“So you’re saying you need my guarantee?”

Sama Un asked with a surprised reaction.

“Yes.”

“Skipping a grade…”

He stroked his chin as if in thought. Although there was a system for skipping a grade, it was rarely done.

‘It’s because of the friendly exchange match.’

In any group, there can be an out-of-spec strong person. Like the junior students of this year.

If there are no strong competitors around, it’s natural to feel bored and want to move up.

However, the annual event that catches such arrogance is the friendly exchange match.

Just when the ranking is settled and you’re confident that you’re the best, you’re made to realize the gap in a duel with an intermediate student. That you’re still lacking.

That’s why students who have finished the friendly exchange match often devote themselves even more to training, but Zhuge Cheonwu was doing the exact opposite and was trying to skip a grade.

And during the exam period at that.

“If a separate verification is needed, I will do a formation battle or anything else.”

“No, no! I’ve already experienced Mr. Zhuge Cheonwu’s skills. I will cooperate.”

Sama Un waved his hands. As befitting a blood relative of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Cheonwu had the capabilities of at least a first-class formation master.

‘If we just look at his aptitude, he might be able to aim for a special class or even higher…’

He still couldn’t forget the chilling feeling when he had been seen through the formation for the first time.

“But in the Martial Academy, an individual’s martial strength is more valued when it comes to promotion. It might be different if you were a scholar. But I’m not looking down on Mr. Zhuge Cheonwu’s skills…”

“I know. What you’re worried about.”

In the end, it was a matter of strength. The fact that Zhuge Cheonwu had won against Mo Yonghan was a kind of fluke.

If they had fought properly, he would have been knocked out without being able to withstand a few exchanges.

“In that case, I will just judge based on my area of expertise. Will that be alright? Even if I do, the other professors will not be easy.”

Sama Un gave a worried opinion, stamping a seal containing his internal energy on one side of Zhuge Cheonwu’s student pass.

* * *

“Of course! I’ll do it anytime!”

Maeng Ha’s hearty voice echoed through the office. The sight of him taking out a seal, going on about his favorite disciple, gave a somewhat doting impression.

“It’s not necessarily a good thing to go first.”

Next to him, Maeng Dong had his arms crossed as if he were displeased.

“I know what you’re worried about. But since it’s a necessary thing, I ask for your cooperation.”

I added, looking at Maeng Dong. Since they were in the same class, I had to receive recognition from both Professor Maeng Ha and Maeng Dong to get the seal.

Maeng Dong, who had been looking at me with his wrinkled eyes for a while, finally uncrossed his arms.

“Huu, I don’t know what the circumstances are, but I understand. Just help me with my cultivation method research later.”

And so, only one person was left.

‘The problem starts from here.’

There were a total of three classes left. Namgung Dohyeok’s [Basic Martial Arts Lecture], Baek Yuhwan’s [Martial Arts Combat Practice], and Chae Song’s [History of Martial Sects Research].

If I had my way, I would have liked to get the seal from the theory-based [History of Martial Sects Research], but in reality, it was difficult to do so.

Because in the end, martial arts skills were the most important in the Martial Academy.

No matter how much the cultivation method class was included, if I only received recognition from the theory-side professor, there was a high possibility that it would be rejected at the professors’ meeting.

‘In that case, what’s left is Namgung Dohyeok or Baek Yuhwan.’

I recalled the face of Namgung Dohyeok, who was looking down on me with a cold expression. Even during the entrance exam, we didn’t have very good memories.

But to go and find Baek Yuhwan, the sight of him pulling tricks on Baek Hasin was very unsettling.

‘I’ll have to do well on the mid-term exam first.’

Unlike when I had faced the previous professors, since my strengths to show off were relatively weak, it seemed better to get a good grade first and then make a proposal after seeing the situation.

And so, time passed, and the mid-term exam began.

Namgung Dohyeok’s [Basic Martial Arts Lecture] tested the mastery of the basic subtleties and breakthroughs of the martial arts factions that had been learned so far in a duel format, and Baek Yuhwan’s [Martial Arts Combat Practice] was graded through chaotic battles or duels.

Thanks to my martial arts skills having risen to the first-rate level and having reached the second circle, I was able to face anyone except for Baek Cheong, Peng Geun-u, and the grown-up Baek Hasin.

‘It’s a good thing there’s at least Baek Hasin.’

