NABC Chapter 52: No, it's still transforming!
Chapter 52: No, it's still transforming!
"Why, why, why?"
Watching Jiang Qiu become the center of attention and achieve top marks amidst the exclamations of the other interns, Qian Cheng's back teeth clenched. Even now, he could still hear Zhang San, Li Si, and others taking every opportunity to curse him for being "pretentious," highlighting the vast difference between the two.
Having exhausted his family fortune to beg the black-robed stall owner to "graft" something onto him, he originally thought that the biggest calamity today would be the exposure of his fake results, but he did not expect that the biggest threat would still be Jiang Qiu, whose results surpassed those of everyone present.
The top-tier results have already placed them far ahead of the leader.
I must surpass him to get a spot!
With a slap, Wang Baisheng patted Qian Cheng on the shoulder, his tone heavy, "Qian Cheng, even without the physical advantage, Jiang Qiu's current performance is enough to compete with me for the first spot. Don't be so pessimistic, calm down."
"Hahaha, I'm very calm now," Qian Cheng said, a forced smile on his face, his eyes filled with a manic, almost delirious look. "I can cultivate mutated fruits, and my current results are already top-tier. Once my physique is tested and I get another top-tier result, I'll definitely surpass Jiang Qiu's lousy 'ultra-top-tier' result. I still have a chance!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Baisheng was taken aback.
There is still room for improvement in the testing and cultivation results.
Physical condition is almost entirely determined by genetics.
Those with exceptional physical qualities have long since demonstrated their extraordinary abilities.
Only in very rare cases do dark horses emerge.
Qian Cheng had been by his side for three or four years, and they had been in the same class in high school, but he had not shown any signs of physical abnormality.
In other words, at most, it will be rated as inferior.
These are all things I'm already aware of.
How could he think he deserves a top rating?
A hint of unfamiliarity flashed in Wang Baisheng's eyes. With a whoosh, his hand slid off his shoulder. "Too much of a good thing. You don't need to torture yourself for a spot. There are many paths in this world... as long as you're willing."
Qian Cheng paused, his eyes flickering, but his determination remained undiminished. He smiled faintly, "Brother Wang, I've sacrificed so much on the path of a spirit plant master. I will definitely see this path through to the end. Jiang Qiu is a rare talent in cultivation, so why can't I, Qian Cheng, be one?"
Wang Baisheng remained silent and sighed inwardly.
Qian Cheng said no more and stood there with his fist clenched.
Soon, Wu Shan had his men cover Jiang Qiu's harvest with a black cloth again, helped her move it back to her residence, and then released the [Fragrance Fairy]. Half of the fairy flew towards Qian Cheng's harvest, most of the other half flew towards the [Wood Healing Fruit], and the remaining half hovered for a moment before slowly flying to the vicinity of the [Wood Spirit Grape].
"I hereby announce the conclusion of the first test item of the internship assessment. The rankings for this item are as follows—"
"Jiang Qiu ranked first, with an outstanding score."
"Qian Cheng came in second place, with excellent grades."
"Jiang Qiao came in third place, with an excellent score."
"Wang Baisheng came in fourth place, with an excellent score."
Yang Zhilan ranked fifth, with an average score.
"Sixth place, Li Si, poor performance."
"..."
"The rankings have been announced. Next, we will move on to the second test: physical fitness!" Wu Shan waved his hand, and his assistants understood. They brought over a large earthenware jar that took two people to encircle. It landed with a bang, raising a cloud of dust.
With a deep, muffled sound, he slapped the edge of a large earthenware jar with his left shoulder higher than his right. "This is a specially made Grade 2 superior pot, the Thick Earthenware Jar. Inside is a section of the root of the Ancestral Spiritual Embryo Tree. After processing, it can sprout and grow by absorbing just a trace of spiritual energy. The quantity and quality of the fruit will determine your affinity with the corresponding spiritual energy. Those with certain constitutions will experience additional changes."
Everyone looked over at the sound, their gazes burning with intensity.
Even though most people know the outcome is already decided.
This is the first time I've ever tested spiritual affinity.
Who wouldn't be curious about their own worth?
