Silence!
Deathly silence.
Then.
Boom-
An explosive uproar nearly blew the roof off the Teaching Hall.
"Am I dreaming? She only received the Visualization Method yesterday, and she reached the introductory stage that very night?"
"Could the instructor be lying to us? How is that possible?"
"What kind of monster is she...?"
"Wait, what exactly did the instructor mean by an overall assessment of first grade?"
Utterly astonished voices rose one after another.
The news Instructor Wang revealed stirred towering waves in everyone's hearts, waves that would not settle for a long time.
Among the crowd, the previously calm Zhang Jing now looked as though he had seen a ghost.
What the hell?!
From receiving the Visualization Method to reaching the introductory stage, she only needed one night?
She must be cheating.
Even I... with the mysterious jade talisman's help and the Mind's Eye Dao Seed's support, still need a full ten days. The gulf between them was simply unimaginable.
As for whether that person might have obtained the Visualization Method beforehand-
That possibility existed for only an instant before Zhang Jing dismissed it.
He did not think she was that stupid. Cheating her way into such a conspicuous position-wasn't that courting death? Besides, if that really had happened, there was no way the Dao Academy would fail to uncover it.
"Is this what a supreme genius of this world looks like? She really is-"
For a moment, Zhang Jing did not know what to say.
The gap between people shouldn't... at least, it couldn't...
He had just been thinking that perhaps only those who could truly bulldoze through everything on talent alone could catch up with, or even surpass, the children of cultivation aristocratic clans in the Dao Academy's assessment.
And here was a living example, arriving right on cue.
One whose caliber exceeded his imagination, at that.
Having practiced the Visualization Method himself, Zhang Jing understood perfectly well that with such terrifying talent, whether this person named Shen Qingqing belonged to a cultivation aristocratic clan no longer mattered.
Meanwhile.
The four sitting at the very front wore different expressions.
The painted fan in Ji Bochang's hand moved slightly, his expression all but frozen.
The crucial point was that the fan was not open.
As for the other three, including Chu Lingyun-
The composure they had maintained all along was finally replaced by profound horror.
"First grade... first grade..."
The three murmured unconsciously.
Elsewhere.
The shock in his heart gradually faded.
Zhang Jing soon noticed something else: the overall assessment Instructor Wang had just mentioned.
First grade!
Right, Instructor Wang only explained the conditions for passing earlier. But obviously, any assessment must have rules for grading results. This must be it.
But... what are the rules?
Zhang Jing focused his gaze on Instructor Wang on the platform.
Sure enough.
Seeing everyone's reactions below, Instructor Wang immediately wore a smug expression that said, "I knew this would happen."
"All right," he called.
In an instant, silence returned to the Teaching Hall.
"That girl named Shen Qingqing possesses a special talent. You need only cultivate diligently and reach the introductory stage of the Visualization Method as soon as possible. There is no need to compare yourselves to her."
"As for the overall assessment-"
Instructor Wang paused, then continued in a solemn tone:
"Among those who pass the Dao Academy's assessment, results are divided into four grades-A, B, C, and D-according to how long they take to reach the introductory stage of the Visualization Method."
"Those who reach the introductory stage within three days are placed in first grade; within seven days, grade B; within fifteen days, third grade; and within thirty days, grade D."
"Upon entering the Outer Court, first-grade geniuses may select one upper-grade inheritance, those of grade B may select one middle-grade inheritance, and those of third grade may select one lower-grade inheritance."
"As for grade D, they may select one unranked inheritance."
With that, Instructor Wang looked at Ji Bochang and the other three at the front and said enviously:
"The higher your assessment grade, the more highly the Dao Academy values you. You four have a chance of obtaining a grade B assessment and may enter the Inner Academy in the future. Seize this opportunity, and never slack off."
"Yes, Instructor."
"As for you few," Instructor Wang said, turning to several others, "you may consider striving for a third-grade assessment."
"Understood. Thank you for your guidance, Instructor."
Then his gaze swept over everyone remaining, and he said mildly:
"Do not give up. It is still early, and you may yet pass the assessment. Once you enter the Dao Academy, even with only a grade D assessment, you can exchange sufficient accumulated Dao Merit for a precious upper-grade inheritance. Foundation Establishment will be within reach."
"In three days, the lecture will begin a quarter-hour after the start of the hour of the Hare!"
Having said that.
