12: In Chapter 12, a single slash should count as an injury, right?

Outside the simulation pods, a group of teachers watched the Storm Giant being split in half by the forty-meter Nether Giant Blade on the light screen. They all froze in place, their eyes filled with unbelievable shock, and someone cried out involuntarily: "The Storm Giant... actually died?!"

No one dared to believe that a new deity's familiars could actually slay a C-grade familiar like the Storm Giant.

"Putting the Storm Giant out there was already a bit excessive, and now he's even lost. Old Wang has really lost face this time," someone teased in a low voice.

At the same time, the gazes of all the teachers converged on Teacher Yan Ruyu, filled with envy, jealousy, and even curiosity.

Su Ming's performance was so heaven-defying, and as his head teacher, Teacher Yan Ruyu naturally attracted all their attention.

"Ruyu, you really have good luck with this student of yours! To actually have his familiars evolve a hero! Judging by this momentum, he is bound to make a stunning debut in this year's Deity Examination!" Several teachers stepped forward one after another, their tones full of sincere congratulations.

Teacher Yan Ruyu was still in a dazed state at the moment. Although he had always been optimistic about Su Ming, he had never imagined that Su Ming could give him such a huge surprise, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

Ning Zhengqi smiled and patted his shoulder, his tone resolute: "Xiao Yan, don't be stingy with Su Ming's reward. Let's set it at 500,000 divine crystals. If he has any special requests, come and discuss it with me anytime. Also, remember to talk to him about the matter three days from now."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the teachers present revealed looks of shock.

The rewards for previous simulation battles were at most 100,000 divine crystals, but Su Ming's reward this time had increased fivefold!

Everyone was well aware that Ning Zhengqi intended to focus on nurturing Su Ming.

But upon second thought, Su Ming's ability to slay the Storm Giant and cultivate an elite-grade hero was a strength truly worthy of the school sparing no effort to support. Everyone quickly came to terms with it.

"This disciple understands!" Teacher Yan Ruyu came back to his senses, his eyes filled with joy, and quickly agreed.

Ning Zhengqi nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to leave the connection room.

Right at this moment, a figure walked out of the simulation pod with an ugly expression—it was Wang Hong.

The Storm Giant was precisely his familiar. In today's simulation battle, he had truly lost all his face.

"Old Wang, you've really lost all your face this time!" a teacher smiled and teased, his tone full of mockery.

"Liuneng, shut up if you don't know how to speak!" Wang Hong roared in exasperation, his expression growing even uglier.

The teachers present burst into laughter, and Wang Hong also knew that this matter really couldn't be blamed on anyone else.

But who could have anticipated that a new deity's familiars would have the ability to slay his Storm Giant?

He could only consider himself unlucky.

"Screech—"

A burst of smoke surged out from all the simulation pods, and the pod doors opened in response. The students walked out one after another, their gazes converging on Su Ming simultaneously. Curiosity, inquiry, and envy intertwined in their eyes.

Su Ming could clearly feel the surrounding gazes, yet his expression remained calm and completely unruffled.

He had anticipated long ago that as a commoner who suppressed a crowd of aristocratic descendants to win first place, he would inevitably become the focus of attention.

However, in this world where everyone could become a deity, having just a tiny little bit of fortuitous encounter shouldn't be a big deal, right?

Therefore, he had no intention of explaining, nor was there any need to explain.

The next second, a figure abruptly rushed in front of him and hugged him tightly, their voice so excited it was incoherent: "Su Ming! No, Brother Su! You are way too awesome! You actually really won first place!"

Su Ming pushed Mo Beichen away with a face full of disgust and snapped irritably: "Get lost, I'm straight and have no plans to come out of the closet."

Mo Beichen, who was pushed away, didn't mind at all and continued to smile brightly.

Gu Qingfeng also slowly walked over, his eyes filled with curiosity, yet he asked no more.

He knew that for things Su Ming didn't want to talk about, asking further was useless.

Moreover, everyone had their own secrets; Su Ming was like this, and so was he.

Right at this moment, Teacher Yan Ruyu and four other teachers walked over together.

Seeing this, the students present reined in their gazes, not even daring to breathe loudly.

These five were all True God-level existences, by no means objects they could act presumptuously around.

Teacher Yan Ruyu walked up to the students and spoke: "Everyone should be clear about the results of this simulation battle. Win or lose, it's only temporary; subsequent cultivation is the top priority."

As his voice fell, his gaze landed precisely on Su Ming. Softening his tone, he announced: "As the first place of this assessment, Su Ming, you have two reward options. First, directly claim 500,000 divine crystals; second, the school will reward you with a Nether-attribute resource card worth around 500,000."

"What?! 500,000 divine crystals? Or a resource card of the same value? The school's rewards this time are simply too generous!"

The students instantly exploded into a commotion, their faces filled with shock.

They were all clear about the reward standards of simulation battles; Su Ming's reward was undoubtedly an exceptional exception among exceptions.

The gazes everyone cast at Teacher Yan Ruyu were filled with confusion, until they caught sight of the indifferent expressions of several teachers, and then they understood.

This was definitely not Teacher Yan Ruyu's personal decision; it was undoubtedly the school's intention.

This made them even more curious about Su Ming. To be able to make the school attach such great importance to him, Su Ming's performance in the simulation battle must definitely not be simple.

Li Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered inwardly: Su Ming's persistence time was virtually no different from ours, yet the rewards are worlds apart. Could it be that he not only withstood the Storm Giant, but also hurt it?

Gu Qingfeng could also not suppress his curiosity and asked: "Did you hurt the Storm Giant?"

Su Ming hesitated for a split second and slowly nodded.

Slashing the Storm Giant down in one strike should also count as "hurting" it, right?

"As expected," Gu Qingfeng and Li Yuan thought to themselves after hearing Su Ming's reply.

Only this reason could explain why Su Ming's reward was so high.

Looking at Gu Qingfeng's expression, Su Ming ultimately still did not say out the matter of him slicing down the Storm Giant in a single strike.

"The Storm Giant?!"

Hearing these four words, all the students turned their gazes toward Su Ming, and the moment they saw Su Ming nod, their faces all revealed looks of shock.

"My god! The final round of testing was actually the Storm Giant?! That's a C-grade familiar! If my familiars saw it, I'm afraid they wouldn't even have the courage to resist. Su Ming's familiars were actually able to hurt it? No wonder the reward is so high!"

"What on earth are his familiars? Could it be a D-grade familiar?"

"Impossible! I heard that the familiars of both Gu Qingfeng and Li Yuan are merely E-grade. How could Su Ming, a commoner, possibly obtain a D-grade familiar? Unless he has a death wish."

"That's right, if it were a forcibly recruited D-grade familiar, the teachers would definitely not recognize his performance this time. His familiars are definitely E-grade familiars."

"Then how on earth did he win?"

"That I wouldn't know."

The discussions grew louder and louder. Teacher Yan Ruyu frowned slightly and shouted to stop them in a deep voice: "Quiet!"

The voice contained a trace of divine power, causing the students present to instantly turn pale. They all fell silent, and no one dared to speak any further.

Teacher Yan Ruyu nodded with satisfaction, looked at Su Ming once more, and his tone softened a bit: "Su Ming, have you thought it over? Which one do you choose?"

Su Ming raised his eyes, his gaze resolute, and slowly spoke: "Teacher, I choose..."