C4 An Extremely Eyecatching B

"Our academy must have this new student!"

"No way, nobody can poach him from our academy!"

Unbeknownst to Zhang Heng, the Academy Alliance's meeting room was in complete disarray because of him.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The resonant sound of an ancient bell signaled the start of the final round of assessments.

The examination table transformed once again, revealing a gleaming mirror.

Zhang Heng looked at the mirror, a wry smile on his lips.

In his previous life, he had scored a B.

What would this life hold for him?

This round was straightforward: a test of cultivation talent.

All the examinee had to do was place their hand on the mirror, which could then detect each individual's cultivation talent and assign a grade accordingly: C, B, A, S, or SS!

At this point, most new students had received their results. Some boasted brilliant S's above their heads, while others had the dull sheen of C's and B's.

Once again, all eyes in the examination hall—and indeed, nearly twenty principals in the Academy Alliance's conference room—were fixed on Zhang Heng.

He gently laid his hand upon the mirror.

A burst of light passed, and a gray glow emerged above Zhang Heng's head: B!

The examiner, in disbelief, rubbed his eyes. He was convinced he must be seeing things.

But when he looked again, the gray B was still blinking above Zhang Heng's head.

"It's a B!"

"His cultivation talent is that poor!"

"We thought he was a prodigy, but he's just a laughingstock."

Mocking laughter filled the air as Zhang Heng slowly withdrew his hand, and the flickering B above him faded away.

In the Academy Alliance's conference room, the deans were collectively stunned.

What happened to the prodigy they were promised? The unparalleled genius? Why did he end up with a B in cultivation talent?

The two deans who had been determined to recruit Zhang Heng now wished they could slap themselves.

For cultivators, the essence of their practice is their cultivation talent!

Cultivation talent can determine one's potential for greatness. Even if all other aspects are lacking, with high cultivation talent, one can still be nurtured to success.

On the contrary, if one's cultivation talent is low, no matter how strong their other abilities may be, the academies within the Academy Alliance still deliberate on whether to admit the student.

The concern for the academies is that after pouring countless resources into a student, they might never break through the Foundation Establishment stage.

After all, even an exceptional Foundation Establishment cultivator is still just at that level, aren't they?

Zhang Heng examined his results: four shining SS grades and a stark B.

He sighed involuntarily. As expected, no miracle had occurred. His cultivation talent remained a B, just like in his previous life.

But what of it? In his previous life, he had managed to advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, despite his B-level cultivation talent.

This time around, his potential was boundless.

Zhang Heng joined the other new students as they dispersed, his heart racing anew.

The moment of truth was imminent.

With four SS grades and a B, he surmised that even if he wasn't a special recruit, the No.1 Academy should at least offer him admission.

The big screen flickered with golden light, eliciting gasps from the crowd.

"Look, someone got four SS grades!"

"Wow, that's ruthless—four SS grades!"

Zhang Heng allowed himself a small smile; his scores had clearly made an impact. But as he looked up, his smile froze.

His name was not followed by an acceptance from the No.1 Academy.

Not even from the second or third-ranked academies!

A few of the top ten academies had shown interest, but it was the ones ranked in the bottom ten that had almost unanimously accepted him. Now, the choice was his to make.

A bitter smile crept onto Zhang Heng's lips. Four SS grades, yet the No.1 Academy had turned him away!

Talent! Was talent truly so crucial?

He couldn't reconcile with it. He had been excluded by the elite academies in his previous life, and now, history was repeating itself!

Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.

The No.1 Academy would surely regret this. In this life, he was determined to prove that talent isn't the sole determinant of success!

Staring at the big screen, Zhang Heng gritted his teeth until they nearly cracked, the taste of blood filling his mouth.

"Young man, are you not content?"

An elderly voice suddenly emerged behind Zhang Heng. Slowly turning around, Zhang Heng found himself face-to-face with a figure that left him utterly dumbfounded.

It was him! The very man he recognized instantly.

The future headmaster of the No.1 Academy, Mu An!

Behind him stood six students, all in matching uniforms, eyeing Zhang Heng with a mix of curiosity and intrigue.

Upon seeing these six, Zhang Heng was frozen in shock once more. He knew them, or rather, they were known to everyone in the future!

The Six Heroes of Mu'an! These six individuals, famed for being the Six Heroes of Mu'an, possessed cultivation talents that were legendary, with the least advanced among them having reached the Mahayana Stage!

In Huaxia Country, each held a position of immense significance.

And there, right beside the old man, was a girl glaring at him with fury in her eyes.

It was Su Meng. Was she also a student at Mu'an Academy? Why couldn't he remember her?

"Scum, my grandfather is speaking to you. Are you deaf?!" Su Meng's voice seethed with rage, clearly not over Zhang Heng's previous act of valor.

"Hehe, young man, how about joining us at Mu'an Academy?"

"Our academy is top-notch. Not only is the tuition affordable, but our faculty is also exceptionally strong. Each teacher mentors only three students!"

Zhang Heng was taken aback. It was no wonder Mu'an Academy achieved such renown in the future with such impressive offerings.

But why had he never heard of Mu'an Academy in Three-sea City?

And why did he have this nagging feeling that something was amiss?

But no matter. When compared to the No.1 Academy of Three-sea City, Mu'an Academy didn't stand a chance!

"I'm willing, I'm willing to join Mu'an Academy!"

As soon as Zhang Heng spoke, Mu An's hand, which had been stroking his beard, froze. The six individuals behind him wore expressions of bemusement.

He agreed just like that?

Were students these days really so gullible? If only he had known, he wouldn't have mentioned the low tuition!

Mu An was overwhelmed with regret, feeling as though he might have just made a costly mistake.

"Haha, look, someone actually joined that dubious academy!"

Laughter and mockery filled the air as everyone turned, their faces flushed with anger, to see a group dressed in identical uniforms approaching, led by a middle-aged man.

Upon observing their attire, Zhang Nan immediately identified them as members of Qingfeng Academy, the fifth-ranked institution in Three-sea City.

An invitation from this very academy followed his name; all he had to do was agree, and he could become a part of it.

"What are you saying? You have no right to insult my grandfather's academy!"

"Please, as if your academy is even worth insulting."

The middle-aged leader burst into a round of scornful laughter, echoed by a chorus of jeers from the students behind him.