Volume One, Chapter Eighty-Four: Evaluation

November 2nd, clear skies.

Perhaps it was the aftermath of the lunar tides that caused the outburst of spiritual energy among the children of various regions—this year’s early winter was unusually warm. Most of the boys and girls on the athletic field were still wearing short sleeves as they warmed up.

Cheng Shanhai, the principal of Tianshui High School, followed behind a gray-robed elder as they walked onto the stands, gazing together at the gathered students below.

On the vast field, students from Tianshui High School were divided into three grades, each grade organized by class, and began the testing of their ability levels.

“How are this year’s seedlings?” The elder leaned on the railing, scanning the energetic youngsters below through his reading glasses.

“Every batch of students is the best,” Cheng Shanhai replied, standing respectfully behind the elder, his hands clasped behind his back.

“You, always so rigid in temperament. Though every child holds infinite possibilities, in the end, they must choose but one path,” the elder glanced back at Cheng Shanhai’s impassive face and spoke gently.

“That’s why we ought to give them more choices, not sort them into ranks by so-called rules,” Cheng Shanhai answered, unwavering.

“Shanhai, I know you’re dissatisfied with this year’s selection criteria. But the places coveted by the Ability University are limited, and the requirement for the Body Receiving Stage comes from them—we must accept it.” The gray-robed elder patted Cheng Shanhai’s shoulder in comfort.

The ability colleges in Anjie City were not like the scattered settlements; they prized steady progress in students’ cultivation. Tianshui High School’s teaching philosophy was “a shaky foundation shakes the mountains,” which meant that, across all three grades, the number of students at the Body Receiving Stage was pitifully small.

“If the rules are already set, why involve all the students in the evaluation? Why not gather just the elites at the Body Receiving Stage and select from them directly?” Cheng Shanhai finally lost patience, his words tinged with irritation.

“This grand evaluation isn’t only about the winter camp roster. The results will be sent not just to Ability University, but also reported upward.” The elder suddenly leaned close to Cheng Shanhai’s ear and lowered his voice.

“The situation is changing. That full-moon-level cosmic tide wasn’t chaos’s end, but the beginning of something new. You know, after countless lunar projections collapsed, the outpouring of pure energy was enormous.”

“Those above now value the cultivation of this new generation immensely. The winter camp is merely the first step in Ability University’s expansion.”

Hearing this, Cheng Shanhai’s eyes flashed with a spark of insight. As principal, he naturally hoped that each of his students could fully realize their potential and find the path most suited to them.

---

“And I hear there’s movement on that mountain again,” the elder remarked, glancing meaningfully southeast.

“Is Penglai about to open anew?” Cheng Shanhai asked in surprise.

“I said nothing,” the elder chuckled, patting Cheng Shanhai’s broad shoulder again. “Rest assured, if that place truly opens again, fate will not be bound by any stage or rank.”

Cheng Shanhai fell silent, his resolute expression betraying deep thoughts.

...

“Ability Level: Late Spirit Movement Stage.” The examiner watched the awakened sensing stone glow in Ji Keqing’s hand, speaking as he entered the data into the computer.

“Not bad, you’re catching up to me in silence,” said Wu Fan, who had just tested into the Body Receiving Stage, surprised at Ji Keqing’s rapid progress.

“This is nothing; Ziwen’s progress is truly astonishing,” Ji Keqing smacked his lips, losing interest in boasting to Wu Fan.

“Has the class leader broken through to Body Receiving...” Wu Fan was interrupted as Su Ziwen’s ability evaluation was announced from inside.

“Su Ziwen, Ability Level: Mid Body Receiving Stage.”

Ji Keqing shrugged; already aware of this, she had composed herself and did not lose her cool like Wu Fan.

“Damn...” Not only was Wu Fan stunned, but the surrounding classmates were equally taken aback. Though everyone had grown somewhat since the Autumn Hunt, most hovered around the Inspiration Stage. Wu Fan’s leap to the Body Receiving Stage was rare enough.

The usually quiet class leader, Su Ziwen—how had she become so formidable over a single holiday?

The examiner was also surprised. Among Tianshui High School students, the highest cultivation belonged to a third-year who had just reached the mid Body Receiving Stage. Judging by the glow of Su Ziwen’s sensing stone, she had been at this stage for a while now.

After politely thanking the examiner, Su Ziwen left the room and found Ji Keqing poking around a stone statue.

---

“Come on, there’s still the practical test ahead,” Su Ziwen called, raising her hand. The two girls took each other’s hands and headed to the combat site.

Wu Fan, resilient as ever, finally shook off his petrified state, picked up his jaw, and put it back in place.

A class leader as wise and valiant as hers—whatever happened to her was never strange, Wu Fan consoled himself.

“Don’t stand there gaping; there’s another test soon!” The chubby guy turned back and saw a few stone statues still rooted in place. He hurried over and called Ding Dai and Long Xiaofei to join him for the next exam.

Outside the combat area, Class 20 of Grade 11 had surrounded Su Ziwen in layers, all clamoring to know how she spent her holiday—did she sneak off for some devilish training?

Su Ziwen, reserved by nature, was overwhelmed by her classmates’ fiery enthusiasm. She looked for Ji Keqing for help but could not spot the golden twin-tails anywhere.

Ji Keqing, twirling her hair, squatted beside Wu Fan. Both wore expressions of melancholy.

One had been left far behind by her best friend’s cultivation, the other had been outmatched in his strongest domain. Two defeated souls exchanged glances and soon reached a consensus.

“Secret training.”

Once Su Ziwen no longer had to tutor that burdensome Mo De, her cultivation soared—so much so that Ji Keqing and Wu Fan felt a looming sense of crisis, fearing they’d be left behind.

They vowed to embark on secret training together, urging each other in their ability practice, determined not to let Su Ziwen pull too far ahead.

Meanwhile, at the boarding gate in Zhuoyi City’s air terminal, Mo De suddenly sneezed, sensing someone was speaking ill of him somewhere in the unseen threads of fate.