54: Chapter 54 A Gathering of Powerful Figures! The Final Decision Left to the Commander of Long Province!

After stepping off the airship, Zhang Jian looked around.

Looking at the unfamiliar environment and the countless boys and girls of similar age to himself, his heart surged with excitement.

This was the venue for the Professional Unified Examination!

He had Transmigrated here eighteen years ago and had studied diligently for three years at the Jin City Apprentice Professional Academy.

Finally, he had waited for this most important day of his life.

Whether he would soar into the sky or remain unknown depended on his performance in today's exam.

Ever since he first underwent his Awakening, he had gone through countless days and nights of hard work.

From a Trash Professional class that no one was optimistic about, to the comfort, encouragement, and all-out help from his mentor.

From being plotted against and suppressed, to making a desperate comeback and standing here.

In just a few short days, he had experienced encounters more exciting and spectacular than the entire lives of other apprentice Professionals.

To be able to stand here, he had sacrificed a lot.

Today was the day of harvest!

After he finished his reflection, he snapped back to reality.

He noticed Wang Fei was still marveling, "Why do those few examinees over there have stubble on their faces? They look much older than us."

Zhang Jian's face immediately darkened.

"Be polite!"

Ye Xun explained with a smile.

"Those must be Professional examinees who failed the exam last year or the year before and are starting over this year."

"They look a bit older, perhaps just because they realized their shame and summoned their courage. They've worked harder and more desperately over the past two years, so they might just look a bit more aged."

His words stunned Wang Fei.

Students who failed?

In this era of universal class advancement, everyone participates in the Professional Unified Examination, gets into different Professional Universities, and subsequently embarks on different development paths.

So, there are people who haven't been able to achieve their wishes even after one or two years?

Wang Fei fell into deep thought.

Are they doing this because they have higher aspirations and want to sprint towards more powerful academies?

Or is it...

Because they are limited by talent and resources, they can only use this method to approach that minimum goal step by step?

Zhang Jian sighed, also feeling somewhat silent.

Once upon a time, he was almost one of the most ordinary members of the masses.

He Awakened a class that was recognized as the most Trash and had no future, and his only reliance, his father, had gone missing.

With no one to help, only his mentor believed in and supported him.

If not for the Heaven-Defying talent he obtained relying on the mysterious scabbard, he might have performed poorly this year and shifted from a fresh academy student to a social candidate.

Tomorrow or the year after, carrying his dreams, he would have come here again.

Although his current status was also that of a social candidate, his strength was not inferior to any academy student.

Looking around, he didn't even sense any Aura that could approach his own strength.

But looking at others still reminded him of himself.

He nudged Wang Fei's shoulder and shook his head to signal him.

Wang Fei also lowered his head in shame and honestly admitted his mistake.

"I wasn't mocking them."

"Without Brother Jian, I wouldn't have my current strength. I probably would have only gotten into an ordinary Professional University at best, and might not even be as good as them."

Ye Xun stepped in to smooth things over.

"Alright, everyone is a candidate in the same cohort; perhaps there will be an opportunity to get to know each other later."

"Don't just stand here, let's get ready for the exam!"

The two quickly followed his footsteps.

The various gazes around them really made them feel uncomfortable; even the usually carefree Wang Fei had a flushed face.

So embarrassing, let's start the exam quickly!

Both prayed simultaneously.

...

The top floor of the Tianqi Building.

Inside a giant conference room.

On one side was a huge screen, densely divided into countless small screens.

It was just that everything was currently dark, with no corresponding images.

Opposite the screen was a large venue, where on rows of seats sat Professionals with powerful Auras and equipment shimmering with light.

Among them.

The weakest in terms of strength were all Rank 50 Elite Professionals.

Most were Great Master level Professionals above Rank 60.

Among them, the composition of personnel was relatively similar.

Except for a small portion who were representatives from various major Professional universities in Long Province.

Most were admissions representatives from numerous key Professional Universities and top-tier Professional Universities in China.

Among them, there were Professionals of all Ranks from Rank 50 to Rank 70.

Densely packed, there were fully over a hundred people.

And in the very front row, there were only nine people.

These were the admissions heads of China's nine supreme academies.

Almost everyone's Rank was above 75, representing at least the existence of an associate professor level within the academy.

In front of the nameplates on their seats, the names of the academies they represented were marked.

Longyuan Combat Academy.

Xuanwu Shield Guard Vocational University.

Shadow Dancer Alliance.

Elemental Temple.

Shennong Pavilion.

...

Every academy was a place that numerous apprentice Professionals dreamed of entering.

Among the nine, there were men and women, conversing with relaxed expressions, each with a hint of anticipation in their eyes.

These people were all here for this Professional Unified Examination, wanting to discover good seedlings at the first opportunity and use their independent admissions authority to recruit them into their own academies in advance.

Opposite the various admissions academies was a row of seats for the rostrum.

On it were the power holders from various important management institutions in Long Province.

The leaders of various functional departments were all Professionals with the title of Venerable at Rank 70.

The three people closest to the center were the most important of all.

The Director of the Long Province Combat Command Bureau, a Rank 79, Third-Transition top-tier Professional.

The Director of the Long Province Production and Development Center, a Rank 78, Third-Transition top-tier Professional.

The Commissioner of the Long Province General Inspection Administration, a Rank 78, Third-Transition top-tier Professional.

Right in the middle of the three, a man with a dignified expression and an unfathomable Aura attracted everyone's attention.

Even the representatives of the nine supreme academies looked at him with eyes full of respect.

He was the unified direct superior of the heads of the three core departments of Long Province.

The Long Province Commander.

A Divine-Grade Professional with personal strength reaching Rank 85, Third-Transition, [ Sky-Dome Territory Suppressor ].

Xiao Jiuming.

Everyone's respect and admiration for him were not just because he was the supreme commander of Long Province, shouldering the main power of Professional management and resource allocation for the entire Long Province.

But also because.

As the number one powerhouse of Long Province, he had the heavy responsibility of suppressing beast tides throughout the province.

Five years ago, with strength that had just broken through to Rank 80, he led a team to guard the [ Angry River Great Rift ] against a crazy beast tide for a full five days.

He independently killed an Rank 88 Epic-level BOSS, creating an astonishing record of holding off an SS-level beast tide with zero casualties.

He was not only the guardian deity of Long Province but also an idol in the hearts of countless Professionals.

To be a person, one should be like Xiao Jiuming; this was the ultimate life pursuit of all Professionals in Long Province!

At this moment, he was calm, flipping through a document.

On it were the school grades and dungeon clearance certificates of all 1.36 million examinees.

Behind the data of the vast majority of examinees, it was noted as "Reviewed."

Only at three examinees' entries was it marked as "Pending Review."

Waiting for his final decision.

...

Tomorrow happens to coincide with the college entrance examination.

May all college entrance examination students be blessed with talent like Zhang Jian, and hold the "Pen of Destiny" tightly in their hands.

Tomorrow's examination hall is the battlefield, and every question is an opportunity for Awakening.

This battle will surely make the stars rewrite their trajectories for you!