171: Can we change the reward for Chapter 171?!

【Examinee: Dong Xuan】

【Assessment Item: Jia-7 (Original Record: Unknown Ancient Vambrace Fragment)】

【Appraisal Report Score: 150 points】

【Commentary: Information completeness exceeds existing database records; source tracing is precise and unerring; depth of analysis reaches the level of Law; insights are unique, supplementing and correcting a large amount of critical unknown information, making an Excellent contribution to perfecting the Guild's Ancient Artifact Catalog Database. Triggered Transcendental Cognitive Evaluation Mechanism. Comprehensive Rating: 150 points.】

That dazzling 150 points.

And that long string of comments below, enough to overturn an ordinary person's understanding, were deeply etched into the retinas of everyone present, and even deeper into their hearts.

Dead silence!

A dead silence more prolonged and thorough than any before!

Immediately following.

A tsunami of clamor and exclamations suddenly exploded from the spectator area outside the field, the sound waves almost lifting the ceiling of the fourth floor!

"One... one hundred and fifty points?! Am I seeing things?!"

A young Appraiser rubbed his eyes hard, his voice sharpening to the point of distortion.

"Isn't the maximum score one hundred?! How can someone score one hundred and fifty in a Mid-grade Appraiser assessment?! This has never happened since the Guild was founded!"

A white-haired old man's hand was trembling as he leaned on his cane, his face full of disbelief.

"Good heavens! 150 points! Doesn't this mean that those things he said... those things that sounded like a heavenly tome... were all true?! Not only true, but they even supplemented information the Guild's database didn't know?!"

A female apprentice holding a book had cheeks flushed with excitement, her gaze toward Jiang Yun filled with admiration.

"More than just true! Exceeding database records, touching the level of Law, Excellent contribution... My god, this evaluation, this score, it's simply set a precedent in the Mid-grade Assessment Tower, unprecedented in history!"

Someone shouted loudly, as if witnessing history.

Those who were previously certain that Jiang Yun was making things up and bound to fail now had faces like a dye shop—turning blue and white in turns, looking hideous to the extreme.

The people around them who had been mocked earlier, who had held neutral or optimistic attitudes, now cast playful and teasing glances.

"Brother Wang, didn't you confidently say he was just guessing? With these 150 points, why don't you try guessing one for us?"

“Tsk tsk, does your face hurt? I said this lad was extraordinary, but you lot wouldn't believe me!”

These discussions pierced their ears like needles, making them feel utterly disgraced, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Inside the field.

The moment the score jumped onto the light screen, Master Zhang Yuan felt as if his spine had been removed; he stumbled violently, his face instantly turning from flushed to deathly pale.

He stared fixedly at that 150, his eyeballs nearly popping out of their sockets, his lips trembling as he muttered to himself:

"Im... impossible... this is absolutely impossible..."

"Maximum score of one hundred... how could he... one hundred and fifty..."

"I have studied appraisal for decades... worked my heart out... took the exam six times... yet I could barely reach eighty points... He... this brat... on what basis... on what basis!!"

Extreme shock, incomprehensible absurdity, and the conviction and pride accumulated over ten years—now completely shattered—turned into an uncontrollable surge of metallic sweetness that rushed up his throat.

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of bright red blood sprayed wildly from Master Zhang's mouth like a bloody arrow, drawing a tragic arc in the air.

His body swayed violently, his eyes quickly glazing over, and with endless resentment and despair, he fell straight backward, hitting the floor with a thud, having fainted directly!

"Master Zhang!"

"Quick! Master Zhang spat blood and fainted!"

“Hiss—! He fainted from anger! This is a shattered Dao Heart; a Heart Demon has been born!”

“Sigh, who told him to be so narrow-minded and insist on kicking this iron plate? Now he's done for; he'll likely have no hope of reaching Medium Grade in this life! This Heart Demon will be hard to overcome.”

“A pitiable person must have a hateful side. If he hadn't repeatedly pushed so aggressively, would it have come to this?”

The crowd saw this.

There was a burst of clamor and sighs.

There was sympathy, but more of it was a sense of 'I told you so.'

Steward Li was also startled by this sudden turn of events and hurriedly shouted, "Physician! Call a physician quickly!"

Watching Master Zhang being hurriedly carried away by the Guild's physicians, Steward Li stood in place, his heart filled with complex emotions.

He turned his gaze once more to the comments on the light screen.

The shock in his heart was still like crashing waves.

Exceeding existing database records!

It meant the information he possessed...

...was more precise and detailed than parts of the Guild's thousands of years of accumulated foundation!

