Ranked in the Top Ten (Please Add to Favorites)

Without a doubt, the person Fang Liuxian was asking about was Hua Su; there was no possibility it could be anyone else.

For a moment, Jiang Feng did not reply. Hua Su’s strength was indeed astonishing, yet he kept himself hidden in a small place like Linxi County, which surely meant he had his reasons. Jiang Feng was unsure whether Hua Su wished to conceal his identity.

But thinking back, Hua Su had not disguised his name; he even opened a martial academy and taught disciples. It was impossible to keep such a thing entirely secret.

He nodded and said, “My teacher who taught me this move does indeed have the surname Hua, but I don’t know if he’s the one you’re referring to.”

Ping Luanshan immediately cried out, “Teacher Hua is biased! Such a dashing move—why teach it to you and not to me?”

Jiang Feng glanced at him and said lightly, “Perhaps it’s because someone acted recklessly and attracted a second-tier Ming Plant to test Teacher Hua’s strength?”

Ping Luanshan instantly recalled what had happened at that time. He turned aside, a bit embarrassed, then suddenly realized, “Oh, so you learned it then!”

Back then, Jiang Feng was about to help Ping Luanshan, when Hua Su exhaled a breath, freezing the giant tree and simultaneously guiding Jiang Feng’s inner Ming Power, prompting him to comprehend how to channel Ming Power to attack the air.

Jiang Feng had only gained a slight understanding at that time, and afterward, he continued experimenting with controlling Ming Power, limiting its range, and practiced alone for a long time, never achieving the best result.

Just before stepping onto the stage, Hua Su had the guards hand him a gold-element core, and Jiang Feng immediately thought of this unique technique. This time, after a mere trial, he discovered that his control over Ming Power had advanced another level, just enough to unleash pinpoint air blasts in the arena!

If all of this had been arranged by Hua Su from the start, it only proved that his strength was already unfathomable.

Fang Liuxian listened to their conversation, both shocked and delighted. “So your teacher does bear the surname Hua? Where is he?”

Upon learning they were from Yuanshan Martial Academy in Linxi County, Fang Liuxian nodded and left.

Hong Cheng whispered, “We won’t bring any trouble to Teacher Hua, will we?”

Jiang Feng shook his head thoughtfully. “I don’t think Officer Fang harbors any ill intent…”

He turned to Teng Zhi, raised his brows, and asked, “Will you go back to Yuanshan with us later?”

Teng Zhi pressed his lips tightly and replied stiffly, “It was my wager. I’ll honor it!”

Though his attitude was less than friendly, Jiang Feng merely smiled. Ping Luanshan glared fiercely at Teng Zhi and quietly warned, “You’d better watch out for this guy!”

Jiang Feng laughed. “Mm, I know!”

The battles continued on the field, victory and defeat decided one after another.

By late afternoon, as the sun dipped below the horizon, all one hundred and three examinees’ scores were revealed; the county leaderboard ceased to change.

The names were neatly arranged, with the top ten in red, the next twenty in green, and the rest in black.

At the very front, a name shone with a fiery red tinged with gold, like a blaze burning fiercely at the top of the list.

Jiang Feng!

Five hundred and twenty-two points!

Although everyone had known he would be the top scorer in this exam, when they saw his name and score officially displayed, all held their breath involuntarily.

First round, the Heaven Exam: one chain and zero apertures, seven breaths, seventy points in total.

Second round, the Earth Exam: finished in only twelve minutes, earning a bonus, for a total of three hundred and two points.

In the final round, the Human Exam: three consecutive victories, one hundred and fifty points.

Without a doubt, in all three rounds of the county exam, he won with overwhelming margins. Compared to everyone else, he was the absolute and undisputed champion!

And Jiang Feng was merely a youth who had just entered the ranks.

Second place was Hong Cheng, with three hundred and ninety points, also from Yuanshan Martial Academy.

Hong Cheng stared at his score, so thrilled he was at a loss for what to do. That morning, when he received the Celestial Order from Teacher Hua, he had worried he wouldn’t pass the county exam and would waste the precious token. Who could have expected he’d rank second, not only passing but also gaining his pass for the state exam!

His chest heaved violently, and it took a long time for him to calm down. In his eyes, a new light was kindling; within his heart, something was collapsing, and something else was being built anew.

Jiang Feng glanced at him and smiled gently.

Compared to the gap between first and second place, the scores of the next nine were much closer, often differing by less than ten points.

Ping Luanshan ranked sixth, also qualifying for the state exam.

Teng Zhi had originally enjoyed a comfortable lead, but losing the last match to Jiang Feng cost him fifty points, leaving him barely in ninth place and almost out of the top ten.

