Exactly Tenth Place (Requesting Follows Monthly Tickets Recommendation Tickets)

From then on, Zhou Ling practiced drawing inscriptions every night. Though he was sometimes puzzled, with the [Basic Analysis] talent, he was still able to figure things out quickly.

He improved rapidly in inscriptions, while the [Born to Excel] talent continuously raised his proficiency as well.

In less than ten days, Zhou Ling had already mastered the drawing of several basic inscription patterns, including fire, earth, and wood.

He could be considered to have entered the gate of inscription cultivation.

For an ordinary Rogue Cultivator, such progress in ten days was absolutely unimaginable.

And the key point was that Zhou Ling had not received guidance from any famous master.

He had explored everything on his own, aided only by his talent.

According to the cultivation guide issued by the Dao Academy, being able to get started in skills such as runes, inscription patterns, and array patterns within a month already counted as exceptional talent.

Yet he had done it in merely ten days—didn't that make his talent astonishing?

Of course, Zhou Ling knew his own aptitude well and did not feel the slightest bit proud.

Without the support of his talents, he might not have reached this level even in three months.

Afterward, he began trying to draw two inscription patterns.

Fortunately, as his proficiency in inscription patterns increased, the Spiritual Energy consumed during the drawing process decreased somewhat.

Each day, he could still maintain a pace of drawing two or three inscription patterns.

And so, another two months passed.

Zhou Ling was already able to draw three inscription patterns, though due to his low cultivation, his Success Rate was not very stable.

But with the support of [Born to Excel], as long as he raised his proficiency—

Once his proficiency reached a certain level, the Spiritual Energy he consumed would grow less and less.

In the blink of an eye, the Dao Academy assessment day arrived.

Becoming a disciple of the key Daoist class came with many benefits.

First of all, the Study Hall was covered by a top-grade first-rank spiritual vein, making the spiritual energy denser and more beneficial to cultivation.

And the tuition was actually cheaper. It had originally been five Low-grade Spirit Stones per month.

After entering the key Daoist class, it was only three Low-grade Spirit Stones instead.

Second, dedicated Instructors would assist them in cultivating their skills.

The teaching staff was simply on a completely different level from that of the ordinary classes.

Take Liu Yan, for example. Although she was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation, her main field was Array Formation.

Thus, her guidance in Zhou Ling's study of Artifact Crafting was limited.

If not for the support of his talents, Zhou Ling could not possibly have successfully drawn three inscription patterns in just three months.

Of course, for Zhou Ling, the key was that he could earn more prize money and lessen his parents' burden!

Today was a grand day for Zhou Ling's family.

Li Ru took the day off and got up early to prepare a lavish breakfast for her son.

Zhou Shan had also rushed back through wind and dust last night.

He had even prepared a first-rank lower-grade Purple Spirit Grass for Zhou Ling.

Zhou Ling was already full after eating a large bowl of rice, a bowl of Fire Pattern Chicken medicinal soup, and two large chicken legs.

But Li Ru still forcibly stuffed both chicken wings into his bowl.

Zhou Ling could only eat them all.

After breakfast, the two personally escorted Zhou Ling to the Dao Academy and told him not to be too nervous.

With assessments like this, all he had to do was give it his all!

Knowing how concerned his parents were, Zhou Ling obediently nodded in agreement.

He did not feel there was anything to be nervous about.

In the Dao Academy assessments over the years, he had basically always placed within the top three in the Study Hall.

Although his Spiritual Energy Cultivation did not hold much of an advantage now, the gap was not great either.

Zheng Youwei, for example, had opened sixteen Spiritual Acupoints by now, five more than Zhou Ling.

Though there was a gap, it was not one that could not be bridged.

He could fully rely on his advantage in skills.

Of course, there were also some especially outstanding ones. Xin'er, for instance, was already at the Third Layer of Qi Condensation.

But after all, such people were few. Among this batch of disciples, there would not be more than five.

