The Luxury Convoy Departs, Tang San Can Only Walk

"Fine, but not tonight."

Teacher Zhao opened the door halfway; the lamplight on the desk illuminated the Registration Log, and he looked utterly exhausted.

Tang San stood outside the door, with Yu Xiaogang behind him.

"Make-up assessment tomorrow morning. A small, witnessed group. No students allowed to crowd around."

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward half a pace.

"Teacher Zhao, Tang San's talent is evident. Today was simply influenced by external factors."

Teacher Zhao flipped open the Registration Log.

"Mr. Yu, fine needles rolled into the student area today. I must record this in the academy's files."

Tang San raised a hand to press down on his sleeve.

"I won't use Hidden Weapons tomorrow morning. Only Blue Silver Grass."

Teacher Zhao paused for a moment.

"Very well."

Yu Xiaogang immediately followed up.

"I, as Grandmaster, will vouch for Tang San. His control path is without issue."

Teacher Zhao looked at the documents on the table.

"You can sign the guarantee, but the results will still be judged by the assessment teachers."

The next morning, only the inner circle of the Training Ground was opened.

Teacher Zhao, two other academy teachers, Ning Chuan, and a few others including Su Hang were all at the sidelines.

Xiao Chenyu and Wang Sheng were blocked outside the wooden fence, craning their necks to watch the spectacle.

"Boss Su, this make-up assessment is quite formal."

Wang Sheng hugged a bag of biscuits.

"Formal is better, saves those Poison Needles from coming out to visit again."

Ning Rongrong stood beside Su Hang, the Seven Treasures Token hanging at her waist.

"Uncle Ning Chuan is watching the field today; Tang San won't be able to hide anything else."

Xiao Wu huffed.

"Even if he doesn't hide Hidden Weapons, the Blue Silver Grass will cause trouble on its own."

In the center of the field, Tang San stood before the Stake-Winding Assessment Line.

Ten wooden stakes were arranged at intervals; the requirement was for the Blue Silver Grass to wind around them continuously without breaking, recoiling, or touching the red lines.

Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, forcing himself to maintain composure.

"Tang San, remember the rhythm."

Tang San nodded.

"Teacher, I am ready."

Teacher Zhao raised his hand.

"Begin."

A yellow soul ring lit up.

Blue Silver Grass sprouted from Tang San's palm, hugging the ground as it moved forward. It wound around the first stake, the grass blades pulled taut and flat.

The second and third stakes were also passed successfully.

The academy teacher lowered his head to record.

"Control path is clear, Poison Pattern is currently stable."

Yu Xiaogang immediately glanced toward Ning Rongrong.

"This is the fundamental value of the Control System."

Ning Rongrong did not respond.

Xiao Wu gripped Su Hang's sleeve and spoke in a low voice.

"Brother Su Hang, he's doing quite smoothly this time."

Su Hang watched the patch of Blue Silver Grass in the field, Dark Purple Lightning quietly spreading along the ground beneath his feet.

There was no sound.

Just a surge of soul power pressed forward, and the tips of the Blue Silver Grass beside the wooden stake faltered.

Tang San's right wrist went numb, and the winding path around the fourth stake deviated by half an inch.

Yu Xiaogang immediately sensed something was wrong; he flicked his sleeve, and Luo Sanpao emerged from behind him.

"Luo Sanpao, provide positioning support."

Luo Sanpao shook his head, spraying a burst of soul power airwaves toward the wooden stake.

The airwaves pushed the stray leaves of the Blue Silver Grass back within the line.

Outside the wooden fence, Xiao Chenyu nearly laughed out loud.

"Grandmaster's support style is certainly... flavorful."

Wang Sheng quickly covered his bag of flatbread.

"Stop talking, I'm still trying to eat."

Teacher Zhao looked down at his records, his pen tip pausing.

"Mr. Yu, teachers are not allowed to directly manipulate things for students during the assessment."

Yu Xiaogang immediately explained.

"I am merely stabilizing the soul power in the arena to prevent external interference."

Ning Rongrong tapped the Seven Treasures Token lightly.

"That sounds familiar; it seems like everything that goes wrong is always 'external interference'."

Xiao Wu chimed in quickly.

"Tang San is responsible for the growth, while others are responsible for taking the blame."

Tang San did not turn back, continuing to urge the Blue Silver Grass forward.

The fifth wooden stake, the sixth wooden stake—the grass leaves continued to move ahead.

Seeing that it was time to stop, Su Hang withdrew his Thunder Pressure.

The Blue Silver Grass stabilized once more, wound around the final few wooden stakes, and barely managed to return to the starting point.

Teacher Zhao looked toward the two academy teachers.

"How shall we determine the result?"

One of the teachers flipped through the records.

"The route was completed. There were fluctuations in the Poison Pattern during the process, and it veered off course at the fourth stake, only to be pushed back by external soul power."

The other teacher added a remark.

"No one was hurt, and no Hidden Weapon was used. It counts as a basic pass."

Teacher Zhao set his pen to the document.

"Tang San, observation pass."

