Snapping out of his thoughts, Ye Tian looked at the students around him. They were all pumped up, looking extremely excited. He had no idea what Wei Cheng had just said; he hadn't heard a thing.
"In two days, the Basic Level students will take a test. This test will determine who meets the standard to enter the elite class. In half a year, a martial arts tournament will be held. Those who meet the standard can enter the Intermediate Class for Cultivation. The benefits in the Intermediate Class are, of course, better than those in the Basic Level.
Over the next two days, I hope you all rest well. Replenish your energy so you don't leave yourselves with any regrets! There is a cafeteria in the residential area, open on time for three meals a day. Students may go there when it's time to eat.
One last thing: room assignments will also be based on your numbered tags. You will be in groups of four. In a moment, I will tally the tags for male and female students and then announce the results," Wei Cheng said.
At this, the crowd below began whispering amongst themselves. Ye Tian scanned the people present. There were over one hundred and sixty male students and only over eighty female students. A few of the women were quite beautiful, rivaling even Ye Feifei and Qin Xiaowan, but he had no interest in them.
Wei Cheng didn't stop everyone from talking. It was a normal sight that he was already used to. However, Ye Tian spoke to no one, appearing very independent, which caught Wei Cheng's attention.
After carefully examining Ye Tian's Power Realm, he found that he couldn't actually see through to his true strength, as if it was being concealed. Ye Tian had currently suppressed his Power Level to the One Vein Seventh Layer Realm. He didn't want to attract too much attention.
After a while, Wei Cheng said, "Everyone sees this screen, right? Write your names and tag numbers on it. The screen will then display your assigned dormitory room number! Please come up one by one!"
Everyone then went up one by one to leave their names and tag numbers on the screen. Writing on it was a simple and convenient matter of using one's Spiritual Power.
Once everyone was finished, Wei Cheng walked to the front of the screen. With a faint wave of his hands, a powerful surge of Spiritual Power washed over it. The screen immediately emitted a dazzling light, and then rows of characters appeared.
"Alright, the results are out. I will now announce the assignments..." Wei Cheng slowly read out the names in each group, one by one.
Ye Tian listened carefully this time; he didn't want to end up not knowing which room was his. His room was number eighteen. He didn't bother memorizing the names of the other three people assigned to it.
"You may all leave the academic building now. Gather back here in two days, and you will proceed through the Teleportation Gate to take the test. Before you go, each of you should take a copy of the academy's rules and regulations from the round table, so you don't end up breaking the rules and getting punished without even knowing what you did wrong."
Everyone then left in an orderly fashion, each holding a scroll with the academy's regulations. Ye Tian glanced at his once and committed the entire thing to memory. The academy didn't have many rules—only ten. However, breaking any single one would lead to punishment, and breaking more than three would likely result in expulsion.
The vast academy was like a prison, with Barriers everywhere. It was completely different from what Ye Tian had imagined. He'd thought he would be able to see students from other classes or higher-level students whenever he wanted, but it turned out such opportunities were rare. He could only encounter them during major academy-wide events.
He slowly walked toward dormitory room eighteen. When he entered, three people were already inside. He was the last to arrive.
The dormitory room was very spacious, furnished with a large table and four beds. There was even a shower area inside. The conditions were quite nice, and all the necessary bedding was provided.
All three turned in unison to look at Ye Tian. He simply gave a small smile and walked over to the only remaining bed. He figured the other three had already claimed theirs, leaving him no choice in the matter.
"We've all come from different places, so it must be fate that we've ended up together in room eighteen. Why don't we introduce ourselves? We might be stuck here together for a long time. After all, getting into the elite class is impossible unless you're at the Late Eighth Layer or Ninth Layer Realm," one of them said.
"I never had any hopes of getting into the elite class; I'm perfectly content just being a student in a normal class. Hello everyone, my name is Chu Hongyuan. I'm eighteen, so I should be the oldest among us four. From now on, just call me Brother Chu!" said the young man whose bed was near Ye Tian's.
"My name is Zhou Xiang, and I'm from right here in Lin Yuan City, though I got in through the outer preliminary tests. I have no hopes for the elite class either. I'm seventeen," said the young man in the bed opposite Ye Tian.
"I'm Qian Xiaohao, here on a recommendation from the Qian Family of Xindu City. I have no interest in Linyuan Academy whatsoever. Life is so much better back home as Young Master Qian. But my dad forced me to come, saying that if I can't break through to the Second Vein, I can't come back to the family. Oh, right, I'm fifteen!" the last one said.
That left only Ye Tian. He glanced at the other three and smiled, "My name is Ye Tian, an Inner Sect Disciple from the Ye Family of Lisha City. My family also recommended me. I, for one, do hope to get into the elite class. The resources are much better there, after all. But I know the chances are probably slim. I'm sixteen."
After all four had introduced themselves, Chu Hongyuan laughed. "Alright, from now on, we're brothers. If we go by age, I'm the big brother, Zhou Xiang is the second brother, Ye Tian is the third, and Qian Xiaohao is our little fourth brother. This academy isn't as simple as it appears on the surface."
"People get killed here all the time without anyone ever finding out what happened. Even though the academy has rules, many of the students are from powerful families, and the academy plays favorites sometimes. That's why we have to stick together. If trouble comes, we face it together. What do you all think?"
"Of course, that's a great idea," Zhou Xiang said. "I've heard that sort of thing happens all the time, with high-level students bullying the low-level ones. Even if the instructors find out, all they get is a slap on the wrist. Who knows if any real punishment is ever actually carried out."
Ye Tian sized up the strength of his three new roommates. Chu Hongyuan seemed to be at the Early Stage of One Vein Eight Layers, Zhou Xiang was at the Late Stage of One Vein Seventh Layer, and Qian Xiaohao was only at One Vein Sixth Layer. None of them were particularly strong. 'No wonder they have no interest in the elite class. It's not that they don't want to join; they're simply not qualified.'
But Ye Tian didn't say any of this out loud. 'You have to act according to the circumstances. It's impossible to force things.'
"Ye Tian, you seem to be at the One Vein Seventh Layer, right?" Chu Hongyuan said. "To be honest, you really don't have much hope of getting into the elite class. I'm not trying to put you down, of course, but everyone who comes to Linyuan Academy is incredibly talented. So, you should be mentally prepared in case you don't make it."
"Thanks, Brother Chu. I understand," Ye Tian said with a smile. "Even if I can't get in, at least I'll know I tried. And staying in a normal class won't be so bad. After all, I'll still have you three to keep me company, right?"
"Well said, brother!" Chu Hongyuan exclaimed. "That's the right attitude. You can't let a single setback defeat you. It's just a shame the academy rules are so strict. Otherwise, the four of us could grab a drink to celebrate getting to know each other."