The light screen inside the Martial Arts Room slowly dissipated.
The execution file stamped with the emblem of the Imperial Court of Justice vanished from sight, along with the glaring, scarlet word "Execute."
But the shock it left behind was like a great stone, weighing heavily on every student’s heart.
The entire Martial Arts Room was still shrouded in a heavy silence, a mixture of shock, confusion, and deep thought.
Wu Shangfeng didn’t give them much time to process or discuss it.
He raised his hand and tapped his wrist-mounted terminal, and a new list appeared before him.
"Now, I will announce the grade point rewards for this combat mission."
His voice pulled everyone’s thoughts back from the distant Purgatory-IV Planet and the iron-fisted methods of the Imperial Court of Justice, returning them to reality.
Grade points.
These were the core, cold numbers that would determine how many resources they could obtain at Qi Yi High, and how far they could go in the future.
Everyone subconsciously held their breath.
"Qin Feng."
Wu Shangfeng read the first name.
He paused, his sharp gaze landing on Qin Feng.
"In battle, your performance was outstanding. You slayed the leader and turned the tide. Original reward: 100 grade points."
As soon as he said this, a faint sound of sharp intakes of breath came from the crowd.
points. That was nearly three times the highest reward from the last mission on planet Gamma-7.
However, Wu Shangfeng’s tone immediately shifted.
"But, because your mind wavered at a critical moment, you hesitated and failed to advance, causing a breakdown in tactics and endangering your teammates. This was a major failure."
"According to Article 17 of the Qiming First Martial Arts High School Combat Regulations, 50% of your grade point reward will be deducted. In the end, for this combat mission, Qin Feng is awarded—50 points."
This result stunned many of the students.
From 100 points, cut in half to 50.
This punishment was undeniably severe.
However, Qin Feng, the person in question, showed no surprise or dissatisfaction on his face.
He took another step forward and gave a slight bow to Wu Shangfeng on the platform.
"I have no objections."
Qin Feng’s voice was calm.
Merits were merits, and faults were faults.
He accepted it decisively.
Wu Shangfeng nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to the next person on the list.
"Shi Potian. In battle, you took initiative, dared to face a strong enemy head-on, and bought the team precious time. Outstanding performance. 80 grade points awarded."
"Chu Lan. As temporary commander, your tactical deployment was clear. You led from the front in battle. Though you were outmatched, your courage is commendable. 70 grade points awarded."
"Qian Duoduo. You held the defensive line, acted as a shield, and defused crises for your teammates several times, perfectly fulfilling your duty. 70 grade points awarded."
"..."
Expressionlessly, Wu Shangfeng finished reading out each name and its corresponding grade points.
The entire distribution of grade points reflected an absolute distinction between merit and fault, and was entirely results-oriented.
All students who dared to charge, dared to draw their swords, and achieved effective results in battle received high grade point rewards.
As for those students who hesitated in battle, the grade points they received were pitifully few, some only getting a symbolic few points.
"That concludes the grade point distribution for this mission."
Wu Shangfeng put away the list, his gaze sweeping over the room.
"Any questions?"
Qin Feng, Shi Potian, Chu Lan, and the others all shook their heads in unison.
"None."
Although the students with lower scores couldn’t hide the disappointment on their faces, none of them raised any objections.
The bloody combat playback was the best measuring stick. They knew clearly that the gap between them and the top students wasn’t just in strength, but also in mentality.
"Good."
Wu Shangfeng nodded slightly, more or less satisfied with the students’ attitude.
He continued to announce the upcoming schedule.
"Tomorrow is the second comprehensive monthly exam for academic studies. The results will be directly linked to your grade points. I hope you all prepare well."
"Additionally, after the monthly exam, students whose vitality index and comprehensive assessment meet the standard can submit a promotion application to me. After passing the evaluation, you can advance to the second year."
"One last thing."
His gaze lingered for a moment on Qin Feng, Shi Potian, and the other students who had earned abundant grade points.
"In twenty days, this year’s Qimingxing Inter-School League will be held. This is the highest-level competition on the entire Qiming Star, with participation from all Martial Arts High Schools, and is divided into freshman and upperclassman tournaments. Students who wish to participate may sign up with me after raising their personal contract to C-rank."
The Inter-School League!
Those three words, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly sent ripples through the students’ hearts.
That was a stage where geniuses truly clashed with other geniuses.
It was the best shortcut to make a name for oneself, obtain massive resources, and attract attention from the higher-ups.
After announcing everything, Wu Shangfeng glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Dismissed."
He left them with that one word, and his figure, just as it had appeared, quietly vanished in a distortion of space.
With the instructor’s departure, the stagnant, oppressive atmosphere in the Martial Arts Room finally eased.
The students dispersed in twos and threes. Some headed for the medical pods to treat their injuries;
others silently packed up their gear;
and still others began to quietly discuss everything that had just happened.
-----------------
「At the same time.」
Deep within Qiming First Martial Arts High School, in an even vaster and more solemn Martial Arts Room.
