Conventional wisdom held that a third-class Spiritual Root’s low affinity for Spiritual Qi made it nearly impossible to open the Qi Sea Acupoint and become a Qi Cultivator in just seven days.

Constrained by this common knowledge, Mo Shuying felt Zhong Ming had little chance.

But when she turned to look at Zhong Ming, she discovered he wasn’t disappointed or dejected like the others. Instead, his face was filled with elation and joy.

This expression, combined with his previous performance and Xue Yao’s endorsement, couldn’t help but make Mo Shuying’s mind race.

’It can’t be...’

Just as she was reeling in disbelief at the thought, Zhong Ming noticed the gaze of his Head Senior Sister.

Seeing her look, Zhong Ming stopped contemplating the changes within himself, got up, and walked toward Mo Shuying.

RUSTLE...

His movement drew all eyes to him.

From a humble background, with a third-class Spiritual Root, yet guaranteed a B Class rating—a person like Zhong Ming was already bound to attract attention.

Two days ago, Xue Yao’s declaration that he was the strongest had pushed Zhong Ming squarely into the spotlight.

As a result, a great many people were paying close attention to him.

Even before he stood up, some had noticed his expression.

While all the disciples with second-class Spiritual Roots were dejected and somber, Zhong Ming’s relaxed expression stood out.

At that moment, murmurs had already begun to ripple through the crowd.

"Zhong Ming... there’s something off about his expression. He couldn’t have opened his Qi Sea Acupoint, could he?"

"Impossible. He has a third-class Spiritual Root."

"Could it be that he’s happy just because everyone else failed to break through?"

"...I don’t think Zhong Ming is that kind of person."

At that moment, the ordinary disciples of Longxi Peak were still arguing, uncertain if Zhong Ming had truly broken through.

But as he stood and walked toward Mo Shuying, everyone—save for a few stubborn fools who believed a Spiritual Root was everything—began to suspect the truth.

And so, all eyes followed Zhong Ming, watching him walk, step by step, toward Mo Shuying.

They watched with such rapt attention that their breathing unconsciously slowed to a hush.

...

And so, amid the silence and stares of the crowd, Zhong Ming came to a stop before Mo Shuying.

Having regained his composure, he spoke calmly.

"Head Senior Sister, I’ve broken through."

...

Zhong Ming’s voice wasn’t loud, but because everyone was watching him, hanging on his every word, his declaration was heard by all on Longxi Peak.

In response, a series of sharp gasps echoed across Longxi Peak.

"He... he actually broke through."

"How on earth did he do it?"

"So, Zhong Ming isn’t just some kept man. We were the ones who were wrong."

"But he has a third-class Spiritual Root..."

...

At that moment, everyone stared at Zhong Ming in utter disbelief.

Even Mo Shuying was no exception. "You broke through? How did you..."

She stopped before she could voice the question burning in her mind.

As members of a Renowned and Righteous Sect, not just the lead disciples of the peaks, but even the Peak Masters themselves would not casually pry into a disciple’s secrets.

Therefore, Mo Shuying did not voice her question; that was Zhong Ming’s secret.

Still finding it hard to believe, however, she took out a Treasure Mirror and aimed it at Zhong Ming.

It was a mirror used to inspect a disciple’s condition, capable of revealing Zhong Ming’s cultivation level and whether his foundation had been damaged.

Since this was a necessary step for an A Class evaluation, Zhong Ming didn’t object.

The result held no surprises.

"Qi Sea Acupoint newly opened, foundation undamaged, minimal Erysipelas in the body. You pass."

After confirming Zhong Ming’s condition, Mo Shuying suppressed the thousand questions swirling in her mind.

Then, she offered Zhong Ming a gentle smile, her tone warming considerably.

"Congratulations. From now on, you’re our junior brother."

With that, she turned to Xue Yao. "I misjudged this time... To think my eye for talent is now worse than yours. And congratulations to you for choosing such a good teammate."

