Translator: CinderTL
Inside the black sedan, Zhang Jianwu sat in the driver's seat, his eyes closed in meditation.
Ding-a-ling!
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Zhang Jianwu opened his eyes.
Beep. He answered the call.
"Director Zhang," Cao Feng's voice came through the line. "What's the situation?"
"Jiang Ye hasn't returned yet," Zhang Jianwu replied, shaking his head. "Old Cao, why are you even more anxious than I am? You've called three times in the past hour."
Cao Feng chuckled helplessly. "How can I not be anxious? If that kid Jiang Ye really pulls this off, he could easily score 870 points. With the bonus points, that's 890!"
For Ancheng Third High School, only ten to twenty-five students from the twenty-five school alliance typically achieve admission each year. Among them, perhaps only one might score above 890 points—or none at all.
But this year...
Zhao Qingli had practically secured her spot.
And if Jiang Ye also reached that score?
Then Ancheng Third High School would have two students scoring above 890 points, surpassing their rivals at Ancheng No. 3 High School.
This would be an unprecedented achievement for Cao Feng and the entire school.
"Don't get your hopes up too high," Zhang Jianwu sighed. "The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment."
"I know," Cao Feng replied. "Jiang Ye was unconscious for five days. If he performs normally, that's already a win. If he fails the Cosmic Certification, we can't blame him."
"With the College Entrance Examination approaching, we need to keep encouraging him."
Zhang Jianwu nodded. "If he really doesn't succeed, his chances of getting into Penglai University are probably slim. Let's discuss how to comfort him later."
"How about this?" Cao Feng suggested.
Just as they were discussing how to console Jiang Ye, a sudden knock echoed on the car door.
Tap, tap, tap!
Zhang Jianwu looked up, his eyes lighting up instantly.
He quickly opened the door. "You're back?"
"Director," Jiang Ye said solemnly as he settled into the passenger seat. "I have good news and bad news."
Hearing this and seeing Jiang Ye's expression, Zhang Jianwu's heart sank.
"Tell me the bad news first," he said grimly, bracing himself for the worst.
Jiang Ye paused, considering his words.
"The bad news is..."
"The Cosmic Conglomerate offered me a million," Jiang Ye said slowly. "They invited me to join them, but I refused."
Zhang Jianwu stared in disbelief.
Is that the bad news?
"What's the good news, then?" Zhang Jianwu pressed.
"The good news," Jiang Ye replied with a smile, "is that the Cosmic Conglomerate ultimately granted us a five hundred thousand sponsorship with no strings attached."
Silence fell over the car.
Finally, Cao Feng, who was listening through the phone, couldn't help but ask, "Jiang Ye, did you pass the Cosmic Divine Path Certification?"
"Teacher Cao is here too?" Jiang Ye nodded. "Yes, I passed the certification."
"You little rascal!" Zhang Jianwu slapped Jiang Ye on the head, laughing and scolding, "You were playing us, weren't you? What bad news? I thought you'd failed!"
Jiang Ye coughed. "Losing five hundred thousand—isn't that bad news?"
"Compared to the Cosmic Certification, what's five hundred thousand?" Zhang Jianwu shook his head, then looked at Jiang Ye seriously. "Jiang Ye, tell me honestly—did you really pass, or are you joking?"
"I really passed," Jiang Ye said with a solemn nod.
Zhang Jianwu studied him intently.
After a moment,
"Good!"
"Hahaha!" Zhang Jianwu burst into laughter. "Good! I knew you could do it, kid!"
The oppressive atmosphere in the cabin instantly dissipated.
A martial artist's emotions can generate an invisible qi prowess that influences the surrounding environment.
The earlier oppressive atmosphere had stemmed from Zhang Jianwu's heavy heart.
But now? He had completely let go.
"Jiang Ye," Cao Feng said, his voice filled with excitement, "how do you feel now? Has your strength increased significantly?"
Zhang Jianwu also turned to Jiang Ye.
They had long heard that passing the Cosmic Divine Path Certification would grant a Cosmic Blessing.
This blessing was said to grant tremendous advancements in a remarkably short time.
"It's a huge change," Jiang Ye nodded without hesitation. "The Cosmic Blessing has greatly accelerated the transformation of my meridians and bones."
"I've likely already progressed beyond one-tenth of the way to my first breakthrough."
"One-tenth?" Zhang Jianwu and Cao Feng were both astonished.
For ordinary people, progressing from the first breakthrough to the second breakthrough typically takes years, if not a lifetime.
Even Dao Bone Grade Martial Dao Prodigies typically require at least a year to advance.
For Jiang Ye to leap forward by one-tenth in a single bound? That's simply astonishing!
