Translator: CinderTL
Beep! Chen Zilu immediately answered the call.
"Jiang Ye?" she said.
"Teacher Chen," Jiang Ye replied with a smile, "my College Entrance Examination scores are out! 895 points! With the bonus points, it's 915!"
"915 points?"
The moment those words were spoken, both Chen Zilu and Qiu Cang, who was standing beside her, showed expressions of astonishment.
They both knew Jiang Ye's score from three months ago: a mere 690 points.
To improve by 225 points in just three months?
It was utterly unbelievable!
"Excellent," Qiu Cang nodded in satisfaction.
This score easily met the minimum requirements for Penglai University.
He had previously recommended Jiang Ye to his friend at Penglai University, Zhu Honglie.
If his recommendation had failed to meet even the minimum score, Qiu Cang would have felt deeply embarrassed.
Conversely, if Jiang Ye performed exceptionally well, it would bring him great pride.
"Teacher, is someone there with you?" Jiang Ye asked, hearing Qiu Cang's voice.
"Yes, my teacher is here too," Chen Zilu replied, projecting her image to the other end of the call.
Buzz!
A projection quickly materialized.
Within the projection stood an exceptionally handsome young man, his features sharp and defined as if carved by an axe and chisel, radiating both masculine strength and refined elegance.
Chen Zilu gazed at him, a flicker of admiration in her beautiful eyes.
In the few months since they last met, the boy she remembered seemed to have matured considerably.
And grown even more handsome.
"He's my teacher," Chen Zilu introduced to Jiang Ye. "Qiu Cang."
"Greetings, Senior Qiu," Jiang Ye said, quickly bowing respectfully.
"Hello," Qiu Cang replied with a warm smile. "Xiao Chen has told me about you. I must say, I didn't expect you to be so strikingly handsome. No wonder Xiao Chen keeps thinking about you."
Jiang Ye couldn't help but glance at Chen Zilu.
Chen Zilu remained aloof and silent, her expression coolly composed.
"Old Qiu is joking," Jiang Ye said with an awkward cough.
"You two should catch up," Qiu Cang said, shaking his head with a smile. "I'll leave you to it."
He could sense that his presence was making it difficult for them to reconnect.
Qiu Cang glanced at Chen Zilu, a hint of amusement in his eyes, before his figure flickered and vanished.
Once Qiu Cang had left,
Chen Zilu turned to Jiang Ye and smiled. "Congratulations. It seems your wish has come true."
"I have to thank you, Teacher," Jiang Ye replied with a grin. "Without your help, I wouldn't have made it this far."
"Thank me?" Chen Zilu shook her head. "This is all your own hard work. What do I have to do with it?"
"..."
Why has she become so distant after only half a year? Jiang Ye wondered inwardly.
Chen Zilu hadn't been so cold to him before.
"Then you should get back to work," Jiang Ye said, keeping his tone casual. "I'll go break the good news to the director and the others."
Chen Zilu's expression flickered. "You haven't told them yet?"
"Not yet." Jiang Ye shook his head honestly. "I came to you first. After all, I'm still closest to Teacher Chen."
"Spare me the flattery," Chen Zilu scoffed. "You never came to me about the cosmic tempering or the Reserve Star Practitioner position."
"Uh..."
No wonder!
Was she upset that he hadn't contacted her in so long?
Jiang Ye felt a surge of surprise.
Wait a minute... Didn't I send her a text about the Reserve Star Practitioner position?
Could she not have received it? Jiang Ye's mind raced.
Chen Zilu, being at White Dragon University, was naturally busy.
But it was unlikely she hadn't seen the message unless she had blocked it.
Jiang Ye didn't dwell on it.
He probed, "Do you want me to chat with you more often?"
"What?" Chen Zilu glanced at him, puzzled.
The question sounded odd.
"Just chat," Jiang Ye said, blinking. "Reporting daily life stuff."
"What are you talking about?" Chen Zilu realized what he meant and glared at him.
She had clearly meant reporting major teacher-student matters.
What was this about reporting daily life?
Wasn't that just dating?
By their roles, she was Jiang Ye's teacher!
"Just an example," Jiang Ye said with a grin. "Don't mind me, Teacher."
"You're incorrigible," Chen Zilu rolled her eyes, though her expression had softened.
She changed the subject, walking to a nearby chair and crossing her slender, jade-like legs.
"Let's not talk about that."
"Anyway, congratulations! You did very well on the exam," Chen Zilu said with a smile. "You've made my teacher proud."
