Chapter 719: Brother Yu's Gains

On the flat ground at the foot of the mountain, masters had already lined up in several long, thin queues stretching forward.

At the front of each queue stood a few senior masters responsible for reviewing, calculating points based on the number and grade of inner cores the new students had obtained. Those who failed could only retreat gloomily to the side.

Following behind the crowd, Zhang Xuan looked ahead.

Figures bustled all around; quite a few had passed, but even more seemed to have failed.

"This year's assessment is so tough. Thirty thousand examinees, and from what I've seen, nearly twenty thousand won't make it!"

"It's too hard. The masters from our three empires joined forces, thinking we'd pass without worry, but we never dreamed we'd fall into an ambush by spirit beasts. They surrounded us and we suffered heavy losses!"

"We were ambushed too. An alliance of three hundred was broken up by force, over fifty were seriously injured on the spot. We fought for over an hour, and by noon the spirit beasts suddenly scattered. Then we found a chance to hunt a few, but most still couldn't pass!"

"The beasts that trapped us also scattered at noon, but we weren't as lucky. Too many were injured, so we had to rest on the spot. The total inner cores we got were pitifully few—passing will be tough!"

...

After walking a while, the sound of conversation came from all around.

"It seems no major disaster occurred..."

Hearing the dialogue, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he had discovered and thwarted the alien spirit clan's plot early; otherwise, that Purple Sun Beast would have succeeded.

If that happened, who knew how many of the thirty thousand masters would survive? The Master Teacher Academy would surely suffer heavy losses.

"This merit... I won't report it to the academy."

After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan held back.

Thwarting the alien spirit clan's plot and saving tens of thousands of talented masters was a tremendous achievement. If reported, the reward would be generous—a few or even dozens of high-grade spirit stones could easily be obtained.

But then, the matter of the ruthless man and the alien spirit puppet would be hard to explain. Those two items were his greatest life-saving assets now, more precious than any spirit stone.

After much deliberation, he could only forgo this immense merit.

"What a pity..."

Thinking that he had done such a good deed but had to keep it low-key, Zhang Xuan felt a pang of regret.

The academy's rewards were very generous. If he were awarded dozens of high-grade spirit stones, it would probably be enough to cultivate to the Saint level!

Still, it wasn't without gain. He had the valuable Air-Strike Talisman, various spirit stones and treasures, and most importantly, the Thousand Ant Hive and that Purple Sun Beast.

"If worst comes to worst... I'll kill this Purple Sun Beast first, stew the meat, refine the bones and claws into weapons, sell the fur and inner core—as a holy beast, it should fetch quite a few spirit stones!"

Zhang Xuan stroked his chin, deep in thought.

Even if he couldn't get the academy's reward, skinning this Purple Sun Beast should still fetch a good price.

"Well, after the assessment, if this guy still doesn't talk, I'll skin him..."

After pondering, he found the idea quite feasible and nodded in satisfaction. "But when selling, I need to keep a low profile and not reveal my identity. Otherwise, explaining where this beast came from and how it was killed would be troublesome."

This Purple Sun Beast was a peak Saint First Layer powerhouse, undoubtedly the strongest existence within the Hongyuan Empire's domain.

A new student at the Master Teacher Academy hunting one and selling its skin would surely cause an uproar.

If that happened, even the Ten Great Masters would want to take him as a disciple—how would he refuse?

Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

And how to keep a low profile?

This time at the Master Teacher Academy, he planned to quietly read books, leave once his strength improved enough... and not cause the same chaos as in the former empires and kingdoms, making everyone stare.

He was a master teacher, after all. Being treated as a 'destroyer' was truly beneath his dignity.

As he was pondering with his head down, he heard the conversation ahead continue.

"By the way, I heard someone came back at noon today, not only passed but with an astonishingly high score!" said a knowledgeable master in a low voice.

"Came back at noon? Astonishingly high? Who? That impressive?" The second master seemed incredulous.

"I don't know either. I just heard some senior students discussing it earlier. They said the current top score is far behind."

"Top score? You mean Brother Hu from the Wanyu Empire? I saw him take out twenty-seven inner cores, several of them from the Bridge Heaven stage, totaling over seven hundred points! Higher than seven hundred? Really?"

The second master's eyes widened.

Many of them hadn't gotten a single point, yet this Brother Hu from Wanyu Empire alone had produced twenty-seven cores, causing a stir for half a day. They thought this result would surely win first place, but now someone who came back at noon was even better.

"I don't know either. I only heard the senior students mention it briefly; I'm not sure of the details..."

"Over seven hundred points? That person who came back at noon is really impressive! It seems there are quite a few geniuses among the new students."

