Chapter 72

It took ten hours.

Jiang Jian stood up and glanced at the black card on his identity device, feeling a pang of regret.

But.

It was worth it.

Jiang Jian stepped out of the cultivation chamber and looked up.

The door behind him closed, and blinding sunlight poured down.

The scent of grass, flowers, and trees filled his nose and mouth.

Hundreds of meters away, insects and birds sang among the green trees, ants crawled across the grass.

Dewdrops, crystal clear, hung at the edges of the blades, shattering into countless tiny beads.

Everything.

Seemed within reach.

Jiang Jian clearly felt his five senses had improved noticeably.

He lowered his gaze to his pale palm.

Thin strands of blood-red spiritual energy, transparent and invisible to others, curled around him.

These energies circled his fingers.

As if in perfect harmony with his mind, obedient as an extension of his limbs.

Now.

My Shenque spiritual essence.

Is at least 15%!

Jiang Jian boarded the aerial shuttle, still savoring his recent cultivation.

In ten hours, his Shenque spiritual essence rose by five percent!

If he said this aloud, no new student would believe him!

Most new students strain for a full week.

And still fail to gain even one percent.

Although cultivation in the Divine Gift realm becomes harder the further one progresses.

Above thirty percent, increasing spiritual essence becomes exceedingly difficult.

Yet from ten percent to fifteen percent, it took only one night.

Still astonishing enough.

The remaining ten hours cannot be used casually.

The aerial shuttle headed toward the indoor training ground; Jiang Jian had already decided.

The remaining ten hours should be spent on his cultivation bottlenecks and critical barriers.

After all, Linjiang Academy.

Still needs time before the position of Chief Student is confirmed.

During this time.

He has no access whatsoever to trial cards for the cultivation chambers.

Gu Qi certainly won’t give him a second one anytime soon.

After all.

Even this trial black card.

Was squeezed out of Gu Qi’s own cultivation resources, offered as a gesture of goodwill.

Such scarce resources are equally precious to senior students.

Nine o’clock sharp.

The first-year cultivation class.

Zhang Jian still leapt from the sky, landing heavily on the stone ground.

Fifty students stood in small groups.

Compared to a week ago.

Most had accumulated spiritual energy in their Shenque, their qi dense and stable.

Clearly, all had made some progress in cultivation.

“Last week, I said.”

Zhang Jian scanned the group, “First-year students won’t tolerate lazy, good-for-nothing wastes!”

His gaze swept over Jiang Jian and suddenly halted.

His expression showed unmistakable shock.

Even the words he was about to speak were swallowed back.

“Fifteen percent!?”

Zhang Jian’s mind raced, instantly recognizing Jiang Jian’s cultivation progress.

What surprised him even more.

Was that despite his rapid advancement, Jiang Jian’s foundation was exceptionally solid.

Spiritual energy brimmed full, his breath long and steady.

Not a trace of instability.

A few seconds later.

Many students looked puzzled, unaware of what had happened.

Zhang Jian cleared his throat, suppressing his shock, and continued with a stern face.

“Therefore.”

“This week’s cultivation class will include a small competition.”

“The competition follows an elimination format!”

“Fifty students, five per team, forming ten study squads.”

“The squad ranked last will have all five members expelled from the first year!”

Here, Zhang Jian’s gaze turned cold and stern again. “I’ll give you a few minutes to form your teams yourselves!”

As he finished speaking.

Most students showed no change in expression.

Only a few lazy students looked panicked, huddling together whispering.

Shi Xuan stepped beside Jiang Jian and whispered low: “What’s he up to now?”

Jiang Jian shook his head slightly, paying no mind, and continued his cultivation.

Shi Xuan opened his mouth to speak, then suddenly fell silent.

A short distance away.

Zhang Jian walked over, his expression noticeably gentler: “Jiang Jian, your cultivation progress is excellent.”

Seeing this, Shi Xuan and Liu Tiezhu exchanged glances, both looking bewildered, stepping aside.

Jiang Jian replied: “An upperclassman gave me a trial card for the cultivation chamber.”

Every use of a cultivation chamber is automatically recorded.

As the head instructor, Zhang Jian has broad authority.

If he wanted to check, he could easily find out everything.

Zhang Jian felt a touch of satisfaction and said: “Among this year’s new students, I don’t have high hopes for many.”

“You’re one of them.”

