Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Jixia Academy, Drum Tower.

As the name suggests, it is a place where morning bells and evening drums are heard.

Every morning, the melodious bells awaken the entire college; at dusk, the deep drumbeats announce the end of the day.

Next to the Drum Tower is a pavilion called Shenming, where all the college's announcements, rewards and punishments are posted.

The results of this major exam were no exception.

Su Qinhe, Yan Zixi, Yun Qingyao, Xiao He, Yuan Kong, Ling Cheng, and Ye Wuhen were hurrying towards Shenming Pavilion.

A gentle breeze caressed the bluestone streets of Jixia Academy, ancient trees lined the roadside with vigorous branches and leaves, their layers of green waves surging in the wind, and the imposing outline of the Drum Tower was faintly visible in the distance, creating a scene of tranquility and solemnity.

Su Qinhe walked at the front, her steps light and graceful. She was dressed in white, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, which made her skin look fair and translucent, like solidified cream.

Her long, delicate eyelashes trembled gently, her eyes were misty with a light layer of water, her red lips and jade teeth shimmered with a crystal-clear luster, her neck was slender and graceful, and her skin was as smooth as ice and jade, making her appear exceptionally exquisite today.

"Qinhe, there's no need to be in such a hurry!" Yan Zixi followed behind, her lotus steps graceful, a smile playing on her lips, her tone full of teasing.

As she swayed, her curvaceous figure was on full display. Her undulating curves, slender waist, and rounded buttocks exuded elegance with every movement. Every gesture was captivating and alluring, inspiring endless imagination.

The others were also dressed up carefully and formally.

Yun Qingyao and Ling Cheng followed closely behind.

"How can I not be anxious at a time like this?" Ling Cheng laughed, his eyes sparkling, his tone full of teasing. "I've been thinking about Lu Yang day and night, and today I finally get to see him again. My heart has been pounding nonstop!"

"You're getting bolder and bolder!" Yun Qingyao reached out and grabbed Ling Cheng's ear, feigning anger, but her eyes were full of gentle smiles. She glanced at Su Qinhe's back and then at Yan Zixi.

Yuan Kong, swaying his bald head, walked at the back. He quickly caught up with the group, put his arms around Xiao He and Ye Wuhen's shoulders, and, regardless of their willingness, smugly laughed to himself, "I told you, monk! A woman pursuing a man is that simple. Look at that kid Ling Cheng, tsk tsk..."

Xiao He, dressed in a black and white scholar's robe, shook his head helplessly, letting Yuan Kong put his arm around his shoulder. His usually gentle eyes showed a hint of indulgence.

Ye Wuhen remained indifferent, his eyes cold and clear, without uttering a word, yet he did not push away Yuan Kong's hand.

"Brother Ye, long time no see!" Seeing that the two were silent, Yuan Kong asked with a grin, "I thought you had disappeared. I heard you were in seclusion for several months. What's wrong, did you break through?"

Ye Wuhen shook his head and remained silent.

All of them were survivors who had escaped death from the Demon Island. Although they were now studying together at the Jixia Academy, they rarely gathered together on weekdays.

After all, they came from all over the country and had no real connection with each other before the Demon Island. Their lifestyles and cultivation paths were all different.

Especially Ye Wuhen, who has always been taciturn and aloof, this was the first time he had appeared in front of everyone since returning from the Demon Island.

Because of their achievements on Demon Island, the seven of them were admitted to Jixia Academy ahead of schedule, but the academy has not yet started teaching, as there are currently only the seven students in the academy.

For the past few months, they have mostly been in seclusion practicing spiritual cultivation.

As the Demon Island faced a desperate situation, everyone fought desperately to break through to the Dragon Gate Divine Realm, but they remained under immense pressure and tension, with no time to stabilize their realm or consolidate their cultivation.

This period was also a rare time for them to relax and cultivate.

Apart from Wang Xiao, there are a total of thirteen survivors on the Demon Island.

Although they were not clear about what exactly happened in the end, they naturally knew from their private conversations and reconciliations that Wang Xiao had saved them.

Wang Xiao will definitely come to participate in this major examination at Jixia Academy.

They were also certain that with Wang Xiao's abilities, he would definitely rank among the top in the current exam.

This is why everyone is dressed up and gathered at Shenming Pavilion today.

Although Jixia Academy admitted them exceptionally, it was not without its bottom line; survivors of the Demon Island had to pass the Divine Sense Ladder test to enroll.

The reasoning is simple and straightforward: without matching strength, even if one enters the Jixia Academy, one will only suffer greatly in the subsequent rigorous coursework assessments.

It is clearly not what Jixia Academy wants to see the heroes returning from the Demon Island suffer injustice.

This is also the principle and integrity of the academy.

In order to uphold fairness and impartiality to the greatest extent possible, the entrance examination for Jixia Academy has always been a solo test for each student.

But this is only the first hurdle to overcome for admission.

Upon entering the academy, an even greater storm was brewing.

The competition after graduation will lean more towards head-to-head confrontations and real-world combat.

One hundred students enroll, and then half of them are eliminated.

The bloodshed and cruelty involved are unimaginable.

The academy has strict rules: a small exam every month, a big exam every quarter, and a bottom-ranked elimination system throughout the entire process.

This is the fundamental reason why admission rankings are so important.

The hundredth student to enroll was already on the edge of elimination from the moment he stepped into the academy.

He must actively choose his opponents to fight on stage; the winner stays in the hospital for further training, while the loser is directly eliminated.

A single ranking can determine one's future.

Of the six who did not enter the Jixia Academy, Situ Mulan's situation was the most unique. After returning from the Demon Island, she was taken away directly by the God of War Li Guang, and her whereabouts became a mystery.

