ASER – Chapter 35

Whether they were picking on her—the most rustic-looking and seemingly background-less person—to vent their frustration, or deliberately trying to drag her in to divert animosity, A’Diao had no intention of letting them get away with it.

So she glanced at the other person and said slowly, “Not at all. I just wanted to cause a bit of a stir to attract your attention. If you all started fighting and things escalated, the one who would become famous would be the initial troublemaker, wouldn’t it? For a country girl like me from the backwoods, if I don’t take a shortcut, how else can I let the examiners know I exist?”

“And incidentally, if it makes you all emotionally unstable and affects your exam performance, then I’d really come out ahead!”

“Of course, on the surface, I’ll pretend to be terrified and uneasy, but actually, I’m as cool as a cucumber inside!”

These three were the ones who had been loudmouths earlier, and the one who had accused A’Diao was Ou Yue.

Many people reacted. “Huh, so that’s what was going on? Ou Yue and his cronies must have done it on purpose! No wonder they were running their mouths; so this was their scheme!”

“So insidious.”

“They almost implicated us! We fell for their trick!”

“When the snipe and clam grapple, the fisherman profits. Clever.”

“Ou Yue, right? I’ll remember you!”

The out-of-town examinees weren’t fools; some also came from influential families. They shot cold glances at Ou Yue and his companions, making the three feel utterly wronged, yet unable to explain themselves.

Of course, quite a few people also noticed A’Diao. For instance, some from the Jinling clique observed her. They found that apart from her recent, slyly self-deprecating remarks, she was otherwise quite unremarkable, lacking any air of excellence, and so they gradually lost interest.

A’Diao paid them no mind either. She was observing the examination site. To her left and right were two 800-meter athletic tracks. Between them stood a massive structure, a gymnasium shaped like a flying fish. Typically, it housed equipment rooms and indoor sports facilities, covering an area roughly equivalent to both tracks combined. However, she noticed newly installed equipment around its perimeter. Jammers were hung on the trees, clearly to block external signals, and numerous surveillance cameras had been set up.

They looked very new.

They must have been recently installed. So, there were other assessment components inside, and for an indoor venue like this, it was highly probable they would be doing written tests.

Running first, then a barrage of questions?

A’Diao fell into thought.

Just then, a teacher arrived and announced the exam content.

“The exam begins now. Run ten laps.”

Ten laps meant eight thousand meters! Oh my god!

Many inwardly exclaimed: I could bloody well run myself into the grave on this track, and my parents would have to come collect my body!

The teacher said, “You have two hours.”

Many inwardly exclaimed: Holy crap, that long? I could stroll eight thousand meters backward in that much time!

The teacher continued, “The two hours also include the written test. See over there? How long you take for the ten laps is for you to decide. The remaining time will be for your written test. Jinling Academy exams offer a high degree of freedom; it’s entirely up to you to manage your time.”

“Alright, now, based on your registration, split into groups for the tracks. Those with registration numbers prefixed ‘A’ go to the left track; prefix ‘B’ to the right track. Once there, each of you will collect your designated wristwatch, which will record your laps and time. The run will begin in fifteen minutes.”

A’Diao had a ‘B’ prefix, so she went to the right track. She swiped her identification card, and a device dispensed her wristwatch. After putting it on, she entered the track area and waited for the exam to begin.

This exam format wasn’t entirely new, but it was surprising to see such a straightforward method still in use after the resurgence of Spiritual Energy. What exactly were they testing?

1. Physical fitness.

2. Academic ability.

3. The examinee’s realistic self-assessment of their abilities, requiring them to manage their time and energy consumption effectively.

If too much stamina was consumed, they couldn’t expect to perform at their best in the subsequent test.

Most importantly, they had no bloody idea what the written test would cover, or if it would go beyond the standard curriculum…

A’Diao thought it was unlikely. The imperial court needed to maintain stability, and this educational reform had already caused considerable alarm and discontent among the populace. If the academic system were altered too drastically, undermining the existing educational foundations, it would be detrimental to the nation. Besides, even in the initial era of change, knowledge-based education hadn’t been abandoned—in fact, it had become even more rigorous. Therefore, the fundamental content of the written test probably wouldn’t change too much.

At most, they would increase the difficulty and broaden the scope of knowledge.

