Chapter 80 Feeding the Dog
The awakening system talent determined the threshold for university entry.
The world was indeed this realistic.
But everyone also understood that the reason for this situation was that the N-level system was simply too outrageous, issuing system tasks that defied logic, and the potential was simply not enough.
In this world, the most profound truth was: studying needed to serve practical ends!
A good system would enable you to apply the knowledge you've grasped more skillfully; if you had an outrageous system like the N-level, even if you learned much from books, the system tasks would be hard to complete, failing to achieve the goal of applied learning.
In other words, cultural course grades determined a person's basic lower limit, while the system talent level determined a person's future upper limit.
In the system world, high scores in cultural courses only meant that you had a deeper understanding of the world than the average person, but it didn't mean your future achievements would be higher than others.
If people were compared to trees, then the awakened system would be like the fertilizer that helps nurture and grow the tree.
An N-level system's fertilizer could at best only allow the tree to grow to one meter, while an R-level could make it reach ten meters, and an S-level could enable it to grow to a hundred meters!
As for SR and SSR levels, there's no need to say – they were enough to cultivate a person into a towering giant of a tree!
And the nine elite universities, as the name suggested, cultivated students with high future potential.
"What a pity for such a promising seedling, even an R-level system would have been good," someone couldn't help but lament.
"Yes, it's such a waste."
The others echoed in unison with sympathy, regret, and schadenfreude... all kinds of gazes were present, even though they knew there was still a slim hope for N-level candidates at Liangzhou University, that hope was very faint.
Because that assessment, according to legend, was an insurmountable chasm for N-levels.
Who would have thought the school's top scorer with 732 points would face such an awkward situation?
At the same time, people's outlook on Zhuo Jing became even more optimistic.
Although his score was only 581, one hundred points less than Xiang Beifei, the thing was, he was an S-level! Such a score would comfortably grant him entry into one of the nine elite universities, and he could choose a good major.
"The class president is really impressive! Which of the nine elite universities is our class president planning to choose?" someone asked enviously.
"Do you even have to ask? His additional points make up a total of 631 points; he can pick any of the nine elite universities."
"Yeah, 631 points at S-level is far stronger than 732 points at N-level."
[You have received praise from Kangkang, appreciation value +2]
[You have received praise from Liu Lan, appreciation value +2]
…
Zhuo Jing took the opportunity to harvest another wave of appreciation value, feeling invigorated.
He pretended to be humble and said, "Oh, you flatter me too much. I've already set my target. As a member of Liangzhou, I plan to stay in Liangzhou and apply to Liangzhou University!"
In fact, his decision to apply to Liangzhou University was spur of the moment; Xiang Beifei's usual scores were far from his, yet the examination results had exceeded his, which irked him.
He knew that the only chance Xiang Beifei had to apply for an elite university was Liangzhou University.
Then he would choose Liangzhou University!
During the entrance examination, Xiang Beifei was bound to be eliminated by Liangzhou University. But whichever elite university he chose to attend right now, he was a prospective university student!
581 points got him into Liangzhou University, while 732 points were turned away at its gates.
The contrast was stark!
And he, as an S-level talent, appeared even more dazzling!
Many nodded subtly, showing their admiration for Zhuo Jing's words.
Zhuo Jing arrogantly glanced at Xiang Beifei with a sidelong look.
What if you are the school's top scorer? What if you are the first in raw scores?
My 581 points will still crush your future!
They will still steal your limelight!
I can still divert everyone's attention from you to me!
Jealous?
"Haha! Not only did I complete the system task, but I also overshadowed the school's top scholar, and I've harvested a bunch of appreciation values, awesome!"
Zhuo Jing hummed a tune in his heart.
Now, it was time to claim the system reward!
He happily looked at the system interface, saw the "Double Appreciation Card" and the Cultivation Technique "Piercing Strike," then he clicked on "Claim Reward."
One minute later.
"Where's my system reward?"
Zhuo Jing suddenly turned to stone on the spot!
"You damn system, you actually swallowed my reward again!"
Zhuo Jing felt darkness before his eyes and almost passed out.
----
Although Zhuo Jing was an S-level Awakener, he had only awakened his system two months ago and his cultivation was still only at the early stage of Qi-Controlling. Therefore, both "Piercing Strike" and the "Double Appreciation Card" were also rewards for the early stage of Qi-Controlling.
Xiang Beifei didn't even view such rewards with regard, but he still accepted them graciously.
The reason was simple, happiness.
Towards those who had no grudges against him and whose rewards Xiaohei had mistakenly taken, he would return the rewards.
For those who were kind to him, he would respect them and try his best to help them.
But for those who sought trouble with him, who came bullying up to his face, there was no need for courtesy!
If he had no use for them, he could give them to feed a dog!
Xiaohei, being a small milk dog with snow-white fur, happily swallowed the two items, turning them into a Spiritual Qi Crystal and collecting them.
"You damn system! You damn system!"
Experience the magic at m-vl-em-pyr
Zhuo Jing nearly went mad, still not understanding what had happened, as he still thought the system had glitched like last time. If there hadn't been so many people around, he would have cursed out his system already.
He probably didn't even realize that his rewards had truly fallen into the paws of a small milk dog.
----
Because of Zhuo Jing's words, many people stopped envying Xiang Beifei, the school's top scholar, and gradually shifted their attention to other S-level students, which actually relieved Xiang Beifei.
He didn't enjoy being surrounded by people.
The crowd quickly dispersed, and other school leaders went to congratulate other students, only Principal Li Nanxing stayed, his expectations for Xiang Beifei never diminishing.
"Mr. Xiang, may I have a word alone with your grandson?" Li Nanxing said to Xiang Qingde.
Xiang Qingde was still being surrounded by others, asking about the affairs of being the parent of an original separated family. Li Nanxing's question snapped him back to reality, and he said, "You talk, you talk, don't mind me."
"Xiang Beifei, could you come to my office?" Li Nanxing said.
"Okay."
Xiang Beifei followed the principal through the crowded throng and returned to the clean and tidy office once more.
Li Nanxing gestured for Xiang Beifei to sit down, then poured him a glass of water.
"Your reported target hasn't changed, has it?"
Li Nanxing sat in his own chair, looking at Xiang Beifei, his eyes shining brightly and twinkling with wisdom.
He wasn't like others who, just because of Zhuo Jing's words, dismissed Xiang Beifei's future. On the contrary, he still believed in this quiet young man.
Back when he consulted the system, the boy had inquired about Liangzhou University's entrance assessment for N-level students. Li Nanxing had made a point of inquiring further and already had some leads.