Jiang Ye continued, "Moreover, during the Cosmic Blessing, my Guanyuan Acupoint was transformed into an hourglass shape."
"Teacher, are you familiar with this phenomenon?" he asked, turning to Zhang Jianwu.
"An hourglass-shaped Guanyuan Acupoint?" Zhang Jianwu paused, slightly taken aback.
"It's true that the Guanyuan Acupoints of some geniuses with unique constitutions differ from the norm," he mused. "But hourglass-shaped? I've never heard of such a thing."
After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Jianwu shook his head.
"I'm not very knowledgeable about these matters."
"If you have the chance, you should ask Chen Zilu. She might know more than I do," Zhang Jianwu suggested.
"Teacher Chen?" Jiang Ye nodded.
Vroom~
Without further comment, Zhang Jianwu started the car.
"Jiang Ye, when you get back," Zhang Jianwu said, a hint of anticipation in his voice, "take some time to settle down. Give it your all in the College Entrance Examination in two days!"
"Mm-hmm."
"Good luck on the College Entrance Examination!" Jiang Ye took a deep breath.
"Good luck!"
Boom!
The black sedan sped onto the road, hurtling toward Ancheng.
Back home, Jiang Ye took a quick shower and hurried to his room.
Sitting down, he pondered for a moment before dialing Zhao Qingli's number.
Beep...
The call connected.
"Class Monitor," Jiang Ye said, "I passed the certification."
"Passed?" Zhao Qingli paused, surprised. "Really?"
"Of course it's true."
Jiang Ye shook his head with a smile. "Class Monitor, I'm transferring the hundred thousand credits to you now."
Earlier, Zhao Qingli had secured him a spot in the Cosmic Divine Path program for a hundred thousand credits. They had agreed that he would transfer the money upon successful certification.
Jiang Ye had no intention of going back on his word.
Besides, his gains from this experience far exceeded any monetary value.
After completing the transfer, Zhao Qingli's voice carried a hint of amusement. "Heh, you're quite reliable. Good luck on the College Entrance Examination. I hope you get into Penglai University."
"You too, do your best!" Jiang Ye said with a smile.
Ding!
Your account xxxxx5679 has received 500,000 federal currency. A notification popped up.
The five hundred thousand sponsorship promised by Director Liu had arrived.
"That was fast," Jiang Ye said, surprised.
He had just transferred a hundred thousand to Zhao Qingli, and now five hundred thousand had been deposited into his account.
The more I spend, the more I seem to get.
After hanging up, Jiang Ye moved to the center of his room.
He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.
Only two days left until the College Entrance Examination.
Nine Luminaries Star-Treading? There probably isn't enough time to even get started, Jiang Ye thought. But there's still plenty of room for improvement with the Star Martial Advancement Method.
His Advancement Method had already reached 25% of Small Success.
With the combined benefits of his Upper D-Tier Profound Physique and Heart of Enlightenment, his cultivation speed was astonishing.
Still, Jiang Ye was eager to learn more about the Cosmic Secret Art.
According to Liu Beiqiang, the Cosmic Secret Art was the cultivation technique most perfectly aligned with stellar energy, capable of unleashing its full power.
I'll try cultivating it first, Jiang Ye thought, closing his eyes. Even if I can only manifest a fraction of its power, it would be extraordinary.
He stilled his mind.
The qi within his body began circulating along the cultivation pathways, flowing toward his legs.
Nine Luminaries Star-Treading was a leg technique.
Jiang Ye ultimately chose this secret technique primarily because, beyond its high rank, it would address his weakness in leg techniques.
Consider his recent battle against the clone.
If Jiang Ye's leg techniques had been sufficiently powerful, combined with the buff from his foot dao, he could have annihilated the clone without sustaining any injuries.
Similarly, if his leg techniques improved significantly over the next two days, he would score higher in the practical combat section of the College Entrance Examination.
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
Jiang Ye relentlessly threw flying kicks, each strike unleashing explosive force as his toes cracked the air with dull, thunderous booms.
His Upper D-Tier Profound Physique, enhanced by the Heart of Enlightenment, allowed him to rapidly enter a meditative state.
Before he realized it, he had already grasped the fundamental principles of channeling power for this secret technique.
Time slipped by.
One hour.
Three hours.
Six hours.
Jiang Ye trained relentlessly, completely absorbed in the practice.
Boom!
Suddenly, the energy within him surged like a tidal wave, cascading from head to toe.
A faint silver light flashed.
Boom! Jiang Ye unleashed a kick that tore through the air like a massive hammer, crushing the surrounding currents and erupting in a deafening roar.
Simultaneously, an inconspicuous notification flickered across his interface:
[Nine Luminaries Star-Treading: Uninitiated → Uninitiated (1%)]
(End of the Chapter)