Evan Chu glanced around and saw that the Martial Testing Ground was already packed with people. All across the field stood dozens of giant screens, each covered in writing, with crowds gathered to watch and discuss.
Evan wanted to go over and take a look, but Lily Tang stopped him. "Evan, don't look at the writing on those screens right now—it'll mess with your judgment.
Those screens are actually part of the test. What's written on them are incomplete Yellow-rank martial arts. If you recklessly try to practice them, your spiritual power will go haywire and you could end up with ruptured meridians."
Evan looked at Lily, puzzled. "Why does Heavenly Dragon Academy do this? Won't a lot of people get hurt?
Wouldn't that be bad for the academy's reputation? What if someone with real talent gets injured—wouldn't that be a huge loss?"
Seeing Evan's skeptical look, Lily smiled. "You really don't know much. Heavenly Dragon Academy only picks the best—the disciples with both talent and the right temperament.
If someone gets tempted by a few second- or third-rate martial arts, why even bother coming here to learn advanced techniques? This is just another way to weed people out. There are way too many candidates, so it's faster to eliminate those who think they're clever or try to cut corners."
"Of course, a few people can enter the academy directly, but there aren't many—never more than two hundred a year. Everyone else has to go through elimination."
Evan quickly understood. About half the people in the square were already copying moves—meaning half of them were about to get eliminated. Just being ambitious isn't enough here.
Just then, a booming and authoritative voice suddenly rang out from above:
"Today is Heavenly Dragon Academy's tri-annual student recruitment. Many talented young people have traveled thousands of miles to be here—it's a great honor for our academy.
It proves the influence of Heavenly Dragon Academy. I am your mentor and Vice-Dean; this year's recruitment is in my hands. I hope everyone shows their best strength and talent.
Because so many come here to study martial arts, we only recruit the very best. To select the top talents and weed out those with poor aptitude, we use a Three-Gate system. Only those who pass all three gates will become disciples of Heavenly Dragon Academy..."
Evan had little interest in the Vice-Dean's speech. What he really cared about now was someone important to him—Gabe Goldstone.
It had been months since they'd parted. Gabe once said he'd come to Heavenly Dragon Academy, but with so many people here, Evan couldn't tell if he'd arrived.
All around, the crowd kept up a steady buzz of conversation; Evan picked up bits and pieces of information.
The test had three gates. The First Gate was the Martial Gate, which had to do with the screens on the field.
These screens weren't ordinary—they were forged by the best Imperial City Alchemists. Hit one with all your strength and it would light up with different colors and numbers.
The colors were red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, and blue—each representing a different realm.
Red meant Spirit Warrior Realm, orange was Mystic Warrior Realm, yellow and green both stood for Earth Martial Realm—yellow for levels one to three, green for four to six, cyan for seven to nine. The final blue was Heaven Martial Realm.
Don't think you can break them—even Heaven Martial Realm experts can't shatter these screens, let alone the candidates here.
Each person gets three tries. Your best result is judged based on how the screen reacts.
The Second Gate is the Literary Gate. It's simple, but also difficult—everyone faces three couplets, and if you answer two correctly, you advance to the Third Gate. Otherwise, you're eliminated.
As for the Third Gate, it's a secret—no information at all. The academy keeps it confidential.
Just then, a familiar voice sounded in Evan's ear: "Evan Chu, you have to pass the test, or you'll answer to me. You were supposed to get direct entry, but the academy changed the rules at the last minute."
It was Jenny Sima's voice. Evan looked around, trying to spot her, but couldn't see her anywhere.
"Linfeng, what are you looking for? Why are you glancing around?" Roxanne Lin asked.
"I heard Jenny Sima's voice. She said we have to pass the test—the academy changed the rules, so even those who could've entered directly now have to take the test."
"Come on! I believe we can all pass—Lily Tang, you will too!"
"Yeah! Let's go—the test is starting soon. Let's get ready early and see if we'll end up training in the same area."
Lily Tang saw dozens of young men in white robes, each with a small silver sword badge pinned to their chest, walking toward the Martial Testing Ground.
"Evan Chu, do you see the silver swords on their chests? Don't underestimate them. These sword badges mark one's strength and status.
There are five types of sword badges at Heavenly Dragon Academy. Entry-level disciples wear the Iron Sword Badge—those below ninth-level Spirit Warrior Realm.
The second type is the Copper Sword Badge, for those below ninth-level Mystic Warrior Realm.
The third is the Silver Sword Badge, which requires Earth Martial Realm strength. Each major level of Earth Martial Realm has a different Silver Sword Badge.
Starting from the Silver Sword Badge, the blade has nine holes for inlaying Five-Fragrance Stones.
Each major level gets one stone. Five-Fragrance Stones are unique to Heavenly Dragon Academy and can't be faked. If you see a Silver Sword Badge with nine stones, that means the wearer is a ninth-level Earth Martial expert.
Next is the Gold Sword Badge, which requires Heaven Martial Realm strength. The more multicolored stones inlaid, the stronger the expert.
Finally, there's the Purple Sword Badge—only Divine Martial Realm experts can wear it. It's said that no one has seen a Purple Sword Badge in hundreds of years."
Evan Chu noticed two glowing red stones on a silver sword badge. "So that person is second-level Earth Martial. I wonder how many stones Jenny Sima has."
Once again, a booming voice echoed across the Martial Testing Ground: "All candidates, prepare yourselves. This year, Heavenly Dragon Academy has three hundred spots—testing officially begins now."
Evan Chu glanced at the crowd—there were tens of thousands on the field. With only three hundred spots, it was a brutal selection. The competition would be fierce, and the elimination merciless.
"Anyone who has looked at the martial techniques on the screens and memorized them, please move to the left side of the field. If you haven't, stay where you are.
Those who move left must be sure they've memorized the techniques. If you can't answer when asked, you'll be eliminated immediately."
Evan Chu and Roxanne Lin exchanged glances. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat.
Sure enough, Heavenly Dragon Academy's selection methods were full of surprises. With such encouraging words, many moved to the left.