Because this academy is directly under the control of the Great Zhou military, it has produced countless brave and resolute young people over the years, with generals emerging like stars in the sky. In that earth-shattering war against the demons many years ago, humanity was on the brink of extinction at first. From the headmaster to the ordinary students of Starcrest Academy, all rushed to the battlefield, one after another, with eight or nine out of ten dying in battle. After the war, the once vast academy was left desolate and silent, like a graveyard. Because of this, Starcrest Academy earned an unparalleled level of respect in the human world and possessed an unimaginable aura.

With such an academy, let alone “Plucking Stars,” even if they wanted to name it “Burning Stars,” who would dare to object?

Everyone in the world is well aware of the bloody, cruel, and glorious history of Starcrest Academy, and Ethan Brooks is no exception. His master placed Starcrest Academy second on the list, but in his heart, Starcrest Academy was actually first. So, although failing to get into Heavenly Institute made him a bit frustrated, he didn’t really mind too much.

He believed that Starcrest Academy definitely wouldn’t be as corrupt as Heavenly Institute, or at least not to such an extent.

With these thoughts, he arrived at the solemn and imposing Starcrest Academy to prepare for the second round of exams.

Starcrest Academy was indeed different from Heavenly Institute. Although there was also a dense crowd outside the gate, whether it was because of the eagle-eyed, fully armed elite soldiers at the entrance, or the oppressive stone tablet inscribed with the names of fallen generals, the atmosphere was silent, without any noise.

After filling out a simple registration form and receiving a number plate, more than six hundred candidates entered the academy under the guidance of several officers.

Similar to the assessment at Heavenly Institute, Starcrest Academy also held a preliminary exam, with the purpose of eliminating ordinary youths who had not successfully undergone marrow cleansing in advance, thus reducing the pressure of the formal entrance exam. However, since Starcrest Academy was military in nature, its methods were much simpler and more direct than Heavenly Institute—there was no sensing stone here, only a stone millstone.

The millstone was very large, much like a grinding stone—in fact, it was the actual millstone temporarily removed from the kitchen behind Starcrest Academy, weighing three hundred jin. Any candidate who could lift this millstone and walk up thirty stone steps would pass the first round and qualify for the formal entrance exam.

Three hundred jin is a weight that, unless one has successfully undergone marrow cleansing and has bones and muscles as strong as pine, is very difficult for an ordinary person to lift, let alone carry up such a long flight of steps. Many youths who had not succeeded in marrow cleansing turned pale at the sight of the millstone, many hung their heads in despair and withdrew. Even some who had succeeded in marrow cleansing but whose cultivation was unstable judged that they could not do it this year, shook their heads repeatedly, and gave up, unwilling but helpless. Of course, there were also some ordinary youths who bravely tried to rely on their natural strength to take on the challenge, but none succeeded.

To lift the millstone without having undergone marrow cleansing is not unheard of in the entrance exams of Starcrest Academy. For example, the current White Tiger General guarding Jialan Pass had not undergone marrow cleansing when he first entered the academy, but relying on his innate strength, he easily threw the millstone directly to the other side of the lake...

But after all, such things are not very common.

The instructor, feeling a bit regretful, checked the time and decided to speed up the process, letting the candidates report their own level, then allowing those who had succeeded in marrow cleansing to take the test first, followed by the ordinary youths.

Unfortunately, even by midday, not a single ordinary youth had performed a miracle.

Just as people were getting bored and many spectators were preparing to leave, a burly youth walked into the arena with his number plate, easily lifted the millstone, strode up all thirty stone steps without breaking a sweat or turning red, and even carried the millstone back to its original place!

The crowd was in an uproar.

The youth raised his hand to signal to those around him, proudly walked up the steps again, and headed deeper into the academy. Interestingly, he looked so honest and simple that no matter how much he tried to appear proud and pleased, in the eyes of the onlookers, he was only adorable, drawing only good-natured laughter, never ridicule.

After the burly youth left, many began to speculate about his background, until someone suddenly mentioned the faint blue patterns visible on his ankle earlier. The crowd fell silent in astonishment, because... that meant the youth was very likely of demon blood, and might even come from the Western Demon Domain!

For hundreds of years, because the human and demon races once fought together against the demons, their relationship, while not exactly harmonious, could be considered peaceful. Some noble demons capable of taking human form even lived in the human world, and there were certainly some in the capital of Great Zhou—though, after all, humans and demons are different, and whether officially or among the people, this was rarely mentioned, as long as those demons didn’t cause trouble.

The burly youth suspected of being a demon successfully lifted the millstone, as if opening a door. Immediately after, two more hunter youths from Dalao Ridge, relying solely on their natural strength, also lifted the millstone and climbed the steps. Though they struggled, they still won rounds of applause.

The officer at the top of the steps, pen in hand, nodded slightly, looking quite satisfied with this year’s results.