“Master, it is the end of the month.” A low, dark voice echoed softly within the quiet room.
Jiang WuShang stopped his alchemy refining instantly, the swirling crimson energy around his palms dissipating into thin air.
Opening his eyes, he looked down toward the floor where Asura Guard Wu and Asura Guard Shang knelt in absolute reverence.
Their bodies were draped in shifting shadows, waiting silently for his command.
“Wu, Shang, stand up,” Jiang WuShang said, his tone calm and commanding.
The two dark figures rose to their feet without making a sound.
“Master, we have completed our assigned tasks,” Asura Guard Wu reported, bowing his head slightly.
“It has been a month already,” Jiang WuShang noted with a subtle smile, scanning his two loyal shadow subordinates.
“How is our progress?” “Asura Death Hall has successfully recruited thirty Qi Gathering Realm assassins,” Asura Guard Wu reported, his voice cold and emotionless.
“In just one month, we executed fifty contract assassinations without leaving a single trace behind.
Our net earnings for this month total one million silver taels.” Asura Guard Shang stepped forward next, holding his fists together in respect.
“Night Hall has recruited one hundred Qi Gathering experts.
We have successfully seized control of most of the key towns and cities surrounding the Capital City.
Our operations have also yielded one million silver taels this month.” “Excellent,” Jiang WuShang commanded smoothly.
“Hand over sixty percent of the revenue to me.
Use the remaining funds to fuel your expansion and secure a foothold within the Capital City itself.
Do not touch Azure Academy for now.
Once I upgrade your cultivation further, we will take on the academy directly.” “Yes, Master!” Wu and Shang replied in unison.
Without another word, they presented a heavy spatial pouch containing 1.2 million silver taels.
Before the ambient light in the room could catch their features, both figures melted back into the floor, vanishing into the shadows like phantoms.
Holding the heavy pouch in his palm, Jiang WuShang’s smile widened.
“Good, very good.
With these resources, I can purchase the rare materials needed for the Asura Guards and forge high-tier weapons for my personal disciples.” He walked over to the balcony, staring out as the bright morning sun broke over the horizon.
“Today is the Class Assessment.
Jiang Bai and the Vice-Dean must be waiting eagerly for me.
Let’s see how well you two perform today…” With a sharp, confident glint in his eyes, he turned around and stepped out of his private chamber.
Over at the massive Azure Academy Arena, a colossal crowd had already assembled.
The open plaza buzzed with intense energy as disciples, instructors, and senior elders paced back and forth.
Students ranging from Class A1 down to Class C9 stood fully gear-equipped in their respective designated areas.
High above on the main spectator platform, the academy’s Grand Masters, Masters, and the Dean himself oversaw the chaotic scene below.
“Grand Master Bai, it’s almost time,” the Dean said, turning toward the old alchemist beside him.
“Where is Intern Jiang?” Grand Master Bai let out a quiet sigh, stroking his long white beard.
“He has been in closed-door cultivation for the past month.
If he does not appear within a few moments, I will personally go to his quarters to fetch him.” “Very well,” the Dean nodded, turning back to monitor the thousands of gathered disciples.
Down on the designated Class C9 platform, Lu Ruie paced restlessly, turning to her classmate.
“Did anyone manage to contact Master?
It’s almost time for the opening ceremony!
Are we really going to start this entire assessment without him?” “Lu Ruie, stay composed,” Su Lurong replied calmly, keeping her eyes swept across the crowded grounds.
“He will definitely be here on time.” “Where is your precious master?
Did he get scared and run away?” a mocking voice sneered nearby.
Lu Ruie and Su Lurong turned to see Intern Jiang Bai strutting toward them, a smug, arrogant expression plastered across his face.
“What’s it to you?” Lu Ruie snapped, crossing her arms with an unbothered smirk.
“You should worry about your own disciples first!
Look at them—Intern Bai, did you starve them for the entire month or what?” “What did you say?!” a senior disciple from Class A1 barked from behind Jiang Bai.
“How dare low-tier trash like you address our master in that tone?!” Lu Ruie chuckled softly, shaking her head.
“What, did I say something wrong?
I was kind enough to express concern because you all look half-dead, yet you repay my pure kindness with enmity!” “You bitch!
Do we need someone like you to speak for us?!” another Class A1 disciple roared, reaching for his weapon hilt.
