Merging with Demon Spirits

Chapter 105: Chapter 94: The College Entrance Exam and Ya Ge’s Return

The issue of who will be the top scorer in the college entrance exam is still fermenting, and all twelve Base Cities nationwide are abuzz about it.

Every year, the college entrance exam sees nearly fifteen million candidates competing for the only top scorer’s seat—imagine how fierce the competition is.

This can’t be described with ”an army crossing a single-plank bridge” or ”a carp leaping the dragon gate.”

To win the glory of being the top scorer, it’s not only about talent and hard work; luck also plays a big part—a difference of just one point can mean missing out.

The biggest suspense every year is who the top scorer will be—until the very last moment, no one can guess the result; no student has ever been able to book the top scorer in advance.

Now, a Ninth Rank Body Cultivator teenager from Jiang City has arrogantly claimed to have booked that spot, naturally attracting the attention of the whole country.

And for the first time, the name Lin Feng truly appears before everyone nationwide.

Especially Lin Feng’s road to fame—equal parts dramatic and fantastical—has everyone talking.

Lin Feng’s combat talent is beyond doubt; anyone who’s seen him fight knows that no one in the Body Cultivation Realm can compare with him.

His speed from Seventh Rank to Ninth Rank Body Cultivator was shocking, but after all, he hasn’t yet broken through to become a Martial Artist—so except for Jiang City, the other Base Cities are unconvinced. They all named their own genius teens as capable contenders for the top scorer.

For a while, TV was filled with all kinds of comparison, but this didn’t faze Lin Feng at all.

Just as Lin Feng expected, after becoming famous nationwide, he continuously received all kinds of endorsement contracts from advertisers.

For celebrities, traffic equals money.

In just a week, 47 advertising companies contacted Yang Fan through the Martial Artist Forum, expressing willingness to have Lin Feng as their spokesman; the endorsement fees ranged from a minimum of ten million to a maximum of eighty million New Coins, and the duration ranged from one to ten years.

Lin Feng didn’t accept the money brought to his door; instead, he had Yang Fan keep their contact info and replied that he’d consider it.

Right now, these offers were too low—after he breaks through to become a Martial Artist and seizes the top scorer title, the fees would go even higher.

The days that followed, Lin Feng went out early and came back late every day, adventuring in Senhai. After more than half a month, the Glory Newcomer Chart was released again—Lin Feng was still on the list, and still in last place.

Obviously, the Glory Professional Alliance has expectations for Lin Feng, but only if he can refine a Demon Spirit and become a Demon Spirit Master; otherwise, no matter how great his martial arts talent, he’d still be ranked last.

But Lin Feng didn’t care about that; he just wanted to make the list—the ranking simply didn’t matter to him.

As the college entrance exam drew near, debates about who would take top scorer still raged on TV news among the major Base Cities.

August 6th.

On this sunny day, the annual college entrance exam arrived in the spotlight.

Outside the gate of Jiangxin Middle School, countless parents and students had gathered, along with over a thousand uniformed police officers maintaining order. In the crowd, you could also spot many journalists.

The college entrance exam doesn’t just decide a student’s fate—it can also change a whole family.

All parents hoped their children would do well; though they wanted to say much, they were afraid to add pressure, so they could only pretend to be calm though nerves and anxiety showed, just giving extra reminders in their words.

”Xiaofeng, you can do it.”

Today, Lin Feng’s whole family showed up.

His mother and Old Ma, his sister and his eldest sister all came to root for him. Compared to other parents’ nervousness and anxiety, they seemed much more relaxed.

They all knew that, with Lin Feng’s current strength, getting into any of the Three Heroic Academies was no problem—the real goal was to take the top scorer title.

”Don’t worry, Xiaofeng will definitely succeed,” smiled Gao Hai’s parents on the side.

For Lin Feng, the couple felt only gratitude.

Not only did Lin Feng give Gao Hai an apartment, changing their family’s life, but in just over two months, Gao Hai—who was once only a Sixth Rank Body Cultivator—now had Eighth Rank strength, all because of Lin Feng.

”Yeah, Brother Feng has that top scorer in the bag,” said Gao Hai confidently.

Only he knew that Lin Feng had broken through to become a Martial Artist half a month ago—with his current strength, the top scorer was almost guaranteed.

”That’s Lin Feng, the genius who wants to take top scorer.”

”This year Jiangxin Middle School is going to be famous—there’s never been a top scorer from Jiang City before.”

”Not necessarily—being a Ninth Rank Body Cultivator and taking top scorer is unrealistic. Has Lin Feng become a Martial Artist yet?”

Many parents recognized Lin Feng and began discussing him.

In the past two months, Lin Feng’s name and deeds had already spread throughout Jiang City—no one was unfamiliar with his face.

Hearing the discussions around them, Lin Feng’s family seemed calm but were inwardly proud.

The top scorer, huh!

The only top scorer in the nation!

”Are those people from the education bureau?”

Not far away, a group of people drew the students’ attention, and glances kept going their way.

To the students, Principal Zheng Yishan was no stranger, nor were the vice principals and many teachers.

At that moment, the school leaders were surrounding four or five people, all acting respectfully. Some parents who worked in government recognized those as leaders from the education bureau.

”That’s Lin Feng, right? Jiang City’s biggest hope rests on him this time.”

”Daring to price the top scorer title at a hundred million New Coins—what guts.”

