Great Zhou on this side is also anxiously waiting.

The time when the last batch of eliminated people and those who passed the challenge came out is not much different, so now they have no idea how many of the five from Great Zhou passed and how many were eliminated.

The list will be announced in a little while, and they are truly eager.

Swish, swish, swish~

Quickly, Zhao Xing, Luo Hou King, Chen Shijie, Liu Tianning, and Ji Mengjun all appeared in the temporary rented manor of Great Zhou.

"Here they are! They came out!"

The high-ranking officials of Great Zhou, who had been impatiently waiting, immediately came out to greet them.

Zhao Xing and the other four arrived at the manor at almost the same time.

"Minister of Agriculture, Grand Commandant...how did you fare?" Lu Ying asked eagerly.

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "I passed."

Liu Tianning calmly said, "Lucky to have passed."

Ji Mengjun shook his head and said, "I’m the one who’s lucky; I was only three steps away from the exit... If I had been a little later, I would have been eliminated."

"I was only one step away from elimination," Luo Hou King said with lingering fear. "Before my consciousness fainted, I was already leaning against the doorframe of the portal, but the Artifact Spirit of the Dayan Divine Weapon also judged me as having passed."

Chen Shijie was last to speak, somewhat regretfully saying, "Ashamed, I couldn’t withstand the final wave of attacks."

Five into four! Great Zhou produced four people who passed!

The crowd erupted with joyful cheers.

While everyone was celebrating, Zhao Xing patted Old Chen’s shoulder and said, "It was already pretty good; there’s still another chance, after a mere three thousand years we can try again."

"Alright." Chen Shijie still remained gloomy.

"By the way, Old Chen, what was your rank on the Star Mirror?"

If you pass, there is no ranking.

Only when eliminated will you see which position you were eliminated at.

"I was eliminated when only 16,245 people were left," Chen Shijie said.

Zhao Xing couldn’t help but be speechless, no wonder Old Chen was so disappointed.

16,245, already extremely close to passing.

In the final wave of attacks, even if Chen Shijie had held on for just half a second more, he might have made it through.

It’s a shame, just a little bit short.

One couldn’t say it was Old Chen’s lack of strength, it was just a matter of slight misfortune, like if the Primordial Realm required a thousand more people, then Old Chen could have gotten through.

Zhao Xing also didn’t know what to say, he could only pat Old Chen’s shoulder, then he changed the topic by looking at Liu Tianning, "Teacher, how far were you from the Gate of Light?"

Liu Tianning claimed to be lucky, but knowing Liu Tianning, he might be being a bit modest.

"For the final wave of attacks, I actually didn’t move much," Liu Tianning smiled.

"Didn’t move much?" Zhao Xing couldn’t help but be stunned, then privately asked, "Teacher, is it possible your Mirror Heart Lake Divine Ability is already perfect?"

The Mirror Heart Lake Divine Ability is different from the Slaughter Thought Blade, Liu Tianning’s divine ability is more defensive in nature. The Slaughter Thought Blade is offensive, which is why Zhao Xing took the effort to purchase the "Spirit Bell."

Liu Tianning said, "I actually achieved Small Divine Power Perfection a long time ago; the reason I didn’t move this time was mainly because I had a slight epiphany regarding the Great Divine Power ’Spirit Mother River.’

"What?" Zhao Xing’s expression became somewhat peculiar, "Teacher, did you... remember anything else? Such as some unfamiliar scenes and people."

Liu Tianning was taken aback, "No, why?"

"Nothing, just asking casually."

Liu Tianning had a slight epiphany about the Great Divine Power Skill, which is quite rare.

This is also related to his specializing in the Path of Self since entering the cosmic version.

On the contrary, Zhao Xing had been burdened and moving forward, although he ultimately received benefits promised by Qing Yu Zi and gifts from Wu Tian. However, this also delayed much cultivation time, and what he learned was rather extensive. In some aspects, he was surpassed by Lao Liu.

"Minister of Agriculture." While chatting, Chief Engineer Lu Ying suddenly said, "Many people suddenly appeared outside the manor, saying they want to see you, Grand Commandant, Mr. Liu, and Lord Ji."

"What people?" Luo Hou King asked.

