Chapter 28

"The three top universities—those are the ultimate goals countless students aspire to."

Principal Zhao Yao sighed, "But for you, they're within easy reach. No, that's not right—they'll actually beg you to enroll."

"Beg me to enroll?" Xu Jingming tilted his head, expression puzzled.

"With your scores, you already qualify for special admission."

"Once the national rankings are announced, all of the top ten universities in the country will offer you all kinds of incentives to attend their schools."

"What else could that be but begging you to enroll?"

Principal Zhao Yao burst into laughter.

Special admission is a privilege reserved only for the top three in the province.

And Xu Jingming clearly falls into that category.

"I suggest you go home and thoroughly research the information on the three top universities."

"Don't wait until the special admission day and still have no idea what you're doing."

"Also, don't be dazzled by the special admission offers—they're not the most important thing. Choose the school you feel suits you best."

"Of course, any of the three top universities will guarantee you an illustrious future!"

Principal Zhao Yao outright dismissed the other seven schools in the top ten, giving him serious advice.

"I understand. Thank you, Principal."

Xu Jingming nodded, indicating he understood.

With the Wu Ke Gaokao over, he now truly needed to seriously consider which university to attend.

It took over an hour to drive from the military zone to the city center.

By the time Xu Jingming returned home, it was already 11:23 p. m.

Exhausted, he didn't even have time to wash up—only stripped off his battle suit, reeking of thick blood.

He collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

He didn't wake until just after nine the next morning.

"Phew, I slept over ten hours straight."

Glancing at the time on his phone, Xu Jingming leapt out of bed and dashed into the bathroom.

"Splish-splash~~~~"

Warm water streamed from the showerhead, cascading over Xu Jingming's bare body.

"Ah, wonderful!"

After twelve hours of combat, Xu Jingming had sweated profusely; his whole body felt sticky.

Now, the warm water washed over him, instantly leaving him refreshed and invigorated—he opened his system panel.

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Level】: Awakened

【Ability】: Doushen Shenlei (S)

【Physique】: 183 Qi (+)

【Spirit】: 185 He (+)

【Skills】: Gunplay (Advanced+), Lightning Wind Break (Advanced+)

【Ability Points】: 2534

The Wu Ke Gaokao, beyond scores, yielded the greatest reward: Ability Points!

"2534 Ability Points—enough to last me a while after entering an Ability University."

Xu Jingming thought silently.

The importance of Ability Points was undeniable; in an ordinary wilderness zone, one could never accumulate so many in such a short time.

This was thanks entirely to the Wu Ke Gaokao.

"I wonder if Ability Universities have similar monster-killing competitions. If they do, I'll be the first to sign up."

Xu Jingming felt cheerful.

After washing up and humming a tune, he returned to his bedroom, turned on his computer, and searched for information on the three top universities.

The three top universities, each founded over a century ago, were prestigious institutions with long histories that had cultivated many powerful figures for Great Xia.

As he browsed the materials, Xu Jingming couldn't help but let out repeated exclamations.

"The current Ninth-Rank Nation-Protecting Master graduated from Qingjing Ability University!"

"Most of the top-tier Ability Cultivation Methods are exclusive to the top universities?!"

"......"

He hadn't realized—until he looked, he was stunned.

Nearly half of the well-known high-rank Ability Users in the country today came from the three top universities!

Half!

That was an incredibly terrifying proportion.

After all, there were thousands of Ability Universities nationwide.

Plus, many others had studied at foreign Ability Universities before returning home.

Yet, the total number of powerful individuals produced by all these domestic and foreign schools combined was barely equal to that of the three top universities.

This alone proved the profound depth of the three top universities!

More importantly, it was the Ability Cultivation Methods.

As the foundation for an Ability User's advancement, these methods varied greatly in quality—and their cultivation speeds differed immensely!

For example.

Using the worst beginner-level psychic cultivation method, most awakened individuals need three to four years to advance to the rank of psychic.

However, if one cultivates using a top-tier psychic cultivation method, advancement can be achieved in less than half a year!

