Becoming the Chief Student!!!

With one punch, he blasted the green mountain apart. Jiang Ping'an continued to swing his sword with all his strength, sweeping at the pine and cypress trees before him.

Perhaps because Yan Ruyu had suffered backlash, the pine and cypress trees were no longer indestructible this time. Jiang Ping'an cleaved them apart with a single sword strike.

Jiang Ping'an was able to continue rushing toward Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu hurriedly suppressed the backlash and recited, "Nine Above, the Overreaching Dragon Has Regrets."

At once, a profound and mysterious force descended upon Jiang Ping'an, causing his True Essence to inexplicably stagnate and fall into chaos. He actually tumbled head over heels from the air.

Had his True Essence not been exceptionally abundant, allowing him to swiftly stabilize it, circulate it anew, and adjust his posture in time so that his feet touched down first, he would have been badly injured by the fall.

"The Master stood by the river and said, 'What passes is like this, never ceasing day or night.'"

As Yan Ruyu's voice rang out again, another surging river current swept forth, washing Jiang Ping'an toward the edge of the arena.

Jiang Ping'an promptly took flight.

However, he no longer tried to approach Yan Ruyu.

Since she was so difficult to get close to, they might as well clash with spells directly!

Jiang Ping'an circulated his True Essence with all his strength, his hands rapidly forming spell seals. In an instant, more than a dozen incomparably sharp wind blades condensed and shot toward Yan Ruyu like lightning, crisscrossing as they slashed at her.

He was no longer using the Xun Wind Blade Art to probe her. He directly used the Rapid Xun Wind Blade Art.

"Only when the year grows cold does one..." Before Yan Ruyu could cast the Pine-and-Cypress Spell, the wind blades had already reached her. An immense sense of mortal danger rose in her heart.

The Rapid Xun Wind Blade Art was too fast.

Just as Yan Ruyu was about to be sliced into several pieces by the wind blades, Li Wenzheng personally intervened. A gigantic palm descended as if from the heavens, lifting Yan Ruyu away and carrying her clear of the blades.

Seeing this, Jiang Ping'an secretly let out a breath. His killing intent seemed a little too strong. Fortunately, Taiwu Academy's Instructors were reliable.

He silently reflected, Yan Ruyu is very strong. She nearly forced out all my trump cards. I never expected there to be so many geniuses in the Great Qian Kingdom, so monstrous in talent. I must remain vigilant and not grow careless or underestimate my enemies just because I possess the Ancient Sacred Body!

The expressions of Taiwu Academy's higher-ups all revealed their astonishment.

They were not astonished that Jiang Ping'an had defeated Yan Ruyu, but because Jiang Ping'an had used the Rapid Xun Wind Blade Art.

"The spell Jiang Ping'an used is the Xun Wind Blade Art, but its power has already far surpassed the scope of a high-grade spell. It is enough to rival a Supreme Spell!" one Taiwu Academy higher-up exclaimed in surprise.

Another Taiwu Academy higher-up was equally astonished. "This morning, he already displayed the Fine Rain Golden Wind Palm, a move comparable to a Supreme Martial Skill. I never expected him to now display a Xun Wind Blade Art comparable to a Supreme Spell. His comprehension is truly astonishing."

Yet another Taiwu Academy higher-up said, "This child is like an unparalleled piece of uncarved jade. Once nurtured by our Taiwu Academy, he will surely shine with Brilliant Colors in the future. His prospects are immeasurable!"

After the enormous hand lifted Yan Ruyu off the arena, it placed her back onto it.

Yan Ruyu took her defeat calmly. It was the expected outcome.

However, she had no objections to Jiang Ping'an becoming the Chief Student either. His strength was indeed formidable. Even after his battle with Princess Bailing, he had still held back trump cards.

Even if she had broken through to the Divine Treasury Realm during the fight, she was not confident she could defeat Jiang Ping'an, because he might still have been concealing further trump cards.

"Jiang Ping'an wins!" the referee loudly announced.

Below the arena, the spectators erupted in fervent cheers. They shouted for the incomparably brilliant match and cheered for Jiang Ping'an's victory as Chief Student.

Jiang Ping'an's victory in this match was thoroughly deserved. No one found it unexpected or shocking.

