Chapter 501: The Review Meeting
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 501: The Review Meeting
"Ahem... students and mentors from the various Transcendent academies, good day to you all. As we convene here today, I must announce on behalf of all the academies that the multi-school joint assessment has now, for the most part, come to a close."
As the joint exam reached its absolute end, the subsequent assembly began its final summary phase upon the Bobapus Archipelago.
Many students who hadn't yet departed from their respective academies were now gathered on the island where the Wizard Academy was located.
The host of this Review Meeting was, naturally, the Wizard Academy—the institution that had graciously provided the False World Space Great Witchcraft for the event.
"Although many accidents occurred midway through this joint exam, the candidates from each academy also brought unique surprises to us all."
This joint exam had utilized the Ley Line techniques of the Witch Academy to achieve high-difficulty live broadcast footage without the need for physical cameras. This assembly was likewise being broadcast live in its entirety; no academy could even dream of escaping the spotlight.
The Witch Academy, in particular, expressed that it attached great importance to this matter, ensuring that these images were transmitted to the Holy Angel Academy without the slightest distortion.
"For this joint exam to proceed so smoothly, we must also thank a specific group from each academy for maintaining the order of the exam. However..."
At this point, the elderly, white-bearded Transcendent Wizard shifted his tone, becoming stern.
"Among them, a select few individuals relied on their own authority to disrupt the order of this joint exam. Following numerous reports and whistleblowers, as well as the verification of evidence, we have required those individuals who committed serious dereliction of duty during this exam to conduct a solemn self-review. Furthermore, a cross-academy public reprimand will be issued as a warning to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future."
As he finished speaking, the crowd below—mostly students—erupted into enthusiastic applause.
After all, the majority of the students gathered here were ordinary students who had experienced a rather poor trial during this joint exam. Hearing that people had been cheating so blatantly naturally filled them with indignation.
But now, retribution had arrived!
Most of them had come specifically for the words "Review Meeting." Who among the attendees wasn't here just to see the fun?
Moreover, the people performing these reviews were all teaching assistants from the various academies! They belonged to a level that was usually out of reach. Who wouldn't enjoy seeing them humiliated and watching them create their own "dark history"?
"The formal proceedings of the Review Meeting shall now begin. Let us invite our protagonists to the stage. Hmph..."
The mentor let out a cold snort after speaking, as if he too found such behavior utterly contemptible.
A group of people was then led out from the side by another mentor. At the head of the group were the Preaching Angels from the Holy Angel Academy, one of the Three Top Academies.
At this moment, their pristine white wings drooped behind them, and they hadn't even manifested their halos. Dressed in somber, plain clothing, their faces were masks of repentance.
As these heavyweight figures appeared, many in the audience gasped in shock!
An academy belonging to the Three Top Academies had actually taken the lead in cheating!
Immediately, a wave of hushed discussions broke out. Rumors and intelligence began to fly—some said they heard the Holy Angel Academy was the first to enter the Main Island because someone had guided them, which explained their massive early-game advantage. The most embarrassed people present were, naturally, the students of the Holy Angel Academy.
The fact that the Preaching Angels of the Holy Angel Academy were placed at the very front was not random; it was deliberate.
The Wizard Academy had performed most impeccably during this joint exam, and they had provided the venue. Next was the Witch Academy, which at least appeared to have no issues on the surface and held the transmission rights for the Ley Line live broadcast. The Afuhemi Academy had suffered a major setback this time, so they weren't being targeted for now. As for the Holy Angels, they had been so flamboyant and had been caught red-handed—if they weren't put first, it wouldn't do justice to their own death-seeking behavior.
Meanwhile, I stood below, enjoying their spectacular self-criticisms. The only pity was that I wouldn't get to hear Lifaeya deliver the review she had written in advance. I heard she tore it up the moment the joint exam ended. What a waste... I hadn't even had the chance to read what she wrote. It was a ten-thousand-word review; even if it was mostly filler, it would have required a certain level of skill to write.
However, I could imagine that if Lifaeya had gone up for this Review Meeting, given her personality, she probably would have recounted everything she did with great emotion.
And she wouldn't have been ashamed of it; she would have worn it as a badge of honor.
