CHAPTER 178: CHAPTER 132: SPIRIT ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAM: PATH TO IMMORTALITY

After more than a month of traveling, Lin Chen finally arrived at Ling Mountain City.

Although Ling Mountain City isn’t considered a major city, compared to Jiuxing City, it certainly is much more grandiose.

Even the city gate’s nameplate was meticulously chosen, adorned with two carved dragon heads, lifelike and vivid.

Some people call this place the founding city, the land of dragon veins.

Lin Chen landed and said to them, "Finally arrived."

The Three-Headed Spirit Beast panted with tongues out...

They are creatures that run on the ground, and it’s their first time taking such a long "flight", naturally they couldn’t handle it well.

Lin Chen decided to rest on the spot, took out some dry food, and also some food for them.

After eating and drinking, their conditions improved significantly, and then they entered the city.

There aren’t many ordinary permanent residents here; instead, the influences are intricate and complex.

There are those here accompanying students, and also those recruiting, and as for the capitalists doing business, they are everywhere.

Before the educational reform of the Spirit Academy, it was essentially a gathering place for the wealthy, so some so-called high-end industries, like auctions and so on, are inevitable.

The streets weren’t crowded. After asking passersby, Lin Chen thought about finding an inn to rest for a while, but upon asking about the price, he was speechless.

"Five thousand a day?"

"Yes," the attendant said, "that’s our most ordinary room."

"Alright then."

Lin Chen felt a bit sweaty and suddenly realized he wasn’t that tired.

Even though he now had money, Lin Chen thought the value was too low.

In the end, Lin Chen decided on a plan: to register first and see if the Spirit Academy provided accommodation.

If not, he would come back to stay later.

Lin Chen isn’t a person who is unwilling to spend, but he always seeks value for money.

So, upon leaving, he headed straight for the Spirit Academy.

The main gate of the Spirit Academy is built on a hill and can be seen from a distance.

The Spirit Academy is very large; in terms of area, it is as big as half of Jiuxing City, which is quite extraordinary.

It is divided into three institutes and nine levels.

The three institutes are: Combat Institute, Support Institute (including Spiritual Power), Catalyst Institute.

The Catalyst Institute is separate, solely supplied by the Beast Mirror Institute, not open for public enrollment.

The Support Institute is directly recruited by the academy, also not open for public enrollment.

The Combat Institute is fed by various Inner Courtyards and has the most students.

As for the nine levels, they are not grades but elimination levels.

The academy adopts a last-place elimination system, with monthly assessments comparing students from the same cohort...

Those ranked at the top move to the next level, receiving better resources.

Those ranked lower stay at the current level, waiting for the next assessment. If they are ranked last again in the next assessment, they are immediately sent back home.

Therefore, the elimination rate of the Spirit Academy is quite high.

Throughout history, there have been excellent Beastmasters who, after being eliminated, became outstanding and then criticized the Spirit Academy, saying it was blind to talent for giving up on them.

Such cases are not uncommon.

But the Spirit Academy doesn’t care.

Mistakes are inevitable, but almost every student who graduates from the Spirit Academy is no weakling.

...

"Hello."

Lin Chen finally climbed the mountain, unlike Bai Ling, he was full of energy.

It was inevitable...

It wasn’t because Lin Chen liked exercising, but because he finally found an excuse to ride on the ox.

After Xiaobai transformed, carrying a person and a fox without breaking a sweat.

As for the Iron Palm Bear, although worn out, it loved lifting iron, its body like steel, also not panting.

But in the mentor’s eyes, their behavior looked like a cat and dog duo...

"Family member?" the mentor asked the same question.

"No, I’m here to register."

The mentor was taken aback, subconsciously glanced at the Flame Fox.

He wondered if the academy, like Bai Ling, specially enrolled someone displaying the Nine-Tailed Divine Fox’s shadow.

Lin Chen took out the document personally written by Pang Yuanzheng and also the Guild Machine.

The mentor understood immediately.

"Connected insider..."

The mentor remained silent but knew it all too well.

This time, to reduce the influence, the academy started expanding enrollment, also unofficially acknowledged by the academy as insiders.

However, the mentors did not favor these insiders due to the last-place elimination system.

The students sent every year are carefully selected, and though insiders aren’t without talent, compared to the one-in-ten-thousand selection in the Inner Courtyard, the quality of insiders is obviously lower.

The mentor didn’t show any disdain, diligently recorded and informed, "There are seven days until the entrance test, you can come back in seven days."

"Is there a place to stay here?" Lin Chen asked directly.

"Of course, I’ll have a senior take you there later."

"Thank you."

Lin Chen thanked him.

"No need," the mentor patiently said, "You don’t need to worry about the entrance test, no matter the result, you will be able to cultivate at the Spirit Academy for a while."

"However, if you rank low twice consecutively, it may become dangerous."

Lin Chen nodded, indicating understanding.

The mentor also handed over a Spirit Academy Manual and said, "Routine registration, name."

"Lin Chen."

"First Spirit Beast..."

Lin Chen pointed at the Plowhorn Beast, and the mentor didn’t write but asked, "Has it evolved?"

"Yes."

"Then write the evolved Spirit Beast," the mentor said.

"Kui Spirit Beast."

"What beast?"

Lin Chen repeated, and the mentor reluctantly said, "Let’s see it transform."

Xiaobai transformed directly, and after looking, the mentor said, "Isn’t this a Spirit Ruins Ox?"

"It’s a Kui Spirit Beast," Lin Chen explained, "The file has already been sent to the Beast Tamer Guild."

"Then let’s write Spirit Ruins Ox for now," the mentor didn’t doubt it, because Xiaobai was indeed different, and directly wrote Spirit Ruins Ox, adding, "It can be changed later."

Lin Chen did not object.