The director and a professor from Taibai University arrived the next day. After secretly meeting outside and a rematch of swordsmanship, the visiting professor was very satisfied and directly stated, "Meng Yu, you don't need to attend your senior year of high school anymore. You can join us at Taibai University's affiliated school right now, and once you graduate early from junior year, you can directly enter Taibai University. We will provide you with the best scholarship and additional rewards."
Meng Yu expressed his gratitude and said there was no need to transfer schools, as he would prefer to finish his studies at Yuquan Middle School. After all, it was just over a year left, and he still wanted to participate in the college entrance examination. It wasn't just an ordinary test, after all—it was Immortal Sect's biggest event of the year. In addition to the standard examination, there was a perk where high school students worldwide would enter the same virtual world to fight to the death, determining who was the strongest among them.
He could sign with Taibai University in advance, but the college entrance exam was something he didn't want to miss. Transferring schools now could lead to being labeled an exam migrant, which could bring unwanted trouble.
The global college entrance examination would determine the rankings of various middle schools and more.
The senior professor understood Meng Yu's feelings. Anyone would be reluctant to miss the grand occasion of the global college entrance exam, where ninety million high school graduates would slaughter each other in a virtual world battle royale... Ah no, fiercely compete to decide who was the strongest. Whether it was a chance for revenge or an opportunity to make a name for oneself, no one would want to miss out on this feast.
"No problem, we will support you fully. Right, let's prepare your equipment now so you can get accustomed to it," the professor said.
Everyone hoped Meng Yu could go further in the global college entrance competition—also known colloquially as the global betting league—and soon everyone would see, wow, this top student has been scouted by Taibai University!
"Thank you, teacher," Meng Yu said.
Meng Yu was very happy; after signing, Taibai University lent him a set of Minor Divine Gear.
The global college entrance competition was also known sarcastically as the show-off competition, wealth-flaunting contest, and the joyous participation race for the poor. The gear of the descendants of Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators compared to that of ordinary people was not on the same level at all. Although Spirit Talismans must be crafted personally, it would be impossible to reach the end without good equipment!
Even though only First Grade equipment could be used, there was still a considerable difference between First Grade items.
A First Grade Perfect Flying Crane Cloud-Drifting Sword, forged from the feathers of a millennium-old cloud crane and more than a dozen precious materials, suited Meng Yu's White Crane Swordsmanship perfectly. It was lightweight and exceptionally sharp.
A vestment robe made from Phoenix Plume, with very high defense capable of withstanding dozens of hits from the likes of Teacher Chen, and additional features like speed enhancement, was part of the gear.
A Golden Eight-Gate Diagram at the peak of Second Order, which is not allowed in the college entrance competition, was given to him for self-defense. Deploying it, he could resist a full-force attack from a Foundation Establishment expert for three minutes, which would be hard for someone in the Qi Refinement Realm to break through.
"You must always carry the Golden Eight-Gate Diagram with you to ensure your safety. We've become friends now. Come to me during the summer vacation, and I will teach you well, so you can excel in next year's competition!" the Foundation Establishment professor said with great satisfaction.
Meng Yu was a good kid with no issues in character, and although his Inner Strength Cultivation was a bit low and his talent was average... with his Sword Intent of the Wind, it was more than enough.
Immortal Sect had always been the place of many miracles!
And, of course, Meng Yu was very satisfied too.
Beyond the equipment, he now had access to a personal ID on the Immortal Network.
The Immortal Network for cultivators was a completely different system from the civilian network.
Despite the persistence of nuisance ads due to certain Golden Core and Nascent Soul individuals wanting to start businesses or their descendants doing so, it undoubtedly opened a vast new world to Meng Yu.
The civilian Immortal Network was controlled by the Divine Artifact Moon God, while the cultivators' network wasn't controlled by several major sects but by the Heavenly Computing Wheel, a Grade Five Perfection Magical Treasure. It once was a national treasure of an enemy of the Immortal Sect before they conquered its realm and erased its spirit consciousness, turning it into a beleaguered server and router, plugged into by countless users.
