https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-161-The-Summoning-of-the-Jester-s-Seat/13686630/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-163-The-Profoundly-Unfathomable-Zhang-Yu/13686632/
Chapter 162: The Strongest High School Student
At this moment, the examination hall was under the watchful eye of Deng Bingding, the Fourth Celestial Guardian, seated at its center. Other minor deities, such as Huang Zichou, drifted through the hall’s perimeter, monitoring each examinee’s condition and maintaining order. Beyond the bar graphs displayed on the Light Screen, they also tracked real-time Martial Energy readings from sensors embedded across the students’ bodies.
These patches allowed them to monitor the precise flow of Martial Energy throughout every student’s body—revealing not only their control over their inner energy but also any attempt at cheating.
Yet though the Celestials appeared expressionless, silent and unmoving, their minds were anything but idle. Each one juggled countless tasks simultaneously, a routine so natural it felt like breathing. For the Eight Great Righteous Gods, multitasking and remote oversight were second nature—routine duties in a celestial career.
And of course, communication was just as essential as duty. Unlike mortals who relied on phones and networks, the Celestials’ consciousnesses were permanently linked to the divine network. There were no delays, no “just saw your message,” no disconnections. Communication was instantaneous and seamless.
Right now, as they monitored the exam, their thoughts flowed freely through the network, exchanging real-time updates.
“…This is the first Foundation Establishment Exam under the new reforms for Kunxu First Layer,” Deng Bingding declared. “Everyone hold your posts. Fulfill your responsibilities. When the exam concludes, I will personally recommend commendations for all of you.”
Huang Zichou responded instantly: “Master Deng speaks wisely. With you in charge, we all feel at ease.”
As the divine minds shared updates, Deng Bingding also received private messages from subordinate deities.
“Ugh… more Affinity Charm donations. These Celestial formalities never end…”
But when she saw Huang Zichou’s latest contribution was 20,000 units, Deng Bingding couldn’t help but glance his way. She caught his eyes meeting hers, and with a subtle nod, she smiled.
“Is Master Deng smiling at me?” Huang Zichou thought with quiet delight. “So my last Affinity Charm was mispriced? I see… I must’ve sent the wrong amount.”
He filed the number away in his mind. “Among gods, money is the true currency. It’s best to pay first, then talk business.”
Even though he hadn’t yet decided what favor he wanted, he was already sending the signal: “I’m ready to invest.”
Meanwhile, another deity remarked: “Yun Jing and Ye Lingshao truly stand head and shoulders above the rest.”
“From the Martial Energy readings, their energy flows like mighty rivers—endless, relentless. The control and explosive output are unmatched in the entire hall.”
Another added: “The investments behind these two alone could sustain an entire high school’s student body.”
“Their strength… is no longer comparable to ordinary Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators. But tell me, in this clash of titans—just who will emerge as the true strongest high school student of Kunxu First Layer?”
…
In the exam hall, Yun Jing felt his entire body surge with Martial Energy with every breath. The energy surged through his arms, flooding into the sensor patch on his palm.
But as he glanced at the Light Screen, seeing Ye Lingshao’s bar standing level with his own, a roar echoed in his mind:
“Martial Energy! Give me more!”
Driven by sheer desperation, he pushed his body beyond limits. His energy surged like a floodwave, slamming against his meridians—ignoring the risk of damage, relentlessly smashing, pressing, and pushing.
Because every single one of Yun Jing’s meridians had been harvested, then meticulously cultivated through 300 distinct experimental protocols, each tested and refined by dozens of university graduates. These meridians were trained to endure the extreme pressures of Qi Cultivation Stage at its absolute peak.
Each meridian had cost the equivalent of months of effort from a single graduate. In total, the labor behind his body amounted to over ten thousand work-days—equivalent to two or three decades of normal cultivation.
And it wasn’t just his meridians. Every aspect of his training had been broken down into precise projects, meticulously planned by his family, executed by elite university graduates.
“Warm-up complete.” Yun Jing sensed the surge intensifying within him. “Second Dantian—open!”
Suddenly, a second energy sea flared open in his chest. The flow of Martial Energy doubled instantly—like a pair of roaring dragons unleashed, surging forward with unstoppable force.
On the Light Screen, Yun Jing’s bar shot upward, instantly surging ahead of everyone else. He seized the lead—firmly, unshakably at the top.
Ye Lingshao, however, remained calm. His face showed no panic, no surprise.
“Troublesome,” he thought. “This isn’t even the finals. Shouldn’t I be holding back a little?”
Theoretically, Ye Lingshao already had enough to pass. There was no need to push so hard, to expose his full strength just for first place.
But—
“First place.”
For Ye Lingshao, who had never once failed to score perfect marks or rank first in any exam since childhood, coming in first was as natural as breathing.
Born without a mother’s womb, he had been nurtured from embryo stage in a divine elixir uterus, refined by Xian Dao techniques. When he first opened his eyes, his meridians were already twice the size of a normal human’s—now, they were over ten times the average of a high school student.
His nervous system was a hundred times more complex than ordinary humans’. Every nerve fiber was innately capable of channeling Martial Energy.
While others spent years training to master basic techniques, Ye Lingshao had mastered them all by the time he entered high school.
He learned every cultivation method instantly—understanding it on the first glance, perfecting it in a single session. He spent millions monthly to license new techniques.
Qi Cultivation was effortless for him.
