Chapter 148: Most Potential Award

"Ladies and gentlemen, the exciting moment of the award ceremony has arrived!"

The host's robust voice echoed through the air, leaving Situ Zhennan looking thoroughly anxious, as if his heart were being scratched by a hundred claws.

It was already eight o'clock in the evening. The competition's efficiency was extremely high, and the results were indeed released the very same night. However, what neither of them expected was that attending the "Award Night" ceremony required purchasing a new ticket. The price—three hundred points, and admission was strictly limited.

Good grief, three hundred points!

Just to watch an award ceremony!

Shi Tiexin looked at Situ Zhennan once more, but this time, Situ Zhennan was not offering to treat him. The two of them scurried over to the outside of the venue where the award ceremony gala was being held, waiting right by the entrance and listening to the faint echoes filtering out from within.

"If you win an award in a moment, we're charging straight in!" Situ Zhennan whispered to Shi Tiexin. "No matter how arrogant the security guards are, they wouldn't dare block a prize winner from claiming their award, right? You rush onto the stage, find the judges, and shake their hands. Remember to keep your back straight, smile brightly, and hold it. Once I rush in and seize the opportunity to take your picture—whether we can wipe out the financial hole you dug depends entirely on this photograph!"

Shi Tiexin glanced at the brawny, powerful security guard and realized, to his surprise, that this guard was actually a colleague of Xiong An.

Should he perhaps try putting in a good word when the time comes?

Never mind. Violating the regulations meant a deduction from their salary—which meant they would most likely have to force their way through after all.

He swept a glance over the security guard's epaulets. Hmm, they looked quite intimidating, but it didn't seem like the guard possessed any profound cultivation. It should be fine.

"Alright."

Shi Tiexin nodded, just as he heard that the leaders' opening speeches inside had come to an end.

"Next, we invite the judge of this competition, the Libationer of the Scholars' Association, Lord Wang!"

Clatter, clatter, clatter—applause erupted like thunder.

Shi Tiexin raised an eyebrow. The Libationer of the Scholars' Association? Could this be the same person who had been sitting right behind the back of my head alongside the Academician of the Dragon Diagram during the Provincial Examination?

"So it was Senior Lord Wang of the Scholars' Association serving as a judge. No wonder the scale of this event was made so grand," Situ Zhennan said with a thoughtful expression. "Shen Jianye really went all out this time..."

Shi Tiexin glanced at him and asked with curiosity, "You speak as if you're very familiar with the Scholars' Association Libationer. Do you actually know him, or are you just putting on airs as usual?"

Situ Zhennan glared. "Putting on airs? I—don't interrupt, listen carefully! The nonsense is over, it's time for the awards!"

The host's voice drifted out from the grand hall: "We will now announce the list of winners for the third prize. They are—"

"Hit! Hit! Hit!" Situ Zhennan's eyes were bloodshot like a gambler's. "Just winning a third prize will do!"

The host's voice was crystal clear: "Old Man Zhang from the park, Old Man Wang from the park, Old Man Li from the park, Old Man Zhao from the park, Old Man Liu from the park..."

What the hell! Could you be a little less casual? At least give us their actual names!

What on earth are this whole string of park old men?!

"Oh, oh, slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, my apologies. Because we're all too familiar with each other on a daily basis, I accidentally let my usual nicknames slip out." The host immediately corrected himself: "The first winner is Mr. Zhang Pingsheng, Vice President of the Uptown Central Hospital. The second winner is Mr. Wang Hongyuan, Chairman and General Manager of Nantong Corporation. The third—"

What the hell again!

Were these park old men who sounded so casual just a moment ago actually such high-profile figures once their identities were revealed?!

The third prizes were announced shortly after, and Shi Tiexin's name was nowhere to be found.

Shi Tiexin had already closed his eyes.