After Jiang Ping'an and Yan Ruyu stepped down from the arena, Li Wenzheng rose and flew onto the platform, announcing that the ranked students would receive their rewards here.

The awards were actually being presented on the spot. The students immediately erupted with excitement.

"Chief Student, Jiang Ping'an," Li Wenzheng called loudly. "Please come up and receive your rewards."

Hearing this, Jiang Ping'an stepped back onto the arena and once again became the focus of everyone's attention.

He was delighted. He had not expected Taiwu Academy to handle matters so decisively, without the slightest bit of needless ceremony. Once the tournament was over, he could use his Merit Points to exchange for Pill Recipes at the Alchemy Pavilion and refine pills.

On the arena, Li Wenzheng warmly offered Jiang Ping'an a few words of encouragement before handing him the prepared rewards.

A token that allowed him to freely choose one Supreme Martial Skill or Supreme Spell, a token exchangeable for one thousand Merit Points at the Academy Lord Hall, two Superior Spirit Stones, and twenty bottles of Pinnacle Grade Essence Pills.

Seeing Jiang Ping'an receive such generous rewards, the students were not only envious of him, but also fired up with excitement. They rubbed their fists and palms together, eager to achieve good rankings in the second Genius Ranking Tournament three months later.

The talented students from humble backgrounds especially clenched their fists in secret, determined to cultivate desperately over the next three months and rapidly improve themselves.

After presenting Jiang Ping'an's award, Li Wenzheng had him step down from the arena, then continued, "Second-Seat Student Yan Ruyu and Third-Seat Student Ji Bailing, please come onto the arena to receive your rewards."

Yan Ruyu, veiled in light gauze, and Princess Bailing, dressed in a fiery red gown, ascended the arena amid the crowd's cheers.

On the arena, the two peerless beauties stood together, complementing one another while competing in splendor. Even heaven and earth seemed much brighter, leaving the students staring blankly, with some even drooling.

After Li Wenzheng presented rewards to Yan Ruyu and Princess Bailing, he had the students ranked fourth through tenth come up together to receive their prizes.

The Genius Ranking Tournament offered rewards for many rankings. All of the top forty-eight received rewards.

Once the awards had been distributed, Li Wenzheng formally announced, "After more than ten days of competition, the rankings of all students have been determined. Taiwu Academy has allocated your monthly resources according to your respective rankings."

"Apart from the top sixteen students, whose monthly resource allocations differ individually, all other students' resource allocations are divided into nine tiers. The higher your ranking, the more resources you receive. Resources will begin to be distributed the day after tomorrow."

"I hope all students will cultivate diligently in the days ahead. I look forward to seeing you shine with Brilliant Colors in the second Genius Ranking Tournament three months from now."

"The first Genius Ranking Tournament has come to a perfect close!"

"Taiwu Academy will have a Ten-Day Rest tomorrow."

"Dismissed!"

After leaving the Martial Arts Field, Jiang Ping'an did not return to his Residence. Instead, he left Taiwu Academy directly to bring Jiang Shuyue the good news.

Although he knew that, as long as he did not perish prematurely, his Ancient Sacred Body destined him to suppress an era, Jiang Shuyue did not know this. Like everyone else, she believed he possessed a Mortal Body.

Jiang Shuyue had endured hardship to protect him for sixteen years and seven months, beginning from when she had been forced to miscarry. He needed some dazzling accomplishments to comfort her.

Jiang Yiyi had naturally watched his matches from start to finish, so Jiang Ping'an brought her along.

After leaving Taiwu Academy, they had neither horses nor a carriage and could only walk.

"Younger Male Cousin, let's raise a horse," Jiang Yiyi suggested. "Otherwise, it'll be inconvenient whenever we go see Little Aunt in the future."

Jiang Ping'an nodded in agreement. "We really should raise a horse."

Not only did they need a horse to travel when visiting Jiang Shuyue, but he would also need one in the future to purchase medicinal ingredients for pill refinement.

Horses were not allowed in the Residence, but Taiwu Academy had a stable area, and even areas for strange beasts and spirit beasts, with dedicated personnel to feed and care for them.

More than an hour later, Jiang Ping'an and Jiang Yiyi arrived at Jiang Shuyue's residence.

