Chapter 30: Results Announced! Jiangnan Province Top Scorer!

For the past several decades, the Jiangnan Province top scorer in the Wu Ke Gaokao has usually come from Ning'an City, the provincial capital.

Or from nearby wealthy cities close to Ning'an.

Of course, this is perfectly normal, given that the poor study literature while the rich cultivate martial arts.

Those capable of living 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-grade abilities and First-Class Upper-tier strength.

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

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

Who would believe this if they heard it?!

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

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

"Could the information have been collected incorrectly, assigned 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 misassigned to someone with the same name.

Yet the Metropolis Ability University's information-gathering capability should never make such a basic error of misidentifying a person.

"Eva's information is correct!"

As if feeling questioned, a particularly cute-looking spherical light was projected in full hologram 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 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 registered 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 light sphere vanished.

At the same time, 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-Class Upper-tier ferocious beasts and Second-Class ferocious beasts.

"Hmm, he uses a spear? That's rare."

Watching the tall figure bearing the long spear, one teacher's eyes lit up.

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

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 main purpose.

To confirm Xu Jingming's 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 the signature traits of an ability user.

"So Xu Jingming really is just an Awakened?!"

After repeated confirmation, 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 Doushen Shenlei, slaughtering numerous First-Class Upper-tier ferocious beasts, the teachers stared in shock.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! This cannot be an E-grade ability!"

"This power level is at least A-grade! How could it possibly be an E-grade weak electricity ability?!"

"How did those registering abilities mess this up?!"

"......"

Experienced admissions teachers immediately sensed something wrong with the power of Xu Jingming's ability; the head of admissions also narrowed his eyes and ordered:

"Eva, analyze the rank of Xu Jingming's ability."

Ability rank must be determined by specialized equipment.

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

"Xu Jingming's ability belongs to the Natural category, Lightning subcategory. Since air element data cannot be collected, 【52】 based solely on video analysis, there is a 4% probability his ability is B-grade, 【53】 a 10% probability it is A-grade, an 83% probability it is S-grade, a 1% probability it is SS-grade, and a 0% probability it is SSS-grade."

Judging solely from the video footage, Xu Jingming's ability has a 4% chance of being B-rank.

A 10% chance of being A-rank, an 83% chance of being S-rank, a 1% chance of being SS-rank, and a 0% chance of being SSS-rank.

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

"83% probability... for S-grade?"

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

An 83% probability means Xu Jingming's ability is almost certainly S-grade!

"S-grade?!!"

All teachers present suddenly breathed faster.

What does S-grade mean?

Once it grows, it becomes an absolute top-tier combat force!

And in today's Great Xia Nation, there hasn't been an S-rank psychic awakening in three or four years!

At this moment, the holographic projection showed Xu Jingming ending the life of the Level-Two Bloodthirsty Rampager with an utterly violent strike of his spear.

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

The director of admissions ahead let out a long breath, paused for a moment, then spoke with solemn gaze: "Xu Jingming is granted an S+ special admission slot—we must spare no effort to recruit him!"

"S+ special admission slot!"

"Hasn't this special admission tier been used in many years?"

"S+ special admission—looks like we'll have to offer something truly valuable."

"Director Zhang, I handled Jiangnan Province's special admissions last year; let me go this time too."

"Director, I want to go to Jiangnan for special admissions too!"

"......"

The S+ special admission slot, coupled with the near-certainty of an S-rank psychic ability, instantly made Xu Jingming a highly sought-after prize.

Many teachers were vying to be sent on this Jiangnan Province special recruitment mission.

But Director Zhang Zhaoyang ahead shook his head: "None of you need to go—I'll go myself."

"If the director goes himself, then it's settled."

Though other teachers felt disappointed, as a Level-Five mental psychic,

Director Zhang Zhaoyang, who had previously recruited many students with boundless potential into the Metropolis Psychic University, was indeed the most reliable choice for this mission.

"S-rank psychic ability... Xu Jingming, I hope you won't disappoint me..."

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

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

"Jingming, don't rush—the results will be out at the latest today."

"Principal, I know, I'm not in a hurry."

"Good, good, good—not rushing is fine; I just worry you young people get too anxious..."

"......"

Xu Jingming walked through the residential compound; after speaking for a long while, he finally managed to hang up the principal's call.

"Man, everyone tells me not to rush, yet they're all more anxious than anyone else."

Xu Jingming couldn't help but shake his head.

During these days waiting for the rankings to be announced, he had received calls not once but many times—from his homeroom teacher, the principal, even the Education Bureau director.

Their every word implied he shouldn't be anxious, that the rankings would be released soon.

Yet their tone didn't sound calm at all—they practically wanted the results published the day after the exam ended.

Of course,

Xu Jingming understood.

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

"But it's already the fifth day—shouldn't the results be out by now?"

Just as Xu Jingming muttered to himself, a soft "ding-dong" sounded—the text message alert.

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

"Jiangcheng No. 2 High School examinee Xu Jingming: Jiangnan Province Wu Ke Gaokao rankings have been released. Please check promptly."

Below the message was a website 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 scores and rankings of every examinee in the province appeared on his phone.

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

"Jiangnan Province Rank #1: Xu Jingming (Jiangcheng No. 2 High School), Total Score: points."

"Number one! Jiangnan Province top scorer!! I did it!"

At this moment, even the calm-natured Xu Jingming couldn't help but show a smile of joy, raising his fist in excitement.