"What a pity… my Spiritual Power doesn't seem that strong. During the major test in my second year of high school, my result was only fifteen points. You need at least twenty to qualify for entering the Demon Space on your eighteenth birthday."
"Although it's been almost a year since that second-year test, according to the survey reports, if you don't take any drugs that enhance Spiritual Power, your strength only increases by two or three points at most in a year. That means… I should only be around eighteen points now—still two points short."
"I finally transmigrated into such an interesting world, and I can't even qualify to become an Awakened?"
The more he thought about it, the more unwilling Zhao Xuan felt.
Unconsciously, his fists clenched tight.
"No… no! I can't give up like this!"
"I'm not the same person I used to be!"
"My Spiritual Power must have changed too!"
As that thought struck him, Zhao Xuan's eyes gradually lit up.
"Perfect timing! The next class is Old Ban's Meditation Class. I can ask him to test my Spiritual Power again!"
Time flew by as Zhao Xuan waited anxiously.
Soon enough, with the ringing of the class bell, the classroom quickly fell silent.
Class 13 of Grade 12's homeroom teacher, Zhong Jianguo, strode in.
"Meditation class again, huh? I've already taught you all I can teach. The rest is up to you. Spend this period meditating and tempering your Spiritual Power. If you have questions, raise your hand."
As soon as Zhong Jianguo finished speaking, Zhao Xuan shot his hand up.
"Zhao Xuan, what is it?" Zhong Jianguo asked.
"Old Ban, my eighteenth birthday is in two days. I'd like to test my Spiritual Power one last time to see if I meet the requirement!" Zhao Xuan said, standing up.
"Hmm, alright."
Zhong Jianguo nodded, then swept his gaze across the classroom. "Does anyone else want to test their Spiritual Power?"
"Old Ban, me! I turn eighteen next week!"
A bespectacled boy in the first row raised his hand.
"Anyone else?"
When no one replied, Zhong Jianguo nodded again. "The rest of you stay here and meditate. Zhao Xuan, Li Jiangchang—you two come with me."
Both students quickly stood up and followed Zhong Jianguo.
Before long, they arrived at the school's Spiritual Power Testing Center.
"Alright, one at a time. Who's first?"
The moment Zhong Jianguo finished speaking, the glasses-wearing boy raised his hand. "Old Ban, I'll go first!"
"Fine, go ahead."
Under Zhao Xuan's gaze, Li Jiangchang stepped up to the machine.
He placed a helmet covered in dense cables onto his head.
Zhong Jianguo pressed the test button.
Numbers began flashing across the screen.
1, 2, 3, 4…
Finally, it stopped at 21.
"Old Ban! Did I pass?" Li Jiangchang asked eagerly, taking off the helmet.
"Twenty-one points—yes, you passed!" Zhong Jianguo said with a satisfied smile. "If I remember right, you only had seventeen points in last year's second-year test, right? Gained four points in one year—your family must've bought you spiritual tonics?"
"Heh-heh."
Li Jiangchang scratched his head sheepishly, grinning with pride. Clearly, he wasn't denying it.
"Good kid. Make sure you rest well these next few days. Don't get sick or overexcited—temporary mental fatigue can lower your score."
"Got it, Old Ban! I'll rest properly!"
Face glowing with excitement, Li Jiangchang walked over to Zhao Xuan and handed him the helmet. "Your turn, Zhao Xuan."
"Alright, Zhao Xuan, you're up."
"Yes, Old Ban!"
Taking the helmet, Zhao Xuan stepped up to the machine.
He took a deep breath and put it on.
"Ready?" Zhong Jianguo asked.
"Ready!" Zhao Xuan replied.
"Good. Starting the test."
Zhong Jianguo pressed the button.
The digits on the LCD screen began to flicker once more.
1, 2, 3, 4…
In just a blink, the numbers had already passed twenty.
But the increase didn't stop there!
21, 22, 23, 24…
In another blink, the numbers shot past thirty.
And they were still climbing!
31! 32! 33! 34! 35!
Finally, the digits froze at 37.
"Th-th-th-thirty… thirty-seven! This… this… how—!?"
Zhong Jianguo's eyes widened in utter disbelief, his entire body stiff with shock as he stared at the numbers.
Beside him, Li Jiangchang looked no better—his eyes bulged like eggs, fixed blankly on the glowing screen.
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