“`
The final ten-plus minutes.
Gu Zhen, who had planned to rest, felt a prickling in his heart as he saw Li Yuan’s score and ranking suddenly surge.
In his eyes, this wasn’t just about losing first place.
It was—1 million Blue Star Coins!!
“Damn it! Do you really have to play me like this?” Gu Zhen couldn’t help but curse.
Without hesitation.
He got up immediately, hoping to find other Star Realm Creatures, but at this stage of the Combat Assessment, where could he find any in such a short time?
The fact that Li Yuan could find one didn’t solely depend on luck.
The most important thing was his strong spiritual power combined with ‘Divine Palace Inquiry’, which allowed him to sense the Blood Winged Snake Clan hidden underground.
And forced it out.
Eventually, when the time reached noon, the participating students from the third and fourth bases received simultaneous reminders on their positioning wristbands.
“Combat Assessment over, points locked, base rankings locked.”
…
In the fourth base, inside the third-floor meeting room of the War Fortress.
“Haha, Old Qin, don’t be angry, please don’t be angry,” President Li said with a triumphant smile: “Li Yuan managing to take first place at the end was all luck! Pure luck!”
“Humph!”
The plump elder’s face didn’t look very good because Gu Zhen was a second-year student from his Martial Hall 8.
“I’m just curious,” the plump elder frowned and said: “That Blood Winged Snake Clan was clearly hiding in the cave, seemingly not making a single noise, and even covered the entrance with a huge rock. How did Li Yuan discover it?”
“It is quite strange.”
“Even when I was observing, at least through the monitors, it was completely unnoticeable,” many teachers expressed their doubts.
“You really have short memories,” President Li shook his head and said: “Have you all forgotten?”
“When he first enrolled.”
“Li Yuan challenged the Pillar of Spirit and directly reached the Fifth Layer. His spiritual power is strong enough to match that of a Prime Warrior,” President Li stated calmly: “With such strong spiritual power, is it strange that he could sense that Blood Winged Snake Clan?”
“Indeed, Li Yuan’s perception is much stronger than the other students.”
“Hm, that makes sense.” Many teachers nodded in agreement, indicating their understanding, and gradually dispersed.
“Sister, are you satisfied?” President Li said, smiling at the woman beside him.
“Don’t call me sister, call me Dean Xu,” Dean Xu frowned and said: “This time you’ve managed to pick up a good seedling. What do you plan to do next?”
“Is it to continue training him normally? Or?” Dean Xu inquired.
As deputy presidents, and being Top Grade Origin Martial Artists themselves, they had a much higher vision and understanding of the school’s internal affairs than the average teacher.
They all knew that the so-called S-grade special training contract was aimed at the most outstanding ‘ordinary students’.
It was a standardized contract.
It was used to train martial arts geniuses within the realm of normalcy.
However, there are always some geniuses in this world that defy convention, and they need to be handled with special measures to fully tap their potential.
“Sister, you know how it is, it’s not something we can decide,” President Li shook his head: “But I will report to Dean Hai and explain Li Yuan’s situation.”
“Whether to continue with the structured training or do something extra, that will be for Dean Hai to decide.”
“Furthermore.”
“The reason I asked you to come this time was actually with this in mind,” President Li said with a smile: “After all, to sign an SS-grade resource application, at least two deputy presidents need to agree.”
But in reality?
Li Yuan’s explosive performance was completely beyond President Li’s expectations, and his initial reason for inviting Dean Xu wasn’t for Li Yuan.
But, make the best of a bad situation.
“Yes.”
Dean Xu’s face showed a bit more satisfaction: “Old Li, this time you really put in some effort.”
If the SS-grade resource application regarding ‘Li Yuan’ could pass the review.
Then, President Li, as the ‘advising teacher’, would definitely be credited with the primary merit.
As one of the two deputy presidents who signed the form, ‘Dean Xu’ would also receive a certain guiding bonus.
“Of course, our sibling relationship is well known, isn’t it?” President Li laughed.
After a pause, President Li continued: “Sister, what do you think our chances are?”
“Hard to say.” Dean Xu shook her head, pondering for a moment: “Sixty percent, I guess.”
“Just right, it seems Dean Hai is still on campus. Draft the application now, I’ll co-sign it, let’s try to settle it today.”
“Okay.”
…
In the fourth base, on the plaza outside the War Fortress, several aircraft landed.
A large number of students who held on until the final moment stepped out of the aircraft.
The two-day Combat Assessment.
Many had their armor torn with holes, and several were covered in blood, some of their own, and some from the Alien Race.
“Phew!” Li Yuan also stepped off one of the aircraft and caught sight of a row of white stretchers laid out on the ground in the distance.
“Are there deaths again? The number seems not small.” Li Yuan felt a touch of sadness.
The joy of securing first place was somewhat diminished.
“Li Yuan.” A crisp voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
Li Yuan turned and saw a tall woman approaching with a smile on her face.
“Senior sister,” Li Yuan said with a smile.
“`
The visitor was none other than Sister Qiu Jing, who had already formed a decent relationship with Li Yuan through attending classes together multiple times.
This time, after going through a life and death experience in the combat assessment, their relationship had naturally grown much closer.
“Tsk, tsk, first place, huh!” Sister Qiu Jing’s voice didn’t stop as she shook her head and laughed, “Li Yuan, come on, tell me, were you just trying to mess with me?”
Li Yuan was taken aback.
“Did you, at that time, deliberately lure that group of Rock Desert Tribe warriors?” Sister Qiu Jing stared at Li Yuan.
