Chapter 95

Amidst the murmurs of the upperclassmen in the spectator stands, new students gradually entered the courtyard.

Xu Jingming and the four others, including Song Qiuyun, also walked in at this moment.

"Is this… a fighting platform?"

Seeing the massive fighting platform in the courtyard, measuring 1000 meters on each side, Xu Jingming was stunned.

Damn, even if the school has plenty of land, is this really necessary?

"My teacher mentioned before that the Freshman Competition would involve a hundred-person free-for-all; a larger platform is only natural."

Song Qiuyun smiled faintly.

"A hundred-person free-for-all? Then a bigger platform does make sense." Xu Jingming understood.

His teacher had taken his senior brother away for treatment, leaving him nowhere to ask about the Freshman Competition's format.

He was completely in the dark about the competition's rules.

"Let's go over to the podium."

The opening ceremony would not be held on the fighting platform.

In front of the podium was an open area, where the new students would gather.

When Xu Jingming and the four others approached, nearly five or six hundred fully armed new students were already there.

The podium ahead already had teachers seated.

Except for Dean Yang Zhentian of the Weaponry Academy, all four other deans were present.

Additionally, the lecturers had taken their seats according to their respective academies.

Unlike teachers like Zhang Chaoyang, who handled admissions, these lecturers were all at least sixth-rank.

A single seat had been reserved at the very front of the podium, but it remained empty for now.

Since there were no academy or class divisions, no specific zones had been marked out on the open ground.

Xu Jingming and the four others found a random spot to stand and waited for the opening ceremony to begin.

As the number of students on the open ground continued to grow.

The time soon reached nine o'clock sharp.

It was at this moment.

Hum—

A soft hum suddenly sounded.

All the new students looked up—and saw above the podium.

Space seemed to be abruptly sliced open, forming a door!

The next instant,

A slender woman, barefoot, stepped out wearing a classical red robe, a tear mole beneath her eye.

Her cold, exquisite face carried a faint air of authority!

'Is this… a Spatial Ability? Is she the vice-president who guards the Combat Techniques Library?!'

Xu Jingming, standing on the open ground, was internally startled and immediately deduced her identity.

He hadn't expected this vice-president to be so young.

Judging by her appearance, she looked barely twenty-five or twenty-six.

Of course,

Ability users possess powerful physiques and age slowly; estimated age based on appearance is often inaccurate.

But it was certain: this vice-president's age was certainly no more than forty!

The new students were somewhat surprised by this suddenly appearing beautiful woman.

Yet, on the open ground, few spoke or murmured—in fact, it was even quieter than before.

After all, those who had passed the entrance exam for Magic Capital Ability University were no fools.

To gossip about such a powerful figure right under her nose? That was asking for death.

The woman in red stepped barefoot through the air, her robe fluttering, her long hair streaming in the wind.

"Let me introduce myself—I am Ling Shuang, one of the university's three vice-presidents, responsible for guarding the Combat Techniques Library.

Since the president is away and the other two vice-presidents are occupied with urgent duties,

I will preside over this year's opening ceremony."

The woman in red spoke coldly, her voice echoing across the entire courtyard.

"First, welcome to Magic Capital Ability University.

This year's incoming class totals 1024 students, including six provincial top scorers.

Fifty-six A-rank Ability users, eight hundred thirty-two B-rank Ability users, and one hundred thirty-five C- and D-rank Ability users.

Additionally, there is one exceedingly rare S-rank Ability awakened."

As she spoke, Xu Jingming below felt the vice-president Ling Shuang's gaze briefly sweep over him.

Before this, both new and upperclassmen had learned on the student forum that this year's intake included an S-rank Ability awakened.

Now that the school officially confirmed it, few showed much surprise.

In midair, Ling Shuang's voice rang clear:

"Since Magic Capital Ability University's founding 213 years ago, we have trained future Grand Masters, Supreme Grand Masters, even Martial Saints!

And we have produced countless high-rank Ability users!

One could say: if you enter Magic Capital, and you work hard, you will inevitably carve out your own domain.

And with your arrival, Magic Capital will become even more glorious!"

Hearing Ling Shuang's voice belonged to the rather cold and aloof type, yet the freshmen on the field still listened with surging hearts.

Seventh-Order Grandmaster! Eighth-Order Great Grandmaster! Ninth-Order Wu Sheng!

These were the ultimate goals they yearned for!

"To help you grow stronger, the school distributes resources every academic year based on your rating.

Ratings range from D-class to S-class, five grades in total, and the amount of resources each rating receives per academic year differs.

The Freshman Grand Competition, as well as the tests at the end of every academic year, both offer chances to change your rating."

After a brief pause, Hearing Ling Shuang continued:

"Besides these freely distributed resources, the school also has resources that can only be obtained by meeting certain conditions.

For example, the Combat Power Rankings—four lists from First Order to Fourth Order. As long as you rank high enough on the Combat Power Rankings, you can likewise obtain large amounts of resources.

Additionally, you should all be clear on the importance of credits—one credit is equivalent to ten thousand Great Xia coins.

At our school, only credits are recognized; Great Xia coins are not.

Credits can be obtained by completing missions or by climbing the Combat Power Rankings.

I'll only briefly outline these related contents here. For those who want a detailed understanding—

after the class assignments, just ask the counselor of your respective class."

"Rating system, credit system, Combat Power Rankings, mission system... feels like the competition at Magic Capital University is intense!"

Among the crowd of freshmen, someone murmured a remark in a low voice.

Indeed, just hearing these brief outlines was enough to feel the heavy pressure rushing in.

"Right? Might as well scrap these systems—wouldn't that be fairer to us?" someone complained.

"Fair?"

Hearing Ling Shuang in midair seemed to have heard this as well, and her aura suddenly shifted.

The aura of an Eighth-Order Great Grandmaster erupted fully, the red garments rustling with a soft swish.

Her long hair streamed behind her, and the overwhelming pressure silenced the entire field!

"When did I ever say Magic Capital University was fair?"

Hearing Ling Shuang said, word by word, while her gaze slowly swept across those below.

Every freshman whose eyes met hers felt as though pricked by a needle and hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to meet her gaze.

"We are a top-tier academy. The nation pours massive resources into us every year.

Not because it wants us to produce a batch of ordinary ability users at First Order or Second Order.

But to cultivate top-tier strong ones who possess the potential of the strong, strong enough to intimidate an entire region in the future!

The birth of the strong must go through brutal competition!

Whether credits, combat technique manuals, or cultivation resources—you all need to fight for them, to seize them!

Fairness is the comfort zone of the weak. Magic Capital University has never had fairness! The strong take all—that is the norm!"

After Vice Principal Hearing Ling Shuang finished her words, some freshmen fell silent.

Clearly, Magic Capital University's somewhat cruel competition system exceeded their expectations.

But many freshmen also had their eyes shining, their fighting spirit soaring—Xu Jingming was one of them.

"A competition mechanism like this—looks like coming to Magic Capital Ability University was the right choice!"

Xu Jingming couldn't help but nod inwardly.

Indeed, only a system like this could cultivate top-tier strong ones!

Distributing resources evenly to every single student would be the dumbest approach!

Of course,

the school has not abandoned the other students with weaker talent either.

The resources fixedly distributed each academic year based on rating are enough to let these students improve as well.