Hearing the conversation, Zhang Xuan nodded involuntarily.

An inner core from a peak Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer beast counted as one point; a Bridge Heaven initial stage core was worth a hundred points. Over seven hundred points meant hunting at least six or seven Bridge Heaven stage spirit beasts!

Most new students were at peak Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer; even Harmony Spirit stage was considered high. So far, only 'Brother Yu' had reached Bridge Heaven.

Even with his strength, hunting seven Bridge Heaven initial stage spirit beasts would be extremely difficult.

This formidable person, returning at noon with a score far exceeding seven hundred, was terrifyingly strong!

Probably not much weaker than himself.

"I must find a chance to meet him. I really want to see what kind of extraordinary person could educate such a powerful genius!"

The more he thought about it, the more formidable that person seemed. Zhang Xuan exclaimed in admiration.

"Far behind? Could it be a thousand points? Hah, even a thousand points is nothing!"

Just as he was sighing with emotion, a proud snort rang out.

The masters who had been talking frowned at such arrogant words and quickly turned around. The moment they saw the speakers, they all stepped back.

Two young men strode over. Though clad in animal skins, they could not hide the formidable aura within.

One was a half-step Bridge Heaven stage, while the other exuded a vast aura like a great river—a genuine Bridge Heaven stage powerhouse!

No wonder they were so confident. With their strength, even a real Bridge Heaven initial stage spirit beast would have trouble against them!

But...

Why were these two powerful men dressed in animal skins like savages?

And the skins were uneven, as if gnawed by something—as ugly as could be.

Especially the slightly weaker one, who also carried a bag made of animal skin...

A dignified half-step Five-Star Master Teacher carrying a bag... Didn't he even have a storage ring?

How uncouth!

Zhang Xuan also turned around and saw two old acquaintances.

They were the ones who had bet with him... Brother Yu and Feng Wu!

Weren't these two supposed to be elegant and dashing in flowing robes? This look...

Playing seduction?

"Master Zhang, good that you're back. Dare you come verify your points with us?" Brother Yu looked at Zhang Xuan, the corners of his mouth lifting.

Though a fierce spirit beast had robbed them clean at noon, the Beast Scale Incense had been preserved. With it, not only did they complete the task smoothly, but in the afternoon they also hunted many spirit beasts—even more than in the morning!

With this advantage, defeating this Master Zhang was nothing!

They might even top the charts, becoming the new students' number one in points and stealing the spotlight.

"Sure!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Though he had spent his time interrogating the Purple Sun Beast, he still had quite a few inner cores.

It shouldn't be hard to surpass these two.

Seeing that the powerful master in animal skins was going to verify points with this Master Zhang, the crowd made way.

Soon, the three reached the front of the line.

"I have a bet with this Master Zhang. I'd like to ask the senior students to help us verify our points."

Brother Yu, not daring to put on airs, cupped his hands and bowed to the senior students in charge of review.

"A bet?"

The senior student in charge frowned.

"Yes! Master Zhang and I have wagered a high-grade spirit stone. Whoever has more points wins. I'm afraid he might renege later, so I'd like the senior student to act as a witness."

Brother Yu said.

"A high-grade spirit stone?"

"What a big stake..."

Hearing the wager, the surrounding crowd all gasped.

Even the senior students in charge were stunned.

Even as second-year students at the Master Teacher Academy, they couldn't afford such a bet.

"Betting a high-grade spirit stone right off the bat... New students are getting bolder and bolder! Fine, I'll be your witness!"

The senior student in charge sighed, nodded in agreement, and extended his hand. "Take out your inner cores."

"Alright!"

Brother Yu gestured, and Feng Wu stepped forward, took off the bundle on his back, and opened it directly.

Clatter!

A pile of inner cores rolled to the ground.

"So many..."

"Bridge Heaven stage, Return to One stage... What's that?"

"A vermilion inner core—that's, that's... an inner core from a Return to One initial stage spirit beast? How, how is that possible?"

"That's right. The aura it emits is like a blade's edge, stinging the eyes and burning the skin. Only a Return to One stage beast, with perfect unity of essence, energy, and spirit, could achieve that!"

"Hunting a Return to One stage spirit beast and taking its inner core... No wonder he spoke so arrogantly. Looks like the first place is about to change hands!"

"Indeed..."

...

Seeing the inner cores scattered on the ground, the crowd was first stunned, then burst into uproar.

Not to mention the total points from the other cores, just this one Return to One initial stage spirit beast inner core was worth a thousand points!

Even the genius who came back at noon, mentioned by the senior students earlier, probably couldn't match this!

No wonder he was so arrogant—he had the capital to be!