Chapter 23: Reed Marsh

Du Fang turned his head and looked at the Whale-Ray Craft.

“There seem to be quite a few new students inside.”

Song Ling nodded and said, “Didn’t Gu Qi say he traveled through six entire provinces?”

As soon as she finished speaking.

Her communication link had already connected.

Song Ling stepped aside, activated privacy mode, and began calling her family.

Du Fang looked at Jiang Jian: “Jiang Jian, we only have ten minutes. Aren’t you going to send a message to your family?”

Jiang Jian smiled and said, “I live in the Public Care Zone.”

Du Fang froze, then realized, his face flushing with apology: “Sorry, I didn’t know.”

The more prosperous the place, the more human rights are respected.

The Public Care Zone is a highly sensitive topic.

Even the Earth Alliance enacted the Anti-Public-Care-Discrimination Law specifically for this.

“It’s fine.”

Jiang Jian waved his hand, slightly tilting his head as his gaze shifted elsewhere.

A girl in school uniform also looked up, gazing toward them.

Dū!

A notification sound rang out.

Jiang Jian opened his identity device and tapped the new message.

“Jiang Jian, I’m Level 2 ‘Yi,’ Mind Follows Spirit’s Hiding.”

The girl’s pleasant voice sounded.

“I know.”

Jiang Jian nodded, “Linjiang Academy only accepts ‘Shu’ and ‘Wu’ students with Level 3 talent or below.”

Jiang Zhao asked, “If I can’t go to Linjiang Academy, which school should I choose?”

Jiang Jian thought for a moment and said, “Choose Anhe College.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Zhao accepted immediately, without hesitation.

Jiang Jian smiled and said, “Aren’t you going to ask why?”

Jiang Zhao blinked. “Actually, I just received several messages—Anhe College offered the highest resource allowance.”

She paused, then continued, “With money, we can fully cure your illness.”

Jiang Jian fell silent briefly, then said, “Once you enter Divine Gift University, you’ll need to focus entirely on cultivation—and you’ll need money for everything.”

Jiang Zhao’s smile faded. She said seriously, “Jiang Jian, after you get to Linjiang Academy, send me a message every night.”

“Alright, go choose your school now.”

Jiang Jian replied, then ended the call.

A short distance away.

After communicating with Guangling City’s government,

Gu Qi had already selected all the ‘Shu’ and ‘Wu’ students from the 43 applicants.

The remaining students stayed on the Flying Light Platform to choose their schools.

“Some of you, under normal procedures, would find it nearly impossible to enter Linjiang Academy.”

Gu Qi stood on the ceremonial platform, his expression amused.

“But this is my final recruitment stop.”

“To pick up three Level 3 talents, I’ll need to bring more students along.”

As he finished speaking,

Gu Qi walked through the crowd, occasionally pointing, “You, you, and you—go back.”

The students he pointed at turned red-faced and stepped back.

One of them, resentful, stepped forward and said, “You just said you’d take all the ‘Shu’ and ‘Wu’ students!”

“I did say that.”

Gu Qi smirked. “But I just counted—there were too many names. Eliminating a few more, what’s wrong with that?”

The student clenched his teeth and asked again: “Why was I the one eliminated?”

“Because your talent is average!”

Gu Qi grew impatient. “Students like you are everywhere in Linjiang Academy!”

With that,

Gu Qi pulled out a few more students.

Until only 26 students remained before him.

These 26 were almost all Level 2 talents.

“You have five minutes to communicate with your families and gather what you need.”

Gu Qi pointed at the Whale-Ray Craft. “Then board with me!”

Two staff members descended from the Whale-Ray Craft.

One was responsible for registering the 26 Guangling City students.

The other walked toward Jiang Jian.

At that moment,

Jiang Jian had just finished organizing his belongings, wrapping his wooden sword in black cloth and securing it to his backpack.

“Student Jiang Jian, hello.”

The staff member smiled warmly.

