’These 20 experience points are the explosive result of multiple overlapping factors!’

He quickly ran the analysis in his head.

’Fighting at my absolute limit against a far superior opponent—that was the core of it.’

’The last time I fought with such desperation in a life-or-death battle against someone so much stronger than me was during the midterm assessment over half a semester ago.’

’The burst of potential squeezed out from under extreme pressure was probably the most fundamental catalyst.’

’Then there’s the boost from Absolute Focus and the foundation of One Certification, Eternal Certification.’

’They gave me an incredibly high starting point for learning and applying the Rainbow Light Saber Skill, removing many of the basic obstacles.’

’And the sheer willpower that erupted under immense external pressure and a clear goal was also likely a significant bonus.’

’Ultimately, it all comes down to comprehension. The pure, reckless life-or-death battle was the trigger. Absolute Focus was the amplifier. One Certification, Eternal Certification was the foundation. Pressure was the fuel... Not a single one of these factors could be missing. Together, they forged this precious 20-point leap in experience.’

While analyzing all these possibilities, Li Wen rubbed his throbbing temples and headed toward the noisy final assessment plaza.

The crowd in the plaza and the silhouette of the massive screen in the distance came into view. He was about to become the center of attention.

「...」

The winter morning sun cast a golden-red halo over the bustling school plaza, but the enthusiasm of the third-year students was clearly hotter than the sunlight.

When Li Wen’s figure emerged from the virtual assessment area’s exit and he started walking back toward Class 21’s section, it was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

"Li Wen!"

"You’re amazing, Li Wen!"

"Holy shit, did he really make it into the top thirty?!"

An eruption of cheers and gasps broke out in Class 21’s area, echoing the thrilling battle against the green-clad opponent they had just witnessed on the big screen.

They had personally witnessed their classmate’s rise from obscurity to astonishing skill—someone who could even fight an extended, intense battle with a virtual opponent who had achieved Minor Achievement in a top-tier skill. A powerful sense of collective honor and shared glory surged through every student in Class 21.

Even the students who were usually quiet were now looking at Li Wen with fervor in their eyes. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"That was freaking awesome! Who would have thought?"

"Before... I really never saw it coming..."

"Quick, tell us! What was it like facing that guy in green? The pressure must have been insane, right?" Wei Wu squeezed through the crowd and clapped Li Wen on the shoulder, his face full of curiosity and excitement.

Li Wen had just sat down amidst the cheers, not even having a chance to catch his breath and reply, when the students from the nearby Class 20 were completely drawn in by the commotion. They all craned their necks to look over.

"What’s wrong with Class 21? Why are they so worked up?"

"Who’s that guy? Why’s he so popular? I don’t recognize him."

"Was he amazing in the assessment? Did anyone see it?" Murmurs rose and fell as seeds of curiosity quickly sprouted in the crowd.

Just then, a shrill voice, tinged with a tone of sudden realization, cut through the noise from the Class 20 crowd:

"I remember now! Li Wen! He’s *that* Li Wen!" Everyone’s gaze instantly swiveled to the student who had shouted.

"Which Li Wen?"

"The one from Class 21." The Class 20 student who had spoken had a look of disbelief on his face as he tried to recall.

"You know... the one who practiced an advanced saber skill for a whole semester and still couldn’t even grasp the basics. I remember Huang Yu and Wang Ruming used to talk about him, saying he trained harder than anyone, but... but he just really struggled with it!"

His words seemed to open the floodgates of memory.

"Ah! It’s him?"

"Right, right! There was a guy like that, I think his name was Li Wen."

"What?! Him?!" More faces in Class 20 were covered in shock. They looked at Li Wen, then back at their friends, unable to reconcile the image of the "hardworking but fruitless" person from their memories with the boy before them who had shone so brightly in the assessment and even had a teacher come looking for him personally.

Low gasps and whispers spread quickly. "You’ve got to be kidding, right? That Li Wen is this strong now? How long has it been...?"

The noisy chatter surrounded Li Wen like a rising tide. Just as he was becoming overwhelmed by everyone’s enthusiastic and curious questions, a savior appeared like a timely rain.

Wang Hu’s burly figure parted the crowd. He strode over from a distance with clear purpose, heading straight for Class 21’s gathering spot.

His trademark booming voice carried an unquestionable authority, yet it also held a hint of gentleness. "Li Wen!"

Wang Hu beckoned to Li Wen, who was being surrounded in the center of the crowd. His voice was loud and powerful. "Come with me for a moment."

Seeing Wang Hu, Li Wen breathed a silent sigh of relief. He just wanted to get away from this boisterous crowd.

"Oh, okay, Teacher Wang." He quickly stood up from his seat, ignoring the curious questions from his classmates, and jogged through the crowd to Wang Hu.

"Teacher Wang, you were looking for me?" he asked respectfully.

"Yes, come with me." Wang Hu looked at the boy before him—tired, yet with bright eyes—and nodded in satisfaction. He clapped Li Wen’s shoulder with a large, steady hand, the gesture firm and encouraging. "I have some good news for you."

"Good news?" Li Wen was slightly taken aback, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. He had just finished a grueling assessment. Besides his skill improvement, what other good news could there be?

Wang Hu had no intention of keeping him in suspense. He lowered his voice and said directly, "It’s about the scholarship."

A scholarship!

"My scholarship?!" Li Wen’s voice uncontrollably rose a little. His eyes lit up instantly, and he stared intently at Wang Hu.

What did he need most right now? Money!

The expensive Qi and Blood Potions needed for his training cost money! His father’s worsening illness, which he was trying to hide, needed money! His family’s dire financial situation needed money! This had always been a heavy weight on his mind.

A scholarship? This was an absolute godsend!

"That’s right," Wang Hu said, a look of gratification in his eyes as he saw the urgency and joy in the boy’s.

"I just came from the principal’s office. Principal Huang saw your performance in the assessment."

He deliberately emphasized the principal’s approval, taking no credit for himself.

"He was extremely pleased and personally instructed that you should apply for this semester’s second-class scholarship."

A second-class scholarship.

Ten thousand Huaxia Coins! He remembered every level and every amount of the scholarships perfectly. The scholarships were divided into four tiers:

Special-Class Scholarship: fifty thousand Huaxia Coins per year.

First-Class Scholarship: twenty thousand Huaxia Coins per year.

Second-Class Scholarship: ten thousand Huaxia Coins per year.

Third-Class Scholarship: five thousand Huaxia Coins per year.

His family was struggling financially, so he had always been on the school’s financial aid.

In the past, his academics and martial skills were both in the bottom half of the class. A scholarship? That was something he could only dream of and envy others for.