Perhaps due to Jiang Feng’s influence, the students of Ancient Vine Martial Academy faltered repeatedly in the Human Exam. Including Teng Zhi, only four made it into the top ten. If Teng Zhi were discounted, the number would match Yuanshan’s.

Yet Yuanshan had sent only five people, while Ancient Vine brought ten, all handpicked by the martial instructors from the finest talents in Linxi County!

Wang Erhu and Xiang Sheng ranked eighteenth and twenty-sixth—not high, but within the passing range.

Both were so delighted their faces flushed red.

Passing the county exam and obtaining martial cultivation qualifications meant they and their families would enter a new social stratum, destined for a life entirely different from before!

When the scores and rankings first appeared, the field fell silent, emotions surging through the crowd.

Soon enough, voices arose—cheers, disappointed complaints…

Compared to before, complaints were far fewer.

Many surged toward Jiang Feng, shouting, “Top scorer! Let me touch you and share your luck!”

At that, Jiang Feng could no longer maintain his earlier composure; his face fell, and he turned to flee.

The crowd pressed in relentlessly, and no matter how skilled Jiang Feng was, he could not escape. In a blink, his hair and clothes were in disarray, as people tried to take keepsakes, hoping to be blessed for next time.

Ping Luanshan laughed gleefully at his misfortune, prompting rare curses from Jiang Feng.

Hong Cheng and the other three proved themselves decent, rushing forward to shield Jiang Feng and escort him out.

The surrounding guards chuckled, and when Jiang Feng dashed past, they joked, “Top scorer, let us pull a hair for luck!”

Teng Zhi, caught in the crowd, watched Jiang Feng and his companions leave like a boat riding out a storm, lost and uncertain for a moment.

He looked at Jiang Feng, then toward Ancient Vine Martial Academy. At some point, all of Ancient Vine’s students had disappeared from the field. After losing his match, Teng Zhi received nothing from his own side except a slap from the instructor.

No comfort, no anger, nothing—he was simply forgotten, abandoned here.

Just then, Jiang Feng turned and called, “Senior Teng, come quickly, it’s time to register!”

Teng Zhi snapped out of his daze and, almost instinctively, squeezed through to stand silently behind Jiang Feng.

…

…

Jiang Feng finally managed to squeeze into a hall in the county office, the other examinees blocked outside by guards.

He let out a sigh of relief, straightened his attire, and said with a wry smile, “This is even scarier than fighting Ming Beasts.”

Part of his lapel was torn off, a sleeve missing. Had it not been for the sturdy leather armor covering him, he might have ended up running naked today.

Ping Luanshan followed, unable to stop laughing. “Exactly! At least Ming Beasts won’t tear your clothes off!”

Jiang Feng glared at him and threatened, “Next time this happens, I’ll throw you out as a sacrifice!”

Ping Luanshan grinned smugly. “Too bad they only want you; they won’t be interested in me!”

They had been called here by a clerk, and soon, the other top ten entered as well. Among them were three from Ancient Vine Martial Academy; the two groups faced each other, and the atmosphere immediately grew tense.

The three Ancient Vine students stood aside, eyeing Jiang Feng with cold smiles.

Teng Zhi, seeing them, felt uneasy, but noticing their expressions, his gaze turned wary and puzzled.

Before long, Fang Liuxian and Qu Chun, two exam officials, entered.

Upon arrival, they cupped their hands and smiled, “Congratulations to you all—you are the top ten scorers in Linxi County’s exam, and your names will be inscribed forever in the county records! At the same time, you automatically receive the Celestial State Order, qualifying you for the next round. Of course, whether you choose to participate is up to you.”

The clerk who called them in offered a tray. “Nearby academies have sent their information. If you don’t wish to join the state exam, you may select an academy here.”

After the grand exam, it was time to choose an academy for further study. The higher the exam, the broader the choices.

An academy was a small society; entering one marked the true beginning of a martial cultivator’s life.

Now, the field outside had grown quiet; those who failed had gone, and the remaining twenty were guided by staff as they chose their academies.

If dissatisfied with their scores and eligible, they could retake the county exam, but in a small place like Linxi, most would not.

Fang Liuxian swept his robe and sat behind the desk, picking up a pen. He smiled at the ten before him. “Next, I’ll record your information and issue the Celestial State Order. We’ll also send your results to your families—haha, nothing compares to returning home in glory!”

His gaze fell on Jiang Feng, and his smile brightened. “Jiang Feng, you’re the top scorer—let’s start with you… Hmm? Your surname is Jiang? Are you from the Jiang family?”

Jiang Feng lifted his eyes, his gaze clear and sharp. “Officer Fang, I wish to delay notifying my family!”

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fatfox911, Zhe Sha, Post-Era vb, I19290—thank you! (Deep bow)