Gu Yi eventually kept his promise and sent Tang Yuehua back to Moon Pavillion. However, before leaving, Tang Yuehua had given him a fierce pinch.
Gu Yi pretended to cry out in pain, understanding that it was fair since he had taken advantage of her. Wiping the red mark on his face, he couldn't help but feel that it was actually quite nice.
......
The next day.
The day of the academy's enrollment officially began.
Gu Yi got up early. He had only set one test for this enrollment. Walking through his Evil Domain and into the academy would be considered a successful admission.
In his vision, Tianwen Academy shouldn't just be a place for training spirit masters. It should foster a variety of talents, akin to the hundred schools of thought during the Qin Dynasty in his previous world. Of course, he couldn't compare to those ancient sages; it was just an idea.
The actual results would be revealed later.
Seeing the crowd of children and adults outside, he opened the main gate. To showcase his strength, Gu Yi used the energy of heaven and earth to write a line in the air:
"Walking through the gate means successful admission."
He then stood at the academy gate, revealing his sixth spirit ring, the deep black ring stirring the hearts of everyone present.
Gu Yi didn't extend the Evil Domain too far, only about nine meters.
"Dean Gu, is it true that simply walking into the academy counts as successful admission?"
A father asked nervously. He was just a commoner, blessed with a son who had awakened spirit power, becoming a spirit master, but with poor talent, no high-level spirit master academy would accept him.
Lacking the extra funds to curry favor with nobles, he came here upon hearing about Tianwen Academy, hoping for an opportunity. An opportunity to rise in status. As long as his son could succeed, it was all worth it.
"That's right. As long as your age is appropriate and you can walk through the academy gate, you are admitted."
The questioning father pushed his son forward. "Hurry up and seize the opportunity, get in there!"
The teenage boy, standing beside his father, looked longingly at the academy gate, knowing that entering meant he could achieve everything he wanted. Wealth, beauty, power—all within his grasp.
The others just watched coldly. It wasn't that they didn't want their children to enter this academy, but Gu Yi's requirements were peculiar.
Other academies, no matter how inferior, would at least compare martial spirits, and spirit power to select the best.
Moreover, Gu Yi had just revealed a ten-thousand-year spirit ring, making the situation even more intriguing.
Having someone else test the waters first saved them the trouble.
The boy took only one step before freezing in place, his eyes vacant, seemingly enraptured by something beautiful.
As the domain's master, with the added power of the Evil God Bead, Gu Yi understood the boy's thoughts.
Desiring power, wealth, and beauty wasn't wrong, but he had already been corrupted by his desires, willing to do anything to achieve these, even forsaking familial bonds. Within a few minutes, the boy had only taken three steps, each slower than the last. In the end, his expression turned hideous as the evil energy invaded his mind.
At the last moment, Gu Yi absorbed the evil energy back. "You failed. This place is not for you." Gu Yi spoke to the boy, who had only taken three steps. His requirements weren't strict. He hadn't even fully released the Evil Domain, yet the boy still failed. This indicated how unstable the boy's mind and willpower were.
"What's going on?" No one present understood why he had failed.
Given his mastery of the Evil Domain, unless one was extremely powerful, they wouldn't feel anything without entering the domain.
The boy's case was just an interlude, and soon someone else attempted the challenge.
This time, a girl easily walked into the academy.
"Congratulations, you've succeeded."
The girl was confused, not expecting success to come so easily.
"Really? My martial spirit is just a small knife, and my innate spirit power is only level four. Can I still join?" The girl looked at Gu Yi in disbelief, even though he had already said she succeeded, she still mentioned her martial spirit and spirit power.
"Of course. As I said, if you can walk in, you're one of us. Zhu Zhuqing, take her to handle the admission procedures. After that, you can go home and rest. Come back in seven days." Gu Yi instructed Zhu Zhuqing, standing behind him.
Today, there were many people coming to enroll, and he couldn't manage alone, so he had asked Zhu Zhuqing and others to help.
"It's that easy? Didn't the boy just now struggle to walk?"
The stark contrast made everyone present doubt what was happening. Gradually, more people attempted the challenge. Some failed, some succeeded, but most failed.
However, they managed to enroll a dozen or so young boys and girls with good temperaments.
"The Pope is here." Someone shouted, and a path soon opened up to Tianwen Academy.
In the midst of the crowd, a majestic figure emerged, holding a scepter, the pope's robes shining brightly.
"Oh my, the Pope is actually here."
"Greetings, Your Holiness."
Everyone knelt on one knee before Pope Bibi Dong, not out of compulsion, but out of respect.
Bibi Dong looked at the boy she had only read about in letters, feeling a sense of kinship, especially with the domain he had expanded, which felt familiar. She had intended only to see this boy, rumored to be an unparalleled genius, but found an unexpected delight.
Gu Yi didn't kneel but looked Bibi Dong straight in the eye.
"Impressive technique. Let it be known that any student graduating from Tianwen Academy can join the Spirit Hall unconditionally. This decree is permanent." Bibi Dong's words caused a huge stir. Previously, whether it was from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the Moon Pavillion, it was merely promotion.
But now, with the Spirit Hall's highest authority, the Pope, personally promising, the credibility was much higher. It was like a civil service job in his previous life; as long as you entered Tianwen Academy, you had a secure future.
"Thank you, Your Holiness." Gu Yi knew when to be appreciative. Bibi Dong's words were undoubtedly helping him.
"Go ahead and try." At Bibi Dong's command, a few teenagers behind her stepped forward. They were clearly going to attempt the admission test.
Seeing this, the crowd became interested in how many from the renowned Spirit Hall would be able to succeed.
(End of chapter)