They couldn't help but whisper among themselves. Among them, Qian Cheng's eyes were the most ardent, and the corners of his mouth were raised high, a silent sneer. Even though the black-robed stall owner had told him long ago that Jiang Qiu would awaken a rare physique the day after tomorrow, he was still arrogant and domineering at this moment, thinking that it was just a trick by the other party to trick him into buying a spirit seed.
He never really believed it!
Once it was discovered that Brother Wang had a common wood element physique, he was already a genius that was unattainable among his peers. Moreover, even Director Jiang's daughter, Jiang Qiao, did not have such a physique. How could Jiang Qiu, who was poor and penniless, awaken it later in life?
It's still a rare constitution.
Only a fool would believe such nonsense.
He was only after acquiring the spiritual seed that could defy fate.
Willing to be deceived!
Thinking of this, Qian Cheng felt smug. The "Daily Accumulation of Wealth" that the stall owner had "grafted" was already active in his mind, but he still forcibly suppressed it, waiting for his turn to make a name for himself.
"Jiang Qiu, this round is my turn to win!"
He secretly stared at Jiang Qiu, his hostility palpable, while Jiang Qiu remained calm, attentively watching the other interns' physical fitness tests.
The first intern, Lu Renjia, walked up to the [Thick Soil Jar], mustered all his strength, and squeezed out a wisp of cyan spiritual energy from his fingertip. This spiritual energy entered the nutrient soil in the jar, and with a whoosh, a small seedling broke through the soil and slowly grew.
The sapling was only half a person tall when it stopped growing.
It did not bear any fruit.
Then Wu Shan flicked his finger, and the saplings vanished in the wind as illusory shadows.
"The sapling has broken through the soil, meeting the requirements for cultivation; it has reached the standard."
"The second intern... is absent."
"The third intern, Zhang San, has a sapling that bears one low-grade fruit. His cultivation conditions are relatively good, but his grades are below average."
"The fourth intern, Li Si, has a sapling that has produced one low-grade fruit. Her cultivation conditions are relatively good, but her grades are below average."
"..."
All the saplings that yielded results in the previous project sprouted, some tall, some short, but only a very few were able to grow them to a meter tall and produce inferior fruit, until—
With a whoosh, a wisp of level 1 fire-attribute spiritual energy burst forth from Yang Zhilan's fingertips, like a spark falling into the [Thick Earth Jar].
With a whoosh, the seedling broke through the soil and shot upwards like a raging fire. Its leaves turned bright red, its branches stretched out, and a red flower bud formed. It quickly grew into a round and full shape, and then suddenly burst into flames.
The discussion between Zhang San and Li Si about their grades subsided, and like the other interns, they all looked over, dumbfounded.
"One mid-grade fruit?"
"No, it's still transforming!"
Boom! The fruit returned from the ashes, hanging high on the treetop, emitting a scorching fragrance that seemed to burn your cheeks, just like the summer sun shining brightly.
At this moment, everyone was speechless.
I was stunned.
Even Yang Zhilan herself was so surprised that she was stunned, her cheeks beaming with a warm glow.
"Yang Zhilan actually has a common fire element constitution?" Director Liu's eyes lit up, his tone becoming increasingly enthusiastic, his appreciation evident.
Cultivating top-quality fruits while possessing an average physique is equivalent to achieving two average grades, which is not necessarily inferior to an intern with only a top-tier grade.
In previous years, they would have been contenders for the first choice.
He's definitely a promising candidate to become a spiritual plant master.
In terms of talent, he can be compared to Wang Baisheng.
Even because of their poor background.
The potential shown so far is not the whole picture.
Even Wu Shan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. An ordinary physique is naturally suited for cultivation, almost guaranteeing success as a spirit plant master—a genius not to be missed. Yang Zhilan's physique was indeed unexpected, but acceptable. It wasn't unprecedented for ordinary interns to have innate ordinary physiques, but—
There are only three spots available this year.
Yet so many geniuses suddenly emerged.
Wang Baisheng and Jiang Qiao have letters of recommendation, and the order has already been placed.
The third spot will most likely go to Jiang Qiu.
Even at his worst, he's still Qian Cheng, currently the second-best among the top tier.
It's not even her turn!