"Old Qiu?" Jiang Ye asked, puzzled.
Then it immediately dawned on him.
It was likely Old Qiu who had recommended his information to Penglai University.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have received that contract.
"Thank you for that," Jiang Ye said to Chen Zilu, his voice sincere.
This favor might not mean much to him now, but it had been a huge deal back then.
Chen Zilu glanced at him with her bright eyes. "You're practically one of my students. I helped you within my means. No need to thank me."
"So, can I come to you if I need anything?" Jiang Ye asked with a smile.
"Only for serious matters," Chen Zilu emphasized.
She needed time for her own cultivation.
Moreover, at White Dragon University, it wouldn't be appropriate for Jiang Ye to visit her every day like before. Others might see them, which could cause trouble for him.
After a moment's thought, a faint smile appeared on Chen Zilu's fair, delicate face. "Actually, minor matters are fine too, but you have to promise me one thing."
"First, become an Upper A-tier student at Penglai University."
"Otherwise, unless it's a serious matter, you're not allowed to call me for trivial things."
Chen Zilu's expression remained cool and aloof.
Jiang Ye paused, then chuckled, "Alright, you just wait and see."
Chen Zilu clearly didn't care about being an Upper A-tier student at Penglai University.
For White Dragon University, even a D-tier student was far superior to an Upper A-tier student from Penglai University.
As one of the top-ranked schools among the ten great universities, White Dragon University's admission threshold was a staggering 1,000 points.
Therefore, Chen Zilu's words were clearly meant to motivate Jiang Ye.
Her deliberately cold and aloof expression was also designed to provoke him.
"What are you laughing at? I'm serious!" Chen Zilu frowned, her exquisite face stern.
"Mm-hmm," Jiang Ye nodded repeatedly. "I understand. I'll go find the director and the others now."
"Goodbye, Teacher!"
He hung up.
Chen Zilu watched the projection slowly fade away, her stern expression finally softening into a faint smile.
"This guy... suddenly acting so frivolous."
She shook her head gently.
"Reporting daily?" Chen Zilu recalled Jiang Ye's earlier words.
Such banter was impossible between teachers and students; it required a closer, more intimate relationship.
If anyone else had dared to tease her like that, she would have blocked and deleted them without hesitation.
But Jiang Ye? She couldn't muster any real annoyance.
"If you ever say something like that again, I—" Chen Zilu glared at her phone.
But she immediately realized how childish it sounded to threaten the air like that.
Yet she truly didn't know how to handle Jiang Ye, and she couldn't bring herself to scold him.
"Jiang Ye," Chen Zilu murmured, lost in thought.
Her relationship with Jiang Ye was strictly that of teacher and student.
As for anything more? She had never considered it.
If she were to truly grow closer to Jiang Ye, her innate talent and background would suffocate him.
Moreover, Jiang Ye would face countless troubles and unimaginable enemies.
Chen Zilu preferred maintaining the status quo to risking such consequences.
Jiang Ye, of course, remained unaware of Chen Zilu's thoughts.
After hanging up, he immediately called Zhang Jianwu and Cao Feng to inform them of his College Entrance Examination scores.
After speaking with his teachers, Li Zhichao, Wang Zi'ang, and others called to ask about his results.
Jiang Ye truthfully shared his scores with each of them.
Finally, Zhao Qingli called.
"895 points? Is that with the bonus points?" she asked.
"No, that's the raw score."
"So, with the bonus points, your score is 915?" Zhao Qingli exclaimed in disbelief. "First in the entire city!"
Her own College Entrance Examination score was 891, a remarkably consistent performance.
Yet whether considering raw scores or bonus-adjusted totals, Jiang Ye had surpassed her.
"You really did beat me," Zhao Qingli murmured.
"Just luck," Jiang Ye replied with a grin. "By the way, Class Monitor, I need to buy martial ginseng and Martial Spirit Mushrooms—a hundred thousand of each, and I need them today."
"Alright, come by my place this afternoon to pick up the goods."
While Jiang Ye was busy with these calls,
Across the Eastern Ten Provinces,
The Southern Ten Provinces,
The Northern Ten Provinces,
And the Western Ten Provinces,
Over a hundred martial dao universities had received College Entrance Examination scores from across the nation.
A massive recruitment war was about to begin.
Six o'clock in the evening.
Rooftop terrace.
Jiang Ye was deep in cultivation when suddenly—
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
His wristband vibrated urgently.
In mere moments, over thirty unread messages popped up!
(End of the Chapter)