Most were still at the first or second layer of Qi Condensation.

Most were at the first level.

After bidding his parents farewell, Zhou Ling entered the Dao Academy.

"Dear, do you think Ling'er can get into the key Daoist class?"

Watching Zhou Ling enter the Dao Academy, Li Ru's eyes held both concern and anticipation.

Her expectations for Zhou Ling were not high. As long as he could enter the key Daoist class, that would be enough.

As for making the top ten, she had automatically dismissed the thought.

After all, the competition was simply too fierce.

Not to mention those Scions of Noble Families—even among Rogue Cultivators, most children came from families better off than theirs.

Besides Spirit Food and beast meat, they were usually provided with a certain amount of pills as assistance.

Yet they had never bought Zhou Ling any pills.

Zhou Shan gently took Li Ru's hand. "Ling'er takes after you. He's not only good-looking, but clever and bright too. He'll definitely get into the key Daoist class."

Li Ru hurriedly pulled her hand back, her face flushing faintly. They were out in public, after all, yet she could not help the smile that spread across her face.

Thinking back on it now, their son had seemed never to give them much cause for worry from the day he was born until now.

It was already early summer. The sun gradually rose, and the weather was beginning to turn a little hot.

Besides the couple, many other parents were waiting nearby, all of them patient.

At the end of the Hour of the Snake, a bell rang within the Dao Academy.

The waiting crowd all headed toward the Dao Academy gates.

Groups upon groups of children streamed out through the gates like a tide.

Some wore smiles, some had faces clouded with worry, and some had already burst into tears...

Truly, some rejoiced while others grieved.

"Ling'er!"

Before long, Li Ru and Zhou Shan spotted Zhou Ling among the crowd.

Li Ru looked at him with concern.

"Father, Mother, Ranked Tenth exactly!"

Zhou Ling walked briskly up to Li Ru and Zhou Shan, impatiently handing his score sheet to Li Ru.

In the Spiritual Power test, although he had only activated eleven Spiritual Acupoints, his Internal Spiritual Power was sufficiently pure due to cultivating the Spirit Flame Art.

Thus, he had also received a Grade A evaluation.

As for the crucial Skill assessment, he had successfully inscribed three flame Inscription Patterns in one go, earning a Ranked Sixth result.

After the overall assessment, he had barely managed to take tenth place.

But that was already enough for him.

After all, he only had a Low-Grade Spiritual Root and was born into a Rogue Cultivator family. If he had taken one of the top three places, he would certainly have drawn the attention of the Dao Academy's higher-ups.

When that time came, his peaceful life would inevitably be shattered, and he likely would not be able to continue cultivating so quietly.

After all, he carried quite a few secrets. Encountering high-level cultivators could easily lead to trouble.

The reason he wanted to enter the key Daoist class and place in the top ten was merely to obtain the Dao Academy's reward money and lessen his parents' burden.

Therefore, making the top ten was enough.

Of course, this was already the utmost effort he could make at present.

He knew what his parents hoped for, and these results would be enough to make them happy for a while.

This was also the best thing Zhou Ling could do for his parents at the moment.

Looking at the score sheet, both Li Ru and Zhou Shan let out a breath of relief, then beamed with delight.

"Ling'er, well done!"

Relief shone in Li Ru's eyes, and her heart swelled with emotion.

She recalled how, while pregnant, she had been forced by livelihood to enter the mountains with her belly heavy, only to encounter a Black Fur Wolf.

Her son had nearly come to harm.

Fortunately, it had ended in a false alarm, but the child had remained frail and weak all these years.

This was what made her feel so deeply guilty.

Yet she had never expected her son to be so promising. Not only had he tested into the Dao Academy's key Daoist class, but he had also made the top ten.

Unable to hold back any longer, tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes.

"Let's head back first!"

Seeing his wife's emotional expression, Zhou Shan waved with a broad smile as well.

Then he took Zhou Ling's hand and left the bustling crowd together with his wife.