Chapter 96

"Professor Xie, why did you come here? You could have said everything in a spirit crane message!"

Li Yao was somewhat surprised. Deep Sea University and Foguo City were a thousand miles apart, and it was truly unexpected that Xie Tingxian would personally drive a flying shuttle car at breakneck speed to come here.

Xie Tingxian gave a bitter laugh, "A spirit crane message could never convey my apologies. Li Yao, this time you really slapped me hard!"

Li Yao hurriedly said, "Professor Xie, I didn't mean it that way. I still have great respect for you, really!"

To Li Yao, Xie Tingxian was clearly different from people like Zhao Shude.

Although Xie Tingxian had rejected him, there were reasons for it. Moreover, the head of the Deep Sea University's Alchemy and Artifact Department was Dean Chu Xiuhong, and many things were not within Xie Tingxian's control as a mere professor.

Xie Tingxian had once said he would personally help Li Yao recover, and although it hadn't been implemented yet, the fact that Xie Tingxian, a busy senior expert, had such intentions deeply moved Li Yao.

Xie Tingxian said very frankly, "I know this is something Deep Sea University did wrong. Our Dean Chu is a person deeply devoted to technology and is very poor at human relations. Her fiery temper is well-known in the cultivation world. On that day, she thought you were trying to pull strings and use connections, so her tone was a bit harsh."

"Now she is reflecting on herself, realizing she was too hasty and shouldn't have said those things to you before the college entrance exam. I came here at her request to formally invite you, Li Yao, to join the Deep Sea University's Alchemy and Artifact Department!"

A spark of brilliance flashed in Li Yao's eyes, but it quickly faded.

Xie Tingxian continued, "I know you are upset, and this can only be blamed on Dean Chu and me for being blind. It's not your fault. So even if you don't choose Deep Sea University, I would fully understand and support you. However—"

He paused, his voice trembling with sincerity, "Li Yao, this is not the time to act on impulse. We are discussing your dream! I know your dream is to become a great alchemy and artifact master, and Deep Sea University has the strongest alchemy and artifact program in the Federation, known as the 'Holy Land of Alchemy and Artifact Masters'!"

"Only by choosing Deep Sea University can you achieve your dream!"

"If you blame me or Dean Chu, we can understand, but don't joke with your own dream. That would only hurt you!"

"As for the conditions for joining Deep Sea University, you don't need to worry. Not only will your tuition and fees be waived, but you will also receive a substantial scholarship. We will treat you as a top candidate and have the most elite team to cultivate you, ensuring that you become a registered alchemy and artifact master within three years, with a bright future ahead!"

"Have you heard of 'Supernova Jiang Sheng'? He is the strongest newcomer in the alchemy and artifact world in the past decade. At just over thirty, he has already become an associate professor at Deep Sea University's Alchemy and Artifact Department and is hailed as the leading figure in the alchemy and artifact world in fifty years—cultivated by Dean Chu and me!"

"Once you join Deep Sea University's Alchemy and Artifact Department, I guarantee you will receive the same treatment as Jiang Sheng did, and in a few years, you will be the second 'Supernova'!"

As he spoke, Xie Tingxian's gaze was fierce, scanning the room, and he loudly declared, "Perhaps some of you can offer better material conditions, but when it comes to the alchemy and artifact program, no university can compare to Deep Sea University!"

The many admissions officers looked at each other, speechless.

This was like a louse on a bald head—obvious. No matter how eloquent they were, they wouldn't dare claim their schools had a stronger alchemy and artifact program.

Even the alchemy and artifact program of the top-ranked Federal First Military Academy was far behind Deep Sea University's, like comparing a mouse to an elephant—completely different levels.

It's over, it's over, it looks like this genius will be snatched away by Deep Sea University!

Sure enough, Li Yao's eyes gradually became incredibly determined, like a steel blade that could cut through anything.

Li Yao scanned the room, bowed deeply to everyone, and said solemnly, "I'm sorry for wasting all your time. All of your schools are the top universities in the Federation, and the conditions you offered are very attractive, but I have already decided which university to apply to."

"It's over!"

Several admissions officers sighed and wilted.

"I have made up my mind. To avoid wasting Professor Xie and all of your time, I will fill out my application right now!"

Li Yao opened his mini crystal brain and even activated the spectator mode.

A light screen appeared in mid-air, shimmering with light, each word clearly visible.

By tradition, from the moment the college entrance exam results were released, candidates had fifteen days to choose their schools and fill out their applications through the spirit network.

Most people would carefully analyze and compare the strengths and weaknesses of different schools, considering not only their interests and employment rates but also whether their scores were high enough to meet the admission thresholds.

So most people would wait until the last few days to fill out their applications, and once submitted, they could not be changed.

A scene slowly appeared on the light screen: in a turbulent river, countless gray, ugly carp were swimming frantically. Suddenly, one gray carp leaped up, crossing the majestic dragon gate, instantly shimmering with light, transforming into a golden dragon, rising into the sky, and soaring to the heavens!

The carp leaping over the dragon gate, one exam determining one's fate!

This was the opening screen of the college application system.

