Chapter 23 First Sign of the Excellence (1/2)

Clang! Clang!

As more and more new students gathered on the practice field, a loud sound spread from a tall platform. Everyone raised their heads and saw an examiner standing there.

“For this newcomer exam, your opponents will be decided through drawing lots. Everyone come forward and draw your lot, those with the same number will be matched with each other.” The examiner’s powerful voice spread across the entire field.

Following this, the numerous new students went forward to draw their lots, causing the place to become increasingly bustling.

The upper echelons of the Great Zhou Institute were gathered on a viewing platform west of the field. Seated at the very centre was the current headmaster, Chu Tianyang.

Beside him was middle-aged man in purple robes. The man’s face was thin and he had deeply set eyes, making him look rather stern. His was expressionless as he sat with his back against the chair, cup of tea in hand.

This person was the vice-headmaster of the Great Zhou Institute, and the one in charge of the B class, Xu Hong.

Xu Hong observed the field as he faintly smiled and said, “Headmaster Chu, I’m afraid that your A class will only be able to select those ranked eleven and below this time.”

Chu Tianyang was expressionless. He naturally knew that most of the outstanding individuals of the new batch had already been enticed to Qi Yue’s side and would undoubtedly enter the B class after the newcomer exam.

Chu Tianyang coldly replied, “Vice-head Xu, acting so smug so soon might not be a good thing.”

Xu Hong did not mind Chu Tianyang’s anger-filled response, the former’s lips curling into a mocking smile. His B class had already obtained the top position in the class ranking exam for the past two years. If they took first place again this year, he would be able to contest for the headmaster position in accordance to the rules of the institute.

When that happened, the new headmaster of the Great Zhou Institute would be him, Xu Hong.

The other surrounding class masters could only maintain their silence as they watched the two parties clash. They understood very well that behind this contest for the headmaster position was the battle between the Great Zhou royal clan and Qi Manor.

Chu Tianyang was deeply enraged by Xu Hong, but there was nothing he could do. Even he could not match majority of the promises Qi Yue had made to entice those students.

“The only thing I can do now is hope that Su Youwei will perform well. She is very talented. If she enters the A class and is properly groomed, there might be a chance to for her to vie with Qi Yue during the year-end class ranking exam.”

Chu Tianyang softly sighed in his heart. Soon after, his gaze suddenly shifted to Zhou Yuan’s location with some worry in his eyes. Although Chu Tiangyang knew that Zhou Yuan was now able to unblock his meridian channels, it had only been a month since then and even if Zhou Yuan’s talent was not less than Su Youwei’s, he would have likely barely managed to unblock only one channel.

With such strength, top ten was certainly out of the question and it was likely that he would not even be able to win a few matches today.

Zhou Yuann was the prince of Great Zhou, and the halo of this identity would surely draw the attention of others. Hence, it would damage the Great Zhou royal clan’s reputation if he lost in an unsightly manner.

Chu Tianyang shook his head and mumbled in his heart, “I hope that his highness will be able to endure for a few matches.”

At this current moment, Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei had already drawn their lots on the practice field. Zhou Yuan had drawn eighteen while Su Youwei forty seven.

“Thank goodness we did not draw the same number.” Zhou Yuan could not help but smile upon seeing this.

Su Youwei softly laughed. Soon after, she said in a serious manner, “If you meet me, I will not go easy on you.”

Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes in response.

While they were conversing, the referees had already ascended each practice arena and loud shouts sounded in succession.

“Number one, Qin Ya and Liu Ying!”

“Number two, Cheng Yu and Zhao Qingshan!”

“.…..”

As strong and healthy figures leapt onto each arena, the atmosphere of the entire practice field began to boil. Each arena was surrounded by numerous boys and girls while various cheers and shouts could be heard.

Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei did not join in the fun and merely observed from afar.

As time passed, the matches on these martial arenas quickly came to a close. The victors would rejoice while the losers hung their heads in dejection.

However, the exam would not stop for anyone’s loss. Hence, intense battles continued to play out on the arenas and Zhou Yuan’s turn quickly arrived.

“Number eighteen, Zhou Yuan and Pei Yun!”

As this shout spread, the hearts of numerous youths skipped a beat. Their attention was drawn over from all direction because everyone in the Great Zhou Institute knew of Zhou Yuan’s identity.

What shocked them even more was Zhou Yuan’s opponent, Pei Yun.

This individual was quite famous amongst the new batch of students. Not only had he already opened his third meridian channel, he was also one of the more outstanding practitioners amongst the three channels.

“His highness Zhou Yuan’s first match is against Pei Yun?!”

“That’s really unlucky. Pei Yun is one the stronger three channel practitioners…”

“Although prince Zhou Yuan is rather good in Genesis Runes, it is quite unlikely that he will be able to defeat a three channel practitioner.”

“Is prince Zhou Yuan going to be eliminated in the first match?”

“.…..”

Whispers spread in the practice field. Zhou Yuan had a rather good reputation in the institute, hence many people felt that this match-up was rather unfortunate for him.

“To think that it would be Pei Yun.” Su Youwei’s face was somewhat ugly. She had naturally heard of Pei Yun and knew how powerful he was.

Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He looked towards a nearby high platform as if he had sensed something, only to see Qi Yue watching him with a strange smile. A thought flashed in Zhou Yuan’s mind as he said to himself, “It is really too much of a coincidence for me to meet such an opponent in my first match.”

His eyes faintly flickered with thought. It was likely that Qi Yue had a hand in this matter. However, the fact that he could pull off such a thing was enough to show how deeply Qi Manor had infiltrated the institute.

“To think that he would not hesitate exposing some of Qi Manor’s secret pawns just to cause me trouble…”