Volume One, Chapter 19: Giving It One’s All, Leaving No Regrets

“Your performance is commendable. Your final grade is an A. Would you like to retake the test?”

Niu Dali stared in disbelief at the examiner before him. “I... did I hear that right? My grade is an A?”

“Wonderful... wonderful... I can continue studying at the academy.”

“No way, this score can get me into the elite class!”

“Damn! Was this guy just pretending to be weak all along? His acting was flawless—we were all fooled.”

“What a scoundrel, a typical scoundrel. If I ever trust him again, I’d be a fool.”

With this result, Ji Ba, who had just been acting like the big brother, began to question everything. The homeroom teacher, Zhang Kai, was also momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Niu Dali to earn an A rating on his first attempt, but this was an excellent omen, and it filled him with joy.

All scores would be comprehensively evaluated, then compared repeatedly across the twenty classes before final class rankings were decided. The biggest rival at present was Zhou Zhen from Class 5; hopefully, the gap wouldn’t grow too large.

“Would you like to proceed to the next assessment?” the examiner asked.

Niu Dali hurriedly shook his head. “I can only control seven Gu markings on the insect right now. That’s enough for me.”

“Very well. We will finalize your class placement based on the scores from all your other instructors.”

“Thank you, teacher.” Niu Dali nodded firmly, then happily returned to his class, eager to share his joy with his roommates.

Yet he found, to his confusion, that his usually close roommates were keeping their distance from him.

“Next candidate, Hou Longtao.” The examiner promptly called out the next name.

The “little monkey” was taken aback; he hadn’t expected to be up so soon.

“Focus your mind, hold your breath, and calm your spirit,” Chen Tianming encouraged him.

“Don’t worry, Tian-ge,” he replied, steadying himself before stepping forward.

“Don’t bother coaching others with those weak skills of yours,” Yang Debiao’s sharp bark sounded at just the right moment.

Chen Tianming began to wonder if he’d forgotten to bathe yesterday, as Yang Debiao kept shadowing him relentlessly.

The little monkey glanced at the homeroom teacher, then at Miss Feiyue standing nearby.

“Do your best. The teacher believes in you,” the Sword Gu Master Feiyue offered encouragement.

Hou Longtao nodded, took a deep breath, and approached the testing Gu jar.

He placed both hands gently on either side of the jar, closed his eyes tightly, and began to settle his mind into the testing state.

The Gu jar emitted a mottled glow, flickering in time with Hou Longtao’s breathing.

His expression revealed his nervousness; the test Gu struggled to fully capture the energy he emitted.

But as time passed, the little monkey gradually entered a deeper state.

At last, the test Gu’s glow stabilized. The sand-colored jar began to radiate intense light, its brightness surpassing even that of Niu Dali’s.

In an instant, the audience erupted in cheers.

“A!”

“S!”

“S!”

The three examiners each gave different ratings.

“Your final grade is an S. Would you like to retake the test?”

“What the hell? An S???” The little monkey’s score stunned everyone.

“No way, this guy looks so ordinary usually, but he actually scored this high in the test?”

“Appearances can be deceiving; our class really is full of hidden talents!”

“Just now, Niu Dali got an A, now Hou Longtao scores an S. The pressure’s on Li Chengying next. I wonder what the usual top student will achieve?”

“Ahhh! So fierce! If I could get an S, I’d have my dad buy me the latest Mi7 phone, no question.”

“What use is a Mi7? My dad said if I get an S, he’d take me to see the legendary Seed Dragon!”

“Your dad? That’s my dad!”

“I want to see it too! Can you take me along?”

“Count me in.”

Zhang Kai and Feiyue both cast approving and affirming glances at Hou Longtao.

They had always believed in him, so such a result was not entirely surprising.

“Student, we will proceed to...” the examiner began to speak.

“Teacher, I want to take the next test,” Hou Longtao interrupted.

“Are you sure?” The examiner was visibly surprised.

“Absolutely.” Hou Longtao’s eyes shone with determination.

Zhang Kai and Feiyue couldn’t hide their smiles; they had long known that Hou Longtao could unleash Gu techniques.

The examination consisted of two parts.

The first was the Gu jar test.

Most students who passed this could continue their studies at the Gu Master Academy.

The second tested the ability to release Gu techniques. If a candidate successfully demonstrated this during the annual assessment, their final score would be further boosted.

Higher scores meant greater access to the academy’s resources and intense cultivation.

The most coveted prize was the Extreme Origin Core Gu.

Generous resources accelerated the Gu refining process, prompting all students to give their all, leaving no regrets.

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