Thanks to having stepped up and pointed out Baek Hasin first in Professor Baek Yuhwan’s class and Namgung Dohyeok’s class, I was able to avoid a rough time.

Because even Baek Hasin, who had been showing explosive growth recently, was still lacking compared to those who had overcome a wall, like Peng Geun-u or Baek Cheong.

‘Even so, if it hadn’t been for magic, I would have been pushed back without a chance.’

I shook my head, recalling Baek Hasin, who had been rushing in, scattering the unique qi wave of the Heavenly Demon Swordsmanship. In the end, it was a good thing.

On the other hand, the other classes were easier than this. Maeng Dong and Maeng Ha’s [Understanding of Cultivation Methods] was, without a doubt, the highest score.

Sama Un’s [Introduction to Tactics and Formations] was also a perfect score. Chae Song’s [History of Martial Sects Research] was also theory-oriented, so I was able to get a good grade.

If you just look at the average of each rank, it was to the extent that I could at least be the second-place.

‘Of course, since they’ll give more points to the practical skills rather than the theory, my rank might be pushed back in the final evaluation.’

That’s why I needed another way. A way to raise my evaluation.

‘The final exam of the semester.’

Since it was the final exam that all the students took together after taking the exams for each subject, it was the exam with the highest score distribution.

‘If I achieve results here, it will be easier to persuade them.’

I cleared my thoughts and headed to the training ground, breathing in the dawn air.

As I left the dormitory, the unique moist yet cool air of sunrise touched my skin.

‘Is it finally today?’

When I stopped my feet, the other junior students were already gathered there.

“From now on, we will begin the final exam of the semester.”

Along with Instructor Jeongmuk’s declaration, a tension lingered in the area. Since it was the final exam that would decide the grades of the semester, it was only natural.

“Look over there.”

Jeongmuk’s hand gesture pointed to a back mountain quite far from the academy.

“That is the location of this exam.”

Besides the wide terrain, it was a mountain with nothing special. But I knew the identity of that place.

‘Don’t tell me, I never thought it would look so ordinary.’

Before that thought was even finished, Jeongmuk’s words continued.

“From now on, follow me. If you fall behind, you will be considered to have failed.”

At the same time, Jeongmuk, who started to run towards the back mountain.

I immediately followed him. Then, the rest of the students also started to run, following late.

“What in the world is going on?!”

“I don’t know, just run!”

Although there was a commotion here and there, they were quietly following the sight of Jeongmuk, who was getting farther away at a much faster speed than during the usual morning run.

I widened the distance with the following crowd and chased after Jeongmuk.

‘Still, it’s much better than before.’

I could now run in the top ranks among the junior students. It was thanks to having learned the Spirit God Steps.

Of course, my stamina was still hopelessly lacking compared to my realm, but it was a great improvement compared to when I had just entered the academy.

‘I’ll endure the weak stamina with mana enhancement.’

I widened my leap, chasing after Jeongmuk, who was getting farther and farther away.

The surrounding bushes passed by quickly. And so, after running for a long time, when the sunlight that had been cast through the leaves had decreased and the area had become dark, Jeongmuk stopped in his tracks.

What was spread out in front of him was a canyon. A valley with a width of about twenty meters and a depth whose bottom could not be seen.

“About twenty people have managed to follow, I see?”

Jeongmuk looked at the junior students as if to judge. Among the people who were running, following behind, Lee Huimun and Gu Dong were also included.

It seemed that everyone except for the students who were at the first-rate level had been lost in the middle.

I examined the surrounding terrain and was certain.

‘This forest itself is a single formation.’

By now, the students below the first-rate level would be wandering in the forest. It was a way of dividing the levels like this and then conducting the exams individually.

It was a reasonable method in its own way.

“From now on, you must find a luminous pearl from below and come out. The number is only ten. The first to find it and come up here will succeed.”

“You want us to go down there?!”

Then, a voice of protest was heard from among some of the students. The canyon, which was as if it had been cut, had a gust of wind blowing, so it looked dangerous at a glance.

But Jeongmuk just sat on a rock that was naturally spread around and stared at the confused students.

“There is always a way. If you want to. The time limit is from now until noon. There are about two hours left.”

As soon as those words fell, Baek Cheong and Peng Geun-u scattered. Seeing this, the other students also began to move busily to find a way to go down the canyon.

In the center of it, Jeongmuk just quietly scanned their movements.

