Eight days passed in the blink of an eye.
As the sun rose high into the sky, a quiet voice echoed in the room.
“Master, it’s time,” whispered Shadow.
“It’s been eight days already, huh?” Jiang WuShang opened his eyes, a sharp golden light flashing in his pupils before vanishing.
He examined his internal state with a faint smile.
“Not bad.
Given one more day, I could have broken through to the 7th Level of Qi Gathering.
But it’s fine—with my current strength, I am more than qualified to join Azure Academy as an intern.” “Master, a lady is approaching from outside.
If I am not wrong, it is the First Floor Hot Lady you saw at the Night Rose Brothel,” reported Shadow before dissolving quietly back into Jiang WuShang’s shadow.
“No need to knock, please come in,” called out Jiang WuShang from inside his room.
The door swung open, revealing the First Floor Hot Lady, who looked at him in surprise.
“Pardon my intrusion, Young Friend…” ‘Interesting…
he can sense my approach?
He really isn’t ordinary,’ she thought to herself.
“May I ask why you are looking for me?
Shouldn’t you be with the Young Lady and the Young Miss?” asked Jiang WuShang with a light smile.
“My Master sent me to escort you to the Azure Academy Recruitment Grounds.
Please follow me,” she said respectfully.
“Oh?
Is that so?
Let’s go then—cultivating behind closed doors for eight days gets quite boring,” replied Jiang WuShang.
As he stood up and stretched, a series of crisp, bone-popping sounds echoed through the room.
“Young Friend, there is one more thing my Master asked me to remind you about,” added the First Floor Hot Lady as they stepped outside.
“Please speak your mind.” “My Master asked me to remind you about the bet you made with her.
Are you ready?” “I just hope she doesn’t regret it when the bet comes to an end,” chuckled Jiang WuShang.
The First Floor Hot Lady looked at him in puzzlement.
“What do you mean by that, Young Friend?” “When we reach the recruitment grounds, you’ll see.
It’s going to be fun,” said Jiang WuShang, striding forward with a confident smile.
Soon, they arrived at a massive outdoor arena filled with a buzzing crowd.
It was the Azure Academy Recruitment Grounds, where all the trial competitions were set to take place.
“How many participants are there this time?
I’ve never been to this arena before,” remarked Jiang WuShang, looking around.
“Including you, there are forty-two participants this year,” replied the First Floor Hot Lady.
“Please follow me, Young Friend.
My Master is seated up on the high platform.” As they headed toward the highest elevated platform overlooking the entire arena, Jiang WuShang couldn’t help but wonder about her background.
*She is taking me straight to the highest platform…
her status must be extraordinary.
Exactly who is she?* When they reached the top of the platform, Jiang WuShang saw the Young Lady sitting comfortably.
In the dim room of the brothel, he hadn’t been able to see her clearly, but now in full daylight, he froze for a second.
“Beautiful…” muttered Jiang WuShang under his breath before he could stop himself.
The First Floor Hot Lady smiled softly.
“Watch your words, Young Friend, or you might find yourself in trouble.” “Right, right…
I said that without thinking,” said Jiang WuShang hurriedly, clearing his throat.
“I greet the Young Lady.” “There is no need to be so formal, Young Master Jiang,” said the Young Lady, a subtle blush appearing on her cheeks.
*I can feel he has grown much stronger…
and his presence is even more striking than before.* Standing right behind her, the young girl rolled her eyes in silent frustration.
*Come on, you’re a high-status Young Lady…
why are you blushing just by looking at him?* “When will the recruitment start?
It’s my first time, and I’m eager to stretch my muscles,” asked Jiang WuShang with a grin.
“We are waiting for the Azure Academy envoys.
They are coming from the capital city, which is why they are a bit late today,” explained the Young Lady.
The young girl smiled playfully.
“Young Master Jiang, how was your cultivation progress?
Are you sure you can win the bet?
There are many people who want to catch the Young Lady’s eye, and some would even kill for a chance like that!” “Hey!
What are you talking about?!” panicked the Young Lady, her face growing warmer.
“We will talk about the bet later.
When my time comes, we will see,” said Jiang WuShang with a calm, confident smile.
Suddenly, a stir went through the crowd as the onlookers parted to form a central pathway.
Two figures walked down the path toward the main stage—a stern man and a breathtakingly beautiful young woman.
