Chapter 201: There

The Secret Realm of the Grand Hall Competition.

Liu Qingzhu straightened her body, neck extended like a swan's, staring fixedly at the score leaderboard in the sky.

Beside her, Vice Academician Shen Wei's eyes were also wide, but he glanced sideways, for his target was Liu Qingzhu.

The instant Liu Qingzhu sat bolt upright, it was utterly captivating, leaving him entranced.

Ninth!

The ranking of the senior disciple Yang Miao had risen another spot—this sent Liu Qingzhu into beaming delight; with Xu Jin and Yang Miao's current rankings, as long as they held steady, her name would not appear among the bottom four.

No more would she be singled out by Fang Shi, no more would he bully her with righteous, open-faced words!

Her mind relaxed, and her attention drifted slightly from the leaderboard—suddenly, she noticed something odd.

In the instant she lowered her head, she saw Shen Wei staring at her chest.

Shen Wei was extremely alert; sensing Liu Qingzhu's return to awareness, he yanked his gaze back instantly, tilted his head slightly, and withdrew his stare without a trace.

But Liu Qingzhu had seen it all—she sneered inwardly.

I was born with a fine figure; if I dare wear clothes that accentuate my waist, I won't fear anyone looking!

I'm not even afraid of you looking—why should you be?

This was precisely why Liu Qingzhu knew Shen Wei's feelings but looked down on him.

Coward!

In this regard, he was even worse than the disciple Xu Jin.

At least disciple Xu Jin dares to look at her openly a few times before withdrawing his gaze.

This Shen Wei looks at her like a thief.

The next instant, Vice Academician Shen Wei's eyes widened again.

For in just these few breaths, the score of Yang Miao, senior disciple of Feiyan Academy, had surpassed 2200 points, rising to seventh place.

So powerful?

Had Liu Feiyan given her senior disciple an extra-special tutoring session?

Were resources being funneled to her?

Shen Wei was not the only one with this thought.

Other vice academicians shared it too.

For instance, Bi Cheng, Tang Hui, and Song Ziye watched helplessly as Yang Miao's score surged rapidly, overtaking their own senior disciples.

Meanwhile, Xu Jin, whose score had previously spiked then dropped, now began a slow climb—but without the earlier explosive momentum.

It rose at a very gradual pace, holding steady within the top twelve.

A normal performance for an Autumn Exam champion.

Half a quarter-hour later, the four senior academicians were each startled in turn, snapping back from their distant reveries into the Grand Hall Competition realm.

Because their senior disciples' scores had been overtaken again.

Within half a quarter-hour, their four senior disciples' rankings had been overtaken once more—by Yang Miao of Feiyan Academy.

The top spot in the Grand Hall Competition scores had once again fallen into Feiyan Academy's hands.

Only now, the holder was senior disciple Yang Miao.

This scene caused Right Libationer Song Bing and Senior Academician Gao Xuan on the dais to sigh inwardly together.

They sighed not because of the ranking shift.

In their view, Yang Miao's outburst could not last—six hours remained until the Grand Hall Competition ended.

The final ranking still mattered.

What they sighed over was how stubborn this girl was.

Previously, they had all secretly sent emissaries to contact Yang Miao, offering her all manner of benefits to marry into their families—but this girl was unmoved.

Now, seeing her performance, it was even more regrettable!

A woman with exceptional cultivation talent and unyielding character—if brought into the family, her offspring would almost certainly inherit outstanding talent and admirable disposition.

If paired with a family member of supreme talent, there was a fifty percent chance of producing a prodigy, and a tiny chance of birthing an ultimate genius.

What a pity!

Now, with Liu Qingzhu causing this commotion, selecting a suitable daughter-in-law from among the academy's outstanding female disciples would be far harder!

As for Yang Miao's ranking, Fang Shinan, Kou Jing, and Pan Hong were utterly unfazed.

Their views were unanimous: this explosive score gain could not be sustained.