This type of exam heavily favored the students of Jinling Academy, as they were already among the best. For her, however… it would likely be a tough challenge.

Her breadth of knowledge was actually less than that of many other out-of-town examinees. Educational resources in Qishan were too scarce, and she lacked the channels, funds, and even the time to broaden her learning. Given this, Jinling Academy had likely increased the number of questions to help balance regional disparities in education and maximize their chances of identifying true talent. Otherwise, they could have simply pre-selected all their students; there would be no need for such a large-scale recruitment effort.

Having surmised the general format of the exam, A’Diao formulated a plan and steadied her breathing. Soon, a teacher activated a device, a starting gun fired, and all 1,500 examinees on her track surged forward. The sight was immense, like a cascade of dumplings into boiling water, but distinctions between the runners quickly became apparent.

“Damn, some people are already sprinting.”

“At least a hundred of them started sprinting right from the get-go. Are they foolish, or just that confident in their stamina?”

“Who knows? We’ll only see who’s truly capable after the ten laps are done.”

The students watching the excitement from the academic building were undoubtedly relaxed, as their admission was already secured. They didn’t have to endure the tension of the exam or feel uncertain about their future. Only a small number were concerned for their classmates and friends participating.

“But are there really that many first and second-years participating? I heard Xu Luo from Grade 2 also entered.”

“That kid is highly ambitious. I heard he even challenged Chen Xun.”

“To be fair, Xu Luo is indeed extremely strong. However, many people used to say Chen Xun’s father was headed for trouble. But now he’s been promoted to Cishi, the chief official of Lingcheng. With that, Xu Luo really can’t compare in terms of backing. Is that why he’s taking the risk to try and advance to Grade 3?”

“Obviously! The sooner you get into university, the sooner you get access to the allocation of prime resources. I hear most Spirit Gate resources are now funneled towards top-tier universities…”

“Look! Holy crap, Xu Luo is running so fast!!”

While the onlookers chatted idly, they suddenly noticed someone among the 1,500 runners on the right track rapidly weaving through the crowd, taking the lead and steadily increasing their distance from the others.

Right now, the runners on the right track could be roughly divided into three types.

1. Those sprinting the entire distance, numbering around 100. These individuals were generally confident in their physical stamina and, likely, their performance in the written exam as well.

2. Those running at a steady pace, 800 people.

3. Those maintaining a steady pace initially, planning to sprint later, 600 people.

Some of the teachers were stationed at various points around the track’s perimeter observing the examinees, while others monitored data from the equipment.

“Most of this leading group have absorbed Spiritual Energy, so they’re naturally more confident. However, not all of them will necessarily cope with the erratic heart rates and exhaustion following such intense exertion. Ultimately, it will depend on the final comprehensive evaluation by the optical computer.”

“Still, there are more than I anticipated. Are there truly this many young people from ordinary backgrounds who have absorbed Spiritual Energy nowadays?”

Several teachers began to discuss this, a hint of envy in their voices. Then, one remarked quietly, “But haven’t you noticed? Eighty percent of those hundred are either from families with official standing or from powerful, wealthy clans.”

The atmosphere immediately grew somber.

This was an undeniable fact, and not something they could change.

“Xu Luo is an exception, though. He’s from a commoner background, but his innate talent is extraordinary. I have high hopes for him. He’s in first place now, and his heart rate is remarkably stable—even more so than those maintaining a steady pace further back. Impressive!”

“Let me see… Yes, truly impressive. He’s certainly living up to his reputation as someone who dares to challenge Chen Xun. However, Ráo Qínyǎ is also doing well, and so is Lìn Yúnmò. None of these students have brought shame upon our Jinling Academy.”

As it stood, most of the leading pack were indeed from Jinling Academy; only a very small fraction were out-of-town examinees.

A’Diao was one of them.

But it was only the first lap; it was still early.

However, as Ou Yue and his two companions overtook A’Diao, one after another, they each sneered “Useless trash” at her.

A’Diao, having been called “useless trash” three times, merely glanced at the trio’s running rhythm and assessed their breathing. She was momentarily rendered speechless by their foolishness.

Idiots.

