"It seems the ranking is already set."
"Fifteenth place isn't bad."
"Not bad? It's amazing!"
As the time for You Shi drew closer, the disciples of Kunlun Academy felt a weight lifted from their shoulders.
They all knew Xu Yi was challenging the Ascension Tower, and they were aware of its nature. Xu Yi's contribution points hadn't changed for a long time, indicating she had reached her limit and wouldn't improve further.
Only after she broke through or her spiritual power increased would she be able to advance further in the Ascension Tower on her next attempt.
The atmosphere among the disciples noticeably lightened.
The disciples who had ranked higher in academics also finally relaxed their furrowed brows.
Hua Wu Chang let out a scoff.
These people were celebrating far too soon.
For Xu Yi to reach fifteenth place on her first attempt was impressive. With more time next month to take on missions, her ranking would surely soar into the top ten, even giving her a chance to contend with Yue Han Tian and Xue Qi.
Their difficult times were yet to come.
Many people had considered Hua Wu Chang's thoughts, but they chose to deliberately ignore them. After all, Xu Yi's rise was unstoppable. They could only comfort themselves with Xu Yi's current achievements to give themselves a brief respite.
Just as everyone believed the matter was settled, the contribution points next to Xu Yi's name began to change again.
Four hundred and eighty-nine points.
Four hundred and ninety points.
Four hundred and ninety-one points.
…
Within a few breaths, Xu Yi's contribution points climbed rapidly, and her position on the list kept changing.
As all the names on the stone tablet emitted a dazzling light, You Shi arrived, and the March rankings were finally finalized.
Everyone had eagerly awaited this moment, yet when the rankings appeared, an eerie silence fell upon them.
All eyes were fixed on one name.
Tenth place, Xu Yi, five hundred and three contribution points.
She had truly done it.
"Xu Yi! Xu Yi!"
Yu Xiao Yu could no longer contain herself and loudly shouted Xu Yi's name, jumping up and down with excitement.
Her shout was like a spark landing on dry tinder, igniting the entire space.
Everyone erupted in cheers.
Disciples from the Xuanji Sect, following Yu Xiao Yu's lead, also shouted Xu Yi's name at the top of their lungs.
If not for the sect's orders, they would have proudly announced to everyone that Xu Yi was their ancestor.
The disciples of the Xuanji Sect at Kunlun Academy didn't truly know Xu Yi.
Most of their information about Xu Yi came from sect elders or conversations with fellow disciples, so they were unaware of Xu Yi's actual capabilities.
In fact, they had secretly speculated whether Xu Yi had the potential to become a grand-disciple's master.
Now they knew.
A master ancestor was indeed a master ancestor.
Lu Zai Ye's expression remained unchanged, but a subtle smile appeared in his eyes.
He was once again certain that his choice was not wrong. If he hadn't concealed his identity to enter Kunlun Academy, how could he have witnessed this scene?
Xu Yi's brilliance could not be hidden.
No wonder that person was so wary of Xu Yi, even expressing apprehension and resistance towards her multiple times in jade slips.
He just couldn't understand why that person knew Xu Yi so well, as if certain that Xu Yi would become a figure to be looked up to on the Kyushu Continent.
Thinking of this, Lu Zai Ye couldn't help but recall Xu Yi's strange reactions when that person was mentioned.
Could it be that the previous records were mistaken, and Xu Yi had known that person long ago?
However, Lu Zai Ye quickly dismissed this possibility because the timeline didn't match.
Someday, he would figure out the truth behind this mystery.
…
When Xu Yi emerged from the Ascension Tower, she widened her eyes in surprise at the figure standing outside the entrance.
"Dean?"
Xu Yi had never met the Dean of Kunlun Academy before. The person she was addressing was the smiling fox from Qiming Academy, Dean Deng Chuan Jun.
"Xu Yi, I truly did not misjudge you."
The Dean, fanning himself with his paper fan, looked at Xu Yi with approval.
"You flatter me, Dean, but... why are you here?"
Xu Yi asked cautiously, a unbelievable guess forming in her mind.
"Since you're calling me Dean, can't you figure it out?"
The Dean smiled slightly, his eyes filled with amusement.
Xu Yi swallowed hard, "So you are not only the Dean of Qiming Academy but also the Dean of Kunlun Academy?"
Seeing the Dean nod with a smile, Xu Yi's scalp tingled.
She still remembered how this Dean had smilingly "snatched" ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine top-grade spirit stones from her.
That was nearly all her savings.
"What is that look?" The Dean closed his fan and tapped it against his palm, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Is the Jade Gluttonous Gold I had Zhang Nannan give you not worth more than those ten thousand top-grade spirit stones?"
Upon hearing the Dean's words, Xu Yi realized that, in the end, she had gotten the better deal.
Her expression changed drastically, and she fawned, "The Dean has noble character and broadmindedness, serving as a role model for us all. These are eyes of admiration."
"Stop the flattery."
The Dean glared at her with mock annoyance, then turned and walked towards the back of the Ascension Tower.
Xu Yi hesitated for a moment before following.
The Dean's presence here clearly meant he had something to tell her.
She shouldn't be so tactless.
However, she still didn't know her ranking.
Curiosity eventually got the better of her, and Xu Yi, following the Dean, stammered, "Dean, that... that is... cough."
"Want to ask about your ranking?"
The Dean, without looking back, accurately voiced Xu Yi's thoughts, making her suspect he had been secretly observing her.
"Hmph, do I even need to guess your intentions?"
The Dean's words pierced through Xu Yi's little secret again.
Xu Yi gave a sheepish smile, thinking to herself that although she was over two hundred years old, she had spent two hundred of those years confined in a secret realm without social interaction. Her thoughts were naturally not as profound as those of an ancient monster like the Dean, who had lived for hundreds of years. It was normal for him to see through her.
"You performed well, ranking tenth this time. Otherwise, why do you think I came to see you personally?"
The Dean finally resolved Xu Yi's confusion.
"Tenth?"
Xu Yi's pupils contracted, and then a slightly proud smile appeared on her face.
Although she had guessed that her results this time would be good, the outcome still exceeded her expectations. At least she hadn't disgraced the Xuanji Sect.
"What? Are you surprised?"
The Dean suddenly slowed his pace and asked.
Xu Yi stopped, feeling that the Dean's words held a hidden meaning.
"Of course. Kunlun Academy is a place where dragons lie hidden and talent emerges in abundance. I truly did not expect this."
Xu Yi thought for a moment and finally offered a response that she couldn't find any fault with.
The Dean chuckled again, not pressing further.
About fifteen minutes later, Xu Yi followed the Dean to a thatched hut.
"Isn't this..."
Xu Yi looked around in surprise, finally confirming that the thatched hut was identical to the one at Qiming Academy, or rather, it was the same thatched hut.
Did the Dean have a peculiar habit, refusing to build even one extra residence for himself?
"Don't think nonsense. Come in quickly."
Xu Yi's scalp tightened, and she quickly collected her thoughts and entered the thatched hut.