Lu Ying checked the Star Mirror, as he had rented the place and was connected to the manor’s array.

"Many, including the well-known major commercial associations in the Beihai Star System, Wanxin Island, Hun Yuan Martial Arts Hall...and even people sent by the Beihai Lord."

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "They’re merely persuaders trying to poach talent, opportunistic merchants, but these people are ones we cannot refuse. At least for now, we have to give face."

"Lu Ying, arrange for us to invite the guests in according to their importance."

"Yes." Lu Ying nodded.

Then Zhao Xing briefly exchanged opinions with Luo Hou King, Liu Tianning, and Ji Mengjun.

"If the gifts are from minor forces, there’s no need to accept them. Great Zhou’s national treasury has quite a bit of money now; it’s unnecessary to accumulate more cause and effect over petty money."

"If they’re trying to poach, handle it accordingly; don’t easily agree to deeply binding contracts."

"We can keep the Beihai King’s gifts, as we count as citizens under his command, and this is a simple reward. With him shielding us, we don’t have to worry about offending people..."

Zhao Xing shared some personal experience, and then the four of them moved on to act separately.

...

Zhao Xing encouraged Luo Hou King, Liu Tianning, and Ji Mengjun to boldly accept gifts, but he himself was not planning to take many.

Except for the gifts sent by Beihai King Yang Lin, all others were politely declined.

Mr. Zhao has high standards, so only Beihai King’s gifts are worth accepting since Great Zhou makes its living in the Beihai Star System. Other forces are insignificant, as he doesn’t need this small change.

The ones attempting to poach were all thoroughly rejected. Apart from the Primordial Realm, there’s no other choice for Zhao Xing.

This approach merely leaves the impression of high self-esteem with the persuaders, avoiding offending them. It’s originally about gift-giving to form good ties, without any instance of forcing cause and effect.

"My gratitude to Beihai King for the care, fare you well." Zhao Xing sent off the gift-giving envoy and then closed the door, no longer receiving guests.

He turned and used the Star Mirror to contact Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing to inquire about their situation.

"I passed." Yu Tianqing replied concisely.

"I managed to pass by luck." Jing Yan said gratefully. "Almost got eliminated."

"How many from the Beiye Star System got through?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Seven hundred and twenty thousand." Jing Yan answered.

"Beiye Star System is truly a fine place." Zhao Xing remarked.

"The first round was already this difficult." Jing Yan said, "I wonder what the second round will be like."

Originally confident, now he had lost all certainty.

"Old Yu, did you find the first round difficult?" Jing Yan casually asked.

"Difficult, perhaps."

"Oh, you’re putting on an act, even using a question mark?" Jing Yan sneered.

Only Zhao Xing felt Yu Tianqing was expressing restraint.

In front of the Eye of Truth, the first round was indeed as easy as drinking water for him.

Back then, Yu Tianqing freely passed through the Transmission Realm unaffected.

Now, after a thousand years of development, the boost from the Innate Great Divine Power was even stronger; indeed, the first round wasn’t difficult for Yu Tianqing."

"Alright, I’m going to prepare for closed cultivation." Jing Yan waved his hand, "You two, see you in 97 years."

"Brother Jing, Zhao Xing, I’m heading off too." Yu Tianqing said.

"See you in ninety-seven years." Zhao Xing nodded. The second round will be held across the empire’s twenty-eight top star systems. As Beiye Star System and Beihai Star System are adjacent, Zhao Xing estimated he would reunite with Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing in the second round.

"The second round screening will include professional division, selecting between combat and support zones." Zhao Xing contemplated.

"I choose the combat zone; the second round assessment will involve selecting many plant troops for battle."

"My century-long plan will need adjustments—focus on increasing combat power!"

"Three directions are ’Ti Yuan Divine Power,’ ’Giant Sun Grassman Skill,’ and Great Divine Power ’Five Finger Mountain.’

"If I can master the Great Divine Power Five Finger Mountain, then I will have a trump card."

"Ti Yuan Divine Power can also produce miraculous effects with a certain probability of spawning super troops."

"Giant Sun avatars will serve as regular combat forces."

With the plan set, in the first year after the assessment, Zhao Xing rented a cultivation site on Beihai Border Star and began ninety-seven years of training.