When faced with questions Fang Ming didn't understand, it satisfied Lin Feng's desire to share and explain, so he began to talk endlessly about the academy's various rules, what would incur demerits, and what wouldn't.
Fang Ming subtly steered the conversation, quickly leading it to the topic of the currently assigned class.
When this topic came up, Lin Feng's expression turned considerably somber. "The academy has six grade levels, which are divided by age. You automatically advance to the next grade once you reach the required age."
"The minimum age for admission is twelve. Those between twelve and fifteen are in the first grade, and sixteen to eighteen are in the second grade."
"This means you advance one grade every three years. If you reach thirty, you can graduate automatically."
Upon hearing this, Fang Ming made a guess, saying, "Is it divided by age, not by cultivation?"
Lin Feng said bitterly, "The grades are divided by age, but the classes are divided by cultivation and strength."
"There are inferior classes, intermediate classes, and elite classes. These are the divisions that represent strength and cultivation."
"Each grade has inferior, intermediate, and elite classes. Students in inferior classes, even if they advance to the third or fourth grade, might have cultivation and strength inferior to students in the first-grade elite class."
"The class we are in is the first-grade inferior class."
Translated, this means that the twenty-five or twenty-six-year-olds in the fifth or sixth-grade inferior classes might not even be able to defeat a thirteen or fourteen-year-old child in the first-grade elite class...
Fang Ming mentally translated Lin Feng's words for himself.
When such a situation occurs, it is indeed quite embarrassing, and Fang Ming understood the reason for Lin Feng's bitter expression. All four people in their dormitory were in inferior classes, so Lin Feng's dissatisfaction with his class was understandable.
"Inferior class..."
Fang Ming wasn't surprised by his assigned class. Since being at the fifth stage of Qi Yuan was considered low-tier, bottom-tier in the academy, coupled with his cultural test scores, being placed in the first-grade inferior class was very normal.
Since there were so many divisions within the classes, there would obviously be a gap in cultivation resources.
If there wasn't, Lin Feng wouldn't have had such an expression.
Fang Ming, still feigning curiosity, asked, "Brother Lin Feng, what is the difference between the inferior, intermediate, and elite classes?"
Lin Feng shook his head. "Ah, the differences are huge."
"Whether it's the training ground usage time, the quality of the dormitory environment, the courses studied, or even the food served, there are differences."
"The gap between the inferior and intermediate classes is already quite significant, let alone the existence of elite classes."
"In short, we are inferior in every aspect... If you're in an inferior class in the first grade, you'll be in an inferior class in the second grade too. Who knows when this period of just aging without increasing strength and cultivation will end."
Lin Feng was also a noble son from a small town and had been at Purple Cloud Academy for two years.
Although those admitted to Purple Cloud Academy were at least of noble status, nobles also had their ranks. Nobles from small places were not much in Purple Cloud Academy.
Lin Feng's talent, while considered good in ordinary cities, was unremarkable in the capital's Purple Cloud Academy. He was inferior to others in every aspect and had remained in the inferior class with no hope of advancement.
As he spoke of his sorrows, Lin Feng poured out his complaints to Fang Ming as he spoke.
From the extremely limited usage time of the extraordinary ability training grounds, only one hour, and being frequently occupied by others.
Then there was the issue of the cafeteria food, which he explained clearly.
Fang Ming listened slowly and began to understand.
Although the academy seemed to encourage healthy competition among students by creating disparities in treatment across various aspects, ensuring that students in inferior classes received far less favorable treatment than others.
But in the end, it wasn't that bad. For example, the food, even for students in inferior classes, was still at the level of noble disciples' meals.
Fang Ming thought of the beggars in Jiamu City and couldn't help but ponder how vast the gap between people truly was.
Perhaps he could conduct an experiment, sending some ordinary people from this divine realm to the various fictional worlds of the Void Sea?
This thought crossed his mind, but Fang Ming only had the thought, not any intention of implementing it.
On the surface, Fang Ming asked Lin Feng, "Just aging without increasing strength and cultivation? Are there no upward mobility channels between the inferior, intermediate, and elite classes?"
Lin Feng shook his head. "There are upward mobility channels, but it's difficult! Difficult! Difficult!"
"I am currently at the seventh stage of Qi Yuan. If I want to advance from the inferior class to the intermediate class, I need to cultivate to at least the tenth stage of Qi Yuan."
"With my aptitude, it would take at least two to three years to advance from the seventh to the tenth stage of Qi Yuan."
"It sounds like after just two or three years, I can advance to the intermediate class, and then with more time spent cultivating, I can advance to the elite class. It sounds quite good, right?"
"But reaching the tenth stage of Qi Yuan is only the standard for the first-grade intermediate class."
"The standards for higher grades are even more demanding."
"I am currently fourteen years old. Next year, when I turn fifteen, I will automatically advance to the second grade. By the time I truly reach the tenth stage of Qi Yuan, the threshold for the second-grade intermediate class will have risen to the fifteenth stage of Qi Yuan."
"Every three years, you automatically advance one grade."
"The entry requirements for intermediate and elite classes in higher grades are also higher."
"This way, I'm afraid I'll be stuck in the inferior class until I graduate from Purple Cloud Academy."
After hearing this, Fang Ming also gained some understanding of Purple Cloud Academy's advancement system.
It was essentially a system where the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker.
Upon enrollment, classes were divided based on strength and cultivation. Those with better talent enjoyed the cultivation resources of the elite classes and could cultivate more effectively.
Those in inferior classes could only enjoy the cultivation resources of inferior classes, and coupled with their inherently weaker talent, the gap in acquired ability widened considerably compared to students in elite classes, becoming increasingly larger.
The weak get weaker, and the strong get stronger. Although the weak also had a chance to advance to elite classes under this system, the probability was relatively low.
And the later the grade, the lower the probability would obviously become. If it were the first or second grade, there might still be some hope of advancement.
Fang Ming was not in a hurry. His main goal now was to first improve his literacy and address his lack of knowledge in extraordinary subjects.
Then he would consider improving his strength.
Whether he advanced in the first or second grade made little difference to him.
Whether it was this year, next year, or the year after, Fang Ming felt he could wait.