Chapter 56: Chapter 56: No Suspense, Provincial Champion
Marsh appeared at the entrance of the trial tower.
Jeny, Zuo Mei, Wang Zihao, and Feng Xiu followed close behind.
The entrance to the trial tower had now been sealed.
"The main battle class exam is officially over. Candidates, please remain where you are and await the final points evaluation," the examiner's voice echoed across the arena.
No one left the premises, as the results were traditionally announced shortly after the conclusion of the exams.
Anticipation filled the air as candidates anxiously awaited the announcement.
For main combat professionals, the grading system consisted of two critical components: points and evaluation.
Some of the most prestigious universities demanded not only high levels, exceptional grades, and sufficient points but also stellar evaluations.
The higher the ranking of the university, the stricter the requirements.
For instance, Xiajing Academy, one of the top institutions, required main combat professionals to reach level 15 or above, accumulate over 10,000 points, and obtain at least an "excellent" evaluation.
Other institutions within the top 20 had slightly more lenient point requirements but still required an "excellent" evaluation.
For candidates aiming to enroll in an ordinary university, points were the primary factor, and evaluation was secondary. Simply meeting the minimum points requirement was often enough.
Candidates who didn't enter the battle space would have their evaluation determined by provincial examiners. However, those who entered the battle space would be evaluated by the upper echelons of the Shenxia Empire.
For the Shenxia Empire, anyone capable of entering the battle space was considered a rare genius deserving of extra attention.
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In Xiajing City
In the imperial capital of Xiajing City, Morkel, Bai Yiyuan, and several other top powerhouses from the Shenxia Empire convened to review the events that had transpired within the battle space.
Every candidate's performance had been meticulously monitored. However, this year, things were different.
Due to the unforeseen invasion of the Abyss, the battle space underwent drastic and dangerous changes, elevating the stakes of the exam significantly.
As they retraced the events, one name stood out more than any other: Marsh.
"So, it was Marsh who turned the tide. Incredible!"
"A Necromancer… I've heard of this profession before. It's a newly introduced class from Xihai City's No. 1 Middle School in Jiangning Province," another commented.
"That's right. I intended to observe him during this year's exam, but I didn't expect him to perform at such an exceptional level."
"It's not just his profession that's remarkable. He must have awakened an extraordinarily powerful talent."
"His abilities surpass those of his peers by far. And not just his power—this kid's mindset is exceptional."
"Calm, decisive, and utterly fearless. Combine that with his talent and profession, and he already has the makings of a top-tier powerhouse."
The room was abuzz with praise, all of it directed at Marsh.
His performance had been nothing short of spectacular.
When the situation in the battle space spiraled out of control, and casualties seemed inevitable, it was Marsh who had stepped forward and reversed the tide.
Singlehandedly, he had obliterated the Abyss' plans.
In comparison, the other candidates paled in significance.
While a dozen or so displayed moments of bravery, none of them came close to matching Marsh's brilliance.
"This year's evaluations are going to be tricky," one of the powerhouses remarked.
"Why? The cowards who fled are soft-hearted. Such individuals would only become deserters on the battlefield. They're not worth nurturing," another retorted.
"Let's not be so harsh. These are just teenagers, after all."
"Still, Marsh is an easy call. His evaluation must be 'excellent.' Let's finalize his assessment first and discuss the others later."
The discussion soon concluded. For the top experts, the future of every candidate was decided within that very room.
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Announcement of Results
After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the final results were projected onto a massive light curtain in the air.
1. Marsh, Points: 34,605, Evaluation: Excellent.
Marsh's name shone brightly in first place.
The crowd erupted into chaos, murmurs of awe and excitement rippling through the candidates.
David, the principal of Xihai City's No. 1 Middle School, leaped to his feet, his face flushed with excitement. His hands trembled as if he were moments away from a heart attack.
"First place! Provincial champion! He did it!" David exclaimed, his voice nearly breaking with emotion.
For David, this was the culmination of years of hard work, and the honor was unparalleled.
"Congratulations, David," one of the other principals said, clapping him on the shoulder.
"David, you've really hit the jackpot this year. A provincial champion is enough to boast about for a decade!"
"No, more than that—twenty years, at least," another principal added with a laugh.
"In the past, there was Morkel. Last year, we had Lin Mohan. And now, this year, we have a provincial champion!"
"Xihai No. 1 Middle School is going to be famous across the empire," someone else chimed in.
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Acknowledgment and Rivalry
Jeny approached Marsh with a rare smile on her face.
"Marsh, you really did it. You're the provincial champion," she said, her tone devoid of her usual competitiveness.
For once, Jeny didn't seem interested in challenging him.
Marsh responded with a small smile. "Thank you."
From the beginning of the fifth round, Marsh had been confident that he would claim the top spot.
Still, hearing the official announcement gave him a sense of satisfaction.
Seeing his smile, Jeny tilted her head in surprise. "So, you do know how to smile. You look better when you smile. Why don't you do it more often?"
She sounded as if she had just made a groundbreaking discovery, and her curiosity was evident.
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Second and Beyond
The announcement of the second-place results followed shortly after.
2. Jeny, Points: 7,600, Evaluation: Excellent.
While Jeny's score and evaluation were impressive, they didn't cause much of a stir—Marsh's overwhelming lead overshadowed everyone else.
David's excitement flared again as the second-place spot also belonged to one of his students.
Several other principals glanced enviously at him. Not only had David secured the provincial champion, but the second-place finisher was his student as well.
It was an achievement worthy of envy.
The results for the remaining candidates were announced one by one:
3. Feng Xiu, Points: 6,700, Evaluation: Excellent.
4. Zuo Mei, Points: 6,325, Evaluation: Excellent.
5. Wang Zihao, Points: 6,300, Evaluation: Poor.
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Disqualification
Wang Zihao's face turned pale when his evaluation was announced as "poor."
This result shattered any hope he had of enrolling in Xiajing Academy—or any of the top 20 institutions in the Shenxia Empire.
"Why?" he yelled, his voice shaking with rage. "Why give me a poor evaluation?"
"This isn't fair! You're not being fair!"
Unable to contain his frustration, Wang Zihao erupted into a fit of rage.
Before he could do anything else, a beam of light descended upon him, and in an instant, he disappeared.
"Wang Zihao has violated the rules of the examination room and will be expelled," the examiner's voice declared coldly.
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With the results finalized, the chapter of the provincial exams closed. Marsh stood at the pinnacle, his name now etched in glory, while others could only reflect on their performances and the journey ahead.
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