The flat ground at the foot of the mountain was already filled with master teachers. There were several long lines that extended all the way to the front.
At the front of each line were several senior master teachers. They were in charge of assessing the number and grade of the inner cores obtained by the examinees. Those who failed the examination could only retreat to the side.
Following behind the crowd, Zhang Xuan scanned the area ahead.
There were quite a few people who passed the examination, but there seemed to be even more who failed.
"The examination this year is truly difficult. Out of the thirty thousand examinees, around twenty thousand have failed the examination!"
"This is simply too difficult. We thought that we would be able to clear the examination with ease, but who could have thought that we would be ambushed by the spirit beasts and suffer heavy losses?"
"We were ambushed as well. Our alliance of three hundred people was forcefully scattered, and fifty of us were severely injured. After fighting for two hours, the spirit beasts suddenly dispersed at noon. That was when we found an opportunity to kill a few of them. However, most of us were still unable to clear the examination!"
"The spirit beasts that trapped us also dispersed at noon, but we weren't as lucky as you all. Too many of us were injured, so we could only rest on the spot. Even with all of the inner cores we obtained, we didn't manage to clear the examination!"
...
Walking for a moment, Zhang Xuan suddenly heard conversations in the surroundings.
"It seems like we didn't cause too much trouble..."
Hearing the conversation, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief.
It was fortunate that he had discovered the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe's ploy early on, or else the Byzantium Helios Beast would have surely succeeded.
If that had happened, it was hard to say how many of the thirty thousand master teachers would have survived. The Mingshi Tang would have suffered heavy losses.
"This contribution... I guess I won't report it to the Mingshi Tang Guild!"
After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Xuan eventually decided to swallow his pride.
Ruining the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe's ploy and saving tens of thousands of talented master teachers was a huge contribution. If he were to report it, he would be rewarded handsomely. He should be able to obtain several dozen high-tier spirit stones easily.
However, if he were to do so, it would be difficult for him to explain the matter regarding Vicious and the Otherworldly Demon puppets. Those two items were his greatest trump cards at the moment, and they were more valuable than any high-tier spirit stones.
Thus, he could only give up on this huge contribution.
"What a pity..."
Zhang Xuan felt his heart ache when he thought about how he had to keep a low profile after doing such a good deed.
The reward for the Mingshi Tang was very generous. If the reward was really dozens of high-grade spirit stones, it would be enough to cultivate to the Saint level!
However, it wasn't as if he had returned empty-handed. There were valuable Aerial Strike Talismans, all kinds of spirit stones, and most importantly, the Myriad Anthive Nest and the Byzantium Helios Beast.
'If it comes down to it, I should just kill the Byzantium Helios Beast and use its meat to make soup, its bones and claws to forge weapons, and sell its fur and inner core. With its identity as a saint beast, I should be able to exchange it for quite a sum of spirit stones! '
Rubbing his chin, Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought.
Even though he couldn't obtain the Mingshi Tang as a reward, he should be able to sell the Byzantium Helios Beast for a decent price if he were to skin it.
"Un. Once the examination is over, if that fellow still refuses to speak up, I'll just strip him of his clothes …"
After pondering for a moment, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction. "However, I'll have to make sure to keep a low profile when selling it. Otherwise, it'll be troublesome to explain where this fellow came from and how he was killed."
The Byzantium Helios Beast was a Saint 1-dan pinnacle expert. In Hongyuan Empire, it could be considered as one of the strongest existences there.
If a freshman who had just entered the Master Teacher Academy were to kill one and skin it for sale, it would surely cause a huge uproar.
If that were to happen, how could he reject the Ten Great Master Teachers if they were to take him in as their disciple?
Just the thought of it left him with a headache.
How could he possibly keep a low profile?
He had already made up his mind before coming to the Master Teacher Academy to study peacefully and leave once his cultivation reached a certain level... He couldn't afford to cause such a huge commotion like he did back in the empires and kingdoms.
He was a master teacher, and it would be beneath his dignity to be viewed as the King of Destruction.
While Zhang Xuan was deep in thought, he suddenly heard the conversation ahead.
"Right, I heard that someone returned at noon today, and not only did he clear the examination, his score is shockingly high!" A master teacher who was in the know said with a hushed voice.
"Returned at noon? Shockingly high? Who could it be? How could he be so formidable? "The second master teacher was in disbelief.
"I'm not too sure either. I heard from the seniors in front that the person with the highest score is still far from it!"
"Highest score? Are you talking about Senior Hu from Wanyu Empire? I saw him take out 27 inner cores with my own eyes, and there were quite a few Cosmos Bridge realm inner cores among them. All in all, his score is more than 700 points! His score is even higher than 700 points? Are you for real? "
The second master teacher widened his eyes in shock.
Most of them didn't even manage to score a single point, and yet, Senior Hu from Wanyu Empire had taken out 27 inner cores, which had caused a huge uproar. They thought that such a score would be sufficient for him to clinch the top spot, but who could have thought that the person who returned at noon was even stronger than that?
"I'm not too sure either. I only heard a few words from the seniors, so I'm not too sure about the details..."
"More than 700 points? That person who returned at noon is indeed quite formidable! It seems like there are quite a few geniuses among the freshmen! "
Hearing the conversation, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but nod in agreement.
The inner core of a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan pinnacle spirit beast was only worth one point, and a Cosmos Bridge realm primary stage inner core was only worth 100 points. Thus, to obtain more than 700 points, one had to slay at least six to seven Cosmos Bridge realm spirit beasts!
