Three-Grade Champion

Late autumn had come to Anping County, and fallen leaves lay desolate, but the mood in town burned hotter than midsummer.

Three days had passed since the Dao Academy Selection ended. For the candidates waiting with craned necks and their Lineages, every breath of those three days had been agony.

In streets and alleys, teahouses and taverns, everyone discussed the same question—who would make the list?

"Heard? They cut the places this year. The competition's ten times fiercer than before!"

“Tell me about it. I heard even the county magistrate's deputy's son, Young Master Wang, is on the brink. And that's the Wang Household, with all its deep reserves. If even he fails, Anping County's skies are going to change.”

"I'd put my money on that mysterious Rogue Cultivator, Li Han. Heard he showed his might in the Spellcraft Trial and swept through everyone with lightning arts."

"What about Chu Bai? Didn't they say he got full marks in the first trial?"

"Chu Bai? Just a boy from a poor family. He got lucky in the first trial, but the next two test your foundations. I wouldn't bet on him. Probably a flower that blooms for a day."

Under the surface, currents stirred through town. Underground gambling dens had even opened betting pools on the results.

On the morning the results were posted,

the sky was still dark, yet the square before Anping Examination Hall was already a sea of people.

In the drifting mist, countless eyes locked on the tightly shut vermilion gates.

The Wang Household had claimed the best spot. Wang Teng tried hard to look calm, but his fingers kept clenching, betraying his nerves.

Li Han stood alone, leaning against a stone pillar with his sword in his arms, his gaze cold.

Dressed in his blue-green robe, Chu Bai stood quietly with his parents at the edge of the crowd.

The hour of the dragon arrived with a bell toll and three drumbeats.

The Examination Institute's heavy gates slowly swung open with a tooth-grating scrape.

An official in government robes stepped onto the posting platform, escorted by two rows of black-armored soldiers. He held an enormous red list edged in gold, his expression solemn.

The entire square fell silent. Every breath seemed to vanish as countless gazes pierced the red scroll about to be unfurled.

It was the verdict on their fates.

A brush swept paste across the wall, and the red list bearing countless destinies was slowly mounted on the notice board.

"Look! Hurry, see if our young master's on there!"

The crowd erupted like boiling water. Those at the back shoved forward with all their might, while those in front fought to hold their ground.

People instinctively looked at the bottom of the list first. With only two places available this year, no one dared assume they had made the top two.

"Second place... Li Han!"

Someone read aloud, "Qi Gathering: Upper Grade B. Spirit Control: Lower A. Heart Inquiry: Upper Grade B. He actually got a Grade A rating!"

Li Han's taut body suddenly relaxed, and a smile of relief tugged at his lips.

I made it! Second place or not, getting into the Dao Academy meant rising to the heavens in a single step.

But the next moment, cries of disbelief burst from the crowd, followed by deathly wails.

"Third place... Wang Teng!"

"Qi Gathering: Upper Grade B. Spirit Control: Upper Grade B. Heart Inquiry: Middle Grade B!"

"He failed?!"

"Young Master Wang failed? How is that possible?"

Wang Teng's face drained white. As if his backbone had been pulled out, he staggered two steps back and nearly fell. The Wang Household's servants and elders looked ashen, as though mourning their own parents.

In previous years, third place would have guaranteed admission. This year, it meant elimination!

Then who had pushed the Wang Household's young master aside and taken the top spot?

Everyone jerked their heads up toward the name written in bold gold characters at the top of the list.

There were only a few lines, yet they weighed on everyone like a mountain, crushing the breath from their lungs.

First place: Chu Bai (Azure Cloud Academy)

Place of origin: Zhao Family Village, Anping County

Qi Gathering: Upper A!

Spirit Control: Lower A!

Heart Inquiry: Lower A!

Overall assessment: Three-Grade Champion. Admitted!

Silence.

Deathly silence.

The string of A grades seemed to have stunned everyone senseless.

Upper A in Qi Gathering meant full marks!

Lower A in Heart Inquiry was an exceptionally high rating that only the Dao Academy could award!

A grades in all three trials meant his Root Bone, comprehension, and character were flawless in every respect. He was a truly perfect genius!

"Three... three A grades?"

At last, someone broke the silence in a trembling voice. “Am I seeing things? Anping County actually produced a Three-Grade Champion?”

Boom!

The crowd erupted.

"Who's Chu Bai? I've never heard of him! Heavens, the first in fifty years!"

"How could anyone call him a nobody? He's a hidden dragon!"

Li Han stared at the all-A result, the hand cradling his sword trembling slightly.

He had always thought he had lost to luck. He had never imagined he had been outclassed in every respect.

Wang Teng looked even more ashen, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Chu Bai! That's Chu Bai!"

Gu Qinghe waved his arms wildly in the crowd, so excited he could barely speak. "That's my brother! Hahaha! My brother's the champion!"

Chu Bai gazed at those dazzling results, momentarily stunned before a surge of pride rose in him.

He had thought an Upper Grade B in the Heart Inquiry Trial would be good enough. He had never expected a Grade A rating.

At that moment, every hardship became a stone beneath his glory.

Just as the whole square roared with excitement,

County Commandant Zhang Cheng strode out of the Examination Institute with two Instructors. Ignoring the pale-faced Wang Teng, he walked straight through the crowd to Chu Bai.

The noisy crowd fell quiet once more.

"Chu Bai."

Before everyone, Zhang Cheng cupped his hands to the young man, a gesture of respect for a fellow practitioner and a genius. His voice rang like a bell. “Congratulations. Three-Grade Champion. Anping County has waited decades for a result like this. Today, you brought honor to Anping!”

At those words, the townspeople finally understood where things stood.

The County Commandant's courtesy meant this farmer's son had become one of the county's most important figures. From now on, even the authorities would have to show him respect.

County Commandant Zhang Cheng did not leave at once. He gestured for the Instructors behind him to step back, then looked at Chu Bai with gentle eyes and lowered his voice. "Chu Bai, your Water Method was exquisitely executed, and your foundations were remarkably solid. Do you already have a master?"

He had taken a liking to the talented young man.

If Chu Bai had been self-taught, Zhang Cheng would have considered taking him under his wing or recommending him to an old friend in the Prefectural City.

Chu Bai remained respectful and made no attempt to hide it. “My lord, I am already a disciple of Daoist Zhang at Azure Cloud Academy.”

"Daoist Zhang?"

Zhang Cheng paused, then realization dawned. Stroking his beard, he laughed. "So it was that old fellow. No wonder, no wonder! Your Spirit Water Needle bears a hint of his style, though it has a sharper edge. That old Daoist has a keen eye. He quietly took in such a fine disciple—he got himself quite a bargain."

Clearly, Zhang Cheng and Daoist Zhang were old acquaintances, and his words carried easy familiarity.

"With a renowned master guiding you, I can rest easy." Zhang Cheng nodded, then added meaningfully, "As for your Heart Inquiry Trial result... we examiners originally disagreed, but in the end we reported it to the Provincial Government's Dao Academy, where that great figure ruled on it personally. That 'Lower A' carries real weight."

Chu Bai's heart tightened. Only then did he learn of the twists behind his astonishing rating.

A great figure from the Dao Academy had ruled on it personally? What realm of power would someone like that have reached?

"Thank you for your guidance, my lord. I'll remember it," Chu Bai said, bowing solemnly.

"Go on. Don't let your gifts go to waste."

Zhang Cheng patted Chu Bai's shoulder, then departed with his entourage beneath the townspeople's awed gazes.