https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-162-The-Strongest-High-School-Student/13686631/
Chapter 161: The Summoning of the Jester's Seat
At that moment, Dai Xingzhi heard Ye Lingshao beside him say, “You were rated as ‘unknown’ in the last Dao Heart Test?”
Dai Xingzhi blinked in slight surprise, then followed the direction of Ye Lingshao’s gaze—only to see Zhang Yu standing right behind him. The number on his chest read No. 55.
As Ye Lingshao’s question hung in the air, Zhang Yu fell into silence, unsure how to respond.
Dai Xingzhi stepped in, saying, “Unknown valuation? So you didn’t give up until the very end—even pushed the Illusory Realm to its breaking point? That’s why they gave you an unknown rating?”
Zhang Yu let out a helpless sigh. “Yeah… roughly.”
Ye Lingshao’s eyes narrowed, his expression sharpening as he regarded Zhang Yu with sudden, unmistakable respect.
“This guy actually managed to burst the Illusory Realm?” Ye Lingshao thought, stunned. “What kind of willpower does he have? How rich is he—richer than Yun Jing? Richer than me?”
Meanwhile, Dai Xingzhi’s mind raced. “Who the hell is this guy? Is he the heir to some corporate board? A scion of a powerful family?”
Around them, more and more students had noticed the No. 55 on Zhang Yu’s chest. Realizing this outsider was the top scorer in the previous Dao Heart Test, and given the unique nature of this exam, they understood immediately: the first-place finisher had to be incredibly wealthy.
Wealth was the most visible indicator of xian dao potential. A student with such staggering assets had to be formidable—undoubtedly a serious contender for the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate.
Ye Lingshao studied Zhang Yu, inwardly musing: “At first glance, he looked like a poor kid—just picking up Red Envelope Charms like he didn’t care. Never thought he was hiding this much.”
“Could it be that only someone with deep pockets would dare pick up discarded charms like that?”
“And yet he seemed genuinely concerned about what poor students should do if they found one… Is he one of those rich kids who’ve never touched the real world?”
As his thoughts settled, Ye Lingshao turned fully toward Zhang Yu, his gaze growing more intense. “I look forward to our competition ahead.”
In that instant, the mysterious, enigmatically wealthy Zhang Yu had become one of Ye Lingshao’s primary rivals in his eyes.
Beside them, Dai Xingzhi and the others watched the two standing face to face, feeling as if they were witnessing two colossal beasts—each exhaling the breath of billions—colliding head-on.
Bai Zhenzhen, watching from afar, clenched her fists, her heart sinking. “Yu-zi! You’re putting on such a big act now… When the real test starts, you’ll end up being the jester Old Zhao warned about!”
She believed, with all her heart, that she and Zhang Yu had improved dramatically over the past two months—enough to reach senior year level. But she also knew that even with their progress, they still lagged far behind the true elite Xian Du masters.
For the first round, Bai Zhenzhen only hoped to pass. Catching up, let alone surpassing the top-tier cultivators? That was a goal for the months ahead, for the second and third rounds.
Zhang Yu knew all this too. But once his number was posted as the top scorer in the Dao Heart Test, he realized he could no longer explain it away.
He couldn’t say it was the Ritual’s influence that let him endure in the Illusory Realm.
He couldn’t admit he was actually broke—still scrambling to pay next month’s loan interest.
So now, under Ye Lingshao’s piercing stare, and the weight of countless eyes—curious, probing, even hostile—Zhang Yu felt like a prey surrounded by wolves. He could only grit his teeth and endure.
“Damn it… wasn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Me, slowly catching up to the Xian Du masters while they ignore or mock me… not getting stared down like this from the start?”
“I knew I shouldn’t have allowed rankings! Why expose our private lives like this?”
The thought of facing these people head-on made Zhang Yu feel that Zhao Tianxing’s so-called “Jester’s Seat” was now calling out to him.
“Is there any way I can avoid looking completely ridiculous?”
“…But if I have to lose face, I’ll have to accept it. After all, my strength just isn’t there yet.”
Not far away, Yu Xinghan had just arrived and witnessed the scene—stunned.
“Zhang Yu… this kid…” Yu Xinghan stared at him, equal parts curious and amazed. “How the hell did he do it?”
The idea that someone so poor could endure in the Illusory Realm until the system returned ‘unknown’ valuation baffled him. He couldn’t make sense of it. For a moment, he even felt the urge to ask Zhang Yu directly—but he knew the answer would never come.
Moments later, with all contestants now present, Deng Bingding, the chief examiner, began announcing the exam procedures.
In short: the candidates were to embrace the spirit of the Foundation Establishment Exam reforms. This round would test not just Dao Heart, but also Martial Energy, physical fitness, and martial skill.
As for why Dao Heart wasn’t tested this time—according to Deng Bingding, the previous Dao Heart Test had already eliminated all failed candidates, making a repeat unnecessary.
Of course, standing nearby, the little god Huang Zichou knew the real reason: budget cuts. Compared to the other three subjects, Dao Heart required complex Ling realm conditions—costing far more in both money and resources.
