Chapter 9
At the moment of everyone’s astonishment, Director Chen quickly calculated the score in his mind. After hearing about the conflict between the Liu family and Li Yunxian, he had specifically inquired about Li Yunxian’s academic performance.
Currently, her spiritual power was 132 points, B- grade talent was 110 points, dual spiritual roots accounted for 150 points, and academic score was estimated at 120 points, totaling 512 points.
This was not far off from the Four Great’s standards.
If they added Li Yunxian’s feat of slashing a Hunter at Qi Refinement Stage Five with a single blade, and considering that a Golden Core cultivator named Duan Qiu had expressed interest in recruiting exceptional talents, it was entirely possible to arrange for her to enter the Four Great directly.
Director Chen felt tempted, but catching a glimpse of Liu Wu’s sullen expression from the corner of his eye, he thought it over and remained silent.
After all, whether this could be arranged was uncertain, and he was only a Foundation Establishment Master at the peak of completion. At the Four Great, where the graduation standard was Foundation Establishment, he had little influence.
Li Yunxian paid no mind and, upon receiving her results, proceeded to the next testing station.
This one tested talent.
The examiner simply took a drop of blood from Li Yunxian’s fingertip and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, fed it into the testing device.
The machine beeped rhythmically as the colors on the display gradually shifted.
White, green, blue... eventually surpassing the red that represented B-level, a bright orange hue emerged, growing more vivid.
Several people gasped sharply.
If the color went any higher, it would be the legendary S-level talent!
Two beeps sounded, signaling the test’s completion.
Everyone stared intently at the examiner.
The examiner was stunned by the results, glanced up at Li Yunxian, then down at the screen, and finally announced the score with an obviously still unsettled tone.
“Talent: A+. Score 320 points.”
The scoring difference between talent grades was significant: B-level ranged from 100 to 169 points, A-level from 170 to 349 points.
A score of 320 meant Li Yunxian’s talent was very close to the S-level range.
Director Chen stood up immediately, his expression betraying his excitement.
According to the scores he knew, even without considering Li Yunxian’s academic results, her pure quality score had already reached an astonishing 602.
The Four Great’s threshold was only 550.
If academic points were added, and the final score reached 700, then...
The Qing Teng Selection...
Jincheng would not only have a student qualified for the Four Great but also one eligible for the Qing Teng Selection!
Director Chen suddenly lowered his head, his gaze full of warning as he looked at Liu Wu.
Liu Wu’s thermos was crushed in his grip, his face darkening ominously.
In his heart, there was only one thought: absolutely prevent Li Yunxian’s score from becoming reality.
Liu Wu knew all too well what a student with a 700-point academic test meant for Jincheng.
If he had known earlier...
Had he known Li Yunxian could achieve such a score, he would have dealt with her before she entered the examination hall, no matter what!
Why hadn’t she listened to the First High School teachers and transferred to another city?
Liu Wu’s hatred surged.
He was well aware of the First High School teachers’ intentions.
At the time, Liu Chen thought the plans of those ordinary teachers were utterly ridiculous.
He had arranged people to lie in wait on Li Yunxian’s path out of Jincheng, ready to cause an accident as soon as she left the city.
Even if everyone knew it was him, it didn’t matter—no one would have proof.
Liu Wu believed any normal person would choose to heed the teachers’ advice and leave.
So when he heard Li Yunxian had rejected the teachers’ proposal and was living an ordinary, uneventful life, Liu Wu thought it was just a diversion.
Before, he didn’t care either way.
For Liu Wu, whether it was true or false made no difference.
If Li Yunxian left Jincheng, she was as good as dead; if she stayed, life would be worse than death.
But Liu Wu never expected Li Yunxian to have a chance at 700 points!
...Though this wasn’t entirely bad. Liu Wu calmed himself quickly.
Given the current situation, it only confirmed the rationality of what he was about to do next.
Liu Wu looked up directly at Director Chen, eyes without a trace of retreat.
His nephew Liu Chen also had A- grade talent!
Originally, the Liu family could have had two Foundation Establishment cultivators in one generation!
If not for this meddlesome Li Yunxian!!
The two powerful figures on the examiner’s panel exchanged glances, but Li Yunxian paid no attention as she approached the last testing station.
This was for bone structure.
It was a scanning chamber.
After the two unexpectedly impressive results, everyone was keenly watching, wondering if another miracle would occur.
Unfortunately, there was none.
It was still the dual spiritual roots of metal and wood and ordinary bones.
Only the examiner vaguely saw the words "ordinary bones" on the display flicker a few times as if trying to change to something else, but ultimately it remained.
“Bone structure: dual spiritual roots of metal and wood, ordinary bones. Score 150 points,” the examiner announced.
