Rejection

Gin rinsed and jogged toward Aunt Hil's store for breakfast. When he came back, it was already 9.30 in the morning.

He received a message from Ranker Division stating that their manager is on his way to examine the magical fruit that he wanted to sell.

At around 10, his doorbell buzzed. Gin opened the room and let the manager in after checking his ID, before locking the door.

The manager looked around 30-year-old, tall, thin and professional-looking while dressed in a grey suit. Gin could sense the manager's strength already reached the Advanced ranker stage.

Without wasting any time, Gin showed him the Life-essence fruit that he wanted to sell.

The manager's gaze becomes solemn as soon as he witnessed the fruit. To be sure, he took the fruit in his hands and inspected it again and again.

Just the medicinal fragrance emanating from the fruit authenticated it's a genuine one.

"It's a Rank-2 life-essence fruit, mellow, best in shape. The best price we can offer you is 30,000 Ranker credits!" The manager stated after inspecting the fruit.

Gin knows he can sell the fruit for a higher price if he auctions it in a black market but what he and his friend's needs is the ranker credits.

He also knows it's a fair price coming from ranker division. Gin agreed to the price and showed the two other fruits to the manager.

After inspecting the other two magical fruit, the manager transferred 90,000 Ranker credits to his account. The manager carefully collected the fruits in a unique case and left the house.

---

When Gin was thinking of training again, he received a message from Yirene.

"I am leaving today." Yirene messaged.

"What? didn't you say that you will only leave after a few days?" Gin asked.

Gin didn't receive any message for a minute so he asked again, "Can we meet before you leave?"

"I can't come... Take care, we will meet again when you come to the 'Sacred Province'," Yirene said.

Gin sighed, he likes Yirene and he knows that she too likes him. But due to the difference in background, Gin didn't openly express his love.

"I am weak," Gin muttered.

He didn't know her background but he knows it's extraordinary. The current him may be weak but soon, he will become strong enough to express his love in front of Yirene's family.

"The Sacred Province, huh? Looks like it will take some time for me to reach there." Gin mused.

Even though many pieces of information were hidden from ordinary people's eyes, Gin got a general idea about the world he lives in after gaining access to the Ranker site.

The mainland that everyone lives is called the 'Human continent' which is divided into one province, eight domains, and twenty-four regions.

The Human Union's headquarters was located in the Sacred Province which is also the 'heart of the human continent'.

Gin didn't expect that Yirene is going to the sacred province where the most powerful, influential and dangerous peoples of the continent dwell.

"I will see you there, soon" Gin messaged back, even though he knows it will take some time for him to go there.

Yirene's departure didn't dispirit him, it only stirred him further to work hard.

-

Days went by, swiftly 14 days passed since their first mission. During these days, Gin diligently trained in his Physique stance and breathing method.

Normally, a person will sense their first seal when their strength approaches between 1500 - 2000 Kg.

Gin's strength progressed at an astonishing rate reaching 3000 Kg but till now, he couldn't sense his first physique seal. It somewhat worries him.

A few days back, Emeera also sent him the ranker credits of the herbs they found in the cave. It was only 20,000 ranker credits.

She also explained the reason for the low price. It's because most of the herbs they found are only Rank-1 and Rank-2, so even if the age of the herb is high it's not worth a lot.

Gin now has a total of 110,000 Ranker credits which is a staggering amount. If it's calculated in normal credits, it would be around 10 million.

He set aside 10,000 ranker credits as team reserve, while dividing the remaining amount into four and transferred it to Astro, Hammer, and Yirene.

He has a lot of uses for the ranker credits, he wanted to buy a good combat dress, a long-lasting weapon, body strengthing potions, even some information on the internet needs ranker credits.

--

Today's an important day to many peoples on Silver Mist Region as martial academies entrance examination starts today.

The examination will go on for three days, so even if a person gets rejected by an academy, they can attempt to enroll in other academies.

Gin, Astro and Hammer's target is to join the Skyfire Academy as it's the number one academy of the Silver Mist region.

During the last year's entrance exam, more than 200,000 students applied for Skyfire Academy but every year the academy only selects 1000 students.

