"Chu Bai."
Dean Su walked up to Chu Bai and clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder, his voice filled with unconcealed admiration. "To be able to rally your forces so quickly in a situation of certain death, to convince your companions to entrust their Dharma Artifacts to you, and even to hold the rear alone at the very end... In the twenty years I’ve overseen the Daoist School’s assessments, you are the very first to show such a sense of responsibility."
As Dean Su’s words of praise faded, countless gazes from below the stage fell upon Chu Bai in unison.
The students who had been eliminated earlier had already seen everything that happened in the canyon through the light screens.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
A hearty laugh rang out as Zhou Changkong, the Instructor for Class Three, strode onto the stage.
The flush on his face was even brighter than Dean Su’s Daoist Robe. He stood with his chest puffed out, his eyes filled with undisguised pride as he looked at Chu Bai.
"Dean, you’re too kind. Chu Bai has always been a steady child."
Zhou Changkong cupped his hands in a salute to Dean Su before turning to Chu Bai and saying repeatedly, "Good lad, you didn’t bring shame to Class Three! You didn’t bring shame to Anping County!"
Dean Su teased, "Younger Brother Zhou, you’ve truly found an incredible seedling. With a disposition so decisive in battle yet still righteous and benevolent, if he has the potential to reach Foundation Establishment in the future, I am willing to personally be his guide."
As soon as he said this, the Instructors from the surrounding classes shot him looks of frantic jealousy.
To have a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator personally promise to guide him was tantamount to guaranteeing Chu Bai a smooth path in his future cultivation.
Chu Bai returned the salute, his expression still calm. But the composure forged in blood and fire had already made him the undisputed leader among this year’s new students.
The sun began to set, casting a heavy golden glow over the Martial Arts Arena.
Dean Su once again took the high stage. A faint surge of Magical Power from his hand ensured that his every word carried clearly across the entire arena.
"The results of the Great Zhou Anping Daoist School’s semi-annual freshman assessment are now officially posted!"
With a grand wave of his sleeve, a massive golden scroll unfurled in mid-air.
[First Place: Class Three, Chu Bai. Total Points: 6,830.]
[Second Place: Class Nine, Jin Changyu. Total Points: 3,120.]
[Third Place: Class Two, Dong Feng. Total Points: 2,850.]
[Fourth Place: Class Three, Lin Xuewei. Total Points: 2,740.]
...
When Chu Bai’s name appeared at the very top of the list, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. No one questioned it, and no one was dissatisfied. After that near-realistic bloody battle, everyone understood just how much weight that name carried.
"And now, for the rewards!"
Dean Su’s voice grew louder. "For this assessment, the top twenty will each receive one Entry-level Cultivation Technique or Magic Technique, which you may select yourselves from the Scripture Pavilion. The top ten will earn the right to enter the Spirit Pavilion for secluded cultivation!"
The moment he said the words "Spirit Pavilion," the breathing of the students below the stage grew heavy.
That was a crucial place where the Daoist School stored a millennium’s worth of Spiritual Qi. Ordinary students could rarely afford to cultivate inside.
"Jin Changyu is awarded two hundred double-hours of cultivation time in the Spirit Pavilion! The other students in the top five are each awarded one hundred double-hours!"
Saving the last one, Dean Su paused intentionally. His gaze fell upon Chu Bai as his voice boomed in all directions:
"For the champion, Chu Bai, an award of two hundred Daoist Merits! And your choice of any one Entry-level Cultivation Technique!"
"Furthermore, Chu Bai is specially granted three hundred double-hours of cultivation in the Spirit Pavilion! During this time, he may freely use any of the Spiritual Qi Attributes within!"
The entire arena fell dead silent for a moment, followed by an earth-shattering wave of gasps.
"Three hundred double-hours? That’s enough to support several months of cultivation!"
"Two hundred Daoist Merits... Heavens, with his current fortune, he probably has enough to support his cultivation until graduation."
"It is the first-place prize, after all. I’m so envious."
Chu Bai stood below the stage, listening to the roaring discussions. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the Identity Jade Scroll in his robes.
Two hundred Daoist Merits.
Combined with the savings he had accumulated from his previous monitoring missions, his total assets had once again increased significantly.
This huge sum, coupled with the three hundred double-hours of cultivation in the Spirit Pavilion’s Blessed Land, was the perfect springboard for him to break through to the next level.
"Thank you, Dean. Thank you, Instructors." Chu Bai bowed deeply toward the high stage.
With that, the semi-annual assessment officially concluded, and the rankings were set.
’Three hundred double-hours...’
Chu Bai closed his eyes and began to simulate his future cultivation path within the Spirit Pavilion’s Blessed Land in his Sea of Consciousness.
At the edge of the crowd, several Instructors in charge of healing were busy distributing Calming Pills to students who had suffered severe mental trauma.
But Zhou Changkong, the Instructor for Class Three, did not move.
He stood at the edge of the arena with his hands behind his back, his gaze cutting through the chaotic crowd to land precisely on Chu Bai.
Watching the figure who seemed so out of place in the crowd, a rare trace of gratification appeared on Zhou Changkong’s usually stern face. He then beckoned him over.
"Chu Bai, come with me."
Chu Bai was slightly taken aback, but quickly composed himself. He walked through the crowd to Zhou Changkong and saluted with cupped hands. "Master Zhou."
"How are you feeling?" Zhou Changkong asked, his tone laced with concern as he looked Chu Bai up and down.
"Thank you for your concern, Master Zhou." Chu Bai circulated the Guiyuan Technique within his body, feeling the constant stream of life force being converted by his Nourishing and Exquisite Fate Chart. He spoke softly, "Aside from a little fatigue, I’m fine. My injuries have already healed."
A flash of surprise flickered in Zhou Changkong’s eyes.
’The damage to his meridians was one thing; with Dean Su’s treatment, that shouldn’t have been a major issue. But to show no signs of mental fatigue after so many consecutive life-or-death battles... that was truly remarkable.’
But he didn’t press the matter, simply nodding. "Come, take a walk with me."
The two of them, one walking in front of the other, left the clamorous Martial Arts Arena and strolled slowly along a tree-lined stone path on the mountain behind the Daoist School.