A Corner of Fine Jade

A Corner of Fine Jade

Zhou Leng walked to the left side of the award platform.

Many teachers and school leaders stood there.

Some teachers wore smiles and nodded gently.

Other teachers and school leaders were polite, but the smiles on their faces vanished in a flash.

Zhou Leng's heart skipped a beat, and he quietly asked Teacher Mei and Teacher Sun about it.

The result was that both teachers told Zhou Leng not to worry. Nothing was wrong.

Before long, Sun Xiong walked over, sized him up and down, and said with a laugh, "It's only been a month, yet you've filled out by a whole size. Good."

"It's all thanks to the martial arts hall instructors teaching me well."

The teachers around them all laughed when they heard that.

Sun Xiong burst out laughing. "Did you think we didn't know? I thought you'd be covered in wounds today—no, I thought you'd be at death's door. Yet you're this energetic. Very good. As expected of Freshman Ranking 503. Most of us teachers couldn't have achieved that rank back then."

"You flatter me. How could I compare to you teachers?" Zhou Leng said.

Sun Xiong glanced at several school leaders in the distance and smiled. "Cultivate well. Once you reach the Innate Realm, come back and visit us."

"I'll definitely work hard."

Sun Xiong looked farther into the distance again and lowered his voice. "Principal Lu has been busy for a long time because of you. After the Commendation Conference ends, remember to thank him personally."

"Alright."

Not long after, the Commendation Conference began.

Principal Lu stepped onto the award platform. He first thanked the leaders and alumni, then introduced the three Innate Masters who had come.

Whenever he mentioned one of the Innate Masters, Principal Lu solemnly invited them to stand, introduced their achievements, and then the entire venue erupted in thunderous applause.

When he introduced Zhu Wanlai, a somewhat famous Innate Master in Ru City, Zhou Leng clapped until his palms turned red. The applause throughout the venue became even more fervent.

That was because Zhu Wanlai was not only an alumnus of Eighth Middle School, but had also visited the school two years ago. He had not put on any airs at all, performing a Qi and Blood Realm fist technique, Mountain Charge Fist, as a demonstration for the students.

Zhu Wanlai's Mountain Charge Fist had helped Zhou Leng quite a bit.

After the important guests were introduced, a pretty female senior stepped onstage and introduced Eighth Middle School's history.

Zhou Leng had heard it several times, but every time, there was a small regret.

Eighth Middle School had produced quite a few Innate Masters throughout its history, but never a Grandmaster, much less a Martial Saint.

That was the pain of every teacher at Eighth Middle School.

Therefore, many teachers pinned their hopes on Zhang Xinglie. They gave him every resource they could, and even secretly gave him some they were not supposed to give.

The Commendation Conference continued. Zhou Leng listened on and off, still thinking about how to accumulate cultivation resources.

A full hour and a half passed before the commendations officially began.

Soon, Zhou Leng saw familiar classmates stepping onto the award platform one after another.

This included Mo Hai, the martial arts committee member. He had been admitted to West Sea Martial University, one of the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities, and likewise received a reward from the school.

The commendations continued slowly.

As the last student walked down, Principal Lu approached the microphone and said with a smile, "The student we will commend next is one everyone can more or less guess. He is Eighth Middle School's number one, the runner-up on Ru City's College Entrance Examination rankings—Zhang Xinglie."

Zhou Leng merely listened. He had spoken with Zhang Xinglie before, and Zhang Xinglie had said he had no time to come. He had probably planned to appear through a remote video call, or simply have his homeroom teacher collect the award on his behalf.

The principal's voice echoed across the great field.

"However, everyone also knows that Yunhua Martial University's courses are demanding. He has to compete with freshmen across the nation, and even the entire world, for rankings. Logically speaking, he didn't need to come. But I repeatedly urged him. I said, the younger students of Eighth Middle School really want to see the genius whose name has been passed around this school for three years. Isn't that right?"

"Yes..." A small number of students responded, scattered and sparse. No one believed Zhang Xinglie would come.

