Lin Qingtian picked up the second business card. It had a dark blue background, exuding a simple, classical elegance.
"Second, Tianshu University."
"This school's approach is pretty wild. They specialize in integrating ancient martial arts and cultivation methods with modern transcendent systems. Their 'Ancient Martial Arts Academy' is unrivaled."
He looked at Lin Qingyue, the smile in his eyes deepening.
"That costume you wore, and your dual-sword technique... well, the lines and styling were... creative."
Lin Qingtian chose his words carefully.
"But the foundation of your martial arts is undeniable."
"Those old geezers at the Observation Center were practically singing your praises into my ear yesterday until it went numb."
"Tianshu University is full of old eccentrics obsessed with 'new applications for ancient martial arts.' If you go there, they'll probably treat you like a priceless treasure."
Lin Qingyue's eyes instantly lit up.
His words struck a chord deep within her.
The swordsmanship of "March 7th: Hunt" was an instinct temporarily implanted by the System, but the spear and sword techniques of the Millelith were ingrained into her muscle memory.
If I could get guidance from professionals and truly master these skills, my conventional combat power could reach a whole new level.
"Moreover," Lin Qingtian added, "Tianshu University has a very liberal atmosphere. They encourage students to pursue all sorts of personalized research. As long as you're strong enough and have enough potential, even if you wear a theatrical costume to class every day, they'll just think you're 'role-playing' as part of a unique cultivation method."
"The downside is its extreme specialization. Outside of ancient martial arts, its other fields are only second-rate."
Lin Qingyue nodded thoughtfully.
Lin Xiyue immediately declared, "Wherever Sis goes, I go!"
Yan Shuyu smiled and ruffled her younger daughter's hair, her eyes filled with doting affection.
"The third option."
Lin Qingtian picked up the last business card.
It was silver-gray, with a futuristic, high-tech design.
"Yuheng University."
His tone now carried a hint of genuine admiration.
"This school is a gathering place for madmen and geniuses. They're not satisfied with the existing class systems and are dedicated to forging entirely new paths."
"I heard from an old friend there that they're close to finalizing a new class system called 'Knight-Errant.' It's not just a simple 'Warrior plus Qinggong' combo, but a completely new system that integrates Eastern philosophy, the spirit of martial arts, elemental manipulation, and modern combat principles."
Lin Xiyue asked curiously, "Dad, are these new classes... reliable?"
"Who knows?" Lin Qingtian shook his head. "Innovation always comes with risk. But it also brings unimaginable opportunities."
"Take America, for example. They've already developed a new 'Cowboy' class that combines firearms, lassos, and beast taming. Their combat power is quite impressive."
An image flashed through Lin Qingyue's mind: herself riding an Undead Warhorse, wielding a Desert Eagle, and shouting "Yee-haw!" while firing pew-pew-pew.
...The mental picture was so glorious she couldn't help but replay it.
"Yuheng University's strength lies in its strong atmosphere of innovation. It encourages students to break conventions, making it ideal for talents who don't fit neatly into existing class systems."
Lin Qingtian looked at Lin Qingyue, his words carrying a pointed meaning.
"The drawbacks are even more fatal: the training programs for new classes are entirely in the trial-and-error stage. They require immense resource investment, but the failure rate is also extremely high. To put it bluntly, if you go, you could become the most precious—and most easily discarded—test subject."
The living room fell silent for a moment.
Lin Qingyue stared at the three business cards on the coffee table, lost in thought.
Jingcheng University: a golden road to the pinnacle, but restrictive.
Tianshu University: a martial arts sanctuary tailor-made for her, but the path was too narrow.
Yuheng University: an unknown realm of infinite possibilities, but one wrong step could lead to irreversible ruin.
Lin Qingtian picked up his teacup and said no more, leaving the final decision to his daughter.
Yan Shuyu reminded her gently, "There's no rush, Qingyue. The admissions officers will be here tomorrow. You can ask them everything you need to know in person."
Lin Qingyue nodded, her fingertips hovering over the three cards, her gaze flickering indecisively.
Just as she was agonizing to the point of pulling her hair out, the familiar mechanical ding echoed in her mind, right on cue.
[Ding! Detected Host facing a major life decision. Triggering the "Social Death Trilemma" Timed Mission!]
[Option 1: Choose Jingcheng University. In the most solemn hall of academia, become the wildest mudslide! Reward: Unique Passive: Rules Are Meant to Be Broken.]
[Effect: When you perform any unconventional, outrageous action, there is a very high probability that others will "selectively ignore" it, defining it as "harmless innovation." The Elation Value gained afterward will receive a 2x to 10x critical multiplier based on the event's Elation level!]
Lin Qingyue: "..."
System, are you handing me a Schrödinger's Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card and encouraging me to rave on the edge of a cliff?
Is this a test of my shamelessness or the strength of the old professors' hearts?
[Option 2: Choose Tianshu University. On the path to reviving ancient martial arts, forge a brand-new path of cosplay! Reward: Upgrade Melody Beyond the Strings to Melody Beyond the Strings: Divine Charm!]
[Effect: Skill activation chance increased to 10%, internal cooldown removed! When cosplaying a character, there is a chance to obtain a "Permanent Skill Book" related to that character!]
Lin Qingyue almost burst out laughing.
She could already picture herself in Yun Jin's opera costume, her back flags fluttering as she thrust her spear like a dragon, the background music automatically switching to "Autumn geese, once parted, struggle to reunite~"
Moments later, she'd change into that woman's outfit, chanting "Eight Winds Dance with Feathers!" and "Immortals, come!", while the BGM shifted to the ethereal and otherworldly A Solitary Immortal's Libation.
Then, in front of a group of white-haired scholars who had spent their lives studying ancient sword manuals, she'd perform an on-the-spot ascension...
How was this "reviving ancient martial arts"?
This was clearly giving the ancient martial arts world a little taste of anime shock!
Also, wait... Melody Beyond the Strings had an internal cooldown?
[Option 3: Choose Yuheng University. In the name of "Elation," lead the tide of a new era! Reward: Unique Passive: Elation, In My Name!]
[Effect: When you actively or passively change costumes, a high-definition holographic projection will appear above your head, randomly playing videos related to the corresponding character. This includes, but is not limited to: official PVs, character demos, slow-motion skill showcases, and... popular fan creations!]
Fan creations!
Lin Qingyue's vision went dark.
Fan creations... That was a grand showcase of baffling human behavior, a chaotic blend of meme remixes, absurd humor, surreal nonsense, and pure idiocy!
She could already see herself cosplaying as Yanfei, the holographic screen above her head displaying a chibi version sitting primly, earnestly addressing the camera: "If I really wanted to commit a crime..."
Then she saw herself as Sparkle, the screen above her filled with a compilation of various "Guess Who I Am?" meme remixes, accompanied by a barrage of "Sam!" and "Sparkle!" comments flooding the screen, filling the entire world with an air of Elation.
The image was so vivid that Lin Qingyue covered her face, her body trembling slightly.
It's over.
What if I don't want to choose any of them?!
And the mission is literally named "Social Death Trilemma"? System, are you even trying to hide it anymore?
Fine, I'll just choose the lesser of three evils...