YM778.TV Chapter 121 - 121 Jiang Cheng Effect
Years later, faced with the enrollment exam at Lotus University, the human behaviorist Li Youyuan would recall the morning in Jiang Cheng when he used a talisman to pass the examination.
After successfully rescuing two people who had fallen into the water, Jiang Cheng undoubtedly achieved a perfect score of 100.
While a candidate scoring full marks should be a joyous occasion, the mood of Director Li Youyuan of Lotus University’s admissions office was as soaked as his clothes at that moment.
He knew all too well these students adept at learning!
If someone crossed the lawn early to enter the school’s convenience store, it wouldn’t take long for a clearly defined dirt path to form on the grass.
If a candidate named Jiang Cheng used a method to easily obtain a perfect score, it wouldn’t take long before the examination room would be full of “Jiang Chengs”!
The human behaviorist Li Youyuan dubbed this trend of following suit as the “Jiang Cheng Effect.”
“Director? How are you? Do we need to pause the exam?” the host ran over to Li Youyuan and asked.
Li Youyuan, after all, was an old-timer at Lotus University. He didn’t panic and waved his hand at the host, “Continue the exam, don’t mind me.”
The examination proceeded as normal.
The students queuing behind Jiang Cheng had no chance to adjust their tactics yet; they could only follow their original plans, methodically taking the exam. Most of them chose a “safe answer” to secure a “safe score,” aiming for mediocrity.
However, the privilege of being “mediocre without failure” only applied to the first batch of candidates because they generally had high scores on the national college entrance exam and did not need to fight for every point in the freshman assessment.
As later batches of candidates began their evaluations, the situation was bound to deteriorate dramatically!
In pursuit of full marks to increase their chances of getting into Lotus University, every person becoming a “Jiang Cheng” was entirely possible!
How could one prevent all this? How could the “character” assessment return to its original intent of merely examining character?
Talismans!
Yes!
It was the Nameless Talisman that Jiang Cheng had used!
Upon realizing the crux of the matter, Li Youyuan quivered, and his drenched clothes shook into a smooth and dry state as if they had gone through a spin-dry cycle.
Determined to retire peacefully, Li Youyuan’s eyes blazed with the fight!
You scoundrels shall not ruin my assessment!
Lotus University’s five rounds of exams were held once in the morning and afternoon each.
Jiang Cheng, having completed this morning’s “intelligence” category assessment, was ready to tidy up, head home, have lunch with the snake, adjust his state, and continue the exam in the afternoon.
“Speaking of which, how is the Lotus University canteen? Why don’t I pack two meals from the canteen and bring them back for Liu Qing? But it’s still early, and the canteen might not have started cooking lunch yet.”
As a newcomer, Jiang Cheng was far less familiar with the Capital than Wuyue, and even with money, he had no idea which restaurant was good to eat at.
Jiang Cheng had just stepped out of Lotus University’s sports field when he heard someone calling him from behind.
“Fellow student, Dao friend, please wait!”
Jiang Cheng turned around, and the caller was someone he didn’t recognize.
However, Jiang Cheng still bowed politely and asked, “May I know what you need?”
“Dao friend, I’m also a candidate for Lotus University this year, just that I’m in the third batch, and my exam is tomorrow morning.”
Jiang Cheng nodded to show he understood.
The person continued, “Dao friend, would you mind revealing which talisman you used in the examination room just now? In return, I won’t make you talk for nothing. Take these ten Medium-grade Spirit Stones to buy some Spiritual Liquid to improve your Cultivation Level.”
The person took out ten Medium-grade Spirit Stones and handed them to Jiang Cheng.
But Jiang Cheng did not accept them.
“Do you think the Spirit Stones are too few, Dao friend?”
“It’s not that. I don’t need Spirit Stones, but I can tell you anyway.”
“That’s great! You really are a good Samaritan, Dao friend!”
Jiang Cheng spoke indifferently, “It’s nothing praiseworthy. It was just a simple gesture of goodwill. The talisman I used in the exam is called the ‘Crisis Calm Talisman.’”
The person carefully memorized the name, then asked, “Where can I buy it?”