Soon, like Xu Jin, her ranking would drop.

But after a quarter-hour, the faces of the four senior academicians grew grim.

Their four senior disciples' scores now ranged from 3100 to 3300.

Yet Yang Miao's score, after surpassing theirs, continued its meteoric rise within the quarter-hour—now it had skyrocketed to 4000 points!

This caused the four senior academicians slight concern, but still within acceptable limits.

According to past experience, their senior disciples could gain roughly a thousand points every two hours, ending around six thousand points total.

They were only at four thousand now.

They could still sit calmly, watching as Yang Miao's score supposedly plateaued.

But as time passed, the four senior academicians grew increasingly uneasy.

Each began to stretch their necks, much like Liu Qingzhu.

Liu Qingzhu's neck stretched like a swan's; Senior Academician Fang's stretched like an old tortoise poking its head out.

Two quarter-hours later, senior disciple Yang Miao's score finally stopped rising.

But the faces of the four senior academicians—especially Senior Academician Fang—grew dark.

For Yang Miao's score had surged to 5100 in a short time, leading their disciples by over 1600 points.

For other senior academicians, a drop in ranking was merely a loss of face.

But for Senior Academician Fang, who had held first place in the Grand Hall Competition for three consecutive terms, it was humiliating.

Most crucially, if surpassed by Liu Qingzhu's disciple, it would be a true disgrace.

He had already been rebuked by Liu Qingzhu before.

If Liu Qingzhu's disciple took first place, what then?

Liu Qingzhu could stir trouble even without cause—now that she had leverage, wouldn't she retort several times over?

In an instant, Senior Academician Fang grew anxious.

In the Star River Secret Realm, Yang Miao wiped sweat, slightly breathless, suddenly grabbing Xu Jin as he prepared to charge ahead, exclaiming, "Younger brother, I can't go on—rest!"

"Can't go on?" Xu Jin was stunned.

"Younger brother, my star power is completely drained—I've used up both pills, and I can't fight anymore. I need time to restore my star power," Yang Miao said with a bitter smile.

Xu Jin finally realized.

Because he fought alongside Yang Miao, his star power consumption was minimal; combined with his innate Wu Lou Star Body constantly restoring energy, he still had roughly forty percent left.

"Sister, what's your score?"

"5130!"

At the mention of her score, Yang Miao's big eyes widened in delight, "Younger brother, do you know? Last year, I fought for a full day and night, utterly drained, to earn just 2100 points.

This time, in only six hours, I've already got over five thousand!"

"Sister, how long will it take to fully restore your star power?"

"Without disturbance, two and a half hours; with disturbance, over three hours," Yang Miao said.

"Alright, sister. Find a safe spot to restore. I'll go gather more points, then I'll rest too," Xu Jin said.

"Alright!"

A few breaths later, Xu Jin departed.

But Xu Jin was troubled by another problem: how to contact the Grand Master?

At this moment, his Star-Picking Token was one-way—able to receive, not send.

The Grand Master had not sent him the location of Second Sister Tang Chuo either.

What should he do?

Frowning in thought for a few breaths, Xu Jin charged again toward a distant fourth-rank, Star-Condensing Level Four alien.

During Yang Miao's battle with the aliens, Xu Jin discovered that aliens of fourth-rank, Star-Condensing Level Four and below were easy to kill—he could obliterate them with a single Flame Explosion.

But aliens of fourth-rank, Star-Condensing Level Five and above were harder—requiring multiple Flame Explosions, sometimes even the use of Soul-Cleansing Technique.

To maximize points, killing aliens below fourth-rank, Star-Condensing Level Four was fastest.

Almost the instant Xu Jin began solo hunting, his score surged again.

His ranking climbed rapidly, leaping back to tenth place.

On the dais, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao suddenly startled, understanding.

The next instant, Xu Jin received a star-message from Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao—again, a map, with a glowing dot marked on it.