With the three tests completed, Li Yunxian handed the results to the waiting examiner.
The examiner found the results almost too hot to hold.
After taking a deep breath, he proceeded with protocol, reading out the results to the panel.
“Li Yunxian, 18 years old, female. Spiritual power 132 points, talent... total quality score 602, meeting the assessment standard. Please confirm if there are any objections.”
Those on the panel fell silent for a few seconds before the first examiner slowly spoke.
“No objections.”
“No objections.”
...
One voice after another, it soon came to Liu Wu.
He stared at Li Yunxian grimly and without hesitation voiced the words he had long prepared.
“I object!”
“I believe Li Yunxian is colluding with alien tribes and is a member of the Hunter faction.”
“Given her family background, it’s impossible for her to have reached such cultivation in such a short time without external help; she must have received gifts from alien tribes.”
“The claim that she went from entering Qi Refinement to slashing a Qi Refinement Stage Five is a joke.”
“She must have been aided by the Hunters to achieve such notoriety.”
“The original plan was probably to use this opportunity to make a name for herself at the testing center.”
“Unfortunately, the results at the testing center were not ideal, so she received another gift recently to regain her shocking progress.”
“I request the immediate suspension of Li Yunxian’s examination and a thorough review of her abnormal cultivation growth!”
Liu Wu’s words fell like a boulder into a pond, stirring fierce ripples.
Everyone knew about the Liu family’s conflict with Li Yunxian and had been informed about how detestable Liu Chen was; it was clear Liu Wu was targeting Li Yunxian.
But...
Liu Wu’s words were damn convincing.
Everyone knew how difficult cultivation in Jincheng was.
Whether or not Li Yunxian had reached the entry stage of Qi Refinement was one thing—entry stage was no problem.
But it was highly unreasonable to suddenly jump from 2 points of spiritual power at entry level to having all 28 acupoints unblocked at Qi Refinement Stage One.
Everyone’s doubtful gazes naturally fell on Li Yunxian.
Before Li Yunxian could speak, her classmates who had come to support her sensed the shift in atmosphere and spoke up first.
“If you think so, then just think so!”
“Just spouting nonsense, making up stories—who can’t do that!”
“Exactly, show us some proof!”
“Those who make accusations must present evidence!”
“I even say you’re jealous that my sister scored 600 points!”
The classmates didn’t understand many things about cultivators, but the atmosphere told them Li Yunxian had probably achieved an extraordinary score.
They didn’t understand why others doubted her, but it didn’t matter.
They had firsthand contact with Li Yunxian.
She had taught them how to counter special class moves, chatted and laughed with them, and provided remedies.
They felt sincerely and kindly treated.
They trusted their own experience.
How could someone like Li Yunxian be a villain?
Ordinary people far outnumber cultivators, so when these people protested, their voices drowned out the rest.
Amid this overwhelming support, Liu Wu slammed the table in anger.
“Proof? Li Yunxian refused the Golden Core instructor from Tiantong—that’s proof!”
“She’s afraid to stay under a Golden Core cultivator too long, worried she’ll be exposed!”
“Everything else is just an excuse.”
“She only wants to infiltrate the Four Great and hunt down talented souls.”
“The Hunters know Jincheng desperately needs a student who can enter the Four Great. The appearance of such a talent would surely excite them to send her off, selectively ignoring the risks here!”
Saying this, Liu Wu looked up at Director Chen.
His last words were a threat, forcing Director Chen to join him.
Director Chen hesitated.
Before he could speak, Li Yunxian let out a light laugh.
Her laughter was laced with disdain and deep amusement at the speaker.
Everyone’s eyes focused back on Li Yunxian, expecting her to refute Liu Wu’s accusations.
But she did not speak.
She drew her small sword, flipped her wrist, and the slender blade instantly lengthened, tracing a silver arc in the air with casual grace.
The sword’s energy, sharp as a blade, brushed Liu Wu’s cheek before anyone realized, severing two strands of hair.
Bang—
The two-meter-high iron display board behind Liu Wu was sliced in half and crashed to the ground.
Instantly, the hall fell silent.
“Help from the Hunters? I don’t need it,” Li Yunxian said calmly, unaffected by Liu Wu’s provocations.
“My sword is the best evidence.”
“If you think killing a Qi Refinement Stage Five requires Hunter assistance, then find another Stage Five and let me kill it again.”
“Or...” Li Yunxian looked at Liu Wu, “I can even try killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
Originally hushed by Li Yunxian’s sudden sword strike, the scene grew even quieter.
The wind whispered silently.
Everyone secretly watched Liu Wu’s face flush with rage.