Ning Rongrong blinked.

"An 'observation pass' sounds rather dangerous."

Tang San's expression darkened slightly, but he did not argue on the spot.

Yu Xiaogang tucked away the guarantee document.

"A pass is enough. Shrek will see your potential."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes.

"Barely staying on course is also called potential? Grandmaster's filter is quite thick."

Outside, Xiao Chenyu slapped the wooden fence.

"Sister Xiao Wu's summary is spot on. An 'observation pass'—it's all about getting on the bus first and doing the repairs later."

Wang Sheng nodded.

"The after-sales service for the Blue Silver Grass will have to keep up."

Teacher Zhao hurriedly organized the documents to prevent the situation from veering further off track.

"Student Su Hang, your Recommendation Pass was processed last night."

Su Hang stepped forward and took the document stamped with the academy's seal.

Ning Chuan also took a small seal from his sleeve and pressed it onto another Passage Paper.

"The Seven Treasures Travel Seal has been applied. The merchant guilds along the way can provide carriages, supplies, and lodging."

The students beside the Training Ground immediately grew rowdy.

"This level of prestige is too much."

"With an academy recommendation plus the Seven Treasures passage, he probably doesn't even have to wait in line while traveling."

Xiao Chenyu was so sour he slapped his thigh.

"Boss Su's situation is called luxury travel; Tang San's side is called basic hiking."

Wang Sheng handed over his bag of flatbread.

"Don't be sour. Even if you were, it wouldn't be your turn to ride in a carriage."

Tang San took his Academy Departure Certificate.

It was a thin sheet of paper, bearing only the basic seal of Notting Academy.

There were no resource recommendations, no chamber of commerce stamps, and no escort arrangements.

Yu Xiaogang took one look and immediately offered comfort.

"Tang San, a gap in resources is not to be feared. The harsher the conditions, the more it proves one's willpower."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu immediately turned her head.

"So if you can't get resources, you just brag about being miserable? Does that count as winning?"

Ning Rongrong followed up with a jab.

"In that case, the Seven Treasures shouldn't do business anymore; everyone should just go and suffer a bit."

Xiao Chenyu laughed so hard he had to lean against the wooden railing.

"Grandmaster's theory is certainly rich in its own brand of poverty."

Tang San tucked the Academy Departure Certificate into his pack.

"I will go to Shrek."

Su Hang tucked his travel permit into his robes.

"Fine."

Tang San looked up.

"Once I'm there, I will prove the value of the Control System all over again."

Su Hang turned and walked toward the academy gate.

"Just don't let your grass trip you up on the way."

Xiao Wu immediately followed.

"Brother Su Hang, that should be written on the back of his Academy Departure Certificate."

Ning Rongrong also walked over to the carriage.

"I suggest adding another stamp: 'Observation via special reminder'."

Ning Chuan stood by the carriage, helping them stow their luggage.

The Seven Treasures carriage was parked at the academy gate; the cabin was spacious, the wheels were wrapped in soft leather, and the curtains were embroidered with the Seven Treasures Pattern.

Xiao Wu scrambled inside first, claiming the seat in the back.

"Brother Su Hang, sit here."

Ning Rongrong boarded from the other side and tossed her small bag onto the seat.

"This young lady will sit opposite, so it's easier to ask about Shrek."

Xiao Wu glared at her immediately.

"Don't use 'asking questions' as an excuse to move closer."

Ning Rongrong huffed.

"Rest assured, I have no interest in your seat."

Xiao Chenyu and Wang Sheng stood by the gate to see Su Hang off.

"Boss Su, we'll hold down the fort."

Wang Sheng clutched his bag of biscuits and added, "And we'll guard the bed, too. Even if the little princess comes back to dismantle it, she'll have to wait in line."

Ning Rongrong poked her head out from behind the curtain.

"I'll remember you said that."

Xiao Chenyu immediately shoved Wang Sheng behind him.

"That was him; it has nothing to do with me."

On the other side, Tang San stood by the road with his pack on his back.

His sleeves were empty, and his pack was light.

Yu Xiaogang stood beside him, holding a standard travel permit.

"Let's go. Flender will give you a chance."

Tang San watched the Seven Treasures carriage pull out of the academy gate, dust kicking up behind the wheels.

"Teacher, I will catch up to them."

Yu Xiaogang nodded.

"Remember, the truly strong always rely on themselves."

Hearing this from inside the carriage, Xiao Wu couldn't help but poke her head out.

"Then you shouldn't be using the Seven Treasures Trade Route or the academy's travel permit, should you?"

Ning Rongrong burst into laughter.

"Rabbit, that line of yours was ruthless today."

Xiao Wu retreated back into the carriage.

"I was just telling the truth."

Before boarding the carriage, Su Hang paused for a moment.

High above Notting Academy, a heavy gaze pressed down from the shadows of the eaves, tracking the direction of the carriage.

Tang Hao.

The man had not gone far after all.

Su Hang lifted his foot to board, and before the curtain fell, he spoke indifferently.

"Stop looking, someone is following us."