Chapter 12

The combat strength of second-tier demonic beasts was several times greater still.

Jiang Shiyi looked at Xu Jintang approvingly and nodded. "That's a good suggestion. Since your current combination can already crush first-tier demonic beasts with ease, fighting them again won't help you improve much. Besides, the second-tier demonic beasts in the simulated battlefield aren't that terrifying."

Knowing that speaking up would do no good, Song Tianqi sighed softly, shut his mouth, and buried himself in his meal.

Song Duoduo quickly nodded. "The class monitor and Sister Shiyi have a point. Let's try it next time."

After getting their food, Xu Bohan and his two teammates sat down on the other side.

Yao Wenna's gaze fell on Xu Jintang's table, a trace of resentment flashing in her eyes. She forcefully picked up a piece of tofu, put it in her mouth, and chewed hard, as though she were biting Xu Jintang.

"This soup tastes good. I'll get you all a bowl to try." Gao Boshan smiled as he served everyone soup.

After all the afternoon practical combat classes ended, word gradually spread that Xu Jintang's and Xu Bohan's teams had finished their tasks ahead of time.

"Whoa, I thought Xu Bohan's team finishing in under twenty minutes was already outrageous. Song Tianqi's team actually came out in less than five?"

"If I'd known Song Tianqi was this strong, I'd have teamed up with him too."

"Xu Bohan's and Song Tianqi's teams are definitely going to face off in this academy assessment. We're in for a good show."

Meanwhile, in the teachers' office.

Jiang Lu smiled, lifted his teacup, and took a sip. "No wonder Leikedasi gave him special admission. The damage from Song Tianqi's skill really is terrifying."

Huang Binhan turned off the combat replay from the simulated battlefield and sat down across from him. "The students are surpassing their teachers. The future belongs to these kids."

As the two were reflecting on this, a knock suddenly came at the door.

"Sir, I'm here to submit our team roster," Xu Jintang's voice came from outside.

"Come in," Jiang Lu replied.

The door opened, and Xu Jintang walked up to Jiang Lu, smiling as she held out the roster. "Sir, we've confirmed the three members of our team."

Jiang Lu took the roster from her and lowered his eyes to scan it.

[Captain]: Xu Jintang

[Members]: Song Tianqi, Song Duoduo

"Good." Jiang Lu nodded.

That afternoon, more and more students began submitting their team rosters. After collecting them all, Jiang Lu smiled and looked at Huang Binhan.

"I have a feeling this academy assessment is going to be exciting."

Huang Binhan leaned against the back of his chair, interest showing on his face. "Yes, it's worth looking forward to."

In previous years, the academy assessments had been more like a bunch of children fighting back and forth, playing house. Naturally, the teachers hadn't been particularly interested.

But this year's third-year students were stronger overall than those in previous years.

And with Song Tianqi added as an unpredictable factor, everything had become more interesting.

Inside the girls' dormitory.

Xu Jintang sat cross-legged at the edge of her bed, her hands resting on her knees as she closed her eyes and breathed slowly.

Blue threads of mental power enveloped her.

The powerful fluctuations of mental power even distorted the surrounding air for an instant.

Half an hour later, Xu Jintang slowly exhaled a stale breath and stopped cultivating.

Ability users not only had to practice their practical combat skills, but also had to cultivate their mental power levels.

After all, the more mental power they possessed, the more powerful the ability energy they could unleash.

But Xu Jintang's mental power hadn't increased in a long time.

"Strange. I've been cultivating all winter break and up until now, so why does it feel like my mental power hasn't improved at all? Brother Long, do you know what's going on?"

The Ice Soul Dragon, who had just woken up, yawned and replied, "Your sea of consciousness is inherently three times as large as other people's. Naturally, your cultivation will be slower."

Xu Jintang froze. She had almost forgotten about that.

"Does that mean I'll always cultivate three times as slowly as other people?"

The sea of consciousness was like a vessel for mental power. Only when mental power completely filled it would an ability user advance to the next level.

If the sea of consciousness was larger, filling it completely would require more time than other people needed.

The Ice Soul Dragon replied, "That's right, but there are advantages too. For example, at the same tier, your mental power reserves will be twice those of others, giving you greater staying power."

Xu Jintang sighed softly and rubbed between her brows. "But this cultivation speed is far too slow. It's been almost two months, and it feels like nothing has changed."

The Ice Soul Dragon said, "The path of cultivation isn't as simple as you think. Going a little slower isn't necessarily a bad thing."

After resting for a while, Xu Jintang soon crossed her legs again and resumed cultivating.

On that quiet night, the dormitory remained brightly lit.

With no classes over the weekend, Xu Jintang also found time to inscribe some buff inscriptions. They could slightly increase her cultivation speed. The improvement wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

As a new week arrived, Dawn Academy's third-year students faced their first assessment since the start of the term.

