Chapter 30: Results Announced! Provincial Top Scorer of Jiangnan Province!

For the past several decades, the provincial top scorer of Jiangnan Province has typically come from Ning’an City, the provincial capital.

Or from nearby wealthy cities.

Of course, this is perfectly normal—poverty favors literature, wealth favors martial arts.

Those able to live in these cities all have modest family wealth, and their descendants are exceptionally strong.

The final provincial top scorers, like the capital city of Qingjing, all possess A-rank abilities and First-Rank Upper-level strength.

But now, the Jiangnan Province top scorer has not emerged from any of the cities familiar to the faculty of the Metropolis Magical Ability University.

Nor is he even an ability user—he is merely an Awakened, and his ability is only E-rank, the second-lowest.

Who could possibly believe this?!

So when Xu Jingming’s information echoed through the ears of the faculty, their first reaction was disbelief.

“Can an Awakened become provincial top scorer? Could this be a mistake?”

“Could the information have been misattributed to someone with the same name?”

“Hmm, that’s possible.”

“......”

Every candidate’s score in the Wu Ke Gaokao has been professionally reviewed by the National Education Bureau.

No one doubts the authenticity of the scores—only whether the information was misattributed to someone with the same name.

Yet the Metropolis Magical Ability University’s information-gathering capability should never make such a basic error.

“Eva’s information is correct!”

As if sensing doubt, a particularly cute-looking spherical light was projected in hologram form into the room, its surface even displaying a human-like expression of indignation.

It was Eva, the artificial intelligence responsible for managing all information collection at the Metropolis Magical Ability University.

“Eva is a top-tier AI and cannot make such a basic mistake. Xu Jingming’s information may have been flawed from the moment it was entered into the database.”

The slightly overweight middle-aged man waved his hand. “Once we watch his Wu Ke Gaokao video, everything will be clear. Eva, open Xu Jingming’s exam footage.”

“Understood, Director.”

With the director’s reassurance, the angry expression on Eva’s holographic sphere vanished.

Simultaneously, Xu Jingming’s figure was projected above the center of the round table.

The footage began with him entering the core zone, facing numerous First-Rank Upper-level ferocious beasts and Second-Rank ferocious beasts.

“Hmm, he uses a spear? That’s rare.”

Watching his tall, spear-carrying silhouette, one teacher’s eyes lit up.

Among the previous dozen or so provincial top scorers, nearly all used long swords or greatswords.

A spear weapon had never appeared before.

“A spear is even harder to master than a sword or blade.”

Another teacher nodded slightly.

Although Xu Jingming’s weapon drew the teachers’ attention, they did not forget their primary goal:

Confirming his ability and rank.

His ability had not yet been activated, so its type could not be determined—but his rank was easy to verify.

There is a fundamental difference between ability users and Awakened: their aura.

In the footage, Xu Jingming’s aura was sharp, yet none of the admissions teachers detected any trait characteristic of an ability user.

“So Xu Jingming really is just an Awakened?!”

After repeated verification, all teachers present were stunned.

What does it mean for an Awakened to be provincial top scorer?

This has never happened in the past several decades!

Then, the holographic battle began.

When Xu Jingming unleashed Purple Thunder Divine Lightning, slaughtering numerous First-Rank Upper-level ferocious beasts, the teachers stared in shock.

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! This cannot be an E-rank ability!”

“This power level is at least A-rank! How could it possibly be a weak E-rank electric ability?!”

“How did those registering abilities mess this up?!”

“......”

Experienced admissions teachers immediately sensed something off about the power of Xu Jingming’s ability; the director of admissions in front also narrowed his eyes and ordered:

“Eva, analyze the rank of Xu Jingming’s ability.”

Ability rank must be determined by professional equipment.

But with a high-level AI, an approximate analysis is possible.