There will be heavy competition among the students, only the strongest and most excellent among them may pass the examination.

In the early morning, Gin set off from his home to District 8 where the Skyfire Academy is located. He informed Astro and Hammer that they will meet outside the gates of Skyfire Academy.

When Gin arrived at the location, the first thing he noticed is the crowd. There are too many students in front of Skyfire academy's gate like it was a world populated only by youngsters.

They stretched as far as his eyes could see. Most of them are in little packs of three or four. He also saw some familiar faces among the crowd whom Gin attended schools with.

Gin called Hammer and asked, 'where are you?'

It took Gin nearly twenty minutes just to find Hammer. Thankfully, Astro arrived early and joined with Hammer.

"It's too crowded." Gin said with a raised voice so that his words can reach Astro and Hammer.

"Yes, the academy will do something about it," Hammer said.

At around 9 AM, a loud voice reverberated across the entire place. "I hereby welcome every dear student, who came to take part in the entrance exam of our Skyfire Academy."

"Our academy has strict requirements and standards, only those who meet these qualifications can participate in the entrance exam."

"First and foremost, students above sixteen-years of age and those whose strength hasn't reached the six-star level ranker aren't allowed to participate in the exam."

"If there are any students here who don't satisfy the first rule, please leave."

Gin couldn't even see who was speaking as the entire area is packed with students.

As soon as the speech stopped, around 10,000 students quietly left the area.

Two minutes later, that voice continued, "Two, even though it may sound laughable if there are any students here without spirit seal you have to leave as well."

The second rule seemed ridiculous in Gin's eyes. It's was cruel to destroy a person's path without even giving a chance, just because the person didn't have any spirit seal.

'Is this how the number one academy of Silver Mist region accept their students?' Gin thought. He suddenly lost his interest in joining any academy.

Hammer was enraged, he roared top of his lungs, "Bullshit!"

"Hammer, what are doing?! Don't shout" Gin scowled as he didn't want to attract everyone's attention.

Even the always humble Astro, seemed infuriated. How could they not be? The academy outrightly rejected their friend without giving any chance.

As soon as Hammer shouted, the entire area quieted down. Some even backed away from the Gin's group as if they would be rejected if they stand closer to them.

"That student please step forward and tell us what do you think is, 'bullshit'." The voice spoke with no hint of anger.

Hammer made his way to the front while bringing along Gin and Astro. Gin tried to persuade him to let it go but Hammer didn't listen.

When the trio reached the front, they noticed the appearance of the man who was delivering the speech. He was a light-skinned, towering, muscle man who appeared to be in his early thirties.

He has short dark hair, thick eyebrows, a smiling face and was decked in a tight-fitting white shirt, jeans, boots, and a long black trench coat. On his shoulders, he had an insignia of Skyfire Academy.

"Hello, sir. Sorry, if my words disrespected you. My friend here already reached the Advanced ranker stage but you are saying just because he didn't have a spirit seal, he isn't allowed to participate in your entrance exam?" Hammer spoke.

While his words dumbfounded the students who were standing at the front. No one here dares to question the rules of the 'Number one' academy.

"Is he insane, does he want to get rejected by the academy that much?"

"Who cares, we just need to stay silent and watch."

"Haha, Good! I like your courage." The towering man praised Hammer without answering his question and looked at Gin.

"Are you really in the Physique Enrichment stage?" The towering man looked at Gin and asked.

"Yes," Gin politely replied.

"Come forward," The towering man took out a white crystal from his coat while Gin took few steps and arrived in front of the man.

"Place your hand on the crystal," The towering man said.

Gin did as he asked without any question. He didn't care whether he gets accepted or not, but he's afraid the academy would reject Hammer and Astro because of him.

Its the number one academy they are talking about. He doesn't want to be the reason that his friends missed such precious opportunity of life.

The crystal failed to show any reaction, disappointing the towering man. He could sense the boy before him reached the physique enrichment stage but it was no use.

"Boy, it may sound cruel but without a spirit seal, you can't surpass the 'Physique Enrichment' stage and reach the next step."

"You will understand my words in the future. You can leave now." The towering man said as he knows the situation of Physique cultivators well.