Most of the freshmen were at Transcendent Mortal 4-dan pinnacle, and Consonant Spirit realm was already considered to be quite high. So far, the only Cosmos Bridge realm cultivator he had seen was' Brother Yu '.
Even with that fellow's strength, it would still be difficult for him to slay seven Cosmos Bridge realm primary stage spirit beasts.
Yet, this formidable figure had returned at noon, and yet, he had already obtained more than 700 points. His strength was truly fearsome!
Most likely, he wouldn't pale in comparison to Zhang Xuan at all.
"I should find an opportunity to meet him. I really want to see just what kind of formidable figure could groom such a formidable genius!"
The more he thought about it, the more fearsome Zhang Xuan felt.
"Far from it? Could it be that he has more than a thousand points? Hehe, even if it's a thousand points, it doesn't mean much at all! "
Just as Zhang Xuan was contemplating the matter, a cold harrumph echoed.
Hearing those arrogant words, the master teachers who were conversing with Zhang Xuan immediately frowned. They hurriedly turned their gazes over, and with a single glance, they immediately took a step back.
Two young men were walking over with widened strides. Even though they were dressed in beast skins, they were unable to conceal the powerful aura they emanated.
One of them was a Half-Cosmos Bridge realm cultivator while the other had a majestic aura reminiscent of a raging river. They were both true Cosmos Bridge realm experts!
It was no wonder they were so confident. With their strength, even if a Cosmos Bridge realm primary stage spirit beast were to face them, it would be hard for them to deal with them!
Just that …
Why would such powerful figures walk over in beast skins like a bunch of barbarians?
More importantly, the beast skins were in an unkempt state, as if something had gnawed on them. It was as ugly as it could get.
Furthermore, the weaker one was even carrying a pouch made of beast skin on his back …
For a half 5-star master teacher to carry a pouch on his back … Could it be that he didn't even have a storage ring?
That was way too uncouth!
Zhang Xuan also turned his gaze over, and only then did he realize that the two newcomers were two familiar faces.
They were the two whom he had made a bet with … Brother Yu and Senior Feng!
Weren't the two of them dressed in fluttering robes, looking elegant and unrestrained? Their appearance …
Playing with fire?
Ignoring the shocked gazes of the crowd, Brother Yu turned to Zhang Xuan and asked with a smile, "Zhang Shi, it's good that you're back. Do you dare to verify your points with us?"
Even though they had been robbed clean by a ferocious spirit beast in the afternoon, the Beastscale Incense had been left behind. With this, not only had they successfully completed their mission, they had even hunted quite a number of spirit beasts in the afternoon. In fact, they had even hunted more spirit beasts than they had in the morning!
With such a trump card, it wouldn't be a problem for them to defeat Zhang Shi!
Perhaps, they might even be able to become the top scorer of the freshmen.
"Sure!"
Zhang Xuan nodded.
Even though he had been too focused on interrogating the Byzantium Helios Beast, he still had quite a number of inner cores in his possession.
It shouldn't be too difficult for him to defeat the two of them.
Seeing that the powerful master teacher dressed in beast skin was going to verify the points with Zhang Shi, the crowd hurriedly stepped aside.
Soon, the trio arrived at the front of the crowd.
"I have a bet with Zhang Shi, so I would like to trouble the seniors to verify our points!"
Looking at the few seniors in front of him who were in charge of the examination, Brother Yu didn't dare to put on an act. He clasped his fist and bowed.
"A bet?"
The senior who was in charge of the examination frowned.
"That's right! I have a high-tier spirit stone bet with Zhang Shi, and the one with the most points will be the victor. I fear that he might go back on his word, so I hope that you can be the judge! "
Brother Yu said.
"A high-tier spirit stone?"
"What a huge bet …"
Hearing the contents of the bet, the crowd gasped in astonishment.
Even the senior who was in charge of the examination was stunned.
Even Grade 2 students of the Master Teacher Academy couldn't possibly fork out such a huge sum for a bet.
"To bet a high-tier spirit stone right off the bat … The freshmen these days are getting bolder and bolder! Very well, I'll be the judge! "
The examiners nodded. Stretching out his hand, he said, "Take out your inner core!"
"Alright!"
Brother Yu waved his hand, and Senior Feng stepped forward, took down the bundle on his back, and opened it.
Huala!
A pile of inner cores fell to the ground.
"So many …"
"Cosmos Bridge realm, Perfect Harmonization realm … What's that?"
"Crimson inner core … T-that is … the inner core of a Perfect Harmonization realm primary stage spirit beast? H-how is that possible? "
"Indeed. The aura emanating from the inner core is reminiscent of a saber, causing one's eyes to hurt and one's skin to burn. Only a Perfect Harmonization realm cultivator is capable of such a feat!"
"To be able to kill a Perfect Harmonization realm spirit beast and obtain its inner core … No wonder he dared to make such a claim. I'm afraid that the number one spot is going to change hands soon!"
"Indeed …"
…
Seeing the inner cores on the ground, the crowd was stunned for a moment before a huge commotion broke out.
Putting aside how many points the other inner cores were worth, just the inner core of a Perfect Harmonization realm primary stage spirit beast was worth at least a thousand points!
Even the genius whom the seniors were talking about this afternoon couldn't match up to that!
It was no wonder the other party was so arrogant. He did have the qualifications to do so!
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