Chapter 22

Xu Jintang also looked up, waiting for Liu Hongfang's answer.

Liu Hongfang turned his gaze to Xu Jintang. "Both your teams' moves were very powerful, and I personally experienced each of them just now. Shangguan Lang's team used Storm Vortex, which gathered wind elements, while Xu Jintang's team used Crimson Flame Fireball, which gathered a large amount of fire elements."

"If I hadn't sent you off the arena beforehand, the Crimson Flame Fireball would have swallowed the Storm Vortex first, and the remaining crimson flames would have continued attacking Shangguan Lang's team."

"And all three members of Shangguan Lang's team had completely exhausted their mental power, leaving them unable to resist the attack."

"So, Xu Jintang's team wins this match."

Liu Hongfang was a fifth-tier expert. His judgment could not be wrong.

A bitter look came over Shangguan Lang's face.

He had thought they stood a chance with Xu Jintang's team down a member, but they had still lost.

Still, he could also feel that the move his three-person team had used together had exhausted all their mental power.

Yet Xu Jintang clearly still had strength to spare.

It was only natural that they had lost this match.

After announcing the result, Liu Hongfang made a point of glancing at Xu Jintang.

He had sensed a faint trace of the ice attribute in Song Tianqi's Crimson Flame Fireball just now. That opposing elemental force had increased the Crimson Flame Fireball's damage by at least fifty percent.

Song Tianqi could not possibly possess ice-attribute power as well, so this could only have come from Xu Jintang.

It seemed her ability was indeed showing signs of evolution.

"Class monitor, we won!" Song Tianqi turned and hugged Xu Jintang excitedly, shouting without restraint.

At that moment, every gaze in the venue focused on the two of them, filled with excitement, shock, and all kinds of complicated emotions.

"They actually won two against three. Song Tianqi's ability is way too terrifying."

"A Class One team won the championship again this year. Mr. Jiang is going to be furious again. Who knows how he'll lecture us when we get back?"

"I knew Xu Jintang's team would win. They crushed Xu Bohan's team yesterday. They really are strong."

Jiang Lu came down from the spectator stands and walked over to Xu Jintang. "Neither of you got hurt, did you?"

Xu Jintang quickly shook her head. "No."

Song Tianqi said, "Neither did I!"

Something suddenly occurred to Song Tianqi. Scratching his head, he looked at Jiang Lu. "Sir, since we won the championship, about that written reflection..."

Jiang Lu glanced at him. "Winning today's match is certainly something to be happy about, but..." His tone shifted, and his expression darkened. "Did you two just let my words go in one ear and out the other? I told you to stay safe, and you caused such a huge commotion in the arena. Do you have a death wish?"

Song Tianqi's smile vanished immediately, and he hurriedly hid behind Xu Jintang.

Xu Jintang gave a couple of awkward laughs and explained, "Well, Director Liu was there. He's so powerful, we knew he would protect us."

Jiang Lu stared at them and continued, "Hand in your written reflections before the day after tomorrow."

With that, he swept his sleeve and turned to leave.

Still, it was clear that he was in a good mood. After all, students from his class had won the championship again.

On the other side, Dean Wang and Liu Hongfang also quietly left.

"Dean, should we call Xu Jintang in for a talk?" Liu Hongfang had already reported his discovery of the ice attribute to the dean.

With his hands behind his back, Dean Wang smiled. "No need. Everyone has their own fate. Whether her ability can evolve in the future isn't something we can determine with a conversation."

Liu Hongfang nodded in agreement. "That's true."

After walking some distance, Dean Wang remembered something and brought it up himself. "These children performed well this year. I'll personally arrange the rewards for the champions and the top three teams."

Surprise flashed in Liu Hongfang's eyes, and he said with a smile, "This year's students are in luck."

After the match ended, Song Tianqi's reputation soared, and his classmates surrounded him in the arena area, showering him with praise.

Jiang Shiyi had also come to watch the finals that day. She skirted the crowd and approached Xu Jintang. "I promised you rewards if you won the championship."

She handed over three cards. "These are three free-purchase cards for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, one for each of you. Whatever you want, you can use this card to cover the cost."

Xu Jintang froze for a moment.

She knew about the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. It was another store under the Have You Earned Money? platform, positioned more toward high-end luxury goods.

As such, the items sold at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion were rarer and more precious, and their prices were correspondingly many times higher.

A single free-purchase card was worth at least tens of thousands of star coins.

Yet Jiang Shiyi had given them three at once.

Xu Jintang accepted the cards and smiled back. "Thank you, Sister Shiyi."

She marveled inwardly, So she's a rich lady.

Just then, Song Tianqi finally broke free of the crowd.

He grabbed Jiang Shiyi and Xu Jintang and sprinted away. "Go, go! These people have gone crazy!"

"Song Tianqi! Don't forget us when you strike it rich! When you're at Leikedasi, don't forget your old classmates!" Shouts erupted from the crowd.

