Vice President Feng Shu was a bit annoyed.
In just half an hour, he had been interrupted twice, the second time by a young man who had just completed Star Pointing.
But in front of such a large crowd, he had to maintain his image.
When he saw it was Xu Jin, whose talent evaluation had just been raised by the Headmaster, his face still slightly darkened.
"Xu Jin? I didn't ask you, what opinion do you have?" While expressing his dissatisfaction, Feng Shu still gave Xu Jin a chance to speak, after all, it was in front of a large crowd.
"Deputy Mountain Master Feng, the third rule for the Dao Academy to select Disciples for the Middle Courtyard is that those with a Grade C evaluation who break through to Canxia First Level by the end of the Star Pointing stage may be selected for the Middle Courtyard, right?" Xu Jin asked.
"Yes. But you are only C-minus..."
Just as he finished half his sentence, Feng Shu suddenly realized that he had overlooked something; he had been too focused on reading the list and had forgotten that the Headmaster had just casually mentioned this kid's talent evaluation.
This was a bit embarrassing.
In the Dao Academy's selection rules, talent grade is considered first, followed by cultivation progress.
According to the list, although Xu Jin had broken through to Canxia First Level, his talent was only C-minus, so he was directly skipped because there were three other Disciples ahead of Xu Jin who had already broken through to Canxia First Level and had a C-plus evaluation.
Therefore, Xu Jin didn't even have the qualification to compete.
And because of this, Feng Shu didn't even mention him just now.
However, just now, Headmaster Dong Zhao personally raised Xu Jin's talent evaluation to C-plus.
In other words, Xu Jin was qualified, at least qualified to be mentioned by him.
When the Headmaster raised Xu Jin's evaluation just now, he was contemplating the issue of Headmaster Dong Zhao's departure or stay, and was a bit distracted.
And Xu Jin's phrase 'have an opinion' directly magnified and pointed out his oversight in public, making him feel not only dissatisfied but also a bit awkward.
"Hehe, it was my oversight!"
Who can avoid making a few mistakes?
With an awkward laugh, Vice President Feng Shu directly admitted his mistake in public, and then said, "Then according to our Dao Academy rules, for the last spot, Luo Geng, Hong Gang, Fang Zixing, and Xu Jin have all reached the Canxia First Level realm, but among these four, only Luo Geng..."
Halfway through his sentence, Vice President Feng Shu's voice suddenly stopped, and a cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He almost overlooked something again.
Fortunately, his cautious habit made him take another look.
Otherwise, the first oversight could be excused, after all, for so many years he had just been reading from the script, just reading from the list, and Xu Jin's evaluation was raised on the spot.
But if he overlooked it a second time, he would truly be labeled as careless.
Fortunately, he discovered it.
Xu Jin's name on the Star Pointing roster presented by Ning Yuchan, like Luo Geng's, was marked in red, but previously with a C-minus evaluation, it wasn't noticed.
Being marked in red meant they had performed a Basic Star Art. If he had continued reading according to his previous thought, he would have made another mistake.
"Only Luo Geng and Xu Jin have performed the Star Art Basic Star Shield, so the last spot to enter the Middle Courtyard will be chosen from among Luo Geng and Xu Jin."
Beside him, Luo Geng's heart, which had just settled, was now hanging again.
Xu Jin also felt a sense of relief, finally he was included.
But then he heard Vice President Feng Shu continue, "According to the rules of our Jinshan Dao Academy, if talent evaluation is the same and cultivation is the same, the superior one is chosen.
The primary factor for selection is the number of Star Pointing days. Luo Geng took sixty-two days for Star Pointing, Xu Jin took eighty-three days for Star Pointing. The difference is immediately clear, Luo Geng should be chosen!
This last spot to enter the Middle Courtyard should belong to Luo Geng!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Luo Geng was ecstatic, while Xu Jin was stunned.
He had fought for so long, worked so hard, contended for so much, only to be directly excluded in the end because of the number of Star Pointing days.
Didn't that mean that no matter how he competed in the future, as long as his number of Star Pointing days was worse than his competitor's, he could only lose!
No!
Absolutely not like this!
On the martial arts stage, after Feng Shu finished speaking, he turned to another page of the Star Pointing roster, ready to announce the list of Disciples entering the Outer Courtyard. Once that was announced, the Star Pointing assessment would be over.
But Xu Jin also made a decision at this moment.
He had already contended this far, and had offended people. To back down now would be foolish.
But what Feng Shu, this Vice President, said were the academy rules, and he couldn't directly refute them.
Immediately, Xu Jin loudly declared, "Deputy Mountain Master Feng, I have an opinion, I disagree!"
Feng Shu, who had been interrupted, frowned and looked at Xu Jin with great displeasure, "The academy rules are like this, how can you refute them! If you dare to cause trouble again, you will be directly expelled from the Dao Academy!"
Xu Jin was also going all out now; there was no reason to give up halfway.
"Deputy Mountain Master Feng, all you honorable Lords, if that's the case, then why bother dividing into Inner and Outer Courtyards, why waste resources and time cultivating, when fighting and sparring in the future, we can just directly determine superiority based on the number of Star Pointing days, wouldn't that be simpler!
One who completes Star Pointing in one day can be invincible in the world, what are we still cultivating for!
Just stick a Dao Academy certified 'One-Day Star Pointing' mark on your head, and all heroes will retreat, all evil will disperse.
What are we still cultivating for!"
As soon as these words came out, there was instant laughter and an uproar.