Finally, Deng Bingding concluded: “Only the top twenty scorers will advance. All others will be eliminated. To encourage participation, each of the top twenty will receive one Expert-Level Cultivation Technique…”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered with sudden interest. “Each gets one Expert-Level Cultivation Technique? That’s generous.”
He remembered the last time Deng Bingding had awarded him—just an interest-free loan.
But then he thought again: “The Eight Great Righteous Gods are backed by the Heavenly Court and the Top Ten Sects.”
“For us, an Expert-Level Technique costs tens or even hundreds of thousands.”
“But for them? It’s probably just a permission level. All they need to do is grant us access and send the cultivation text.”
…
Soon, the Mana Exam officially began.
All students lined up in the hall according to their numbers.
Each was handed a set of testing equipment and a box containing a Spirit Root.
Dai Xingzhi thought to himself: “This Mana Exam tests control, explosive power, and recovery of Martial Energy.”
He picked up the Detection Patch. “We have thirty minutes to pump as much Martial Energy as possible into this device.”
“The faster and more intense the output, the higher the score.”
“It requires explosive power, precise control, and the ability to simultaneously replenish Martial Energy through Spirit Energy inhalation.”
Dai Xingzhi knew this kind of sustained Martial Energy output should be a senior year course in the standard xian dao curriculum. But since this was a high school Foundation Establishment Exam, the rules didn’t have to follow textbook limits.
He opened the small box beside him containing the External Spiritual Root.
Inside, a circular ring pulsed with faint, swirling streams of Spirit Energy—like a living being breathing.
Dai Xingzhi muttered under his breath: “External Spiritual Root, Qihai Wuya.”
“Mid-tier brand, huh?”
He recalled the examiner’s words: using standardized Spirit Roots was one of the key reforms in this year’s Foundation Establishment Exam.
Dai Xingzhi wasn’t impressed. Wealth was part of xian dao potential. Rich students having an edge was only fair—why force a uniform Spirit Root?
Just then, Deng Bingding called out: “Before using the External Spiritual Root, remember to deactivate your internal Spirit Root. Failure to do so will result in serious consequences.”
Dai Xingzhi was about to attach the Qihai Wuya when a voice cut through the air.
“…How exactly does this External Spiritual Root work?”
Dai Xingzhi turned—his eyes widening.
It was No. 55.
“They’re giving out standardized Spirit Roots?” Zhang Yu thought, puzzled. “But no manual? How am I supposed to know how to use it?”
“And if I ask now… everyone around me will probably assume I’m not really that rich.”
“Maybe this is a good way to set the stage… just a little bit of ‘I’m not as wealthy as you think’ groundwork.”
Bai Zhenzhen, overhearing, thought with quiet approval: “Good job, Yu. Now I don’t have to ask.”
“And you’re giving me a way to slowly reveal I’m not actually that rich—so if my score isn’t as high as expected, I won’t lose too much face.”
Dai Xingzhi, meanwhile, thought: “He’s never used Qihai Wuya before?”
“But he got an unknown valuation in the Dao Heart Test… could it be this brand is too low for him?”
“Damn it… to me, this is standard training gear. What kind of Spirit Root does he normally use?”
“Fucking rich bastard… lucky for me, this exam uses uniform Spirit Roots!”
Meanwhile, the strongest high schooler, Yun Jing, flickered his eyes toward Zhang Yu. “This outsider… is he trying to show off? Saying he’s never used Qihai Wuya?”
Yun Jing sneered inwardly and spoke up: “I don’t use this kind of Spirit Root much either. Could you please explain how it works, examiner?”
“So even the rich don’t use these?” Zhang Yu thought, frowning. “Damn… now I feel even more eyes on me.”
Following the examiner’s instructions, Zhang Yu injected Martial Energy into the ring, expanding it before sliding it onto his wrist. Instantly, the device pulsed in rhythm with his breath—feeling like an extension of his own body. Spirit Energy from the surroundings surged toward him like a tide.
After securing the detection gear and gripping the patch, the countdown began: 3… 2… 1…
With a collective surge, every candidate channeled their Martial Energy into the patch.
Boom!
A deep, resonant sound echoed through the air, as if the very atmosphere trembled.
On the large Light Screen at the front of the hall, the Martial Energy output data for each contestant lit up—one by one.
A row of vertical bars appeared, each labeled with a contestant’s number. The height of each bar represented the amount of Martial Energy output.
As everyone unleashed their power, the bars surged upward, ranking themselves by output.
But two bars shot up with terrifying speed—blasting past everyone else, instantly claiming the top two spots. Their rapid growth made the other bars seem to shrink in comparison.
The two top performers were No. 11, Yun Jing, and No. 23, Ye Lingshao.
Their numbers soared, their bars twisting and writhing like two great dragons locked in a fierce dance—surging forward, then retreating, neck-and-neck.
Dai Xingzhi glanced at the bar for No. 55.
“Huh? Why is it so far behind?”
(End of Chapter)
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