Chapter 83: Entrance Exam Two

The result made Xu Ling doubt her eyes. Having read it repeatedly, she walked to the dean with a serious expression and passed it to him. “Mr. Dean, this is Mr. Yu’s test result,” said Xu Ling with a slight frown. Ruan Mingji took it and saw a big D+. Calm as he was, he could hardly remain collected. It never occurred to him that the person Master Kameng recommended would merely have an inner focus of D+. It was the lowest grade in the First Military Academy. The Academy was very strict with its criteria for admission. Card Forger School, as a profession that cultivated core talents for the Federation, was even harsher in terms of admission. Generally, only those with an inner focus of Grade B or higher were qualified to participate in the entrance exam. Even if it was a member of a noble family, the required inner focus grade had to be Grade C or higher. That meant, if Yu Jinli was accepted, he would be the only one with Grade D inner focus in Card Forger School. Immediately, Ruan Mingji felt a bit divided about this young man. A recommendation from Master Kameng and the fact that Yu Jinli was here with the principal and a major general spoke for his powerful background. If Yu Jinli’s inner focus was a grade higher, it would be reasonable enough for the dean to admit him to Card Forger School, however... It was a difficult situation. Li Yiyi, who didn’t like this boy who wanted to get in through connections from the start, said straightforwardly, full of scorn as soon as she saw Yu Jinli’s test result: “Grade D? Are you sure you are at the right school? All students at Card Forger School have an inner focus of Grade B at least. Given your inner focus grade, you are not going to be accepted for the rest of your life.” Yu Jinli had been anticipating that he would be able to start his dream class after the exam. Out of expectation, the situation seemed to have changed now, especially when he heard Li Yiyi’s word and saw Ruan Mingji’s expression, his high spirits were suddenly dampened. He was quite sensitive to others’ emotions. That Li Yiyi had so unabashedly expressed her contempt and disdain for him, pointing out his lack of ability to even qualify for the exam, reminded him of the time in his previous life when he had taken the college entrance exam. As expected, he was a bad student who failed all the time. He couldn’t go to school like others. Jiang Mosheng, who always had his mind on Yu Jinli, noticed the change of emotion at once. With a slight frown, he glanced at Li Yiyi unhappily, his eyes as cold as ice. “Don’t worry, little chestnut. You are a talented student. Every school will want you.” Jiang Mosheng stroked Yu Jinli on the head softly as he consoled him gently. When he turned to the dean and the two teachers again, his tenderness was gone. Instead, he looked cold without any expressions which made them shudder and wonder whether it was the same person who consoled Yu Jinli just now. “I remember there are two conditions for the entrance test, one is to have an inner focus of Grade B or above, the other is to be able to make energy cards on the spot. Anyone who meets one of them will be admitted. Am I right? Dean Ruan?” said Jiang Mosheng. His voice was deep and sonorous, a pleasure to the ear. However, his tone was severe. “You are right, Major General Jiang. But Mr. Yu’s inner focus is Grade D. Besides, he is only 18 years old. How could he make an energy card?” Acting on her own, Li Yiyi spoke ahead of Ruan Mingji as she turned to Yu Jinli from time to time. Most of the new students who took the entrance exam were just 18, except for the members of big families, who usually hadn’t even touched an energy card before the exam, how could they make one? Trainee Card Forgers who had the means at home might have been guided by Card Forgers before getting admitted, but even so, there were only a handful of freshmen who could make energy cards before they started school, every one of whom had a very high grade of inner focus and talent. If she was to believe that Yu Jinli could make an energy card, she might as well believe that his inner focus could improve! Even though Dean Ruan and the two teachers didn’t know it, the fact was Yu Jinli’s inner focus had increased recently from Grade D to D+. In this world, physique could be upgraded through training. Although it was difficult for mutants to do so, they could. However, that was almost impossible for Card Forgers. The grade of inner focus was determined from the start. That was why the First Military Academy only admitted students