In Ancheng, students returning from the exam halls were like wild horses breaking free of their reins. The college entrance exam, which had taken over half a month, was finally over! Time to play! Time to let loose!
Liu Ren immediately proposed a full itinerary: dinner, KTV, and a "big sword" (crossed out) package deal. Su Hao hadn't really planned to refuse anyway, so he reluctantly agreed.
The dinner wasn't just for Class Two; all the students from the Spirit Department came, along with a few teachers like Old Gu and Old Chen. Liu Dafu had been scheming for a while and had already booked several large tables, paying upfront. He said it was to celebrate getting into a prestigious school. Yes, even though the third-stage scores and admission cutoffs for various schools hadn't been released yet, Liu Ren had done a quick calculation and estimated a 99% chance of getting into a top school. The remaining 1% was just to stay humble.
Of course, despite Liu Ren's joy nearly splitting his face from ear to ear, he didn't act too hyped. He had to consider his classmates with average grades. Most of those who chose the primary exam zone were stuck in the middle, unsure if they could get into a Spirit University. After today, those who passed and those who didn't would likely walk completely different paths. If they met again in the future, they'd be from two different worlds.
"Old Su, this toast is for you. I'll down it first." Liu Ren gulped down a glass of alcohol, his pancake-like face flushed—whether from the drink or excitement, it was hard to tell. He knew his own situation. Before senior year, he never thought he could get into a top school. Even with a pay-to-win approach, getting into a key university wasn't easy. But ever since Su Hao gave him guidance and a full set of spirit cultivation plans, with occasional post-sale improvements, his Lava Turtle's strength had skyrocketed.
In others' eyes, Su Hao was at best an excellent mid-level spirit nurturer. But Liu Ren knew better. Could a mid-level spirit nurturer be this impressive? The first consultation for the Charcoal Little Turtle had been with a mid-level one! In comparison, Su Hao's analysis of spirits was too accurate and comprehensive. He was practically a cheat! He had to stick close to that powerhouse.
Su Hao downed his drink—luckily, his improved physique had boosted his alcohol tolerance a bit. He thought for a moment and asked, "Are you sure you want to apply to Whale Island University?" With Liu Ren's grades, getting into a top school was pretty stable, but there he'd be at the bottom of the barrel, just another ordinary student. If he chose a key university instead, he might catch a mentor's eye, get more attention, and enjoy plenty of perks. Su Hao had already explained all this to him. Liu Ren replied, "Old Su, just save me a spot as your sidekick."
At the dinner table, glasses clinked constantly. Many people came to toast Su Hao, but he couldn't drink them all—he couldn't handle it. Some were happy, while others laughed until tears turned into sobs. Drink after drink, big teardrops slid uncontrollably down their cheeks. Su Hao looked over. It was a girl. He didn't remember her name, only that she was from Class Three. He heard she had bombed the exam. Her first and second stage scores weren't bad, and she had a good chance at Spirit University. But in the third stage, due to a lack of composure and other reasons, she got surrounded by wild spirits and was eliminated on the first afternoon, earning only a handful of badges. The practical exam accounted for the largest portion of the score, and she had almost no chance at Spirit University now!
A whole year of effort, her family's sacrifices, layer upon layer of pressure like a mountain. She hadn't dared waste a single moment, training spirits, honing herself, studying knowledge... Her experience was like a typical spirit cultivator's story. Only, some succeeded, and some failed. It was like the last straw breaking her inner strength. That unwillingness, grievance, and bitterness turned into tears that kept falling. No one could console her. Those with similar grades hadn't worked as hard as she had. And those who worked just as hard generally scored better. After sobbing for a while, she wiped away her tears and smiled freely. "Even if I can't get into Spirit University, I can still cultivate spirits at a regular university and become a spirit master! This year's effort wasn't wasted. At least over summer break, I can work part-time to help my family. An apprentice spirit master's pay is still higher than an ordinary person's..." She raised her glass and downed it.
Others were deeply moved too. Even someone like Liu Ren, the pay-to-win type—hadn't he worked hard? Of course he had! Su Hao could provide cultivation plans, but how much effect those plans had depended entirely on the spirit master! If you didn't train with your spirit, how could it follow your commands? Without a strong enough physique, quick reflexes, and composure, how could you judge the situation in battle? The usually cheerful and unreliable Liu Ren had put in no less effort behind the scenes! Successful people all sweat it out where no one sees, hiding their bitterness and grievances deep inside. Su Hao understood this well.
...
It would still be a few days before the total exam scores came out. During this time, online discussions never strayed from the college entrance exam and the practical test! The live streams of the practical exam seemed to lift the mysterious veil of the spirit master profession for ordinary people. Some were scared, some excited, but most were just bystanders enjoying the show. The badge scores from the practical exam weren't made public, but some content creators had gathered tons of footage, editing together the most thrilling and powerful spirit battle scenes—raw, natural combat without any special effects. Among them was the Dream Butterfly.
"Guno~" The Dream Butterfly lay on its soft, cozy nest, using telekinesis to hold a phone in front of it, happily scrolling with its tiny short hands. The phone was a reward from Su Hao. The little guy hadn't wanted it at first, suspecting a trap. Nothing free came without a cost! So after some "negotiation," the Dream Butterfly "bought" the phone by agreeing to practice illusions while playing on it, and to supervise the training of the Water Scale Beast, Fire Crow, and any future new partners. Buying it made it feel much more at ease. As for illusion training? Dumb Su Hao had no idea that practicing for eight hours would let it finish the whole day's tasks he assigned. Nothing was hard for this butterfly, guno (o???)~!
On the screen, an energy ball arced through the air, exploding into a cloud of dust. Wild spirits fell one by one. The scene shifted again: facing a siege of several wild spirits, the Dream Butterfly remained calm and composed. Two semi-transparent shields revolved around its small body, blocking all attacks. A Blade Warrior lunged at it, raising its blade arm, but froze on the spot and fell stiffly. The Dream Butterfly hadn't moved a single finger the whole time. Watching the barrage of "666," "Butterfly's Scorn," "Butterfly God is OP," and more, the Dream Butterfly rolled around hugging the phone, giggling foolishly with "Guno~ guno~." These silly netizens really knew how to talk! No wonder Su Hao loved scrolling on his phone so much.
...
The fifth day after the practical exam ended was when the total scores were released. At the same time, the admission cutoffs for each Spirit University in various provinces were announced. Since the exam papers and test venues differed by province, the cutoffs naturally varied too, but only by slight margins. Su Hao arrived at school early in the morning. He could check his score at home, but as the top student at Ancheng No. 1 High School and the city's valedictorian, he had to bring glory to the school—maybe let some reporters interview him or something. Liu Ren, Gu Lingyao, and Li Songting came along too. They headed straight for the school computer lab, waiting for the clock to strike the hour so they could check their scores.