Surging currents rush into the rivers and seas, roaring loudly. Bridges connect Zenith City to the mainland, with uninterrupted traffic flowing over them, and streams of steel continuously moving in and out.
As the county city of the entire Maple Leaf County, the flow of people is remarkably large.
Schools from all gathering places, all twelve cities of Maple County, and all students studying mysticism within the county gather here, at the Great Martial Hall in Zenith City, for the martial arts exam.
This is the publicly open training ground of Zenith City.
Due to the high number of martial artists in Zenith City, the prefect constructed an open platform for all martial artists, allowing the Martial Dao in Zenith City to thrive even more.
The Great Martial Hall has nine floors.
The area of each floor is extremely spacious.
Apart from various small training rooms, each floor’s hall can accommodate thousands to tens of thousands of people. The décor is of a minimalist style, but both the walls and floors are mixed with unknown metallic materials.
The Great Martial Hall was not constructed using ordinary methods.
To ensure martial artists can train safely within, the building must be sturdy enough to withstand most martial artists’ attacks.
All students from Linjiang City were led by teachers from each school, along with Advisor Zhao Tianxing.
Basically, every school sends a leading teacher, forming a team of teachers, with Jiang Gan as the vice-principal of Linjiang First Middle School leading the team.
"Advisor Zhao, how are the other cities’ students this year?"
On the bus heading to the Great Martial Hall.
Jiang Gan’s expression was as usual, but there was a hint of worry between his brows.
Students’ performances are closely related to the school’s resources.
Just within Linjiang City alone, the teaching resources are fiercely contested among more than a dozen schools, with Pinghong Middle School once aiming to surpass Linjiang First Middle School and obtain the largest share of resource allocation.
How could there not be competition among the twelve cities?
In fact, aside from Zenith City, which is the perennial un-crowned king of college entrance exams, the other eleven cities often compete fiercely for the allocated teaching resources.
The total amount of resources is fixed.
If one city receives more, another must receive less.
Although Linjiang hasn’t been at the bottom every year, its performance has constantly hovered toward the tail end of the twelve cities, feeling quite frustrated.
It’s not just about bread; it’s also about pride.
This year, with Baiyu, Jiang Xi, and Lan Ziyue, it’s considered one of Linjiang’s rarely strong cohorts, so Jiang Gan intends to probe for information.
Zhao Tianxing smiles slightly, "Vice-Principal Jiang, rest assured. From my observations, Linjiang’s results this year will certainly be good. Even if you don’t believe what I say, you must trust Baiyu and the others."
Hearing this, Jiang Gan also smiles and says, "Advisor Zhao, since you say there’s no problem, I can be at ease."
Linjiang City’s students were not on the same bus.
They were seated by school.
Once they arrived at the gigantic parking lot outside the Great Martial Hall, they gathered once more.
Baiyu glanced roughly and deduced that the students from Linjiang attending the martial arts exam should be over a hundred.
Maple County’s twelve cities had over a thousand participants in total.
Not too few, not too many.
"Ahem, everyone listen to me."
As soon as the bus arrived.
Jiang Gan, along with a group of teachers, organized the students according to their schools and then cleared his throat, beginning to address everyone.
Things like precautions, examination rules, etc.
He directed the teachers to lead the large group into the Great Martial Hall, while he personally retained Baiyu, Lan Ziyue, Jiang Xi, Qianren, and Qian Xue.
"Don’t be nervous, you five were carefully chosen by our team of teachers."
Jiang Gan placed his hands behind his back, smiling warmly, "After the martial arts exam, there will also be a friendship competition with students from other cities. This is a ring battle where each city selects its best students.
The martial arts exam is important, but the friendship competition is just as vital.
During the event, the prefect of Maple County, Maple Leaf Martial Arts University, and Tiansheng Martial School will come and watch on-site.
Videos of your friendship competition will also be stored and distributed to various martial schools.
If those schools take a fancy to you, they will directly offer special recruitment.
This also counts as an additional opportunity.
Furthermore, this friendship event affects the subsequent teaching resource allocation in Maple County; traditionally, we’ve been hovering around the bottom twelve, hence receiving very little resource allocation. Otherwise, Ziyue, you all wouldn’t be in this situation.
If the friendship competition garners a good rank, next year’s students will have much greater teaching resources.
And for you, there will be considerable benefits too."
The five listened with slight emotions stirring within.
Martial schools differ from the military, following an elite path.
Therefore, major martial schools highly value exceptionally talented individuals, which might also be the purpose of the friendship competition.
A chance to select prodigies ahead of time.
The friendship competition surely offers substantial rewards.
Lan Ziyue, upon hearing the words "teaching resources," had a glow in her eyes, clearly moved by Jiang Gan’s words.
Pinghong Middle School sorely lacked teaching resources.
Qianren and Qian Xue, two siblings from Linjiang Second Middle School, hailed from a family beyond ordinary, having no shortage of resources since childhood and feeling little towards these matters.
Yet they equally desired to achieve impressive results in the friendship competition.
This would greatly benefit their future development.
Jiang Xi remained calm, her gaze shifting to Baiyu, who also appeared indifferent, knowing this person wouldn’t act without a guaranteed gain.
Despite being termed a friendship competition.
With stakes involving profit distribution, how could it be so simple? Martial artist combats are never simple.
"So, Baiyu, come with me."
After explaining the friendship competition rules to the group, Jiang Gan called Baiyu alone, the smile on his face becoming even more intense, "Kid, honestly, how far has your Blood Qi reached?"
At that moment, Baiyu’s Blood Qi was restrained, rendering Jiang Gan unable to discern it.
He modestly replied, "Just broke through 240 Calories, just an ordinary quasi-martial artist level."
Jiang Gan squinted his eyes, scoffing, "Stop bluffing me, give me the truth. 240 Calories, fooling nobody."
"Well, actually, I’ve already gone through one Forged Skin, experiencing one Blood and Qi Overflow, reaching 300 Calories."
Baiyu confessed more hesitantly.
Jiang Gan still didn’t believe, smiling, "Initially, I had a Bursting Qi Pill, Tier Eight medicinal pill, rarely seen even on the market, seems I won’t be giving it away."
"Honestly, Vice-Principal Jiang, I’ve undergone the Second Forging, reaching 400 Calories in Blood and Qi."
Baiyu quickly corrected.
Jiang Gan finally smiled satisfactorily, "You little rascal, still hiding your abilities from me? Do you really think my eyes, capable of seeing through thousands of other races, can’t discern?
Twice Blood and Qi Overflow, Second Forging level, 400 Calories in Blood Qi.
Make sure to perform well in the martial arts exam, not just for Linjiang City, but for yourself too.
This bottle of Bursting Qi Pill is my cherished stash for many years, never to be used lightly unless necessary."
The friendship competition doesn’t prohibit the use of medicinal pills.
The Bursting Qi Pill, rated at Tier Eight, has the effect of temporarily boosting Blood Qi and significantly enhancing strength. Its side effect, however, is a period of weakness post-use.
Jiang Gan’s intention in giving Baiyu the Bursting Qi Pill was clear.
To provide Baiyu with an extra advantage, ensuring greater confidence in the friendship competition.