My Crazy Upgrade System-Chapter 76 - 75: Genius

"You’ll be fine. Believe in yourself. You’re the best." Yi Tianyun nodded at Jiu Lingyun, offering some encouragement.

"Yi, I won’t let you down!" Jiu Lingyun’s voice was firm. She didn’t want to bring shame to Yi Tianyun. ’I’ve worked so hard for so long,’ she thought, ’it’s time to properly repay him.’

She then turned and walked toward the assessment grounds. Yi Tianyun watched her back as she left, nodding slightly.

Since the assessment was conducted in batches, some Outer Disciples were still waiting outside.

"I bet she’ll collapse after one or two waves at most. You have to get past the ninth wave to become an Official Disciple. Can she really do that?"

"Whatever, let’s just watch. No matter the outcome, she’s guaranteed to join Merak Palace as an Official Disciple. It sure is nice to have connections!"

"Exactly. Maybe we should go have a word with Elder Yi, too?"

"Forget it. I’m not doing that. I’m going to get into Merak Palace on my own merits!"

They thought it was a complete fantasy, like asking a pauper to produce a bar of Gold—simply impossible. But even as they spoke of relying on their own merits, their eyes kept darting over to Yi Tianyun, sizing him up.

The assessment began shortly after. Following Steward Liang’s announcement, the Spiritual Power assault commenced. Wave after wave of energy surged madly toward them. Unsurprisingly, no one collapsed during the first wave; it would have been far too humiliating.

Then came the second wave, which they all endured without issue. That included Jiu Lingyun, who held on with ease.

Soon, the third and fourth waves crashed down relentlessly. Many Outer Disciples began to collapse, but Jiu Lingyun was like a boulder in a tempest, unmoving no matter how fiercely the waves beat against her! Even as many others fell, she was still standing!

Then, the fifth and sixth waves began...

Disciples fell one after another, yet she remained standing, to everyone’s shock! The Outer Disciples who had already been eliminated were dumbfounded. ’Didn’t they say she was from the slums? How can she be this strong?’

She was already close to the standard for an Official Disciple, and she was even pushing for a higher level!

"She definitely won’t make it past the ninth wave!"

Snapping out of their shock, they immediately declared she wouldn’t surpass the ninth wave. However, the scene that followed shattered their expectations once more, completely demolishing their mental fortitude!

She passed the ninth wave with ease. At that point, only three other people were still standing! This meant she had passed the assessment, becoming one of the four qualifiers. But it wasn’t over. The assessment was still in progress.

Outside, the crowd exploded into an uproar. The Outer Disciples who had previously mocked her for getting in through connections had expressions as ugly as could be. It was a total smackdown; her skills were clearly not weak at all! 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Most importantly, it wasn’t over. The assault continued relentlessly. After the ninth wave, the tenth began, and she still held on. By the time the eleventh wave hit, she was the only one left in the entire assessment area, standing out from the crowd!

The overall standard for Outer Disciples wasn’t actually that high; otherwise, they wouldn’t be Outer Disciples in the first place. For one of them to become an Inner Hall Disciple was practically unheard of.

"Not bad!" Yi Tianyun’s eyes lit up.

With only Jiu Lingyun left in the entire field, the Outer Disciples who had been knocked unconscious by the Spiritual Power assault woke up and stared at her with wide eyes.

’Who told us she got in through connections? Could someone who got in through connections have this kind of skill? This is the real deal!’

Those who had predicted she would fail within the first few waves were now utterly mortified. She had already held on until the eleventh wave. While this achievement might not be earth-shattering, it certainly placed her at the very top of this batch of newcomers.

Crucially, it wasn’t over yet. She was still holding on. Jiu Lingyun’s expression had changed, but she could still endure a little longer. She was finally defeated during the twelfth wave.

Endured eleven waves!

It was a remarkable, dumbfounding achievement. Someone who was said to have gotten in through connections had just scored an unbelievable result. She hadn’t set a new record, but she had proven herself with her strength, absolutely crushing everyone else!

"I don’t know how some people’s eyes work. I suspect they must be on the soles of their feet," Yi Tianyun commented lightly from the side. The result had surprised him as well; he hadn’t expected Jiu Lingyun’s Soul Level to be so powerful.

Lasting until the eleventh wave wasn’t what was so extraordinary; it was the immense gap in her cultivation level that made it so. Too many people were trapped by the mindset that cultivation level was everything. Jiu Lingyun’s cultivation was only at the second or third level of the Body Refining Stage, but that didn’t mean her Spiritual Power was weak.

Now, she had fiercely rebuked everyone with her immense strength. It was true she had cut the line, skipping several steps, which might have seemed unfair. But for someone with her level of power, cutting in line undoubtedly saved a lot of time. That was the privilege of a genius!

No matter where you go, geniuses have such privileges. Forcing them to climb step-by-step is just a waste of time. Allowing them to immediately enter a zone suitable for them makes their cultivation progress much faster. There’s no need to waste all that time.

"Yeah, who was it just now that said she got in on connections? This is pure strength!"

"Heavens, someone like this needs connections to get in?"

"Are you sure she’s from the slums? That seems impossible. Can someone from the slums reach this level?"

...

They were on the verge of tears. Enduring eleven waves was enough to qualify as an Inner Hall Disciple, a level that completely crushed them.

At that moment, Jiu Lingyun came down from the assessment field, rushed over, and threw herself directly into Yi Tianyun’s arms, crying tears of joy. "Yi, I did it! I did it!"

She cried with such excitement, her delicate frame trembling. None of this had been easy. This time, she hadn’t shamed Yi Tianyun; instead, she had perfectly taken first place!

"I knew you would do great..." Yi Tianyun reached out and patted her on the back. He could relate to this feeling—the moment you finally prove everyone wrong and reclaim your own dignity!

Jiu Lingyun quickly remembered that she had just thrown herself into Yi Tianyun’s arms. She scrambled out of his embrace, her face beet red with embarrassment.

Yi Tianyun paid it no mind. He reached out, ruffled her hair, and smiled. "Congratulations on joining Merak Palace. This time, you’ve earned your place fair and square. From now on, you’re a member of Merak Palace."

Jiu Lingyun nodded emphatically and said happily, "Yi, thank you!"

"There’s no need to thank me. This is all the result of your own hard work," Yi Tianyun said with a smile.