Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Assessment, Super S-Rank

Since it was the biannual Superpower Level assessment, a considerable number of females were in attendance.

Each female was assessed individually, taking about half an hour per person. Jiang Qingli had registered late, so her number was all the way down at 32.

Fortunately, there were ten assessment stations running simultaneously, so she wouldn’t have to wait too long.

Jiang Qingli happened to be at the same station as Ai Li. Ai Li waved at her from the front rows, and she smiled and walked over.

She had just sat down when she heard whispers coming from behind her.

"It really is Jiang Qingli... Did she really have a secondary awakening?"

"It’s true. My sister is in the Melt Star Association, and everyone in the association is paying close attention to Jiang Qingli’s assessment this time."

"Uh... What’s going on? Qin Shu doesn’t actually like women, does he?"

"...No, what are you talking about? Qin Shu is going to the Lower District next month and wants to make Jiang Qingli the acting president. But Jiang Qingli doesn’t have a Superpower Level right now. The Melt Star Association is full of elites; how could they possibly allow a good-for-nothing to be placed above them? They definitely need to see her level."

"Heh, so what if she awakened? Most females who’ve had a secondary awakening in the past end up as B Level, or A- Level at best. I’ve never heard of one reaching A Level or higher."

"I can’t believe Qin Shu would actually misjudge someone for once... I can’t even imagine it. How awkward would it be for Jiang Qingli, at her level, to run into Jiang Youchen in the Lower District..."

"I heard recently that a female from a branch of the Jiang Family tested with S Level potential. She’s her cousin. Now, even if the Jiang Family wanted to take her back, the elders would never agree, would they?"

"S Level potential doesn’t mean she’ll actually become S Level. Didn’t you know Jiang Qingli tested with potential before, too? And look how that turned out. She’s still a useless female. Can’t even compare to Bai Yiyi. They said Bai Yiyi would never even get a Superpower, but she turned 18 and bam—straight to S Level..."

Ai Li couldn’t take it anymore. Just as she was about to get up and give those people a piece of her mind, Jiang Qingli put a hand on her to stop her.

"There are proctors and cameras here. Causing a scene could affect our exams." Jiang Qingli gently squeezed her hand and gave it a little shake.

The original owner of this body had certainly left a notorious reputation. She had long grown accustomed to being the subject of gossip.

If she got worked up over every little insult, she’d have to spend the next decade arguing nonstop with online commenters.

Ai Li understood this as well. Swallowing her indignation, she tried to comfort her. "They just don’t know you. One day, they’ll see that you’ve changed and you’re much better than before!"

"Thank you, Ai Li." Jiang Qingli’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

The group behind them gossiped for a while longer, their topic of conversation eventually shifting from Jiang Qingli to other people.

One of the females glanced around and made a curious sound. "Hey, why isn’t Bai Yiyi here today?"

"Yeah, she’s supposed to be in the same testing group as us..."

"I heard one of the examiners this time is the older brother of one of her Beast Husband fiancés. Apparently, the two of them even got into a fight over her once. I was hoping to watch the drama unfold."

At her words, another female’s eyes lit up. "I have her contact info, I’ll ask her~"

Before Jiang Qingli could hear any more, the screen in front of her displayed her number.

Jiang Qingli took a moment to compose herself, then, bolstered by Ai Li’s encouraging gaze, she followed the guide robot into the assessment room.

The entrance to the assessment room was narrow. As she walked down a long corridor, scanners continuously swept over her body.

At the end of the corridor, a door appeared before her.

The assessment would begin the moment she pushed open this door.

Jiang Qingli took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped inside—

She was met with a pitch-black darkness so complete she couldn’t see her own hand in front of her face.

After Jiang Qingli had taken a few steps, the scene before her abruptly changed.

Several horrifying, giant black wolves charged toward her, their eyes crimson and their bared teeth dripping with blood.

Upon seeing Jiang Qingli, their gazes turned sharp as they howled madly and lunged at her.

Jiang Qingli frowned.

The Superpower she had tested for was the Healing System. A Healing System assessment primarily involved various simulated Spiritual Bodies that had been subjected to pollution.

The examiners would determine if she passed based on the extent to which the Spiritual Body’s pollution level decreased.

Typically, the assessment consisted of three waves of Spiritual Bodies. The first wave’s Spiritual Pollution value was between 50% and 60%. As long as a candidate could reduce it by at least 20%, they were considered to have passed, and the difficulty would increase in subsequent waves.

But as these direwolves approached, the pollution value displayed above their heads was a glaring 80%!

’Did they raise the difficulty this year?’

