NOVEL SIMPLE CHAPTER 298
CHAPTER 298: The Measure of Potential
The crowd began to stream through the academy gates, and under the guidance of senior students from the Three Elements Academy, they were directed into orderly lines.
As one of the largest educational institutions within the Eternal Clan, the Three Elements Academy offered not only transcendent courses but also a broad spectrum of subjects—humanities, arts, sciences, and more. The Eternal Clan, as the dominant power of the current era, encouraged its young members to pursue their passions and interests freely.
With these varied subjects came equally varied entrance examinations. Current students had one set of requirements, while adult learners faced another. A large group of young candidates was ushered toward one building, while Lu Ming, Quan Chao, and the other adults were led to a separate location.
Even after the crowd had been divided, Lu Ming couldn’t help but notice the sheer number of people around him—thousands of candidates, many of whom were clearly cultivators, disciples of established masters.
After half an hour of progress, the group arrived at a grand hall. The powerful auras of Ancient Realm figures radiated from the front, instantly silencing the chatter that had filled the air moments before.
“To the left is the examination area for subjects like technology and culture, which are not part of the transcendent studies,” one of the Ancient Realm figures announced. “Directly ahead is the examination area for transcendent studies. Now, please form your teams.”
At his words, the crowd began to stir. A small group headed left, following the academy staff, but over ninety percent of the candidates remained where they were.
After a few more minutes, the Ancient Realm figure spoke again. “Alright, get in line and proceed into the main hall.”
Lu Ming could feel the tension thickening as the candidates around him collectively held their breath. Their expressions turned serious. Stepping into the main hall signaled the official start of the examination.
In the new student examination area, the energy was palpable. It made even Jiu Han, who stood observing from a quiet corner, feel younger. He watched the vast area closely, his gaze lingering on the young candidates.
Some of them, underaged or recently matured, were already displaying talents that bordered on extraordinary. Jiu Han smiled, his eyes twinkling with a grandfatherly warmth.
Jiu Han, a Divine Realm expert, had the appearance of a kindly elder. His slightly plump figure was wrapped in light blue attire, not unlike what palace staff often wore. His silver-white hair was thinning, and his features were soft, giving him the air of a friendly old man next door.
As he watched the young examinees, he muttered to himself. “This one isn’t bad. Oh, that one too... We’ve got some promising talent here.”
A senior examiner nearby, recognizing the old man, approached with a smile. “Master, you come every year and say the same thing, yet I’ve never seen anyone truly catch your eye.”
Jiu Han chuckled, shaking his head. “They’re not bad, but none are extraordinary enough to truly satisfy me. After all, I’m a Divine Realm cultivator—my standards are rather high.”
The senior examiner smiled knowingly and said no more. When Jiu Han had seen enough, he sighed and left the freshman examination hall, making his way toward the adult examination area.
Few within the Hundred Schools of Philosophy knew of Jiu Han’s peculiar hobby: he loved teaching and nurturing students. Having reached the Divine Realm long ago, he had accepted that his strength could no longer advance. And yet, with an endless lifespan and no desire for death, Jiu Han had sought other ways to occupy the centuries that stretched ahead of him.
His solution was to develop the Three Elements Academy, and later, the Hundred Schools of Philosophy. Under his guidance, these institutions had grown from almost nothing into the immense, respected entities they were today.
At heart, Jiu Han found joy in watching young people grow stronger, rise to challenges, and ultimately reach the pinnacle of their paths. It gave him a sense of renewal, as though he were experiencing life again through their journeys.
In his younger years, Jiu Han had taken on personal disciples, training three of them to reach the Divine Realm—including Shufang and Xiang Yi. Countless others had achieved quasi-Divine realm in strength under his tutelage. However, in recent years, Jiu Han had become more selective, rarely accepting new disciples.
Despite this, many of his old habits remained. He still held lectures at the academy, answering questions on transcendence and offering advice. And every year, on examination day, he visited the site to see what kind of talent had emerged.
Though his main interest was in the young students, he often found time to visit the adult examination area as well.
Jiu Han entered the adult examination hall through a side entrance, politely declining the head examiner’s offer to escort him. He chose a quiet corner from which to observe the candidates as they entered the main hall.
The adult examination process for transcendent studies was straightforward, evaluating candidates on four criteria: strength, bone age, talent, and temperament. Strength, bone age, and talent played the most significant roles, as they determined how far a transcendent cultivator could advance. These factors were assessed through a combination of equipment and the trained eyes of Ancient Realm examiners.
Temperament, though important, was more difficult to measure. It was usually evaluated last and carried slightly less weight than the other criteria.
It was unclear how many candidates had already been screened, but the ten individuals who entered the hall in Lu Ming’s batch all wore solemn expressions. The atmosphere was heavy with anticipation.
One candidate stepped forward to a column-like structure made of crystal. He extended his hand toward it, and lights and shadows began to swirl within the crystal. The candidates could not discern the meaning of the display, but the examiner understood it immediately.
“Level Three Spirit Realm, bone age 2.4, medium potential,” the examiner announced.
With a shake of his head, the examiner turned to the candidate. “Not qualified.”
A murmur spread through the crowd as the candidate left the examination area, his shoulders slumped in disappointment. His bone age—2.4 times the adult age line of his race—meant that, while he appeared youthful, he was already middle-aged.
The term “medium potential” referred to his proficiency with origin power techniques. While this didn’t mean he was incapable of advancing to the Ancient Realm, it did indicate a lower likelihood. For a current student, such potential might still hold promise, but for an adult candidate, it was a significant limitation.
In summary, the criteria for passing the adult examination were much stricter than for younger candidates. This was to be expected.
The disappointed candidate stepped aside, making way for the next person in line.
End of Chapter 298