A servant girl opened the door. The moment Jiang Yiyi entered the courtyard, she impatiently sprinted toward the house while shouting excitedly, "Little Aunt, Little Aunt, wonderful news! Wonderful news!!!"

Inside the house, Jiang Shuyue was startled when she suddenly heard Jiang Yiyi's shout. She guessed, Could Ping'an have achieved an impressive ranking in the Genius Ranking Tournament?

(The last time Jiang Ping'an had seen her, he had mentioned that Taiwu Academy was holding the Genius Ranking Tournament. However, in order to surprise her, he had not told her that he had already won the team matches and was guaranteed at least forty-eighth place.)

Then she gently shook her head, feeling it was unlikely.

Taiwu Academy gathered geniuses from every corner of the Great Qian Kingdom, and many came from prominent families. Even those born into marquis estates were considered ordinary. Such geniuses had been carefully nurtured from childhood, receiving the finest resources and the strongest cultivation methods, martial skills, and spells. They were far beyond ordinary geniuses.

Although she had always believed Jiang Ping'an was extraordinary by nature, he had been confined by the Zhennan Marquis Estate for twelve years since the age of four. He had only been out for a little over two months, and his growth had been severely affected.

If given enough time, she would have considered it only natural for Jiang Ping'an to claim a good ranking among the gathered geniuses of Taiwu Academy.

The next moment, Jiang Yiyi came rushing in like a whirlwind and called out to her, "Little Aunt, there's wonderful news!"

Jiang Shuyue stood up and, in the manner of an elder, reprimanded Jiang Yiyi, "You're already a grown young lady. Why are you still so jumpy and reckless, acting like a child?"

Though she had been scolded, Jiang Yiyi made a playful face and said, "That's because it really is earth-shattering good news! Even I, always so quiet and elegant, lost my composure."

"Is that so?" Jiang Shuyue smiled. "The good news is that Ping'an earned a ranking, right? Top one hundred?"

"Hehe, Little Aunt, you're underestimating him!" Jiang Yiyi said proudly.

At that moment, Jiang Ping'an entered as well and greeted Jiang Shuyue. "Greetings, Mother."

Jiang Shuyue had no mind to respond to Jiang Ping'an immediately. Secretly delighted, she made a bold guess and asked Jiang Yiyi, "Could it be the top fifty?"

"No! No!" Jiang Yiyi immediately shook her head quickly. "Little Aunt, Younger Male Cousin is your own son. Is he really only this capable in your heart?"

A joyous smile could not help appearing on Jiang Shuyue's exquisite face. "Top thirty?"

"Hehe, still wrong!" Jiang Yiyi let out a smug laugh. "You might as well be bolder."

"Could he be in the top ten?!" Jiang Shuyue could not help showing a look of delighted surprise.

"Still wrong. Higher still."

"Eighth place?"

"Aiya, Little Aunt, you still have too little faith in Younger Male Cousin!"

"Surely he can't be third place?" Jiang Shuyue could not help revealing an incredulous expression.

Jiang Yiyi deliberately put her hands on her hips and threw back her head as if laughing toward the sky. "Hahaha, Little Aunt, you still underestimate my Younger Male Cousin!"

"To tell you the truth, Younger Male Cousin is now Taiwu Academy's Chief Student!"

"Surprised? Unexpected?"

Jiang Shuyue felt far more than surprise and astonishment. She felt as though she had fallen into a dream, as if her long-held wish for Jiang Ping'an to make something of himself and prove to that person that Jiang Ping'an deserved to walk this world had turned into a waking dream.

She turned to Jiang Ping'an with a questioning gaze, filled with both anticipation and nervous fear.

"It's true, Mother." Jiang Ping'an smiled and nodded firmly at Jiang Shuyue.

Jiang Shuyue's eyes instantly filled with tears, and she began to cry uncontrollably.

Puzzled, Jiang Yiyi asked, "Little Aunt, why are you crying instead? This is clearly such a happy thing."

"Mother..." Jiang Ping'an's own eyes grew moist as he stepped forward to support Jiang Shuyue.

He understood why his Mother had cried instead.

Because his Mother had suppressed herself for too long and sacrificed too much.

Jiang Shuyue suddenly pulled Jiang Ping'an into a tight embrace, sobbing beyond control, unable to speak.