"Filling out the application?"
Lu Lin snapped out of his cultivation state, still feeling a bit bewildered.
"Oh, right, today is the third day after awakening."
"Hurry, we're running out of time."
Zuo Yiming grabbed Lu Lin. They flew out of the room, and Zuo Yiming drove. Moments later, they arrived at Golden Sword High School.
As before, they found themselves in the Multimedia Classroom.
Teacher Li saw them coming in and greeted with a smile, "Zuo Yiming, Lu Lin, you're here. Now, check your scores first."
"Okay, Teacher Li."
The two of them agreed and sat down to check their scores.
In a corner at the back of the classroom, a fair-skinned, chubby boy, whose eyebrows seemed to form the hands of a clock at twenty past eight, also spotted Lu Lin entering.
"Lu Lin... No, Brother Lu!"
"Come here."
Zhou Ziqiang waved at Lu Lin. Ever since Lu Lin's astonishing display in the Multimedia Classroom, Zhou Ziqiang had tried to contact him several times.
But Lu Lin had been swamped lately: heroically fighting kidnappers, constructing his Star Power Domain, and tempering the Star Veins in his body. He'd had no time to chat with Zhou Ziqiang.
Now seeing Zhou Ziqiang waving, Lu Lin brought Zuo Yiming over with him.
"Brother Lu, Brother Zuo, you two came to fill out your applications in person as well. You've gone to a lot of trouble."
Lu Lin glanced at Zhou Ziqiang.
"What's so surprising about that? The Federal Education Department mandates that all candidates personally attend the examination, check their scores, and submit their applications. It's not like we could send a proxy."
After saying this, Lu Lin ignored him and sat down to check his own score.
Zuo Yiming, however, glanced at Zhou Ziqiang with curiosity; he didn't recall such a person being in their class.
Zhou Ziqiang, having offered a warm greeting only to receive a cold shoulder, didn't seem to mind at all. He grinned and said, "Brother Lu, Brother Zuo, what are your scores? You should be shoo-ins for North Capital, Magic City, or Hua Xia University, right?"
"Yeah, we're good."
Lu Lin answered absent-mindedly and input his candidate number to check his score.
...
[Candidate Name: Lu Lin]
[Citizen Number: 320102202112120305]
[Awakening Talent: Earth Element]
[Initial refining rate: 0.78%]
...
Lu Lin was stunned.
His Earth Element Talent is so poor. Only a 0.78% initial refining rate.
With a score like this, he might barely scrape into a school within the Eighteen University Union, but getting into one of the Top 10 Schools was a distant dream.
Lu Lin's original plan was to apply for the Alien Academy of Iron and Blood, but now that seemed impossible.
"0.94%! Tsk, tsk, a bit worse than I expected, but it's still a pass."
Zuo Yiming's voice chimed in, leaving Lu Lin even more speechless.
"Old Lu, how about you? You must have scored higher than me, right?"
"No, I only have 0.78%."
"No way!"
"You only have a 0.78% initial refining rate?"
Lu Lin didn't want to talk anymore.
The more disbelief Zuo Yiming showed, the more it stung Lu Lin.
Zhou Ziqiang also heard their conversation and came over, "Brother Lu, no way! Your initial refining rate is actually lower than mine?"
"I got 0.82%! But I've already decided; I'm definitely not going to any of the Eighteen University Union schools."
"Oh? Why?"
Lu Lin and Zuo Yiming asked curiously.
"The Eighteen University Union is packed with geniuses. If I went there, I'd have to cultivate non-stop just to avoid falling behind."
"I'm a creature of habit, too lazy for that. I'd never adapt."
"Besides, a distant relative of mine—specifically, the daughter of her cousin's grand-aunt's second nephew's classmate's mom's best friend's daughter—is studying at the First University of Mercury Ocean University, and she invited me to study there."
"As the saying goes, 'It's better to be a big fish in a small pond.' So, I've decided to go to Ocean University."
