23: Five top universities

Provincial Governor?

The crowd was bustling. Lu Yuan looked at the old man, understanding why he had been standing in the center just now.

"Go ahead, the Provincial Governor has something to tell you," the Mayor said.

As Lu Yuan took his first step toward the black sedan, the driver's side door opened, and a Middle-Aged Man dressed as a secretary trotted over to the back door.

Click—

The back door opened, and the secretary nodded at Lu Yuan with a smile.

Bang—

The black sedan drove off into the distance within everyone's view.

"Hello, Lu Yuan," Chi Hongchang looked at Lu Yuan with a smile.

"Hello, Provincial Governor Chi."

Lu Yuan greeted him politely.

There were three people in the car: him, Chi Hongchang, and the secretary who was driving.

Compared to the stern, suit-clad secretary, he didn't feel much pressure facing Chi Hongchang.

He didn't work within the system, he hadn't broken any laws, and he had no requests for the Provincial Governor.

"You're about the same age as my grandson. If you don't mind, you can call me Grandpa Chi," Chi Hongchang said kindly, without any airs of a Provincial Governor.

"Grandpa Chi."

Lu Yuan said tactfully.

"Mm, what I'm about to say is very important. You must listen carefully," Chi Hongchang closed the car window, his smile turning serious.

"You are the national number one in this year's Martial Examination and are highly anticipated. You can choose any of the Five Great Top Academies; it depends on your own preference," Chi Hongchang looked straight at Lu Yuan, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.

China has five super-first-tier cities, and the Five Great Top Academies are located within them.

At this moment, Lu Yuan hadn't decided which university to choose, but it was highly likely to be one of these five top academies.

"Next, many major forces will take the initiative to find you. They will claim to provide you with all the cultivation resources you want, and they will provide them for free. I suggest you refuse them," Chi Hongchang said in a deep voice.

"It's called free, but it's actually not?" Lu Yuan asked.

"You could put it that way. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. They invest in you so that when you achieve success and fame, you will return the favor," Chi Hongchang explained.

In previous years, the top ten candidates of the Martial Examination, provided they didn't die young, all achieved great things!

As the saying goes, personal favors are the hardest to repay. Those major forces target the top one hundred candidates of the Martial Examination, especially those without any background, to invest in!

"Years later, if you become an overlord or an Elder of the Seven Alliances and One Hall, or even the Alliance Leader, and they have something to ask of you, will you agree or refuse?" Chi Hongchang gave a vivid example.

Lu Yuan fell into deep thought.

"So, refuse them. With your status as the national number one in the Martial Examination, The Authorities and the universities will provide you with the necessary cultivation resources. They are the ones who truly ask for nothing in return!"

The car stopped downstairs at Lu Yuan's apartment building. After giving his advice, Chi Hongchang waved at Lu Yuan.

He had said everything he needed to say; as for how Lu Yuan chose, that was up to him.

"Goodbye, Grandpa Chi." Lu Yuan watched as Chi Hongchang rode away in the black sedan, then took the elevator back home.

"Our family's Martial Examination number one is back!"

As soon as he opened the door, Lu Yuan smelled a rich aroma.

Lu Yeli was sitting on the living room sofa, with a mandarin duck hotpot set on the table, one side clear broth and the other spicy red oil.

The soup base was bubbling away, and Lu Yeli dipped five or six freshly cooked lamb rolls into the sauce.

Before Lu Yeli could blow them cool, Lu Yuan snatched the lamb rolls and put them in his mouth.

He hadn't eaten meat for too long. Although compressed rations could fill his stomach, the taste was too poor.

"Stealing my food again," Lu Yeli pouted.

In reality, she had prepared it for Lu Yuan, using freshly unwrapped disposable chopsticks and a bowl.

"Cook more beef in the spicy pot; I'm going to take a shower," said Lu Yuan, who wasn't full yet, tossing his backpack full of demon crystals onto the sofa.

During the Martial Examination, he was busy killing fierce beasts. Although his clothes were clean, he hadn't showered for seven days. Now that it was summer, he had a bit of a smell.

After showering and changing into clean clothes, Lu Yuan enjoyed his first big meal in seven days!

"Impressive, national number one," Lu Yeli said with a smile.

As early as when Lu Yuan surged to the provincial number one, Lu Yeli had received calls from many friends and relatives.

As for Lu Yuan's phone, it had long since been blown up, so Lu Yeli simply turned it off.

