Chapter Twenty-Four: Tianyang Academy

His father informed him that today was the day for Tianyang Academy’s enrollment, and introduced him to the institution. He went on to explain the situation at Tianyang Academy and its storyline. Hurrying back to the Chen family residence, he glanced around anxiously before finally stepping inside with relief. That woman was far too formidable; if he were caught again, it would definitely be the end of him. He even suspected that after death, there might be an entire posthumous punishment package waiting for him.

What had just happened must never be told to anyone, especially the audience back on Earth. If he were to let slip even a word, the headlines of every major news outlet would certainly feature him. Over the next ten days, Chen Bo dared not venture into the northern district again. He had a premonition that those two women were surely waiting there for him! By now, Chen Bo was so frightened he’d developed a mild paranoia.

When practicing his punches, he locked himself in his room, which led to the unfortunate demise of several pieces of furniture. Furniture could always be replaced, though; during those ten days, he’d managed to master most of the first stage of the Ninefold Killing Fist, and now could barely deliver blows with double the strength.

Yet it was this martial art’s breakthrough that nearly killed him; the experience was as harrowing as swallowing the Vein-Sealing Gu. That memory was particularly dark. Many things happened during this period, especially on Earth. For example, Director Xie messaged him privately, saying the nation had developed the Minor Restoration Pill and was producing dozens of super soldiers in batches. "Super soldier"—an outdated term to the extreme.

Perhaps because Earth’s medicinal ingredients lacked vital energy, the effect was only half as potent as what Chen Bo had taken, but for Earth, this was already a miracle beyond imagining. Because of Chen Bo’s existence and his current stance, countless countries wanted to curry favor with China. Even the technological embargo from Western nations was lifted.

Recently, the Philippine monkeys causing trouble in the southern seas were given a good thrashing by their American father. One could say that China had become, in a sense, the center of the world, just as it had been throughout history. It wouldn’t be long before a foreigner, upon hearing their friend studied in China, would no longer show disdain, but instead envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Setting aside these digressions, Chen Bo was summoned by his father from this world. Judging by the anxious demeanor of the servant who delivered the message, it was evidently something important.

Chen Bo arrived before his father, bowed respectfully, and asked, “Father, why have you called me?”

“Bo’er, do you know what day is approaching?” Chen Zhenhai looked rather pleased as he spoke.

“What day?” Chen Bo was startled—could it be some festival? But no, there didn’t seem to be any holidays this month. “Is it your birthday, Father?” Chen Bo asked softly.

Chen Zhenhai’s face darkened, and he flicked Chen Bo’s forehead, making him cry out and clutch his head. “Ah! Father, why did you hit me?”

“Your father isn’t sixty yet—where would a birthday come from? Are you so eager for me to grow old?” Chen Zhenhai retorted.

“In a few days, it’s the annual enrollment for Tianyang Academy. Our Yan Town secured six spots. Once admitted to Tianyang Academy, no matter how powerful the Ten Thousand Sword Sect becomes, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble there!”

“And after graduating, if your abilities are outstanding, you might even enter the Imperial Capital Academy. Your sister is currently studying there as a top student. In a few years, her strength will likely surpass mine.”

“Tianyang Academy? The name sounds odd, makes me inexplicably think of ‘Longyang’.” Chen Bo searched his memory and found that there truly was such an academy in Tianyang Province, and it was public, sponsored by the empire—the otherworldly version of a public school.

In Tianyang Province, Tianyang Academy was the most powerful institution, backed by the empire itself! Who would dare challenge it? Not just one Ten Thousand Sword Sect—even a hundred would be crushed if they tried. The academy was situated at the very center of the provincial capital, pushing even the City Lord’s mansion aside, and the City Lord didn’t so much as complain. It was as if the academy had divine authority.

If this were Earth, it would be like a school principal kicking the mayor out of office, and the mayor obediently leaving—the very thought was unbelievable.

To enter Tianyang Academy, money wasn’t enough; only strength and talent mattered!

Each year, Tianyang Academy recruited only one thousand two hundred students. Don’t think that’s a small number; you’d be sorely mistaken. The academy had six grades, each with over a thousand students, plus a staggering number of repeat students, making the total well over ten thousand.

How many people lived in Tianyang Province? Tens of millions, certainly, and with countless undocumented residents, it might even reach a hundred million. To select a thousand out of a hundred million—an astonishing ratio, one in one hundred thousand.

In other words, only one in every hundred thousand would make it into Tianyang Academy. It was like the gauntlet of applying to Tsinghua or Peking University on Earth—only a few could cross that narrow bridge.

“But Father, with my current strength, I can’t compete for a spot!” Chen Bo said helplessly.

“No matter, participation is what matters! If you can impress the tutors at Tianyang Academy, maybe they’ll make an exception and admit you tomorrow!” Chen Zhenhai waved his hand dismissively, his optimism even more fanciful than Chen Bo’s.

On the way to Yan Town, the ground trembled, stirring awe in their hearts. Several gigantic mammoth beasts thundered down the road, carrying people in uniform on their backs. On their collars, four small characters could be seen: Tianyang Academy.

“The dean is too much. Yan Town is such a small place—Chen Jingjing’s emergence was pure coincidence. What genius could possibly appear this year? We’re just wasting six spots,” one tutor complained.

“Shh! Are you insane, blurting out anything? The dean’s powers are vast—he might already know what you’ve said!” another interrupted, lowering his voice. “The dean is so stingy. If he hears you badmouthing him, you can forget about your wages this month.”

“Relax! We’re far from the academy here; the world is wide, birds fly free! Being a tutor keeps getting harder. The pay is meager, and we’re saddled with a penny-pinching dean. Who suffers more than us?” he grumbled.

“By the way, where did that witch go? She’s been missing for ten days.”

“She’s already in Yan Town, with her genius student. Unlike you, dawdling. If not for you, I’d have arrived long ago.”

“Ahem, who knew that inn was a scam? They laced the dishes with so much croton powder, I nearly collapsed from diarrhea.”

“Damn, you dare complain?”

This story has been serialized for twelve or thirteen days now—eighty favorites and only a dozen recommendations.

Xiao Bei rarely advertises this book, not more than ten times, and never handed out red packets. So the favorites and recommendations are genuine.

But the recommendations are so few—please, send in a wave of recommendations.