Chapter 23: I Want to Apply to Jiangdu University

Chen Meng had been eyeing Ma Yiqun’s five thousand yuan for a while, pondering how best to borrow it. Now, everything was gone. Staring at Ma Yiqun, Chen Meng felt a surge of frustration, almost wanting to punch him.

“Chen Meng, why don’t you sign up for the shooting training with me?” Ma Yiqun suggested kindly. “After all, it’s the first hurdle in the college entrance exam. If you can’t pass this stage, your results will definitely be affected. We’ve worked so hard for so many years; we can’t drop the ball now.”

Chen Meng nodded. The importance of the physical examination was clear—it was why even someone like Ma Yiqun would sign up for shooting training. Later, he’d consulted Yan Ruoxi about why the physical exam didn’t count toward the college entrance exam score yet was so crucial. The answer: it determined whether someone was qualified to take the Divine Body Advancement Potion. If your body had issues or hidden ailments, you weren’t eligible. If you didn’t dare fire a gun, you weren’t qualified either.

He’d already enrolled in professional clay pigeon shooting training; this kind of exam-oriented course was unnecessary for him. Still, it was a good excuse to ask his family for money, so he kept the idea in mind.

“We’ll see,” Chen Meng replied noncommittally, careful not to reveal the truth to Ma Yiqun.

They entered the classroom, and before the lesson began, the test papers from the previous alchemy class were handed out. Chen Meng glanced at his score, surprised—twenty-eight points! He didn’t know anything, yet managed twenty-eight points. Upon closer inspection, he’d guessed seven multiple-choice questions correctly, each worth four points. Incredible!

Ma Yiqun noticed Chen Meng’s score and commented, “Your grades are slipping badly. I remember you got sixty-eight last time. Zhang Dali is definitely going to criticize you and might even call your parents.”

Chen Meng chuckled inwardly. Slipping? He never knew anything to begin with. But the remark was a wake-up call. If his grades kept dropping and he was summoned with his parents, it’d be trouble. He needed to quickly improve his scores in alchemy and artifact forging.

Ding ling ling!

The bell rang, and their alchemy teacher, Zhang Dali, strode into the classroom. He surveyed the students before locking eyes with Chen Meng. “I can hardly believe it—after three years in my alchemy class, someone still scores below fifty. Twenty-eight points! That’s someone who knows nothing. Even random guesses shouldn’t land you at twenty-eight. Stop staring, Chen Meng, I’m talking to you. Stand up!”

Chen Meng could only stand up obediently, though he mused silently, Teacher, you’re wrong. I really did guess randomly, and yet only got twenty-eight.

“Tomorrow, bring your parents,” Zhang Dali declared. “I can’t teach a student like you. Twenty-eight points. How is it possible? Even the fool from the neighboring class scored forty-nine.”

That stung. Chen Meng knew the student in the neighboring class—a rumored low IQ, admitted to high school only because his family paid to get him in. Otherwise, he’d probably still be in junior high or even grade school.

“Teacher, don’t call my parents!” Chen Meng panicked. If his parents came, his cover would be blown. He claimed to be attending tutoring, but his grades kept dropping. His parents would skin him alive.

Seeing Zhang Dali’s determined expression, Chen Meng realized he had to put on a show. “Alright, Mr. Zhang, you win. You’ve always suspected I was hiding my alchemy skills—actually, you’re right.”

What?

What was he saying?

Ma Yiqun was dumbfounded, staring at Chen Meng in astonishment.

The others were equally shocked.

Chen Meng feigned helplessness. “I’ve been pretending for three years, planning to shine during the college entrance exam. Who knew I couldn’t fool your sharp eyes? Mr. Zhang, next test I’ll get a passing grade. Let’s skip calling my parents this time.”

Zhang Dali was stunned. Had Chen Meng really been hiding his abilities? There was precedent with his rune scores. If he’d hidden his alchemy skills too, it wasn’t impossible. Maybe he really had guessed right.

“Hmph, you think you hid it well? You don’t realize twenty-eight points isn’t easy to get by chance. I saw right through you.” Zhang Dali was feeling triumphant. “Since you admit it, next test you must show some ability—get a passing score.”

A passing score meant ninety points. Ma Yiqun was at that level now, and only forty or fifty students in each class managed it each time.

“Alright,” Chen Meng smiled. “Do you have any other questions, Teacher?”

Having appeased Zhang Dali, Chen Meng breathed a sigh of relief. But Zhang Dali added, “We normally have a test every week. The next one is either Tuesday or Wednesday after next.”

What? Chen Meng calculated—less than two weeks left? He’d finally scraped together forty thousand yuan; would it all be spent on alchemy classes?

“Any problem?” Zhang Dali asked, still unsure if Chen Meng was telling the truth.

Chen Meng couldn’t back down now. “No problem. I’ll show a little of my true skill then.”

The class buzzed with murmurs. Ma Yiqun gave Chen Meng a discreet thumbs-up, clearly impressed.

Zhang Dali nodded and suddenly asked, “Chen Meng, which university are you aiming for in the college entrance exam?”