Without waiting for a response, Instructor Wang vanished from the spot in a flash.
Inside the Teaching Hall, everyone began leaving in twos and threes. Some were heavyhearted, others full of anticipation, their moods varied.
Before long, only Zhang Jing remained.
He sighed and muttered with considerable reluctance, "I still need nine days to reach the introductory stage of the Visualization Method. In other words... a third-grade assessment!"
"There's a huge difference between a middle-grade inheritance and a lower-grade inheritance. Not to mention the entirely different levels of importance the Dao Academy attaches to them."
"I'm just that little bit short~"
Zhang Jing felt somewhat hopeless.
But after turning it over in his mind, he still could not find any way to bridge that small gap and reach the introductory stage of the Visualization Method within seven days.
In the end...
Forget it. Third grade it is. At least it's better than grade D, Zhang Jing thought resignedly.
With the mysterious jade talisman, he only needed to cultivate steadily.
Gurgle-
He was rather hungry, though.
The Spirit Cuisine Hall.
Zhang Jing counted the silver in his hand, his brow tightly furrowed.
"Twenty-five taels and three mace left. I have to say, the food at the Spirit Cuisine Hall really is expensive. Even a little costs three or four mace of silver."
After that casual complaint.
Zhang Jing strode into the Spirit Cuisine Hall.
A man had to eat, didn't he?
Besides, perhaps because he had exhausted his mental energy too much, he found that if he ate the dry provisions in his bundle, he would be hungry again in less than four hours.
Although the Spirit Cuisine Hall's meals were somewhat expensive, they kept hunger at bay for a long time.
The Spirit Cuisine Hall was divided into eastern and western dining halls.
The western hall was larger, and all its meals could be bought with silver; the eastern hall was smaller, and its food was reportedly made from spirit beast meat and spirit rice, providing tremendous nourishment, but requiring Spirit Stones.
"Brother Zhang, over here."
Zhang Jing was about to head to the western hall when Ji Bochang unexpectedly grabbed him and pulled him into the eastern hall.
"Brother Ji, I can't afford to eat here."
Zhang Jing smiled awkwardly.
"I have something to ask you this time, Brother Zhang, so naturally, it's my treat." Ji Bochang laughed heartily, waving his fan painted with an erotic scene ever more frequently.
At a glance, the two naked immortal maidens on it seemed to be dancing.
"Brother Ji, just tell me what's on your mind."
Seated upright before a table carved from dark green jade, Zhang Jing asked curiously.
"Er, I just wanted to ask, Brother Zhang, are you... confident you can pass the assessment?"
"Oh? What do you mean, Brother Ji?"
A peculiar gleam flashed through Zhang Jing's eyes.
"Since you asked, Brother Zhang, I won't hide it. Earlier, on the Spirit Crane's back, I was forced to make a bet with Wu Mingyuan on whether you could pass the assessment."
"And I bet that you could!"
"Why would you bet on that?" Zhang Jing's eyes widened.
"I don't know what madness got into him either."
"What are the stakes?"
Zhang Jing took a deep breath and asked.
"Twenty Spirit Stones."
"How many? Twenty Spirit Stones!" Zhang Jing's voice rose involuntarily.
"That's right. Hurry and tell me whether you're confident, Brother Zhang. If you are, I'll raise the stakes and take him for a haul. We'll split the Spirit Stones evenly afterward. If not, I'll find a way to wriggle out of it."
"I am!"
Zhang Jing spoke with ironclad certainty.
While they talked, the food had already been brought to the table.
"Brother Zhang, give it a taste?" Ji Bochang gestured.
When it came to eating at a rich man's expense, Zhang Jing never stood on ceremony.
He picked up a slice of spirit beast meat and put it in his mouth, mumbling, "Brother Ji, you must find a way to raise the stakes. I'm absolutely certain I can pass the assess-"
His words stopped abruptly.
To his amazement, Zhang Jing discovered that the instant he swallowed the spirit beast meat, a warm current rapidly spread through his limbs and every bone in his body.
His qi and blood surged.
At the same time, the mental energy he had depleted earlier was recovering bit by bit.
"Is this the effect of spirit beast meat?!"
Zhang Jing was suddenly astonished.
He seemed to glimpse hope of obtaining a grade B assessment!
P.S. I worked overtime today, so the update was a little late. Sorry~
Before you continue