Direct Pass! School Rewards

"I'm not on the recommendation list, and I'm not on the practical combat assessment list either?" Fang Yu felt a brief wave of confusion. If it were just the recommendation list, Fang Yu could have grudgingly accepted it. After all, there were only ten spots, and lacking the points from an awakened Void Star Aspect put him at an inherent disadvantage. But to not even make the practical combat assessment? Something was off. "Wang Mo actually made the assessment list?" "That rich kid made it too? Wealth really buys a fast track in martial arts. But what about Fang Yu next to him—he didn't even make the cut for the practical combat assessment? Has he regressed that badly?" "He hasn't awakened a Void Star Aspect, so it's only natural he wasn't picked. Having slightly better technique doesn't give much of an edge at our stage." "True enough." "Zhang Tao is incredible. He actually took first place!" The examinees chatted and buzzed with excitement, their attention naturally drawn to Zhang Tao, the number one name on the recommendation list. Ranking first meant his overall assessment score was the highest as well. Right then. "Quiet!" A female teacher dressed in loose martial arts robes stepped forward. Her sharp, piercing gaze swept across the hall, instantly silencing everyone. "The lists have been published and will remain posted for two days. If anyone has doubts about their score, you may submit an application for review on the portal before midnight tonight. "The seventy students participating in the practical combat assessment, continue your regular training and make your preparations. The detailed requirements for the practical combat assessment will be sent to your personal email accounts. Assemble at the school on September 14. "The ten recommended students, follow me upstairs now to sign the paperwork." The female teacher paused, her gaze settling upon Fang Yu. "Student Fang Yu, you have secured a direct-pass spot and do not take up a recommendation quota. Come with me as well. In a moment, I will take you to meet several professors from Huguang Martial University." *Whoosh!* A collective gasp echoed through the room. In an instant, virtually every student turned their eyes toward Fang Yu, their expressions filled with shock and disbelief. "A direct-pass spot? Holy shit, Old Fang, you sly dog!" Wang Mo exclaimed in excitement. Fang Yu felt a bit dazed himself. He had actually received a direct-pass spot? This was completely beyond his expectations. In a martial junior college, there were actually three paths to upgrade from junior college to undergraduate studies. The first was recommendation, and the second was selection through the practical combat assessment. These were the two most common routes. They had fixed schedules, fixed assessments, and a fixed quota of spots. There was yet another path: the direct pass. It had no restrictions on age or timing... As long as a student displayed sufficient martial talent during junior college, they could apply directly for evaluation. Passing the evaluation granted immediate admission into a martial undergraduate program. However, it was exceedingly rare. Furthermore, there had never been a clear standard for what constituted "sufficient talent." At the very least, during Fang Yu's three years at Wuling Martial Junior College, he had never once heard of a direct-pass student. Over time, all the students had simply assumed that direct passes did not exist in practice. Yet today... He had earned a direct-pass spot? "A direct-pass student?" Even Zhang Tao, who had taken first place in the assessment, could not help staring at Fang Yu, as if trying to fathom what had qualified him for such an honor. "All right," the female teacher said briskly. "Fang Yu, the eleven of you follow me. The rest of you are dismissed." She turned and headed toward the upper floor, and Fang Yu and the ten recommended students followed closely behind. As if by unspoken agreement, the ten recommended students fell in behind Fang Yu. They let Fang Yu walk at the very front. "Old Fang, that's insane! You're even more of a monster than Wu Ya. You're the real number one this time," Wang Mo said under his breath. "Confess: have you awakened a Void Star Aspect? A Mid-tier Star Aspect? Have you been keeping it a secret this whole time?" The other recommended students, including Zhang Tao, could not help pricking up their ears in curiosity. How could they not be curious? This was the first time they had ever witnessed a martial junior college student earn a direct pass to an undergraduate university. "No," Fang Yu replied, shaking his head. Yet he already harbored a faint guess. In all likelihood, it was because of his saber technique. *** Inside the second-floor office. Several dozen teachers were already waiting. The moment Fang Yu and Wang Mo walked in, they spotted their head teacher, Yan Fu. But before they could greet him, the female teacher leading the way introduced them, "Vice Principal Guo, this is Fang Yu, along with the other ten recommended students." "Students, this is Vice Principal Guo," she added, stepping aside. "Hello, Principal," Fang Yu took the initiative to say. "Hello, Principal," the other students chorused. "Haha, no need to be so formal, students." Vice Principal Guo was a slightly plump man with an amiable demeanor. "Today is your graduation day, as well as the joyful occasion of your advancement to undergraduate studies. On behalf of the school, I offer my congratulations to you all. "To fight your way out among five thousand peers and secure recommendation quotas to an undergraduate program proves that every one of you is an exceptionally outstanding junior college student. "Especially student Fang Yu." Vice Principal Guo looked