All Heavenly destiny reduced to ashes
Chapter 631 - 6 Director’s Concern (Extra - for Monthly Votes)

Chapter 631: Chapter 6 Director’s Concern (Extra Chapter for Monthly Votes)

"Jingwei Academy?"

An Jing looked at the characters on the stone plaque with some curiosity. "I thought Third Middle School was built later, so it had an original model after all?"

There are many people at the school entrance, bustling with young students who are here to take the entrance examination today. The number of flying cars in the sky was so great that they covered the lights, but flying cars were not allowed inside, so they all landed on both sides of the street.

"Before the world catastrophe, apart from the Primordial Spirit Inheritance, there were many other sects, whose academies were mostly acquired and incorporated by the four major groups after the catastrophe, becoming part of the Xuanye City education system."

Seeing that An Jing was very interested in this, Nian Quan explained, and An Jing looked at the stone plaque above the gate thoughtfully, "This Jingwei Academy must have been an ally of Luofu in those days, right?"

"Perhaps." Nian Quan didn’t know much more either, after all, he was from a poor area and didn’t know much more than the people from the Wilderness. He looked around and then led the way, "Come, this way."

He took An Jing towards a side door with not many people, "I’ll take you to register in advance, so you don’t have to line up later."

An Jing looked thoughtfully at a camera not far away, his eyes flashing with red light.

Then, he followed Nian Quan.

...

Inside Third Middle School.

In the meeting hall, several water mirrors reflected images from various parts of the academy. Several middle-aged and elderly cultivators sat in the hall, looking at the water mirror in the center that reflected the image of the academy’s main entrance.

These special water mirrors were extremely complex. The moment any passerby’s headshot was watched continuously by the cultivators for a period, it would send the specific individual profiles and related cultivation information to their Divine Soul Chips, allowing them to know the general information of the applying students.

Principal He was also among them, and his gaze, as well as the gaze of all the other elderly cultivators, were all converged on a young cultivator entering from the side and registering.

[An Xuan, 15 years old]

[Heavenly Spiritual Root (Gold 9, Water 6, Wood 5; Fire and Earth not manifested)]

[Strength, Qi Refinement third level, can use Spiritual Fiend (425/425)]

[Life Signs: Good]

[Reputation: 87, Excellent]

The related data appeared in everyone’s minds.

"Little He."

After a moment of silence, a rather hoarse voice rang out, "Is this the Wilderness sprout that you have high hopes for?"

The speaker was an elderly cultivator with black hair and a lively face, appearing quite spirited, with a beard resembling that of a mountain goat.

But his gaze was cloudy, his voice hoarse and dry, without much inner strength, showing a striking contrast.

The surrounding cultivators did not find it strange. Once one reached Foundation Establishment, even in the moment before death, a cultivator could maintain their most perfect physical form, not to mention this elderly man who was at the Purple Mansion Realm. Even after death, his Soul Spirit could still animate the body for a period of time.

However, if one had been injured in the past and had not healed perfectly, then the injured area would prematurely age as one approached death, and even begin to decay while still alive.

This cultivator was clearly nearing the end of his life, with some recurring injuries tormenting his body and spirit, yet he still commanded great authority, speaking to Principal He as if he were a junior.

"Yes, Mr. Chen, he is An Xuan, a Sword Dao talent with insights into Sword Intent, just like Nian Quan."

Facing the questioning cultivator, Principal He’s tone was quite formal, showing the respect of a junior, "He and Nian Quan are friends, both with Heavenly Spiritual Roots, and through mutual exchange and sparring, both have gained insights into Sword Intent."

"Now, in terms of single-player competitions, we already have Nian Quan as our ace, but in the team competition, we are still slightly inferior to First Middle School, Second Middle School, and Fifth Middle School. I think, An Xuan can fill this gap for us."

The directors whispered among themselves, not avoiding Principal He and not using the Spiritual Network for communication. The main topics of their discussion were ’how to allocate the other three slots now that two are taken for the five-person team competition’, ’if An Xuan really has this capability, how should we handle the related publicity, and how should the investment be planned’, and other such issues.

