The first to return was Zhou Qing.
At the most critical moment of the Dragon Gate Examination, he left for three or four days... Although it was for the students' safety, it seemed quite irresponsible to him to abandon some lower-achieving students for the benefit of a few high-achieving ones.
Though there were substitute teachers, how could they possibly understand the students as well as he did?
And the first thing he did upon returning...
Was to encounter Xu Lingjun again applying for a physical assessment.
And this time.
Xu Lingjun's performance left him utterly astonished.
"Strength increased by a full 40%, speed by 30%, and neural reflex speed by 70%."
Zhou Qing looked at Xu Lingjun with a gaze clearly directed at a monster.
In just a few days, Xu Lingjun's progress was more than a simple big step forward; it was like ascending to the heavens in one leap.
He felt a bit dry-mouthed and asked, "That 'Infinite Divine Demon Body Refining Technique', is its effect really this miraculous?"
"Perhaps it's also my destiny with the cultivation technique,"
Xu Lingjun smiled and said, "The old beggar said he had given this technique to many people, but I'm the first one able to cultivate it. He said at the time only those destined with the technique could cultivate it, otherwise it would just look like a mess of scribbles..."
"So that's it, it seems this is your reward for your good deeds, you deserve to obtain such an excellent cultivation technique."
Zhou Qing lamented, "It's really a pity, your current strength has reached the Body Tempering Ninth Rank, which theoretically qualifies you for the Sect test, and with your current capabilities, you would certainly be one of the five disciples chosen in that trial."
Unfortunately, you missed it.
By just a few days.
Zhou Qing couldn't help but sigh with regret.
Xu Lingjun, however, was utterly unconcerned, and laughed, "Everyone has their own karma, though I may not be destined with the Sect, with my current achievements, there's still a high possibility of being admitted to one of the Four Great Martial Mansions, isn't there?"
"Indeed, although the Martial Mansion can't compare with the Sects in terms of benefits, in terms of overall strength, it might not be too inferior, and it's more free."
Zhou Qing smiled, "That Li Lei is a good friend of yours, right? He's the top among the five disciples who successfully joined the Sect... if you can successfully enter one of the Four Great Martial Mansions, it might become a great story for our school."
Xu Lingjun asked, "Did Li Lei perform well?"
"He's giving a speech tomorrow morning, you'll see then."
Zhou Qing smiled, a look of self-satisfaction on his face.
"Teacher, now that all the assessments are done, I see you have dark circles under your eyes, you probably haven't had a good rest these days, let me help you pack up your things?"
"Ah? Okay... alright, indeed I haven't slept well these days, thank you for your trouble."
[You actively help the exhausted Zhou Qing clean up the clutter, gaining his heartfelt gratitude, earning the favor of the World's Origin Will, Origin Value +62!]
Oh oh, the more you reap, the more you grow.
Teacher Zhou is indeed a good person.
Xu Lingjun worked with even more vigor.
The next morning.
Indeed, just as Zhou Qing said, all 1,700-plus students of the school gathered on the playground.
On the high platform that had long been set up.
Principal Guo Xu, several board members, along with the director of teaching and other instructors sat on one side.
While Ji Roufeng and Zhang Ziqian sat on the other side... with five students sitting behind them, undoubtedly the newly joined disciples of Sun and Moon Bright Sect from Qingyang High School.
"Thank the school, thank Principal Guo for giving me this opportunity, allowing me to stand here and share my journey to success..."
Li Lei held a speech paper, reading with great emotion and enthusiasm.
With ups and downs, and deep emotion.
His humble speech, exuberant smile, coupled with his current ancient style dress, except for the short hair which looked a bit odd, was no different from Zhang Ziqian.
And wearing ancient clothes... that's a custom only for those in the Sect.
From the audience, there were more than a thousand pairs of eyes, filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred as they looked at Li Lei and the others.
Joining a Sect.
Meant their future was incredibly bright, as long as they weren't eliminated by the Sect, they were almost guaranteed to become Martial Tao experts in Hui Chuan or even the Profound Realm!
To this day, since its founding, Qingyang High School has not produced a single Profound Realm expert.
Toward the end of Li Lei's speech, he looked towards Xu Lingjun in the audience.
"Finally, I have to thank my dearest friend Old Xu, without your support, I couldn't have achieved what I have today. Thank you, Old Father Xu, without you, there wouldn't be me today."
He was genuinely moved.
Xu Lingjun had used his father's years of hard work to help him, and he wanted to repay him... but Xu Lingjun did not accept it.
He was even more touched.
Upon hearing the last sentence.
The audience immediately became uproarious, with all eyes focused on Xu Lingjun.
Did Xu Lingjun help him?
What kind of help could he offer?
Could it be that he seduced that female disciple and struck some private deal with her?
Otherwise, why be so grateful as to call him father in public?
Everyone could see, that the beautiful Sect disciple on the terrace occasionally cast veiled glances at Xu Lingjun... her intentions were too obvious.
"Hahaha, classmates helping each other, harmony and friendship, this is what I want to see,"
Guo Xu laughed heartily as he grabbed the microphone from Li Lei.
The shout of "father" was truly shocking.
He laughed, "Next, let's welcome Liu Yun to give a speech. In the future, these five will be the pride of our Qingyang High School, in five days they will leave Qingyang High School to start a new chapter in the Sect, you should learn from their experiences, your future achievements may not be inferior to theirs."
As he spoke, he gave Li Lei a fierce glare.
The friend of his son, he often played at his house, so naturally, they were familiar.
Liu Yun took the microphone and before he spoke, his eyes were already red.
He choked, "I'm... I'm leaving, I'll miss everyone, I'll miss Qingyang High School..."
But Guo Xu, back in his seat, couldn't help but frown.
Scanning the dozen students with Ninth stage Body Refining cultivation below, he lowly asked Zhou Qing, "Why didn't Wei Hua come?"
Zhou Qing was startled for a moment before he noticed that there was one less student among those with Ninth Stage Body Tempering cultivation. He replied softly, "Perhaps because he wasn't selected, he took it hard... Principal, you should know, Wei Hua's aunt is the wife of the vice president of the Martial Arts Association, he's always considered himself part of a Martial Arts Family, but was beaten by a rich kid."
Guo Xu frowned and said, "Go get him, joining a Sect is a rare opportunity, but it's not the only one, if he leaves the Sect with a narrow-minded impression, how can he join them in the future?"
"I'll go right away."
Zhou Qing got up, just about to head to the back.
In the nearby dormitory building.
A shrill, terrified scream suddenly echoed.
It was a woman's voice, sharp and piercing, as if having seen something utterly horrifying.
The scream reverberated in the empty building, carrying slight echoes.
Liu Yun, who was just in tears and full of reluctance, suddenly shivered...
He couldn't stay sad anymore.
Everyone looked toward the dormitory building in alarm and disbelief.
Zhou Qing was the first to leap into action, employing the Baili Qingfeng cultivation technique, racing toward the source of the scream.