Chapter 13: Feiguang

Thinking of this,

Jiang Jian swiped away the screen and set his thoughts aside for now.

He had never undergone the Divine Bestowal Ceremony.

The Shenque acupoint had yet to be opened.

Though this information was important,

it would not be needed in the short term.

“The Divine Bestowal Exam is only one day away.”

Jiang Jian tidied his desk and took a shower.

Then he returned to his bunk and opened the Guangling City forum.

The exam was imminent.

The forum was flooded with news about the Divine Bestowal Exam.

“This year, three Divine Bestowal Universities have sent examiners!”

“Besides Anhe Academy, there’s Luoying Academy and Linchuan University!”

“Rumors say Guangling City’s performance last year was outstanding, so this year the number of Divine Bestowal University slots has increased!”

“The Guangling City Government has appointed Director Li Huanghai as Chief Examiner!”

…

After scrolling through the news for a while, Jiang Jian turned off the screen.

He lay quietly on the bed, his hand brushing the hilt of the wooden sword, then closed his eyes.

Before the exam,

Jiang Jian stopped reviewing and chose to rest well.

Dum.

The communicator chimed.

Jiang Jian, eyes closed, whispered: “Answer directly.”

His identity device glowed faintly and automatically connected the call.

In the silent dormitory, his sister’s gentle voice rang out: “Jiang Jian, the Divine Bestowal Exam is coming soon—remember to take your medicine on time.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Jian replied, then asked, “How’s your theory score coming along?”

Jiang Zhao chuckled softly, sounding pleased: “I studied your new annotations and just did a few practice tests—I’m averaging about 42 points.”

“Forty-two points is already good.”

Jiang Jian nodded. “Get some rest early and prepare well.”

“Okay.”

The call ended.

His fingers brushed the sword hilt, and a faint coolness spread through him.

It cleared his mind.

No longer troubled by his strange illness.

…

March 1, 3227.

Guangling No. 1 High School, playground.

“Roll call complete!”

“All examinees, follow your teachers and board the Sky-Sleds in order!”

The vice-principal stood on the podium.

Gazing at the 378 examinees, his expression was excited.

Ten Sky-Sleds stood side by side on the playground.

Each Sky-Sled could hold about forty people.

More than a dozen teachers stood before the Sky-Sleds, holding boarding signs and guiding their students aboard.

“Jiang Jian, you don’t look nervous at all.”

Yu Ning turned around, standing in front of Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian smiled. “Nervousness won’t help. Better to stay calm and face the exam.”

Yu Ning took a deep breath: “Everyone knows that, but knowing and doing are two different things.”

The students ahead had already boarded.

Zhou Yu held up his boarding sign with a smile: “Yu Ning, get on quickly.”

“Yes, Teacher Zhou.”

Yu Ning hurried aboard the Sky-Sled.

“Jiang Jian, you should get on too.”

Zhou Yu’s gaze fell on Jiang Jian, his expression complex.

“You didn’t take yesterday’s practice exam. I truly hope you do well.”

Jiang Jian walked past him and stopped. “Thank you, Teacher Zhou.”

“Relax during the exam. Even if you don’t make it into a Divine Bestowal University, it’s not the end.”

Zhou Yu patted Jiang Jian’s shoulder. “I have connections in Shenzhao District—if you need a job later, I can help.”

Jiang Jian nodded and boarded the Sky-Sled.

Inside the Sky-Sled, over thirty classmates were already seated.

“Jiang Jian, over here!”

“Jiang Jian, sit here!”

Seeing Jiang Jian board, Ji Ming and Yu Ning both looked up and waved.

Jiang Jian smiled. “There are plenty of seats—I’ll take this one.”

As he spoke,

Jiang Jian found an empty seat near the cabin door and sat down.

After all the students had boarded,

Zhou Yu finally climbed aboard and put away his boarding sign.

Clang!

With a loud crash, the heavy cabin door slowly sealed shut.

Amid gasps, the Sky-Sled began to rise.

Looking out the window, Guangling No. 1 High School shrank below, until it looked like a matchbox.

Meanwhile,

above them, the vast floating city drew nearer.

Its enormous shadow loomed overhead, blotting out the sky.

A suffocating pressure pressed down.

Many students from Guangling No. 1 had never been to Shenzhao District.

Even these Sky-Sleds were temporary vehicles dispatched by the Guangling City Government to transport examinees from the Shadow Zone.

“I’ve never ridden such a luxurious vehicle!”

“These Sky-Sleds must be incredibly expensive.”

“Obviously!”

“Look! The sky’s brightening!”

“Is that the sun?”

“So blinding!”

As the Sky-Sled exited the Shadow Zone,

the false white light vanished entirely.

The star’s warm rays poured down, unobstructed.

Many students who had never left the Shadow Zone pressed against the windows, gazing up at the brilliant sun.

Jiang Jian sat in his seat, turning his head to look out the window.

At the edge of Shenzhao District stood a towering spire.

It was the Guangling City Government.

The tower housing the Guangling City Government was narrow at the top and wide at the base, shaped like an inverted pyramid.

Its base lay within the Shadow Zone.

Its upper half pierced the floating city, rising above Shenzhao District.

Beside the tower, auroras surged.

A colossal platform floated between them, held aloft by the auroras.

Feiguang Platform.

Around it, countless aerial vehicles darted through the air.

Occasionally, a Sky-Sled landed upon it.

Aside from that.

Luxurious sky-patrol vessels were moored all around.

Each of these sky-patrol vessels was extraordinarily expensive.

The hulls bore the unmistakable emblem of the Divine Grant University.

“Students, please take your seats! Prepare to board the Feiguang Platform!”

The attendant’s voice echoed throughout the cabin.

The next moment.

The sky-skimmer suddenly tilted upward, its nose lifting as blue-white light flames erupted from its rear, hurtling toward the Feiguang Platform!

Boom!

Hundreds of thousands of sky-skimmers chased one another, like a skyful of shooting stars, all converging on the Feiguang Platform at the very top!

“Yinying District’s Guangling No. 1 High School, as arranged by the municipal government, land in Zone 9!”

The attendant held up his identity device, gazing out the window.

Half a minute later.

The sky-skimmer slowed its speed and, following instructions, gently descended toward Zone 9 of the Feiguang Platform.

The cabin door opened.

“Students, please disembark in order!”

Zhou Yu stepped forward first to the door and turned back to say.

Jiang Jian’s seat was close to the door; he followed Zhou Yu off the sky-skimmer.

His field of view instantly widened.

The sky blazed bright.

Starlight poured down, revealing the entire scene of the Feiguang Platform.

All sky-skimmers had come to rest along the platform’s edge.

A massive, shimmering blue barrier flickered intermittently, preventing anyone from falling off.

Standing at the edge, looking down below the platform.

One could clearly see the municipal government’s towering spire and the floating metropolis of Shenzhao District.

Above, there was nothing to constrain the view—endless blue sky and white clouds.

This year’s Guangling City examination.

32,563 students participated.

The municipal government divided the Feiguang Platform into 24 zones.

Each zone had 1,500 examination seats.

Around each seat hovered a semi-transparent light barrier.

These seats glowed faintly, arranged in a circular pattern, surrounding the central ceremonial platform.

“Your examination numbers have been issued; open your identity devices to see them.”

Zhou Yu raised his voice, “Now, find your seat according to your number and prepare for the exam!”

(End of Chapter)