Translator: CinderTL
Originally, Chen Zilu had predicted that Jiang Ye wouldn't reach 700 points until the College Entrance Examination.
But now, with over three months still remaining before the exam, he was already approaching that score?
"He's improving so quickly," Chen Zilu murmured, a radiant smile gracing her lips.
She felt genuinely happy for Jiang Ye.
However, even 690 points fell far short of the standard for a Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position.
This meant Jiang Ye must have demonstrated exceptional performance during the assessment to warrant such treatment from the Unified Examination Bureau.
The Unified Examination Bureau's scoring criteria were beyond reproach, uniformly applied across all regions with absolute fairness.
"A Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position," Chen Zilu couldn't help but marvel. "I never imagined he could achieve this before the College Entrance Examination."
Zhang Jianwu chuckled. "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Miss Chen. Jiang Ye is your protégé."
"Director, you flatter me," Chen Zilu replied, shaking her head. "When I was teaching him, Jiang Ye never showed such potential."
She turned to Zhang Jianwu. "Director Zhang, you wouldn't have come to see me so late just to compliment me, would you?"
She knew it must be around 2 or 3 a.m. in Ancheng by now.
"There is something," Zhang Jianwu said with a smile, nodding. "But it's not for me—it's for Jiang Ye."
His expression turned serious as he continued in a low voice, "Jiang Ye has discussed his university preferences with me. He's set his sights on a particular institution."
"Oh?" Chen Zilu asked curiously. "Which school is it?"
"Penglai University," Zhang Jianwu replied.
"Penglai?" Chen Zilu's elegant eyebrows arched slightly.
Penglai University—a prestigious institution with an admission score exceeding 870 points.
One of the top universities in the twenty-five school alliance.
With just over three months remaining until the College Entrance Examination, Jiang Ye's current score of 690 points seemed far short of the mark.
Penglai?
For any other student, Chen Zilu would have dismissed it as wishful thinking.
But she had personally witnessed Jiang Ye's remarkable progress, step by step.
The young woman pondered for a moment.
"I understand," Chen Zilu said, lifting her delicate face and nodding. "Is there anything else?"
"That's all," Zhang Jianwu said with a shake of his head and a smile. "Then I won't disturb Miss Chen's cultivation any further."
After a brief farewell, Zhang Jianwu hung up.
"With Miss Chen's intelligence, she should have grasped my meaning," Zhang Jianwu murmured, gazing out the window.
Some things are best left unsaid directly.
That's why Zhang Jianwu had spoken so subtly, only hinting at his meaning.
He hadn't explicitly asked for favors.
"Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position," Zhang Jianwu mused inwardly. "Even the twenty-five school alliance would be scrambling for him."
If his hunch was correct, most schools in the alliance had already received Jiang Ye's profile.
Within days, priority admission offers would likely follow.
"It's a pity Penglai University won't be among them," Zhang Jianwu sighed softly, shaking his head.
A mere Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position wasn't enough to warrant their attention.
Only a third-tier or higher position would earn Penglai University's consideration.
Yet Zhang Jianwu knew Jiang Ye's true value wasn't his Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position status.
It was his primitive aptitude!
Achieving such success with a low-grade aptitude was Jiang Ye's most remarkable feat.
Especially considering his astonishing progress over the past year.
But these details weren't publicly available.
Only thorough investigation could uncover them.
But...
Would Penglai University really conduct an in-depth investigation into a mere Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position student?
The odds were slim.
Zhang Jianwu's call was an attempt to leverage Chen Zilu's connections to inform Penglai University.
As for whether Chen Zilu would agree to help, and what Penglai University's reaction might be...
Those were impossible to predict.
"I've done everything I can," Zhang Jianwu said, glancing at the adjacent room and sighing. "The rest is up to fate and the upcoming Cosmic Certification."
He also hoped that Ancheng Third High School could produce a student who would become renowned throughout the world.
Eastern Ten Provinces.
East Sea Province, White Dragon Martial Arts University.
In a spacious training hall, Chen Zilu set down her spear and walked alone to the windowsill, her snow-white, slender legs carrying her gracefully.
The tranquil night sky outside reflected against her beautiful silhouette.
A gentle breeze stirred, lifting strands of her raven-black hair, filling the training hall with a delicate fragrance.
"Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position? Penglai University?" Chen Zilu murmured softly.
After a moment of contemplation, the young woman picked up her phone and dialed a number.
Beep...
Ding!
A projection materialized, revealing a solemn-faced black-robed elder.
However, the moment the elder saw Chen Zilu, his expression softened into a warm smile.
"Xiao Chen," the black-robed elder said with a smile, "What cultivation issues are troubling you?"
"Teacher," Chen Zilu replied, cupping her hands in a respectful gesture. "I have a matter I wish to ask for your assistance with."
"Speak," the black-robed elder nodded.
Chen Zilu explained, "I have a student in Ancheng who has recently become a Second-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner."
She briefly described the situation.
The black-robed elder was well aware of Chen Zilu's teaching assignment in Ancheng and had never criticized her for it. In fact, over the past year, her cultivation had not only remained stable but had even surpassed that of her peers at the academy.
However, upon hearing Chen Zilu's words, the black-robed elder shook his head slightly.
"Second-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner?" he murmured.
What was a second-tier Reserve Star Practitioner?
Even a Third-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner was nothing special in his eyes.
Only a Fourth-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner might barely warrant a second glance.
Just then, Chen Zilu suddenly said, "Teacher, that student has a Primitive innate talent."
"Hmm?"
A sharp glint flashed in the black-robed elder's eyes.
Primitive innate talent? A Second-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner before the College Entrance Examination?
This changed everything!
This was far more explosive than even a Dao Bone Aptitude reaching the Third-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner level.
"What's his name?" the black-robed elder asked, his interest piqued.
"Jiang Ye," Chen Zilu replied sweetly.
"He wants to attend Penglai University?" the elder inquired.
Chen Zilu nodded. "I would like to ask you to inform Penglai University about this. They might not delve into the details otherwise."
Just like the ten great schools, Penglai University wouldn't bother investigating a mere Second-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner.
"Very well," the black-robed elder nodded. "I have several friends at Penglai University. I'll inform them."
Chen Zilu's face lit up with a hint of joy as she clasped her hands in another bow. "Thank you, Teacher."
The elder gazed at her, suddenly curious. "Why are you so concerned about this young man? Is there something special between you two?"
"Teacher, please don't tease me," Chen Zilu replied helplessly. "I'm focused entirely on my cultivation. I have no time for such things."
"Hahaha." The elder chuckled, flicked his sleeve, and vanished.
Chen Zilu hung up the phone and gazed out the window.
"Jiang Ye... Penglai University?"
A thoughtful expression crossed her stunningly beautiful face. "Just over three months... can he really do it?"
The odds were slim.
Chen Zilu meticulously calculated the numbers.
From 690 points to 890 points.
Even with the bonus points for being a Reserve Star Practitioner, achieving such a leap in just three months would be exceedingly difficult.
"It all depends on how Teacher negotiates."
As she pondered, she shook her head slightly and murmured, "The rest is beyond my concern."
She knew, of course, that Zhang Jianwu's call had been a plea for her help.
Now, she had provided that help.
As for the outcome, she couldn't control it, nor did she need to dwell on it.
After all, she was nothing to Jiang Ye.
Chen Zilu glanced at her phone.
Given the magnitude of this matter, the fact that he hadn't even sent her a message suggested she wasn't particularly important to him.
"Cultivation." Chen Zilu picked up her spear again, her aura cold and breathtakingly beautiful as she practiced alone in the training room, sweat glistening on her skin.
(End of the Chapter)