He casually summoned a particle-glass barrier to block sound.

“Jiang Jian, I have a favor to ask.”

Jiang Jian blinked, then said: “Teacher Zhang, if you need anything, just say it outright.”

Zhang Jian’s expression turned serious: “For centuries, Linjiang Academy has been the top Divine Gift university in the prefecture.”

Zhang Jian’s expression turned grave: “For hundreds of years, Linjiang Academy has been the first Divine Gift University in the entire prefecture.”

“The academy’s standing has weakened.”

“One month from now, the Two Prefectures Martial Debate.”

“Dozens of Divine Gift universities from both prefectures, one hundred thousand new students, will all participate.”

“I want you to sign up for the individual martial debate, and win a ranking for Linjiang Academy.”

“Restore our academy’s glory as the premier Divine Gift university in Linjiang Prefecture.”

“Restore the glory of Linjiang Prefecture’s first Divine Gift University.”

Jiang Jian looked up, past Zhang Jian, and said: “Teacher Zhang, I’ve already promised Liu Tiezhu and the others to compete as a study squad in the Two Prefectures Martial Debate.”

Zhang Jian sighed: “I know human energy is limited—I won’t force you.”

“After your squad debate, if you still have strength left, sign up for the individual debate and give it a try.”

Jiang Jian fell silent for a moment, then agreed: “I’ll do my best.”

Zhang Jian nodded: “I have over a dozen students I’m counting on. Within my authority, I’ll distribute resources to them. If you agree, I’ll include you.”

Zhang Jian nodded: “I have over a dozen students I’m counting on. Within Xu Kequan’s allotted resources, I’ll distribute some to you. If you accept, I’ll count you among them.”

“Good.”

Jiang Jian replied, “After the team martial arts contest, I’ll sign up for the individual martial arts contest.”

Zhang Jian’s eyes showed approval; he dismissed the particle screen and turned away.

“What did he say?”

Shi Xuan stepped forward, eyes filled with curiosity.

Jiang Jian said, “Teacher Zhang said I should sign up for the individual martial arts contest.”

Liu Tiezhu stood beside him, smiled, and said, “He also approached me.”

He clapped Jiang Jian on the shoulder. “The team martial arts contest is mainly for exchange.”

“All one hundred thousand new students from the two prefectures must participate.”

“But the individual martial arts contest is entirely voluntary.”

“I agreed.”

Jiang Jian nodded: “I agreed too.”

Liu Tiezhu looked at Zhang Jian’s back and said, “Teacher Zhang has deep feelings for the school.”

Shi Xuan sighed. “You’re going to compete in the individual martial arts contest so soon after the team one? Aren’t you tired?”

Liu Tiezhu’s eyes gleamed. “But the title for first place in the individual martial arts contest is more prestigious than the team one.”

He opened his identity device and held it up to Shi Xuan’s face.

The title for first place in the team martial arts contest is ‘Prefectural Academic Champion.’

The title for first place in the individual martial arts contest is ‘Liangjiang Chief.’

Depending on grade level, there are fifteen holders of the ‘Prefectural Academic Champion’ title.

But there are only three holders of the ‘Liangjiang Chief’ title!

Linjiang Prefecture and Hanjiang Prefecture—two major prefectures.

This year’s first-year intake numbers one hundred thousand.

Only by sweeping all one hundred thousand new students across both prefectures.

By overpowering your entire cohort alone, standing supreme above all others.

Can you earn the single, year-exclusive ‘Liangjiang Chief’ title.

This also means the one who earns the ‘Liangjiang Chief’ title.

Is the top prodigy among two hundred million people across both prefectures, dozens of Divine-Gifted Universities.

Among one hundred thousand new students—the number one prodigy!

“You won’t have cultivation classes anymore.”

Liu Tiezhu suddenly spoke. “This should be the last cultivation class.”

“From what I understand, by tradition, future cultivation classes will change format.”

“If you have questions, go ask your department’s lead instructor.”

“If you have no questions, train on your own.”

“Theory classes can be reviewed via playback.”

Hearing this,

Shi Xuan raised an eyebrow. “Then why did Zhang Jian bother with this elimination system?”

Liu Tiezhu spread his hands. “The cultivation class format has changed, but that doesn’t mean the elimination system is gone.”

“Still, these things—”

“Don’t really concern us.”

(End of Chapter)