“Xu Jingming’s ability belongs to the Natural category, Electric subcategory. Since air-element data cannot be collected,

Based solely on video analysis, there is a 4% probability his ability is B-rank,

10% probability A-rank, 83% probability S-rank, 1% probability SS-rank, 0% probability SSS-rank.”

The AI Eva quickly delivered its analysis. The director of admissions’ pupils contracted sharply upon hearing the result:

“83% probability... for S-rank?”

As a high-level AI, Eva’s judgment is nearly infallible.

An 83% probability means Xu Jingming’s ability is almost certainly S-rank!

“S-rank?!!”

All teachers present suddenly breathed faster.

What does S-rank mean?

Once developed, it becomes absolute top-tier combat power!

And Great Xia has not seen an S-rank Awakened in three or four years!

At this moment, the holographic projection showed Xu Jingming violently ending the life of the Second-Rank Bloodthirsty Rampage Bear with a single spear thrust.

“Suspected S-rank ability, combined with this formidable combat skill—Xu Jingming’s provincial top scorer title is fully deserved!”

The director of admissions exhaled deeply, paused, then said solemnly: “Xu Jingming is assigned an S+ special recruitment slot. We must recruit him at all costs.”

“S+ special recruitment slot!”

“Hasn’t this recruitment tier been used in years?”

“S+ special recruitment—looks like we’ll have to offer something impressive.”

“Director Zhang, I handled Jiangnan’s special recruitment last year. Let me go this time.”

“Director, I want to go to Jiangnan too!”

“......”

The S+ special recruitment slot, combined with the near-certainty of an S-rank ability, instantly made Xu Jingming a highly sought-after candidate.

Many teachers vied to be sent on the Jiangnan special recruitment mission.

But Director Zhang Zhaoyang in front shook his head: “None of you will go—I will go myself.”

“If the director goes personally, then it’s settled.”

Though other teachers were disappointed, as a Fifth-Rank Mental ability user

who had previously recruited many students with immense potential into the Metropolis Magical Ability University, Director Zhang Zhaoyang was undoubtedly the most reliable choice.

“S-rank ability... Xu Jingming, I hope you don’t disappoint me...”

Gazing at the tall figure on the hologram, Director Zhang Zhaoyang murmured softly.

June 12th, the fifth day after the Wu Ke Gaokao ended.

“Jingming, don’t rush—the results will be announced at the latest today.”

“Principal, I know, I’m not anxious.”

“Good, good, not rushing is fine—I just worry you young people get too agitated...”

“......”

Xu Jingming walked through the neighborhood, and after much talk, finally ended the principal’s call.

“Man, everyone tells me not to rush, yet they’re all more anxious than I am.”

Xu Jingming shook his head.

During these days waiting for the rankings, he had received calls not just from his homeroom teacher and principal, but even from the Director of Education.

Their every word implied he shouldn’t be anxious—the rankings would come soon.

Yet their tone was anything but calm; they practically wanted the results announced the day after the exam ended.

Of course,

Xu Jingming understood.

After all, Jiangcheng City desperately needed a chance to prove itself.

“But it’s already the fifth day—shouldn’t the results be out by now?”

As Xu Jingming muttered to himself, a soft “ding” sounded—the SMS alert.

He pulled out his phone, unlocked the screen, and checked the message:

“Jiangcheng No.2 High School candidate Xu Jingming, Jiangnan Province Wu Ke Gaokao rankings have been released. Please check promptly.”

Below the message was a URL link.

“The Gaokao rankings are out!”

Xu Jingming’s eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he clicked the link.

Instantly, a document densely filled with the ranking scores of all examinees in the province appeared on his phone.

Xu Jingming directly looked at the first line of the document:

『Jiangnan Province Rank One: Xu Jingming (No. 2 High School of Jiangcheng), Total Score: points.』

“Rank One! Jiangnan Province’s Top Scholar!! I did it!”

At that moment, even the calm-natured Xu Jingming couldn’t help but show a smile, excitedly punching the air.