Chapter 46: Midterm Exam Rankings at Year's End

  Outside the Wooden Man Passage, sixty-one outer sect disciples were gathered, most of them injured, some lightly and others severely.

  Nan Gongyuan, the elder, stood with his hands behind his back, while Bai Xiaosheng, another elder, stood beside him. Nan Gongyuan said, "The results of this year's mid-term exam have been released. I will read out the final rankings from last to first. The last five students are Fang Qi, Yu Lin..." He announced the names of the five students and then continued, "You five students performed the worst in this mid-term exam. On your way back, take some time to reflect on your mistakes. Each of you must write a 3,000-word report explaining why you failed. Additionally, after the winter break, you will be required to practice every day. If I don't see any improvement in your abilities by tomorrow, I'm afraid you'll understand my methods."

  Nan Gongyuan's elder said expressionlessly, and after hearing his words, Fang Qi and the other four people all took a cold breath. Having been under Nan Gongyuan's elder for seven months, they knew about this elder's methods. At that moment, the five of them decided that after returning, they would definitely cultivate seriously to avoid being punished at the beginning of the year. However, writing that 3,000-word report was not easy. Why did they lose? Writing 30 words was fine, and writing 300 words wasn't too difficult, but 3,000 words were just too hard.

  Nangong Yuanzhang finished speaking and then began to read out other names.

  Everyone below him let out a sigh of relief. Not being among the last five meant they wouldn't be punished, and when they went home for Chinese New Year, they'd have some dignity left.

  Of course, everyone also hopes to be ranked higher.

  The higher the ranking, the more glorious it is to return home for Chinese New Year.

  One by one report over here.

  Luo Tiao ranked thirty-fifth, and this result made him happy for half a day, even calling it lucky.

  Gao Ren ranked 27th, similar to his score in the small test at the end of the month.

  Zhang Tao unexpectedly ranked tenth, which slightly surprised people.

  One by one, the names were called out and finally came down to the last five.

  "Fifth place, Liu Ya." Fifth place was indeed Liu Ya. Liu Ya's popularity was quite high, but her actual strength was only around tenth or so. She managed to rank fifth in the end, which left many outer sect disciples slightly shaken.

  "Fourth place, Hayashizaki." Hayashizaki was a veteran powerhouse of Shinsekai, so it wasn't unusual for him to be in fourth place.

  "Third, Fang Yin." Fang Yin was also a veteran strongman, and it wasn't surprising that he was in third place. What people were curious about was that among the three top masters under Murong Ying of New Snow Mountain Villa, Zhang Tao was tenth, Lin Yuan was fourth, and Fang Yin was third. So who would be second? It seemed like there was no one stronger than these three.

  Who is this second person?

  "Second place, Gu Chao."

  What? Second place is Gu Chao!

  Among the sixty-one outer disciples, some knew about Gu Chao's achievements, while others did not. After all, the year-end assessment of Muren Alley had just ended, and everyone hadn't had time to communicate yet. In Muren Alley, everyone was also scattered, and they didn't gather in the same place. Those who didn't know were shocked at this moment, and those who knew about Gu Chao's achievements immediately began to explain.

  "The little test at the end of the month, Gu Chao's ranking is probably in the last few."

  "You don't know that Gu Chao was absolutely explosive in the year-end assessment battle, he single-handedly took on Fang Yin, Zhang Tao and Lin Yuan, three people at once, and won with one blow."

  "What? He alone can take on our New Snow Mountain Villa's three great experts, Fang Yin, Zhang Tao and Lin Yuan? This is impossible." The first person to hear this didn't believe it.

  "You may not believe it but that's the fact. I almost dropped my eyes when I heard about it." The speaker confirmed the news: "Otherwise, how could he rank second?"

  "It is said that Gu Chao has already practiced the 72 Roads of Knife Techniques to the realm of great perfection, without any moves or forms."

  "Then he has surpassed Muyong Ying in pure swordsmanship." The listeners couldn't help but ask.

  "It seems so, but Gu Chao's overall strength is still slightly inferior to that of Murong Ying Shixiong, who is still the undisputed number one in our Xin Xue Mountain Villa."

  "That Gu Chao is also very impressive, from third last to second place, his strength has increased too quickly."

  Countless people around him were amazed at Gu Cha's rapid progress in strength, it was simply unbelievable and unimaginable.

  Luo Tiao and Gao Ren were also stunned, the two of them burst out laughing, and went to Gu Chao's side, one hugging his left shoulder, the other hugging his right shoulder: "Great, you little guy has reached this level, yet didn't say a word to us." Gao Ren and Luo Tiao were genuinely happy for Gu Chao, because they were friends.

  A friend is just a friend.

  Friends for a moment, friends for life.

  Gu Chao shrugged and said helplessly: "I couldn't possibly go around the world saying that I've increased my strength."

  Gu Chao getting second place was like a bombshell, but Murong Ying getting first place in the mid-term exam at the end of the year didn't generate much discussion. It's actually very simple, because Murong Ying got first place, that's to be expected, not getting first place would be strange. The original Zhang Tao, Fang Yin, and Lin Yuan were strong, but still a distance away from Murong Ying, and now Gu Chao is also very strong, but still weaker than Murong Ying.

  Murong Ying, that is the forever first of Xue Shan Manor, no one can break it, at least, so far, no one can break it.

  ……

  In Dormitory No. 7, Gu Chao sat cross-legged on his bed.

  In his hand was a wooden box made of sealed wood, and inside this sealed wooden box was the reward for himself this time. According to Nan Gong Yuan Zhenren, it is Yuanyang Initial Dan. The initial yuan, the initial beginning, yang, yang energy, Yuanyang Initial Dan, the initial yuan energy. In the world, there is a kind of herb called Yuanyang Grass, which is extremely precious and can automatically absorb the essence of the rising sun at dawn, possessing vast solar yuan energy. Then, using yang fire to refine the medicine, it can be cast into this Yuanyang Initial Dan.

  Gǔ chāo opened this yuan yang initial dan, and in an instant, he only felt a fiery heat emanating from the box. When he looked again, it was a golden dan medicine.

  Gǔ Chāo put this dan medicine into his mouth and quickly slid it into his abdomen.

  As soon as it entered his abdomen, a burst of medicinal energy exploded within his belly.

  Gǔ Chāo's current internal strength is at the fifth level of the Post-Heavenly Realm, with his internal energy flowing through the Governor Vessel. At this moment, the medicinal power was rapidly absorbed into the Governor Vessel, constantly filling it up, accumulating more and more, gradually rushing towards a checkpoint within his body. The human body has countless meridians connected to each other, but each segment of the meridian has a checkpoint, and there is also a checkpoint between the Governor Vessel and the next meridian.

  Boom!

  That level was opened by filling up with inner energy.

  After opening this lock, the internal energy entered the third meridian belt Renmai, which also marked that Gu Chao's internal strength reached the sixth layer of the acquired realm Renmai.

  Cool!

  His current strength is the sixth layer of the acquired realm, plus the seventy-two roads of knife method, which has made Zhang Tao, Fang Yin and Lin Yuan's distance even farther.

  However, Murong Ying also got a reward, and it was the first prize, which was even more precious than his own second prize. He must have become stronger, and he himself must also become stronger. His current goal is to defeat Murong Ying, and the position of the number one person in Xin Xue Mountain Villa, I will take it down.

  Outside the window, it's getting colder and colder, as if there are scattered snowflakes falling.

  The second one is also delivered.