The crowd burst into an uproar the moment they noticed the golden medallions hanging from their waists, inscribed with the word **Master**.
In Azure Academy, reaching the Master rank meant having a cultivation equal to or higher than the 6th Level of Qi Foundation.
The hierarchy went from Interns (6th Level Qi Gathering), Masters (6th Level Qi Foundation), Grand-Masters (Qi Refinement along with complete mastery of a path like Alchemy, Arrays, Forging, or Beast Taming), up to Deans and Vice-Deans.
“Look, they’ve arrived!” “The envoys are finally here!” “My goodness, that female envoy is so gorgeous!
Is everyone in Azure Academy this beautiful?!” “Keep your voice down, bumpkin, unless you want to get disqualified before you even begin!” Jiang WuShang turned back to the platform.
“Young Lady, I will take my leave.
I have to join the recruitment now.” With that, he turned and walked down to join the crowd.
The Young Lady watched his back, a slightly pouted expression on her face.
“I told him not to be formal…
why is he still calling me ‘Young Lady’?” The young girl chuckled beside her.
“Young Miss, do you think he just isn’t interested in you?” “Nonsense!
Whether he is interested or not, what does that have to do with me?” retorted the Young Lady stiffly.
“Well, Miss…
I don’t recall you ever actually telling him your name,” pointed out the girl.
The Young Lady blinked in realization, her expression softening into a shy, embarrassed smile.
“Ah…
I forgot to tell him my name.
So that’s why he calls me Young Lady…
If I had told him, he would surely call me by my name!” “So it’s true—love really does turn people into fools,” teased the young girl.
“What nonsense are you blabbering about?!
Say one more word and see if I don’t beat you up!” barked the Young Lady, blushing furiously.
Ding!
————-System ————— Host gained 5 points!
Total points: 5 ———————————— *I haven’t even joined the official competition yet and I’m already gaining points?* thought Jiang WuShang with a smirk as he blended into the crowd below.
Up on the central stage, the male envoy raised his hand to quiet the crowd.
“As you all know, today is the Azure Academy Recruitment Gathering.
We are the envoys sent to examine candidates and accept qualified individuals on behalf of the Academy.
Give it your absolute best.” He stepped forward, his eyes sharp.
“I am Master Gu Fan.
Anyone under the age of twenty, please step forward.
We will select fifteen disciples and three interns today.
However, if the talent here is lacking, we will leave those spots empty.
Only the truly qualified may enter Azure Academy!” Forty-two young participants stepped forward onto the open ground.
“Hey buddy,” Jiang WuShang nudged a young man beside him.
“I don’t remember seeing you around this town.” “Brother, do you think only this town sends candidates?” replied the young man.
“Is that not the case?” asked Jiang WuShang in confusion.
“Not at all.
A total of six surrounding towns send their young talents here.
The spots at Azure Academy are limited, so one town alone isn’t enough to fill a recruitment batch,” explained the young man kindly.
“I see.
Thanks for telling me, brother,” said Jiang WuShang politely.
Master Gu Fan nodded as he looked over the group.
“Forty-two participants…
Divide yourselves into two lines: one for the Disciple recruitment, and one for the Intern recruitment!” The crowd quickly separated.
Thirty-two candidates lined up for the Disciple test, while only ten stood in the line for Interns.
The female envoy stepped forward, her graceful aura instantly commanding attention.
“I am Envoy Su Mie.
I will explain the rules.
First, those applying for Disciple status will take the written comprehension exam on Platform One.
Cheaters will be disqualified immediately and banned for life!” Following her instructions, the thirty-two disciple candidates walked over to Platform One and sat down at individual tables.
But the moment they flipped over their exam papers, the faces of nearly every local participant turned pale.
Coming from remote towns, they had no access to higher-level cultivation theory.
Only wealthy families could afford such knowledge.
“What is this?!
I’m from a humble family, I’ve never read about half these things!” muttered one candidate in despair.
“What on earth is a ‘Sun-Dew Flower cultivation fusion technique’?!
I’m doomed!” Sitting a few tables away, Young Master Ling smirked arrogant as he easily picked up his brush.
“Country bumpkins,” Ling sneered softly under his breath.
“If you don’t even have basic knowledge, how dare you join the Azure Academy recruitment?
This is common knowledge for capital talents like me!”