Chapter 295: Get in the Car! The Door Is About to Be Welded Shut

"Why on earth are they reducing admissions for the Artificing Department?"

Zhang Yu never expected that after entering university, he would encounter a situation similar to what his high school martial arts teacher, Lei Jun, faced. However, Lei Jun's issue was a reduction in Foundation Establishment qualification certificates, while Zhang Yu's was a decrease in postgraduate admissions.

Zhang Yu spent some time searching the Spirit Realm network but couldn't find the reason for the reduced admissions. However, that day after class, while he was taking his medicine in the dorm, Zhang Pianpian listened to his questions and offered some answers. Zhang Pianpian began, "It's said that several Artificing Grandmasters in the Soul Transformation realm led protests, arguing that the current educational resources of university Artificing Departments are insufficient and cannot match the number of students."

As Zhang Pianpian's fingertip gently glided across a talismans scroll, countless pieces of information appeared in her eye sockets. She continued, "Secondly, they believe the quality of current artificing students is inadequate and that standards should be further raised…"

Zhang Yu cursed inwardly, "Damn it, this is like welding the car doors shut once you're inside, isn't it?"

Zhang Pianpian shook her head. "Those are just superficial excuses they've thrown out. The real reason…"

Zhang Pianpian's fingertip drew a rune on the talismans scroll that Zhang Yu couldn't understand. The next moment, a flood of information from deep within the Spirit Realm flashed in her eyes. Zhang Pianpian smiled faintly and said, "The true reason, I suspect, is that the ten top universities have joined forces to limit the number of artificing students in all universities, consolidating their leading positions."

"Zhang Yu, if you want to apply for a postgraduate degree in artificing now, the difficulty will likely be much higher."

Zhang Pianpian sighed. "I checked the admission standards for the past few years, and they've increased almost every year. For transferring departments, the requirements have also become higher, generally demanding a ranking in the top 50 of your entire department. If you're in the Civil Engineering Department, it requires a top 20 ranking in the entire department."

Zhang Yu exclaimed, "The requirements are that high? That's ridiculous! Top 20 in the entire department? I'd have to be in the top 20 of Civil Engineering, regardless of year, just to transfer to artificing? Who set these standards?"

Zhang Pianpian calmly replied, "That's just the application standard for the transfer exam. According to the new standards, if you want to compete with other students, you'll also need to accumulate bonus points. For instance, mastering immortal arts like artificing, alchemy, pharmacology, or array formation in advance can earn you bonus points and preferential admission."

Zhang Yu's brows furrowed even deeper upon hearing this. Those bonus skills sounded increasingly expensive. This wasn't screening for talent; it was clearly screening for wealthy students.

Zhang Pianpian continued, "Zhang Yu, if you still plan to pursue the artificing path, you'll have to work even harder. After all, by the time your cohort applies, the admission requirements will likely be even higher."

Zhang Pianpian shook her head, lamenting, "But there's no way around it; reduced admissions for popular majors is the current trend. It's not just the Artificing Department; the three leading departments at Ten Thousand Laws University are all reducing admissions. Admission requirements for departments like Finance have already skyrocketed. After all, the dining table is only so big; if one more person sits down, others get less to eat. As time goes on, climbing the ranks in Kunxu will only become more difficult. For instance, entry into the Ten Great Sects… they might stop recruiting in a few years."

Although Zhang Yu had frowned repeatedly at the changes in postgraduate and artificing department admissions, he had remained calm, simply thinking he would just need to work harder. But when he heard Zhang Pianpian's last sentence, his eyes widened suddenly, and he exclaimed, "Sis… Senior! What did you say? The Ten Great Sects might stop recruiting in a few years?"

At this moment, with his ceaseless daily study and cultivation, the ritual power that hadn't surfaced for a long time… Zhang Yu seemed to recall that familiar chill. Zhang Yu, who had initially thought he could relax after being admitted to one of the ten top universities according to his wish path, became anxious again.

He clearly remembered the path he had envisioned to fulfill his wish: Get into university, join a sect, and finally use the sect's salary to buy antiques…

"Damn it, if the Ten Great Sects stop recruiting, won't I be unable to fulfill my ritual wish? Then, as soon as I graduate… will the ritual backlash kill me? Fuji! Did you hear that? Can't you stop this cursed ritual?"

Fuji gave an awkward laugh. "Sigh, I didn't expect things to be so competitive now."

Just as a storm raged in Zhang Yu's heart, Zhang Pianpian looked at his changing expression strangely and calmly replied, "Only after getting here did I realize that many situations are different from what we used to think. Since the establishment of the college entrance examination and university systems, almost every year, exceptional geniuses climb the ranks and are recruited from the ten top universities into the Ten Great Sects. Under this system, the number of people in the Ten Great Sects has grown every year, with an endless stream of peerless prodigies. Each of these geniuses among geniuses is incredibly gifted and talented. With so many people joining the sects and ascending towards the peak of the immortal path… don't you think it will get increasingly crowded at the top? For the Ten Great Sects, immortal talents might already be overflowing. And as the 'vehicle' gets more crowded, naturally, the boarding standards must be raised."