"Hehe, after not mentioning their titles for so long, suddenly making them public all at once gives off this low-class vibe of collective public showing-off. It's making me break out in a sweat." The host seemed to hold a fairly high status, casually making jokes, and the venue was filled with cheerful spirits as well. "Alright, let's now announce the list of second-prize winners."

Situ Zhennan clenched his fists, his face flushed red. "Hit! Hit! Hit!"

Shi Tiexin, however, no longer harbored any expectations. Knowing his own skill level, winning a third prize would already be reaching the ceiling; a second prize was simply out of the question.

Sure enough, the host quickly finished the announcements, and still, there was no sign of Shi Tiexin's name.

"Don't panic, don't panic. We can't give up yet. Isn't there still the first prize left? That just means we're getting the first prize!" Situ Zhennan was practically losing his mind.

"The exciting moment has arrived! Next, we announce the names of the first-prize winners!"

"Hit! Hit!! Hit!!!" Situ Zhennan was practically screaming at the top of his lungs. "Just hit the prize for me!!!"

"The contestant who has won the first prize in brush calligraphy for the 'Wenhua Cup—Century of Mist Tumu Fortress Calligraphy Competition' is—" The host dragged out the vowel for an eternity, drawing out his breath endlessly before finally making the official announcement: "The number one orthodox institution of Tumu, Principal Peng Hu of Peng Hu School!"

Clatter, clatter, applause rang out. Brilliant golden light could be seen shining across the upper space of the venue—that was the glory belonging to the first place, and it also symbolized that the fairness of this competition had been recognized by the rules of the Heavenly Dao.

"Phew..."

Shi Tiexin let out a long breath, calming his racing heartbeat. Even though he knew full well that it was impossible for him to win an award, he couldn't help but pray and fantasize just moments ago—what if his luck really exploded and he actually won first place?

Yet, as expected, a fantasy was just a fantasy. In this world of universal cultivation, crouching tigers and hidden dragons abounded. Look at those winners; which of them wasn't a prominent figure with deep family roots? They had resources, time, and cultivation, leaving no room for a lone orphan fighting tooth and nail as a security guard just to earn money and pay off debts to stand out.

He looked over at his side. Situ Zhennan had completely wilted.

After wilting for a brief moment, he suddenly sprang back to life, swooped over, grabbed Shi Tiexin by the collar, and shook him desperately. "Empty-handed! We came away completely empty-handed! You little brat, you didn't win a single prize back for me, and yet you went and stirred up such a huge mess outside! You, you—stop being whatever security guard you are, and honestly go back to prepare for the minor provincial examination!"

Shi Tiexin said in surprise, "Didn't you used to be against me taking the exam?"

"Circumstances change! How was I supposed to know you could pass the qualification test? —Don't interrupt!" Situ Zhennan continued shaking him. "Listen here, if you can't pass the minor provincial examination, kid, your life is over! Do you understand, over! From now on, He Chong will use a hundred different ways to make sure you can't survive, understand?!"

Just as Situ Zhennan was ranting, Shi Tiexin suddenly grabbed his shoulder. "Wait a minute, listen. There's still something happening inside."

"Huh?"

Situ Zhennan cocked his ear to listen. Indeed, there was still some activity going on within the award ceremony, and this time it was a voice he had never heard before.

"Everyone, as a judge for this calligraphy competition, I am delighted to have witnessed so many outstanding works of calligraphy. I am even more honored to have witnessed the spiritually inspiring atmosphere of Tumu Fortress, and to have witnessed the boundless vitality and infinite potential of our young contestants."

"Compared to the older generation when competing on the same stage, these young contestants still have many deficiencies in their abilities, but their potential is truly worth anticipating. Moreover, their proactive, upward-striving, and hard-working willpower is all the more admirable."

"Therefore, I personally propose to the competition's organizing committee to add a special 'Most Potential' award."

"After careful evaluation, the winner of this 'Most Potential Award' is the contestant from the Muyuan District Orphanage—Shi Tiexin."