Chapter 17

Vice Principal Feng Shu was somewhat annoyed.

In just half a quarter of an hour, he had been interrupted twice, and this second time was shouted out by a teenager who had just performed Star-Dotting.

But at this moment, in front of a large crowd, he still had to maintain his image.

When he saw clearly that it was Xu Jin, whose talent evaluation had just been raised by the Principal, his face sank slightly.

"Xu Jin? I didn't ask you again; what opinion do you have?" While expressing his dissatisfaction, Feng Shu still gave Xu Jin a chance to speak, after all, it was in front of a large crowd.

"Vice Principal Feng, the third rule for the Academy selecting disciples to enter the Intermediate Academy is that those with a Grade C evaluation who break through to the first layer of the Meal of Mist Realm by the end of the Star-Dotting season can be selected for the Intermediate Academy, right?" Xu Jin asked.

"Yes. But you are only Grade C-Low..."

Halfway through the sentence, Feng Shu suddenly realized that it was his oversight; he had only focused on reading the list and had forgotten that the Principal had just mentioned this kid's talent evaluation.

This was somewhat embarrassing.

In the Academy's selection rules, one first discusses talent rank, then discusses cultivation progress.

According to the list, although Xu Jin had broken through to the first layer of the Meal of Mist Realm, he was only Grade C-Low talent, so he was directly skipped over, because there were three other disciples ahead of Xu Jin who had already broken through to the first layer of the Meal of Mist Realm and had Grade C-Top evaluations.

So Xu Jin didn't even have the qualifications to compete.

And because of this, Feng Shu hadn't even mentioned it just now.

However, just a moment ago, Principal Dong Zhao had personally raised Xu Jin's talent evaluation to Grade C-Top.

That is to say, Xu Jin was qualified, at least qualified to be mentioned by him.

Just now, when the Principal raised Xu Jin's evaluation, he was calculating the issue of Principal Dong Zhao's departure and was somewhat distracted.

And Xu Jin's "I have an opinion" had directly magnified this oversight of his in front of everyone and pointed it out; besides being dissatisfied, he was also somewhat embarrassed.

"Hehe, it was my oversight!"

Who could not make a mistake?

With an awkward laugh, Vice Principal Feng Shu directly admitted his mistake in front of everyone, and then said again, "Then according to our Academy's regulations, for the last spot, Luo Geng, Hong Gang, Fang Zhixing, and Xu Jin have all reached the first layer of the Meal of Mist Realm, but among these four, only Luo Geng..."

Halfway through the sentence, Vice Principal Feng Shu's voice suddenly stopped, and a cold sweat appeared on his forehead; he had almost made an oversight again.

Fortunately, his habit of being cautious made him take one more look.

Otherwise, the first oversight could still be explained away—after all, for so many years, he had just been reading from the book, just reading according to the list, and Xu Jin was a disciple whose evaluation was raised on the spot.

But if he had made an oversight a second time, he would really be labeled as careless.

Fortunately, he had discovered it.

On the Star-Dotting list presented by Ning Yuchan, Xu Jin, like Luo Geng, was marked in red, only that he was previously Grade C-Low evaluation, so he hadn't noticed.

Being marked in red meant that he had unleashed a basic Star Art; if he had continued reading according to his previous thought, he would have made another mistake.

"Only Luo Geng and Xu Jin have unleashed the basic Star Art Star Shield, so this last spot for entering the Intermediate Academy will be produced from Luo Geng and Xu Jin."

On the side, Luo Geng's heart, which had just settled, hung up again.

Xu Jin's heart also relaxed; at least he was included.

But he heard Vice Principal Feng Shu continue, "According to our Jin Shan Academy's regulations, if talent evaluations are the same and cultivation is the same, the superior one is selected."

"The first element of superior selection is the number of days of Star-Dotting; Luo Geng performed Star-Dotting in sixty-two days, Xu Jin performed Star-Dotting in eighty-three days; the difference is clear, so Luo Geng should be chosen!"

"This last spot for entering the Intermediate Academy belongs to Luo Geng!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Luo Geng was wild with joy, and Xu Jin was stunned.

After struggling for so long, working so hard, and contending for so much, in the end, he was directly excluded because of the number of days of Star-Dotting.

Doesn't that mean that no matter how he contends in the future, as long as his Star-Dotting days are worse than his competitor's, he can only be a loser!

No!

Absolutely not!

On the martial arts platform, after Feng Shu finished speaking, he flipped to another page of the Star-Dotting list and was about to read the list of disciples entering the Outer Academy; after reading it, this Star-Dotting meeting assessment would be over.

But Xu Jin also made a decision at this moment.

He had already struggled to this point, and he had already offended people; retreating at this moment would be stupid.

But what Vice Principal Feng said was the Academy's regulations, so he couldn't directly refute it.

Immediately, Xu Jin shouted loudly, "Vice Principal Feng, I have an opinion; I am not convinced!"

Feng Shu, who had been interrupted, frowned and looked at Xu Jin with great dissatisfaction. "The regulations are such; how can you refute them! If you dare to cause trouble again, you will be directly expelled from the Academy!"

Xu Jin was also going all out at this moment; there was no reason to give up halfway.

"Vice Principal Feng, honorable elders, since that's the case, why divide into Inner, Intermediate, and Outer Academies? Why waste resources and time cultivating? In the future, when fighting and engaging, just decide the outcome based on the number of days of Star-Dotting, wouldn't that be enough!"

"If someone who performs Star-Dotting in one day can be invincible in the world, what are we still cultivating for!"

"Stick an Academy-certified 'one-day Star-Dotting' badge on your head, and heroes will retreat, and evil will retreat."

