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Even after the Crystal Python was slain, everyone was still in shock.
It was too fast!
A Second Level early-stage fighter easily killed a Second Level mid-stage opponent with just a few slaps; the difference in strength was simply too great.
This also meant a huge gap in combat power between them and Ling Qingxue.
"Was she always exceptionally talented but good at concealing herself, or is she truly just a dark horse?"
Chu Yuansheng felt like his confidence had suffered a tremendous blow.
He had maintained his position as the top student in the entire school for two and a half years, only to be overtaken in the last six months of high school.
Even Zhao Xin, the daughter of the City Lord, couldn't match his resources. He had no shortage of cultivation techniques and martial arts skills, and they were all of high quality.
Furthermore, he received individual instruction from Liu Qingshan. If he still couldn't get first place, it could only mean he had no talent at all.
On the other hand, what did Ling Qingxue have?
Her parents died when she was young, the entire class mocked her, and her resources were pitifully scarce...
A disastrous start, yet she managed to rise unexpectedly—that's what a true genius meant!
"Compared to her, I don't seem to have anything to brag about," Chu Yuansheng said with a wry smile.
"Well, you have a grandfather who's a school principal and a father who's a Seventh Rank martial artist."
Chu Yuansheng glared at Li Lianshan.
With such a background, to still be inferior to her—wasn't that even more embarrassing?
Yao Chuyu's face softened into a gentle smile, and she exhaled.
"Isn't it a good thing that someone is stepping up so we have someone to emulate? To be honest, Linjiang City is basically the countryside. We'll all go out of here. The geniuses outside will only be more formidable."
Zhao Xin gave Ling Qingxue a deep look, then turned and left.
The Crystal Python had already been killed. She could only try to kill a few more magical beasts in the remaining time.
Li Lianshan and Yao Chuyu shared the same thought. They also lacked backgrounds, and their family circumstances were far inferior to Chu Yuansheng and Zhao Xin's. Without striving for resources themselves, they would only fall further behind.
Chu Yuansheng pondered for a moment, then walked towards Ling Qingxue.
"Miss Ling, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Ling Qingxue raised her eyes slightly. "What is it?"
Chu Yuansheng coughed lightly, a hint of embarrassment in his expression.
"You killed the Crystal Python alone, so this spiritual herb field naturally belongs to you. However, my grandfather put a lot of effort into creating this field. Picking the herbs is fine, but please don't damage it. It would be best to leave some roots."
As he spoke, his gaze kept drifting toward Wu Liang, who was mowing the grass with lightning speed.
He was practically plowing the soil. If he kept devouring it like this, the herb field would be ruined sooner or later.
Even if the field wasn't completely destroyed, it would likely take years to regrow.
Liu Qingshan would probably be devastated if he knew.
Ling Qingxue glanced over, and her face darkened. She immediately used the contract to stop Wu Liang's actions.
"I'll be careful and try not to damage the environment of the spiritual herb field."
Chu Yuansheng smiled gently.
"Thank you, and congratulations in advance on winning first place! But I won't give up. I'll definitely win it back during the final sprint!"
Ling Qingxue smiled slightly. "Then I wish you success."
Chu Yuansheng felt utterly defeated.
It seemed Ling Qingxue did not regard him as an equal opponent at all.
If he didn't know her character well, he would have thought she was mocking him.
Chu Yuansheng sighed and walked away dejectedly.
Wu Liang also approached at this moment, spitting a Crystal Python scale onto the ground.
A Second Level mid-stage magical beast was worth a thousand points, double that of an early-stage beast.
Ling Qingxue was practically guaranteed first place in this mock exam just by killing this beast.
"Little Xuexue, you seem to have crushed his confidence," Wu Liang laughed.
Ling Qingxue glanced at Chu Yuansheng's retreating figure, then looked away.
"He needs a blow, and he needs some external pressure. I'm helping him."
In her memory, Chu Yuansheng, in his previous life, had a smooth run-up to the national martial arts exam, his first-place position unchallenged. However, once he entered the outside world and encountered other geniuses, he fell into anonymity.
It wasn't because he lacked talent or resources; it was entirely because his mentality collapsed.
He suffered constant setbacks, eventually giving up completely.
In his view, effort was useless. If effort were useful, what would be the point of being a genius?
He was the son of a Seventh Rank martial artist and the grandson of a high school principal; his starting point was already higher than many others'.
If he could change this mindset before entering the martial arts university, his future might very well surpass that of his father.
As for Zhao Xin, she was killed early by the Wolf Fang Squad, but in this life, Ling Qingxue saved her, and history had already taken a different turn.
Ling Qingxue didn't know what the future held; all she could do was change her past life's fate.
The Crystal Ginseng glowed brightly in the sunlight, just like her eyes did at this moment.
Ling Qingxue dug it out and rinsed it clean with water.
The ginseng looked as clear as crystal, its interior filled with pure, flawless energy. Consuming it directly could significantly boost a martial artist's vital energy, and it was also an excellent healing elixir.
If it were refined into pills or potions, its effects would be even greater, but Ling Qingxue didn't have the means to do so at the moment.
"I'll go refine the Crystal Ginseng. You go and eat the other spiritual herbs. Remember not to damage the herb field. Try to eat mature herbs. Immature herbs are much less effective. There's no need to exhaust the resources."
Wu Liang nodded. "Okay, I'll try to be careful."
He had originally intended to devour the entire herb field, regardless of maturity or whether it was grass or medicine, just to end it all.
But Liu Qingshan had at least saved their lives, so let's give him some face.
Anyway, he only needed to gather the evolution points required for his next transformation.
He then happily began his eating spree, swallowing every visible herb in the field.
[Ding! Low-grade Blood-Coagulating Grass consumed. Defense +5, Speed +6, Evolution Points +5!]
[Ding! Mid-grade Fire Source Flower consumed. Strength +9, Defense +7, Spirit +9, Evolution Points +11!]
[......]
Ling Qingxue found a place to sit and put the Crystal Ginseng into her mouth.
She gently bit down, breaking through the outer skin, and the warm, viscous liquid inside flowed into her throat.
The liquid entered her body, releasing a surging energy that filled her meridians. Ling Qingxue immediately activated the 'Ten Thousand Sources Return to One' technique to refine it.
A furnace-like outline appeared within her body, refining all the vital energy to nourish her meridians.
The Crystal Ginseng was a mid-grade rare herb, most likely a special treat left here by Liu Qingshan for the mock exam.
After all, only the top five students in the entire school could obtain it, so giving it to them as a reward wouldn't be a waste.
Now it was perfect for boosting her vital energy; if she refined the Star Spirit next, Ling Qingxue would immediately break through to the Second Rank early-stage!
However, the secret place wasn't suitable for refining. The process of refining elemental spirits could not be disturbed, and it could take several days. She had to ensure her safety before she could begin refining.