Chapter 737: Yu Brother's Harvest

On the flat ground at the foot of the mountain, master teachers were already lined up, with several long, narrow queues stretching forward. At the front of each queue, several senior master teachers were responsible for reviewing the quantity and grade of inner cores obtained by the new students and calculating their scores. Those who did not pass could only dismally retreat to the side.

Following the crowd, Zhang Xuan looked ahead. People bustled around; many passed, but it seemed more failed.

"This year's assessment is so difficult. With 30,000 participants, from what I've seen so far, nearly 20,000 won't pass!"

"It's too hard. Master teachers from our three empires allied together, thinking we'd have no worries about this assessment. We never dreamed we'd fall into a spiritual beast ambush, be surrounded and attacked by them, and suffer heavy losses!"

"We were ambushed too. Our alliance of 300 people was forcibly scattered, with over fifty people severely injured on the spot. We fought for over an hour. Around noon, the spiritual beasts suddenly dispersed, allowing us to find an opportunity to hunt a few. But still, most people won't pass!"

"The spiritual beasts that trapped us also dispersed around noon. It's just that we weren't as lucky as you; too many of us were injured. We could only rest where we were. The total inner cores we obtained were few. It'll be hard to pass!"

After walking for a while, voices chatting could be heard from all around.

"It seems no major disaster occurred..."

Listening to the conversations, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he discovered it early and thwarted the schemes of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. Otherwise, the Purpleleaf Beast would surely have succeeded. If that had happened, it would be unknown how many of the 30,000 master teachers would have survived, and the Master Teacher Pavilion would have suffered heavy losses.

"This credit... I won't apply to the Master Teacher Pavilion for it!"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan decided against it. Thwarting the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe's plot and saving tens of thousands of genius master teachers was a huge merit. If reported, the rewards would be extremely generous; several, or even dozens, of high-grade spirit stones could likely be easily obtained. However, if he did, the matter of the formidable person and the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe puppet would be difficult to explain. These two items were currently his most crucial life-saving tools, more precious than any spirit stone. After much thought, he could only abandon this immense credit.

"What a pity..."

The thought of having done such a great deed but having to handle it discreetly made Zhang Xuan feel a pang of regret. The Master Teacher Pavilion's rewards were very generous. If he truly received dozens of high-grade spirit stones, it would likely be enough for him to cultivate to the Saint realm!

However, he hadn't gained nothing. Besides the valuable Sky-Striking Talismans and various spirit stones and treasures, the most crucial gains were the Thousand-Ant Beehive and the Purpleleaf Beast.

"If worst comes to worst... I'll just kill this Purpleleaf Beast first. Its meat can be stewed into soup, its bones and claws refined into weapons, and its hide and inner core sold. As a Saint beast... it should fetch quite a few spirit stones!"

Stroking his chin, Zhang Xuan pondered. Although he wouldn't get rewards from the Master Teacher Pavilion, if he skinned this Purpleleaf Beast, it should still sell for a good price.

"Hmm, once the assessment is over, if this guy still doesn't confess, I'll just skin it..." After some thought, he found it quite feasible. Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction: "However, when selling it, I need to be discreet. I shouldn't reveal my identity. Otherwise, explaining where this creature came from and how it was killed would be very troublesome."

This Purpleleaf Beast was a powerful Saint 1-dan pinnacle expert. Within the Hongyuan Empire's borders, it was absolutely one of the most powerful beings. A new student who just entered the Master Teacher Academy hunting one down and then skinning and selling it would definitely cause a huge uproar. If that happened, the Ten Great Master Teachers would all want to take him as a student. How would he refuse? Just thinking about it gave him a headache. How could he possibly remain low-key then?

This time, coming to the Master Teacher Academy, he had planned it out: to quietly read books and leave once his strength had improved enough. He couldn't cause such a commotion as he did in previous empires and kingdoms, disturbing everyone and drawing all eyes to him. He was a master teacher; being treated as a King of Destruction was truly beneath his status.

As he was deep in thought, he heard the conversations ahead continue.

"Oh, by the way, I heard someone returned around noon today. Not only did they pass, but their score was frighteningly high!" a knowledgeable master teacher lowered his voice.

"Returned at noon? Frighteningly high? Who is it? That amazing?" The second master teacher seemed a bit incredulous.

"I don't know either. I just heard a few senior students ahead discussing it. It seems they said that the current highest score is still far behind!"

"The highest score? Are you talking about Senior Brother Hu from Wanyu Empire? I personally saw him take out twenty-seven inner cores, several of which were from Bridge Heaven realm beasts. His total was over 700 points! Higher than 700 points? Is that true?"

The second master teacher's eyes widened. Many of them hadn't even earned a single point, while Senior Brother Hu from Wanyu Empire had produced twenty-seven inner cores by himself. This had been a sensation all morning. They thought such a score would surely win first place, never expecting the person who returned at noon to be even stronger.

"I don't know either. I just overheard those senior students mention it briefly. I don't know the specifics..."

"Over 700 points? The person who came back at noon is truly amazing! It seems there are quite a few geniuses among the new students!"

