Chapter 83: Unreasonable (1)
Su Yu had obtained 200 marks for the eighth and ninth-stage test. Out of the 170 marks he could get for the previous seven stages of the Source Opening Realm, he had gotten full marks. Out of the 100 marks offered by the language test, he had gotten 80 marks. Out of the 100 marks offered by the archery test, he had gotten 97 marks. His merit points had earned him an additional 100 marks. In total, he had 647 marks.
Only 200 marks were required to enter a war academy. For many students, 647 marks was a score they wouldn't even dare to imagine getting. But in the capital, this score could only get a student a high-low evaluation. Only by getting 700 marks and above could one get a high-middle evaluation. And by getting 800 marks and above, one could get a high-high evaluation.
Reaching the Great Strength Realm, earning more merit points, or defeating the combat examiner would all grant a student extra marks.
There were also other ways in which one could gain extra marks. For example, if a Great Strength student could hit the center of a target 500 meters away with a bow and arrow, that student would be granted extra marks as well. Of course, nobody had even considered the possibility of this happening in Nanyuan.
Su Yu wouldn't be able to see that far even when using his eye acupoints so there was no need to mention actually hitting the target. Furthermore, he didn't have the strength to shoot that far either.
At this moment, Su Yu was starting to understand the words Bai Feng told him. There were a lot of geniuses in the world. He was nothing special.
Of course, Bai Feng had also exaggerated somewhat. Su Yu was willing to compete against those geniuses. Old Xie was right. Since he viewed himself as a genius, he should compete against the best of the best instead of those weaker than him.
Since there were higher evaluations, that meant that some of his peers were still better than him. Regardless of whether it was due to unequal background or wealth, there was no denying that they were still better than him.
Some people had better births. That was their strength. All super experts had to rise one step at a time from a mundane person. Thus, there was no point blaming one's birth for one's accomplishment.
Su Yu knew himself very well. He acknowledged that he possessed many advantages others didn't have. He had only started his growth a bit late compared to others. He believed that given enough time, he would be able to catch up with his peers.
...
In the room.
The proctors talked among themselves for a bit before one of them looked at Wu Lan and asked, "Wu Lan, are you sure you're not taking this test?"
Wu Lan nodded. She didn't want to get injured here. What was she supposed to do if she got injured before taking the cultural research examination? She was still busy wondering how Su Yu had won that fight. In truth, she already had an idea, but she didn't wish to believe it was true.
Divine Character!
A complete Divine Character!
She found that inconceivable. She might be able to believe that Su Yu had formed a Divine Character. But his willpower was clearly not that strong. How could his Divine Character be complete as well? Moreover, he had mastered enough of the Divine Character that he could make use of its powers. All that was very hard for her to believe.
Sure, it wasn't like such people had never appeared before. Similar geniuses existed in the capital. But Su Yu...was from Nanyuan.
His mentor was Liu Wenyan, a fresh Skysoar cultivator. And he wasn't even his private mentor. He was the instructor of a bunch of secondary school students. That was different from a private mentor.
The proctors did not try to persuade Wu Lan. They knew where she wanted to go.
The person from the Great Xia War Academy thought for a bit before saying to Su Yu, "Su Yu, after you finish the cultural research examination, we can talk. Don't be in a rush to make your decision. Make proper comparisons and study your options properly before making a choice."
The person from the Devil Subduing Army spoke bluntly, "Su Yu, you can ask your father for his opinion. He is at the front line and has been promoted into a 100-man commander. If you need it, I can have someone contact your father and ask his opinion."
Su Yu's face changed as he hurriedly asked, "Teacher, is my father well at the front?"
"He has entered the Infinite Strength Realm and gained a promotion. What do you think?" The commander smiled, "He's well. Great Xia are winding down on our military operations so apart from some minor conflicts, we won't be doing anything much.
"Your father is my comrade. We're both from the Devil Subduing Army. If you join us, you can skip the academy and go straight to practical training. Here, you can save many years of your time that will be otherwise wasted in an academy..."
Bureau Head Sun coughed and interrupted him, "We'll talk about this after he finishes both his exams. Su Yu is going to take the cultural research exam as well. Don't distract him from his next exam."
He looked at Su Yu and said, "Your arm was injured. Watch out for that during your next exam."
"Thank you, instructor." Su Yu hesitated before asking, "So am I done with this exam?"
"Yes."
"So...did I place first in Nanyuan?"
"Of course." Bureau Head Sun smiled, "The overall results have not been announced, but don't worry. The first place is yours."
"Then..." Su Yu hesitated for a bit before coughing and saying, "Teacher, when am I getting the three drops of source qi liquid promised for the first place?"
Wu Wenhai laughed and asked, "You might not even enter a war academy yet you're thinking about this reward?"
That was a reward contributed by the mayor. Su Yu smiled awkwardly without saying anything.
Amused, Wu Wenhai said, "You will get your reward. You did well for Nanyuan. I like your performance. It's only three drops of source qi liquid. I can easily make them any time I want."
Skysoar cultivators could produce their own source qi liquid. Wu Wenhai was a Skysoar cultivator. With that promise from him, Su Yu stopped asking. Instead, he started stealing glances at Old Xie and the middle-aged man.
So where were the promised merit points? When were they paying up? Had they forgotten? Should he remind them that they had not paid? He was already a high-tier student!
However, the two pretended to not notice him. They stood up and prepared to leave. Since Su Yu had finished his test while Wu Lan was not taking the test, they no longer had any business there.