Many said he was no longer human—was, in fact, a true descendant of the Xian Du lineage.
Ye Lingshao dismissed such talk. But one thing was certain:
First place was his. It always had been.
Million-Level Expert Martial Skill — Pili Tian Gang Qi — 10th-Level Activation!
A technique priced at over a million units, rumored to be near military-grade, roared to life. Thunder cracked through the air.
Ye Lingshao transformed—his body crackling with lightning. Every thread of Martial Energy became raw thunder.
Yet under his iron control, the energy didn’t destroy. Instead, it shot forward like precision lightning bolts, guided through his arms and into his palms—then blasted into the sensor patch with flawless accuracy.
On the Light Screen, Ye Lingshao’s bar—once falling behind due to Yun Jing’s surge—suddenly surged again, rapidly closing the gap, racing toward the top.
“Hmph.” Yun Jing narrowed his eyes at the screen. “You want to catch up? Then let’s see who truly is the strongest high school student of Kunxu right now.”
The fierce competition between the two triggered a chain reaction. Students behind them pushed harder, unleashing their own Martial Energy in a desperate bid for position. The entire exam hall grew hotter, more intense.
…
Huang Zichou studied the rankings on the Light Screen—those trailing closely behind Yun Jing and Ye Lingshao.
“Those behind are all neck-and-neck,” he observed. “Very tight competition.”
Another deity added: “After all, they’re all from Xian Du. Kunxu First Layer’s top high schoolers. Even those ranked below tenth have over 90 units of Martial Energy.”
As the deities discussed, Deng Bingding’s gaze drifted to the scores of No. 55, 56, and 31—Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, and Yu Xinghan, all from Songyang.
Since the last Dao Heart Test, Deng Bingding had kept a close eye on these three Songyang students. She’d reviewed their files afterward.
Now, as she watched their performance, fragments of their profiles flashed in her mind.
“Number 31, Yu Xinghan—Golden Core Disciple. Though his Martial Energy hasn’t reached 90, he’s not far behind the top tier. His control is solid. With this sustained burst, he’s currently ranked 17th.”
Yu Xinghan’s third eye—his inner spiritual eye—was fully open, aiding him in pushing every ounce of energy from his core. But no matter how hard he strained, he remained stuck at 17th.
“The top 16 are accelerating. Closing the gap is impossible. And this is only 17th place…”
He thought of the countless hours spent under the personal guidance of Xinghuo Immortal, training his palm and fist strength—practicing until his fingers bled. Yet even now, at full effort, he could only reach 17th.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
“So I’ll have to wait for next time.”
Deng Bingding’s attention turned to Bai Zhenzhen.
“Number 56, Bai Zhenzhen—poor prodigy. Invested in, and now soaring.”
“And the investor’s name… according to local Songyang deities… is Zhang Pianpian.”
“Same investor as Zhang Yu. Could these two be connected to higher circles?”
She shook her head. No. I’ll pretend I don’t know. Treat them as ordinary candidates.
Back to the data. The Martial Energy readings from Bai Zhenzhen’s body pulsed like waves—endless, relentless, crashing outward in surging torrents through her meridians.
Expert-Level Qi Circulation Technique — Jingtao Jiu Zhuan — 10th-Level Activation!
This advanced breathing method thrived on continuity. After nine transformations, it drew in more energy—its power growing stronger the longer it was practiced.
Thanks to Bai Zhenzhen’s Zhen Linggen, the technique had been refined. Now, each rotation accelerated faster than the last—like a storm rising, waves growing fiercer with every cycle.
With this mastery, she barely held 19th place.
But now, after the ninth rotation, the speed of her energy flow was nearing her control limit. She felt like a tiny boat in a storm—on the verge of being swallowed by the raging energy.
Yet the more dangerous it became, the clearer her mind grew—thanks to the Hanpo Ice Heart Scripture.
She was utterly focused, her awareness narrowed to the edge of control. She poured every ounce of will into keeping the technique from spiraling out of bounds.
Deng Bingding observed the data and silently assessed:
“If this energy goes wild, it’ll cause severe injury. Another reckless student.”
She sighed. Not surprising. In Kunxu, if a student isn’t borrowing, hasn’t been injured, hasn’t fallen ill… then something’s wrong.
After all, who among the top scorers hadn’t survived a thousand risks to get here?
Finally, Deng Bingding turned to Zhang Yu.
“Number 21?” she murmured. “He didn’t even make top 20?”
…
Zhang Yu, pouring every ounce of energy into his body, felt the same shock.
“I didn’t even make 20th?”
True, today’s exam only eliminated those below the top 20 in total score. A rank outside 20 didn’t mean automatic failure.
But being so far behind was still a major disadvantage.
“These Xian Du students… they’re really strong.”
He remembered when he’d pushed Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa to level 10—his control had been excellent.
Then, after mastering Wuji Yunshou to level 10, he’d believed his control was on par with senior high students.
But now, seeing his rank… he realized something.
His control over Martial Energy… hadn’t improved in ages.
“I’ve spent months focused on physical cultivation.”
“Yes. My control is at senior high level.”
“But senior high-level control… without explosive power… isn’t enough to break into the top 20 in this exam.”
Pressure and crisis crashed down on him. A wild, untamed beast roared in his mind—awakening a fire he hadn’t felt in years.
“Hah… pressure? Desperation?”
“You’re not enough.”
(End of Chapter)
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