I picked up skill fragments in the demon world

“Chongzhen Academy is recruiting more than five hundred students? Isn't that too many?”

Seemingly hearing Zhang Chen's murmur, a round and very fat young man next to him turned his head to look at Zhang Chen: “Originally, Chongzhen Academy didn't have so many students, only about a hundred. But this year is different. Chongzhen Academy is opening an inner院 (inner courtyard/institute). Although the places for the inner院 are all set, the Dean is merciful and has distributed ten places for all the disciples to compete for, in order to gather those with great luck, which may have incredible effects. You must know that for us cultivators, in addition to strength, luck is also important, an indispensable condition. If a person has no luck, no matter how strong their strength or how strong their foundation, it's just a castle in the air.”

Hearing this, Zhang Chen suddenly understood. He didn't expect Chongzhen Academy to leave a glimmer of hope for ordinary disciples. Zhou Qiucheng is worthy of the title 'Iron-Faced and Impartial'.

Moreover, Zhang Chen agreed with the fat young man's words. Luck is often a key factor that truly determines victory or defeat.

Zhou Qiucheng gave ordinary disciples the opportunity to compete for ten places, and the ten disciples who stood out must have gathered great luck.

Zhang Chen now thought Zhou Qiucheng was somewhat interesting.

At this time, the fat young man looked Zhang Chen up and down, and seeing Zhang Chen wearing coarse linen clothes, he asked curiously, “Which family's illegitimate son are you? How did you end up so miserable? Is your stepmother abusing you? Refusing to let you eat your fill?”

In this world, even illegitimate sons wear silk and satin. Zhang Chen's coarse linen clothes were quite conspicuous among the crowd.

Hearing the other party's words, Zhang Chen shook his head: “Brother, you're joking. I just like coarse linen clothes. Coarse linen clothes are more comfortable to wear.”

The fat man heard this and looked Zhang Chen up and down, with an 'I understand' expression in his eyes. In his eyes, Zhang Chen was clearly embarrassed and forcibly pretending to be okay.

“My name is Wei Bai. May I ask for your name, brother?” The short, fat young man cupped his fist in greeting to Zhang Chen.

“My name is Shen Chen!” Zhang Chen said his fake name upon hearing this.

“Are you also here to try for those ten places?” Wei Bai asked.

Before Zhang Chen could speak, Wei Bai preemptively answered: “It must be! I heard that Chongzhen Academy is only recruiting thirty-six people for the inner院 this time. Twenty-six places have already been reserved, and we have to fight for the remaining ten places. More than five hundred people here are competing for ten places, which is really as difficult as climbing to the sky. I heard that many children from large families from all over the country have come to Chongzhen Academy from thousands of miles away, wanting to compete for those ten places.”

Zhang Chen glanced at Wei Bai and did not refute his words. Wei Bai was a natural acquaintance, and at this time he was babbling beside Zhang Chen, introducing the people who had come in the past and the situation inside Chongzhen Academy.

“Among the competition for the ten places this time, there are two people who are most likely to win a place. They are our great enemies,” Wei Bai said.

“Oh? Who are the two?” Zhang Chen asked curiously upon hearing this. Anyway, he was queuing now, and it would be good to inquire about the news of Chongzhen Academy while he was idle.

“The first is Zhang Gaoqiu, the second son of the Zhang family in the capital. This person comes from one of the eight great families in the capital and is a true 天骄 (heaven's chosen/genius). It is said that when he participated in the Academy assessment in the capital, he was only one place away from entering the selection. Unfortunately, he was only one step away from success. So, he was unwilling and came to Jinling City from thousands of miles away, wanting to enter the Jinling inner院, which is second only to the Kyoto Academy.” Wei Bai said beside him:

“This person's family background and methods are extraordinary, far above us. He will definitely have a place in this outer院 selection.”

“Speaking of which, since Zhang Gaoqiu is so extraordinary, why wasn't he pre-determined for the inner院, but instead has to participate in the assessment?” Zhang Chen asked his doubts.

The power of the Zhang family in Kyoto is far above the Shen family. If the Zhang family in Kyoto takes action, it shouldn't be difficult to arrange for a Zhang Gaoqiu, right?

“Do you think the Zhang family doesn't want to? I heard that when Zhang Gaoqiu came to Jinling City, he had a letter of introduction from the Great Master, but Dean Zhou glanced at it and said that Zhang Gaoqiu's luck was too bad, and directly withheld the letter. Zhang Gaoqiu had no choice but to participate in the selection, wanting to enter the inner院 through the selection. If he passes the selection, it proves that he is also a person with extraordinary luck. At that time, Dean Zhou will have no reason to stop him.” Wei Bai said.

Hearing this, Zhang Chen looked surprised, with a hint of astonishment in his eyes. He didn't expect Zhang Gaoqiu, this unlucky fellow, to have such an experience.

“Who is the second person?” Zhang Chen then asked.

