June 17th was the last day of this year's spring Star Gathering Season, and the atmosphere among the youths became much more solemn.
Because after today, it would be the moment of destiny.
Conversely, those who had already successfully Star Pointed were much more at ease, and among the youths who had successfully Star Pointed, especially those who had broken through to the Celestial Phenomenon First Level, were even more composed.
During morning class, Xu Jin was as usual. Although he had already broken through to the Celestial Phenomenon First Level, to achieve success in cultivation, the accumulation of daily effort was essential.
Moreover, two problems lay before Xu Jin.
First, Xu Jin was unsure whether he could join the Middle Courtyard tomorrow.
Second, the Medicinal Pills for cultivation would be gone after today or tomorrow, but the most urgent thing was not getting the silver to buy pills, but earning a sum of silver in a short period.
Xu Jin was very worried.
He still didn't know how Xu Dajiang had gotten that huge sum of fifty taels of silver.
Earning it was impossible.
Even if Xu Dajiang had skills, strength, and was willing to endure hardship, earning two taels of silver a month was basically the upper limit.
Fifty taels, where would he get it?
Xu Jin had a bad premonition.
After the Star Gathering Season ended tomorrow, he had to go home.
And he couldn't go back empty-handed; he had to bring silver back to solve potential problems.
While deep in thought, Xu Jin felt a bit melancholic. When would he no longer have to worry about money?
Today was the last day of the Star Gathering Season, and consequently, situations occurred frequently.
Soon, a youth who had not successfully Star Pointed let out a pig-like scream. The Star Mark on his chest no longer glowed, and no matter how he performed the Celestial Phenomenon Style, he couldn't draw in Starlight.
Instructor Ning Yuchan also gave an explanation: The Star Mark branded on his chest had dissipated.
Although a single branding of a Star Mark could last for three months, it was not uncommon for it to dissipate a day or two early, which was normal.
In other words, this person's Star Gathering Season had ended early.
Some youths were terrified by this unexpected situation, worried that theirs would also dissipate, unable to concentrate, resulting in even worse Star Pointing effects.
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Several youths were so eager to Star Point that they overexerted themselves, consuming too much Divine Soul power. Even though their heads were splitting with pain, they still insisted on performing the Celestial Phenomenon Style to draw in Starlight and fainted on the spot.
Regarding this, Ning Yuchan could only shake her head helplessly.
This kind of situation happened every Star Gathering Season, which was not surprising.
By the time of the evening class, there were even more situations.
One after another, people's Star Marks disappeared, completely losing the possibility of Star Pointing.
Some cried, some laughed, some collapsed to the ground, and some even wailed loudly.
However, those who wailed loudly were directly lifted by the back of their necks by Ning Yuchan and thrown out of the morning class square, far away.
She understood the emotions, but affecting other youths' Star Pointing was unacceptable; this was her duty.
"I made it, Instructor, I made it!"
"I really made it!"
Suddenly, a joyous and ecstatic laugh rang out from the crowd. Everyone looked over involuntarily, and Xu Jin was also affected.
Turning his head, he found it was the familiar face Liu Ji. Xu Jin slightly frowned.
The Star Mark on that fellow Liu Ji's chest was currently glowing brightly, clearly indicating he had succeeded in Star Pointing at the last moment.
He had succeeded in Star Pointing, and he had succeeded on the last night. Liu Ji's ecstasy was understandable.
But the youths around him were all incredibly angry.
The next moment, Liu Ji's laughter abruptly stopped, replaced by sounds of painful 'ah ah ah'.
A figure flashed, and a silver iron crutch, carrying dirt, lightning-fast, directly stabbed into Liu Ji's mouth. At this moment, he looked pained, with saliva, blood, and mud trickling down, appearing extremely disheveled.
Ning Yuchan's willow-like eyebrows stood on end with anger. "Liu Ji, you succeeded in Star Pointing, and I am happy for you! But by shouting and yelling like this, interrupting others' Star Pointing, you are cutting off their future.
How do you know others cannot succeed in Star Pointing at the last moment?"
Liu Ji quickly gestured, indicating he knew his mistake, and only then did Ning Yuchan withdraw the silver crutch from his mouth.
"Instructor, I know I was wrong."
"Everyone, continue cultivating."
Ning Yuchan glared at Liu Ji, then turned and left.
Ultimately, after Liu Ji, two more people succeeded in Star Pointing at the last moment, but having learned from Liu Ji's lesson, they did not receive the treatment of an iron crutch in the mouth.
The last evening class of this Star Gathering Season ended amidst the desperate cries of many people.
The desperate looks in the eyes of many people sent shivers down Xu Jin and Qian Xiaohu's spines.
Xu Jin suddenly realized that succeeding or failing at Star Pointing was even more cruel than the college entrance examination in his previous life.
That night was a sleepless night; someone jumped into the lake.
It caused a big commotion and kept many Instructors awake all night watching.
Failing at Star Pointing was normal, but if a youth died in the Dao Academy, although no one in this era could extort the Dao Academy, it would still damage its reputation.
The Dao Academy still cared about its face.
On June 18th, the Star Gathering Season ended. Perhaps because the wooden clapper for morning class stopped, many youths did not get up for morning class, especially those who had not succeeded in Star Pointing. They failed at Star Pointing, but that didn't prevent them from sleeping in.