Lu Xianbing in the front row couldn't help but turn back and glance at Xu Jin. If anyone was the most aggrieved today, it had to be him, Lu Xianbing.
His talent evaluation and cultivation were the same as Zhou Du's, so why could Zhou Du enter the Inner Courtyard while he could only enter the Middle Courtyard?
Vice President Feng Shu's face suddenly turned liver-colored.
It wasn't just because being publicly contradicted by Xu Jin was extremely embarrassing, but more importantly, he actually couldn't refute it.
He couldn't refute Xu Jin's fallacy, he couldn't refute Xu Jin's monstrous remarks!
"You are presumptuous! Where are the Patrolling Star Guards!"
Feng Shu roared angrily, Starlight constantly surging in his palm.
At this moment, Feng Shu even had the urge to slap Xu Jin to death. How could such an arrogant and disrespectful madman appear in this Star Gathering Season!
Xu Jin stood his ground, he had to fight.
If he didn't fight, he couldn't repay his debt!
If he didn't fight, his family might be ruined and his members killed!
"Hey, Old Feng, calm down!" Headmaster Dong Zhao's cheerful voice rang out.
By the side of the martial arts stage, Ning Yuchan's hanging heart settled down, her iron crutch slightly loosened. She was truly afraid that the angry Deputy Mountain Master Feng would make a move to punish Xu Jin just now.
If that really happened, she would have no choice but to intervene.
"Headmaster, this... This child is spreading such monstrous rumors, he should be directly expelled from the Dao Academy!" Feng Shu suppressed his anger and roared.
"Spreading monstrous rumors?"
Headmaster Dong Zhao laughed heartily and looked at Supervisor Cao Chun, "Is he?"
"According to the academy rules, except for remarks that disregard discipline and human relations, no one shall be punished for their words!"
Supervisor Cao Chun's answer made the smile on Headmaster Dong Zhao's face grow wider, while Vice President Feng Shu's face became even uglier.
Feng Shu knew that he had really stumbled badly today.
Xu Jin's refutation and questioning were minor matters, but Headmaster Dong Zhao had successfully used this incident to undermine his prestige and even his popularity.
Looking at it this way, the rumors that Dong Zhao was leaving were very likely true.
So who would be his successor?
"Then it's not monstrous talk, let's discuss the matter at hand."
Headmaster Dong Zhao smiled, "Old Feng, you rest for a while, don't get angry with these young people. Having fighting spirit and ambition is what young people are about."
"Headmaster, I..."
Feng Shu still wanted to say something, but Headmaster Dong Zhao exerted a slight force with his palm, directly pressing Feng Shu back into his seat.
"Actually, what Xu Jin said is also right. The number of Star Pointing days is the most important basis for evaluating a person's cultivation talent, but not everything can be judged by the number of Star Pointing days."
Otherwise, just as Xu Jin said, what's the point of our arduous cultivation, what's the point of comprehending, we can just compare the number of Star Pointing days and be done with it."
Headmaster Dong Zhao indirectly affirmed Xu Jin's remarks, and Vice President Feng Shu, who had just sat back down, had an even darker expression.
"Yu Chan, you are the Head Instructor for this Star Gathering Season, you understand the situation best. You preside over this last spot, and the four of us will judge."
Everyone originally thought Headmaster Dong Zhao would make the decision, but unexpectedly, he threw the matter to Ning Yuchan again.
Ning Yuchan cupped her hands and accepted the order, thought for a moment, and made a decision.
Her relationship with Xu Jin was somewhat close, but she would absolutely not show favoritism.
Moreover, the Headmaster throwing this matter to her to preside over, with the final decision made by the four giants of the Dao Academy, was essentially to uphold the academy rules and avoid being criticized.
"Headmaster, Vice President, Supervisor, Overseer, Xu Jin and Luo Geng's talent evaluations are now both C-plus, and their cultivation is both Canxia First Level. They broke through one after another, only a day apart, so there isn't much difference in cultivation."
According to our Dao Academy rules, the superior one is selected.
Then the remaining options are only actual combat and Big Dipper Killing Fist proficiency.
Actual combat has not been taught by the Dao Academy. If it were used for selection, it would be unfair.
Then let's use the proficiency in Big Dipper Killing Fist to decide who enters the Middle Courtyard.
Let each of them perform a set of Big Dipper Killing Fist, and then have the four Lords make the judgment, how about that?" Ning Yuchan requested.
"That's acceptable." Headmaster Dong Zhao looked at Vice President Feng Shu, "Old Feng, what do you think?"
"Acceptable!"
This plan was fair and square, martial arts proficiency was clear at a glance, and even Headmaster Dong Zhao couldn't openly favor anyone, so Feng Shu naturally agreed.
"Acceptable!"
"Acceptable!"
The Supervisor and Tian Zhang agreed one after another.
As soon as these words were spoken, Luo Geng under the martial arts stage gained a lot of confidence.
Xu Jin had only cultivated Big Dipper Killing Fist for seven days, while he had already cultivated it for twenty-eight days. Moreover, he had an uncle who was a Banner Leader personally guiding him on the essentials. In terms of Big Dipper Killing Fist proficiency, he was very confident.
Let alone Xu Jin, even a young man with a B-minus evaluation would definitely not be as good as him!
"Luo Geng, Xu Jin, do either of you have an opinion?"
"No!"
"No!"
"Then who goes first!" Ning Yuchan asked.
"I'll go first!" Luo Geng actively stepped forward, full of confidence.