"What are we still cultivating for!"

As soon as these words were spoken, in an instant, there was laughter everywhere, and also an uproar.

Lu Xianbing in the front row couldn't help but turn his head and look at Xu Jin; if one had to talk about who was the most aggrieved today, it had to be Lu Xianbing.

He and Zhou Du had the same talent evaluation and the same cultivation, so why could Zhou Du enter the Inner Academy, while he could only enter the Intermediate Academy?

Vice Principal Feng Shu's face suddenly turned the color of a pig's liver.

Not only because he was extremely embarrassed by being contradicted by Xu Jin in front of everyone, but more importantly, he was actually unable to refute. Unable to refute Xu Jin's fallacy, unable to refute Xu Jin's monstrous remarks!

"You are presumptuous! Where are the Star-Patrol Guards!"

Feng Shu scolded angrily, the starlight in his palm constantly rising and falling.

At this instant, Feng Shu even had the heart to slap Xu Jin to death with one palm; how could such a madman who had no respect for his superiors appear in this Star-Dotting season!

Xu Jin stiffened his neck; he had to contend.

If he didn't contend, he couldn't pay back the debt!

If he didn't contend, his family might be destroyed!

"Hey, Old Feng, calm down!" Principal Dong Zhao's smiling voice rang out.

By the side of the martial arts platform, Ning Yuchan's hanging heart finally settled down, her iron crutch loosened slightly; she was truly afraid that the angry Vice Principal Feng would take action to teach Xu Jin a lesson.

If that really happened, she would have had to take action.

"Principal, this... this child is spreading such monstrous words; he should be directly expelled from the Academy!" Feng Shu suppressed his anger and said angrily.

"Spreading monstrous words?"

Principal Dong Zhao laughed and looked at Dean Cao Chun. "Is there?"

"In the Academy's regulations, except for remarks that ignore discipline and human ethics, no one is punished for their words!"

Dean Cao Chun's answer made the smile on Principal Dong Zhao's face even brighter, and Vice Principal Feng Shu's face even uglier.

Feng Shu knew that he had suffered a big loss today.

Xu Jin's refutation and questioning were a small matter, but Principal Dong Zhao had already successfully used this matter to erode his prestige and even his popularity.

Looking at it this way, the rumor that Dong Zhao was leaving was very likely true.

Then who would his successor be?

"Then it's not monstrous words; let's discuss the matter as it stands."

Principal Dong Zhao smiled. "Old Feng, you rest for a while first; don't get angry with these young people; having fighting spirit and competitive spirit is what young people should have."

"Principal, I..."

Feng Shu still wanted to say something, but Principal Dong Zhao exerted a slight force in his palm, pressing Feng Shu directly back into his seat.

"Actually, what this Xu Jin said is also right; the number of days of Star-Dotting is the most important basis for evaluating a person's cultivation talent, but not everything can be discussed based on the number of days of Star-Dotting."

"Otherwise, just as Xu Jin said, what are we still practicing hard for, what are we still contemplating for? Just compare the number of days of Star-Dotting, and that's it."

Principal Dong Zhao indirectly affirmed Xu Jin's remarks, and Vice Principal Feng Shu, who had just sat back down, had an even darker face.

"Yuchan, you are the Chief Instructor for this Star-Dotting season; you understand the situation best. You preside over this last spot, and we four will judge it."

Everyone originally thought Principal Dong Zhao would make a decision, but they didn't expect him to throw this matter to Ning Yuchan again.

Ning Yuchan cupped her hands to accept the order, thought for a moment, and made a decision.

Her relationship with Xu Jin could be considered a bit closer, but she would absolutely not engage in favoritism.

Moreover, the Principal throwing this matter to her and letting her preside, with the Academy's four giants making the final decision, was essentially to maintain the Academy's regulations and to avoid giving people grounds for criticism.

"Principal, Vice Principal, Dean, Commandant, Xu Jin and Luo Geng's talent evaluations are now both Grade C-Top, and their cultivation is both at the first layer of the Meal of Mist Realm; the two broke through one after another, only one day apart, and there isn't much difference in their cultivation."

"According to our Academy's regulations, the superior one is selected."

"Then the remaining plan is only actual combat and the mastery of the Five-Battle Killing Fist."

"The Academy hasn't taught actual combat; if we use it to select the superior, it would be somewhat unfair."

"Then let's decide who is selected for the Intermediate Academy based on their mastery of the Five-Battle Killing Fist."

"Let each of them practice a set of the Five-Battle Killing Fist, and then let the four adults judge it; how about that?" Ning Yuchan requested.

"That's acceptable." Principal Dong Zhao looked at Vice Principal Feng Shu. "Old Feng, what do you think?"

"Acceptable!"

This plan was standard and regular; the mastery of the fist technique was clear at a glance, and even Principal Dong Zhao couldn't publicly favor anyone, so Feng Shu naturally agreed.

"Acceptable!"

"Acceptable!"

Dean Cao and Commandant Tian Zhang agreed one after another.

As soon as these words were spoken, Luo Geng's confidence below the martial arts platform greatly increased.

Xu Jin had only been practicing the Five-Battle Killing Fist for seven days, while he had already been practicing for twenty-eight days; moreover, he also had an uncle who was a Flag Leader personally guiding him on the essentials; he was very confident in his mastery of the Five-Battle Killing Fist.

Let alone Xu Jin, even teenagers with Grade B-Low evaluations were definitely not as good as him!

"Luo Geng, Xu Jin, do you two have any opinions?"

"No!"

"No!"

"Then who goes first!" Ning Yuchan asked.

"I'll go first!" Luo Geng jumped out actively, full of confidence.

(End of chapter)