"Is this Shanhai City? What an ancient architectural style..." Mu Xiaoxiao exclaimed in amazement.
The mottled, deep cyan city walls towered into the clouds, stretching for thousands of li left and right, like a slumbering azure dragon lying across the horizon. Its presence dominated the landscape, majestic and imposing. Even the oversized Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox looked as small as an ant in comparison.
As they gradually approached Shanhai City, the road became flatter and wider, and the foot traffic increased. Many young faces dressed in practical attire appeared, riding various pet beasts, some running, others flying, creating a bustling scene.
Bai Wushang inadvertently noticed that among the dozens of extraordinary creatures around, the Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox was by no means the largest. However, many people who saw the fox, or rather, the black-clothed, sword-bearing woman meditating on its back, showed expressions of nervousness and apprehension, quickly moving away, unwilling to get close.
"Looks like Senior Sister Jiang has a story too. I can ask around later..." Bai Wushang thought to himself.
Soon, they approached the city gate. From afar, they saw two forty-meter-tall Black Iron Giants, wielding oversized steel pitchforks and fully armored, guarding either side of the gate.
Upon reaching a distance of ten meters, the attribute panel appeared punctually:
【Name】: Black Iron Giant (Contracted)【Race】: Savage Realm · Giant Type · Metal Giant Clan【Life Level】: Ultimate Stage Late Phase【Bloodline Quality】: Commander Level 6-Star??? (Soul Power too low for complete detection)...
"Ultimate Stage... absurdly strong..." Bai Wushang couldn''t help muttering inwardly.
"Halt!"A burly, muscular middle-aged man blocked the center of the road.
Even several meters away, Bai Wushang could feel the man''s iron-blooded aura; he was definitely a ruthless individual hardened by countless battles.
"Uncle Tie."Jiang Lingyue leaped off the fox''s back and greeted him, simultaneously signaling Little Bing to let Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao down as well.
"Oh, it''s Little Jiang!"The middle-aged man called Uncle Tie''s imposing aura vanished instantly. Looking slightly embarrassed, he chuckled awkwardly, "Ah, I must be getting old, my eyesight isn''t what it used to be. Haven''t seen you in two months, I almost didn''t recognize this little fox..."
Before he finished speaking, he sized up Jiang Lingyue and asked suspiciously, "Your aura seems much more profound. Don''t tell me you''ve broken through to the Xuan General level? That''ll make things interesting at the academy..."
"You jest, Uncle Tie. It was merely a fortunate breakthrough," Jiang Lingyue replied with a faint smile, her demeanor calm and composed, neither overly humble nor arrogant.
"Luck is a part of strength! At your age, all I could do was stare enviously!" Tie Zhu laughed heartily, then stroked his mustache as he looked at the two behind her. "And who are these two?"
"They are freshmen from this year''s intake. There was an accident during their journey, so I brought them back with me."
"Heh, that''s rather unfortunate timing. The freshman awakening ceremony already finished this morning. You''ll have to take them to sort out their enrollment paperwork and apply for a separate session..."
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Tie Zhu exchanged a few more pleasantries, waved his hand, and let them pass.
Stepping through the city gate, they were greeted by bustling streets lined with shops, food stalls, and training halls. Perhaps because the academy had just welcomed a fresh batch of students, festive decorations adorned the surroundings.
Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao followed Jiang Lingyue, curiously observing their surroundings. The Three-Tailed Iceflame Fox had shrunk back to its miniature size and trotted elegantly behind them like a cat.
Meanwhile, the Moon Rabbit was sound asleep inside Bai Wushang''s chest robes, completely undisturbed by the festive sounds of drums and music outside.
Jiang Lingyue moved with light steps, leading them briskly through various turns without any hesitation. At one intersection, she suddenly turned back and seemed to ask casually:
"Junior Brother, Junior Sister, what are your views on Shanhai Academy?"
Mu Xiaoxiao looked thoughtful before replying seriously, "I have a cousin who''s a student here, but this is the first time for both of us, so our understanding of the academy is quite limited. We''ve heard rumors that the competition at Shanhai Academy is incredibly fierce, but anyone who manages to persevere for four years and graduate successfully will become a prominent figure in the Great Qian Dynasty, enjoying great prestige."
Jiang Lingyue nodded gently. "Yes, as one of the four great academies of the Great Qian Dynasty, Shanhai Academy boasts the highest allocation of both teaching staff and cultivation resources. You could say that entering Shanhai Academy is like getting on a growth accelerator. Use it well, and you can soar to the heavens, transforming from a mere worm into a dragon. Becoming one of the elite is definitely not just empty talk."
"However, as someone who has experienced it, I must remind you: everything Shanhai Academy possesses is built upon a foundation of a brutal elimination system!"
After a pause, Jiang Lingyue asked, "Do you know how many freshmen from last year—my cohort—successfully advanced to the second year?"
"Maybe 1000?" Mu Xiaoxiao answered tentatively.
"I recall there were 2230 of us initially. In the end, only 275 successfully advanced to the second year. That''s an elimination rate close to ninety percent." Jiang Lingyue''s voice remained level, as if recounting a trivial matter.
Mu Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together, astonishment frozen on her face.Bai Wushang was equally stunned by this information.
"According to our Dean, the original intention of his ancestors when founding this academy was to use ninety-nine percent sand to polish that one percent gold."
"Therefore, from the moment you step into this academy, you must be prepared to give your absolute best.""Otherwise, the only thing awaiting you is expulsion!"
"No wonder... no wonder my family advised against applying to Shanhai Academy, saying the risks were too high. I didn''t understand it then..." Mu Xiaoxiao murmured to herself, finally understanding certain things.
Bai Wushang''s thought, however, was: "This is applying the law of natural selection—survival of the fittest—to the extreme!"
As someone already constrained by a limited lifespan and desperate to defy fate, after the initial shock, he actually felt a sense of anticipation building.
If one couldn''t even endure the hardships and obstacles deliberately set by others, how could one possibly speak of defying fate?
...
Half an hour later, Administration Hall.
After briefly recounting the incident with the floating ship, Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao successfully completed their enrollment procedures, officially becoming first-year students of Shanhai Academy.
After collecting her due mission reward, Jiang Lingyue first led Mu Xiaoxiao away to apply for the supplementary assisted awakening ceremony.
Bai Wushang, however, watched as the expression of the staff member in front of him gradually turned to shock, before hearing the staff member exclaim loudly—
"What? You''re a Self-Awakened?!"
The hall was sufficiently grand and spacious, making the echo resound clearly. The few scattered individuals handling their own affairs nearby were drawn by the content of the exclamation, their curious gazes converging on him.
Bai Wushang sighed softly. He disliked being stared at like a specimen. Maintaining his composure as best he could, he asked politely, "Excuse me, is there a problem?"
"Ah..." The staff member seemed to realize he had lost his composure and said somewhat sheepishly, "It''s mainly... well, including you, this year''s intake now has three Self-Awakened individuals."