In contrast to Mo Shuying’s complex emotions, Xue Yao remained perfectly calm in the face of Zhong Ming’s breakthrough, showing little outward joy.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care for Zhong Ming; rather, in her mind, he was stronger than her. For someone of his caliber, opening the Qi Sea Acupoint in seven days was simply a matter of course.

She would only have been shocked if he *hadn’t* opened it.

Feeling that everything was proceeding as it should, she simply gave Mo Shuying a calm nod in response. "Senior Brother is the best, of course."

...

Xue Yao calmly accepted Zhong Ming’s breakthrough and A Class rating, but there was one person on the peak who could not accept it at all.

That person was, of course, Yi Yunya. Zhong Ming’s success made it impossible for her to maintain her composure.

’Zhong Ming... he actually managed to break through!’

A mixture of disbelief and regret made her grip her favorite folding fan so tightly that it creaked.

Her reaction was understandable. Zhong Ming’s breakthrough had a massive impact on the power dynamics among Longxi Peak’s younger generation.

Originally, the three disciples with first-class Spiritual Roots on Longxi Peak were in a stalemate, with no single one able to dominate the others.

They answered to no one but themselves, and so the three were locked in a constant struggle, each vying for the position of leader.

But Zhong Ming’s breakthrough, and his alliance with Xue Yao, shattered this stalemate.

What made Yi Yunya even more vexed and regretful was that the first person to discover Zhong Ming’s Talent and extend an invitation... had been her.

’If I had just insisted a little, Zhong Ming would have been my subordin— he would have allied with me.’

’Xue Yao is too aloof and Zhuang Yi is too arrogant; those two would never join forces. So, after allying with Zhong Ming, I would have been the sole dominant power on Longxi Peak. Becoming the Head Senior Sister of Longxi Peak would have been effortless.’

’With the title of Head Senior Sister of Longxi Peak, and with Zhong Ming’s help, my position in the Golden Jade Tower would have been completely solidified.’

After thinking it through, Yi Yunya realized that if she had just trusted Zhong Ming back then, her entire grand stratagem would have fallen perfectly into place.

Everything she had painstakingly schemed for would have been easily within her grasp.

Alas, there are no ’what ifs’. She had hesitated, and as a result, the one who ultimately allied with Zhong Ming was Xue Yao.

With Xue Yao’s rise and her own fall, their alliance had reduced her chances of becoming the leader of Longxi Peak’s new generation to practically zero. The realization was enough to make Yi Yunya’s composure crumble.

...

It is difficult for people to accept loss.

Without hope, there can be no despair.

But to be given hope, only to lose it through hesitation and misunderstanding, is a bitter pill to swallow.

Now, regret was a venomous snake, gnawing relentlessly at Yi Yunya’s heart.

’But I was here first.’

’I was the first to discover Zhong Ming’s Talent, and I was the first to invite him. Why... why did it turn out like this...?’

Orchid sensed Yi Yunya’s dark mood, but she had no idea how to comfort her young miss.

This loss was indeed a great one.

Her situation was so tragic that even Mo Shuying, who had never been fond of her, shot her a pitying glance.

However, it was only a single glance.

She quickly turned her attention back to Zhong Ming.

No matter how one looked at it, Zhong Ming’s breakthrough was a good thing for Longxi Peak. Thus, Mo Shuying had recovered her composure and was now in a good mood.

Now, she prepared to inform Zhong Ming of the benefits that came with an A Class rating.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhong. With your A Class rating, you’re now considered a prospective core disciple of Longxi Peak. You will be favored with a great deal of the peak’s resources."

"The Cultivation Techniques, Magic Techniques, and the Cultivation Insights from our predecessors on the first three floors of the Longxi Peak Scripture Pavilion are now all open to you, free of charge."

"But I don’t recommend learning too many Magic Techniques. You should understand the principle of not biting off more than you can chew."

"In addition, Longxi Peak will forge a Magical Artifact exclusively for you..."