The Seventh Day, the Last Day for a Class A Rating

"Buzz..."

After the curse's blessing, Xue Yao devoted herself to cultivation. Zhong Ming, too, focused wholly on sensing the state of Clarity, contemplating its mysteries.

"Clarity... it seems to carry the meaning of purifying spiritual power. No, it can't be that simple..."

"What is hardest for a person to see through is themselves. If I comprehend Clarity, could I use streams and lakes as mirrors to reflect my own flaws, and even... my heart?"

You have gained a new understanding of the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique. Technique progress +39

The steadily rising technique proficiency showed that the Ice Heart Curse was truly useful for Zhong Ming's cultivation.

At the same time, Zhong Ming understood why Xue Yao's cultivation speed was so fast.

In the Ice Heart state, Zhong Ming's control over the Spiritual Energy within his body became extraordinarily strong, and he even seemed able to see the twists and turns of his meridians.

This allowed Zhong Ming to manipulate Spiritual Energy even without Water Flow, guiding it through the winding paths of his meridians.

A First-grade Spiritual Root is naturally attuned to Spiritual Energy, and with the Ice Heart... no wonder she opened her Qi Sea Acupoint in just one day.

After his admiration came a surge of joy from within Zhong Ming.

Now, I have gained this talent too.

With Ice Heart added to Water Flow, Zhong Ming's cultivation time was extended once more.

That day, he cultivated in one stretch until around nine in the evening (reading, sword practice, and taking Earth Marrow Spirit Liquid in between).

With such prolonged cultivation, coupled with the Ice Heart Curse's blessing, Zhong Ming's Dragon Creek Breathing Technique progress surged by nearly 300 points in one go.

This made Zhong Ming suck in a breath. "That's a lot. For ordinary cultivators, raising their technique progress by 300 points would take at least a month, wouldn't it?"

The tremendous increase in his technique progress put Zhong Ming in an excellent mood.

The following day, Zhong Ming maintained his current cultivation pace and cultivated single-mindedly for the entire day.

As those two days passed, it became the seventh day since Zhong Ming and the others had arrived at Dragon Stream Peak—and also the final day for receiving a Class A rating!

"Phew..."

"Time really flies."

On the seventh day after entering the Seven Mysteries Sect, when Zhong Ming arrived at Dragon Stream Peak's cultivation grounds, he found the atmosphere there more tense than usual.

Especially around the family disciples occupying the springheads—the air surrounding them was particularly grave.

The ordinary disciples were also silently watching everything unfold.

Whether one received a Class A or Class B rating, their followers would be exempt from conscription by the Demon Suppressing Division.

But as long as they were not fools, everyone knew that becoming the follower of a Class A disciple meant a brighter future and greater safety.

At that moment, they were searching for those who had a chance of receiving a Class A rating.

Among them, some family disciples confident of receiving a Class B rating were also watching closely.

Unlike ordinary disciples, these family disciples had inside information. Thus, they knew that receiving a Class B rating would not keep them safe forever.

Or rather, there was no place of absolute safety in the entire Frost Moon Immortal Dynasty.

When the nest was overturned, no egg beneath it remained unbroken.

Ordinary disciples would have to enter the Demon Suppressing Division and fight Demons and Monsters. So would they, only a little later.

Unwilling to be treated as cannon fodder, these Class B disciples also wanted to attach themselves to some Class A geniuses.

The seventh day was indeed extremely important.

Even Senior Disciple Sister Mo Shuying did not leave after finishing her instruction.

However, her presence seemed to make everyone even more nervous.

Upon noticing this, she did not conceal her aura.

"A Class A rating means you will become true disciples of Dragon Stream Peak, the core that supports Dragon Stream Peak. If merely seeing me makes you this nervous, what use could you possibly be?"

With this in mind, not only did she fail to restrain her aura, she instead released a sharp and imposing pressure.

Yet when Zhong Ming arrived, Mo Shuying, who was radiating that pressure, froze in expression.

