C1 Do You Want to be a Hero?

"Please wake up. You have arrived at your destination."

Groggily, he opened his eyes. Was this heaven?

Hmm, heaven has trains? And such a beautiful attendant, too.

"Is this heaven?"

"Heaven? Are you still dreaming? This is Three-sea City!"

Three-sea City? He looked around, confused. Everything outside the window looked so familiar.

His reflection in the glass was as handsome as ever. Wait, his face!

It was too much. How could he look so young and fresh-faced? Did windows come with a beauty filter now?

The year 3106 of the Cultivation Calendar! When Zhang Heng saw the calendar on the train, he was dumbstruck.

He was ushered off the train by the attendant, still in a daze. Zhang Heng couldn't believe it – he had actually returned to the year 3106 of the Cultivation Calendar.

"Hahahaha, I've really come back!"

Zhang Heng's exuberant shout drew a series of disapproving glances.

"Crazy!"

"Idiot!"

He snorted coldly, ignoring the odd looks from those around him, and gazed at the recommendation letter in his hand with tears in his eyes.

This year was of utmost importance to him.

He was determined to apply to an advanced cultivation college!

In his past life, his lack of cultivation talent led to his rejection by prestigious colleges, forcing him to settle for second or third-tier institutions.

This had resulted in an unstable foundation, preventing him from ever becoming a top-tier expert.

This time around, he was set on getting into a top-tier cultivation academy!

Three thousand years ago, the worlds of cultivation and technology had merged, creating the society of cultivation and technology that existed today.

Applying to an academy was everyone's stepping stone to distinction. The more prestigious the academy, the better the cultivation resources and instruction one would receive, and vice versa.

Oh no, the enrollment deadline was approaching!

Glancing at the time, Zhang Heng took off at a sprint, heading towards the location etched in his memory.

The Joint Academy Assessment Office!

Standing before the familiar building, Zhang Heng breathed a sigh of relief.

This was where dozens of top-tier academies in Three-sea City conducted their joint entrance assessments, selecting students based on their performance.

In this lifetime, I am determined to get into a top-tier cultivation academy!

Gazing up at the towering building, Zhang Heng gripped his fists tightly. Today marked the beginning of his destiny's transformation.

"What are you doing? Let me through, you jerks!"

"Hehehe, little freshman, you can pass, but first, how about giving your senior your contact info?"

Zhang Heng turned to see a scene all too familiar; it was those two lowlifes again!

No, they were more like two disgusting pests from the academy. Wait, not pests, maggots.

In his past life, he had been too timid to intervene.

But now, why did the sight of these two make him itch to pummel them with his fists?

"Release that girl, and face me!"

"Ugh, no, release her, you two disgraces of our academy!"

Damn, I nearly botched my lines and ruined my heroic image.

Zhang Heng successfully drew the crowd's attention. Amidst the admiring looks from the new students, he strode forward.

"Wow, there's actually a freshman brave enough to challenge us."

"Junior, today you'll learn what it means to respect your seniors!"

The two released the girl and lunged at Zhang Heng with sinister grins.

Feeling their presence up close, Zhang Heng's eyebrows lifted. Both were at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!

He was only at the early stage himself. This was going to be tough.

But wait, their movements were incredibly slow.

They were riddled with openings.

He easily sidestepped their assault, and Zhang Heng's face twisted into a bemused expression. Was he really this powerful?

"Kid, it's no wonder you dare to interfere. You've got some moves!"

"Enough talk. We've wasted too much time on a freshman. If we want any respect in the future, we need to go all out now!"

With that, they conjured several fireballs and hurled them viciously at Zhang Heng.

Fireball Technique! An elementary spell for those at the Foundation Establishment stage!

Scoffing at their feeble attempt, Zhang Heng sneered dismissively.

Suddenly, a vivid Fire Bird materialized above Zhang Heng's head and darted towards the opposition with incredible speed.

At the intermediate stage of Foundation Establishment, Zhang Heng unleashed the Fire Bird Technique! The fireball was immediately snuffed out by the Fire Bird, which charged with unstoppable force toward the two shocked underachievers.

"This freshman can actually cast the Fire Bird Technique!"

"And it's an instant cast, no less!"

Their screams echoed as thick smoke billowed from where they stood, revealing their charred figures shortly after.

"Do you seniors want to try again?" taunted Zhang Heng, a mischievous grin on his face as another Fire Bird materialized above him.

In their minds, a stampede of frustration raged. Was this really just a freshman? He was more like a monster!

Watching them flee, Zhang Heng casually dismissed the Fire Bird.

"Thank you, classmate!" came a sweet voice. The girl who had been previously stopped now stood before him, her pretty face a pleasant sight.

"Cough, cough... No need for thanks. That'll be thirty Immortal Coins," Zhang Heng said earnestly, leaving the girl in front of him stunned.

"Thirty... Thirty Immortal Coins?" What kind of day was this? She had encountered two annoying seniors, and when she thought a handsome hero had come to her rescue, it turned out he was motivated not by her looks but by money!

"Yes, indeed. Heroism isn't free, you know. Come on, thirty Immortal Coins."

Zhang Heng extended his hand with the same serious expression, and the girl, with a look of contempt, slapped a large red Immortal Coin into his palm.

"Here's a hundred Immortal Coins! Ugh, you're despicable!"

Zhang Heng snatched the money and, amidst a sea of scornful looks, tucked it into his storage ring.

As the girl stormed off, Zhang Heng smirked to himself. Life at the advanced academy wouldn't be cheap, and he was determined to make every coin count.

Zhang Heng's smile wasn't just for the hundred Immortal Coins he'd earned but also from the realization that with his early Foundation Establishment abilities, he had taken down two mid-stage Foundation Establishment weaklings.

Had I intervened in others' affairs in my previous life, I would have likely been pulverized.

Now, armed with over three hundred years of cultivation experience from my past life, my combat skills and knowledge are intact, enabling me to effortlessly dispatch those two mid-stage Foundation Establishment weaklings.

Back then, at my age, I couldn't even muster a simple Fireball, let alone master the Fire Bird Technique.

Hehehe, this time around, I'm determined to get into one of the elite advanced academies!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The resonant toll of the ancient bell caught Zhang Heng's attention.

That was the signal for the examination to begin!

"All newcomers, please form an orderly line for the assessment!"

A venerable elder with an authoritative presence emerged, surrounded by a crowd. Zhang Heng recognized him immediately; it was Ouyang Xiu, the dean of the No.1 Academy in Three-sea City!

And that very No.1 Cultivation Academy in Three-sea City was my goal!

A throng of new students began to queue up systematically, awaiting their turn for evaluation.

Zhang Heng took a brief look at them before striding forward with his long legs, joining the line.