NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: Test
It is no exaggeration to say that any student graduating from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy will be highly favored no matter which force they join.
Moreover, in the Sun Moon Empire, which is based on soul tool technology, students enjoy various preferential policies and subsidies while at the academy: free elixirs to aid in breakthroughs of soul power, a monthly supply of free metals, financial subsidies upon admission, and a series of other benefits.
Regardless of whether one is from nobility or an ordinary background, those with talent in soul engineering will not be buried!
Because of this, every year during the Sun Moon Empire's enrollment period, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy is packed with people.
Among them, there are always those who have not met the standards trying to sneak through, and others who were eliminated a few days earlier.
These individuals were either disqualified due to failing the age requirement or having insufficient soul power level. Although their chances of passing are slim, they remain unwilling to leave until the very last moment.
For ordinary people, just being able to enter the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy—even if they do not graduate smoothly—is enough to change their lives forever! How many people could afford to give up such an opportunity?
This state of affairs continues until the end of the enrollment period, with all parents hoping their children can join this academy.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's annual enrollment date is set on the autumnal equinox.
This time symbolizes the balance of day and night, aligning with the Sun Moon Empire's idea of harmonizing yin and yang, which is believed to be beneficial to the nation's fortune.
Additionally, another day when the sun and moon reach equilibrium is the spring equinox, when the sixth-year students of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy participate in a grand competition, and those who excel will go on to further their studies at the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
As time passes, second by second...
Suddenly, a loud commotion arises.
The noise in the teahouse comes to an abrupt halt as everyone turns to look at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
"It has begun!"
"With so many children, how many will pass?"
"…"
When sunlight shines on the golden sun and silver moon emblem adorned with gold and silver patterns, the heavy gates of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy slowly open.
Nearly a thousand young boys and girls, led by their parents, rush through the gates. Su Luoheng has already left the teahouse and follows the crowd into the academy.
As they enter, a majestic voice echoes clearly in the ears of every student.
"Welcome to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Here, your abilities and talents will determine your qualifications, regardless of whether you are a noble or a commoner."
"The academy's entrance examination consists of a preliminary test and a re-examination."
"As long as your soul power level is at least ten, and you are under twelve years old, you may pass the preliminary test."
"The re-examination is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on assessing martial soul cultivation, including aspects such as soul skill usage, soul power strength, combat ability, and physical fitness. The second part focuses on soul engineer capabilities, including understanding of core formations and basic theories of soul tools. Anyone with talent in either aspect can be admitted to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy."
"The enrollment process officially begins now. I wish you all the best in joining our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy."
Everyone looks toward the source of the voice, where they see a middle-aged man, seemingly in his forties, with a short and stout build, dressed in formal attire, standing on a high platform.
Though his appearance is unremarkable, a badge on his right chest catches the eye: a sun and moon background with eight stars suspended in mid-air, indicating that he is an eighth-level soul engineer, and a member of Illustrious Virtue Hall!
An eighth-level soul engineer is a figure of significant status, even in the well-established Sun Moon Empire.
For such a person to personally preside over the enrollment ceremony reflects both the profound heritage of the Royal Soul Engineering Academy and their emphasis on the recruitment process.
This level of importance is comparable to that of the renowned Shrek Academy.
After delivering his speech, the eighth-level soul engineer stepped down from the stage.
Soon, other staff members began to enter the area. Under their guidance, the crowd was divided into more than ten groups, and the chaotic square finally became orderly.
Su Luoheng followed one of the groups and was brought in front of a large metal device.
The entire device was about two meters tall.
It had a rounded arch shape resembling a large door. In the center, there was enough space for an adult to stand, and a crystal pillar ran vertically from top to bottom on the front. A circular platform was on the ground in front of it.
Next to each device, there was an academy staff member supervising the process.
Facing the unfamiliar soul tool, the students looked on with curiosity and whispered amongst themselves.
"Quiet, children."
When all the children had lined up, a teacher stepped forward and signaled for silence with a wave of his hand.
After the crowd quieted down, he began to speak, "In front of you is the soul power tester developed by our academy, responsible for the preliminary test to assess your bone age and soul power level. Now, please line up and step forward one by one for the test. Only those for whom the green light turns on will be considered qualified and allowed to proceed to the next test."
"Now, all examinees, please line up in an orderly manner for testing."
As soon as he finished speaking, the first boy stepped up to the soul power tester.
Feeling the countless eyes fixed on him from the platform below, his thin body couldn't help but tremble slightly, whether from nervousness or excitement.
"Don't be nervous, child. You don't have to do anything; just relax completely. In a moment, a beam of light will scan over you. The entire process will not cause you any harm."
As soon as he finished speaking, the teacher walked to the other side of the soul power tester. His palm began to emit a soft white glow, and then he placed his hand into a palm-shaped indentation on the side of the device.
"Relax completely, it's starting."
As the teacher spoke, everyone sensed a sudden surge of intense soul power radiating from him, particularly evident around his arm, where a white light flickered visibly. Following that, a white light beam appeared at the top of the soul power tester. The beam was fan-shaped, covering an area of about one square meter, and slowly descended from above.
The boy, enveloped by the white light, tightly closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling uncontrollably.
After all, for an eleven or twelve-year-old boy standing in front of so many onlookers, how could he not feel nervous, even if told otherwise?
Fortunately, the white light came and went quickly, and the test was completed in just five seconds.
Two seconds later, a line of data appeared on the screen on the side, and a green light lit up at the base of the platform.
The teacher in charge of recording nodded slightly and said, "Bone age: eleven years, soul power: level ten, test passed. Take your test result sheet and proceed to the second round for the re-examination."