Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Trust me, choose Jiang Cheng
 

This year’s “Hands-on Ability” examination question involved “Leap Over the Cliff,” which required students to use the components provided by the academy to assemble a device that could assist them in leaping over the cliff.

The ready-made components provided by the academy, in theory, could be assembled into a basic “Flying Boat” or a “Flying Backpack” or similar devices.

It allowed students to successfully “Leap Over the Cliff” without relying on spells or their personal Magical Treasures.

However, when put into practice in the actual assessment, students could fully utilize their own spells or Magical Treasures, in addition to the components provided by the academy, to complete the assessment together.

The more stable, composed, and safe the students’ abilities to “Leap Over the Cliff” were, the more it demonstrated their active thinking, problem-solving abilities, and hands-on ability, and naturally, they could obtain higher scores.

As the “Leap Over the Cliff” topic required a “cliff,” the location for this question was set in the “back mountain” of Lotus University.

The school-built “artificial mountain” served as one cliff, and the rooftop of the teaching building as the other, thus efficiently securing the examination venue under the leadership of Li Youyuan from the admissions office.

At this time, the area outside the back mountain’s examination site was bustling with onlookers.

They were all there for entertainment.

The senior students who arrived late could hardly see the situation in front.

Unfortunately, Yue Linger and Cheng Bingxin were among those who arrived late.

Standing on tiptoes and still unable to see Jiang Cheng in front, Yue Linger said to Cheng Bingxin, “Why don’t we forget it, Jiang Cheng has already gotten three full marks, he’s sure to get into Lotus University.”

Cheng Bingxin looked around and, spotting the nearby Immortal Research Building of Lotus University, suggested, “Let’s go to the rooftop to watch!”

The two sneakily entered the Immortal Research Building, which housed many of the senior students’ workshops and quite a few teachers’ laboratories, mainly engaged in the innovative research of Immortal Law.

Of course, these labs couldn’t compare with the monstrous creations of someone like Jiang Cheng, but the process of Immortal Law innovation was typically trialed over and over again in such environments.

When Cheng Bingxin and Yue Linger got to the top of the Immortal Research Building, they discovered to their surprise that others had already occupied the area!

Several teachers had arrived early and settled in to watch the grandeur of the freshman assessment from afar.

Mao Lang introduced Jiang Cheng enthusiastically to his colleague Liu Lingshen, saying, “Lingshen, believe me, Jiang Cheng is absolutely the most outstanding student in this batch’s Talisman drawing specialty. An essential choice for the department!”

Liu Lingshen, a third-order Talisman Master, was this year’s Counselor for the second class of the Talisman drawing specialty.

As colleagues, how could Liu Lingshen not know Mao Lang?

If Jiang Cheng were truly some kind of talent, Mao Lang would have secretly transferred him to his own class long ago. Why would he still be “recommending” him?

It was more likely that Mao Lang had ulterior motives.

Although Liu Lingshen was prepared to be extra cautious, to deceive his rival, he still responded with a smile, “That’s wonderful! With Brother Mao’s recommendation, could there be any doubt? We’ll certainly take Jiang Cheng for our class!”

Mao Lang was taken aback, thinking how could he agree so readily?

He felt a bit of regret at the moment.

But he soon came to a realization.

Jiang Cheng was a talent, but compared to his talent for drawing Talismans, he had two significant, indelible weaknesses!

The first was inferior aptitude!

Cultivating for eighteen years and still only at the third level of Qi training, such aptitude meant an end to his path in Cultivating Immortality.

A Cultivator stuck at Qi training stage, no matter how much they were hyped up, would at best be a second-order Talisman Master, not even on par with Mao Lang himself, certainly not worth the investment.

Unless some expert decided to invest in Jiang Cheng without counting the cost and forcefully lifted his Cultivation Level, his achievements in the way of Talismans would be directly limited by his cultivation.

But obviously, that was impossible. Not being related, why would anyone spend so much money on Jiang Cheng?

The second point, he didn’t act like a proper person!

There was no doubting Jiang Cheng’s natural talent for drawing Talismans.