Xu Jin saw it, his expression brightening!

Coordinating with the Grand Master was truly comfortable!

Finding a secure spot, Xu Jin spent two quarter-hours restoring his star power to over ninety percent before setting out directly for the glowing dot.

More than half an hour later, Xu Jin arrived at the target location and found Second Sister Tang Chuo.

What followed was a natural progression.

Xu Jin partnered with Second Sister Tang Chuo.

The same pattern continued: Xu Jin created opportunities, primarily allowing his Second Senior Sister Tang Chuo to gain points.

After just a few minutes of coordination, Second Senior Sister Tang Chuo let out an excited shriek. "Younger brother, fighting with you is incredible!"

My points are skyrocketing!"

"Younger brother, why didn't you come sooner?"

In the Star River Secret Realm, Liu Qingzhu noticed that her top disciple Yang Miao's points had stopped rising, and immediately understood: Yang Miao had almost certainly exhausted her star energy; to regain combat capability, she'd need at least two or three hours.

But over 5, 30 points was more than enough.

Even if Yang Miao's points ceased growing from this moment on, and Xu Jin maintained his rank around tenth, it would still lift the Flying Swallow Academy's overall standing in the Grand Academies Competition to around eighth place.

Relieved!

Comfortable!

No pressure, light as a feather!

As for the other disciples, Liu Qingzhu no longer paid attention.

As long as they performed normally, that was sufficient.

Even if they didn't perform normally, it wasn't a big problem.

No matter what, last place and second-to-last were out of the question for her.

She might as well close her eyes and rest.

This rest lasted half an hour.

Suddenly, Liu Qingzhu felt someone nudge her with an elbow.

She opened her eyes to see Vice Academic Director Shen Wei cautiously nudging her; Liu Qingzhu frowned.

You're one of the Vice Academic Directors of the Great Chen State Dao Academy—why not just boldly clap me on the shoulder?

A man with courage in heart but none in action!

Shen Wei didn't know Liu Qingzhu's thoughts; seeing her awake, he quickly pointed to the floating points leaderboard.

Liu Qingzhu instinctively looked over.

Yang Miao still held first place, but Fang Xuezheng's top disciple Fang Ying had caught up to 4, 00 points—still 900 points behind Yang Miao.

Xu Jin remained eleventh, steady as ever.

Nothing's changed!

Liu Qingzhu frowned at Shen Wei. "Vice Academic Director Shen, nothing's changed—what's the issue?"

"No, haven't you noticed?"

Liu Qingzhu looked confused.

"Look at eighth place."

"Eighth?"

Liu Qingzhu looked again at the leaderboard; the moment she saw the name in eighth place, her limp body snapped straight, her swan-like neck stretched, and her cherry lips parted in shock.

Tang Chuo!

Her second disciple Tang Chuo had surged to eighth place in the Grand Academies Competition—with 3, 00 points!

This!

Liu Qingzhu instinctively felt it couldn't be real.

She rubbed her eyes and looked again!

Tang Chuo's ranking had leapt to seventh!

Liu Qingzhu stared at Shen Wei in utter shock, then saw him quickly avert his gaze, as if guilty.

She sneered inwardly.

"When did this happen?"

"It started rising half an hour ago—and it's still climbing!"

Liu Qingzhu frowned.

This wasn't normal.

Yang Miao's exceptional performance might be explained by a surge of potential; Xu Jin, as the Autumn Exam champion, was understandable—but Tang Chuo? Her temperament was reckless, her strength well-known—how could she break into the top ten?

Did she step on dog shit luck?

Or did she swallow spring medicine?

Just as Liu Qingzhu puzzled over this, Xu Jin inside the Star River Secret Realm received another message from Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.

【Enough.】

Soon after, Xu Jin received another starlight message from Grand Master Cheng—another map location.

Immediately, Xu Jin excused himself to restore star energy, left Second Senior Sister Tang Chuo, and headed toward the next location.

