Chapter Fifty-Two: Recruitment and Guaranteed Admission

Fortunately, Joanna didn’t think much of it. She scoffed, “Prince Charming? More like a fly stuck in a dung heap!”

By this time, they were nearing the academic block, and the group began to split off toward their respective classrooms. Elijia asked in confusion, “Joanna, what did you agree to do for Luo Chen just now?”

Joanna pursed her lips. “Lily, someone’s offering a free meal, and I don’t have to pay a cent. Why shouldn’t I go?”

“Oh, please. I know exactly what kind of person you are. What’s the scheme this time? Out with it.”

Joanna put on an aggrieved, innocent look. “Lily, don’t make me out to be some scheming villain, alright? I’m really quite kind-hearted, you know. I just couldn’t turn down such a heartfelt invitation, so I agreed.”

Elijia scoffed, “If you’re kind-hearted, then I must be the goddess of compassion!”

Unable to withstand Elijia’s relentless questioning, Joanna shrugged. “Alright, I admit it—I just want to eat him penniless. Lily, have you forgotten? Last time I treated everyone, that kid ate four meals’ worth using my meal tickets! Every time I think about it, it’s like a knife twisting in my heart. Oh, my poor wallet!”

Elijia nearly fainted. “That’s your reason? Honestly, Miss Joanna, how old are you? Acting like a child! If people found out that the head of our Disciplinary Committee is this childish, they’d laugh their heads off. And by the way, didn’t you deliberately pile Luo Chen’s plate with fatty meat last time? He ate every last bit and didn’t waste a crumb—was that wrong?”

Joanna muttered, “Exactly, because he ate it all, I didn’t even have an excuse to scold him. Anyway, I’m going to make up for it. My living expenses, my poor wallet—I want him to pay me back double!”

Elijia sighed helplessly. “Joanna, I really can’t with you. Do whatever you want.”

After assembly, the students from each class proceeded to the trial arena. The monthly assessments for first and second years had been suspended; today was set aside entirely for the third-year end-of-month examination. Still, first- and second-year students gathered in the arena as well.

Compared to usual, a tense and solemn atmosphere hung over this final monthly assessment. After all, this test was considered a prelude to the graduation exams and would largely determine their fates.

Though advancing to a higher martial academy was not the only path to success, for the vast majority, it was the best way to rise above humble origins, gain higher social status, and acquire fame and fortune.

Before the test began, homeroom teachers rallied their classes, each with their own approach. The contrast between Class Five and Class Six was especially stark.

Jason, the mentor of Luo Chen’s Class Six, spoke in a gentle tone: “Don’t be nervous, everyone. Whether it’s the final monthly assessment or the graduation exam, treat it like your regular practice. Believe in your abilities; don’t burden yourselves with unnecessary pressure.”

Meanwhile, the infamous old witch Donna, who taught Elijia’s Class Five, shrieked, “Listen up, all of you! If you can’t get into an advanced martial academy, you’ll be forced to make a living as third-rate warriors, wandering the land!”

Different motivational tactics led to different results: the students of Class Six felt relatively at ease, while those in Class Five were instantly weighed down by immense pressure.

The arena’s VIP stands were already filled. Besides the headmaster, administrators, and instructors of Westin Academy, there were many unfamiliar faces—these were recruitment tutors from the six advanced martial academies of the Canglan Continent.

They had come to Westin Academy not only for recruitment but also on another errand. Each recruitment tutor held five guaranteed admission slots. Students who received one could bypass the voluntary application process and gain direct entry into the respective academy. Of course, students could decline this offer and opt to compete in the graduation exam, aiming for an academy they preferred more.

In the end, those who both received and accepted these guaranteed slots were rarely the most outstanding students, since ninety-nine percent of top students from every junior academy chose Blue Emperor Academy. Thus, the slots typically went to those who were excellent, but not quite at the very top. The offering academies often sweetened the deal with perks, such as placement in elite classes under the best tutors or waived fees, making the offer quite attractive. Even students confident in getting into Blue Emperor sometimes accepted the guaranteed offer instead.

Some students possessed special talents—perhaps an exceptional gift for agility or masterful skill with concealed weapons. Such students might also be granted a guaranteed slot by a recruiting tutor. Since Blue Emperor Academy would have already claimed the most outstanding students, the other academies had to take a different approach. If they could cultivate someone with an extraordinary specialty, it would still bring prestige to their institution.

Aside from Blue Emperor Academy, the other five top academies on the Canglan Continent—including Yale Academy—were not significantly inferior in quality. However, their recruitment power could not compare to Blue Emperor’s, so they all vied to attract top talent with the allure of guaranteed admission. There were twenty-four junior academies in total, each with five guaranteed slots, making one hundred and twenty students—a significant number, enough to ensure that even the regular advanced academies could boast a respectable roster.

For this reason, each academy sent a team of recruitment tutors to scrutinize the monthly assessment, hoping to spot overlooked talent.

This year, nearly all the recruitment tutors sent to Westin Academy had set their sights on a single target: Shi Feng.

The six advanced martial academies and twenty-four junior martial academies interacted regularly, and during recruitment season, the tutors stayed at the junior academies for some time to get to know the incoming students. As a result, they were generally familiar with each academy’s students, especially the exceptional ones like Elijia, Joanna, Kevin, and Shi Feng. Their backgrounds, personalities, and combat skills had all been thoroughly investigated.

Shi Feng was exactly the kind of student who drew the focused attention of every recruitment tutor from the advanced academies. Under ordinary circumstances, someone of Shi Feng’s caliber would only be considered by Blue Emperor Academy, with no chance for the others. But this stallion of a young man was not one to be measured by common sense. He was so nonchalant that he might even choose his academy by rolling dice, simply to avoid the hassle of making a proper decision. In other words, he was a big fish that might slip through the usual net—and a very big fish indeed—one that every academy coveted.