toward Fang Yu. "Our school only produces a direct-pass student once every three to five years. It is truly a rare feat." Fang Yu assumed a modest expression. "Regardless of whether you are Fang Yu or the other students, I hope you remember one thing: reversing your fortunes from a junior college to become undergraduate students proves that your rate of progress over these three years has surpassed that of many undergraduate students," Vice Principal Guo said. "As an encouragement, each student will receive a reward of one million Star Coins from the school. "I hope that after entering higher academic institutions, you will continue your diligent efforts and go even further on the path of martial arts. "I also hope that in the near future, your alma mater will be proud of you," Vice Principal Guo said solemnly. Immediately, Fang Yu, Zhang Tao, and the others broke into heartfelt applause. Even Wang Mo was no exception—a reward of one million Star Coins was enough to excite everyone present. Soon after, Vice Principal Guo departed, and Fang Yu, Wang Mo, and the others received their graduation certificates. As for the bonus, it would be wired directly to their bank cards after a brief processing delay. The respective head teachers gathered their own students to the side. "Teacher Yan." Fang Yu and Wang Mo walked over to Yan Fu. "Good. "Both of you did me proud, especially Fang Yu—you actually landed a direct-pass spot," Yan Fu said with a beaming smile, thoroughly delighted. Although he had long considered Fang Yu the top candidate in this assessment, he never imagined Fang Yu would actually secure a direct-pass spot. The students might not understand, but Yan Fu knew why there were no defined testing standards for a direct pass. Because a direct pass required the explicit consent of the martial university! The evaluation authority lay in the hands of the martial university itself. Since it fell outside the regular enrollment quotas, they naturally had no desire to publicize the criteria. "It's thanks to your excellent teaching, Teacher. Without your guidance, I wouldn't have improved so quickly," Fang Yu said. It was a compliment, but it was also the truth. Over the three years of junior college, Yan Fu, as their head teacher, might not have offered extraordinary personal favors, but he had fulfilled all his duties as an instructor. Whatever needed to be taught or guided, he had never withheld. "Haha, no need to flatter me. When it comes to saber Entering the Minute, that isn't something I could teach you," Yan Fu laughed. "Saber Entering the Minute?" Beside them, Wang Mo's eyes widened. "Old Fang, you achieved saber Entering the Minute and didn't tell me?" "I did tell you—Great Accomplishment of Entering the Minute," Fang Yu said with palms turned upward. "Holy crap, can the Great Accomplishment of physical Entering the Minute be compared to saber Entering the Minute?" Wang Mo shook his head. "Old Fang, you're not being straight with me." "Didn't you also hide the fact that you achieved the Lesser Accomplishment of physical Entering the Minute?" Fang Yu chuckled. "You knew?" Wang Mo asked in surprise. "You ranked third on the recommendation list... If your martial technique hadn't experienced a fundamental breakthrough, you would've placed somewhere between sixth and eighth based on your Level 20 Life Level alone," Fang Yu replied with a smile. Wang Mo gave him an immediate thumbs-up. "Wang Mo's progress wasn't small either. I'll be calling your father again," Yan Fu said, looking at Wang Mo with a smile. "When you hold your celebration banquet, remember to invite me!" "Don't worry, Teacher, I guarantee you the head seat," Wang Mo said, patting his chest. "Good. "Now, on to serious business." Yan Fu's smile diminished slightly. "Aside from the school's one million reward... earlier at noon, I entered your recent assessment scores into your basic campus account profiles and cross-referenced them against the criteria for various scholarships. Fang Yu, I should be able to help you secure an additional eight hundred thousand Star Coins. Wang Mo, I can get you a bit over two hundred thousand. Neither of you turn your noses up at the amount." "Teacher Yan, haven't we already graduated? We can still apply?" Wang Mo asked, puzzled. Every martial university or junior college offered various private scholarships alongside national grants. Their criteria were often peculiar, mostly funded by private corporations or individual donations. With both his and Wang Mo's scores surging in this assessment, they were bound to qualify for several. "You have indeed graduated, but the system update won't process until tomorrow. That means today, you are still officially members of this school," Yan Fu said with a knowing smile. "I'll finish pushing through your application forms today—it's just a matter of stamping a few extra seals. "If it goes quickly, the funds will be disbursed alongside the school bonus." "Then thank you very much, Teacher Yan," Fang Yu said. This errand could not possibly be as effortless as Teacher Yan made it sound. Normally speaking, he had no obligation to go out of his way, especially since both of them had technically graduated. He was extending genuine goodwill. Eight hundred thousand Star Coins was a substantial sum of money for Fang Yu. "Just doing my duty." Yan Fu turned back to Fang Yu. "Fang Yu, since the instructors from Huguang Martial University selected you as a direct-pass student, you ought to qualify to sign an exclusive contract. "I suspect it might require you to participate in actual combat on the Primordial Star... Actual combat and a practical combat assessment are two entirely different concepts! "When the time comes, don't sign too hastily. Think it over carefully."