However, these Spiritual Bodies were just numerical simulations and couldn’t cause any actual physical harm.

Jiang Qingli had already witnessed far more terrifying things in Ye Linyuan’s Spiritual Domain, so she wasn’t particularly frightened by these direwolves.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and raised her hand to stroke the direwolf’s head.

Every one of the girl’s movements was transmitted with perfect clarity to the screens in front of the ten examiners.

The head examiner saw this and frowned, turning to Examiner 03. "80%?" he demanded sharply. "Why is it so high? What did you do?"

Examiner 03 raised an eyebrow, his tone nonchalant. "I have no idea how that happened... But since it’s already started, let’s just see what she can do."

Examiner 02, who had been silent all this time, exploded with rage. "This is absolute nonsense! Is this some kind of joke?! Every female is a treasure to the Empire! What the hell would a male like you understand? Helian Sheng, I knew it! You’re just trying to get revenge because she played your little brother—"

Examiner 07, sitting in a lower seat, finally got a clear look at Jiang Qingli’s file and panicked. "This student is a female who underwent a secondary awakening! She might not have enough spiritual power! If she makes a mistake, her own spiritual power could be damaged! Chief Examiner, I request we pause the assessment!"

"Pause now, and the assessment is void," Examiner 03 said, a flicker of mockery in his eyes.

"You—"

"Wait!"

Examiner 06 suddenly spoke up, cutting off the impending argument.

Her voice was filled with unconcealed shock and admiration. "Look at the screen! She’s purifying the direwolves!"

The examiners turned to the screen.

The girl was crouching on the ground. The direwolves, which had been so vicious just moments before, were now lying on their backs, exposing their bellies for her to rub. Their tails were wagging so furiously they put a propeller to shame.

When Examiner 03 saw the pollution value above the direwolves’ heads, his eyes widened instantly—

The horrifying 80% from moments ago had plummeted to 20%!

And it didn’t stop there. She successfully purified the subsequent waves of Spiritual Bodies as well, and each one became incredibly affectionate toward her.

’How is this possible?!’

’These three waves of Spiritual Bodies were at least A Level. She purified A Level Spiritual Bodies?! And she reduced their pollution value by 60% in a single go!’

’And the most terrifying part is that Jiang Qingli still seems perfectly fine, as if it took no effort at all.’

’Doesn’t that mean her level is at least S Level?!’

-

Walking out of the assessment room completely unscathed, Jiang Qingli felt a sense of disbelief.

’That’s... it?’

’That was so easy?’

On the other side of the screen, the row of examiners, who had been sitting in judgment, also fell silent.

In the past, females had been stung by the Spiritual Bodies, some even ending up in critical condition. Even last year’s S Level, Bai Yiyi, had sustained considerable injuries.

’She... just finished, as easily as that?’

Examiner 06 smiled, gratified. "I believe this candidate has demonstrated extraordinary composure and Healing Power. My proposed rating is S+. Does anyone have any objections?"

The examiners glanced at each other. Seeing no objections, they each pressed the [S+] button on the rating panels in front of them.

In the ensuing silence, Examiner 03, seated to the right of the head examiner, spoke up. His voice, distorted by a modulator, was hoarse and grim.

"I object."

The head examiner looked at her subordinate, a headache already forming. "What is it now?"

"Chief Examiner, I have an objection." Examiner 03 muted the audio feed from the assessment room and spoke with utmost respect to the female in the head seat. "I doubt the authenticity of Jiang Qingli’s test results. I’d like to request a full inspection of the assessment room."

Examiner 06 figured out what he was implying. "Are you suggesting Jiang Qingli cheated?"

"Correct. It’s common knowledge that Superpowers from a secondary awakening are usually in the B to A Level range. Yet she’s S Level or higher. That’s not normal."

"Furthermore, she was far too composed when she saw the Spiritual Bodies. I have reason to suspect she knew the test contents beforehand. As you all should know, her aunt works at the Imperial Military Academy Research Institute and could have supplied her with a prop."

"Most importantly, I’ve reviewed Jiang Qingli’s exam records from her first three years of university. Across hundreds of exams, large and small, she was caught cheating multiple times. She has a record!"

Beneath his Particle Mask, the male’s sharp eyes, like those of a hawk, locked onto the girl’s slender figure. He narrowed them in irritation—

"I recommend she be detained as well and subjected to a full body search!"

The head examiner looked at him, her voice stern. "Helian Sheng, as an examiner, you have the right to raise suspicions. But if your judgment is mistaken, you will face punishment. Are you sure about this?"

Helian Sheng lifted his chin.

"If I’m wrong, I am willing to accept any punishment from the academy!"