Li Yuan scratched his head and found he couldn’t explain at the moment, so he could only offer a silly smile.
“I thought you were really in danger, and I foolishly charged in to save you,” Sister Qiu Jing shook her head and sighed, “Later on, I was quite proud, thinking I had saved you.”
“But seeing you later crazily racking up points, you must have barged into that Rock Desert Tribe enclave; with your strength, how could you care about the initial dozen or so Rock Desert Tribe warriors.” Qiu Jing made a pitiful expression, “Poor me working so hard to save you, and you didn’t tell me the truth, even deceiving me.”
“Sister, me?” Li Yuan was somewhat at a loss.
“Haha, just kidding,” Sister Qiu Jing suddenly laughed, “I won’t pry anymore, you definitely have your reasons. However, you have to treat me to a meal after we get back.”
“Okay, no problem,” Li Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief.
Some things, he could talk about with Teacher Li Yang, but couldn’t discuss them with Qiu Jing.
“What did you just see over there?” Qiu Jing suddenly pointed at the row of white stretchers in the distance.
Li Yuan nodded slightly, his smile involuntarily fading a bit.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“My best friend from university died in the last combat assessment,” Qiu Jing’s eyes dimmed.
Li Yuan’s heart stirred, and he looked at Qiu Jing.
“We have no choice; the combat assessment is already the least life-threatening form of tempering we experience,” Qiu Jing spoke softly, “If we can’t even survive the combat assessment… what will we do when we actually join the war?”
Li Yuan nodded involuntarily, indicating his agreement.
“Let’s continue to become stronger,” Sister Qiu Jing laughed again all of a sudden, “You’re just in your first year and already stronger than me; I’m dying of envy. With such talent, you’ll definitely become a very powerful Prime Warrior in the future.”
“Perhaps even a Flying Heaven Warrior.”
“By then, you’ll really be able to kill a large number of Star Realm Creatures that threaten our Human Race,” Qiu Jing said with a laugh.
…
As the two were chatting, suddenly.
“Qiu Jing, Li Yuan.” A deep voice rang out from not far away; a bald middle-aged man stood there.
“Teacher.”
“Teacher.” Both of them turned solemn at the same time.
“Good performance, Qiu Jing is sixth, Li Yuan is first,” Li Yang showed a faint smile, “Qiu Jing, wait here for the train to arrive.”
“Li Yuan, come with me for a moment,” Li Yang walked towards a house in the distance.
“Yes,” Li Yuan nodded and followed.
Qiu Jing winked at Li Yuan.
…
Following Li Yang to a three-story building next to the square, they entered a conference room on the first floor.
It was very quiet here, just Li Yuan and Li Yang.
Li Yang sat down in a chair without a word.
“Teacher,” Li Yuan displayed a trace of nervousness.
“You’ve improved your strength very quickly,” Li Yang finally looked up at Li Yuan, “What level is your Physical Quality now?”
“12.6,” Li Yuan mentioned a figure, it was no use hiding it anymore.
And it couldn’t be hidden.
“Did you use some Heavenly Materials Treasures, or Forbidden Medicine?” Li Yang got straight to the point.
“It’s not Forbidden Medicine; the teacher can check my body,” Li Yuan only answered half the question.
Whether it was Heavenly Materials Treasures or not, he didn’t answer.
“Did the Starfire Martial Hall give it to you?” Li Yang inquired, “Previously, no information was passed on to me, did you sign a non-disclosure agreement?”
Li Yuan stayed silent, his mind racing about how to respond.
“Alright,”
“The teacher understands,” Li Yang believed he had seen through Li Yuan’s thoughts, and said with a smile, “The ‘Fei Qian’ of Starfire Martial Hall definitely told you not to discuss it with anyone, else it might attract covetous eyes, right?”
Li Yuan revealed a bitter smile, apparently feeling somewhat helpless.
“Don’t worry.”
“A Heavenly Materials Treasure that enhances Physical Quality is all it is; we at Kunlun Martial University can protect you,” Li Yang said with a laugh, “As long as it’s not Forbidden Medicine that affects potential, it’s fine.”
“Everyone has secrets, especially geniuses. If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t press you.”
“I called you here to tell you that after you return today, Dean Hai wants to see you.”
——
(The following was added after the main text was published and will not be included in the word count charged for.)
ps: The third release of the day, still over ten thousand words with three updates; 24,000 monthly tickets for an additional update! First, let’s ask for monthly tickets!
Also, to mention a few things, one is that I had to go to the hospital for checks today, so the updates were slower, sorry. I initially thought that there wouldn’t be any interruptions in the updates, so I didn’t say anything in advance because, as everyone knows, when you’re sick, no one knows what time the checkup results will come out.
Next, regarding update times, I will try to stabilize update times in the future, but I don’t promise a specific time because it’s very easy to fall short of what’s promised.
I’m not used to keeping a backlog of written chapters. In nearly 10 years of writing, besides new releases and the launch where I force myself to save 5-10 chapters, I don’t keep a backlog at other times. It’s not that I can’t keep a backlog, but having one significantly affects my writing state and spontaneous inspiration.
I prefer to make slight adjustments based on daily reader feedback, so apologies for that.
Lastly, regarding updates, I will definitely try my best to keep updating. I consider myself to be relatively quick with updates, but there’s no need to rush me to be faster. I personally hope to find a balance between quality and the stability of my writing pace.
A big long novel, purely chasing after update speed, can easily collapse. If it collapses, it’s useless to write 100,000 words in a day.
Tomorrow, I will strive for 3-4 updates, depending on my condition.
Thank you all for your support!