Notably, shortly after Xu Jin departed, Tang Chuo—who had been exhilarated by slaying four-star Nascent Soul cultivators of the alien race—confidently charged toward another four-star Nascent Soul fifth-layer alien warrior.

Not long after, she was surrounded!

After slaying two aliens,

she collapsed from exhaustion and was slain.

She dissolved into starlight.

Before dissolving, Tang Chuo wore a bewildered expression: why was it so hard when she fought alone?

Yet with her Younger Brother, slaying mid-stage four-star aliens felt like cutting melons and vegetables?

This time, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao assigned Xu Jin to target Third Senior Sister Lu Xuan of the Flying Swallow Academy—a quiet, coldly beautiful girl who spoke little.

After a chance encounter, they exchanged just one sentence—and immediately began fighting side by side.

Same old routine.

After only half an hour, Xu Jin received another starlight message from Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.

Again: "Enough," and another map.

Meanwhile, in the Grand Academies Secret Realm, because of Tang Chuo's surge, Liu Qingzhu began paying attention to the other disciples again.

She noticed now that her third disciple Lu Xuan's points and ranking were skyrocketing.

In less than half an hour, she surged to seventeenth place.

This surprise was enormous!

What level was Lu Xuan?

Couldn't even break into the top hundred, right?

And now she's at seventeenth?

Suddenly, four of the top twenty disciples belonged to the Flying Swallow Academy.

This surprise made Liu Qingzhu feel unreal.

Like a dream.

An hour later, Liu Qingzhu noticed again: the Flying Swallow Academy's invisible disciple, Jiang Yuan—the fourth-strongest in cultivation and combat—was also surging in rank and points, climbing to twenty-first.

This made Liu Qingzhu feel even more unreal.

She'd wanted to pinch her thigh—but feared the pain.

So she condensed starlight into a cone and jabbed it hard into Shen Wei's thigh.

Seeing him grimace in pain, Liu Qingzhu realized: this wasn't a dream!

Then—what in the Star River Secret Realm was happening?!

As time flew, the Grand Academies Competition had now lasted eleven hours, with only one hour remaining.

As the end neared, the four Academic Directors grew relaxed again.

Because their top disciples' points had surged back up, surpassing Yang Miao of the Flying Swallow Academy.

Though the lead was slight, it was still a surpassing.

Especially Fang Xuezheng—his top disciple Fang Ying now led with 6, 00 points, bringing him great honor.

He's worked hard!

When he returns, he deserves a reward.

Though he only leads the second-place by a hundred points, and only by three hundred over fifth-place Yang Miao, as long as he holds it, first place is secure.

And his Fang Xuezheng Academy's average points? Always either first or second.

Then there's no problem at all!

Fang Xuezheng let out a deep sigh of relief!

Suddenly, Fang Xuezheng saw his longtime rival Kou Jing suddenly sit upright, staring at the floating points leaderboard, his expression turning serious.

What's happened?

As Fang Xuezheng instinctively looked over, he saw Yang Miao's points in fifth place suddenly begin to surge!

Her ranking climbed rapidly!

Fourth.

Third.

Second.

First!

The instant Yang Miao surpassed to first place, Fang Xuezheng felt his vision darken, his face burning with premature humiliation!

The searing heat made his heart tremble!

"Still a chance!"

"There's still a chance!"

Fang Xuezheng secretly kept urging himself on.

More than half an hour remained before the Grand Hall Competition ended.

Yang Miao had just surpassed Fang Ying by thirty points; his top disciple Fang Ying still had a chance to overtake her and reclaim first place!

But the more he watched, the darker Fang Xuezheng's face became.

The more he watched, the hotter and more stinging Fang Xuezheng's old face felt!

Fifteen minutes later, Fang Xuezheng slumped back into his chair, his face ashen.

Because Yang Miao's score had surged past Fang Ying's by a full thousand points!

(End of Chapter)