Chapter 71: A Newfound Respect

"Human Race's imperial examination benefits all living beings," Zhou Yi's voice sounded gentle and clear, yet reverberated through the entire Vast Wilderness World like thunder in the ears.

The voice seemed to transcend time and space, spreading to every corner and shocking all beings that heard it. At this moment, he was not speaking to any particular individual, but communicating with the entire Vast Wilderness World.

Though spoken softly, the words made the great powers of the Vast Wilderness World and even those occupying Saint positions feel an undeniable force; they all opened their long‑closed eyes and turned their gazes toward the direction of the Human Race.

Inside Yuxu Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun, who had been quietly cultivating, felt the force and furrowed his brows.

He has always been indifferent toward the Human Race, but because of Tongtian Jiaozhu's recent actions, a hint of resentment toward the Human Race arose in his heart.

Now, seeing the Human Race create such astonishing commotion, his first reaction was to intervene, lest the Human Race use this chance to rise and threaten the Chan Sect's position.

Just as he was about to act, Taishang suddenly appeared and gently raised a hand to stop him.

"No need to be impatient; the Human Race is growing stronger," Taishang said expressionlessly.

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Taishang, his mind full of questions: why would Taishang support the rise of the Human Race? After all, Taishang had been stripped of the celestial mandate connection with the Human Race by Hongjun.

However, before he could even ask, he was surprised to discover that a subtle connection seemed to have been reestablished between Taishang and the Human Race.

"Brother, what's going on?" Yuanshi Tianzun couldn't help but ask.

Taishang merely shook his head slightly, offering no further explanation.

Although on the surface it seemed that the Ren Sect's link with Taishang had been severed, he still has a disciple remaining among mortals, and that link has never truly been broken. Moreover, Taishang knows that this Human Race imperial examination is far more significant than it appears.

"Let him go; this time it benefits us, no need to block him."

Taishang's words made Yuanshi Tianzun even more perplexed, even suspecting that Taishang might have a secret plan with his master Hongjun, which is why he is aiding the Human Race in restoring the mandate.

That thought germinated in his mind, leading him to consider whether he should seek out his master to investigate.

Unlike Yuanshi Tianzun and Taishang, the two saints of the Western Sect, upon witnessing all this, showed shock on their faces.

"What are they doing? That's the aura of merit, displayed completely without reservation!" Zhunti exclaimed.

The aura of merit that illuminated half the sky, to him it was a priceless treasure. How wonderful it would be if this merit could fall into the hands of the Western Sect.

Jieyin was likewise so shocked by the scene that he could not find words.

He stammered, "No... it's not just that, there is also the aura of another Great Dao there."

"I always feel that thing is not simple."

"Perhaps it is yet another great opportunity."

His gaze showed yearning, and inside he regretted not having sent a disciple of the Western Sect to the Human Race earlier, missing such a perfect chance.

"What a pity, why didn't we let our compatriots visit the Human Race?" Jieyin thought, "Otherwise, the two of us could have gone and taken a portion!"

Zhunti grew increasingly annoyed as he thought about it.

Just as the two saints of the Western Sect were filled with regret and shock, Zhou Yi's next move made their jaws drop.

Zhou Yi slowly raised both hands, and a mysterious force surged from his palms, igniting the aura of merit that illuminated half the sky.

In an instant, golden flames blazed fiercely, lighting up the entire sky.

"What is he doing?" Zhunti's face was full of terror, his voice changed in tone, "This is simply too insane."

"Indeed so!" Jieyin shouted along.

Such a bold act is unheard of even in the eyes of a Saint.

Zhou Yi used merit as fuel, igniting golden divine fire to temper the Tongtian Path beneath his feet and the lofty righteous qi spreading across the other half of the sky.

This behavior evoked both awe and fear.

Fang Yun and Yu Hao, under the influence of this overwhelming energy, felt as if their bodies were being torn apart, unbearable.

They dared not stay aloft any longer, hurriedly casting a spell to return to the ground, arriving beside Sui Huang.

"Ancestor, what's happening?" Sui Huang asked anxiously.

Fang Yun and Yu Hao exchanged a glance and sighed helplessly.

At this moment, everything Zhou Yi was doing had surpassed their comprehension. All they could do was wait and observe.

"Let's continue the task over there; once the examinees finish answering, we will grade them ourselves and announce the results as soon as possible," Fang Yun said.

Sui Huang nodded silently. Because of the exam hall's barrier, Zhou Yi's affairs did not affect the examinees taking the test.

Inside the exam hall, all examinees were fully focused on answering.

For them, this test paper was not merely an exam but a chance to change destiny and realize ideals, representing future and hope.

As time passed, after three hours, a examinee finally finished his paper and was the first to leave the hall.

Yu Hao and Fang Yun immediately stepped forward, took the paper, and began grading it carefully.

Soon, the results were posted, quickly updated on the massive leaderboard outside the hall, each examinee's score and ranking clear at a glance.

"Someone's out, and the score is outstanding!" a person who had been watching the leaderboard shouted excitedly.

That shout instantly shattered the silence outside the exam hall.

The previously quiet crowd immediately boiled, everyone flocked together, eager to see who the outstanding examinee was.

"Qualified, Good, Excellent, Outstanding—these are the four evaluation standards," someone said. "I didn't expect the first to emerge to be the Excellent rank; truly a case of making others look at you anew."

"Thus, with this Excellent appraisal, the future official career is bound to be bright," the crowd murmured. "Whose child is this? Whose pride is it?"

Just as the crowd cheered for the outstanding examinee, a mysterious cultural aura slowly rose from that test paper, drifting toward the sky.

This was only the beginning; as time passed, more examinees submitted their papers, and streams of cultural aura flowed from the hall, gathering in the air.

Zhou Yi gazed at the increasingly dense cultural aura in the sky, chuckling, "All the world's literary qi returns to me." Standing on the Tongtian Path, golden flames swirled around him.

He continuously merged those merit flames into himself; each fusion elevated his power a notch, causing subtle changes in his body.

With each step, a radiant ladder of light appeared beneath his feet; taking another step, a staircase shining with the brilliance of justice emerged.

Thus, Zhou Yi kept ascending without pause, his power growing ever stronger, rising from the middle saint stage to the pinnacle.