"It's alright. Older Sister, what rank were you nationally back then?" Lu Yuan picked up a fish ball and put it in his mouth, his expression intoxicated as he savored it.

Eating hotpot, blowing the air conditioner, and watching the latest variety show.

This is what life is about!

"I didn't participate in the Martial Examination; I was directly admitted to Imperial Capital University," Lu Yeli said.

However, with her strength back then, even without being recommended, she could have gotten in; it was just a matter of what score she would have used to get into Imperial Capital University.

"Can't compare to you. I was at most in the top thirty nationally?" Lu Yeli recalled the situation of her Martial Examination that year.

"That's fine, although there's some gap compared to me."

Full and satisfied, Lu Yuan lay on the sofa.

"Tch, you're so smug about getting national number one," Lu Yeli rolled her eyes.

"Did Mom and Dad contact you?"

The living room was filled with the smell of hotpot. Lu Yuan went to the balcony to open the window for some fresh air, then controlled the Blood Slaughter Soldiers to throw out the trash.

"No, still the same old story, sending living expenses on time every month. You and I have long been used to it, haven't we?" Lu Yeli observed the Blood Slaughter Soldiers cleaning the room.

Lu Yuan gently raised his fingers, and the Blood Slaughter Soldiers clad in blood-red armor got busy.

Washing dishes, mopping the floor, wiping furniture, etc.

"This is much more interesting than a Time Attribute Combat Class," Lu Yeli remarked. After observing the Blood Slaughter Soldiers up close, Lu Yeli thought to herself that it was no wonder Lu Yuan could slaughter in all directions during the Martial Examination.

Seven or eight hundred ghost puppet soldiers at the eighth star of the Qi Refining Realm attacking simultaneously—even a fierce beast at the Xuan Gang Realm couldn't withstand it!

Not to mention that Lu Yuan also had four extraordinary monsters!

"Have you thought about which university to attend? How about Imperial Capital University? Then we can see each other every day," Lu Yeli recommended.

Lu Yuan had many choices; China has five top universities.

Like Imperial Capital University, Modu University, and Linan University.

"Pengcheng and Shencheng University are also good. The scenery in these two cities is beautiful, and the food is particularly famous," Lu Yeli said. She liked coastal cities, such as Pengcheng among the five super-first-tier cities.

"We'll see. I haven't decided yet."

Lu Yuan shook his head.

The five top universities were about the same; it was just that Imperial Capital University was more famous because of the city's unique status.

"I reckon the old fogey is already discussing you with the Vice Principal."

Learning that Lu Yuan hadn't decided yet, Lu Yeli didn't discuss this topic further.

The "old fogey" she referred to was the principal of Imperial Capital University, who was also her teacher.

At this time, two hours had passed since the end of the Martial Examination. The internet was flooded with discussions about Lu Yuan; Lu Yuan occupied eight out of ten trending searches!

Every year at this time, netizens would discuss which university the top ten candidates in the country would apply to.

Among them, the discussion about the destination of the top three candidates in the country was the most intense!

"[Trending Search 1: Imperial Capital University Vice Principal Mao Zhiqiang accepted an interview; Imperial Capital University will spare no cost to strive for Lu Yuan to join!]"

"[Trending Search 2: Lu Yuan awakened the special class Puppet Master; just how rare is it?]"

"[Trending Search 3: The Vice Principals of the four top universities all stated that if Lu Yuan joins them, they will establish a specialized research team for the Puppet Master class, serving only Lu Yuan!]"

...

Lu Yuan dominated the trending searches. There were only a pitiful two or three trending searches regarding Chu Wushe and Jiang Tianxia.

"[Three seconds is already great: Damn, the five top universities are fighting tooth and nail to grab Lu Yuan, even setting up a team specifically to serve him!]"

"[Big Brother Don't Bo: You don't even think about what rank Lu Yuan is nationally. This level of monster is rare to see in a hundred years; his starting point in the future is an Elder of the Seven Alliances and One Hall level figure!]"

"[Mai is climbing in Sakurajima: Too exaggerated, as exaggerated as my username!]"

Which university will Lu Yuan join?

Netizens argued endlessly about this topic, generally believing it would be Imperial Capital University or Modu University, as compared to these two universities, the competitiveness of the other three top universities was gradually weakening.

At the same time, a more explosive topic was coming, and that was the official Martial Examination award ceremony to be held in two days!