Chapter 346: Base Opened! Evaluation Ratings!

"Hm?"

Not only Wang Hong from the Bear Martial Arts Gym was stunned, but even Qin Zheng himself was surprised.

Given Xu Jingming's previous attitude, he had prepared for a prolonged struggle.

Yet he never expected the other party to agree so readily.

Surprised yet delighted, Qin Zheng immediately led Xu Jingming over to the Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym's team and smiled:

"Let me introduce you—they're all students from the Talent Training Camp: Lin Hui, Xia Lan..."

Under Qin Zheng's introduction, Xu Jingming shook hands with every member of the Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym.

Among them was also Xia Lan, who possessed a space-type ability.

"Su Chen, I look forward to seeing you at the Talent Training Camp headquarters."

Xia Lan, dressed in a sleek silver-white combat suit with a beautiful face, wore a faint smile.

She lightly shook hands with Xu Jingming, then released him, her demeanor friendly.

In fact, not just her—Lin Hui and the others also treated him well.

After all, with the strength Xu Jingming had demonstrated, the entrance exam was merely a formality.

His entry into the Talent Training Camp was certain.

Given his demonstrated potential, he might even join the camp's top tier before long.

No one would be foolish enough to make an enemy of someone like him.

"This guy actually made it into Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym," said Lu Heng nearby, his tone tinged with bitterness.

It wasn't envy that Xu Jingming would enter the Talent Training Camp—it was jealousy that he got to touch Xia Lan's hand.

"I'll take your good wishes."

On the other side, after politely returning Xia Lan's smile, Xu Jingming stepped aside and waited quietly for the evaluation to end.

Time passed second by second.

Soon, the ancient-script countdown in the sky reached its final moment.

Remaining evaluation time: 0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds!

"The sixty-day evaluation has ended. Congratulations to all outstanding soldiers for completing the trial! The main base is now opening for you!"

The instant the countdown hit zero, a majestic voice suddenly rang out from the base ahead.

Whoosh—

The alloy gate, over ten meters high and more than twenty meters wide, slowly opened.

The ability users waiting outside surged forward and entered.

"The main base is open—let's go in!"

Under Qin Zheng's lead, Xu Jingming followed the Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym team into the main base.

"This is the main base of the ancient civilization's ruins? It certainly feels highly sci-fi."

"Indeed, I can spot traces of modern technology in many of the objects here."

The vast majority of ability users present were entering an ancient civilization ruin for the first time.

Upon entering, they all looked around curiously—even Xu Jingming was no exception.

Previously, he had imagined the civilization's ruins might be a thoroughly dilapidated place.

But now, it was the complete opposite.

The entire base hall showed no sign of decay; instead, it was remarkably clean.

Even the walls and ceiling glowed with bright lights, and neatly exposed black cables ran along them.

It felt as if one had stepped into the cockpit of a spaceship.

"Congratulations, soldiers who completed the trial! Step forward and claim your rewards!"

From the ceiling, virtual beams projected downward, converging at the front of the hall into a glowing sphere.

Simultaneously, ten circular pedestals, each about fifty centimeters in diameter and large enough to hold one person, suddenly rose from the ground.

"Group in tens: toss your evaluation crystals into the pedestals, then step onto them to claim your rewards."

A mechanical electronic voice echoed from the glowing sphere, translated by Yi Wa into Xu Jingming's ears.

"Finally, it's time to claim rewards!"

"Move! Get moving!"

"Haha, I hope I get a good reward!"

"..."

As soon as the words ended, ten people stepped forward from the crowd.

They tossed their evaluation crystals into the pedestals, then stepped onto them.

Immediately, pale blue virtual beams shot out from the pedestals.

Scanning their entire bodies, a series of mechanical prompts rang out:

"Soldier #1, submitted 124 evaluation crystals, talent: ordinary, comprehensive evaluation: ordinary, reward: one A-grade cultivation resource."

"Soldier #2, submitted 345 evaluation crystals, talent: ordinary, comprehensive evaluation: ordinary, reward: one A-grade combat technique."

"Soldier #3, submitted..."

"..."

Each of the ten who stepped forward received their own evaluation and reward.

Notably, every single person's evaluation was merely "ordinary."

"According to records, the evaluation tiers for Civilization Ruin #9 are: ordinary, rare, and extraordinary."

"You possess an SS-grade ability—you should get an 'extraordinary' evaluation soon."

Eva's voice sounded in Xu Jingming's ear.

At the same time, another crisp voice appeared directly in his mind:

"Master, you hold fifty thousand assessment crystals plus an SS-rank ability—you're certain to earn the 'Extraordinary' rating."

That was Sakuragi Rin's voice, ever since they signed the reverse contract.

Even within the spirit servant space, Sakuragi Rin could perceive the outside world through Xu Jingming and communicate via mental force.

"Extraordinary rating... that means at least one SS-rank resource," Xu Jingming thought silently.

Ordinary rating grants A-rank resources, Rare rating grants S-rank resources, and Extraordinary rating grants SS-rank resources.

This was a pattern summarized by past adepts who entered the No. 9 Civilization Ruins.

Of course, the Extraordinary rating is exceedingly rare—since the discovery of the No. 9 Civilization Ruins, it has appeared only a handful of times...

After the first group of adepts collected their rewards, the next group stepped forward.

Most of these adepts received only Ordinary ratings; Rare ratings were rare indeed.

Soon, nearly half the adepts had claimed their rewards.

Most adepts who received their rewards wore smiles.

Only the members of Tianyu Daochang remained solemn.

They kept glancing toward the outer perimeter of the main base, as if waiting for someone's arrival.

This unusual scene naturally drew whispers from other adepts.

"What's wrong with Tianyu Daochang? They seem off."

"You don't know? Their Holy Maiden—the one with the S-rank ability, Sakuragi Rin—went missing over ten days ago!"

"Missing? No wonder we haven't seen her at the main base."

"Tsk tsk, missing this long? She's probably dead. She was quite pretty too."

"......"

S-rank ability awakeners are exceedingly rare,

especially for a small nation like Sakura Country, where one emerges only once every decade or more!

If she grows strong later, she might even lead Sakura Country out of its current predicament.

This shows just how vital Sakuragi Rin is to Tianyu Daochang—and to Sakura Country itself.

Thus, when news of this S-rank adept's disappearance spread, many adepts were stunned,

yet dared only whisper, fearing bad luck.

"Such a pity—an S-rank ability awakener has met her end."

At Lei Ting Wu Guan, some also couldn't help sighing.

From a human perspective, the death of any S-rank ability awakener is an immense loss.

Yet Xu Jingming, listening to the surrounding whispers, wore a faintly odd expression.

Who could know that the Sakuragi Rin everyone was talking about was right beside him—and had already become his servant...