Principal Lu smiled. "Therefore, today, he came."

Zhou Leng abruptly turned his head and saw Zhang Xinglie actually walk out from behind the award platform.

Zhou Leng was both startled and delighted.

The sophomores, seniors, and recent graduates all knew Zhang Xinglie. They stared at the award platform in surprise.

"Let us welcome Zhang Xinglie!"

Whoosh...

Thunderous applause erupted, its momentum not the slightest bit weaker than when the Innate Masters had appeared.

Zhang Xinglie strode briskly to Principal Lu's side.

He was tall and powerfully built, with thick hair, resembling a lion.

Then Principal Lu listed Zhang Xinglie's achievements and honors one by one. He even played photos and videos of Zhang Xinglie receiving previous awards on the large screen behind them.

Finally, Principal Lu presented Zhang Xinglie with his award.

Amid fervent applause, Zhang Xinglie accepted the Pill Vouchers and trophy, bowed to Principal Lu, and expressed his thanks.

Zhang Xinglie did not leave. He remained standing beside Principal Lu.

Principal Lu's smile faded as he swept his gaze across the venue.

Some school leaders frowned slightly, helplessness on their faces.

Principal Lu slowly opened his mouth.

"Next, Zhang Xinglie and I will join hands to present an award to a special student."

"First, let me tell you about this student's deeds."

"His name is Zhou Leng. He is not as dazzling as Zhang Xinglie. Like most students, he is ordinary."

"His father, Zhou Xiaomin, was also ordinary—an ordinary warrior who died defending the West Sea Demon City frontline."

"His mother, Ma Xia, was likewise an ordinary person. She was killed by demons."

"From childhood onward, he lived alone, grew up alone, and made his way to Eighth Middle School alone."

"Half a year before the College Entrance Examination, demons attacked Ru City. He was severely injured and lay in a hospital bed for a month."

"But he did not give up. In that hospital bed, he studied hard, read Zhao Dongjun's Collected Essays diligently, and worked hard to cultivate true qi."

"Did things get better? No. For more than half a year, his true qi did not advance in the slightest."

"Because of his injuries, he failed the Academic Exam and failed the Physical Exam, ranking over seventy thousandth in the city."

"Yet he still did not lose heart, did not bow his head, and continued cultivating diligently."

"He was also preparing for his final Martial Arts Examination."

"We do not know whether his perseverance moved the heavens, or whether reading the Martial Saint Notes enlightened him. In any case, his persistence and hard work finally beheld the flowers bloom."

"At the Martial Arts Examination venue, he achieved a stunning score of 99 in True Qi Control. How high is that score? Zhang Xinglie, you tell them."

Zhang Xinglie leaned toward the microphone and said, "I scored 91. Yunhua Martial University admitted three thousand students this year. Only five reached 99."

Many listeners' eyes widened.

Principal Lu continued, "His Martial Arts Examination score was 276. Let alone at an ordinary Martial Arts University, even at West Sea Martial University, ranked tenth nationwide, that score would place him among the best."

"His final ranking rose by a full sixty thousand places. I estimate many people have no concept of what that number means."

"I also do not know how to make you understand how extraordinary that number is. I can only say that after the rise of Martial Path Civilization, Zhou Leng is the only person to rise sixty thousand places in a martial arts examination. The only one."

"A Martial Arts Examination score of 276 fully meets the Makeup Admission Test standard of the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities."

"Because the state-established Makeup Admission Test exists precisely to avoid overlooking students who are weak in certain subjects but gifted in the martial path."

"So, when it came time to submit applications, I used everything I had to guarantee it to Zhou Leng."

"I said, Zhou Leng, apply to the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities. Apply to West Sea Martial University. I will stake my life on it—every Martial Arts University will fight to take a talent like you."

"I said, even the biggest fool could see that you, Zhou Leng, are an uncut jade. The Martial Arts Examination merely wore away one corner of stone, revealing the warm, lustrous He Shi Bi Jade beneath."

