Chapter 114: The Minor Exam Is Coming

As soon as Master Liu finished class, he was immediately surrounded by a group of young students.

“Master Liu, we have questions,” said Su Wuji, one of the first students to rush up to the podium and block Master Liu.

Master Liu looked at them with amusement.

“Fine, I won’t leave—ask away.”

“Master Liu, I’m currently at Body Refining fourth layer. Before leaving the Beast Blood Purification Pool, an instructor recorded our new Body Refining level. So am I one of those twenty-seven students who broke through to Qi Refining third layer—or equivalent to it?” Su Wuji asked anxiously.

“Yes, that’s correct. Your first-year cohort performed exceptionally well in the Beast Blood Purification Pool—ten students broke through to Body Refining third layer or higher all at once.”

Remember, you only had twenty students total.

Just a few days after returning, several others who were previously at Qi Refining second layer broke through to third layer.

Especially in the Martial Class—though they cultivate Martial Dao methods, which are notoriously hard to break through, the rewards from their outstanding performance in the Beast Blood Purification Pool allowed them to rapidly reach Qi Refining third layer.

A few more likely heard rumors of the upcoming minor exam and rushed to break through to Qi Refining third layer.

Combined, you total twenty-seven students.

Only you and Yang Guan are on the list in our class.”

“Master Liu, Yang Guan and I only broke through thanks to the Beast Blood Purification Pool,” Su Wuji frowned. “But what about those who didn’t enter the pool? Won’t they be at a disadvantage in the cultivation test in three days?”

“There’s never absolute fairness in this world. Fairness is relative. Those who didn’t enter the Beast Blood Purification Pool either lacked the required bloodline or the necessary talent. They missed this opportunity.”

Since they had no opportunity, it’s no surprise they’ll suffer a slight disadvantage in the cultivation test.

It’s just a minor exam.

They’ll catch up eventually.

If they truly can’t catch up, then what’s the point of worrying?”

Master Liu’s tone was indifferent—implying plainly that the clan school had already given you the chance.

But if you can’t take it, whose fault is that?

“Besides, the cultivation test doesn’t just measure your highest level—it also assesses what auxiliary arts you’ve cultivated and how far you’ve advanced in them.”

For every Qi Refining layer you’ve reached, you gain fifty points.

Qi Refining first layer: fifty points.

Qi Refining second layer: one hundred points.

Qi Refining third layer: one hundred fifty points.

If you’ve also cultivated Body Refining and reached Body Refining first layer, you gain another fifty points.

Of course, I’m assuming you’ve taken up Body Refining as an auxiliary art.

If you’ve cultivated Spirit Refining, each layer adds one hundred points, because Spirit Refining is difficult to learn and even harder to enter.”

Many students don’t reach Spirit Refining first layer until fourth year.

So Spirit Refining bonuses are doubled.

For example, Su Jin—she’s cultivated Spirit Refining and already broke through to first layer. That means she gains an extra one hundred points on top of her base score.”

The surrounding first-year students were stunned to learn Su Jin had cultivated Spirit Refining—and broken through to first layer.

All of them turned their heads toward Su Jin, still seated at her desk!

Su Jin was puzzled—why had Master Liu suddenly revealed her Spirit Refining cultivation and breakthrough?

But as all her classmates stared at her, she calmly said: “I broke through to Spirit Refining second layer a few days ago.”

She didn’t mention her breakthrough to Spirit Refining third layer last night—she planned to hold back for now.

Su Wuji immediately felt a toothache.

He himself had Spirit Refining first layer (one hundred points), Body Refining fourth layer (two hundred points), and Qi Refining second layer (one hundred points)—roughly four hundred points total.

But Su Jin had Spirit Refining second layer (two hundred points), Qi Refining second layer (one hundred points), and Body Refining first layer—totaling roughly three hundred fifty points, dangerously close to him.

She’s really catching up.

He felt the pressure again.

Master Liu glanced at Su Jin, growing even fonder of her.

She revealed Su Jin’s Spirit Refining level for three reasons: first, the cultivation test was imminent, and Su Jin’s Spirit Refining level couldn’t be hidden anyway.

Second, exposing Su Jin’s cultivation would pressure the entire class into a final three-day sprint before the exam.

Maybe even yield a pleasant surprise.

Third, Su Jin was always emotionally stable and exceptionally disciplined in cultivation—such a student wouldn’t crack under pressure or perform poorly on exam day.

Fourth, Su Jin was the first student in the entire grade to break through to Spirit Refining first layer, and Master Liu couldn’t resist a little pride.

Yang Guan, standing nearby, felt even more conflicted.

He’d used a family-provided treasure just to match Su Wuji’s talent and break through to Body Refining third layer in the Beast Blood Purification Pool.

But before he could even celebrate, Su Jin broke through to Spirit Refining second layer.

Others didn’t know, but he knew Su Jin cultivated all three arts—meaning she’d also cultivated Body Refining, at least to first layer. He’d drunk Heartwood Blueberry Dew—he knew how powerful it was for breakthroughs!

If she revealed Qi Refining second layer, Spirit Refining second layer, and Body Refining first layer, her total would be three hundred fifty points—almost equal to Su Wuji’s, and far higher than his.

He himself had Qi Refining second layer and Body Refining third layer—only two hundred fifty points total.

And because he’d focused so much on Body Refining lately, he’d ignored his cousin’s progress. With so much time to cultivate, his cousin had surely broken through to Qi Refining second layer—and possibly taken up auxiliary arts too. Another threat.

And with this score, he’d likely lose his place in the top thirty of the grade.

What should he do now?

He finally understood why his father hadn’t been happy when he returned home boasting about breaking through to Body Refining third layer—his father had warned him: “The Su clan school is full of hidden dragons and tigers. Breaking through to Body Refining third layer doesn’t even guarantee you’ll rank in the top fifty.”

This mix of tension and helplessness was truly bitter-sweet.

“Su Jin, I roughly calculated your score—you’ll get at least three hundred fifty points on the cultivation test,” said Su Cheng, squeezing through the crowd as Master Liu was once again bombarded with questions.

“How much will you get?” Su Jin asked.

“Qi Refining second layer, Body Refining second layer, Spirit Refining first layer—I’ll max out at three hundred points. I don’t know if that, plus my general knowledge score, will get me into the top thirty of the grade,” Su Cheng said.

Su Jin was shocked. “When did you reach Body Refining second layer? That’s incredible!”