A Guide to Passing the Selection

And even if one met the first two selection conditions, whether one was ultimately admitted would still hinge on the third stage. There was only one chance to perform, and a single lackluster showing would make all the rest worthless.

"That much is inevitable. No selection method can ever be truly flawless, and it is bound to happen that some fine pearl is left in the deep—yet only this approach can balance efficiency with result," Wei Zhao said with an indifferent smile from the side.

"But if fine pearls are left in the deep, would that not run counter to their own intent? What a pity that would be..." Huang Xiaotao still found it hard to understand. In her mind, if they had gone to such great lengths and mobilized such a show of force, they must surely intend to gather every genius within their fold by every possible means. If a talent were to slip through their fingers, would they not regret it endlessly?

"Heh, that is not quite so. Their academy's admission quota must be strictly limited. Say there are a hundred geniuses present—they will take sixty of them at most, and that is enough. As for the remaining forty, one can only say that fortune has no such destiny in store for them." Wei Zhao chuckled, then explained more bluntly still: "Put simply, the Morning Star Academy's name is known far and wide, and they have no fear whatsoever of failing to recruit genius disciples. Since all those they can recruit are geniuses, why would they regret the geniuses they miss?"

"Oh, so that is how it is." Only then did Huang Xiaotao realize, and she understood that she had merely been thinking like an ordinary person. Geniuses were rare in the eyes of ordinary folk, but to these people of the Morning Star Academy, such a sight had likely long since become commonplace.

"Very well, the selection begins now. Cultivators who hold the number one test token may come forward," Academy Head Ling Yuanqing announced in a clear voice. At the same time, in the open ground before the high platform, the academy's experts charged with examination had all taken their positions in succession. Those who passed the first two thresholds smoothly would reach the miniature assessment formation and undergo the final stage of testing.

Among the crowd on the periphery, one cultivator rose at the call, test token number one in hand, and walked toward the front. Though outwardly he looked full of vigor, his steps were stiff. Under the gaze of so many eyes, he was plainly a touch too nervous.

The rest, who had not yet had their turn, sat where they were and watched, discussing the proceedings among themselves all the while. Some were excited, some nervous; some itched to try, others fretted with unease—every manner of human state was on display, each different from the next.

Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao sat within the crowd. At this moment their hearts, like those of so many others, were stirred with excitement. After all, the Eastern Continent had gathered so many fine experts here, and especially so, as Ling Yuanqing had said before—if one could pass the selection and join the Morning Star Academy, it meant a future bright beyond measure.

Given the natural endowments of the two of them, not only the Nascent Soul Stage but even the higher Xuan Sheng Stage was likely no vain hope. Such a prospect, placed before anyone at all, would set the heart pounding beyond restraint.

Wei Zhao's heart was stirred, and beside him Huang Xiaotao, holding his hand, was likewise moved—she could not even keep from trembling faintly, showing plainly how inexplicably excited she was.

"Xiaotao, do you want to go to the Eastern Continent?" Wei Zhao suddenly asked.

"I..." Huang Xiaotao was about to nod on instinct, but then she thought it over and said, "I want to be with you. Wherever you go, I will go."

"Heh, and what if I do not go to the Eastern Continent?" Wei Zhao could not help laughing.

"Then... then I will not go either." Huang Xiaotao was briefly taken aback, then looked at Wei Zhao earnestly and said so.

"Xiaotao, you had best think this through. I am not joking—I truly have no intention of going to the Eastern Continent. I am going back to North Island," Wei Zhao said to Huang Xiaotao, no longer jesting, his expression serious.

Indeed, after witnessing such a scene of the Morning Star Academy's experts gathered like clouds, Wei Zhao, like everyone else present, had felt his heart stir. But he was not the sort who, once swept up in impulse, cast all caution aside. Stirred he might be, yet he would soon recover his calm.

Fine as the Eastern Continent was, for the present Wei Zhao could not set North Island aside. After all, his purpose in coming this time had never been to take part in some Eastern Continent academy selection; as things stood, he was merely unable to leave for the moment because the docks were sealed off.

In North Island, Wei Zhao still had many ties that bound him. To simply walk away now would be utterly impractical. This trip, at most, was a chance to broaden his horizons and join the excitement along the way.

"You go back to North Island, and I go back to North Island too." Huang Xiaotao did not hesitate in the slightest, speaking with a steady gaze. Unlike Wei Zhao, she in truth had no such ties in North Island—but her greatest tie now was Wei Zhao himself, and in her heart there was only one conviction: that no matter what, she would be with Wei Zhao.

"Good." Wei Zhao nodded, somewhat moved at heart, yet he did not feel any great regret. Whether it was Huang Xiaotao or himself, with all his hidden cards and his golden finger, even without going to this Eastern Continent Morning Star Yellow-Rank Academy, they would still carve out a place for themselves in the end. Of this he was absolutely confident.

As the two of them were speaking, amid the clamor of discussion all around, a man suddenly came weaving through the crowd in a stooped crouch, crying his wares as he walked.

"A secret manual for passing the selection! One hundred spirit jades a copy—buy now if you need one! On my honor, honest dealings, guaranteed to raise your chances of passing! Do not miss it as you pass by! No need to ask the price, no need to haggle, no fear of being fleeced—one hundred spirit jades buys you no loss, one hundred spirit jades buys you no regret, truly a bargain beyond compare..." The man's voice was neither loud nor soft; shielded by the crowd's chatter, it was just loud enough for those nearby to hear, yet would not draw the attention of the Morning Star Academy guards outside.

Hearing this familiar and dear sales patter, Wei Zhao nearly spat out on the spot. What sort of petty peddler from the mortal world was this, who had wormed his way onto Cloud-Rank Island to ply his trade?

Looking closer, the man crying his wares about was not dressed like a merchant at all—a long robe and gown, a white paper fan in one hand, he looked rather more like a storyteller. Yet the jianghu air that seeped from his person struck Wei Zhao as faintly familiar, as though he resembled someone Wei Zhao knew, though for the moment he could not say who.

At this moment the man was going about hawking his so-called secret manual for passing the selection. One hundred spirit jades was, after all, not a steep price, and most present were experts at the Golden Core Stage or above—however tight their purses, none would begrudge so little. And with every one of them now surging with hope, dreaming of passing the selection and entering the Eastern Continent Morning Star Yellow-Rank Academy, many took the bait despite knowing full well the man was exaggerating. (To be continued..)