Listening to the conversation, Zhang Xuan nodded involuntarily. An inner core from a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan pinnacle beast was worth one point, while an early Bridge Heaven realm inner core was worth 100 points. Over 700 points meant hunting at least six or seven Bridge Heaven realm spiritual beasts! Most new students were at Transcendent Mortal 4-dan pinnacle; Harmonized Spirit realm was already considered high. As for Bridge Heaven realm, he had only seen "Brother Yu" so far. Even with this guy's strength, hunting seven early Bridge Heaven realm spiritual beasts would be very difficult. This impressive individual returned at noon and obtained a score far exceeding 700. Their strength was terrifying! Perhaps they were even no weaker than him.

"I should find an opportunity to meet them. I really want to see what kind of formidable person could have taught such a powerful genius!"

The more he thought about it, the more formidable he found that person. Zhang Xuan exclaimed in admiration.

"Far behind? Could it be 1,000 points? Heh, even 1,000 points is nothing!"

Just as he was filled with emotion, a proud snort rang out. The master teachers who were conversing, hearing such arrogant words, frowned simultaneously, quickly turned their heads, and after just one glance, they all took a step back.

They saw two young men striding over. Although they were dressed in animal hides, it did nothing to conceal the powerful aura within them. One was a Half-Bridge Heaven realm expert, while the other's aura was vast, like a great river; he was actually a true Bridge Heaven realm expert! No wonder they were so confident. With the strength of these two, even an early Bridge Heaven realm spiritual beast would likely fare poorly against them!

But... How could two such powerful individuals be dressed in animal hides, like savages? Most importantly, the animal hides weren't even neat; they looked like something had gnawed on them. They were incredibly unsightly. Especially the one with slightly weaker strength, who was carrying a pouch made of animal hide... A dignified Half-5-star Master Teacher carrying a pouch... Did he not even have a storage ring? How unkempt!

Zhang Xuan also turned his head, only then realizing they were two old acquaintances. It was the two he had made a bet with... Brother Yu and Feng Wu! Weren't these two supposed to be elegant and unrestrained, with their robes fluttering? This appearance...

Ignoring the surprise of those around him, Brother Yu looked at Zhang Xuan, a smile playing on his lips. "Master Teacher Zhang, it's good that you're back. Do you dare to come with us to verify scores?" Although at noon they had been completely robbed by a fierce spiritual beast, the beast scale incense remained. With it, not only did they successfully complete the task, but they also hunted many spiritual beasts throughout the afternoon, even more than in the morning! With this reliance, surpassing Master Teacher Zhang was nothing! Perhaps he could even reach the top, become the new student with the highest score, and make a big splash.

"Sure!" Zhang Xuan nodded. Although he had been busy interrogating the Purpleleaf Beast, he still had quite a few inner cores. It shouldn't be hard to surpass these two.

Seeing this powerful master teacher dressed in animal hides wanting to verify scores with Master Teacher Zhang, everyone quickly made way. The three soon arrived at the front of the queue.

"Master Teacher Zhang and I have a bet. We'd like to ask a few senior students to help us verify our scores!" Looking at the senior students from the academy responsible for reviewing, Brother Yu dared not put on airs. He cupped his fists and bowed.

"A bet?" The senior student in charge of reviewing frowned.

"Yes! Master Teacher Zhang and I have wagered one high-grade spirit stone. Whoever has more points wins. I'm afraid he might not honor the bet later, so I ask Senior Student to be a witness!" Brother Yu said.

"One high-grade spirit stone?"

"What a grand gesture..."

Hearing the terms of the bet, everyone around gasped. Even the senior students responsible for reviewing were stunned. Even though they were second-year students at the Master Teacher Academy, they couldn't afford to make such a large wager.

"One high-grade spirit stone right off the bat... These new students are getting bolder and bolder! All right, I'll be your witness!" The senior student in charge of reviewing exclaimed, nodded in agreement, and extended his hand: "Take out your inner cores!"

"Alright!" Brother Yu gestured, and Feng Wu stepped forward, taking off the package from his back. He opened it directly.

*Clatter!*

A pile of inner cores spilled onto the ground.

"So many..."

"Bridge Heaven realm ones, Harmonized Unity realm ones... What's that one?"

"A vermilion inner core, that's, that's... an inner core from an early Harmonized Unity realm spiritual beast? H-how is that possible?"

"That's right, the aura emanating from it is like a blade's edge, making one's eyes ache and skin feel a burning sensation. Only a Harmonized Unity realm expert, whose essence, qi, and spirit are perfectly unified, can achieve this!"

"They can even hunt Harmonized Unity realm spiritual beasts and obtain their inner cores... No wonder they dared to speak that way just now. It seems first place is about to change hands!"

"Indeed..."

Seeing the inner cores scattered all over the ground, everyone was first stunned, and then burst into an uproar. Never mind how many points the other inner cores added up to, just this one inner core from an early Harmonized Unity realm spiritual beast was worth a massive 1,000 points! Even the genius that the senior students mentioned earlier, who returned at noon, would probably find it hard to compare! No wonder they were so arrogant; they indeed had the capital to be arrogant!