Chapter 50

Chapter Fifty: Over a Hundred First-Rank Magic Cores

The magic cores were quickly counted, and the elder in charge of the review said, "There are a total of ninety-eight magic cores here. This is your spatial waist belt. Now, please return the academy's spatial waist belt." As he spoke, the elder took out a bright green spatial waist belt and handed it to Jianchen. This was the very belt his father, Changyang Ba, had given him when he left Changyang Manor.

Jianchen looked at the spatial waist belt in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Teacher, could you keep this belt for me for now? I'll return the academy's spatial waist belt after this review is over."

Hearing this, the elder's brows furrowed slightly, and he asked in confusion, "Why?" Perhaps because Jianchen had collected nearly a hundred magic cores alone, the elder's attitude toward him had noticeably changed.

"Teacher, I have second-rank magic cores in my spatial waist belt. I still need to participate in the second-rank magic core review," Jianchen said calmly. The current review was only for first-rank magic cores, and the second-rank magic cores would be reviewed after the first-rank ones.

"Hmm, what? You have second-rank magic cores?" The elder's eyes showed a hint of disbelief, and his gaze toward Jianchen was filled with suspicion. Not just him, but the other teachers on the platform also had similar expressions.

Jianchen nodded slightly and said, "Yes, teacher!"

Hearing this, the elder took a deep breath, and his gaze toward Jianchen became serious for the first time. At this moment, he realized that he had underestimated this Changyang Xiangtian, who had some rumors circulating about him in the academy. However, he did not argue further and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, put these magic cores away. Continue to the second round of the review."

After that, Jianchen put the over a hundred magic cores back into his spatial waist belt and left the platform. However, now, whether it was the teachers on the platform or the students around, their gazes toward Jianchen had completely changed. The complex expressions in their eyes were not without envy and admiration, and there were also some looks of disdain.

After leaving the platform, Jianchen did not return to the crowd but went to the group of students waiting for the second-rank magic core review. Except for Changyang Hu and a few others, the students waiting for the review, who had all advanced to the Saint stage, looked at Jianchen with surprise and doubt. They had not encountered Jianchen in the third area and were very curious about how someone who had not yet reached the Saint stage could submit second-rank magic cores, and even more so, that he had at least two of them.

Iron Tower was next in line after Jianchen. After Jianchen left the platform, Iron Tower also approached the teacher in charge of the review.

Now that Iron Tower was the apprentice of the Kajias Academy principal, it was no longer a secret, so all the teachers in the academy recognized him. Seeing Iron Tower come up, the elder in charge of the review could not help but smile and said, "Iron Tower, how was your harvest this time?"

Iron Tower chuckled but did not say anything. He imitated Jianchen, reaching into his spatial waist belt and grabbing a large handful of magic cores, placing them lightly on the desk. Due to his large hands, he grabbed about fifteen or sixteen magic cores at once.

Seeing the fifteen or sixteen magic cores on the desk, the elder's face showed a smile, and he thought to himself, "No wonder the principal favors him. Although he looks a bit rough and lacks a sharp mind, his talent is truly astonishing."

After taking out fifteen or sixteen magic cores, Iron Tower did not pause for a moment. He kept grabbing handfuls of magic cores from his spatial waist belt, and gradually, under the astonished gazes of the teachers and students, the number of magic cores on the desk grew to dozens.

When Iron Tower had taken out over a hundred magic cores, he finally stopped. Looking at his harvest, Iron Tower smiled foolishly and said happily, "Teacher, these are the magic cores I collected."

At this moment, the surrounding teachers and students were so shocked that they could not speak. Their gazes toward the over a hundred magic cores on the desk were filled with disbelief.

The elder in charge of the review took a deep breath, looked deeply at Iron Tower, and said slowly, "Good, good, Iron Tower, you did well. You haven't let your master down." As he spoke, the elder lowered his head and began to count the magic cores, not asking how Iron Tower had obtained them. In his mind, he had already associated Iron Tower's method of obtaining the magic cores with Jianchen's.

The elder quickly finished counting the magic cores and said, "There are a total of ninety-seven magic cores here." As he spoke, he recorded the number on a small ledger.

After recording it, the elder took out a black spatial waist belt adorned with several gems and a beautifully crafted honor badge from under the desk and handed them to Iron Tower, saying, "Iron Tower, this is your spatial waist belt and your honor badge. Put the magic cores away and return the academy's spatial waist belt."