Lin Yueyao and Li Xin's cultivation levels were still too low to break through to the Dragon Gate Divine Realm, thus they were ineligible for the Jixia Academy assessment.

Zhao Shuheng failed to advance beyond the Divine Consciousness Ladder and was unfortunately not selected.

Li Yu and Zhang Lian didn't participate in the assessment at all; in their words—

"We'll be the men who reject the Jixia Academy! Just thinking about it makes me feel incredibly proud; we'll be the men the Jixia Academy longs for but can't have!"

"I once had the opportunity to enter the Jixia Academy, but I disdained it!"

"Hmph, what's so great about Jixia Academy?"

The two even meticulously prepared several sets of speeches and dashing poses, repeatedly approaching Ling Cheng and asking, "Junior Brother Ling, how was it? Wasn't it dashing enough? Wasn't it enough to stand out from the crowd? While we're not here, you should work hard and not embarrass us!"

The closer they got to Shenming Pavilion, the more relaxed and lively the atmosphere became. Apart from the taciturn and aloof Ye Wuhen, the other six people kept joking and speculating about Wang Xiao's strength and his ranking in this assessment.

"What do you think Lu Yang will get?" Ling Cheng, the most impulsive of them all, spoke first, his tone full of anticipation. "I'd bet my life I could win! I think the top spot is definitely his!"

Yun Qingyao smiled slightly upon hearing this, but she also agreed wholeheartedly: "You're certainly not being modest enough in praising your own brother. But to be honest, we've all witnessed Lu Yang's strength firsthand. In the desperate situation on Demon Island, he turned the tide several times, protecting all of us. His temperament, composure, combat prowess, and adaptability are all top-notch. This freshman assessment is a competition among peers; it would be a huge surprise if he didn't achieve a top ranking."

Yuan Kong, shaking his bald head, strolled leisurely and chided, "This humble monk second that opinion! Benefactor Lu Yang is exceptionally talented and blessed with great fortune; he is no ordinary person. In my humble opinion, while he may not be the absolute leader, a top-three spot is definitely within his grasp! Perhaps this time, he will stand out from the crowd and crush all the newcomers!"

"You all seem to have complete confidence in him." Yan Zixi moved gracefully, her figure elegant, yet her mind even more meticulous and thoughtful. She slowly began to analyze, "However, we can't be too certain. Jixia Academy accepts the world's most talented individuals. The cultivators participating in this assessment are all geniuses from all over the Nine Provinces, a veritable treasure trove of hidden talents, including scions of powerful families and geniuses from various sects. But even so, with Lu Yang's abilities, securing a place in the top ten is absolutely no problem."

The gentle and refined Xiao He walked slowly, nodded slightly upon hearing this, his tone calm yet resolute: "That's right, caution is paramount. But I also have faith in Lu Yang's abilities. In the battle on Demon Island, we were all driven to the brink of defeat, but he alone broke through the impasse step by step, turning the tide against all odds. This composure and courage are qualities that ordinary geniuses could never cultivate in their entire lives. The assessment tests not only cultivation levels but also resourcefulness, courage, and temperament, all of which he possesses. I predict he'll at least be in the top three."

"Whoever guesses wrong, buys a drink?" Ling Cheng suddenly suggested.

"What if we were all wrong?" Xiao He countered.

"Then let's ask Lu Yang to treat us to drinks!"

"Ha ha……"

Everyone chattered amongst themselves, but Su Qinhe remained silent as she walked on. Her steps were light, her white robes brushing against the bluestone pavement, her eyes cool yet gentle.

She never cared about rankings; whether she was at the top or in the top ten, it meant nothing to her. Her only wish was to see that familiar name on the list.

"Um?"

When the seven approached Shenming Pavilion and saw the rankings on the white jade wall, they all froze, hardly believing their eyes.

The crowd looked on incredulously, some even wondering if they were still in a dream or hallucination.

Of the seven, Su Qinhe observed the most attentively and carefully.

She was certain from beginning to end that Wang Xiaoken would come, and never had the slightest doubt.

She slowly scanned the list from top to bottom.

She didn't care who came in first place, and she didn't care how many people came in first place.

In her eyes and in her heart, there was only one name from beginning to end.

Her gaze quickly moved downwards, her heart pounded faster and faster, and her palms became sweaty.

She seemed afraid of missing something, or perhaps afraid of seeing something.

Filled with anticipation and burning hope, she held her breath and waited quietly for the name she had longed for to appear before her eyes.

My heart was pounding violently and erratically in my chest, making a loud thumping sound, as if it were about to burst out of my throat and leap out of my heart.

People often say that distance makes the heart grow fonder.

What is beauty?

Longing is the worst!

When you're together day and night, you're so immersed in it that you don't even realize it.

But once separated by distance and mountains and rivers, everything becomes clear.

Longing grows wildly, etched into my very soul.

I think of him, I miss him, he is in my eyes, he is hidden in my long black hair.

There is nothing he can see, yet everything he can see is him.

As the ancients said, "I wish you would gather more of this, for it is the most evocative of longing."

The most touching longing in the world is never about plants and trees, but about the person in your heart.

The thing I miss the most is never an object, but him!

"You failed the exam? How could this be?"

"Number one hundred and first..."

Everyone was deeply shocked and bewildered, unable to recover for a long time.

Only Su Qinhe smiled slowly.

With a gentle smile, her beauty unfolds, her lips part slightly, and a smile spreads across her brows. In an instant, her cool demeanor vanishes, replaced by a radiant glow, like a blooming flower, dazzling and breathtakingly beautiful.

He's still alive; he's here.

For her, this was the most beautiful answer in the world.