After the short ruckus the elder and the official had made, it was then made known that the results of those who had successfully entered the one hundred batch (pass limit), and the top five batch, would be announced the following day.
For this particular day, it was meant for recuperation from injuries. It was also made known that it was forbidden to discuss about one's personal experience in the portal to anyone; co-examinees included. As a result, I was relieved about not having to inform anyone that I have a... ferocious monster... scratch that... a cute dragon cub, in my recluse ring. Sighs.
That evening after dinner, we were then separated according to our respective genders and taken to the city hall's guest rooms which followed a ten-per-room system. Fortunately, there were just enough beds in each bunks. Guess who my bunkie was... yeah, that's right — Lian'er!
Earlier, after the "perfect score" scene, she was so curious to know more about me. We discussed at length, but I never mentioned anything about coming from another planet. After all, she did most of the talking. Through our interchange of words, I got to learn that, just like me, Lian'er was a Transcendent Mortal realm pinnacle stage cultivator!
She did have a recluse ring, but unlike me, that was all. No storage ring. She was the proud owner of an all-knowledge black owl, of the same cultivation realm as herself. She couldn't stop bragging about how it took her "just" half a year to be able to tame it. I could only fake curiousness as I listened on. Due to my experience with other folks, if I were to show her my savage beasts and tell how I got them... she would surely puke mouthfuls of blood and die in shame. Nah-ah... from today henceforth, I've vowed to live under two words: low profile.
As night enveloped the Arerat City, I could only lie silently on the top bunk I was given, listening to the soft snores (nothing disgusting) from the lower bunk that carried Lian'er. Then, my mind began to draft to other matters, such as my experience in the Ancient Reality continent.
Suddenly thinking about a matter, I quickly drove my consciousness into my recluse ring. Due to the possession of true essence, cultivators could materialise themselves (illusionary) into their storage/recluse rings without the physical body leaving its spot; just through the control of the mind.
Materialising into the small space in my recluse ring, I summoned all my savage beasts before me. Looking around, I realised that in terms of spiritual energy, the energy within this recluse ring did not pale much in comparison to Arerat City.
Roy swooshed down, followed by Little Wolfy and, finally, Frosty (the black frost glacier-dragon).
I began to address Roy and Little Wolfy.
"I was unable to find a suitable cultivation technique for you guys, back at the Acorn Valley, but I'm positive I'd be able to raise your cultivation levels once I become a student of the Junior Academy of the Gifted, just you wait!"
After observing their individual cultivations, I realised that, just by absorbing the spiritual energy in the air, they could continue purifying their bones, marrows and meridians! Noticing the big difference between the Beast clan and us, humans, I advised that they kept up with what they were doing and see if they could each make a breakthrough in a short while.
Next, I observed Frosty, and to my surprise, it had regained its cultivation from Cultivation Deciphering realm to Transcendent Mortal realm advanced stage!
When its cultivation was reversed, back then at the Ancient Reality continent, its cultivation level had fallen from Spirit realm to Cultivation Deciphering. Hence, it was a big wonder how it was able to continue advancing forward in just almost a day! However, a fact was, the Spirit realm was just too far away.
"We of the Dragon tribe have our own unique cultivation techniques restricted to our tribe. Since I've advanced all these steps before, I naturally still have the ability to repeat these steps," it explained.
I nodded, then observed it. It was only then that I realised its size had doubled from before. From its four metre length, it had now advanced to an eight-metre length! Its wings had also regained much of its scales. I tossed my remaining spirit stones to it, from my storage ring. Since it was my tamed beast, there wasn't any need to be stingy to it. Especially when it really needed it at this moment.
Having nothing else to do, I returned my consciousness from the ring and closed my eyes to sleep. Strangely, it was as though the room was soundproof, no croaks from the omnipresent frogs tonight. One word for that: blissful.
* * *
"Awake!" a voice thundered into my head, causing me to almost roll down from my bed.
I slowly raised my head up until to realise it was morning. Some girls, about four in number, stared at me with crossed arms, others had their hands scrubbing the thick curls on their heads.
"What?" I muttered.
"Where you on a vigil all night long?" one of the girls asked. It was Lian'er, I could finally see.
Thinking for a moment, I shook my head.
"Then why were you so deep at sleep? You're a cultivator, for crying out loud! Cultivators are extremely sensitive to their environment. We've all been screaming in your ears and you didn't even budge a bit. I had to use a secret technique, just now, in making you wake, depleting half of my true essence in my dantian." Lian'er's nagging voice, though serious, sounded so cute that I almost said "awwn", but good thing I didn't, she could probably have gone all out on me.
"What's a dantian?" I asked.
She stared at me for some time, bit her lip, then walked away. I simply shrugged and looked at someone else.
"So why're you all wont on waking me up?"
"We've got to assemble for our results, remember?" one of the girls replied, then waved off, walking away.
The others dispersed off to brush their hairs, while I just sat up and watched on, lazily. Flicking my wrist, a mirror and brush appeared in my hands, from my storage ring. I admired my smooth face (still with those, now cute, face spots) before combing my hair and packing it with a pin. I then walked into the changing room and did a split-second change of dress, and a quick bath.
"Time to kick out!" I said, walking out on wide strides. With the aid of an attendant, I arrived before the city centre's hall, once more.
The room was already flooded with lots of punctual folks.
"I heard that this year, like every other time, the academy's going to be recruiting just one hundred students."
"Sigh. I'm not so confident in my results, I did so badly in the test. And look just how many talented people are here. Back in my clan, I was like a shining star. But here, I'm like an ant before a behemoth. Tsk tsk."
"Don't lose hope, just yet. If your made use of your gifts inside the portal, you probably might be assigned for other fitting professions."
"Hmm... I think I've also heard something like that in the past. Those beast tamers whose gifts were in line with movement formations or thaumaturgy could earn themselves a place in the other schools of the Junior Academy of the Gifted."
"Un. That's right."
As I waited for the elders to appear once more, the conversation from two scholars beside me drew in my attention.
I began to wonder if my "perfect score" was in the field of beast taming or some other profession. Although I'd rather have wanted to successfully get into the school of beast taming in the academy.
* * *
As expected, soon after everyone had settled down for the announcement, after waiting patiently for the first one hundred to be listed, I finally heard my name, right there at the top place. Since the elder and official of the previous day had already dropped the spoiler, no one, not even myself, was surprised to hear this.
Around me, I was surrounded by both jubilant and despondent people. Some heard their names, others didn't. Some had their names announced in an alternative profession, still... others didn't.
I was more than surprise to find out that Lian'er ranked second on the list, just right below me. At least, for myself, I can say my gift earned me a dragon, and that was more than enough to get me into the first place... but her? What exactly did she encounter? Too bad one couldn't pry into these things.
Soon after, we repeated the activities of the previous day; lunch, dinner, sleep, then anticipate the following day. I still hadn't learnt a lot in cultivation, so I couldn't while my impatience by cultivating. I didn't spend my time with the savage beasts either. I just slept off after dinner, like everyone else.