According to the information Xu Jingming found, most of the top-tier psychic cultivation methods in Great Xia are stored in the libraries of the three elite universities!

"No wonder online rumors claim the three elite universities are tyrannical academic cliques, refusing to release their cultivation scriptures..."

Xu Jingming suddenly understood, but he didn't care much about it.

How precious are top-tier psychic cultivation methods?

Trying to coerce universities into sharing these elite techniques through public opinion is unthinkable.

"Ding dong~~~"

Just as he was about to continue reviewing the materials, the doorbell rang outside.

"Who could be here so early? Could it be my aunt?"

With curiosity, Xu Jingming rose and walked out of his bedroom, opening the door.

At the door stood two beautiful women, one tall and one small.

The taller one was in her thirties, dressed in elegant attire with refined features.

The younger one was about Xu Jingming's age, tall and slender, with a face seven or eight tenths similar to the taller woman's, but colder and more distant.

These two were indeed his aunt Xu Qingwan and his cousin Tang Qi.

"Aunt, cousin."

Xu Jingming smiled and called out, leading them into the living room.

Yet awkwardly, due to yesterday's psychic evolution, his entire living room resembled a fire-ravaged ruin.

Not only had the floors and walls been charred black, but all the furniture—the sofa, the coffee table—had been reduced to ash.

The spacious living room had not a single place to sit.

"Xiaoming, did your house catch fire?"

Seeing this, Aunt Xu Qingwan panicked immediately, grabbing Xu Jingming to inspect him closely: "When did this happen? Were you hurt?"

"Just a small accident, nothing serious."

Looking at his worried aunt, a warm feeling flowed through Xu Jingming's heart.

After his parents passed away, only his aunt brought him the warmth of family.

"Good, good, you're unharmed."

Aunt Xu Qingwan sighed in relief, then said: "I came here mainly to ask about your Wu Ke Gaokao results from yesterday."

"Didn't Cousin Qi tell you?" Xu Jingming asked, surprised.

"I thought it would be better if you told Mom yourself, so I didn't say anything," replied Cousin Tang Qi with a sly smile.

"I see."

Xu Jingming nodded. "Let's go downstairs and find a place to sit and talk."

Xu Jingming led them downstairs to a coffee shop he often visited, called "Chen Guang Xiao Dian," beside the residential complex.

It was around ten in the morning, and the coffee shop wasn't very crowded.

Xu Jingming found a window seat and ordered three hot coffees.

Chen Guang Xiao Dian didn't sell premium hand-ground coffee.

So, shortly after, the server brought three steaming cups of coffee to the table.

"Here you go, ladies."

The server left with a warm smile.

"Can we finally reveal the mystery?"

Aunt Xu Qingwan smiled, holding her coffee cup. "Your sister made such a mystery—she's just afraid I'll beat you up like I used to when you were little."

Don't worry—think about it, since you entered high school, when have I ever beaten you?

Even when you wanted to take the Wu Ke Gaokao, didn't I agree?

Even if your score this time is terrible, I won't beat you."

Listening to his aunt's words, Xu Jingming awkwardly rubbed his nose.

His aunt was a typical Jiangnan woman—gentle and refined—except when there was an end-of-term exam.

Once his grades slipped, he'd face the painful punishment of bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat.

And he couldn't resist.

After all, when his parents died, he was only eleven—his aunt was the government-designated legal guardian...

"Mom, don't worry, my cousin won't disappoint you this time."

Seeing her mother misunderstand her intent, Tang Qi quickly explained.

"Oh? Really? So your score this time was good? How many points? Did you get over a hundred?"

Aunt Xu Qingwan's eyes lit up, pressing urgently.

One hundred points was the nationally recognized minimum passing score.

Scoring above one hundred meant a chance to enter a psychic university.

"I got a hundred."

Xu Jingming nodded with a smile. "And far more than a hundred—I got ten thousand."

"T-ten thousand?!"

The score was so shocking that Aunt Xu Qingwan's beautiful eyes widened, and she froze in stunned silence.