The difference between the Immortal Network and the civilian network was significant; on it, you could trade many things, acquire numerous Cultivation Techniques, and even receive guidance from others—of course, at a price and while being wary of potential traps.
For instance, Meng Yu's White Crane Swordsmanship could find many training videos left by other cultivators on it. However, the currency on this network wasn't money but merit.
"Don't waste too much time on this; many things are traps, and although many divine techniques and secret manuals are excellent, their requirements are extremely high. If you need anything, you can consult me," the old professor told Meng Yu.
After accessing the network and registering a personal ID, Meng Yu arrived at the homepage of Taibai University and perused its introduction.
Taibai University, founded on the core principles of the Taibai Sword Sect, primarily focuses on swordsmanship, with thirty-three marvelous sword techniques to master.
White Crane Swordsmanship wasn't listed because it is a beginner's technique.
The universities of the Immortal Sect often start recruiting from childhood. When a student begins their cultivation of the sect's unique skills from a young age, they naturally tend to favor certain universities. Moreover, each year during the recruitment season, the homepage would feature one or more introductory techniques to attract people to practice them.
For instance, this year the featured swordsmanship techniques are two types: Immortal Monkey Sword Technique and a simple move called Wind-Slicing Strike.
Meng Yu nodded and then visited other universities to see their offerings, like the Sky Forest Temple, which continued to offer the Vajra Invulnerability Skill and Lion's Roar this year; the Everlasting Spring Valley highlighted their Renewing Point Technique; the Suspended Temple presented the Esoteric Sword of No Interval, and the Blue Ox Temple promoted the Fire Crow Sword Technique.
As Meng Yu browsed through all this information, he felt dazzled by the array of choices.
A millennium ago, immortals brought boys and girls to this place, then everyone established their own sects and propagated; as a result, when the Outer Domain invaded later, mountains of corpses and seas of blood followed, nearly leading to annihilation. That's why after that catastrophe, everyone united once more, abandoned their old bad practices, started an educational reform of teaching without discrimination, leading to the situation of today.
On Supreme Star, basic cultivation techniques are open to all; anyone can choose one or several paths to follow, but resources have become increasingly precious. For instance, the currency Meng Yu now uses is not hard currency; instead, good deeds are the real currency, and as for the higher-end spirit stones—sorry, those are comparable to gold in another world; although some people use them, most have never seen one.
This truly is the best of times.
Meng Yu looked at the various pieces of information on the Immortal Network. The lifespan of ordinary people had increased to a hundred years, and it was even longer for cultivators. The path forward appeared before everyone, provided you had enough talent or resources.
But it is also the worst of times.
If you become a failure, all you can do is watch others succeed.
The bedroom light came on, and he stared at the sword mounted on the wall.
In recent days, his relationship with Teacher Chen had grown much closer. She had set aside her status as a teacher and became like a big sister to Meng Yu, sharing her own story with him.
Once a clever girl hailed as a genius in her youth, she overcame various obstacles and became the pride of the city. But then weigh down by family burdens, she met even more geniuses, became a failure amidst the competition, missing that crucial step to success, and that's her story.
"Meng Yu, with such great talent, you should strive to improve yourself. Countless people, when facing Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, find that they are just shy of making it!"
If you indulge for a few more nights, socialize for a period, or lack a bit of resources, you'll find that what was once a slim chance has now become a completely closed door!
This was not only what Teacher Chen said but also reflected in countless real-life examples.
Why was he the only one who came to clean the classroom early? Other kids would spend those twenty minutes practicing swordsmanship or Qi cultivation!
Meng Yu remembered her words, yet what he saw online was even crueler.
On Earth, death is the ultimate equalizer—emperors and generals, commoners and mortals, all face the same end. But in this world, unfairness begins right from the start!