Chapter 11

The dorm was very quiet.

Jiang Jian sat alone at the desk, pulling up the identity device’s screen.

Bottom right.

A new message flashed.

“Inspector Zhou Chi, Shenzhao District…”

Jiang Jian’s gaze paused, then he opened the message.

“Junior Jiang Jian, I got the exam materials early through internal channels—prepare well.”

Zhou Chi’s voice message played.

The message contained an attachment.

Tiny text filled the document, detailing the rules of the Guangling City Divine Bestowal Exam.

“Guangling City, Divine Bestowal Exam.”

“Exam date: March 1, 3227.”

“Exam location: Guangling City, Shenzhao District, Xuantian Feiguang Platform.”

“Number of examinees: 32,563.”

“Divine Bestowal University slots: 46.”

At this point, Jiang Jian’s gaze sharpened.

The number of Divine Bestowal University slots had been bolded by Zhou Chi as a key point.

This was information previously unknown.

“Forty-six…”

“Six more than last year…”

Jiang Jian pondered for a moment, then continued reading.

“Phase One: Theoretical Examination.”

“Rank all candidates by score, highest to lowest.”

“Phase Two: Divine Bestowal Ceremony.”

“Participants enter in reverse order, starting from the lowest theoretical ranking.”

“The examination panel assigns a Divine Bestowal score on the spot, then calculates the total score.”

“Total rankings are updated in real time.”

“Until all candidates have completed the exam.”

“Final rankings are then locked.”

Below the rules:

Was Zhou Chi’s note.

“Junior Jiang Jian, this year’s examination panel differs from previous years.”

“Not only has Anhe Academy sent proctors, but Divine Bestowal Universities from neighboring provinces have also sent observers.”

“It’s said this is because of last year.”

“Guangling City produced a Level Two ‘Shu’ and two Level Two ‘Wu’ students.”

Guangling City has produced a Level Two "Art" student and a Level Two "Martial" student.

“Guangling City’s exam has drawn such heavy attention from Divine Bestowal Universities.”

Jiang Jian finished reading the exam materials and extracted much useful information.

The number of Divine Bestowal University slots had increased by six.

This was undoubtedly good news for him.

And the exam location:

Feiguang Platform.

Right at the edge of Shenzhao District.

A massive floating platform suspended in the sky.

The Shenzhao District Inspection Office stood in the city’s corner.

Its position lay directly beneath the Feiguang Platform.

“The Feiguang Platform is the most dazzling place in Shenzhao District.”

“It can channel stellar light to conduct the Divine Bestowal Ceremony.”

Jiang Jian swiped the screen, scrolling through the detailed Divine Bestowal Ceremony procedure.

The true purpose of the Divine Bestowal Ceremony was to use sunlight carrying divine radiance to activate the Shenque Point.

Once the Shenque Point opened,

a person would begin the path of cultivation.

Cultivation was extremely difficult.

Ninety-nine percent of people remained trapped in the “Divine Bestowal Realm” until death.

Only when the Shenque Point’s cultivation reached full maturity could one enter the next realm.

But to cultivate the Shenque Point,

one needed unimaginable quantities of spiritual materials.

Ordinary people could not afford it.

Only those with exceptional Divine Bestowal talents—the rarest of the rare—had any chance of entering Divine Bestowal University and truly beginning cultivation.

Because Divine Bestowal University provided free lodging and meals, plus cultivation subsidies.

These subsidies were modest,

but enough to let each student barely meet daily cultivation needs.

Yet it can barely satisfy each student’s daily cultivation needs.

once admitted, a student’s cultivation progress would steadily improve.

The gap between them and ordinary people would widen further.

“Guangling City, 32,563 candidates, competing for 46 slots…”

Jiang Jian stood up, his gaze trembling, fingers falling to unconsciously brush the wooden sword’s hilt.

In his heart, he had already considered every possibility.

His theoretical score would not be poor.

If his Divine Bestowal talent was decent,

entering Divine Bestowal University should not be difficult.

“But what if,”

“my Divine Bestowal talent is weak?”

“And my total ranking falls short, preventing me from entering Divine Bestowal University?”

“I will still never abandon cultivation.”

Jiang Jian gripped the wooden sword’s hilt.

Eighty-five thousand Alliance Coins still lay in his citizen account.

Even if he failed to enter Divine Bestowal University,

this fortune could sustain his cultivation for a long time.

“But everything begins with the Divine Bestowal Ceremony.”

Jiang Jian set down the wooden sword and wrapped it in black cloth.

Jiang Jian put down the wooden sword and wrapped it in black cloth.

The dorm door swung open.

“Jiang Jian, the simulation exam just had a Level Two ‘Wu’!”

Ji Ming strode in, excited, “Can you guess who?”

Jiang Jian smiled and said, “Who?”

Ji Ming cleared his throat: “Yu Ning!”

“He took the machine test three times—results: Level One ‘Ti’, Level One ‘Wu’, then Level Two ‘Wu’!”

“Meaning, during the real Divine Bestowal Ceremony,”

“Yu Ning might manifest a ‘Wu’ talent!”

Here, Ji Ming’s expression turned strange: “Yu Ning himself said that over the past two days, he studied your annotations, which raised his affinity.”

Jiang Jian quietly organized his desk and said, “That’s good.”

The next second, he stood and walked out of the dorm: “I’m going to the cafeteria.”

“Jiang Jian, wait up, let’s go together.”

Ji Ming sensed Jiang Jian’s indifference, his excitement fading; he chuckled awkwardly and followed.

Jiang Jian stepped out of the dorm, heard footsteps behind him, and smiled faintly.

He already knew who leaked the notes.

But Jiang Jian had no interest whatsoever in wasting energy on such matters.

The moment he forwarded the notes, he never expected them to stay secret.

At the moment Jiang Jian forwarded the notes, he never expected them to remain secret.

“That’s Jiang Jian! The annotations were made by him!”

“I’ve long heard of Senior Jiang Jian’s name—turns out he’s this handsome in person!”

“He’s the top student at Guangling No. 1 High!”

Along the shaded path of Guangling No. 1 High, many eyes turned toward him, accompanied by hushed whispers.

By now, the vast majority of students had already returned to campus to prepare for exams.

Even lower-grade students had long known Jiang Jian’s name.

Everyone who passed by would stop and stare.

Ji Ming walked beside Jiang Jian, unconsciously straightening his chest, and whispered, “Jiang Jian! So many pretty junior girls are looking at you!”

Jiang Jian remained calm, ignoring the surrounding gazes, heading toward the cafeteria.

At the cafeteria entrance.

“Senior Jiang Jian, hello.”

A pleasant voice came— a girl in her school uniform skirt, her fair face flushed, said, “I’m one grade below you… my name is…”

Jiang Jian didn’t stop, smiling politely: “Sorry, I’m going to eat.”

He passed her by.

Jiang Jian walked straight into the cafeteria.

The girl stood frozen in place.

She hadn’t expected that she hadn’t even gotten to say her name.

She’d been rejected so bluntly.

A few seconds later.

She turned to her best friend: “Am I ugly?”

Her friend sized her up.

White lace ankle socks paired with chunky-heeled shoes revealed slender, fair legs.

Her long hair was carefully styled into loose twin tails.

Her delicate, beautiful face bore light makeup.

“Cute, beautiful—the kind I’d fall for myself.”

Her friend nodded vigorously, emphatically.

The girl looked up, gazing at Jiang Jian’s back, speechless.

(End of Chapter)