Shen Moran and Shao Han stared in disbelief when they heard Zhao Mu had scored full marks on the Written Exam.
They knew his cultural-subject grades were excellent, but they never imagined his scholarly foundation could be this profound.
In the past ten years of Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Trial, no one had ever achieved a Perfect Score on the written test!
Instructor Xie Yingxue turned and walked away.
Shen Moran gently bit her lip, saying nothing.
Beside her, Shao Han gave a dismissive snort.
"This guy really refuses to admit defeat. His Spiritual Energy Talent is only the lowest E-rank—something he can never change—so he tries to alter his fate through crooked methods. Pathetic."
"No matter how hard he crams, he'll never become a true powerhouse. Why can't he see that?"
Shen Moran felt slightly better inside.
"He really is suited for clerical work."
Shen Moran said coolly.
"Let's hope he performs well in the Martial Trial."
Outwardly relaxed, she quietly clenched both fists.
A perfect written score meant Zhao Mu already had 40 points!
As long as he didn't bomb the Martial Trial, he would enter Qingfeng Camp.
What she didn't yet know was that Zhao Mu's outstanding written result had moved Instructor Xie Yingxue to admit him by exception.
"Zhao Mu… why must you force yourself? Even if you enter Qingfeng Camp, we're still from different worlds."
Her sigh carried a trace of pity.
Qingfeng Camp wasn't a place where simply enrolling guaranteed success.
The elimination rules were brutal; if a New Recruit couldn't advance from Elementary to Advanced class within five years, they'd still be shipped to the front lines against the Dark Race.
She believed someone with E-rank Talent like Zhao Mu had already hit his ceiling—he could never keep pace with a B-rank Talent, let alone a rare Space-Type Ability User like herself… Zhao Mu sat quietly on a bench when the click of high heels reached his ears.
He looked up to see the beautiful City Beauty striding elegantly toward him.
Though inside a military camp, Instructor Xie wore not a uniform but a tailored suit-skirt.
It signaled her role leaned toward clerical and Administrative duties.
Zhao Mu glanced around—no one else—and felt puzzled.
Passing by… or here for me?
He soon had his answer; Instructor Xie stopped in front of him, eyes brimming with carefully restrained eagerness.
"Student Zhao Mu."
"Um… Instructor, what can I do for you?"
Instructor Xie took several quiet breaths to keep her composure.
She had to maintain a frosty façade so students wouldn't lose respect for her because of her looks.
Yet facing the first Perfect Score Candidate in ten years, she couldn't contain her excitement!
In this world that revered martial might, students treated cultural courses as scraps, focusing only on boosting Combat Power as the Righteous Path.
This neglect pained Instructor Xie, the camp's cultural instructor.
Now that a top seed had appeared, she would keep him at all costs!
"Candidate Zhao Mu, Spirit Energy User ID 43999527!"
"After grading your paper, we can confirm: full marks! As first to submit, you are this year's Written Exam champion with 40 points!"
"On behalf of Qingfeng Camp's instructors, I'm honored to inform you of your exceptional admission—no need for the Martial Trial."
Zhao Mu blinked once, then quickly regained his calm.
He smiled faintly. "Thank you, Instructor, but I still wish to take the Martial Trial."
Instructor Xie's eyes went wide; she couldn't believe her ears.
Zhao Mu had actually refused her offer?
This was an opportunity countless people would beg for!
"Think carefully," she urged. "The Written Exam is safest; the Martial Trial carries risks of death or crippling injury."
She was telling him: take the sure path into Qingfeng Camp, don't gamble with your life.
Instructor Xie didn't want to lose the promising student she favored.
Zhao Mu stood ramrod straight.
"Thank you for your kindness, Instructor, but my goal this year is to top the entire trial!"
"I will seize first place in both the written and the Martial Trials."
Confidence blazed in Zhao Mu's eyes.
Instructor Xie stared, transfixed; though he was only an E-rank Awakener, she somehow felt the youth would deliver on his word.
Approval shone even brighter in her gaze.
Soldiers love this kind of recruit—ambitious, fearless, determined to become a powerhouse!
Instructor Xie nodded, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Very well—I look forward to your performance."
She extended her right hand. In the monitor room, Zhang Biao and Xu Zhixiong gaped at the scene.
Usually aloof, Instructor Xie rarely smiled even to the commandant, let alone them.
Yet today, as a New Recruit instructor, she showed such warmth to a mere Trial Participant not yet in camp.
It was unprecedented!
Zhao Mu clasped her hand, shook once, and grinned, "Thank you for your encouragement, Instructor!"
"My name is Xie Yingxue. Once you join Qingfeng Camp, I'll oversee your cultural education and daily life."
"Thank you, Instructor Xie!"
After she left, Zhao Mu sat back down, quietly waiting for the Written Exam to end.
More than an hour later, Candidates began trickling out—some ejected for clumsy cheating.
Spotting Zhao Mu outside, they couldn't help staring; he'd been here ages.
Only those from his own exam room knew the freak had finished and submitted in half an hour.
Most assumed he'd given up; they'd seen the paper—its difficulty was sky-high.
None believed anyone could finish in thirty minutes and score high.
After the exam, Zhou Haoyu and Li Zixuan emerged looking dejected.
They found Zhao Mu and started discussing the test.
"Zhao Mu, that paper was brutal! Was the answer to Multiple-Choice Question three C?" Li Zixuan asked.
Zhou Haoyu rolled his eyes. "Clearly the Correct Answer is B!"
"No way, I thought it through—has to be C!"
As they argued, Zhao Mu interjected calmly, "Wasn't the Correct Answer to question three A?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)