Su Yu cursed inwardly. Those two wouldn't really renege on such a small debt, right? They only needed to pay 10 merit points per person. That was nothing for Skysoar cultivators like them. Were they going to renege on it? Or had they really forgotten?
He had used a drop of source qi liquid to become a high-tier student. He only had two merit points and less than 30,000 dollars in cash left with no other sources of income. Life would be difficult for him for a bit.
"Teacher, I heard that the government is providing additional rewards for placing first. For example, merit points. I heard I can get about 10 to 20 merit points..."
Old Xie glanced at Su Yu. Was that kid reminding them of something? He kept harping on merit points, 10 points, 20 points, and so on, as though they were dumb or something.
Amused, Wu Wenhai said, "I've heard about your bet. Why don't you stop teasing the kid. Since a promise was made, are you going to renege on it?"
Old Xie laughed, "You're too impatient. Who's reneging? It's only 10 merit points. That's nothing. You still have another exam, right? What's the rush?"
He looked at Su Yu and continued, "Come see me after the exam. Nevermind that. I'll look for you after the exam. You'll get your merit points then."
The person from the Great Xia War Academy smiled and said, "You'll get the merit points after your next exam. There might be even more merit points up for grabs. Of course, you'll have to rely on yourself if you want to earn more."
The two proctors were in a good mood as a high-tier student had appeared under their watch in a place like Nanyuan. As for the 10 merit points they each needed to pay, that was nothing.
...
Su Yu was relieved. The first examination was over. He had performed well, but not crazy enough that the proctors were not leaving him alone. Those were all Skysoar cultivators. They would look for him and speak frankly if they had something to say.
They did not need to keep bothering Su Yu as it would be unbecoming for people of their status to do so. They started leaving one after another.
When Wu Lan saw Su Yu walking away with his head lowered in thought, she ran after him. She was hesitating to speak.
After a while, she finally said, "There are different ranks even among high-tier students. You're a fresh high-tier student. You need to know that the high-tier evaluation given by the cultural research academy is much more reputable. It is also much harder to come by."
Su Yu looked at her and smiled, "So have you been given a high-tier evaluation by the cultural research academy?"
Wu Lan exhaled in relief. He finally asked the right question.
"Yes."
"I see."
"..."
That was all?
Su Yu continued walking. He was planning to get some bandages for his arm. After all, his right arm was still swollen.
Wu Lan couldn't resist following him and saying, "It is really very difficult to get a high-tier evaluation at the cultural research academy. The next exam will test only your ability, not your luck. I got my high-middle evaluation a few months ago. After this exam, I can definitely get a high-high evaluation."
"I see. Amazing." Su Yu praised. This girl was indeed quite impressive.
"Only a very small number of students can get the high-high evaluation."
"I see. You’re really impressive."
"..."
Wu Lan was turning crazy. She really wanted to say that she was very strong. She had not taken the previous examination seriously at all. In truth, she was very strong. As a high-high student, the cultural research academy teachers would be scrambling to recruit her. Bai Feng might have rejected her, but that was Bai Feng's problem, not her. She was strong!
"Have you formed a Divine Character?"
"That's a secret."
"Even with a Divine Character, you might not be able to get a high-middle evaluation. You can probably get only a high-low evaluation."
"I see. Well, that's pretty good too I guess."
"..."
This conversation was driving Wu Lan nuts. She furiously said, "Su Yu! You're too cocky!"
"..."
Su Yu was dumbstruck. Was he? How was he cocky? She said that she was a high-high student and he immediately praised her without saying anything else. How did that make him cocky? Su Yu was vexed. No wonder his mentor said that women would only hinder his growth instead of helping him.
"Student Wu Lan." Su Yu turned around and seriously said, "Thank you for your repeated reminders. Thank you for your encouragement as well. But I need to go home now. I'm not cocky. Can you stop following me?"
"..."
Wu Lan raged, "Who's following you? Su Yu, don't get too cocky!"
"..."
"You're completely unreasonable!"
Su Yu was starting to feel angry as well. How was he cocky? What the hell? Was this woman crazy?
He was trying to speak reasonably but she kept saying that he was cocky. Even when he was praising her, she was unhappy. Would she be happier if he had insulted her status as a high-high student instead? Su Yu ignored her and walked away.
Behind him, Wu Lan was still fuming, "I won't hold back in the afternoon. I'll let you know that you're not the only genius in the world. The capital is filled with geniuses. Don't get too cocky!"
"Fellow student..." Su Yu turned around and seriously said, "I am aware of that. I never thought that I'm a big deal. I only have this to say. If you insist on competing against me, I'm willing to fight you one on one with 20 merit points as the wager. Do you want to compete in willpower cultivation or physical cultivation? I'm fine with either."
Su Yu spoke earnestly, "I won't bully you since you're a girl. If you're not confident you can beat me, we can have a shouting match instead. The loser will have to pay 20 merit points."
"..."
This was driving Wu Lan crazy. When did she mention that she wanted to fight him? When did she mention that she wanted to have a shouting match with him? This fellow was too shameless! With a snort, she walked away with a proud look on her face. She had decided to ignore an ignorant fool like this.
"What a crazy woman."
Su Yu continued walking while mumbling about how women couldn't be reasoned with. There might be even more of such women in the academy. He reminded himself that he needed to keep away from them.
Or maybe he could learn from Chen Hao. If they annoyed him enough, he would just challenge them to a one on one fight. Naturally, Su Yu had completely neglected the fact that he was the one who had suggested that Chen Hao should beat up girls. After all, he had never done so himself.