Chapter 296: Get in the Car! They’re About to Weld the Doors Shut!
“The Artifact Refinement Department… why the hell are they cutting admissions?”
Zhang Yu never imagined that after entering university, he would face a situation similar to what his high school martial dao teacher, Lei Jun, had experienced.
Lei Jun had faced cuts to the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate admissions, while Zhang Yu was now facing cuts to graduate student admissions.
After spending some time searching, Zhang Yu couldn’t find the reason for the cuts on the Spirit Realm Network.
However, that evening after school, while taking his medicine in the dormitory, Zhang Pianpian overheard his question and offered some explanations.
“It’s said that several Spirit Transformation Realm artifact refinement Masters are leading the protests,” Zhang Pianpian began, her fingertip gliding lightly across the Talisman Register. Countless streams of information flickered within her Bionic Eye.
“They argue that the current educational resources in university Artifact Refinement Departments are insufficient to match the student intake,” she continued.
“Secondly, they believe the quality of current refinement apprentices is inadequate and that admission standards should be further raised…”
Zhang Yu cursed inwardly, “Damn it, so they’re welding the doors shut as soon as they get in the car, huh?”
Zhang Pianpian shook her head. “Those are just superficial excuses they’re throwing out.”
“The real reason…”
Her fingertip traced a rune on the Talisman Register, one Zhang Yu couldn’t decipher. Instantly, a flood of information from the depths of the Spirit Realm flashed across her eyes.
With a faint smile, Zhang Pianpian said, “The true motive is likely a joint effort by the Ten Great Universities to limit the number of artifact refinement students across all universities, solidifying their dominant position.”
“Zhang Yu, if you’re planning to apply to the Artifact Refinement Department’s graduate program, it’s going to be even more competitive now.”
She sighed. “I checked the admission standards for the past few years, and they’ve been increasing almost every year.”
“The requirements for transferring departments have also become stricter, generally requiring a ranking within the top 50% of your current department.”
“For the Civil Engineering Department, you’d need to be in the top 20% of your class.”
Zhang Yu exclaimed, “Such high standards? That’s outrageous!”
“Top 20% of the entire department? I’ve already ranked in the top 20% of the entire Civil Engineering Department across all years and only then can I transfer to Artifact Refinement? Who set these ridiculous standards?”
Zhang Pianpian replied calmly, “Those are just the eligibility requirements for the transfer exam.”
“According to the new standards, if you want to compete with other students, you’ll need to earn extra credit.”
“Mastering Immortal Dao Technologies like artifact refinement, alchemy, medicine crafting, array formation, and so on can earn you extra credit and priority admission.”
Zhang Yu’s brow furrowed even deeper. These extra credit skills sounded increasingly expensive. Was this really about selecting talent? It seemed more like screening for wealthy students.
Zhang Pianpian continued, “Zhang Yu, if you still plan to pursue artifact refinement, you’ll need to work even harder.”
“By the time your cohort applies, the admission requirements will likely be even higher.”
She shook her head, sighing, “But there’s nothing we can do. Reducing enrollment in popular majors is the current trend.”
“It’s not just the Artifact Refinement Department. All three of Myriad Laws University’s Elite Departments are cutting enrollment.”
“The admission requirements for the Finance Department have already skyrocketed.”
“After all, the table is only so big. Every extra person who joins means less for everyone else.”
“As time passes, climbing the ladder in Kunxu will only become more difficult.”
“Even joining the Ten Great Sects… in a few years, they might stop recruiting altogether.”
Hearing about the changes in admission quotas for graduate students and the Artifact Refinement Department, Zhang Yu frowned repeatedly but maintained his composure, resolving to work even harder.
But when Zhang Pianpian uttered her final words, his eyes widened abruptly. “Sis… Senior Sister! What did you say?” he exclaimed. “The Ten Great Sects might stop recruiting in a few years?”
At that moment, after relentless days of studying and cultivation, the Ritual Power — which had lain dormant for so long — seemed to stir within him again, bringing back that familiar chill.
Zhang Yu, who had initially believed he could finally relax after gaining admission to one of the Ten Great Universities, suddenly felt his anxiety surge anew.
He vividly recalled the path he had set to fulfill his ritual wish:
Get into university, join a sect, and ultimately use the sect’s stipend to buy the antiques it desired.
“Damn it! If the Ten Great Sects stop recruiting, how am I supposed to fulfill my ritual wish? Will I be devoured by the ritual’s backlash the moment I graduate?”
“Fu Ji! Did you hear that? Can’t you stop this damn ritual?”
Fu Ji gave an awkward smile. “Ah, I didn’t realize things had gotten so competitive.”
As Zhang Yu’s mind churned with shock, Zhang Pianpian glanced at his changing expression and replied calmly, “It wasn’t until I came here that I realized how different things are from what we imagined. Since the establishment of the national college entrance examination system and the university system, almost every year, peerless geniuses have risen through the ranks, being recruited from the Ten Great Universities into the Ten Great Sects.”
“Under this system, the number of people in the Ten Great Sects has grown steadily each year, with Heavenly Chosen emerging in endless succession.”
“These geniuses among geniuses, each one possesses extraordinary innate talent and boundless talent.”