Only after shaking off the pursuing crowd did the three dare to stop, hiding off to the side and gasping for breath.

Xu Jintang took out a free-purchase card and pressed it into Song Tianqi's hand. "Here. Sister Shiyi gave us these as rewards for winning the championship."

Song Tianqi examined the card in surprise. "A free-purchase card for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion? These aren't easy to get."

Jiang Shiyi glanced at him. "The assessment is over, and Mr. Zhuang has told me to bring you back to Leikedasi. Pack your things. We leave the day after tomorrow."

"Why so suddenly?" Song Tianqi froze.

Jiang Shiyi said, "Dawn Academy's teaching is no longer of much use to you, and you don't need to take the All-Star-Region Joint Examination. Staying here any longer would only waste time."

Her words reminded Xu Jintang.

There was not much time left before the All-Star-Region Joint Examination.

Song Tianqi looked reluctantly at Xu Jintang. "Class monitor, then... I have to leave the day after tomorrow."

Xu Jintang patted his shoulder. "It's fine. We'll see each other at Leikedasi."

"You're applying to Leikedasi?" Song Tianqi's eyes lit up.

Jiang Shiyi also turned her gaze toward her.

Xu Jintang nodded. "Yes, I'm applying to Leikedasi."

Chapter 22

Jiang Shiyi nodded to her. "Welcome."

"Great! Then we'll see each other when school starts." Song Tianqi scratched the back of his head, his reluctance vanishing in an instant.

The day after the placement assessment ended, Dean Wang personally received Xu Jintang and Song Tianqi.

"I called you here today to hand out the placement assessment rewards. Since your other teammate is still recovering from her injuries, you can collect hers on her behalf."

Dean Wang's face was full of smiles, and his manner of speaking was warm and approachable.

With that, he waved his hand, and three glowing spheres slowly appeared before him.

A magical treasure floated inside each sphere. "The championship rewards this time are three second-tier magical treasures, each of a different type. You can decide how to divide them yourselves."

"Xu Jintang, you're the team captain. I'll leave all three magical treasures in your safekeeping for now." Dean Wang guided the three glowing spheres over to Xu Jintang.

Suppressing her delighted surprise, Xu Jintang quickly nodded. "Yes!"

Last year's rewards had only been first-tier magical treasures. She had not expected the dean to be so generous this year.

Xu Jintang raised her hand and temporarily stored the three magical treasures in her bracelet's storage space.

Dean Wang studied the two of them and asked with a smile, "I hear Song Tianqi is returning to Leikedasi tomorrow?"

Song Tianqi nodded. "Yes. Mr. Zhuang told me to come back."

"Remember to visit the academy when you have time. Let your future juniors know that our academy has nurtured geniuses too."

Song Tianqi smiled. "Of course. I will."

Dean Wang then looked at Xu Jintang. "Which military academy are you planning to apply to?"

Xu Jintang answered, "Leikedasi."

Dean Wang's hearty laughter rang through the room. "Ambitious." He looked at Xu Jintang with a smile. "Then I wish you every success."

Xu Jintang nodded. "Thank you, Dean."

After leaving the dean's office, Xu Jintang looked around at the scenery with a sigh. "After the All-Star-Region Joint Examination, we'll be graduates. We probably won't come back to the academy for a long time."

Song Tianqi gave a dispirited murmur of agreement.

"Come on, let's find Duoduo and deliver her championship rewards." Xu Jintang rallied her spirits, turned, and headed down the steps.

Inside a ward at the main city's medical center.

Song Duoduo was leaning against the headboard, munching on an apple. After hearing that these apples could speed up her recovery, she had eaten one every day without fail.

"Duoduo, we've got the championship rewards from the academy and Sister Shiyi!" Song Tianqi announced the good news at the top of his lungs as soon as he entered.

Song Duoduo looked up in delighted surprise. "They're here already?"

After Xu Jintang's team won the championship yesterday, she had received the news right away and had naturally been excited.

Xu Jintang came to the bedside and took the three magical treasures out of her bracelet's storage space. "These are the academy's rewards, three second-tier magical treasures, each with a different function. Song Tianqi and I discussed it, and we want you to choose first."

The three magical treasures were the offensive Lightning Sword, the defensive Mystic Dark Shield, and the utility Disguise Mask.

Their effects differed, as did their value.

Of the three, the Disguise Mask was the rarest. This type of magical treasure could change the user's appearance and bearing, and no ability user below the sixth tier could see through it, allowing for a perfect disguise.

However, since this disguise effect was of little use to most ability users, this type of magical treasure had never been particularly popular.

The other two magical treasures, one offensive and one defensive, were the weapons and magical treasures ability users needed most, making them far more useful than the Disguise Mask.

Song Duoduo hesitated for a moment. "Why don't you and Song Tianqi choose first, class monitor? I didn't contribute at all in the last two matches. I don't deserve first pick of the rewards."