”Li, don’t use ’price’—that sounds awful! Lin Feng couldn’t get top scorer without resources. It’s exactly with those resources that his cultivation progressed so fast.”

”You’re right, leader, that was my mistake.”

”To be famous nationwide at such a young age is truly impressive.”

”If we don’t get the top scorer this time, Jiang City will be a joke.”

Zheng Yishan was chatting with the education bureau leaders; their topic was always Lin Feng.

For Jiangxin First Middle School, having the bureau chief and other leaders come was no doubt a huge honor.

Even Jiang City’s top-ranked First Middle School didn’t get such treatment.

Zheng Yishan, of course, knew why.

It was all for the glory of the top scorer title.

After all, the Martial Artist Forum and TV coverage have blown things up so much that Jiang City was bragging everywhere—if they failed, they’d be the butt of every other Base City’s jokes.

Zheng Yishan himself was tense; he had no idea how strong Lin Feng was right now, if he had broken through to Martial Artist.

He once made an agreement with Lin Feng—if he didn’t get top scorer, Lin Feng would return the hundred million New Coins in full.

But compared to the money, he cared even more about reputation—a school’s reputation can’t be bought for a hundred million New Coins.

”Son, stun the world—no pressure, go for it.”

”Daughter, dad believes in you.”

With their parents’ encouragement, the gates of Jiangxin First Middle School opened wide, and students entered one by one after checks.

Lin Feng and Gao Hai walked through the gates to cheering from their families.

”Brother Feng, I’m off now.”

Gao Hai and Lin Feng weren’t in the same testing room; they quickly went their separate ways.

Ding ding ding!

When the exam bell rang, it was as if all of Jiang City went silent.

The total college entrance exam score was 750 in three parts.

First part, academic: 200 points.

Second part, physical abilities: 350 points.

Third part, practical combat: 200 points.

Unlike before the Great Cataclysm, when the exam lasted two days, now it was all done in a single day.

Academic tests in the morning; the afternoon was straight to physical test, then practical combat challenge.

”Without surveillance, some Demon Spirit Masters could cheat super easily.”

Sitting in the test room, waiting for his papers, Lin Feng thought to himself.

The abilities of demon spirits are all kinds of strange—Thousand-Mile Eye and Sharp-Eared are nothing; some can even control insects for video sharing, basically making cheating into a divine artifact.

Although refining demon spirits can enhance a Demon Spirit Master’s body and senses, to fully use a demon spirit’s innate abilities, you have to be in Demon Possession. Under so many eyes, cheating would obviously never work.

Three hours later, the academic test was over. Lin Feng walked out of the classroom.

The test started at nine, and now at exactly twelve, there was a one-hour lunch break, then immediately physical and practical testing would start.

.....

Five o’clock.

As the bell announcing the end of the exam rang, parents waiting outside the test city all jumped up, rushing to greet their kids.

The three hundred thousand examinees streamed out in batches—the waiting parents handed over drinks, unable to wait as they asked, ”How did it go?”

Although scores wouldn’t be out for three days, students already knew how they’d performed.

Some had relaxed and happy faces; others looked depressed and sad; a few even burst out crying.

”Sigh!”

Lin Feng let out a sigh.

Some rejoice while others despair; ten years of hard study and practice, betting their youth and all their energy, and in a single day their fate is decided—the cruelty of the exam was on full display.

Lin Feng quickly found his family. Meeting their expectant eyes, he smiled and said, ”I’ve got the top scorer locked down.”

”My brother is the best!”

Ma Lele was the first to jump and shout in excitement.

Her brother was the top scorer—she was already dreaming of how to show off the news to her friends.

Lin Fang smiled softly; her son was so accomplished—she was clearly comforted. Now she no longer had to worry about his future—Lin Feng’s results had far surpassed her expectations.

Old Ma was proud too; this stepson had given him a huge pleasant surprise. In the past two months, after finding out Lin Feng was his child, even the higher-ups at work treated him with extreme courtesy, afraid to offend him—not to mention coworkers, who only flattered and envied.

While Lin Feng’s family was lost in joy, thirty meters away stood a girl in a black combat suit—charmingly attractive—silently watching Lin Feng, her long lashes trembling slightly, eyes complicated.

”It’s Ya Ge! She’s back too.”

”Ya Ge, wow, she’s so pretty—I really like her.”

Many students recognized the girl and were amazed: in just over two months, the already-charming Ya Ge had become even more dazzling. Her hair was now short, which made her seem more confident and lively. Her graceful figure could be glimpsed through her combat gear—her sexiness was irresistible, her charm captivating, a true pleasure to behold.

”Ya Ge, can I get your autograph?”

Some fans couldn’t help but go up for signatures and photos, but two burly bodyguards in black stopped them.

”Why... why won’t you say it!”

Under her bodyguards’ protection, the girl just stared at Lin Feng, unmoving, her eyes just a little red.

After more than two months, seeing Lin Feng again, Ya Ge found she still couldn’t let go.

She’d tried not to think of Lin Feng these two months, tried not to pay attention to his name, but at every turn she heard people mention it.

The boy who grew up with her, who said he’d marry her, had already come this far!

But why has he become so distant?

If you have the talent to refine an Earth Chart demon spirit and become the top scorer, why won’t you tell me?

Are you testing me?

Or making a joke of me?

If so—congratulations, you succeeded!

I really have become a joke, a laughing stock in everyone’s eyes.

Ya Ge turned to leave, a crystal tear sliding down her cheek, instantly evaporated by the earth, as though it had never existed.