“With so many people joining the sects and striving to reach the Apex of the Immortal Dao… don’t you think it’s getting increasingly crowded up there?”
“For the Ten Great Sects, the supply of Immortal Dao talent may already be overflowing.”
“And as the vehicle becomes more crowded, naturally the standards for boarding must be raised.”
Zhang Pianpian sighed. “Based on the data I’ve gathered so far, the trends over the past few years suggest that the Ten Great Sects may no longer have any ordinary mortals. The birth rate may have been reduced to zero for quite some time. Even those who go up to work can’t keep their residency permits; after a certain period, they must return below…”
“I think… in a few more years, we’ll reach that critical point.”
“By then, the Ten Great Sects might stop recruiting disciples altogether, and the Sect Grotto-Heavens above the Tenth Layer might never open to those below again.”
“The world above the sects and the world below will become two completely separate realms.”
Hearing Zhang Pianpian’s words, Zhang Yu cursed inwardly, “Why does this have to happen right when I’m trying to get in?”
“If I’d been born twenty or forty years earlier, wouldn’t getting into university and a sect have been several times easier?”
“Now it’s not only harder, but they might even stop recruiting altogether?”
Noticing Zhang Yu’s fluctuating expression, Zhang Pianpian asked, “Zhang Yu, do you really want to join one of the Ten Great Sects?”
Zhang Yu nodded. “Do you think I still have a chance?”
Zhang Pianpian checked the data. “Last year, the sects recruited… five Refinement Apprentices.”
Zhang Yu’s face twitched. “From the Myriad Laws Sect?”
Zhang Pianpian shook her head. “The Ten Great Sects recruited a total of five Refinement Apprentices from all university doctoral programs: four at the Nascent Soul Realm and one at the Golden Core Realm.”
“If you want to join one of the Ten Great Sects, you’ll probably need to reach at least the doctoral level.”
Zhang Yu’s heart sank at her words.
Then he remembered the Civil Engineering Department’s expanded graduate program and asked with a hint of hope, “What about Civil Engineering? Did they recruit a lot of students…?”
“Zero,” Zhang Pianpian replied flatly. “Last year… the Ten Great Sects didn’t recruit a single Civil Engineering disciple.”
“It’s now generally accepted that the Ten Great Sects may have stopped recruiting Civil Engineering students altogether.”
“I’ve looked into it. If you really want to join one of the Ten Great Sects, the Artifact Refinement Department offers the best odds. The other departments either have lower chances than Artifact Refinement or are about the same…”
Zhang Yu asked, “Then… how many more years do you think it will be before the Ten Great Sects completely stop recruiting?”
“Five years? Ten years? Twenty years?” Zhang Pianpian shook her head and sighed. “It’s hard to say. You know, to Immortals, ten or thirty years might as well be the same.”
Zhang Yu asked again, “Have you ever considered joining one of the Ten Great Sects?”
Zhang Pianpian smiled faintly. “The Eight Righteous Gods are my true calling.”
As she spoke, she sighed softly. “Since entering university, I’ve realized more and more… we were born just a bit too late.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu clenched his fist, thinking to himself, “This won’t work. I can’t keep going like this. It’s too dangerous.”
Noticing Zhang Yu’s furrowed brow, Zhang Pianpian said, “If you truly want to seize this final opportunity, you’ll need to complete your academic credits early and apply for graduation.”
“But that would mean… you’d have to finish your cultivation in even less time, then compete with elites who’ve been cultivating for a decade for graduate school spots, then complete your graduate studies in an even shorter timeframe before vying for doctoral positions…”
At this, Zhang Pianpian shook her head. “Focus on the present for now.”
Zhang Yu thought, “Graduate early?”
Zhang Pianpian reminded him, “Remember, don’t rush. Haste makes waste. Don’t lose your composure and expose yourself.”
Zhang Yu nodded slightly, striving to calm his emotions.
Since entering Myriad Laws University, Zhang Yu had thrived, drawing on his deep foundation. His cultivation, strength, academic performance, and rankings had all steadily improved.
Recently, after joining the construction site, even his Spirit Coin earnings had shown a clear upward trend.
Originally, Zhang Yu had believed that by steadily improving step by step — advancing through school, passing exams, and eventually joining one of the Ten Great Sects — he would achieve his goals.
He never imagined the situation in Kunxu would be far more dire than he had anticipated.
However, Zhang Yu had no power to influence the policies of the Ten Great Sects. All he could do now was work and cultivate even harder, striving to increase his chances of success by even the slightest margin.
With this in mind, Zhang Yu’s mind raced: “To achieve this without revealing my special talent, I need to earn more money.”
He understood that the more Spirit Coins he earned, the faster he could improve, and this would also serve as a perfect cover for his rapid progress, concealing his world-shattering talent.
“Now that I have a job at the construction site, I don’t have to worry about spending more than I earn.”
With a plan forming in his mind, Zhang Yu thought, “Next, I’ll spend Spirit Coins to enhance my strength, using that as a basis to improve efficiency at the construction site. Then I’ll earn even more Spirit Coins, spend even more to enhance my strength…”
Moments later, various products and services flashed through Zhang Yu’s Bionic Eye as he began selecting his next purchases.