Chapter 706: Elder Mi

"High scores?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

Wasn't the assessment supposed to be about hunting spirit beasts? What did high scores mean?

Just as he was about to ask, a grand voice rang out from ahead.

"Silence!"

Everyone involuntarily stopped their conversations and looked forward, where they saw an old man standing in midair, suspended in the sky.

"A Saint..."

Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed.

Though both were flying, he could clearly sense that the other's flight was a mastery over nature, a recognition by heaven and earth, not driven by true qi.

It was like comparing a bird to a balloon—the latter was lifted by air and could float in the sky even without moving, while the former would fall directly if its wings stopped flapping.

The Red Dust Stepping Heaven Steps was like a bird, requiring constant true qi to soar, but this person before him was clearly different; his strength must have reached the Saint level.

"I am Mi Zhu, an elder of the academy, responsible for this new student entrance assessment!" The old man spoke, his gaze sweeping down with a faint warmth.

"He is Elder Mi?" Upon hearing the introduction, a new student in front of Zhang Xuan exclaimed.

"Is Elder Mi famous?" another new student asked, puzzled.

"Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy has ten great master teachers, all at the six-star peak, also titled the ten strongest elders, managing all affairs of the academy... This Elder Mi is one of them. Do you think he's famous?" the first new student lowered his voice.

"Ten great master teachers?" The second new student's eyes widened.

Anyone who had heard of the Master Teacher Academy had heard of the ten great master teachers. They were selected at a grand event held jointly by the Hongyuan Empire and countless first-class empires every fifty years, personally appointed by the Master Teacher Hall of the titled empire.

The ten great master teachers held extremely high status; even the emperor of the Hongyuan Empire would treat them with the courtesy of a student, and they enjoyed the most precious resources and conditions from the Master Teacher Hall.

All students aspired to enter their tutelage...

They had thought such formidable master teachers were far from them, yet they had met one before even entering the academy!

"Yes, Elder Mi is among the ten great master teachers, with a secondary specialization in beast taming. I didn't expect him to appear in person for this hunting competition..."

The first new student sighed, his eyes shining with excitement.

The ten great master teachers were legendary figures; seeing one in person stirred uncontrollable excitement.

The 'Brother Yu' beside him also turned pale, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"I'm sure you all already know about this assessment. On this Leiyuan Peak before you, I have released countless spirit beasts!"

Interrupting the crowd's excitement, Elder Mi in the air smiled. "These are all ferocious creatures that have repeatedly harmed people and deserve death. I have imprisoned them on the peak. You may go up and hunt them. As long as you kill a spirit beast at the peak of the Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer and obtain its inner core, you pass!"

"A spirit beast at the peak of the Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer?"

"Ferocious, repeatedly harming people?"

"This assessment is very difficult..."

Though Elder Mi's words were brief, everyone, being master teachers, immediately understood the key points. Their excitement vanished, replaced by solemnity.

Spirit beasts were massive and inherently strong in combat. A spirit beast at the peak of the Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer could hold its own against a master teacher at the Spirit Union realm and even escape with ease.

Most new students taking the assessment were at the peak of the Turbid Clarity realm; defeating a spirit beast of the same level was hard!

Moreover, these beasts were ferocious and experienced in killing and injuring, far more formidable in both awareness and experience than spirit beasts that had never undergone slaughter.

"No wonder alliances are needed..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had been wondering why alliances were necessary for a hunt. Now he understood: without them, one or two people acting alone could easily be surrounded by spirit beasts and killed on the spot.

The new student entrance assessment carried the risk of death... It seemed this master teacher academy, as Luo Qiqi had said, was a place where the fittest survived, not easy to stay in.

"The time limit is one day. That means you must obtain an inner core and return here before sunset! Only those who do so will pass. Those who fail... are out, meaning they have no connection with the Master Teacher Academy."

Elder Mi continued, "Also, I remind you all: on the mountain, there are not only Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer spirit beasts but also Fifth Layer, even Sixth Layer. While you hunt spirit beasts, you must also prevent yourselves from being hunted by them!"

This news, apparently known to everyone in advance, caused little surprise.

A master teacher must not only be strong in combat but also excel in all aspects. Hunting spirit beasts while avoiding being killed by them demonstrated a person's comprehensive ability.

"Elder Mi, if someone can hunt a Mortal Transformation Fifth or Sixth Layer spirit beast, how will the results be calculated?"

After a moment of silence, a new student couldn't help asking.

"Hehe, good question!" Elder Mi stroked his beard. "This involves the scoring for new student entrance. Those with high scores will be assigned to better classes, receive guidance from higher-level teachers, and if exceptionally outstanding, may even gain the favor of an elder!"

"Favor of an elder?"