Xu Jin, however, woke up on time, got dressed, and went out. With a helpless expression, he pocketed a few smooth pebbles, preparing to take care of personal matters, when he found Qian Xiaohu still asleep. He shook him, saying, "Xiao Hu, get up."
Opening his eyes sleepily, Qian Xiaohu mumbled, "Jin Ge, what's wrong?"
"Get up, morning class."
Qian Xiaohu rubbed his eyes again, then cleared his head and said, "Jin Ge, didn't the Star Gathering Season end? The Instructors didn't say anything. What morning class?"
Xu Jin froze for a moment, then directly slapped Qian Xiaohu on the back of the head.
"Is morning class for the Instructors?
Is cultivation for the Instructors?
If you haven't even figured out this question, then what are you cultivating for? Go work as a laborer at the docks as soon as possible!"
After speaking, Xu Jin left on his own.
He was just a younger brother, not a son, so Xu Jin could only say so much.
Happily, on the way to the morning class square, Qian Xiaohu, who had finished getting ready, caught up. Seeing Xu Jin's stern face, he quickly apologized, "Jin Ge, I was confused. It won't happen again."
"You should say that to yourself."
As they spoke, they just arrived at the morning class square. In the morning class square, many familiar figures were already practicing the Big Dipper Killing Fist, quietly waiting for the first ray of light to appear.
Yue Daqi, Ren Xiaoxiang, Zhou Du, Lu Xianbing, Song Ye, Qiao Ruonan, and others were already there. Soon after, Luo Geng also arrived.
Xu Jin just glanced in Yue Daqi's direction with his eyes, pointed towards Qian Xiaohu, and then went to find a place to Cultivate on his own.
Qian Xiaohu looked at these geniuses whose talent was immeasurably better than his, standing rooted to the spot. Before long, in the early morning, a layer of fine sweat actually appeared on his head.
It seemed he had figured something out.
On the first day of morning class after the Star Gathering Season ended, more than two-thirds of the youths who had successfully Star Pointed came.
Not long after the morning class ended, the sound of the wooden clapper rang out, and attendants notified the youths who had successfully Star Pointed one by one to gather at the Outer Courtyard Martial Arts Hall at exactly the hour of Shen (3-5 PM). The Headmaster, Vice President, Supervisor, and other high-level officials of the Dao Academy would personally attend the assessment to decide the futures of the youths.
Before the hour of Shen, Xu Jin, Qian Xiaohu, and others had already arrived early at the Outer Courtyard Martial Arts Hall.
Last night was the final moment that determined the fate of the youths who had not Star Pointed, so this afternoon was the moment that determined the fate of the youths who had already successfully Star Pointed.
To be honest, having been at Jinshan Dao Academy for three months, Xu Jin had not seen any of the high-level officials like the Headmaster, Vice President, Supervisor, or the Supervisor of the Patrolling Star Guard.
He only knew that the Headmaster of the Dao Academy was a figure who could make the entire Jinshan County tremble with a stomp of his foot.
The Dao Academy's Headmaster, Vice President, Supervisor, and Patrolling Star Guard Supervisor were known as the four visible powerhouses of Jinshan Dao Academy.
The various large and small Dao Academies throughout the Chen Country were roughly similar.
In the past, these figures were legendary to the youths who had just succeeded in Star Pointing, but today they could witness them in person, and everyone was a bit excited.
Xu Jin was also somewhat anticipating.
Suddenly, a sound of breaking air came from the sky. A deep blue stream of light appeared from the mountainside where the Dao Academy was located, streaked across the sky, and landed directly on the high platform of the Martial Arts Hall, allowing the students to see clearly.
He wore a black round-collar robe, with his hair tied up in a cloth turban, his face was as still as water, and his expression was grim.
Instructor Ning Yuchan and Banner Leader Cui Tianqi of the Patrolling Star Guard, among others, had already cupped their fists in greeting, "Greetings, Supervisor."
This was Supervisor Cao Chun, said to be the person the Dao Academy Disciples feared the most.
Suddenly, a streak of azure-green light also swept across the sky, quickly descending. It was an old man in a green robe.
The Instructors and teaching staff greeted him again; it was Vice President Feng Shu who had arrived.
Following closely behind was a streak of crimson light. This crimson light was extremely fast, even carrying a sense of pressure. The person landed on the martial arts platform with a bang, stood there with his hand on the hilt of his saber, and a murderous aura surged forth.
This time, as the Instructors and teaching staff greeted him, many youths also cheered and greeted him.
This was Supervisor Tian Zhang of the Patrolling Star Guard, also a legendary figure in Jinshan County.
Suddenly, a deep azure stream of light appeared in the sky. All the teaching staff, Instructors, Banner Leaders, including Supervisor, Vice President, and Supervisor Tian Zhang, all stood up to welcome him.
"Greetings, Headmaster!"
Headmaster Dong Zhao, dressed in white with an azure cloth turban, landed. Half of his long beard fluttered, appearing detached and immortal.
As Xu Jin greeted along with everyone, he also recalled the legendary stories about Supervisor Tian Zhang and Headmaster Dong Zhao.
This legendary story was well-known throughout Jinshan County, and many people knew it, which was why the youths had cheered just now, but Xu Jin only remembered it at this moment.
Blood Butcher Tian Zhang!