Chapter 1843: 1840: Spiritual Academy Test!
Chapter 1843: Chapter 1840: Spiritual Academy Test!
The next day, the sun was shining brightly!
Li Chen, Zhao Qinglan, and their group arrived at the central plaza where the Imperial College was located.
This central plaza was vast, spanning several hundred square kilometers, teeming with people, bustling with activity.
Imperial College consisted of five main faculties.
They were generally divided into the Spiritual Academy, Martial Arts Academy, Literature College, Military Academy, and the Magic College.
Among them, the Spiritual Academy, home to the cultivators, held the highest prestige among the five faculties.
As long as one could enter the Spiritual Academy, it was truly like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, with limitless potential for the future.
Students from the other four faculties often felt dwarfed in the presence of those from the Spiritual Academy.
The Martial Arts Academy is for martial cultivators, who mostly enhance their combat abilities through physical training. Generally, after graduation, they become generals guarding the empire’s borders, or sought-after figures in major escort agencies and mercenary groups.
The Literature College is similar to ancient scholars on Earth, focusing on governance studies, or writing and producing exquisite works. Graduates often become civil officials within the empire.
The Military Academy, as the name implies, focuses on military tactics, with graduates mainly seeking roles as think tanks or military leaders.
The Magic College, also known as the Mixed College, is very diverse. It includes medicine, the eight diagrams, engineering, commerce, agriculture, and law, all present here.
To participate in the entrance exams at the Imperial College, one must pay a certain fee.
Among them, the Spiritual Academy has the highest fee, requiring 100 lower-grade spirit stones per person.
The Martial Arts Academy follows, requiring 30 lower-grade spirit stones.
As for the Literature College, Military Academy, and Magic College, they only require 20 lower-grade spirit stones each.
Upon hearing about the expenses, the disciples from Zhao Village were shocked, clicking their tongues in disbelief.
Fortunately, on their way here, they looted the hideout of the Qingfeng Thief, acquiring a considerable windfall.
Otherwise, even if they had arrived at the Imperial College, they couldn’t afford such high examination fees.
At least, the Spiritual Academy’s examination was out of reach.
Even so, some of them had to forgo applying for the Spiritual Academy’s examination.
Among the twenty-seven people, three went to take the Spiritual Academy’s entrance exam.
That included Zhao Qinglan.
Fifteen went to the Martial Arts Academy examination.
Two went to the Literature College examination.
Two went to the Military Academy examination.
The remaining five went to the Magic College examination.
“Brother Li Chen, which academy’s examination are you taking?”
Zhao Qinglan asked eagerly, her bright eyes shimmering as she looked at Li Chen.
Li Chen thought for a moment and replied, “I’ll go to the Spiritual Academy!”
Upon hearing Li Chen’s answer, Zhao Qinglan giggled like a child who had just eaten honey.
Afterward, Li Chen, Zhao Qinglan, along with two others, Zhao Yunfeng and Zhao Yifei, headed to the Spiritual Academy’s examination.
When paying the application fee, Zhao Yunfeng and Zhao Yifei, carrying the heavy 100 lower-grade spirit stones, looked pained.
One must know, 100 lower-grade spirit stones could well sustain their households for three years with plenty to spare.
“If we fail the exam, would these 100 spirit stones not be wasted?” Zhao Yunfeng said, feeling the pinch.
Despite the pain, Zhao Yifei, true to his name, dreamed of soaring to great heights, and naturally wouldn’t let go of such an opportunity.
“You can’t catch a wolf without risking the child; if we pass the Spiritual Academy’s exam, it will all be worth it!”
Hearing Zhao Yifei’s reassurance, Zhao Qingfeng also bit his lip and nodded firmly.
The conversation between Zhao Yifei and Zhao Qingfeng made Zhao Qinglan look a little nervous.
She clenched her small fists and asked Li Chen, “Brother Li Chen, do you think I can pass the exam?”
Li Chen smiled gently at Zhao Qinglan, encouraging her, “Don’t worry, you certainly will!”
Hearing Li Chen’s encouragement, Zhao Qinglan smiled brightly and waved her small fists, saying, “Then let’s all work hard together!”
After paying the registration fees, they received a jade token.
The back was engraved with the Imperial College’s iconic building, the Spiritual Pagoda.
The front bore a number.
Li Chen’s number was 9527.
This indicated that there were at least 9526 applicants before him.
After getting his registration number, Li Chen and Zhao Qinglan proceeded to the Spiritual Academy’s exam site.
Though the Spiritual Academy’s registration fee was the highest,
the examination site was still crowded.
As for the exam itself, it was quite simple.
At the center of the plaza, there were ten dark steles set up.
These were the Spirit Testing Steles, mainly used to test for the presence and type of spirit roots.
In addition, the luminous star grid could evaluate the aptitude level of the spirit root.
The luminous star grid was divided into nine stars.
One star being the lowest, nine stars the best.
One to three stars were called Human Spiritual Root.
Four to six stars were called Earth Spirit Root.
Seven to nine stars were called Heavenly Spirit Root.
However, most students did not have a spirit root.
Even if they did have one, they were typically only Human Spiritual Roots with one to three stars.
Only a very few geniuses could achieve an Earth Spirit Root.
As for a Heavenly Spirit Root, it was essentially a rare occurrence, as rare as the phoenix’s feather or the unicorn’s horn.
“Number 5346, no spirit root!”
“Number 5679, no spirit root!”
“Number 5699, Wood Spirit Root, aptitude value one star!”
“Number 6038, Earth Spirit Root, aptitude value three stars!”
…
The examiners announced the data from the Spirit Testing Steles repeatedly.
Those who learned they had no spirit root left dejected one by one.
While those with spirit roots were excitedly dancing with joy, reminiscent of Fan Jin celebrating passing the imperial examination in ’The Scholars’.
“Number 9521, Gold Spirit Root, aptitude value five stars!”
Upon hearing of someone with a five-star aptitude, everybody present couldn’t help but brighten.
Many cast envious and jealous looks toward him.
“Wow, who is this? To have a five-star aptitude, that’s an Earth Spirit Root, isn’t it?”
“Of all those here for the exam today, his aptitude is the highest!”
Suddenly, someone recognized the individual’s identity and immediately exclaimed in excitement.
“Isn’t that the Qin Family’s prodigy, Qin Yang?”
“The same Qin Yang who, at just twelve years old, single-handedly killed a Third-level Demonic Beast, the Thorny Tiger?”
“Indeed, it’s him. No wonder he could single-handedly take down a Third-level Demonic Beast Thorny Tiger; turns out he has a five-star aptitude!”
…
Listening to the praise, the young man named Qin Yang appeared a bit complacent.
He gazed down condescendingly at those below, complacent as he absorbed their envy and admiration.
When his gaze landed on Zhao Qinglan’s charming and delicate face, his expression flickered slightly.
His pupils revealed a gleam of admiration.
At that moment, Zhao Qinglan, glancing at Li Chen, said with admiration, “Brother Li Chen, this person has a five-star aptitude, how amazing!”
Li Chen’s expression remained calm and unbothered, showing no envy, much less jealousy.
He smiled gently at Zhao Qinglan and said, “Qinglan, you might prove to be even more outstanding than him!”