The testing hall was packed with people, and innumerable youths harboring dreams of becoming Mages stood in long lines.
Cheers and sobs of despair could be heard from the testing platforms every so often. For an ordinary family, raising a Mage was a matter of great honor, and to become a true Mage, entering an academy was the most fundamental first step.
Feng Hao was already level fifteen, but there was still a significant gap between him and a true Mage. After all, one's proficiency in "Demon Pattern Studies" was the key to their strength, equivalent to academic credentials back on Earth.
The gap between a Mage educated in Demon Patterns and a self-taught Mage wasn't just in their strength—the far greater difference lay in their social status.
Some extremists even refused to recognize self-taught Mages as Mages at all, believing they were unworthy of the title.
Over countless ages, many extraordinary powerhouses had emerged from the ranks of self-taught Mages, yet this did little to change society's prejudice against them, leading to endless debates and conflict.
Therefore, if a Mage failed to be accepted into an academy, they were destined to live a life of extreme hardship!
As a Transmigrator, Feng Hao wasn't particularly bothered by this. He only wanted to get into the academy to study Demon Patterns. The knowledge he'd recently gleaned from books had only made him more curious about the subject.
Entering the testing hall, Feng Hao felt as though he had returned to the battlefield of the college entrance exams. The congested crowd made him feel utterly resigned.
"Senior Brother, go get in line. The test is simple, so it should be your turn soon," Miao Feng said from behind the barrier for family members, looking for all the world like a parent sending their child off to take their college entrance exams.
"Don't worry, I've been through this before," Feng Hao replied with a wry smile, then quietly waited for the line to move.
He glanced toward the testing platform and happened to see Xi Yueyao stepping down. A group of academy instructors surrounded her with delighted expressions; it seemed her results were quite good.
"Bwahaha! I really am a genius!" Xi Yueyao declared arrogantly from the testing platform, basking in the envious gazes of the crowd.
"This girl from the Xiyue Family is quite good. Level thirteen right at enrollment. With the right training, she could give her older sister a run for her money." In the stands behind, a slender middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction. This was Zhao Hao, the current dean of Rongcheng Academy.
Beside him, an old man with graying hair was equally appreciative. "A gene activity of 98. She'll be at least a Seventh Rank Mage in the future."
"I hear you came out today specifically for a certain youngster, Elder Gu?" Zhao Hao asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Indeed. He's the junior of an old friend of mine," Elder Gu replied, nodding with a smile.
"Oh? And how is his aptitude?"
Elder Gu stroked his beard. "He's certain to make a name for himself in next year's academy tournament!"
"Are you serious?!" Zhao Hao exclaimed, a sharp glint in his eyes.
The competition in the academy tournament was always fierce, filled with countless genius Mages. Anyone who could make a name for themselves as a first-year was an absolute one-in-a-million prodigy.
"As an Elder of this academy, would I lie to you?"
Zhao Hao took a deep breath, his expression turning serious. "If there truly is such a genius, the academy will certainly invest heavily in his training."
"Patience. It will be his turn soon."
...
Xi Yueyao preened for a long time before finally strutting off the stage, looking for all the world like she was afraid someone might not know how amazing she was.
Behind the family barrier, Xiyue Feng clutched his forehead in agony, wishing he could turn and leave right then and there, pretending he didn't know her.
Feng Hao had to suppress a laugh. 'I really don't get it. How could a refined, handsome man like Xiyue Feng have such an oddball for a daughter? They're on completely different wavelengths.'
The testing continued. Countless young men and women stepped off the platform, some crying, some laughing, creating a strangely melancholic atmosphere.
Suddenly, a wave of gasps erupted from the testing platform and spread throughout the hall. Everyone stared intently at the results displayed on the stage, their mouths hanging open in astonishment.
"My heavens, what insane talent!"
"Who is this kid? There's no way someone from the Ancient Cang Human Race could have that kind of Demon Base aptitude, right?"
