136: Chapter 136 Rating

Just as they stepped out of the miasma range of Mist Shadow Valley, before they could even take half a breath of fresh air, Zhang Wen and his group all stopped in their tracks.

The open space outside the valley was already crowded with figures, their colorful team uniforms standing out sharply in the sunset.

The assessment termination signal flag hanging at the edge of the crowd fluttered in the wind; clearly, the assessment had long ended, and they were the only team that had returned late.

The noise from the crowd drifted over from afar, forming a stark contrast to the bloody slaughter inside the valley, and all eyes instantly focused on them.

After all, Zhang Wen was the recognized top student of the freshman year, and no one wanted to miss the conclusion of this top expert's assessment.

The most eye-catching were the two teams in the center of the crowd.

The team on the left was fully clad in armor with light blue ice crystal patterns; Su Xue, who led them, stood tall with silver hair cascading like a waterfall, and a wisp of fine ice mist occasionally brushed past her fingertips.

As her eyes, covered in a thin layer of frost, swept over Zhang Wen, a trace of surprise flashed in her ice-crystal-like pupils, which then turned into a faint nod.

As an expert often ranked alongside Zhang Wen, she was both surprised that this freshman top student would delay until the end of the assessment to leave the valley.

She also understood that the dangers of Mist Shadow Valley could indeed delay their journey.

On the right, Ji Changkong was dressed in black martial attire, standing with his hands behind his back; a faint, almost imperceptible chill lingered around him, even causing a layer of fine frost to form on the grass blades at his feet.

He swept his gaze over Zhang Wen's blood-stained yet still upright figure and that iconic sky-splitting startling thunder spear, then glanced at the mist condensing grass in Han Xu's hand, his eyebrows raising slightly.

The other teams also erupted into an uproar, their whispers instantly growing louder.

It's Zhang Wen! The freshman top student is actually the last one to come out? The assessment has been over for so long; could he have been fighting head-on with that Penetration Realm Red-Scaled Fierce Beast in Mist Shadow Valley?

Look at how shattered Qin Huang's armor is, and Zhang Wen's shoulder is still bleeding; they must have been in a fierce battle!

Captain Su Xue and Ji Changkong were just talking about the dangers they encountered in the assessment. Looking at Zhang Wen now, I guess the trouble he faced was even bigger than ours. He truly deserves to be the freshman top student, being able to bring his team out unscathed despite such danger!

Ding Siyi let out a long sigh of relief and whispered to Zhang Wen, "It's a good thing the assessment is over."

Zhang Wen nodded and slammed his sky-splitting startling thunder spear onto the ground. The butt of the spear struck the stone surface with a dull thud, instantly silencing the surrounding discussions.

The instructor in charge of verification held a recording crystal that emitted a warm, gentle luster, and his steady voice, carried by Spiritual Qi, spread throughout the entire venue.

Each team, come forward in turn to present your mission credentials, proof of Vicious Beast kills, and collected materials. The final grade will be determined based on comprehensive completion.

Ordinary teams went up first; some carefully held blood-stained Vicious Beast inner cores, the quantity just enough to meet the minimum mission standard, and the medicinal herbs were so wilted they had lost all Spiritual Qi.

The instructor's gaze swept over the recording crystal, mostly just nodding faintly.

Mission indicators barely met; grade: qualified.

Soft sighs drifted from the crowd; clearly, these teams had given their all just to scrape by the baseline, and claw marks still remained uncleared on the team members' armor.

Soon, it was the turn of Su Xue's Ice Crystal Team.

The light blue armor shimmered with a cold light in the sunset as the members neatly presented their materials.

Three plump Subtle Realm Vicious Beast inner cores lay on an ice crystal tray, with four stalks of ice soul grass emitting a pearly white halo stacked beside them, the fine frost on the edges of the leaves not yet melted.

One of the inner cores was at least from a Late Stage Subtle Realm Vicious Beast, its Spiritual Qi fluctuation far stronger than the other two.

A bright look flashed in the instructor's eyes; when the recording crystal was brought close, it instantly gushed forth a dazzling blue light, and even the air began to fill with a slightly cool chill.

Mission exceeded! Collected rare ice soul grass, quantity far exceeding expectations; grade: excellent!

Su Xue nodded slightly, her silver hair swaying gently. A chorus of exclamations arose from the surroundings, and many people stared at the ice soul grass with eyes full of envy.

Following closely behind was Ji Changkong's Snow-Colored Team.

He stood with his hands behind his back as the team members behind him handed over four Vicious Beast inner cores. A closer look revealed they were all from Early Stage Subtle Realm Vicious Beasts, but that was enough to make others envious.

The instructor swept the crystal over them; although the light was bright, it was slightly dimmer than the blue light of Su Xue's team.

Mission exceeded; grade: good.

Ji Changkong's brows furrowed slightly, the chill at his fingertips suddenly intensifying, and the grass blades at his feet instantly frosted over; clearly, he was not satisfied with the result.

Finally, it was the turn of Zhang Wen's team.

The crowd instantly went silent, eyes falling in unison upon Zhang Wen—the blood on his shoulder had not yet congealed, and his sky-splitting startling thunder spear was propped diagonally on the ground, with droplets of Vicious Beast blood slowly dripping from the spear tip.

Someone couldn't help but whisper, "Zhang Wen is actually the last one to leave the valley, and his Spiritual Qi is still sealed; could it be that he didn't complete the mission?"

Just as the instructor was about to speak, Ding Siyi stepped forward, her voice clear and bright.

Please, instructor, carefully verify our team's hunting credentials!

The crowd was instantly in an uproar. Someone subconsciously counted, "Ten! Even encountering a single Subtle Realm Vicious Beast requires caution, yet they actually killed so many?"

The instructor was also stunned and hurriedly swept the recording crystal over them. The crystal immediately emitted an orange glow, clearly reflecting the Spiritual Qi trajectories of all the Vicious Beast parts.

There are indeed credentials for ten Subtle Realm Vicious Beasts, the quantity meets the standard, and there are no signs of forgery!

Ding Siyi did not stop, continuing, "The most crucial part is that yesterday, in the core area, we encountered a half-step Penetration Realm Red-Scaled Fierce Beast!"

The beast core of that Red-Scaled Fierce Beast is still with us; you will know once you see it!

A team member immediately handed over a fist-sized crimson beast core. The core still bore the clear puncture marks of a spear tip, and its Spiritual Qi fluctuation was several times stronger than that of an ordinary Subtle Realm beast core.

The instructor tremblingly placed the recording crystal against the beast core. The crystal instantly erupted with a blinding golden light, the radiance even overshadowing the blue light of Su Xue's team, and even the surrounding air trembled along with it.

A half-step Penetration Realm Vicious Beast core! Killed while Spiritual Qi was sealed! Zhang Wen's team not only exceeded the basic mission but also completed a challenge far beyond the difficulty of the assessment. Grade: Excellent! And it is the highest grade for this assessment!

Ji Changkong clenched his fists tightly, his eyes full of shock; in Su Xue's eyes, covered with a thin layer of frost, genuine admiration was revealed.

Those who had previously questioned Zhang Wen were now speechless. Someone murmured, "To be able to kill a half-step Penetration Realm Vicious Beast even with sealed Spiritual Qi, this is the true strength of the freshman top student!"

Zhang Wen merely raised his hand calmly and slammed his sky-splitting startling thunder spear onto the ground, the dull thud suppressing all discussions.

He looked at the Vicious Beast credentials on the stone platform, without a hint of pride in his eyes, only recognition of the entire team's collaboration—Han Xu nodded gently from the side, and though he did not say much, he could not hide the admiration in his eyes.