"When I get there, I'll be the undisputed top genius! I'll be the dream lover of every girl on campus, the apple of every teacher's eye, and a certified 'tall, rich, and handsome' guy to all my classmates! Brother Lu, Brother Zuo, don't even think about competing with me."
Lu Lin looked at him, speechless.
What a joke. His goal is to go to Iron Blood College, not to compete with him for the top spot at Ocean University... Wait a minute!
Lu Lin suddenly became depressed.
His score made getting into Iron Blood College completely impossible.
"Lu Lin, Zuo Yiming, have you found your scores yet? How are they?"
At this moment, Teacher Li came over and asked.
"Mine's pretty good, 0.94%. I can basically take my pick of any school on Blue Star."
"I..."
Lu Lin looked at Zuo Yiming, then at Teacher Li, unsure of what to say.
"Lu Lin, what's wrong? Did you not do well on the test?"
"It's okay."
Teacher Li comforted him, "The initial refining rate is primarily significant for those below the Golden Body Realm. Once you become a Seventh Level Gold Body Star Warrior, aptitude doesn't matter as much."
"By the way, which school are you planning to apply to?"
"Iron Blood!"
Iron Blood!?
Teacher Li was taken aback and quickly realized which academy that was.
It's no exaggeration to say that the Alien Academy of Iron and Blood is the most renowned academy in the entire Human Federation. Regardless of whether a family has an exam candidate or not, everyone knows the illustrious name of Iron Blood College.
This reputation wasn't built on television or internet hype, nor is it because a few geniuses graduated from there.
The name of Iron Blood College was forged, bit by bit, over many years by its teachers and students.
The Human Federation's academy with the strongest combat power, the most unconventional teaching style, the best teacher-student atmosphere, the highest student happiness index...
Countless accolades like these have turned the Alien Academy of Iron and Blood into a veritable holy land for innumerable graduating high school students each year.
There's even a popular joke online about Iron Blood College:
Boy: I like you, will you be my girlfriend?
Girl: I have high requirements for my boyfriend.
Boy: It's okay. I love you more than myself. No matter how high the requirements, I will work hard to achieve them.
Girl: I wish my other half could study at Iron Blood College...
Boy: AHEM. My apologies, I seem to have mistaken you for someone else.
...
This joke perfectly illustrates the status Iron Blood College holds in the hearts of young women, and just how incredibly difficult it is to get in.
Every year, any student who posts a picture of their Iron Blood College acceptance letter online will see their follower count skyrocket past one hundred million within minutes.
On densely populated and advanced planets like Blue Star, Mars, or Mercury, that number of fans could easily multiply tenfold.
Teacher Li didn't know how to persuade Lu Lin anymore.
Lu Lin was a genius, true.
But weren't all those who dared to apply to Iron Blood College the cream of the crop from their respective cities or regions, all outstanding graduates?
The minimum initial refining rate required was 0.92%.
Zuo Yiming's 0.94% initial refining rate placed him at the top in Tongyuan, and even in the Hua Xia Northeast Region. However, among the applicants for Iron Blood College, even if his score wasn't at the very bottom, it wouldn't be far off.
The Eighteen University Union recruits geniuses and elites from across Blue Star.
Iron Blood College, on the other hand, recruits geniuses and elites from the entire Human Federation.
If Lu Lin and Zuo Yiming were to apply to Iron Blood College, their chances of being rejected were almost 98%.
Lu Lin bowed his head, silent.
Zuo Yiming didn't know how to comfort him either.
Teacher Li looked embarrassed. He wanted to leave, but he couldn't quite bring himself to do it.
Having unintentionally twisted the knife in Lu Lin's wound for so long, Teacher Li couldn't just casually walk away as if nothing had happened. He wasn't that kind of person.
"That's right!"
Teacher Li suddenly slapped his forehead, exclaiming, "Lu Lin, you're not out of options yet!"
"Have you heard? Iron Blood College has a famous 'Challenge College'!"