Before the argument could escalate, Qin Fan stepped in front of Lu Ruie, staring straight at Jiang Bai.
“Intern Bai, did you feed them actual shit for an entire month?
Why is there such a foul stench coming from your entire group?” The Class A1 disciples flared up in rage, drawing their weapons halfway, but a clear, crisp voice suddenly cut through the tension from behind them.
“We meet again.
Do you still remember me?” Lu Ruie turned, her face lighting up with a bright smile.
“Sister Ru!
You’re finally here!
Did you come all the way here to cheer us on for our matches?” It was Bai Ru, stepping gracefully onto the Class C9 platform.
“Is Master not here yet?” Bai Ru asked, scanning the area with a hint of impatience.
“It’s almost time for roll call.” Lu Ruie paused, looking at her in confusion.
“No, he isn’t here yet…
Wait a minute, did you just call him Master?!
Did he actually accept you as his personal disciple?!” “Yes, a month ago he officially accepted both Wang Ru and me,” Bai Ru replied with a proud, sweet smile.
“So we are here today to fight alongside you in the assessment, not just cheer.” “Wang Ru?
Who is that?” Lu Ruie asked, thoroughly puzzled.
“That would be me,” a gentle yet sharp voice chimed from behind them.
A young girl clad in a sleek, pristine black dress walked smoothly toward the group.
“Sister Wang!
You made it!” Bai Ru greeted her with a wave.
“The Dean informed me earlier that my appointment as Young Master Jiang’s personal disciple was finalized, so I came directly to join the assessment,” Wang Ru said softly.
Deep down, she was still processing the turn of events: Who would have thought I would end up becoming a personal disciple under Young Master Jiang?
Turning her cold gaze toward the glaring Class A1 disciples nearby, Wang Ru scoffed.
“What is this trash doing looking for trouble with us?” “Bitch!
Who do you think you are?!” a furious Class A1 disciple spat.
“You’re not even a registered disciple of Azure Academy!” Bai Ru didn’t bother arguing with the student.
Instead, she turned her eyes toward Jiang Bai and said coldly, “Intern Bai, is this really how you discipline your disciples?
As expected of someone like you.” Jiang Bai’s face twitched.
But when he recognized Bai Ru’s identity, his arrogant posture faltered instantly.
She is Grand Master Bai’s beloved granddaughter!
If I clash with her here, it could compromise our grand plan!
“Cousin, what are you doing here?” Jiang Bai stammered, putting on a awkward smile.
“It’s all just a minor misunderstanding…” “Don’t call me your cousin!
I don’t deserve such a title from you,” Bai Ru cut him off with total disdain.
“I am officially a personal disciple of Intern Jiang, and personal relations mean nothing within Azure Academy.” Jiang Bai gritted his teeth, his expression darkening rapidly.
“Fine…
I will remember this.” Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the Class C9 area in a hurry.
“You are all here already,” a smooth, relaxed voice suddenly rang out from behind the group.
A figure clad in clean robes materialized out of nowhere behind them.
“Master!” “Master!” “Young Master Jiang!” All six disciples turned around and bowed deeply.
The young man standing before them was none other than Jiang WuShang.
“So you finally showed up!” a sharp, mocking voice sneered from the crowd nearby.
“I thought you were hiding cowardly in some dark corner of the academy.” The Class C9 disciples frowned in annoyance as Jiang Bai walked back toward them.
But Jiang WuShang’s face lit up with absolute delight.
Oh, there you are, my glorious System Points Cow!
I’m going to milk every single point out of you today, Jiang WuShang thought merrily.
Putting on a dramatically sad face, Jiang WuShang addressed Jiang Bai loudly, “Intern Bai, you look so exceedingly happy just seeing me.
Don’t tell me you have secretly fallen for me?
I’m deeply sorry to break your heart…
but I’m really not into green boys.” [System Notification: Host Gained +5 Emotion Points!] [Total Emotion Points: 150] Jiang Bai’s face flushed bright red with rage and embarrassment as the surrounding onlookers gasped and snickered.
“You…
hmph!” Unable to find words to counter the shameless insult, Jiang Bai turned his head away furiously.
“Pfft…
I’m sorry, I really can’t hold it in!” Wang Ru burst out laughing, unable to keep her composure any longer.
With Wang Ru breaking the ice, the other five disciples erupted into loud, cheerful laughter right in front of the fuming Class A1 students.