The principal, Professor Gu Yue, and dozens of core instructors from Qi Yi High, all of whom had profound and imposing auras, stood there silently.
Before them, on a massive holographic screen, nearly three hundred different video feeds were playing simultaneously, like a mosaic wall.
Those were the complete recordings of the second combat class for all the first-year classes, which had just concluded.
Some classes, when facing the enemy, advanced and retreated with order, their actions decisive and lethal.
Other classes were chaotic, some even having dismal scenes where students were severely injured and required emergency intervention from an instructor.
But most classes, like Class 1-3, fell into a long, oppressive silence after completing their mission.
"The data is in,"
an instructor in charge of information aggregation reported in a low voice.
"First year, a total of two hundred ninety-three classes. During the post-battle debriefing phase, a total of seven classes had students who explicitly questioned the team leader about the mission’s background and the enemy’s motives."
"In another two hundred sixty-one classes, although no students stepped forward to ask questions, monitoring of emotional fluctuations and psychological activity shows that over eighty percent of the students experienced significant ideological shifts of a similar type."
"In the remaining twenty-five classes, the students’ emotions were stable, and they raised no questions about the mission."
"The classes that raised questions are: Class 1-3, Class 1-7, Class 1-123, Class 1-179..."
SNAP.
The principal raised his hand and turned off all the holographic projections.
The Martial Arts Room returned to its normal brightness.
Professor Gu Yue, who had a goatee, stroked his beard with a worried look on his face. He sighed and looked at the principal beside him, whose frame was as burly as a mountain.
"Principal, for these freshmen who have been enrolled for less than two months, isn’t the impact of this level of combat class too much for them right now? In previous years, we only began to gradually introduce this after they reached their second year, when their minds were more mature."
The other instructors present didn’t speak, but it was clear from their expressions that most of them agreed with Gu Yue’s view.
This time, the school’s "torment" of the freshmen seemed a bit... excessive.
Every mission they had carefully selected was like a sharp scalpel, mercilessly revealing the bloody, cruel side of the Empire that lay beneath its glorious facade.
"A huge impact is precisely what’s needed!"
The principal’s voice was deep and resonant, echoing through the Martial Arts Room like a great bell.
He turned, his gaze like lightning, sweeping over every instructor present.
"Everyone, as their Meditation deepens, the freshmen’s Mental Power will grow daily. Their minds will become increasingly clear, increasingly broad."
"And a person with a clear mind will inevitably begin to think. To think about who we are, why we fight, and the past, present, and future of this Empire."
"When that time comes, they will have the ability to see what is truly right and what is truly wrong, to distinguish between the two."
"We at Qiming First Martial Arts High School are not trying to cultivate killing machines, and certainly not traitors..."
The principal’s voice suddenly rose, filled with unquestionable authority.
"What we want to cultivate are the future militarists who can stand on their own and guard a region, the philosophers who can perceive the Truth of the Cosmos and carry the flame of civilization, the Martial Artists who can break their own shackles and pursue the pinnacle of the Martial Dao..."
He paused, his tone taking on a hint of cold, undisguised mockery.
"Forcing students to sing the praises of the Empire ten thousand times and glorify the Emperor ten thousand times is not as good as letting them see with their own eyes, hear with their own ears, and feel with their own bodies in the midst of this real blood and fire. Then, they can figure out for themselves what is right and what is wrong! What is glorious, and what is shameful!"
"The former will only cultivate ignorant Fanatics and two-faced opportunists. The side effects are immense!"
"But the latter, though cruel and painful, can forge true Martial Artists with independent character and firm beliefs in blood and fire!"
"I don’t want the students of my Qi Yi High to one day have their minds so easily swayed with a few words by those filthy things from the Subspace. And I certainly don’t want them to be swayed by those... beasts within the Empire who, while enjoying the peace and comfort their fathers’ generation bought with their lives, hide under the shade of their family trees and slander the Emperor and the Empire!"
His words were powerful and deafening, striking a chord with everyone.
The instructors, who had been doubtful just moments ago, now had looks of sudden understanding and approval in their eyes.
They understood the principal’s profound intentions.
This was an early ideological "vaccination."
Using controllable, harsh truths to stimulate the students’ own "ideological immunity."
"Principal, we understand."
Professor Gu Yue was the first to nod, his expression turning solemn.
"Good."
The principal nodded, his expression returning to its usual calm.
"Since you understand, then the next phase of work needs to be carried out by all of you."
"Do a good job with the follow-up ideological education. Communicate with the students one-on-one more often, especially those who showed significant emotional fluctuations during the mission. You must ensure that no psychological problems arise."
"From this day forward, the first-years’ combat classes will only become stricter and more painful. Let them adapt to the true face of this Cosmos as early as possible."
An instructor stepped forward and asked, "What about the second- and third-year students?"
"They will be treated the same."
The principal gave an answer that left no room for negotiation.
"Yes, sir."
The dozens of instructors present responded in unison, their voices filled with determination.