Everyone's breathing quickened.

To become an elder in the Master Teacher Academy required at least a six-star master teacher. Receiving guidance from such a person would surely lead to a meteoric rise in strength.

Both status and resources would likely be at the highest level, with limitless potential.

"As for how the scores are determined, it's very simple: a points system!" Elder Mi said.

"Points?" The crowd was puzzled.

"Correct. Points are awarded based on the level of the spirit beast hunted. A spirit beast at the peak of the Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer earns 1 point; a Spirit Union realm initial stage spirit beast earns 10 points, mid stage 20, late stage 30, peak 40; a Qiaotian realm initial stage spirit beast earns 100 points, mid stage 200, and so on!"

Elder Mi continued, "Points accumulate on an individual, allowing one to stand out with better results. Of course, they can also be shared equally to pass the assessment!"

"For example, if ten people jointly hunt a Spirit Union realm initial stage spirit beast, they can evenly distribute the ten points, meaning all ten will pass the assessment!"

"Ten people hunting one Spirit Union realm initial stage spirit beast can all pass?"

"Great..."

Many weaker new students' eyes lit up at these words, their fists clenched.

Relying on their individual strength, it would be very difficult to kill a spirit beast at the peak of the Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer, but with multiple people cooperating, it was possible.

"Master teachers are born to fight against the Heterodox tribes, taking the world as their responsibility. Not only must individual strength be strong, but unity, cooperation, mutual trust, and mutual help are also key!" Knowing the crowd's thoughts, Elder Mi explained.

Hearing this, everyone nodded involuntarily.

Master teachers are not individuals but a whole. United in opposition, entrusting their lives to companions, they can cooperate better and have greater trust in each other.

"Alright, I've finished the content. Now let me tell you the rules!"

Elder Mi's expression turned serious, with gravity: "In this assessment, master teachers are not allowed to rob or kill each other! That is, you cannot target other master teachers to gain more points. If discovered, you will be disqualified immediately, and the academy will never admit you!"

His final words fell like a boulder, making the surrounding air seem to solidify.

A Saint's anger could shake heaven and earth.

Even a mere darkening of his expression made those at the Mortal Transformation realm dare not refute or entertain any thought of resistance.

"Master teachers are not allowed to rob or kill?"

"Wasn't it allowed before?"

"It seems that practice easily caused conflicts among master teachers, so it was deliberately canceled for this assessment."

"Sigh, I was thinking of ambushing others to snatch inner cores, but now... it's not possible!"

...

Spirit beasts were intelligent creatures; knowing so many people were hunting them, they would surely hide. How could they be easily found?

Many strong new students had already planned to snatch from others, but hearing it was not allowed, they were somewhat disappointed.

However, more people breathed a sigh of relief.

After finally hunting a spirit beast, they might be seriously injured, and if someone robbed them then, they wouldn't even have time to cry.

"Elder Mi, since master teachers are not allowed to rob, can master teachers with beast pets use them to hunt everywhere?"

'Brother Feng,' Feng Wu, asked.

At his words, everyone's gaze focused on Zhang Xuan.

This Master Zhang had repeatedly traded spirit beast inner cores for techniques at the trade fair, and many new students knew he had a half-step ninth-level Tianxiong Beast.

If this guy used that big creature to hunt, who could compete?

It could fly and was strong; likely, first place would be his without question.

"Master teachers with beast pets count it as their own strength, but... the beast pet can only be used once. If used more than once, no matter how many inner cores obtained, the results will not be counted!" Elder Mi waved his hand.

Being able to tame a beast pet was also a personal ability, but relying entirely on the beast pet would defeat the purpose of the assessment.

"Only used once? Good!"

Hearing this, Feng Wu breathed a sigh of relief.

Used only once, it was basically impossible for this Zhang Xuan to beat 'Brother Yu.'

"Alright, any other questions? Ask now, so you don't break the rules and lose your spot!"

After explaining the beast pet issue, Elder Mi looked around again.

"Elder, what if someone has a fifth-level formation? Can it be used?" another master teacher asked.

"Fifth-level formations, high-level weapons, and anything beyond one's own cultivation level can only be used once, like the beast pet just now!" Elder Mi said.

The crowd then asked more questions, and Elder Mi answered each one.

Soon, everyone had a thorough understanding of this assessment and the academy's intent in designing it.

"Alright, if there are no more questions, the assessment officially begins. You may go up the mountain!"

Seeing no further questions, Elder Mi waved his hand: "Go!"

"Yes!"

At the command, the thirty thousand new students taking the assessment surged like locusts toward Leiyuan Peak before them.

The earlier they went, the greater the chance to hunt spirit beasts; everyone moved without delay.