The names of various universities rolled down from the top of the light screen like a heavy rain, especially the names of the nine elite universities, all shining brightly, with eight-pointed rays and a dazzling glow.

"Tap, tap, tap, tap!"

Li Yao lightly tapped out his student number on the virtual keyboard, and his scores immediately appeared.

There was also a long string of text, providing a detailed analysis of his scores and recommending several top programs in the Federation.

This was the system's built-in intelligent analysis feature, which Li Yao ignored, closing it and entering the self-selection interface.

His gaze swept over the names of the universities, finally stopping at "Deep Sea University."

Li Yao stared at it for a long time.

At this moment, he heard the sound of the wind.

No, it wasn't the wind, but the sound of flames roaring, the sound of a small sun tearing through the darkness and rising slowly.

Li Yao squinted and looked up to see a fiery red flame shuttle floating in the sky. Ding Lingdang was sitting on the hatch, her long legs crossed, staring at him with an uneasy expression.

Li Yao smiled, showing his sharp canines, and beckoned to Ding Lingdang, indicating, "Come down!"

Ding Lingdang glared, indicating, "I'll come down, who's afraid of who!"

She lightly jumped, leaping from several dozen meters in the air and landing in front of Li Yao.

Their noses and lips were almost touching, their breaths and heartbeats mingling.

"Ding Lingdang, I sincerely thank you and the Great Wasteland Combat Academy for your trust. I will never forget how you went to great lengths to help me prepare for the exam!" Li Yao said from the bottom of his heart.

"Cut the crap. I said, as a friend, I will support whatever choice you make. Deep Sea University is the holy land of alchemy and artifact masters, and it will definitely help you achieve your dream, so choose quickly, don't be so indecisive like a girl!" Ding Lingdang gritted her teeth.

Li Yao looked straight at her, "Ding Lingdang, will you really support any choice I make, even the craziest one?"

"…Yes, but if you choose Deep Sea University's Alchemy and Artifact Department, you must do your best to become the best alchemy and artifact master. That way, it won't be in vain that I trained you for a month! Remember, the best, not even second best, or I'll beat you up!" Ding Lingdang said seriously, word by word.

Li Yao smiled genuinely, his dark face breaking into a crescent moon of white teeth, and then he did something that no one expected.

He suddenly stepped forward and hugged Ding Lingdang!

Everyone was stunned!

Ding Lingdang, even among the admissions officers of the nine elite universities, was a unique character. Many knew this incredibly strong and violent girl, and no one dared to provoke her easily.

No one expected Li Yao to be so bold!

"Too, too intense, no wonder he's the top scorer, a god-like man!" Many people's eyes bulged out.

Ding Lingdang's eyes widened. As a peak Qi Cultivation cultivator, she had a thousand ways to avoid Li Yao's hug, but for some reason, she stood there, frozen, and was hugged tightly by Li Yao.

A strange, indescribable feeling emanated from Li Yao's body, making Ding Lingdang's nose tingle.

This faint sweat smell was something she had never emitted, no matter how much she sweated, a strange scent she had never encountered in her twenty-plus years of life.

Ding Lingdang felt at a loss, a sense of confusion that she had never felt even when facing powerful beasts.

"What are you up to, you little brat? It's broad daylight, a clear sky! If you want to do something, do it at home at night!" Ding Lingdang raged in her heart.

Li Yao only hugged her for half a second before letting go, stepping back, and said seriously, "Ding Lingdang, I was an orphan from a young age, and besides my deceased father, I had no other family. But now I've decided, from this moment on, I will treat you as—my sister!"

"…Sister my ass, don't be so sappy!" Ding Lingdang instantly got goosebumps.

"But—"

Li Yao's eyes sparkled, his words heavy, "My dream is to become the best alchemy and artifact master, so I can't apply to the Great Wasteland Combat Academy's Combat Department. I'm really sorry!"

"It's okay, I…" Ding Lingdang's eyes darted away.

For some reason, besides disappointment, a faint sense of loss rose in her heart.

Xie Tingxian felt relieved and smiled, "Li Yao, you have made a very correct choice. In twenty or thirty years, when you become the second 'Supernova,' you will never regret today's choice!"

"For my dream, I have no regrets, but… the second 'Supernova'?"

Li Yao smiled, said no more, and quickly completed his application with a few taps of his fingers.

With a clear and pleasant "ding," a line of clear, large text appeared, shining brightly above everyone's heads, with three words particularly prominent.

"Alchemy and Artifact Department!"

"Congratulations, Li Yao, welcome to the Holy Land of Alchemy and Artifact Masters…" Xie Tingxian's heart finally settled, and he beamed.

"Sorry, Professor Xie, really, really, really sorry." Before he could finish, Li Yao interrupted with a guilty look.

Xie Tingxian blinked, not understanding Li Yao's meaning for a moment.

At this moment, he noticed the room was eerily quiet, and everyone's faces showed expressions of shock.

And the small line of text above "Alchemy and Artifact Department" seemed off.

Xie Tingxian squinted and finally saw the full text on the light screen—

"Great Wasteland Combat Academy, Alchemy and Artifact Department!"

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