When the others saw Zhong Ming arrive, their expressions also became complicated.

At that hot-blooded age, beautiful women really were a source of trouble.

Especially when Xue Yao was not only beautiful but exceptionally talented, countless people pursued her.

Thus, Zhong Ming, whom she had chosen as her teammate, became the target of envy and jealousy for many people on Dragon Stream Peak.

However, Zhong Ming had not encountered much trouble these past two days.

For one thing, the Seven Mysteries Sect was a righteous and renowned sect, and Dragon Stream Peak had rules of its own.

Open fighting and killing, or plotting against fellow disciples—such sordid acts were difficult to find on Dragon Stream Peak.

Moreover, the Hundred Day Assessment made everyone devote all their energy to cultivation, leaving them little mind for anything else.

For another, those who grew jealous and wanted to provoke him—were driven off by Xue Yao.

Xue Yao had truly learned some things from Zhong Ming.

It was not merely the true intent of the dragon wyrm. After meals, Zhong Ming had also exchanged moves with Xue Yao several times using the Water Flow he had comprehended.

This was for Zhong Ming's own sake as well. A sword was an instrument of slaughter, and fighting others could increase his swordsmanship progress.

The unusual flowing sword left Xue Yao, who did not use spiritual power, completely unable to match Zhong Ming.

This also made Xue Yao deeply admire Zhong Ming.

When she discovered that someone had insulted a person she admired, simple-natured Xue Yao naturally could not endure it. Thus, Zhong Ming never needed to personally deal with the provocations from the people of Dragon Stream Peak.

At early Qi Condensation, with outstanding swordsmanship, she forcefully defeated those who provoked them.

She even declared that anyone who wished to challenge Zhong Ming would first have to get past her.

"..."

This left everyone speechless.

Yet after this happened, everyone began to see Zhong Ming as a pretty boy, and their jealousy toward him only grew stronger.

"Zhong Ming... what is so outstanding about him? Why did he win Xue Yao's heart?"

Some could not understand it, but others spoke up for Zhong Ming.

Still, Zhong Ming would rather not have heard what they said.

"Actually, Zhong Ming really does have quite a presence. Reading while drinking, practicing his sword at the same time—he's quite captivating..."

A Scholarly Demeanor paired with wine and a sword truly gave Zhong Ming an uninhibited, free-spirited air.

The young woman defending Zhong Ming left many people speechless, and made several others slap themselves hard across the face.

"Xue Yao said Zhong Ming is the strongest person on Dragon Stream Peak. I thought he really had ability, but it turns out beauty is in the eye of the beholder..."

"Smack! You just had to analyze it, had to imitate it. They're sweethearts praising each other—what could you possibly analyze from that?"

In short, Xue Yao's constant protection sent Zhong Ming's reputation plummeting at full speed toward that of a pretty boy.

That was also why Mo Shuying looked at Zhong Ming so speechlessly.

On the other side, Yi Yunya's gaze toward Zhong Ming and Xue Yao was equally strange, with a trace of lingering fear.

Good thing I didn't make a move that day. Otherwise, this time would have been truly troublesome.

Zhong Ming sensed everyone's complicated gazes. As for them... his heart remained as still as water.

Compared with fighting others or preserving a good reputation, Zhong Ming preferred cultivation, sword practice, and reading books.

It was precisely because of his attitude of ignoring all else and focusing solely on cultivation that Zhong Ming's reputation had fallen so quickly.

"But all this turmoil will end today."

Thinking this, Zhong Ming opened the Attribute Panel and looked over his status.

Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique: Realm 3, Mastery (639/13600)
Traits: 1. Quick Reflexes, 2. Water Flow

These were Zhong Ming's attributes. Though he had cultivated diligently these past days and read many cultivation insights, the short amount of time meant that none of his skills had made much of a breakthrough.

However, while his technique realm had not improved greatly, his Qi Sea Acupoint had been refined to its very limit through nourishment over these days.

"It's time... to break through."