"Listening to these usually high-and-mighty Preaching Angels meekly reviewing their violations is truly entertaining. Don't you think so, Sister Bai?"
Hearing them deliver their heavy and profound self-reflections on stage, I couldn't help but chuckle among the crowd. I then turned to look at Sister Bai beside me.
"It is indeed interesting." Sister Bai also wore a look of great interest. This Review Meeting, which felt like a farce, did indeed offer plenty of amusement—and the biggest joke of all had been personally orchestrated by Xiao Han.
"Xiao Han, you pulled quite a few strings during this joint exam too, didn't you?"
"Eh? Don't talk nonsense, Sister Bai~ I'm a law-abiding, good teaching assistant. I don't do such wicked things!" As I spoke, a playful smile played on my lips, and the meaning behind that smile was quite obvious.
"Are you still so deep in character, Xiao Han? The joint exam is over. Even if there's a review, it won't be retroactive to the present," Sister Bai said dismissively. "Won't you tell your Sister Bai about your glorious deeds?"
"Eh? Sister Bai, you didn't know?" I nudged Sister Bai with my hand and asked curiously.
Logically, the Transcendent academies monitored the entire testing ground. Even if I used the Knowledge Shadow derived from the Tree of Great Knowledge, it didn't mean no one could detect it. As long as there was a spell effect, there would be spell fluctuations and the rhythm of Transcendent energy. It was impossible for the Transcendent-level mentors not to notice; at most, they just wouldn't understand the methods I used. I figured I'd take this opportunity to fish for information from Sister Bai.
"I know a little, but not much. I only know that someone used a very concealed spell on those leaders from the Witch Academy. Xiao Han, I must say, you are truly cautious. If the footage hadn't been reviewed repeatedly, many Witches wouldn't have even realized it was your doing."
"See~ I was still found out after all~"
"But you weren't reported by the other academies, were you? The mentors from the other academies were so frustrated watching that they wanted to step in and report you themselves, especially when you displayed that technique similar to a Ley Line spell."
"Is that so? What a pity~ I wasn't there. Otherwise, I would have loved to see the look on their faces when they wanted to take me down but couldn't," I said in a tone of mock regret.
"You're getting more and more frivolous," Sister Bai said with a light laugh. "But I didn't expect you to have so many tricks up your sleeve, Xiao Han. Although I don't know much about Ley Line spells, I've heard my sisters say that it's no simple matter."
"Then, does Sister Bai want to know?"
"No need, Xiao Han. Everyone has their own secrets. You don't need to lay your heart bare for anyone to see." Bai Yu shook her head, then thought of something and added, "But if you ever want someone to confide in, I can always be your listener."
"Then it's a promise! Sister Bai can be my listener anytime and learn all my secrets. At least, I feel like I have almost nothing to hide from you. And... I really don't have many listeners to share my deeds with. I really... really have no one to talk to normally, so my desire to confide is very strong!"
"Mm..." Bai Yu stroked my head and gave a soft hum of affirmation, her tone carrying a hint of doting.
She could see that Xiao Han... was too starved for love. She had a severe lack of security and the ability to feel loved, and she needed someone who could share her burdens and listen to her.
In truth, Bai Yu knew she didn't necessarily want Xiao Han to reveal every secret, but as the only person Xiao Han could absolutely trust, she was trying to shoulder the weight of Xiao Han's heart. After all, being trusted so unreservedly by someone was a privilege not everyone was qualified to enjoy.
After acting all lovey-dovey with Sister Bai for a while, we left the area. After watching the Preaching Angels from the Holy Angel Academy do their reviews, the rest wasn't worth seeing—especially the ones from the Sea Clan, which were even more boring.
Earlier during the joint exam, I had circled the Bobapus Archipelago several times. Of course, I was also scouting the scenery to see which place would be suitable for Sister Bai and me to spend this luxurious long holiday.
Ultimately, I chose an overwater vacation villa on one of the surrounding islands.
The scenery there was absolutely stunning. I had been deeply captivated when I first arrived, but unfortunately, it was during the joint exam then, and the wanton destruction by the numerous candidates had ruined my mood for appreciation.
With the Witch Academy pulling strings in the background, we moved in without much effort.