with inner focus over Grade B. If the grade of inner focus could improve, the academy could accept more talents with a lower grade of inner focus whose achievement might be as impressive as those with higher grade of inner focus. However, inner focus of Card Forger didn’t change. That was why Jiang Mosheng didn’t want to tell anyone that Yu Jinli’s inner focus grade had improved. If that was found out later, he would come up with a solution before it. “No one knows how it will end without having a try, right?” said Jiang Mosheng coldly. His eyes so sharp, they cut. “Since Anyone who meets one of the two conditions will be admitted, let him have an energy card exam,” said the principal hurriedly, afraid that he would freeze under Jiang Mosheng’s gaze. He had passed that age when he could endure such pain. Now that the principal had spoken, no matter how unhappy Li Yiyi was, she didn’t dare to show it anymore so she went to prepare empty energy cards as she thought what a fool Yu Jinli was going to make himself. How dare he, a boy with Grade D inner focus come here for the test? He simply had no proper measure of himself! The test of making the energy card took place in a separate room, partly because Card Forgers needed a quiet and undisturbed space to do the work, and partly to prevent a possible explosion from affecting others if he fails to make the card. Therefore, the school had separate rooms for Card Forgers. Right now, there was only Yu Jinli in the room. Others were watching him through the camera. It was a simple room with a desk, a chair, and an empty Grade F energy card. The simple furnishings in the room were probably to reduce damage in possible explosions in case a Card Forger failed to make a card. Picking up the empty energy card, Yu Jinli didn’t start at once. Instead, he looked around curiously. When Xu Ling found there was only one empty energy card in the room through the camera, she glanced at Li Yiyi who was responsible for preparation. Normally, there would be three empty energy cards for an entrance test since nobody could guarantee success at first attempt, not even long time Card Forgers. Now that Yu Jinli only had one, she knew what was on his mind. She felt a bit sorry for Yu Jinli. Though she didn’t know why Li Yiyi hated Yu Jinli so much, given her background, Xu Ling couldn’t afford to offend her either. Even though she pitied Yu Jinli, she could do nothing except praying for his success. After watching around for some time, keen as he was, Yu Jinli found the camera hidden in the room. Knowing that he was watched, he tipped his head as he was divided about which kind of energy card to make. “Why doesn’t he start? It’s been so long. Is he going to give up?” said Li Yiyi scornfully. She knew that a boy who just turned 18 wouldn’t be able to make energy cards. In her opinion, Yu Jinli was stalling, which was a waste of her time. He shouldn’t have been permitted to take part in this test. However, as soon as she said that, on the screen, Yu Jinli started to make energy card. The slap on her face came so fast that she flushed. Now she hated Yu Jinli more. She knew Yu Jinli did that on purpose to oppose her while she totally forgot that in another room, Yu Jinli had no idea what she said. In control of his inner focus, Yu Jinli painted the heart-shaped herb on the energy card slowly. It was his most familiar shape with guaranteed success. He wouldn’t fail even if he diverted his attention a bit. Before he started, he decided to take a safe approach by making an energy he was best at. As he guided the energy in the card with inner focus, he recalled what his golden coattail told him on their way here. “Little chestnut, when we arrive at school, if they want to test your ability to make energy cards, slow down a bit.” Jiang Mosheng told him. “Why?” asked Yu Jinli in confusion. “You are too good at it, better than your peers. But if that is known from the start, it might get you in danger,” advised Jiang Mosheng earnestly. Yu Jinli’s safety came first. Jiang Mosheng didn’t mind whether the little one was going to be a straight A student, he simply wanted him to be safe and enjoy his time at school. He knew how fierce the competition was at the Academy and how fierce the rivalry was among the students. Therefore, he didn’t want that to ruin the little one’s experience. “I see,” answered Yu Jinli as he nodded. Knowing that Ah Sheng always considered his best interest, all he needed to do was to listen to him. Therefore, he slowed down on purpose as he was making the energy card stroke by stroke.