"Um..."

And the director, addressed as Mr. Chen, squinted his eyes, gazing at An Jing.

His authority was immense, with access to far more data, leading him to express doubt after a moment: "He does look spirited, has a good image, and presents a different style compared to Nian Quan, quite suitable to be the face of our Third Middle School..."

"But the rest of his data, why does it look... somewhat ordinary?"

"Has he really grasped Sword Intent?"

If any other director had raised such doubts, Principal He might have snorted coldly and shown anger, but Chairman Chen was the benefactor who had aided him in his time of despair and was the true pillar behind Third Middle School. Even if his advanced age made him somewhat overly cautious, there was no choice but to go along with him.

Principal He answered cautiously: "I can assure you of this, my Sword Heart has reacted, An Xuan has definitely comprehended Sword Intent, and his strength is absolutely not inferior to Nian Quan."

"At sixteen, to face the first ’Sacred Selection Examination’. That year was also the Four Cities Competition. Only one year left."

Chairman Chen turned his head to look at Principal He and said in a deep voice: "If we do not compete, it’s fine, I have some face in Cave Heaven, it won’t be good, but it won’t be bad either, that’s how it has been all these years."

"But if we decide to compete, Tianyi will not go easy on us."

"Xiao He, I am willing to trust you. I am old and will die soon, losing does not matter to me, but are you willing to lose once more?"

He Yongzhi fell silent for a while.

Old Chen was a descendant of the ’Chen Family of Luofu Mountain’ from ’Cave Heaven’, the true power behind all the academies in Xuanye City, undoubtedly each had such a descendant of Luofu as their backbone.

Just as there was competition within Cave Heaven, so too did their Luofu descendants vie outside it. Companies spoke through profits and technology, while academies naturally boasted about the quality and achievements of their students.

Through this, they competed for the resources to achieve Golden Core, for opportunities to expand their faction’s power... but in the end, they were all family. They would compete but not go too far.

’Tianyi’ mentioned by Old Chen was the Luofu descendant backing First Middle School, his branch having the best background, holding the best resources, and naturally winning the most, with the strongest power.

Those who win a lot are naturally generous, willing to share the leftovers with their siblings.

But the prerequisite is that he decides how to share.

If someone were to compete, to snatch, to grab... Winning is another matter, as being defeated despite holding the best resources would itself prove the victor deserved something, and Cave Heaven would not allow the loser to retaliate.

But if one were to lose... The victor’s suppression of the loser was always extremely cruel.

If one lost too much, wagered too high, even a Luofu branch could not afford the price... Many branch descendants disappeared just like that in Xuanye City, unable to return to Cave Heaven, becoming the discarded products of survival of the fittest.

Principal He knew very well that the victory he had previously in the Special City competition was not a true win. First Middle School was not serious, and the director behind it did not put in full effort.

Only in the Sacred Selection Examination, the Four Cities Competition that caught the attention of the group’s high-level, was the true stage.

Only with good results in such a grand competition could Third Middle School prove his victory... he would have the chance to remove the Heart Demon from back then, gain resources to advance to the Purple Mansion Realm and then learn the truth of the past.

And only then, might Third Middle School have the chance to become... the new First Middle School.

"Yongzhi, you have done well these years, I trust you, but before making important decisions, consider the consequences of failure."

After a moment of silence, Chairman Chen patted the armrest of his chair: "The city is different from the wilderness, it’s okay to lose a gambling, you won’t die, but it’s ultimately not good for the youths’ future."

"You’ve regretted losing that gamble in the past. So I still advise you, don’t wager others’ futures on your judgment and abilities."

"Make your own decision."

His words were hard to hear, but sincere, while Principal He’s expression grew dark, then he solemnly said: "I understand."

Nian Quan, An Xuan...

Two geniuses capable of resonating with his Sword Intent, are they truly worth such a gambit?

Or rather...

Am I really deserving of using the promising futures of two young people for such a wager?

Before he could clear his thoughts, the image in the Water Mirror changed.

The registration had ended, and the candidates gradually entered the examination venue.