Which university? Chen Meng glanced around at his classmates, then smiled confidently. “Naturally, Jiangdu University. I will, without a doubt, get in.”

Boom!

The whole class exploded. Someone who’d always ranked at the bottom was now declaring he’d get into Jiangdu University.

Crazy. Absolutely crazy!

Jiangdu University was not easy to get into.

Ma Yiqun was in shock, staring at Chen Meng as if he’d been possessed.

Tang Wenjing, too, turned to look at Chen Meng with surprise.

Zhang Dali was speechless for a moment before he recovered. “Confidence is good, but you should also be realistic.”

He looked at the other students. “Our class has eighty-one students. Based on previous years, only eight to ten will get into a top university. Right now, apart from class president Ni Hu, whose grades are always stable—always in the school’s top twenty and guaranteed to get into a top university—no one else can say for sure. The college entrance exam is unpredictable. I’ve seen students who usually rank twentieth manage to get into a top school at the last moment, and others who always rank in the top five end up at a second-tier university.”

Chen Meng agreed. Take Yan Ruoxi, the girl genius, who only managed to get into a second-tier university—though Jiangzhou University was among the best of those.

Ni Hu? Chen Meng looked to the front row—the always stable class president. He really seemed certain to succeed.

“Alright, let’s begin the lesson,” Zhang Dali said, picking up the alchemy test paper and starting to explain. Chen Meng didn’t understand much, but he had to keep up appearances.

“Letting out my real thoughts, it feels less oppressive,” Chen Meng mused. He’d set himself the goal of getting into a top university, Jiangdu University, and felt as if he were carrying a mountain. Now, having said it aloud, he felt lighter.

…

After class, Chen Meng was once again the center of attention.

“You’re really aiming for Jiangdu University?” Ma Yiqun couldn’t believe it. He knew what kind of person his seatmate was, but Chen Meng had changed lately.

“Yes, I’m going for Jiangdu University,” Chen Meng replied confidently.

“If you’re not crazy, maybe I am,” Ma Yiqun muttered, suddenly looking a little downcast.

Chen Meng understood. Previously, Ma Yiqun’s grades were better, giving him a sense of superiority. Chen Meng was his benchmark, the source of his self-satisfaction. Now, Chen Meng had transformed—not only rumored to be dating the class’s rich beauty Tang Wenjing, but also excelling in rune studies and now aspiring to Jiangdu University. This completely overshadowed Ma Yiqun, erasing his sense of superiority.

Seeing Ma Yiqun’s gloom, Chen Meng patted his shoulder. “Yiqun, study hard. It’s not too late. Knowledge changes fate. Work harder, and your destiny might be different.”

Ma Yiqun fell silent, deep in thought.

Chen Meng wasn’t sure if his words truly moved Ma Yiqun, but that afternoon, Ma Yiqun didn’t rush home as usual. He stayed behind to study in the classroom.

“Not going home?” Chen Meng asked.

Ma Yiqun shook his head, regretful. “I thought about it—I really should work hard. You’re aiming for Jiangdu University; I should at least try for Jiangzhou University. Teacher says my foundation isn’t bad, just too lazy. If I start now, maybe I still have time.”

“Changed your mind?” Chen Meng was surprised that a few words had turned Ma Yiqun around.

Ma Yiqun continued, “I used to avoid it. My family isn’t well-off. Besides me, I have two brothers and a sister—they all need to go to college. If I get into university and my parents pay for the advancement potion, they might have to sell the house. What about my siblings? They need to study, to live, and maybe buy the advancement potion in the future. Where would the money come from?”

Chen Meng fell silent. Unlike him, an only child, the country now encouraged families to have more children—four siblings in a family like Ma Yiqun’s was common.

“I’ve been torn, even considered not going to college, leaving the opportunity for my siblings. But seeing you declare for Jiangdu University, I feel I should fight too. I’ll aim for a good university, and if my family pays for my tuition and advancement potion, I’ll do whatever it takes to get my brothers and sister their Divine Body Advancement Potion,” Ma Yiqun said, taking a deep breath, as if reborn.

Chen Meng suddenly understood why Ma Yiqun had lied to his family for ten thousand yuan to buy the advancement potion developed by Qian Yanjiao—it only cost ten thousand.

“Work hard. If you get into Jiangzhou University, your chance for the advancement potion increases and costs less. But once you’re in college, potion expenses are just a fraction; you’ll need to keep spending. But then you can earn money yourself—I know two students from Jiangzhou University who work part-time to earn money,” Chen Meng said thoughtfully.

Divine Body cultivation, even at a top university, the advancement potion wasn’t free. Tuition cost money, shooting lessons cost money, buying gear, weapons—everything needed money.

Ordinary families couldn’t support all the needs for cultivating a Divine Body. Chen Meng and Ma Yiqun were both from such families; in the end, they could only rely on themselves.

“Alright, let’s work hard together,” Ma Yiqun grinned, his whole demeanor brighter.

Chen Meng smiled as well, knowing some people think too much—outwardly cheerful, but inwardly tangled.