But, what kind of talismans did he draw?

Was there even one that was proper?

If he continued like this, sooner or later he would cause big trouble!

As a university Counselor, Mao Lang naturally had a duty of responsibility linked to his students.

If Jiang Cheng were only causing trouble at school, that would be one thing, but if this kid managed to offend other powers outside the school during his time here, such as the Sea Tribe in the eastern seas.

Then his Counselor would be in for a world of hurt!

After carefully assessing the risks and rewards, Mao Lang felt that Jiang Cheng was still a better fit for Liu Lingshen’s class.

Counselor Liu was bold yet meticulous, making him very suitable for a “talent in compliance with the Immortal Law” like Jiang Cheng. He specialized in handling all kinds of non-compliance.

His “temple” was too small to accommodate a “Buddha” as grand as Jiang Cheng.

In the midst of heated discussions among Talisman Creation Counselors, the first batch of students, including Jiang Cheng, began the official assessment of their “hands-on ability”!

Similar to the aesthetics assessment, the format of the hands-on ability assessment was also batch-based.

Groups of ten students would craft their tools at the same time, and then proceed to “Leap Over the Cliff” in the order of their number tags.

Since the combat assessment was divided by departments, the order of the combat exam didn’t count. Based on the reverse order of batches in the aesthetic assessment, the order for the hands-on ability assessment reasonably became front to back.

Jiang Cheng, with number 1016, was scheduled in the second batch of this morning.

Before Jiang Cheng, fifteen candidates had already attempted to “Leap Over the Cliff”.

At the command of the assessment host, the first batch of ten candidates dashed to the parts display table prepared by the admissions office.

The table showcased various parts, simple ones like ropes, hooks, and springs.

And complex ones, such as pre-packaged Spiritual Power Jet Modules, wooden boards fitted with miniature Buoyancy Arrays, and Magical Treasures in the form of chairs capable of directional ejection.

Half an hour passed, and the first batch of students began to enter the results presentation phase.

Plain Jane candidate number 1001 was first to appear.

He created a run-of-the-mill “Flying Chair”, strapping two Spiritual Power Jet Modules to the Magical Treasure chair.

Activating the jet modules and controlling their direction, he wobbled and hovered in mid-air.

Although he ultimately did not complete the “Leap Over the Cliff” objective, he had achieved the purpose of “demonstrating hands-on ability”.

Candidate 1001 ultimately scored 55 points.

The second to perform was the powerful candidate 1002, who tied a rope around a rectangular Spiritual Power Jet Module and then stuck a Herculean Strength Talisman to himself. His strength surged instantaneously, allowing him to throw the jet module onto the rooftop of the opposite teaching building.

It must be said that candidate 1002 had quite a knack for throwing, as the jet module hooked perfectly onto the railing, and then candidate 1002 publicly reverted to his ancestry, transforming into Tarzan and climbing to the opposite side along the rope.

Candidate 1002 completed the “Leap Over the Cliff”.

Candidate 1002 ultimately received 15 points.

The evaluation read, “Zero points for hands-on ability, 15 points in recognition of courage”.

Following 1002 was the “Sword-Loving Superman” candidate 1003.

Candidate 1003, who registered for the Treasure Department, whipped out his most cherished sword Magical Treasure.

Unlike others who used the parts provided by the admissions office to assemble a tool, 1003’s approach centered around his Magical Treasure, utilizing the parts to modify it.

This was a better strategy.

After all, candidates were not familiar with others’ parts, and even if they managed to assemble them, they would not be easy to control. It would be better to use a familiar Magical Treasure as the main body and modify it to complete the exam task.

However, what no one expected was that 1003’s modification was to “beautify and upgrade” his sword with the parts!

As a Magical Treasure in the form of a sword, it already possessed the ability to fly!

Clearing the “Leap Over the Cliff” was effortless!

Li Youyuan gave candidate 1003 a thumbs up.

Well done, staying true to your original aspiration, huh?

Candidate 1003 finally scored 25 points.

The evaluation read, “Fifty points for hands-on ability, -25 points awarded to the candidate who loves to show off on the examination field”.