Everyone drew a sharp breath. Comparing him to He Shi Bi Jade was truly too weighty.

He Shi Bi Jade was not only tied to countless historical tales; it had also been made into the Imperial Jade Seal of the Qin Empire.

Having received Heaven's mandate, may it grant long life and eternal prosperity.

"At the time, I was incredibly, incredibly happy. I believed Zhou Leng was the third student in Eighth Middle School's history with the potential to reach the Grandmaster Realm."

"But what I never expected was that West Sea Martial University would inexplicably revoke Zhou Leng's eligibility for the Makeup Admission Test."

"They used dirt to cover that corner of warm, lustrous jade."

"I have wronged Zhou Leng. If I had let him apply to any other Martial Arts University, even Martial Science University, ranked third, this accident would never have happened."

"Zhou Leng lost his chance at the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities and entered the Rucheng Martial University Affiliated Martial Arts Hall. That is my responsibility as principal."

Principal Lu slowly swept his gaze across the venue and spoke slowly.

"After this happened, I blamed myself deeply. I could never understand why West Sea University would reject such an outstanding student as Zhou Leng."

"Could it be that Zhou Leng was only good at the Martial Arts Examination, while his other abilities were lacking? Everyone, look at the large screen."

Everyone looked together toward the large screen behind the award platform, where a string of scores was displayed.

Principal Lu said, "The scores above are Zhou Leng's results from the Opening Term Test at Rucheng Martial Arts Hall. Because he could not afford pills while growing up, he did not get full marks in a single one of the Five Pill Subjects. He ranked only 503rd on the Rucheng Youth Ranking."

Everyone's eyes were full of confusion. Five hundred and third was merely "only"?

"When I saw this number, I thought perhaps that ranking was very low at West Sea University, so I checked West Sea University's admissions quota this year."

"Three thousand five hundred students. If Zhou Leng were placed at West Sea Martial University, what rank would he hold?"

"Three hundred and thirty-fifth. In other words, Zhou Leng's Opening Term Test results would rank in the top 10% even at West Sea Martial University."

"Look carefully at the scores. Every one of Zhou Leng's subject scores is above 90. This is the Full Nine result that every Martial Arts University seeks."

"Then how many Full Nine students does West Sea University have? Nineteen. You heard correctly—only nineteen."

"I did something else interesting. Since the Five Pill Subjects can all receive full marks as long as one takes enough pills, what would Zhou Leng's rank at West Sea Martial University be if he had full marks in all Five Pill Subjects?"

Principal Lu said slowly and forcefully, "Thirty-second."

Many people below the stage looked startled.

That ranking would certainly place him within the top fifty of the Rucheng Freshman Ranking.

"Everyone now has a clear understanding of Zhou Leng's strength at West Sea University."

"Yet West Sea University would not even give him a chance to take the Makeup Admission Test."

"These past few days, I have kept wondering—was West Sea University afraid that he would fail to get in, or afraid that he would get in?"

"Or was it that Zhou Leng was not worthy of the noble West Sea Martial University?"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire venue fell silent.

The expressions of many adults changed slightly. Some people in the education sector glanced around, their legs shifting.

Those seated in the very front row of the audience remained expressionless from beginning to end.

Principal Lu drew a deep breath and said, "I do not know the answer. So I invited Zhang Xinglie, a student who grew up with Zhou Leng, a genius who entered Yunhua Martial University as the city's second-place candidate. I want to know how he views this matter."

Principal Lu turned and nodded to Zhang Xinglie.

Zhang Xinglie turned to look at Zhou Leng beside the award platform.

The two looked at each other and nodded lightly.

Zhang Xinglie stepped forward, walked to the microphone, and revealed his signature smile and snow-white teeth.

"I, Zhang Xinglie, am a genius."

Everyone smiled.

"From middle school onward, I began to show my edge. By high school, I soared into the sky in a single leap."

"However, very few people have asked how my elementary school grades were."

Everyone looked intrigued.

"In elementary school, I was also a genius."

Many people did not know whether to laugh or cry.