It was precisely because of the unique nature of these regions that the country heavily supported local Soul Martial endeavors, from the training of national troops and the education of students, all the way to the training of public officials.
Pine Soul Soul Martial University had, as a matter of course, become one of Huaxia's top Soul Martial institutions.
A thought struck Rong Taotao. 'No wonder they have so much clout, managing to beat out a crowd of admissions teachers from all the top high schools to be the first to meet with the three of us...'
'Are they going to let me enroll in university directly?'
'Whoa, that's awesome!'
'I'll have some serious bragging rights in the future!'
'No matter how brilliant your kids are, they've probably only skipped a grade or two at most, right?'
'But look at me! I'm skipping high school entirely!'
'Graduating from middle school straight into a guaranteed university spot!'
"Hello." Sitting on the sofa, Yang Chunxi rose to greet them. She smiled and nodded at the youngsters, then extended her hand toward Rong Taotao.
Rong Taotao carefully sized up Teacher Yang, clicking his tongue in amazement internally...
'Tsk... that pale yellow dress!'
'Tsk... that fluffy hair!'
'Huh... does she want to hold my hand?'
'Oh no, this is bad! I'm about to fall for her scheme!'
"Taotao, manners," Rong Yang, who was standing to the side, suddenly said. His voice wasn't stern; in fact, it was quite gentle.
Rong Taotao suppressed his inner drama queen. He looked at his "prospective sister-in-law's" outstretched hand, reached out to grasp it, and, to be sporting, even gave it a few enthusiastic pumps up and down.
Yang Chunxi's expression remained elegant and composed, showing no sign of awkwardness. She simply smiled as she shook hands with the other two youngsters. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yang Chunxi, and I'm a teacher at Pine Soul Soul Martial University. I've come today because I hope you will consider joining us."
'Getting straight to the point? Nice, I like that. But seeing how young she is, she must have just started this job.'
As this thought crossed his mind, Rong Taotao shot a curious glance at Rong Yang.
Rong Yang, however, simply stared at the floor as if in deep meditation. Aside from reminding his younger brother about his manners, he hadn't spoken a single word.
"Teacher Yang, my dream is to get into Pine Soul Soul Martial University, but... but we just graduated from middle school, didn't we?" Sun Xingyu said, looking at the beautiful, elegant teacher before her with a heart full of admiration. She couldn't help the sweetness that crept into her voice.
"Yes." Yang Chunxi nodded slightly. "This year, 2010, marks the 40th anniversary of our university's founding. To commemorate it, the university is launching an excellent new program, and we hope you'll consider participating in it."
Sun Xingyu asked curiously, "What kind of program?"
"A Junior Class." Looking at the girl's charming and well-behaved demeanor, Yang Chunxi couldn't help but feel a surge of affection. She reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "The Pine Soul Soul Martial University Junior Class."
Upon hearing this, Rong Taotao's eyes lit up!
'The most prestigious Soul Martial university is starting a Junior Class? Is this the first-ever class? And they're extending an invitation to me?'
'No matter how strong the faculty at the various top Soul Martial High Schools are, how could they possibly compare to Pine Soul Soul Martial?'
'They're simply not in the same league!'
'Besides, a Junior Class of this nature would undoubtedly recruit only the most gifted young students. The university would definitely focus all its resources on cultivating them.'
Yang Chunxi took a step back, looking the three youngsters up and down. "Your physical aptitudes are all excellent," she said. "Before you arrived, I spoke with your principal to learn about your circumstances, and you all meet our application requirements."
Li Ziyi keenly latched onto a key word: 'application'!
'It's not direct recruitment; it requires passing an assessment!'
Li Ziyi deliberately deepened his voice and asked, "What exactly does the assessment entail?"
Yang Chunxi gave Li Ziyi an appreciative glance and said, "The examination will be held north of the First Wall. The specific content... is yet to be determined."
"North of the First Wall!?" Sun Xingyu's face fell the moment she heard that.
The vortex in the sky that led to the Snow Realm opened in the northernmost part of Songjiang Province, right on the border between Huaxia and the Russian Federation.
There, three towering, majestic walls stood sentinel.
The Third Wall was the so-called front line, garrisoned by Huaxia's most elite troops.
Fifty kilometers to the south was the Second Wall, also garrisoned by soldiers.
Another fifty kilometers south of that was the First Wall.
Only south of the First Wall could one find traces of normal human civilization.
North of the First Wall, however, the land was perpetually blanketed in snow, battered by howling, frigid winds, and home to a number of low-level Snow Realm Soul Beasts.