"It's probably a genetic throwback from some other race. After all, the bloodlines in the Ancient Cang Realm are complex. I heard something similar happened over in Yanzhou."
"This kid's future achievements will be limitless!"
...
Listening to the surrounding chatter, Feng Hao couldn't help but look toward the testing platform. A string of brilliant talent data was displayed on the screen, enough to make him feel thoroughly inadequate:
Strength (Force +10, Hidden Strength +3)
Divine Thought (Magic Damage +8, Divine Sense +5)
Meridians (Hidden Strength +5, Gang Qi +5)
Physique (Qi Blood +225, Defense +3)
Spirituality (Magic Power +15, Magic Damage +2)
Frame (Gang Qi +5, Force +5)
Tenacity (Defense +5, Vitality +2)
Agility (Speed +10, Attack Speed +1)
Perception (Divine Sense +7, Divine Sense Strength +2)
Stealth (Breath Concealment +5, Weak Point Enhancement +2)
Gene Activity: 121
'An Earthling's Demon Base aptitude really can't compare,' Feng Hao sighed with a bitter smile.
Meanwhile, in the stands, Dean Zhao Hao had already jumped to his feet in excitement. "Such aptitude! He's the hope of our Rongcheng Academy! Elder Gu, you truly are the academy's great savior!"
"The boy's name is Zhou Chen. I plan to take him on as my Direct Disciple," Elder Gu said, his face beaming.
"Of course! And on my authority, we will give him the highest standard of training!" Zhao Hao declared, waving his hand magnanimously.
"Then allow me to thank you in advance on his behalf, Dean."
...
The shockwave from Zhou Chen's results lingered, and discussions about him could be heard throughout the latter half of the testing.
Though many other talented students appeared during the subsequent tests, they were all overshadowed by Zhou Chen's brilliance.
Soon, it was Feng Hao's turn. He walked slowly onto the testing platform, gave a slight bow to the instructor, and stood before the Demon Base Scanner. The device projected concentric rings of green light that began to scan his talent data.
'So this is the legendary Demon Pattern Technology? Interesting.'
Feng Hao curiously sized up the device, but he couldn't find a single trace of Earth technology in its design. He had read about the Demon Base Scanner in a book before; it was a simple Demon Pattern instrument capable only of scanning a person's Demon Base aptitude and gene activity.
Feng Hao was already mentally prepared for his garbage-tier Demon Base aptitude, but he never expected his gene activity to be so pathetically low as well.
Gene Activity: 48
"What the hell? Are you kidding me?" Feng Hao stared at the result, his expression darkening. He felt like he was about to cry.
Seeing the result, the instructors all wore expressions of disdain. The middle-aged woman in the lead spoke in a chiding tone, "You don't meet the standard. You can go."
"Ma'am, is there any way you could make an exception?" Feng Hao asked awkwardly.
"An exception?" The woman sneered. "Anyone with a gene activity below fifty is unqualified to enter the academy."
"Come on, it's only two points off," Feng Hao said cheekily. "Besides, look, I'm already level fifteen. My cultivation speed is pretty fast."
The woman gave him a sidelong glance and scoffed, "You're twenty years old and only level fifteen. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
"Ahem... Ma'am, you don't understand. I only just awakened my Demon Base three months ago."
"Even a genius with gene activity over one hundred wouldn't dare claim they could reach level fifteen in three months. Do you take me for a three-year-old?" The woman waved her hand in irritation. "Get lost! Don't waste my time!"
"Alright." Seeing that no one would believe him no matter what he said, Feng Hao could only turn and leave helplessly.
'After all, gene activity is the standard metric for cultivation potential. No one would believe me. And I don't want to reveal anything about the Experience Pills just yet. As for my own racial talent... I can't let that get out, either.'
As he came down from the testing platform, he ran right into Beixing Ran, who immediately unleashed a torrent of mockery. "So you're Miao Feng's Senior Brother? You're both trash, just as I thought!"