Looking at his six gathered disciples, Jiang WuShang nodded in warm approval.
“Good, very good!
Four of you have successfully reached the 5th level of the Qi Gathering Realm.
And Bai Ru, you have already broken through to the 7th level!” He then turned his eyes toward Wang Ru.
“Wang Ru, how have you been faring lately?
Is your Young Miss doing well back home?” “I am doing exceptionally well, Master, and I successfully became your personal disciple as instructed,” Wang Ru replied with a respectful smile.
“As for my Young Miss, she speaks of you often and misses you terribly.” “If you get the chance to meet her soon, tell her to wait patiently for me.
I miss her deeply as well,” Jiang WuShang said, his eyes softening with a rare trace of genuine tenderness.
Wang Ru’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Young Master Jiang, does that mean you have finally made up your mind?
Are you really going to propose to her soon?” “Yes, I have thought it through thoroughly,” Jiang WuShang said with a quiet smile.
“Once I resolve this current mess inside the academy, I will officially go and propose to her.
But Wang Ru…
isn’t it about time you changed the way you address me?” Wang Ru blushed slightly and immediately bowed her head down in deep respect.
“Yes!
Wang Ru greets…
Master!” DING!
[System Task Assigned: Take Personal Disciples (6/6)] [Task Status: Completed!] Yes!
Jiang WuShang celebrated internally, clenching his fist.
DING!
[System Task Rewards Received:] – 1x Asura Mask – 1x Asura Armor Set – 1x Heaven Low Rank Asura Sword Scanning the high-grade item descriptions flashing before his eyes, Jiang WuShang inquired silently, System, what is the practical function of these rewards right now?
Their rank is extraordinarily high—if I directly pull out a Heaven Low Rank weapon in public, it will invite unnecessary trouble.
DING!
[System Response: The Asura Mask completely conceals your cultivation base, facial features, and spiritual aura.
The Asura Armor Set boosts your overall combat power by one minor stage.] The Asura Mask conceals my true identity and aura, while the Asura Armor Set boosts my combat output by a minor stage!
Perfect!
With this combination, I can act without revealing who I am and comfortably take on far stronger opponents, Jiang WuShang thought, a dark, satisfied smirk playing on his lips.
BANG!
A booming gong resonated across the vast arena grounds, silencing the noisy crowd.
“Pay attention, everyone!” the Dean’s voice boomed from the high spectator platform, imbued with rich Qi that carried to every corner of the plaza.
“Today is the official monthly Class Assessment!
According to academy regulations, classes from Rank A down to Rank C will fight within designated brackets based on their current cultivation stages.
However, if your class’s overall average cultivation is lower than your opponents’, you retain the right to challenge a higher cultivation class directly at the end of the standard matches!
All disciples, step forward to register your cultivation levels so we may begin!” Jiang WuShang turned to his six eager disciples.
“Go forward and register your cultivation with the elders.
Take these medicinal pills with you—the Vitality Pills will rapidly mend your physical wounds, and the Qi Pills will swiftly restore your depleted Qi.” With a wave of his sleeve, he handed each of his disciples five Vitality Pills and five Qi Pills.
Bai Ru caught the gleaming pills, inspecting them closely.
Her eyes widened in absolute shock.
“Master…
what rank are these pills?!
The luster, fragrance, and purity look completely different from the pills inside the Alchemy Hall…
They look like genuine Earth Low Rank pills!” Jiang WuShang smiled calmly.
“My custom-refined pills possess an absolute purity level of ninety percent, allowing their effects to rival or surpass standard Earth Low Rank pills.
I attempted to hit a hundred percent perfect purity rate during my recent refining session, but fell slightly short.
Once I refine the process further, these will comfortably match Earth Medium Rank pills.” “WHAT?!” Bai Ru and Wang Ru gasped in unison, staring at the small pills in their palms in utter disbelief!
Ninety percent purity rate?!
That’s unheard of in our entire region!
I have to report this to Grandpa immediately…
he’s going to lose his mind!
Bai Ru thought, her heart pounding frantically.
[System Notification: Host Gained +5 Emotion Points!] [System Notification: Host Gained +5 Emotion Points!] [Total Emotion Points: 160] Watching the shocked expressions on his disciples’ faces as the extra system points rolled in smoothly, Jiang WuShang chuckled and waved his hand.
“Alright, stop daydreaming and go register.
It’s time for the Class Assessment to begin.”