These Soul Beasts might have been blown in by blizzards, or they might have been selectively allowed past the Second Wall by the soldiers, who would intentionally let a portion of the Snow Realm creatures through.
In short, for ordinary civilian Soul Martial Artists and enrolled Soul Martial Students, that area served as both a training ground and a battlefield.
Since the examination was to be held north of the First Wall...it was obvious that Pine Soul Soul Martial's entrance exam would not be a written test!
For these children, who had just graduated from middle school and never set foot on a real battlefield, such an assessment was indeed harsh.
"It's voluntary; there's no need to force yourselves," Yang Chunxi said with a radiant smile, one that seemed completely out of place for someone who might as well have walked straight out of a harsh, windswept winter.
Rong Taotao tilted his head slightly, watching the gently smiling teacher and thinking to himself, 'This young lady... she's pretty warm-hearted, huh?'
Yang Chunxi continued, "You can go home and discuss this with your families. Give me your answer before eight o'clock tonight. I'll leave my phone number for you. If I haven't received a call from you by 8 PM, I'll assume you've decided to forfeit the assessment."
Rong Taotao spoke up immediately, "No need for a call. I'm in."
"Oh?" Yang Chunxi raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze flickering almost imperceptibly toward Rong Yang. "Aren't you going to discuss it with your family and friends?"
"I ain't got no family," Rong Taotao said, scratching his naturally curly hair. He added with a mumble, "And I ain't got no friends, either."
Beside him, Sun Xingyu looked at Rong Taotao, her lips turning down in a pout as she dutifully offered up a sad expression.
Rong Yang: "..."
Hearing this, Yang Chunxi had to stifle a laugh. "From what I understand, that's not quite the case."
"You should still discuss it with them. After all, if you enter Pine Soul Soul Martial, you'll most likely become a Snow Realm Soul Martial Artist, practicing Snow Realm Soul Techniques and Snow Realm Soul Skills.
"A decision like this will affect your entire life. Besides..."
Rong Taotao asked, "Besides what?"
Yang Chunxi leaned forward slightly, curled a finger, and gently tapped Rong Taotao on the head with a smile. "Besides, I haven't even told you about the rewards for passing the assessment, the curriculum, or any of the other details."
Her expression and action seemed less like those of a teacher meeting a student for the first time and more like an elder's fond chiding and advice for a junior.
Rong Taotao took a step back and stated firmly, "You don't have to say anything else. I've decided. I will take the entrance assessment for the Pine Soul Soul Martial Junior Class."
"Hm?" Yang Chunxi was even more astonished. "You're not even curious about the rewards for the assessment?"
Rong Taotao waved his hand dismissively, the very picture of nonchalance. "You're the top Soul Martial University. Whatever rewards you're offering, as long as they're worth your name, I guarantee I'm up to the task of receiving them."
Yang Chunxi stared at Rong Taotao, momentarily speechless. After a few seconds, she turned to Rong Yang. "You two have very different personalities."
Rong Yang remained as still and silent as a meditating monk, his gaze fixed on the floor.
It was Sun Xingyu and Li Ziyi who were stunned by her words. 'Judging by what Teacher Yang said,' they thought, 'does that mean this silent man is Rong Taotao's family?'
'No wonder Rong Taotao reacted so strongly when they first came in.'
'They don't look very much alike, though.'
While the two youngsters let their imaginations run wild, Rong Taotao sighed internally.
'In reality... for me, just being able to take the assessment north of the First Wall is already the greatest reward I could ask for.'
'This might be the closest I've been to her in my entire life.'
Everyone knew,
South of the First Wall, the city lights dwindle.
South of the Second Wall, the verge of crisis.
South of the Third Wall, a sea of snow and mountains of corpses.
But Rong Taotao knew something more: beyond that Third Wall, further to the north, flowed a vast, wide river.
It was the border river between the two nations, named the Dragon River.
That river flowed directly beneath the enormous Snow Realm Vortex in the sky.
It was the most treacherous place of all, and beneath its vast white snows lay buried the bones of countless loyal souls.
And it was upon that frozen river that a tragic and heroic battle, one recorded in the annals of history, once took place: the Battle of Dragon River.
Rong Taotao could recite that entire page from the history book by heart.
On that page was a black-and-white photograph of his mother, taken during a routine training exercise after she had enlisted in the army.
And Rong Taotao felt as if he could see right through the page, to the image of her standing all alone amidst the boundless, swirling snow, gazing up at the immense Vortex in the sky...