"I don't believe I've done anything to offend you, Miss Beixing," Feng Hao said with a frown.
"Trash is trash. So what if I find you disagreeable?" Beixing Ran said, her gaze cold and disdainful, her expression exceedingly arrogant.
Feng Hao suppressed the anger in his heart. 'If we weren't at Rongcheng Academy, I'd march right up and slap her twice.' "The Beixing Clan is truly something else. I hope you're prepared to bear the consequences of your words in the future."
"You dare make such threats? A shady Alchemist who won't even show his face? How laughable!" Beixing Ran's eyes were full of scorn.
"You're the one who's laughable, not me."
Feng Hao retorted coldly, then refused to waste any more time on the moronic woman. He walked straight over to Miao Feng.
Miao Feng had naturally seen the exchange. When Feng Hao returned, he asked through gritted teeth, "Sen-Senior Brother, did that bitch just insult you?!"
"It's nothing. Just some airheaded woman," Feng Hao said with a dismissive chuckle, clearly not taking Beixing Ran seriously. "The real problem now is figuring out how to get into the academy."
Miao Feng had always assumed his mysterious Senior Brother's aptitude would be decent—after all, his Alchemy Techniques were so incredible. He'd never imagined a situation like this and couldn't help but look worried.
"According to the academy's rules, with your talent... you really can't be admitted," Miao Feng mused, his face troubled. "Wait, we could ask those three seniors! Maybe they have a way."
"I'd almost forgotten about them," Feng Hao said, nodding in sudden realization. He'd nearly forgotten about Dongfang Wuji and those other two old scoundrels.
"I don't think Senior Xiyue Feng has left yet. You should go ask him."
"Yeah, I see him," Feng Hao said. He quickly spotted Xiyue Feng in a corner of the hall, seemingly catching up with some people. "You go on and get registered. I can handle this."
"Okay, I'll head out then." After a moment's hesitation, Miao Feng turned and left.
After seeing Miao Feng off, Feng Hao strode over to Xiyue Feng. The man had clearly already sent his daughter, Xi Yueyao, to the new student registration. He was now by himself, chatting and laughing with several beautiful women, looking utterly suave.
Noticing Feng Hao's approach, Xiyue Feng immediately bid farewell to the women and came over to greet him. "I knew you'd come looking for me."
"Brother Xiyue, you have to help me think of something," Feng Hao said anxiously.
"To be honest, with your level of aptitude, you really aren't suited for cultivation. I'd say you're better off just focusing on your alchemy," Xiyue Feng said teasingly.
Feng Hao was not amused. "Are you going to help me or not?"
"Rongcheng Academy is under the direct jurisdiction of the Scholastic Federation, and the Federation is one of the top powers in the Ancient Cang Realm. What can the Patriarch of a minor family like mine possibly do?" Xiyue Feng said with a wry smile.
Feng Hao was taken aback. 'I had no idea the academy held such a high status in the Ancient Cang Realm.'
"Is there really no way at all?" Feng Hao asked, unwilling to give up.
Xiyue Feng pondered for a moment. "Well, it's not that there's *no* way. I seem to recall the Scholastic Federation has a rule about sponsored admission. With your current assets, you should be able to give it a shot."
"Holy crap, you can just buy your way in!" Feng Hao was speechless. 'Sure enough, no matter what world you're in, money is the ultimate key.'
"Don't get too excited," Xiyue Feng cautioned in a low voice. "Sponsored admission only lets you become an auditing student. You won't be officially enrolled, which means you'll still be considered a self-taught Mage and won't be accepted by the general public."
"An auditing student is fine by me," Feng Hao said with a casual smile. He couldn't care less about "credentials." As long as he could learn about Demon Patterns, everything else was unimportant.
"You need to think this through. The prejudice most people hold against self-taught Mages is severe," Xiyue Feng said seriously.
"Don't worry, I have my status as an Alchemist to fall back on."
Xiyue Feng paused, then broke into a laugh. "Alright, perhaps I was worrying too much."
...