On the track, the runners scrambled about like a flock of headless chickens, a chaotic spectacle for the onlookers in the building. Outside the school, parents were consumed with anxiety, many pacing restlessly. Of course, some parents hadn’t come at all… Chen Ran, for one, paid the event no mind whatsoever.

Like any new official eager to make his mark, he was swamped with work. He had merely instructed his housekeeper to keep an eye on the situation and, should A’Diao fail to get into the academy, to find a suitable place for her to enroll in a preparatory year.

“Find somewhere more secluded for her. Don’t let her be distracted by the temptations of city life.”

The housekeeper understood immediately. Chen Ran intended to send her to a small, remote place to study. It was clear his master truly disliked this daughter.

I hope the school that child chose is a rather poor one; perhaps then she’ll be able to pass the exam and get in. As long as she stays in Jinling, she can still receive the Chen family’s care, and her future will have some guarantee.

Otherwise…

The second lap, then the third, passed. Lap after lap, runners moved up in the ranks while others fell behind. What started as individual efforts soon became a competitive chase.

A’Diao remained in the leading pack, hovering around the 80th to 90th position. It wasn’t that she was slacking; she was meticulously following the pace she had calculated and set for herself based on her treadmill fitness tests. How others ran was irrelevant to her.

But three people… were a full lap ahead of her.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—they shot past her like cannonballs.

Who are these people? Are they animals?

All those who were lapped felt their composure cracking; they were, after all, part of the leading hundred. Those further behind had likely been lapped twice by now.

A’Diao glanced at the identity tags on their chests and was momentarily stunned to see the names Xu Luo, Lìn Yúnmò, and Tian Zhongye. She didn’t recognize Lìn Yúnmò or Tian Zhongye, but Xu Luo… he seemed to be that refined-looking young man who had earlier confronted the out-of-town examinees. She hadn’t expected someone so outwardly cultured and gentle to possess such a sharp tongue and such formidable physical prowess.

A full lap ahead of her—what did that even mean?

It meant they had undergone marrow cleansing at least three times, possibly even four or five.

For the first time, A’Diao clearly perceived the gap between herself and these individuals.

“Truly terrifying.”

A’Diao silently lamented her own perceived weakness but continued to maintain her original sprinting pace. However, those around her seemed to have been provoked by the display, suddenly accelerating and causing A’Diao to drop out of the top one hundred.

Just as she dropped below the 100th position, she was on her seventh lap.

Suddenly, another person flashed past her, erupting with terrifying speed and frantically overtaking everyone. This burst of speed even surpassed that previously shown by Xu Luo and the other two.

What!

A’Diao was dumbfounded.

Everyone was greatly astonished; even the observing teachers were stunned.

“No way… that kind of sprinting speed?”

“My heavens!”

“Who is that?”

“Cui Yun. He’s the third son of the third branch of the Jinling Cui Clan’s direct lineage. He was originally studying at an academy in another region but returned to Jinling for some unknown reason.”

“…”

Jinling had initially been unaware of the events that transpired in Lingcheng some time ago. However, the subsequent uproar was too significant. Coupled with the fact that the formidable Cui Clan had been severely impacted by the imperial court’s decisive action—making an example of them—the matter naturally became common knowledge. The Cui Clan was abruptly thrust into the center of the storm.

Speaking of which, Cui Run had been a Grade 3 student and one of its elites. Leveraging his family’s Spiritual Energy resources, it would have been no exaggeration to say he ranked among the top five at Jinling Academy. He was on a sure path to a top-tier university, likely with guaranteed admission.

But the imperial court had convicted him. Forget top universities—he ended up straight in prison.

However, the imperial court hadn’t revoked the eligibility of other Cui Clan scions for enrollment. The Cui Clan itself remained powerful, and this Cui Yun was merely the tip of the iceberg.

Hearing the onlookers’ discussions and learning Cui Yun’s identity, A’Diao felt a surge of panic. Once the initial fear subsided, a single thought dominated her mind: If they find out I’m Chen Ran’s daughter, and if my exam results aren’t good enough for Jinling Academy to value me, the Cui Clan will very likely use their influence to make trouble for me. They might even pressure the academy to revoke my place to eliminate any potential future problems.

Under this immense pressure, her mind paradoxically calmed. She silently recounted her laps and, sticking to her original plan, accelerated, joining the others who had surged ahead.

She too began to sprint.

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