Scholarships

"These 20 points of experience were the explosive result of multiple factors combining!"

He quickly ran through the possibilities in his mind.

The key was fighting beyond his limits against a stronger opponent.

The last time he had gone all out like this, risking life and limb against someone far stronger than himself, had been the midterm exam more than half a semester ago.

The potential unleashed under extreme pressure might have been the most fundamental catalyst.

The boost from Absolute Focus and the foundation laid by Once Proven, Forever Proven.

Together, they had given him an exceptionally high starting point in learning the Rainbow Light Blade Art and applying it in actual combat, clearing away many basic obstacles.

The powerful external pressure and mental willpower driven by his goal might also have provided a boost that could not be ignored.

"In the end, it all comes down to insight. A pure, no-holds-barred fight for survival was the spark; Absolute Focus was the magnifying glass; Once Proven, Forever Proven was the bedrock; pressure was the fuel... Every factor was indispensable. Together, they had brought about this precious leap of 20 experience points."

As Li Wen considered the various possibilities and rubbed his throbbing temples, he made his way toward the bustling Final Exam Square.

The crowd in the square and the outline of the enormous screen in the distance came into view. He was about to become the focus of everyone's attention.

The winter sun cast a golden-red glow over the bustling campus square, but the high school seniors' enthusiasm was clearly hotter than the sunlight.

When Li Wen emerged from the virtual exam area and headed back toward Class 21, his appearance was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples surging outward.

"Li Wen!"

"You're incredible, Li Wen!"

"Holy crap, you really made it into the top thirty?!"

A burst of cheers and gasps erupted from Class 21's section, echoing the thrilling battle against the Green-Clad Man that had just played out on the big screen.

They had witnessed a classmate rise from obscurity to display astonishing skill, even battling for a long time against a Virtual Human with a Peak Technique - Minor Accomplishment. That powerful sense of collective pride and shared excitement surged through every Class 21 student.

Even the classmates who were usually quiet now looked at Li Wen with eager excitement.

"You're freaking amazing! Who would've expected this?"

"I never... I never saw it coming..."

"Tell us, what was it like facing that guy in green? Was the pressure insane?" Wei Wu pushed his way forward and excitedly patted Li Wen on the shoulder, his face brimming with curiosity.

Li Wen had just sat down amid the cheers and hadn't yet caught his breath enough to answer when the students from Class 20 nearby were drawn to the commotion. One after another, they craned their necks to peer over.

"What's going on with Class 21? Why are they so excited?"

"Who's that guy? Why's everyone making such a fuss over him? He looks unfamiliar."

"Did he do well in the exam? Did anyone see?" Questions rippled through the crowd, and curiosity quickly took root.

Just then, a shrill voice rang out from the Class 20 crowd, tinged with sudden realization and rising above the din.

"I remember now! Li Wen! He's that Li Wen!" Everyone's eyes instantly snapped toward the student who had shouted.

"Which Li Wen?"

"The one from Class 21." The Class 20 student who had called out looked incredulous as he struggled to recall,

"The one who... practiced an advanced blade art for a whole semester without even reaching Initiation. I remember Huang Yu and Wang Ruiming used to mention him all the time, saying he trained harder than anyone, but it was just... just such a struggle for him!"

At his words, the floodgates of memory seemed to swing open.

"Ah! Him?"

"Right, right! There was someone like that. I think his name was Li Wen."

"What?! Him?!" Shock spread across the faces of even more Class 20 students. They looked at Li Wen, then at their classmates, hardly able to connect the image of that "hardworking but fruitless" boy in their memories with this youngster who had dazzled everyone at the exam and even drawn a teacher to seek him out in person.

Low gasps and whispers quickly spread. "You're kidding. That Li Wen's gotten so strong? It's only been..."

The clamorous chatter closed in around Li Wen like a rising tide. Just as he was struggling to keep up with everyone's enthusiasm and curious questions, a savior appeared right on time.

Wang Hu's burly figure parted the crowd as he strode over from a distance, heading straight for the Class 21 gathering.

His booming voice carried its usual unquestionable authority, but there was warmth in it too. "Li Wen!"

Wang Hu beckoned to Li Wen, who was at the center of the crowd, and called out in a loud, powerful voice, "Come over here a moment."

Seeing Wang Hu, Li Wen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He just wanted to get away from the noisy crowd.

"Oh, sure, Teacher Wang." He quickly stood up from the bench, ignoring his classmates' curious questions, and jogged through the crowd to Wang Hu.

"Teacher Wang, did you need me?" he asked respectfully, with a hint of uncertainty.

"Mm, come with me." Wang Hu looked at the tired but bright-eyed boy and nodded in satisfaction. He patted Li Wen's shoulder with his broad hand, his steady touch carrying encouragement. "I have some good news for you."

"Good news?" Li Wen paused, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes. He had just finished a grueling exam. Other than improving his skills, what good news could there be?

Wang Hu didn't keep him waiting. He lowered his voice and came straight to the point. "It's about the scholarship."

Scholarship!

"My scholarship?!" Li Wen's voice rose slightly despite himself, and his eyes instantly shone as he stared at Wang Hu.

What did he need most right now? Money!

The expensive Qi-Blood Potions he needed for cultivation cost money! His father's illness, which he had been hiding but was growing more serious, needed money! His family's straitened circumstances needed money! This had been a heavy stone weighing on his heart for a long time.

A scholarship? It was just what he needed!

"That's right." Looking at the boy's eagerness and delight, Wang Hu's eyes held a note of satisfaction too.

"I just went to the principal's office. Principal Huang saw your exam performance."

He deliberately emphasized the principal's praise, without taking any credit for himself.

"He was very pleased. He personally instructed us to have you apply for this semester's Second-Class Scholarship."

The Second-Class Scholarship.

Ten thousand Huaxia Coins! He remembered every scholarship tier and its exact amount. There were four levels:

The Special-Class Scholarship: fifty thousand Huaxia Coins per year.

The First-Class Scholarship: twenty thousand Huaxia Coins per year.

The Second-Class Scholarship: ten thousand Huaxia Coins per year.

The Third-Class Scholarship: five thousand Huaxia Coins per year.

His family was struggling financially, so he had always received financial aid from the school.

His grades and martial skills had always ranked in the lower half of the class. A scholarship? That was something he could only envy.