Jiang Jian fastened his backpack and looked up.

The staff member raised his identity device: “I’m responsible for registering Level 3 talent freshmen. Student Jiang Jian, please cooperate.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Jian opened his identity device and lifted it slightly.

Dū!

“Anhezhou, Jiang Jian, 17 years old.”

“Level 3 talent, Shu, Pure Spirit Flame.”

“Admission score: 100.”

“Information registered!”

“Student Jiang Jian, your theoretical score is perfect too—impressive.”

The staff member looked impressed, recorded Jiang Jian’s information, then turned to Du Fang and Song Ling.

“Both of you, please present your identity devices.”

Song Ling had just finished her call. She exchanged a glance with Du Fang, then both extended their wrists.

“Anhezhou, Du Fang, 17 years old.”

“Level 3 talent, Wu, Ten Thousand Forms Sword Art.”

“Admission score: 99.”

“Information registered!”

“Anhezhou, Song Ling, 17 years old.”

“Level 3 talent, Xin, Spiritual Healing.”

“Admission score: 98.”

“Information registered!”

After recording the information,

the staff member exhaled in relief and gestured politely.

“Please proceed to Cabin 1, and board the Whale-Ray Craft using your identity devices.”

Du Fang raised an eyebrow and pointed at the 26 students nearby. “Aren’t you going with them?”

The staff member shook his head with a smile. “Cabin 1 is exclusively for Level 3 talent freshmen. They aren’t eligible.”

Du Fang looked up at the massive Whale-Ray Craft and murmured, “So that’s how it is.”

The staff member led the way.

Jiang Jian, Du Fang, and Song Ling followed behind him toward Cabin 1.

As they passed through the crowd,

many eyes turned toward them.

Most of those gazes fixed on Jiang Jian.

“Jiang Jian and his two companions have their own boarding passage!”

“Jiang Jian, Level 3 Shu…”

“Our Guangling City’s top student!”

“We’re all from small towns—we’ll need to stick together once we get to Linjiang Academy!”

“Does anyone have Jiang Jian’s contact info?”

"I want to add mine ahead of time!"

"If you really don’t have any, Du Fang’s is fine, Song Ling’s works too!"

The twenty-six students whispered among themselves.

Just a few minutes passed.

They had already passed around Jiang Jian’s, Du Fang’s, and Song Ling’s contact information.

The Whale-Ray Craft hovered beside the ritual platform.

A massive shadow fell, nearly obscuring half the Feiguang Platform.

A rumbling sound arose.

The heavy No. 1 hatch slowly opened.

Beneath the hatch, along the hull.

A double-deck gangway extended downward and settled into place.

"Three students, please proceed!"

The staff member smiled. "I’m crew of the Whale-Ray Craft—I’m not authorized to enter the No. 1 hatch."

"Alright."

Jiang Jian stepped onto the gangway first.

Du Fang and Song Ling exchanged a glance, then hurried after him.

The handrails of the gangway glowed with crystalline blue light.

Looking up.

The Whale-Ray Craft loomed like a mountain spanning the heavens.

Standing before them, radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.

This massive craft was simply too large.

Jiang Jian briefly measured it with his gaze, making an approximate estimate.

This Whale-Ray Craft was equivalent to ten Jiu Cha Yuan buildings.

"Such a huge thing is used just to pick up new students?"

As they drew closer to the hatch, Du Fang couldn’t help speaking: "This Whale-Ray Craft can hold at least tens of thousands of people."

Jiang Jian gripped the gangway and said: "The No. 1 hatch has only nineteen people inside."

Du Fang looked down at the receding Feiguang Platform and asked, "How do you know?"

"Where are your eyes?"

Song Ling tapped his shoulder and pointed to a delicate screen beneath the hatch.

The screen glowed faintly: "No. 1 Hatch Capacity: 19 passengers (1000-passenger cabin)."

Du Fang looked up, his mouth twitching.

(End of Chapter)