"Ugo Wei, Xiao Qi, Feng Qingyang, regrettably, you did not pass the assessment. You may depart tomorrow."
The Dean's words struck the three named individuals like a heavy hammer, leaving them dizzy and trembling.
Hearing this, Xu Yi's heart also jolted. She then glanced at Bai Shan in surprise.
Seeing Bai Shan's pale and bloodless complexion earlier, she had mistakenly assumed he hadn't passed either.
Since he had passed, why did he look so unwell?
"Dean, can we, can we have another chance, just one?"
Feng Qingyang's voice was almost choked as he spoke.
His eyes were red, his expression dejected, and he seemed to have aged several years in an instant.
He was enveloped by a great sense of fear and still couldn't accept this reality.
Beside him, Ugo Wei and Xiao Qi nodded in agreement, their faces mirroring his urgency and pleading.
Failing the assessment was a devastating blow to prodigies like them.
The top ten from the sect competition had all participated in the assessment, but only the three of them had failed. Wasn't this an implicit statement that they were inferior to the others?
None of them could accept it.
The Dean's lips curved upward, displaying the same gentle smile from their first meeting. However, his words were as cold and merciless as blades.
"You have no more chances. The assessment results are a consequence of your own choices. As they say, what goes around, comes around."
"You, Ugo Wei, have become lazy due to your contracted beast. Today's trial was to overcome drowsiness, listen to the instructor's lecture, and complete the tasks. You failed."
"You, Xiao Qi, hate evil but struggle to discern right from wrong. You believed yourself to be righteous, yet you made the most incorrect judgments, wrongly accusing good people. Therefore, you failed."
"You, Feng Qingyang, are impetuous and hasty in your actions. Of the ten tasks assigned by the instructor, although you completed them, three had errors. You failed!"
"Do you still not recognize your own flaws?!"
"Are you sad and distressed because of regret or because you lost face? You know in your hearts!"
"You have no more chances!"
The Dean's voice grew louder, and the three turned crimson, lowering their heads in shame.
His thunderous words had stripped away their pretense, and their muddled minds gradually cleared.
It was then that they understood how profoundly they had erred, the reasons for their failure, and the fatal flaws they possessed.
Their failure in the assessment was not unjust!
Xu Yi felt a sense of empathy from the side.
She finally understood what the seemingly useless studies of the past few months were all about.
The instructors, the Dean, or perhaps everyone at Qiming Academy, were hidden observers.
Through their actions, they analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of their characters and then tailored the assessments accordingly.
These assessments targeted their personality flaws, and with the slightest carelessness, they would fall into the trap.
"The seven of you have passed the assessment. Gather here tomorrow at Chen Shi. Liu Yin Xiao and Yu Chun Dao will guide you into Kunlun." The Dean looked at the remaining seven and suddenly chuckled, "Cherish your last moments today."
Before Xu Yi and the others could grasp the deeper meaning of his words, he waved them away.
Xu Yi and the ten bowed in unison and left the place together.
After they were out of earshot, the Dean's smile faded, and he said calmly, "Do you think they will be able to stay in Kunlun Academy?"
He had never implied that entering Kunlun Academy meant peace and security.
The cruelty of Kunlun Academy was unimaginable to outsiders.
Although the Dean did not name names, Liu Yin Xiao and Yu Chun Dao knew he was speaking to them.
Yu Chun Dao looked hesitant, but Liu Yin Xiao stated with certainty, "Dean, perhaps their performance will exceed your imagination."
Each of these seven was extraordinary.
Liu Yin Xiao believed their arrival would undoubtedly bring a new storm to Kunlun Academy.
It was time to make certain individuals aware of the looming crisis.
Liu Yin Xiao's peach blossom eyes narrowed, a glint of pleasure flashing within them.
...
The largest restaurant in Mo City.
Feng Qingyang raised his wine cup, his voice trembling.
"Thank you all for your care during these past days. We shall meet again when fate allows, though the roads may be long and winding."
He tilted his head back and drank a cup of potent liquor. The fiery burn coursed down his throat, causing his eyes to well up.
It must be the strong wine.
"I also toast all of you."
Xiao Qi rose from his seat and drank a cup of potent liquor.
*Crack!*
The empty wine cup was thrown heavily onto the table, emitting a dull thud that masked the sob escaping his lips.
"Take care, everyone."
Ugo Wei remained as taciturn as ever. He silently poured a cup of wine and slowly drank it, his movements unhurried.
If not for his slightly trembling hand, the suppressed emotions he was trying to contain might not have been revealed.
After the three sat down, Xu Yi and the other seven stood up. They offered no words of comfort but instead raised their wine cups high and drank this bittersweet wine.
Though they knew they might meet again in the future, at this moment, they were still affected by the sorrow of parting.
Only when night fell and the restaurant owner repeatedly urged them did they leave.
The next day, as dawn broke, the rooms of Feng Qingyang and the other two had returned to their original state.
Xu Yi walked out of her room, rubbing her throbbing temples.
The wine they had drunk yesterday was brought out by Xiong Zhuang Zhuang.
At that time, Feng Qingyang and the other two wanted to drown their sorrows with alcohol and clamored for the strongest liquor.
The Mo City restaurant couldn't fulfill their demand, so Xiong Zhuang Zhuang produced his treasured fine wine.
This wine was not only potent but also had a strong after-effect. Xu Yi still felt dizzy and groggy.
"Sister Xu, I have a hangover-relief pill here."
Xu Yi turned around and saw Bai Shan holding a spirit pill radiating a cool aura, looking at her expectantly.
"Thanks."
Xu Yi grabbed the spirit pill and popped it into her mouth. A refreshing coolness erupted, invigorating her.
Seeing Xu Yi's unhesitating action, Bai Shan's lingering anxiety finally subsided.
Xu Yi's action indicated that she didn't suspect him, and his previous worries had been completely unnecessary.
He couldn't help but curve his lips upward, a faint smile appearing.
"Bai Shan, I didn't have time to ask yesterday, what was your assessment?" Xu Yi asked casually.
Bai Shan's expression stiffened for a moment before quickly returning to normal.
"My assessment was to hunt a late-stage Out-of-Body stage great demon. The situation yesterday was extremely perilous, but fortunately, I was lucky and managed to pass by sheer chance."
While speaking, Bai Shan kept an eye on Xu Yi. Noticing that she merely nodded in realization without further questioning, he slowly released his clenched fist.
He inwardly chided himself, "Once bitten by a snake, one fears a well rope for ten years."
Xu Yi no longer suspected him, yet he remained jumpy at the slightest disturbance, walking on thin ice.