Looking at the brilliant azure sea that looked stunning even without a filter, feeling the occasional sea breeze, and listening to the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the shore—just hearing this soothing white noise allowed me to quickly set aside all my worries and concerns.
"Ah~ this is great. Can we really just pick a place and move in whenever we want?" I flopped onto the soft sofa without any regard for my image, turning my head to look out the large floor-to-ceiling glass window to admire the ocean view.
"Yes. I heard that the resort islands here in the Bobapus Archipelago are all territory of the Wizard Academy. As one of the lead organizers of this joint exam, they can naturally make such arrangements."
"The Wizard Academy's territory... does the Witch Academy have resort paradises like this too? Can students of the Witch Academy go there for free?" I asked.
"Of course. I just haven't looked into it much. However, with our status as students of the Witch Academy, we are very much welcomed wherever we go in the secular world. The various academies will also give us face. After all, there is an insurmountable threshold between us and them." Bai Yu knew very well that this threshold was the mastery of Transcendent power.
"That powerful? Then can't we just freeload everywhere in the future?"
"It's pretty much like that. When the academy issues missions in the future, any properties belonging to Transcendent academies near the mission site basically provide services to students for free."
"Missions? Oh~ I remember now." Hearing Sister Bai mention it, I recalled the so-called task section on the academy system. I had looked into it once before.
After all, when even a mission like kidnapping people could be placed openly on the task board, nothing else seemed strange.
"So, Sister Bai~ what do academy missions usually involve?" I asked curiously.
"Hmm... mostly preventing or cooperating to stop Transcendent crimes and the like. After all, many students in the Main World who graduate and are confirmed unable to promote to the Transcendent level choose not to stay at the academy for retirement. Even if they are forced to strip away the power they've mastered, it's still easy for them to use the techniques they know to master other powers in the outside world."
"Oh~ that sounds like hard work. Have you ever taken these missions, Sister Bai?"
"Not really. Most of them are thankless tasks."
"True. Unless someone is a hero with an overflowing sense of justice, I can't imagine anyone wanting to do that kind of thing."
I scrambled up from the sofa to look at Sister Bai, and we chatted about a few other things to broaden my horizons. These were all things I had never seen before, and I was quite curious.
"By the way, Sister Bai, even though I've become your teaching assistant, I haven't actually asked you about the teaching side of things yet~ Next semester... how should I assist you with your classes?"
After all, teaching assistants were usually drudges who busied themselves with whatever the mentor needed, handling all sorts of chores and even being required to substitute when things got busy.
A teaching assistant only looked prestigious in front of the students.
But so far, I hadn't actually helped Sister Bai with anything. Aside from her teaching me some techniques for Five Senses cultivation back then, there hadn't been anything deeper.
"Who said that becoming my teaching assistant means you have to help me with those chores? Body Cultivation courses are actually very niche. I don't have much to do; at most, I have two or three classes a week. Xiao Han, don't forget why you became a teaching assistant in the first place."
Sister Bai came up behind me, placed her hands on my shoulders, and pressed me back into the sofa.
"Uh... to avoid the fact that the Witch Academy discourages teacher-student romance!" I said without hesitation.
"Right~ that's one aspect." Sister Bai was momentarily stunned; this wasn't the answer she expected, but if this was the answer... there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it?
"But shouldn't the main reason be to reduce the impact of those unnecessary courses and exams on you? That's what you told me, isn't it? I know you have your own plans now, Xiao Han, and your own things to be busy with, so I won't become an obstacle to you."
"That's true... but... I feel like I've hit a bit of a bottleneck at my current stage. I really wish I were the kind of genius who could constantly solve all sorts of problems... this feeling of having my progress stalled is really frustrating..."
What I really wanted to express was that I didn't envy those who could achieve great things; I only envied those who could focus on their own work and solve any difficulty they encountered. That ability to constantly solve problems was what I truly envied.
If a genius makes a discovery or completes a research project once, it might be called luck. But someone who can constantly solve problems relies not on luck, but on absolute strength.
"Oh? Is there actually a difficulty that can stump you, Xiao Han? Although I might not necessarily be able to help, if there's anything you need, you can tell me."
"Then... Sister Bai! Come help me try something new!"