Su Fu stroked her chin, digesting this information.
If she could join Lingshan Society, she would undoubtedly get access to more dungeon resources.
But to join Lingshan Society, she had to perform excellently in this Newborn Joint Entrance Exam.
She couldn’t help but sigh, “No wonder Tianqiong Path Academy is so grand! Their resources are so rich that besides regular classes, they also open some dungeons for students to explore autonomously, giving them great freedom.”
Just then, another thread quickly rose to the top of the forum homepage, with a very eye-catching title:
[Urgent: Looking for teammates! Lingshan A-Class Dungeon, seeking powerful partners!]
“Hm? Already forming teams?” Su Fu clicked in curiously.
Although it was a team recruitment post, it began with some hard facts:
[According to the latest reliable information I obtained, this year’s Newborn Joint Entrance Exam Lingshan A-Class Dungeon is highly suitable for team play, with 3-5 members recommended, 4 being optimal.]
[This is based on consultations with many seniors and analysis of past Lingshan exam patterns.]
[Given the dungeon’s nature, the best team should include: 1 strong DPS, 1 crowd control, 1 support, and 1 all-rounder. Therefore, I’m sincerely looking for capable and experienced teammates to face the challenge together.]
[Please reply with your basic info, specialties, and contact details. I am an A-Class freshman, strong DPS.]
While she read this, dozens of replies flooded in below:
[Thanks for the selfless sharing! I specialize in lightning, Manifestation Realm, interested—please PM me!]
[Water element advanced, skilled in barriers, good at defense and healing, high exam scores… hoping to join!]
[A-Class, Manifestation Realm unlocked, all-rounder with great damage resistance, please consider me!]
[…]
Su Fu was shocked.
So many talented students were showcasing their abilities—and so many in the Manifestation Realm!
Some even had rare bloodlines or special abilities, all volunteering to join.
She roughly understood why so many had stepped forward.
The original poster clearly had access to inside information, so they probably came from a noble family or had high-level connections.
Either way, they possessed information normal students couldn’t get.
With that advantage, they naturally attracted more candidates, increasing their chances of building a strong team.
“This exam isn’t just starting in the testing room, is it? The competition began the moment the news broke. Information gathering, networking, team-building skills—they’re all part of strength.”
Sure enough, the original poster soon updated the thread:
[Thanks for everyone’s enthusiastic responses! After careful consideration, I’ve selected three teammates. Sorry I can’t reply to others. Wishing everyone success in the exam! This thread is now closed.]
Though this post was locked, many more team recruitment threads sprang up like mushrooms after rain.
Each showed off their strengths: skills, resources, information…
But Su Fu noticed that many posts included this notice in the requirements section:
[Sorry, Third and Fourth Star Ring students please don’t contact. Only recruiting students from Second Ring and above. Thanks for understanding.]
“This is blatant discrimination!” Su Fu touched her chin thoughtfully. “Has it come to this level of prejudice?”
As expected, many criticized this condition in the comments:
[Anyone who got into Tianqiong Path Academy is elite. Why judge by background?]
[Star ring only represents resources, not talent or ability. Please respect every student here!]
But the original poster’s response was very firm:
[Don’t waste each other’s time. If you Third or Fourth Ring students made it in, it’s only because of the school’s special poverty student policy. I look down on you all.]
[If you want someone to look up to you, go somewhere else. Don’t come to me looking for validation—one try and you’re blocked!]
Sure enough, after this comment, many critical replies suddenly disappeared.
No doubt, they had been deleted.
This person’s domineering attitude became a wind vane, immediately boosting the confidence of the Second Ring students.
Soon, every team recruitment post had a mandatory note: “Third and Fourth Ring students, please do not disturb.”
Su Fu thought: ‘You guys really ask for a beating.’
She couldn’t stand it.
Then, suddenly, a post with a flashing golden border appeared before her eyes.
Not only did this post have an eye-catching golden frame, but it also flickered and released fireworks effects, brightening the whole forum interface a few degrees.
“Hm? What’s this?”
Obviously, she wasn’t the only one seeing it—many people attacked the post in the comments:
[Oh my god, this must be paid power! Pinning a post with gold and special effects must cost at least 100,000 contribution points!]
[So flashy! So flashy!]
Su Fu was drawn in and clicked on it.
The title was bold and fierce: [Third Ring candidate but family has mines, recruiting powerful teammates! Second Ring need not apply. Can beat their heads in!]
Such special display effects didn’t exist in other posts, so this immediately attracted countless viewers and shot to first place.
The post itself was equally blunt:
[I’m a Third Ring candidate with a wealthy family. Looking for strong and fearless teammates. Second Ring, don’t bother applying—I don’t want to waste time.]
[Oh, and if the team forms successfully, I’ll give you the Three Divine Gifts!]
[Divine Beast, Divine Artifact, Divine Item.]
As soon as this post appeared, it exploded, with hundreds of comments piling up almost instantly.
Besides enthusiastic Third and Fourth Ring students, even some Second Ring students were willing to “make an exception” to join.
[Finally, someone dares to stand out. Stay strong, Third Ring OP, must support!]
[Three Divine Gifts? For real? That’s too generous! Count me in!]
[Money talks! I’m willing to give up Second Ring status and join Third Ring from now on!]
As the post escalated, the Second Ring noble heirs could no longer tolerate it.
A user named Weilin Wood posted a response:
[A mere nouveau riche dares to act wild at Tianqiong Path Academy? I, Weilin, hereby offer a public bounty of three million contribution points to anyone who can reveal the true identity of this “Third Ring mine owner.”]
[Also, just talking about giving Divine Artifacts—what grade are they? I say, for each Third or Fourth Ring candidate you eliminate in this exam, I’ll award a B-Class Divine Artifact, unlimited quantity!]
