After hearing Teacher Xu's explanation, Shen Moran's heart turned half-cold.
The students' faces showed a range of expressions.
Many tried hard not to laugh, yet excitement spilled out of them uncontrollably.
The Genius who had once overshadowed them all, the Class President, was now merely mediocre in talent!
How could they not feel the thrill of having surpassed a Genius?
The Principal listened to Zhao Mu's ability, shook his head, sighed, and walked away.
Shao Tianyi didn't spare Zhao Mu another glance; he turned and strode off.
The Military Department Commissioner looked at Zhao Mu and coldly delivered the final evaluation.
"Zhao Mu, Trait-type Awakener, Combat Rank 1, Talent Rank E-Rank."
"Pfft—hahaha!"
The moment the Commissioner spoke, quite a few students burst into laughter on the spot.
"Isn't that basically no different from an ordinary person?"
"Who'd have thought the once-celebrated Genius of No. 2 High is actually at this level?"
"Sigh, you really can't judge by the past; you've got to look forward!"
"Thirty years east, thirty years west—now the wheel of fate has turned!"
"And here I thought he'd awaken some high-level ability!"
…Some of them spoke without caring whether Zhao Mu could hear.
Or rather, they deliberately raised their voices, eager to mock the fallen Genius.
When a Genius tumbles from the altar, those who once looked up to him feel the thrill of trampling him and rush to stomp on him.
Especially those ranked C or D, feeling superior to Zhao Mu, seized the chance to vent their grievances.
Zhao Mu heard it all but paid them no mind; he calmly turned and walked back.
As he passed Class One, Shao Han shot him a glance full of disappointment.
"I thought you had some ability, but you're just the lousiest E-Rank. Zhao Mu, what on earth were you showing off for before?"
Zhao Mu simply smiled at him. "Who knows what the future holds? Anyway, in the past you've always been my loser."
Shao Han's face chilled; he sneered, "You can only talk tough right now. From now on, you and I live in different worlds."
He pointed skyward. "I will become a Dragon soaring the Nine Heavens, while you'll stay on the ground gazing up at me."
A meaningful curve appeared at the corner of Zhao Mu's mouth.
"So your ability is mouth-art—pure bragging."
Shao Han snorted. "Let's see how long you can keep bluffing!"
In Zhao Mu's eyes, Shao Han's posturing was pure clownery.
But Zhao Mu had no intention of revealing his true power, so he didn't bother trading insults.
It wouldn't be long before Shao Han realized how foolish he'd been today.
Back in class three, fewer than ten students remained—those who'd finished the Spirit Awakening Ceremony and been confirmed to possess Spiritual Energy Talent.
Teacher Xu Mingjie walked over and sighed. "Zhao Mu, though it's only E-rank Talent, your Foundation is solid; you might still pass the Military Martial Specialization School exam. Go prepare well!"
That was all the comfort he could offer.
Zhao Mu smiled gently. "Thank you, Teacher Xu. I won't let you down."
Right then, a jarring voice cut in.
"Won't let the teacher down? But Zhao Mu, you only have E-rank Talent! How could someone like you pass the Military Martial Specialization test?"
Zhao Mu turned and saw, to his surprise, that the voice belonged to the once-timid Wang Qing.
A meaningful smile tugged at Zhao Mu's lips.
In class, Wang Qing had always been an inconspicuous wallflower; Zhao Mu had helped him plenty.
Yet once everyone deemed Zhao Mu finished, Wang Qing was first to jump out and stab him in the back.
"Whether I can or not—you'll find out soon enough."
Zhao Mu could clearly hear the whispering of his classmates.
Those who used to treat him politely now gloated as if he were their enemy.
Instead, several students ranked D and E came over to console him.
"It's fine, Zhao Mu. Even E-Rank is still an Awakener; in the army you'll have an edge over ordinary folks."
"Yeah, we're all the same! No need to feel too bad."
Though their words sounded comforting, Zhao Mu spotted the smirks they tried to hide.
Originally disappointed with their low Ranks, they now felt balanced—No. 2 High's top Genius wasn't even up to their level.
Zhao Mu wasn't angry; he nodded and smiled at them.
He walked to Shen Moran's side; she looked at him, her eyes filled with indescribable disappointment and complexity.
Zhao Mu softly reassured her. "Don't worry, I promised you—I'll enter Military Martial Specialization School."
"My ability isn't that weak; I won't be worse than anyone."
Shen Moran gazed at him and slowly nodded.
For the moment, Zhao Mu didn't plan to tell Shen Moran about his true ability.
The matter was too important; Shen Moran was too young—if she accidentally let it slip, it would mean big trouble.
After the lengthy Spirit Awakening Ceremony, only about two hundred of the more than two thousand No. 2 High students were identified as possessing Spiritual Energy Talent.
Among them, two were B-Rank: Shao Han of Class One and Shen Moran of class three.
C-rank: 17; D-rank: 89; E-Rank: 123.
Overall, this year's harvest wasn't bad—though the number was smaller than last year's, having two B-rank Talents at once more than made up for it.
After the ceremony, these two-hundred-plus students were gathered together.
Two officers walked over and called Shao Han and Shen Moran forward.
As B-Rank Awakeners, they would become the focus of Lujiang City's cultivation, enjoy superior resources, and gain admission without examination to Lujiang City's Military Martial Specialization School's Qingfeng Camp.
Naturally, their treatment differed from everyone else's.
Shen Moran glanced at Zhao Mu. "Xiao Mu, you head home first today—I might be late."
Zhao Mu nodded and watched her leave.
Wang Qing walked over, puffing out his chest beside Zhao Mu.
"Take a good look; soon she won't belong to you."
Zhao Mu's brows knitted; he stared coldly at Wang Qing.
Wang Qing curled his lip. "Don't glare. You're a mere E-Rank; she's the noble B-Rank. From now on, do you still think you live in the same world?"
"Better take the initiative and leave before she dumps you."
Zhao Mu narrowed his eyes slowly, a dangerous aura rising from him.
He fixed his gaze on Wang Qing. "Don't you think you're awfully noisy?"
Wang Qing instinctively shrank back.
For ten years Zhao Mu had been class monitor of class three—a position maintained by strength alone!
As cadet soldiers they trained in combat; which boy in the class hadn't been educated by Zhao Mu's iron fists?
Wang Qing had only just awakened and didn't know how to use Spiritual Energy; if he really angered Zhao Mu, he'd be beaten in seconds.
"Hmph—truth hurts; just wait till she dumps you!"
With that retort Wang Qing beat a hasty retreat.