Zhang Pianpian sighed, "Based on the data I've gathered, looking at the trend over the past few years, there might already be no mortals left within the Ten Great Sects. The birth rate may have dropped to zero for quite some time, and no one who goes up to work can keep their residency; they still have to come down after a certain period of work… I think… in a few more years, it will be close to reaching that critical point. At that time, the Ten Great Sects might never recruit disciples again, and the sect's grotto-heavens above the tenth level might also never open downwards again. Above the sects and below the sects will completely become two separate worlds."

Listening to Zhang Pianpian's words, Zhang Yu cursed inwardly, "Why is this happening precisely when I'm here? If I had been born twenty or forty years earlier, wouldn't getting into university and joining a sect have been several times easier? It's bad enough that the difficulty is high now, but they might even stop it altogether?"

Observing Zhang Yu's fluctuating expression, Zhang Pianpian asked curiously, "Zhang Yu, are you really set on joining one of the Ten Great Sects?"

Zhang Yu nodded and asked, "Do you think I still have a chance?"

Zhang Pianpian checked the data and said, "Last year, the sects recruited… five artificing students."

Zhang Yu's expression shifted upon hearing this. "Recruited by Ten Thousand Laws Sect?"

Zhang Pianpian shook her head. "The Ten Great Sects recruited a total of five people from among all Ph.D. students in artificing departments across all universities: four at the Nascent Soul realm and one at the Golden Core realm. If you want to join one of the Ten Great Sects, you'll probably need to reach doctoral level at least."

Zhang Yu felt his heart sink upon hearing this. Then, he remembered the expanded recruitment for civil engineering postgraduates and asked with a hint of hope, "What about Civil Engineering? Do they recruit a lot from Civil Engineering…?"

"Zero." Zhang Pianpian stated calmly. "Last year… the Ten Great Sects didn't recruit a single civil engineering disciple. It's now generally assumed that the Ten Great Sects may have ceased recruiting from Civil Engineering. I've checked, and if you truly wish to join one of the Ten Great Sects, the probability for the Artificing Department is already relatively high. Other departments either have an even lower chance or are about the same…"

Zhang Yu asked, "Then… how many more years do you think it will be before the Ten Great Sects completely stop recruiting? Five? Ten? Twenty years?" Zhang Pianpian shook her head and sighed, "It's hard to say. You know, for immortals, ten or thirty years might feel quite similar."

Zhang Yu then asked, "Have you never considered joining one of the Ten Great Sects?"

Zhang Pianpian smiled faintly. "The Eight Legions of Righteous Gods are my true destiny." With a slight sigh, she added, "Since entering university, I've increasingly felt… that we were, after all, born a little too late."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu couldn't help but clench his fists, thinking, "No, this won't do. This is too dangerous."

Observing Zhang Yu's tightly furrowed brows, Zhang Pianpian said, "If you truly want to seize this last opportunity, you'll need to complete your credits early and then apply for graduation. But that means… you'll have to complete your cultivation in an even shorter time, then compete for postgraduate slots with elites who have cultivated for ten years, and then finish your postgraduate studies even faster to vie for doctoral positions…"

At this thought, Zhang Pianpian couldn't help but shake her head. "Just focus on what's in front of you for now."

Zhang Yu thought, "Graduate early?"

Zhang Pianpian then reminded him, "Remember not to rush. Haste makes waste, so whatever you do, don't lose your composure or expose yourself."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly upon hearing this, trying to calm his emotions.

Since entering university, Zhang Yu had thrived, leveraging his solid previous foundation. His cultivation, strength, grades, and rankings had all steadily improved. After recently joining the construction site, even his spirit coin earnings had shown a clear upward trend. He had originally thought that he could simply continue to improve step by step, progressing through his studies and exams, and eventually join one of the Ten Great Sects. He never expected the situation in Kunxu to be far worse than he had imagined.

However, Zhang Yu was powerless to influence the policies of the Ten Great Sects. The only thing he could do now was to work harder and cultivate more diligently, hoping to increase his slim chance of success.

At this thought, Zhang Yu's mind raced: "To achieve this without revealing my special talent, I need to earn more money."

Zhang Yu understood that the more money he earned, the faster he could improve. This would also serve as a good cover for his rapid progress, concealing his astonishing talent. "Coincidentally, I now have a job at the construction site, so I don't have to worry about running out of money after spending."

With this in mind, Zhang Yu formulated a plan: "Next… I'll spend money to enhance my strength, using that as justification for improving efficiency at the construction site, then earn more spirit coins, and spend even more spirit coins to further boost my strength…"

A moment later, various products and services flickered back and forth in Zhang Yu's eye sockets as he began selecting his next purchases.