‘Try to struggle based on what you have learned so far.’

In the martial world, which was full of various schemes, you had to judge any matter on your own. There was no one who would give you a problem and teach you how to solve it, like here.

That’s why you have to make it a habit to achieve the goal when it is given.

‘That’s also the purpose of this exam.’

The reactions were varied. A guy who quickly finds a way and moves after facing a problem. A guy who wanders around but then tries to find a way by following others late.

There were even those who were already trying to cooperate or check each other.

‘But among them, there was a peculiar one.’

The top student entrant, Zhuge Cheonwu.

‘As soon as he heard the goal, he moved right away. Very stealthily.’

As if the content of the exam was enough. The sight of him running off without looking back was like a sharpened blade.

‘As expected, he wasn’t a scoundrel, but a hidden dragon. Perhaps there will be an anomaly in this exam.’

Jeongmuk thought, looking in the direction where Zhuge Cheonwu had disappeared.

* * *

Meanwhile, I was already running along the valley.

‘I’m so tired.’

It was hard enough to have run a lot earlier, but since I had to sneak out again, my already-low stamina was being drained.

‘Still, it’s better than getting entangled for no reason.’

From the perspective of someone who roughly knew the strategy of this exam, it was a burden for other students to follow.

Because I could be suspected for no reason.

‘But to think this exam would come out. It must mean that this year’s batch is that special.’

Often, when you raise Baek Hasin with maximum efficiency, the other supporting characters are also stimulated, and the gap within the junior students widens.

This exam was a special event that appeared at such times.

I moved quickly, wary of someone following me.

The canyon continued along the ground. To the point where it was strange how a crack of this size had been hidden from the outside.

“Found it.”

Then, at a certain point, I stopped.

One side of the valley wall. A rope was tied to a rock that you could only know if you looked carefully, leading down the canyon.

In the first place, to go down a steep valley like this and leave something, even a peak master would need a device like this.

And this was the trace of it. A path that only those who calmly observed their surroundings and tried to find a way could know.

Of course, there was also the method of weaving the vines that grew in large numbers around and going down, but it was much faster to find a shortcut like this.

I grabbed the rope tied to the rock and went down quickly. The rope and my body swayed here and there in the fierce wind blowing in the canyon.

Normally, I would have had to go down unstably, sticking my body to the canyon, but I was able to solve it by manipulating the airflow of the canyon with wind magic.

‘It’s incredibly deep.’

It felt like I had come down several tens of meters, but it was still dark. If you just consider the depth, it was a depth of about 100 meters.

As I went down, the vibrating sound that echoed in the wind gradually became lower and echoed. It was a change where I could feel the space gradually widening.

It meant that a huge space was hidden under the canyon.

And so, after going down for a long time, my toes finally touched the ground.

“I can barely see… what?”

I was about to use light magic, but I lifted my head at the light source that came into my vision.

Along the canyon wall, something reddish-green was emitting light.

‘Is it a luminous moss?’

When I looked closely, there were luminous mosses between the cracks of the rocks, so my vision was open, albeit dimly. I remembered that there was a production like this in the original work.

‘Seeing it in person is definitely different.’

Overall, a damp yet cold airflow was circulating at the bottom of the valley.

Far above my head, I could faintly see a cluster of light seeping in from a huge crack that was spread out like the Milky Way.

‘To think they want me to find a luminous pearl in this wide place.’

Since it was a dark place, it would be noticeable, but I had to sell my feet for an accurate judgment.

I further enhanced my five senses, including my eyesight, with mana. And on the spot, I quietly drew my sword.

I could feel a heterogeneous noise coming through the sound of the wind.

‘There’s no way another student has already come.’

I gathered my mana and drew my sword. As a result of spreading my qi sense to check, it seemed I was already surrounded.

‘This is different from the original work.’

I never thought I would be discovered so quickly by ‘them’.

“It can’t be helped.”

I accelerated my circle even more. Since my location had been revealed while being surrounded, there was only one thing I could do.

It was a preemptive strike.

‘Light.’

At the same time as the magic was activated, a tremendous light spewed out from my palm. A brilliance that you couldn’t even look at with your eyes open in a dark cave.

In an instant, the area was brightly lit, and the identity of the guys who had surrounded me was revealed.

A body the size of a person, a shiny black-red scale, and numerous legs that were intricately intertwined.

What had surrounded me was a group of centipedes.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep