The next day arrived, and Wen Qi slept until after ten before slowly waking up. Remembering how he had stayed up late watching shows with Meilihua and the others last night, when he had originally planned to sleep early, he muttered to himself:
"It must be all Meilihua and the others' fault—they led me astray."
After finishing a late breakfast-lunch combo, it was already past eleven, and only then did Wen Qi recall that the exam results were to be announced at twelve.
He debated whether to check online or go to the honor board outside the association's gate. After a moment's thought, he figured he was sure to pass anyway, and since he'd need to go to the association to pick up his certificate, he might as well take a walk over to see the honor board there, especially since he'd just eaten.
With that in mind, Wen Qi got up and set off, ready to face the upcoming exam results.
At this time, the area outside the Breeders' Association was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder. Though it wasn't yet twelve o'clock when the results would be announced, the scene was already buzzing with excitement. Numerous examinees and their families had gathered early, the crowd thick and noisy, with voices rising and falling.
Many who knew they wouldn't pass hadn't come, and some preferred to check online, but the crowd was still larger than yesterday's, since plenty of onlookers were there, all eager to witness the birth of a new batch of breeders firsthand.
Amid the crowd, discussions were lively.
"How many do you think will pass this time for the junior breeder exam?" a middle-aged man asked curiously.
"I reckon even one-fifth would be good. This breeder exam isn't easy—it's not something you just breeze through," an elderly man beside him shook his head and said.
"I think that kid from the Li family has a shot. I've heard he's shown extraordinary talent since childhood, and his family has gone all out to train him. Though he's only twenty this year, he should pass the junior exam," someone pointed in a direction within the crowd.
"Hmph, what's so great about the Li family kid? I think that young man from the Wang family is more impressive. He studied under a famous senior breeder and got the real deal—passing this time should be no problem," another person retorted, unconvinced.
"Don't forget about that one from the Zhao family. He was praised by Vice President Li of the association before, so this exam should be a piece of cake for him," someone else chimed in.
"Right, right, right—that Zhao family member is really something. I saw him on Breeder Street before, and his aura was totally different from ordinary people," people nearby nodded in agreement.
"But I heard this exam's proctoring was stricter than before—those trying to cheat had no chance."
"That's a good thing. It needs to be strict to ensure we pick real talent."
"Where do you think these examinees will go afterward? Work on their own or join big breeding institutions?"
"That depends on their choice, but I think those from big families might go back to help out."
Since junior examinees had the most parents and friends, their discussions were the liveliest, though there were also talks about the intermediate and senior exams.
"I heard the intermediate exam questions were especially tough this time. I wonder if those examinees can handle it," a man with a slightly anxious expression said.
"Yeah, the intermediate exam isn't like the junior one. It requires solid theory and very skilled practical work. I've heard some junior breeders with a bit of a reputation in the industry took it—I wonder how they did," someone nearby agreed.
"Isn't Lin Yu from the Lin family taking the intermediate exam? He performed pretty well in some small competitions before—should have a chance to pass this time, right?" someone asked curiously.
"Hard to say. The intermediate exam has a lot of variables. Past results alone aren't enough—it depends on how they perform on the spot," another person shook their head.
"The senior exam is where the real competition is. I've heard it's all industry elites taking it," a well-dressed woman interjected.
"That's right. The senior exam is a clash of masters—only those with real skill can participate. I heard that senior intermediate breeder Zhang Hua is taking it too. He's experienced and strong."
"But the senior exam isn't just tough on theory; the requirements for making energy cubes are even higher. The difficulty is unimaginable."
"I wonder how many will pass the senior exam this time and become industry leaders."
"Who cares? We're just here for the spectacle, to see the latest trends in the field."
Among the noisy crowd, aside from the confident examinees, the happiest were the shop owners on Breeder Street nearby.
"Another batch of new breeders is coming—we've got to find a way to pull them into our shop and boost our strength," one shop owner said excitedly to his assistant.
"Boss, you're right. We need to prepare in advance and offer favorable terms to attract them," the assistant quickly nodded.
"Haha, as long as we can snag a few with potential, our shop's business will be set for the future," the owner's eyes were full of anticipation.
Another shop owner was also discussing with someone nearby: "This time, we've got to get ahead of the other shops and recruit those outstanding examinees."
"Boss, should we give our signature products a good promotional push?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Go get it ready."
Outside the entire Breeders' Association, the place was abuzz with noise. Everyone carried different feelings and expectations, waiting for the exam results to be announced.
By the time Wen Qi arrived, the clock was nearly pointing to twelve.
Though Wen Qi was somewhat well-known among the examinees, everyone was now fixated on the association's gate, hoping for the results. Those examinees who recognized him had no mind to look around, so naturally, they didn't notice his arrival.
Wen Qi was quite satisfied with this lack of attention. After all, he wasn't the type who craved being the center of attention or being scrutinized. Being mocked every time he showed up wasn't pleasant—even if he didn't care much, hearing it too often could still get annoying.
However, the crowd was so dense at the moment that Wen Qi couldn't squeeze through, so he had no choice but to check from a distance.
Just as everyone was anxiously waiting, the association's gate slowly opened. A group of people came out holding a list and walked toward the red wall outside the association.
This move instantly drew everyone's attention. They all knew in their hearts that this was the announcement of the results.
Suddenly, the atmosphere grew tense, and the crowd's emotions stirred. Their eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the group holding the list, as if at that moment, time had stopped, and the only thing left in the world was the exam results about to be revealed.
Wen Qi hadn't been concerned at first, but the tense atmosphere made him a bit nervous too. After all, sometimes even if you're confident, as long as you don't know the final outcome, surprises can happen.
So, at that moment, Wen Qi held his breath, his gaze also locked on the spot where the list was being posted.