Touching the level of Law!

This was usually High Grade...

...or even a Domain only Grand Tutor Level Appraisers dared to touch!

Excellent contribution... this was no longer a simple matter of passing an assessment.

It was performing a service for the Guild!

"This Dong Xuan... just what is his background?"

Steward Li's heart surged, unable to calm down for a long time.

It was only at this moment that he suddenly realized.

This fellow, whom everyone had been watching and considered arrogant and wild, had actually passed the Mid-grade Appraiser assessment in such a crushing manner!

The speed was so fast and the result so terrifying, it was unprecedented!

Genius?

Prodigy?

These words seemed pale and weak.

He even began to suspect if beneath that black robe and mask lay some old monster playing in the mortal world, or a fossil-level existence that had awakened from some ancient ruin after living for countless years?

While the entire venue was still shrouded in shock and discussion, Jiang Yun, at the center of the storm, spoke calmly as if he had just done a trivial thing. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly suppressed the noise.

"Steward, my results should be passing, right? Have I successfully promoted to a Mid-grade Appraiser?"

As soon as these words were spoken.

It once again drew the attention of the entire audience.

"150 points! Does that even need asking? He definitely passed!"

"A score this high has never appeared in history!"

"My god, he really succeeded! He became a Mid-grade Appraiser!"

"He wouldn't... really go on to challenge that ethereal Grand Tutor Level Assessment, would he?!"

"Crazy! But... for some reason, I'm suddenly looking forward to it!"

Of course, some people were still stubborn.

"I admit he's a Genius! A Prodigy! He's indeed formidable in the Medium Grade assessment! But Grand Tutor Level? That's not something you can reach just by piling up knowledge! It requires an understanding of Law and one's own strength! He has absolutely no chance!"

Inside the field.

Steward Li was pulled back to reality by Jiang Yun's words.

Looking at the mysterious man in black before him.

His face was instantly covered in an incomparably respectful, even slightly fawning smile.

He knew well.

With the appraisal talent this person displayed, once reported, it would surely attract great attention from the Guild's higher-ups. His meteoric rise was just around the corner, and his status would far exceed his own. If he didn't leave a good impression now, when would he?

"Passed! Of course you passed!"

Steward Li's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"Mr. Dong Xuan, from this moment on, you are a distinguished Mid-grade Appraiser of my Appraisers Guild! This is your glory, and it is also the honor of our Starfall District branch!"

Although it was expected.

Hearing Steward Li's announcement with their own ears still caused a chorus of sharp intakes of breath and sighs inside and outside the venue.

"Dammit! He actually let him succeed!"

"Prodigy! A true Prodigy!"

"Dong Xuan... this name will likely resound throughout the Starfall District soon!"

In the spectator area.

The young man in fine clothes curled his lips into a playful smile.

"Interesting, truly interesting! Elder Hai, do you think he will go on to fulfill that shocking declaration and charge straight for Grand Tutor Level?"

Elder Hai's expression was more solemn than ever as he said slowly, "The Medium Grade assessment might still be cheated with Heaven-Defying knowledge reserves. But Grand Tutor Level... it involves the essence of power and resonance with Law. It's hard, hard, hard to say! But this boy can no longer be judged by common logic."

Not far from them.

The Nine-Tailed Fox Su Qingxue's beautiful eyes were filled with shifting light.

She thought to herself.

"Dong Xuan... Jiang Yun, it seems the things you are hiding are even deeper than this Empress imagined. That matter, you might actually be able to help with. My intuition to spare your life back in C City was truly a brilliant move."

The crowd outside was discussing fervently.

Inside the field.

Steward Li had already attentively brought out an exquisitely crafted Storage Ring, offering it with both hands, his face wearing a warm and enthusiastic smile.

"Mr. Dong Xuan, congratulations on passing the assessment! This is the reward the Guild gives for passing the Mid-grade Appraiser assessment: five thousand spirit crystals, all inside this storage ring."

Five thousand spirit crystals!

For many low-level Beast Tamers and Appraisers, this was undoubtedly a huge sum, immediately drawing countless envious and even greedy gazes.

However.

Jiang Yun's gaze only lingered on the storage ring for a moment before slowly moving away, landing on the display stand nearby.

That broken, dark-silver vambrace.

On the beast taming armor condensation.

He looked up.

Looking at the smiling Steward Li, he spoke calmly, his voice once again silencing the entire venue.

"Steward Li, I wonder if I could change my reward to... this item?"

His finger.

Pointed straight at that piece of beast taming armor condensation.