This black spatial waist belt, which was clearly of a high grade, was a gift from the principal after Iron Tower became his apprentice. Otherwise, a child from a commoner's family would never have been able to possess such a high-grade item. Although spatial waist belts were common in the Tianyuan Continent, they were not something ordinary people could own.

Iron Tower's gaze lingered on the black spatial waist belt for a moment, and he shook his head, saying, "Teacher, could you keep this spatial waist belt for me for now? I still have second-rank magic cores."

"What! You also have second-rank magic cores?" The elder's face showed great surprise, with a hint of disbelief.

Hearing Iron Tower's words, some of the teachers on the platform exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief. They had not expected that after Jianchen, another student who had not yet reached the Saint stage would have second-rank magic cores.

The elder hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Iron Tower, have you been to the third area?"

Although the elder's question exceeded his duties, he could not resist his intense curiosity. Despite already guessing the answer, he needed confirmation from Iron Tower.

Iron Tower nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Yes, I have been to the third area."

The elder continued, "Did you obtain the second-rank magic cores by hunting magic beasts?"

Although the elder's questions exceeded his duties, no one stopped him. Everyone, including the teachers on the platform, was extremely curious and wanted a definitive answer.

"A part of them was obtained by me and Changyang Xiangtian hunting magic beasts together," Iron Tower said without any concealment, but he only revealed half the truth.

Hearing this, the elder's eyes showed disbelief, and he exclaimed, "What! You mean you and Changyang Xiangtian could hunt second-rank magic beasts together?"

Iron Tower nodded and said, "Yes."

This answer shocked all the teachers on the platform, and they found it hard to believe. Two people who had not yet reached the Saint stage could hunt second-rank magic beasts together, which was a first in the history of Kajias Academy.

After that, Iron Tower packed up his magic cores and left the platform, joining the group waiting for the second-rank magic core review, standing behind Jianchen. At this moment, Jianchen and Iron Tower had become the most eye-catching figures in the field. The gazes of those who had failed their missions were filled with envy. Many of them had been chased by first-rank magic beasts in the second area, but they could not believe that Jianchen and Iron Tower, who were not much stronger than them, had not only collected over a hundred first-rank magic cores but also had second-rank magic cores, making them feel very unbalanced and ashamed.

The review of the first-rank magic cores was soon completed. Among the first-rank magic cores, Jianchen had the most, with a total of ninety-eight, and Iron Tower came in second with one less. The number of magic cores they collected was several times more than the third-place Mu Tian.

In the crowd, Mu Tian stared at Jianchen and Iron Tower with a strange glint in his eyes and muttered to himself, "Iron Tower, Changyang Xiangtian, you truly live up to your reputation. You are indeed capable of defeating Saint-stage experts. I really want to have a chance to spar with you two."

Although he had been overshadowed by Jianchen and Iron Tower, Mu Tian's face showed no sign of dissatisfaction. He looked very calm, as if this was a trivial matter that did not affect him at all.

At this moment, Changyang Hu came to Jianchen with an excited look and whispered, "Fourth Brother, you two are really amazing. In these three days, you each collected nearly a hundred magic cores." Changyang Hu's voice was filled with excitement, and his gaze toward Jianchen was full of pride.

Jianchen smiled slightly but did not say anything. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, sensing something, and he turned to look behind him. He saw a young man with tattered clothes staring at him with eyes full of hatred, the intense killing intent in his gaze making Jianchen frown.

However, when Jianchen carefully examined the young man's appearance, he immediately understood. It was Luo Jian, whom Jianchen had stripped of all his magic cores in the forest. At that time, not only had Luo Jian's magic cores been taken away, but he had also been severely injured, losing his combat ability. As a result, his group had no longer had the strength to rob others or hunt magic beasts, leading to the failure of their mission.

Jianchen's face showed a faint smile, and his eyes held a hint of disdain. He did not take Luo Jian seriously. In his past life, he had encountered many people like Luo Jian, but very few of them could cause significant trouble.

The second round of the magic core review soon began. The students who had completed their missions and reached the Saint stage went up to the platform one by one. However, there were two exceptions: Jianchen and Iron Tower, who had not yet reached the Saint stage, while all the others had.

The teacher in charge of the second-rank magic core review was still the elder. The review proceeded very quickly. Due to the widespread looting of magic cores in the third area, the magic cores obtained by hundreds of students were concentrated in the hands of these thirty or forty students. Therefore, each of them had far more than two second-rank magic cores, and many had over ten, with some even having twenty or thirty.