“There is also a person named: Chai Chuanxin. His background is mysterious. I heard that he seems to be from the Kyoto Imperial Family, flowing with the blood of the Kyoto Imperial Family.” Wei Bai said: “This person is quite mysterious. It is said that he is of royal blood, but he is already out of 五福 (five generations of kinship).”

Hearing Wei Bai's words, Zhang Chen couldn't help but shrink his pupils: “The Gambling Fox Tu Shanqing!”

Tu Shanqing is definitely a very strange existence, especially the gambling techniques he masters, which simply make Zhang Chen shudder.

This fox has possessed Chai Chuanxin and is also involved with Bei Wolong (Northern Crouching Dragon). The two sides had fought in the Northern Lands.

“How did the Gambling Fox come? What about Zhuge Cheng?” Zhang Chen said to himself.

“In addition to these two, I heard that there are many people with mysterious backgrounds who have joined Chongzhen Academy, hiding their identities, wanting to enter the inner院. There is even a princess from the Dasheng Royal Family!” Wei Bai said.

Zhang Chen fell silent upon hearing this. He felt that the matter of Chongzhen Academy was getting more and more interesting.

At this moment, a carriage rumbled past, directly passing by the students and heading towards the gate of the academy. The creaking sound of the carriage immediately attracted the attention of the students. Everyone in front of Chongzhen Academy was traveling on foot. At this time, the sudden appearance of a carriage was enough to attract people's attention.

“That's the Shen family's carriage! Only the Shen family can drive a carriage into the academy.” Wei Bai showed a hint of envy in his eyes after seeing the carriage: “Only the Shen family has such privileges in Jinling City. I heard that when Chongzhen Academy was established, the Shen family contributed a large sum of money.”

Shen Ling didn't know that Zhang Chen had moved out of the Shen family. She still thought that he was still living in the Shen family and wanted to join Chongzhen Academy using the Shen family's name.

“Why can't I come? Is Chongzhen Academy opened by your family? Do I have to say hello to you if I want to go anywhere? When did the Shen family become so overbearing that they have begun to restrict my personal freedom?” Zhang Chen retorted without showing weakness: “What I want to do, why should I tell you? What kind of thing are you anyway?”

Wei Bai, who was on the side, looked at Shen Ling, and then looked at Zhang Chen, who directly retorted, and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Look at what Zhang Chen said, he dared to say that the Shen family's eldest lady, Shen Ling, was a 'thing'. It was the first time he had encountered it.

“Hehe, want to join Chongzhen Academy? Don't you take a look at yourself and see how much you weigh. If you don't use my Shen family's name, what ability do you have to join Chongzhen Academy?” Shen Ling's eyes showed a hint of coldness: “If you really have such backbone, you should find your own way, instead of using my Shen family's name.”

“Naturally, I don't need to use your Shen family's name. You're overthinking it!” Zhang Chen said coldly. As he spoke, he moved his gaze away from Shen Ling, looked through the gap in the window at Jiang Nan sitting inside, and saw Jiang Nan sitting in the carriage like an old god, quietly watching without moving.

“Good! You really have backbone. I hope your mouth is as hard as your backbone.” Shen Ling smiled coldly: “I will let you know what happens to those with hard mouths.”

Shen Ling waved to the manager in charge of registration and assessment in the distance. The manager trotted all the way, fawningly came to the carriage, and respectfully bowed: “Greetings, Miss Shen.”

“This person has nothing to do with my Shen family. If he dares to use my Shen family's name to sneak into the academy, you should know what to do, right?” Shen Ling said coldly.

The manager was stunned upon hearing this, and then quickly said: “This little one already knows.”

Shen Ling glanced at Zhang Chen coldly, then put down the curtain of the carriage, and then the carriage went away.

Shen Ling had already joined Chongzhen Academy, so naturally she didn't have to participate in the new students' queue registration.

The manager waited until the carriage was far away before raising his head, turning his head to look at Zhang Chen, seemingly wanting to remember him firmly, and then turned and left, with only one sentence echoing in the mountains: “Boy, you should go back quickly. This Chongzhen Academy is not for you.”

Looking at the back of the manager, Zhang Chen stood still. At this time, Wei Bai's legs were weak: “Brother, how did you offend the Shen family? You are in big trouble! You have caused a great disaster. You should go down the mountain quickly, perhaps you can avoid trouble. Otherwise, if things get out of hand, you won't get any benefits.”

As he spoke, Wei Bai's footsteps began to retreat, for fear of being implicated by Zhang Chen. Before long, he had disappeared into the crowd.

Zhang Chen couldn't help but shake his head when he saw this. He didn't queue up either, and walked directly towards the manager.

At this time, the manager had already sat down and began to register those who were signing up. Seeing Zhang Chen coming, he couldn't help but frown: “Didn't I tell you to leave? You have offended the Shen family. The Shen family's eldest lady has spoken. Who dares to employ you?”

Zhang Chen took a breath upon hearing this. Shen Ling's move was equal to obstructing the path of cultivation, luckily he had already befriended the Dean, otherwise he would have really encountered a big trouble today and had his good deeds ruined by her. He will definitely retaliate against this move in the future!