This reply changed the atmosphere instantly.
[Three million contribution points, no wonder the Wood family is so strong—nothing like a mere nouveau riche!]
[Sorry, Third Ring OP, you still fall short. Weilin is unbeatable!]
Many freshmen immediately switched allegiance to Weilin, flooding him with flattering replies.
Su Fu thought: ‘Where did this foolish nouveau riche come from? Second Ring students are from the seven great noble families’ power bases. When it comes to money, they truly have bottomless wealth. Not only that, now the whole thread was locked—no more comments could be added. This person clearly had authority.’
Now, even if the nouveau riche wanted to reply, they couldn’t.
They could only watch in frustration.
“Such a pity,” Su Fu sighed, “didn’t even get their contact info before they were silenced. If she can fight, let her take the mission—money won’t be wasted!”
***
Meanwhile, inside a villa.
Yi slammed her light brain onto the sofa in frustration, “I’m so mad. Why do these people look down on us?”
She had never suffered such disrespect before.
Not only did they look down on her, but they also muted her.
Did they think she couldn’t afford the stakes?
That person was obviously doing it on purpose.
“Ysera!” she called loudly.
A middle-aged woman in a deep blue suit entered quickly, her hair perfectly styled in a bun, her face dignified and serious.
“Offer a high price to recruit teammates. This time, I must take first place in the Newborn Joint Entrance Exam. I want to slap those people in the face and make them know that Third Ring students can be stronger than them.”
Ysera: “….”
“Listen to yourself—what nonsense are you talking about? The strongest freshmen at Tianqiong Path Academy are the heirs of the seven great families. If you want first place, what will they get? And where will you find people? Those noble heirs have already formed alliances from birth, with fixed networks and camps. Money alone can’t buy that.”
She hesitated, then sighed, “Alright, miss, I’ll arrange it immediately. Sigh… the spirit of the working class, just holding on.”
***
Tianqiong Path Academy · Olympus Society.
This was a castle funded by the Olympus family, with a pointed tower flying the flag of Olympus.
Night had fallen, and the flag fluttered softly in the breeze.
Weilin Wood sat in the club activity room, satisfied after confirming that the reckless nouveau riche had been muted, then closed his light brain.
“Doesn’t even know where he is,” he sneered.
“How dare a nouveau riche come make a fool of himself here?”
He was about to leave for home when the castle gates were pushed open.
Immediately, the servants lined up neatly on both sides.
A group of people entered, led by their club president, Fox Hart.
Weilin stood up and bowed slightly in respect.
The group passed by him and headed straight to the president’s office deep within the castle.
Just as the door was about to close, Weilin caught a glimpse of one man’s side profile.
He recognized him instantly.
“That’s… Achilles?! The president is receiving him!”
Weilin’s heart pounded, and a pleased smile spread across his face.
“Could it be… he’s chosen our club?”
If so, their club was set.
They would definitely surpass Lingshan Society and become the top club!
That meant a flood of school resources would be directed to them.
His urge to leave vanished immediately; he had to stay and ask the president.
The meeting lasted no more than ten minutes.
The door opened again.
Fox personally escorted Achilles outside the castle.
When Fox returned, Weilin couldn’t hide his excitement and immediately asked, “President, how was it? Did you make a deal?”
Fox nodded, “Not bad.”
“Wise president!” Weilin praised sincerely, “With Achilles joining, first place this year is definitely ours!”
“Oh, right,” Fox suddenly remembered something and turned to Weilin, “Go invite that Third Star Ring top scorer, Su Fu.”
Weilin’s expression froze, “Huh? Her?”
A wave of resistance surged in his heart.
A commoner worthy of joining them?
As soon as the thought appeared, he realized something and glanced out the window in the direction Achilles had left…
“Wait…” Weilin cautiously looked at Fox, “Could it be because…”
Fox only smiled faintly, looking at him meaningfully, neither confirming nor denying.
He just said, “Everyone knows—it’s the Seven Pantheons, not Eight.”
Weilin suddenly understood.
He lowered his voice, “This is… what the ‘One Who Speaks’ said?”
Fox patted his shoulder, “You have a lot to learn. When the ‘One Who Speaks’ speaks, it’s already too late.”
Weilin took a deep breath and his expression became deeply respectful, “I’ll take care of it right away.”
***
Kunlun Academy.
Su Fu lay in a rocking chair staring at the stars, but her mind had already flown to the Newborn Joint Entrance Exam.
“If it’s a Lingshan Dungeon, then team play really is more suitable…” she murmured.
“In fact, a five-person team would be ideal. After all, the classic journey to the West was five traveling together. As for the four-person setup the OP mentioned—maybe they didn’t count the White Dragon Horse?”
Just as she was pondering, the Shen Yan AI notified her of a new message from Tianqiong Path Academy:
[“Tianqiong Path Academy · Olympus Society”]
[“Hello, Su Fu. I’m Weilin Wood from Olympus Society. On behalf of the club, I sincerely invite you to join us.”]
[“Olympus Society is a top club in the academy, with rich experience and resources in the Olympus Series Dungeons. We sincerely hope to cooperate with outstanding talents from the Chinese Divine Derivation Core.”]
[“If interested, we can discuss further. Looking forward to your reply.”]
“Wait, the Newborn Joint League hasn’t even started and they’re already inviting me?” Su Fu was shocked.
Could it be that they had noticed something unusual about her?
But she soon frowned, sensing something off.
“Weilin Wood… isn’t that the guy who openly banned Third and Fourth Star Ring students?”
He had boasted that one Third or Fourth Ring student was worth only a B-Class Divine Artifact.
This was clearly looking down on Third Ring students, let alone someone like her from Fourth Ring.
Why was he suddenly inviting her?
Something big was going on.