“You probably can’t buy it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I drew the talisman myself.”
“What?”
Drawing a talisman isn’t difficult, but “drawing one’s own talisman” and “drawing a talisman” are two completely different concepts.
The ability to “draw one’s own talisman” isn’t even strongly related to a Talisman Master’s rank; it mainly depends on a Talisman Master’s talent.
The man was startled by Jiang Cheng’s words, carefully examined Jiang Cheng, and then sighed with a certain resignation, “Fellow Daoist, at such a young age, you’re already able to draw talismans; truly, the Capital is a place full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Fellow Daoist, are your talismans for sale? I would like to buy one!”
Jiang Cheng had indeed drawn several Crisis Calm Talismans and, having passed the examination, no longer needed them.
If he were to sell them, it would also be a way of helping others and achieving a win-win situation.
Jiang Cheng would gain Spirit Stones, and others would pass their exams—a mutual benefit!
“I do still have a few left, and if you make a fair offer, I’d have no objection to selling them to you,” Jiang Cheng said.
“Two thousand! How about two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones?”
Just as Jiang Cheng was about to agree, a robust voice rang out from behind him, “I’ll offer five thousand!”
When both turned their heads to look, the one who had arrived was none other than Li Youyuan.
Li Youyuan, after comprehending the hinge of a “perfect score,” immediately came searching for Jiang Cheng!
Hastily making his way, fortunately, he arrived before Jiang Cheng sold his talismans!
“Five thousand… I truly cannot afford that, alas, I take my leave.”
The would-be buyer of the talismans left, leaving only Li Youyuan in front of Jiang Cheng.
Without a second word, Li Youyuan took out three deep blue high-grade Spirit Stones and placed them in Jiang Cheng’s hand.
“How many of those talismans you used just now do you have? I want all of them!”
Although Jiang Cheng did not know why Li Youyuan, a recruiting director, would need Crisis Calm Talismans—as he didn’t seem like someone who would need them—he always made a point of respecting his customers’ privacy.
If Li Youyuan wasn’t saying, he wouldn’t ask.
“Alright,” Jiang Cheng agreed.
“I have another condition!”
“Please speak,” Jiang Cheng responded.
“During the character assessment period for new students at Lotus University, if anyone asks you to sell or give them such a talisman, you must not! You can’t let others use them at all!”
“This is…”
“Not enough money? I’ll add more! Five stones, seven stones? Surely ten high-grade Spirit Stones would suffice!”
Jiang Cheng wanted to say that he hadn’t intended to sell anyway as he was not short of money. It was only because someone had proactively approached him with the intention of helping that he considered selling.
However, since Director Li was so generously forthcoming, there was no reason for Jiang Cheng to dampen the mood.
To haggle now would make him, Jiang Cheng, seem small-minded.
“Deal.”
After Li Youyuan spoke, he felt a slight pang of regret.
Ten high-grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to one hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, even for him, was no small expenditure.
But the money was well spent.
At least, with this, there wouldn’t be too much chaos in the upcoming “character” assessments.
If everyone had such talismans and all scored perfect marks, the scene would be unprecedented since the founding of Lotus University.
As the head of the recruitment office, he’d likely have to spend far more Spirit Stones than now just to continue in his role.
This was about nipping risks in the bud, spending a small sum to protect the larger picture.
Watching Jiang Cheng’s departing figure, Li Youyuan heaved a deep sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Lotus University’s recruitment examination rules stated that one could only bring one of any talisman, and each could be used only once.
A Crisis Calm Talisman, once used, couldn’t be used again.
Apparently, the talisman perfectly solving the character assessment was likely an accidental but fortunate discovery.
He couldn’t possibly have a strange talisman for every assessment, could he?
If that were the case, wouldn’t I be driven to bankruptcy?
Li Youyuan had been at Lotus University long enough, knew enough people.
Even the head of the Talisman Department, a fourth-tier Talisman Master, couldn’t just produce talismans like that!
Not to mention, Jiang Cheng was only a second-grade prize Talisman Master.
Could he be stronger than the department head?
Stop worrying needlessly.
It’s simply not possible, not even by a long shot!