At the lectern in Class One's classroom, Jiang Lu swept a serious gaze over everyone.

"The academy places great importance on this assessment. The rewards for the top three are more generous than in previous years."

"Our class isn't the only one eyeing these rewards. Students from the other classes are after them too. Who ultimately takes them home will depend on your own efforts."

That afternoon, the draw for the elimination-round matchups began.

Thirty-two teams were participating, and the first round of the assessment was an elimination round that would narrow them down to sixteen.

Teams that lost this round would be eliminated outright and would not qualify for the remaining assessment rounds.

At the academy's arena area.

Over a hundred teachers and students gathered below the arena, each class forming its own group, making up three groups from Class One, Class Two, and Class Three.

The academy had appointed Huang Binhan as the chief examiner for this assessment, responsible for overseeing the entire process.

"Team captains from Class One, step out and come forward to draw lots."

Xu Jintang stepped forward, approached the draw box, and quickly pulled out a number token. It was number one.

Huang Binhan explained, "There are sixteen numbers in the box. Teams that draw the same number will face each other. The assessment will proceed in order from one to sixteen."

Xu Bohan drew number ten.

His gaze darkened slightly. He glanced at Xu Jintang, put away his number token, and returned to his team without a word.

Xu Jintang returned to her team with her number token.

"Then our opponents will be number one. Song Tianqi, keep an eye out and see which team draws number nine," Song Duoduo said, poking Song Tianqi.

"Got it." Song Tianqi raised his head and stood slightly on tiptoe to look toward the drawing area.

Before long, a captain from the neighboring Class Two raised the number token in his hand and shouted, "We're number one! Who else has the same number?"

Song Tianqi immediately raised his hand. "Over here! We're number one."

Xu Jintang turned to look.

The boy who had spoken wore rectangular glasses and had black hair in a crew cut. His smile had a refined, scholarly air.

He waved to them in greeting.

Xu Jintang also smiled politely and waved back.

Huang Binhan glanced over the two teams and said, "The two teams that drew number one can get onto the arena and prepare. The elimination round begins in five minutes."

Below the arena, Class Two's homeroom teacher walked over to Jiang Lu with a smile. "What a coincidence. Our two classes are facing off in the very first elimination match. Enemies really do meet on a narrow road."

Jiang Lu glanced at him expressionlessly. "Then your class's team is in trouble. They drew Song Tianqi's team in the very first match."

Jiang Zhongtian's lips curved slightly. "Don't speak too soon. This team from our class is well prepared too. They might just beat Song Tianqi."

"You seem to have forgotten something, Mr. Jiang." Jiang Lu smiled faintly, looking perfectly at ease. "This team also has our class's Xu Jintang. Targeting Song Tianqi alone won't do you any good."

Sensing the subtle tension between the two teachers, the surrounding students all lowered their heads and remained silent.

Word that Jiang Lu and Jiang Zhongtian didn't get along had long since spread throughout the academy.

Whenever a year-level assessment was involved, the two would always compete.

Chapter 12

The smile gradually vanished from Jiang Zhongtian's face before he sneered. "I know you favor Xu Jintang, Mr. Jiang, but she only awakened a support ability. No matter how highly you regard her now, it won't make any difference."

Completely unfazed, Jiang Lu continued, "Do you look down on our support abilities, Mr. Jiang? On the battlefield, could you charge forward so fearlessly without us support users handling logistics?"

"Don't twist my words. I never said that!" Jiang Zhongtian immediately bristled and retorted loudly.

When it came to individual combat alone, offensive abilities were certainly stronger.

But on a battlefield, enemies were endless. Even the most powerful fighters needed logistical support, or there would always come a time when their mental power ran dry.

Jiang Lu silently turned his gaze toward Xu Jintang, who was already standing in the arena.

His ability was also a support type. Even so, he had never considered himself inferior to anyone else.

And so, he had never considered Xu Jintang inferior to anyone either.

Xu Jintang stood on the left side of the arena, loosening her wrists and ankles.

Song Tianqi and Song Duoduo stood on either side of her.

The three maintained their triangular formation.

Before long, Class Two's team came up from the other side of the arena.

Leading them was Xue Haoqiong, the captain who had drawn their number earlier.

He pushed up the glasses on his nose and smiled at Xu Jintang and her teammates. "Hello, I'm Class Two's vice class monitor, Xue Haoqiong."

Xu Jintang stopped warming up and returned a polite smile. "I'm Xu Jintang."

Song Tianqi and Song Duoduo each stepped forward and introduced themselves.

"Song Tianqi."

"Hello, I'm Song Duoduo."

Having finished overseeing the draw, Huang Binhan tensed his face, suddenly sprang into the air, and leaped onto the two-meter-high arena.