114: Chapter 114: Resource Assessment Concludes

As the aftershocks of the Spirit Tide simulation completely subsided, the entire Martial Arts Arena fell into a brief, almost frozen silence.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the massive spirit-energy screen in mid-air. The data, which had been expected to take another half-hour to settle, suddenly completed its final calculation as if urged by some high-priority command.

Lines of golden text, accompanied by sound effects like booming bells, crashed down.

【Resource Utilization Comprehensive Score · Final Ranking】

1st Place: Hengchuan Peak

Resource Utilization Rate: 92% (Breaks Sect historical record)

Waste Rate: 3% (Includes only unavoidable safety redundancy losses)

Structural Rationality: S

Emergency Performance: S (Pre-plan execution stunned the audience)

Comprehensive Rating: A+

2nd Place: Tiangong Artifact Refining Peak

Resource Utilization Rate: 81%

Waste Rate: 15%

Evaluation: Exquisite craftsmanship, but appeared too rigid under sudden conditions, discarding some semi-finished products.

3rd Place: Lingxiao Sword Cultivator Peak

Resource Utilization Rate: 64%

Waste Rate: 45%

Evaluation: Used large amounts of high-grade Spirit Stones to fill gaps in pursuit of ultimate Sword Intent defense. Formations are strong, but unsustainable.

The Elder presiding over the assessment had a trembling hand as he held the Jade Slip. He looked at the various Peak Masters on the stage with their ashen faces, then looked at the "Bankruptcy Peak" team in the corner, who were covered in dust but standing straight. Finally, he took a deep breath and read out, bracing himself:

"Resource assessment... 1st place, Hengchuan Peak!"

As the voice fell, the Martial Arts Arena erupted in an uproar.

"No way? Something built from a trash heap took first place?"

"That's Tiangong Peak! They used the best Materials!"

"Look at the data... Tiangong Peak wasted too much. I heard that to fill that gap, they directly blew up three finished magic array cores."

"Hengchuan Peak's 'Pre-plan G3' was amazing. When the Spirit Tide erupted just now, the other peaks were all panicking, but they were the only ones acting like nothing happened."

On the Elder's dais, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.

An Elder wearing golden silk robes slammed his armrest, his face extremely ugly: "Absurd! Simply absurd! Cultivation is supposed to be Heaven-Defying, focusing on powerful Qi and superior Magic Treasures. Now, a bunch of trash-pickers take first place? Where does this leave those great Cultivators who toil for resources?"

"Shut up." Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou glanced at him indifferently. His voice was not loud, but carried unquestionable majesty. "You set the rules. We are testing resource utilization, not whose family has more money. Losing is losing; there's a limit to how embarrassing you can be."

Under the live-streaming flowing light mirror, the chat barrage was a different scene.

"Workers rejoice! Finally, a peak that doesn't burn money took first place!"

"That 'Hengchuan Peak Model' sounds reliable. If I go to such a peak in the future, at least I won't have to worry about being sacrificed as cannon fodder, right?"

"Look, that first-place waste rate is only 3%. This is how you live! Voted, voted. If we Loose Cultivators could affiliate with this kind of Sect, it would be great."

Shen Xingzhou stood in the crowd, listening to the surrounding discussions, his face still wearing that indifferent smile. But only he knew that, at this moment, within his field of vision, the System panel was undergoing changes that made his heart race.

【V2.0 System unlock progress update】

Dimension 1: Combat Power — Lit up (Previous martial arts battle met the standard)

Dimension 2: Resources — Lit up (First place in this assessment confirmed)

Unlock status:

Basic condition of 'at least two first places' met.

Current progress: 2/3

Remaining condition: Satisfaction index must reach the threshold to fully unlock the V2.0 Sect enterprise management function.

Below the panel, a line of appreciative text appeared:

"You have proven:

In this world, you not only know how to fight, but also how to calculate.

This combination of 'high force and high IQ' is the most valuable hard currency in troubled times."

Shen Xingzhou clenched his fist slightly. Two keys obtained, only one left.

However, before he could savor this joy, the atmosphere around him suddenly became subtle.

The Hengchuan Peak Disciples were flushed with excitement. Several new Utility Disciples were even excitedly wanting to dance the most popular 'celebration dance' for the live-streaming camera, shouting: "We won! Hengchuan Peak is awesome!"

"Stop! Everyone stop!"

Su Ciyao was quick-eyed and fast-handed, pulling the leading Disciple back and casually turning the flowing light mirror thirty degrees, avoiding the group who were about to lose control.

"Stay steady! Don't act like you've never seen the world!" Su Ciyao lowered her voice, speaking extremely fast. "We are the 'dark horse' now, the 'technical style', not the nouveau riche! Keep it cool, keep that 'this is just routine operation' feeling, understand?"

Wen Xi pushed up her glasses, calmly pouring cold water on them: "From the perspective of game theory, we are indeed the most dangerous right now. The prettier the data, the more it slaps the face of the traditional powers. The means used against us next will only be more insidious. Don't be too happy too early."

Senior Sister Xie Handeng didn't speak, just silently gripped the sword in her hand, vigilantly scanning the surrounding teams that were casting unfriendly gazes.

Shen Xingzhou gently patted Su Ciyao on the shoulder, signaling her to rest assured, then looked up at the sky.

Just then, that huge spirit-energy screen flickered again. The original golden ranking slowly dissipated, replaced by a softer, yet pink title that made all the Disciples present tighten their hearts.

【Third assessment begins: Disciple Satisfaction and Mental Stability】

As this line of text appeared, the originally noisy Martial Arts Arena instantly fell silent.

Compared to actual combat and resource utilization, this assessment item... was too abstract, and too deadly.

The System interface simultaneously popped up a detailed explanation entry. Shen Xingzhou clicked it open and saw dense entries coming into view:

【Satisfaction Dimension · Assessment Details】

1. Anonymous questionnaire mechanism:

Projected directly into the Sea of Consciousness by Heavenly Dao rules, questions covering: "Are you willing to die for the Sect?" "Has your contribution received the return it deserves?" "Do you think the current management is fair?"

2. Random interviews and resentment fluctuation detection:

Real-time monitoring of resentment values in the Disciples' subconscious. Excessive resentment will lead to point deductions, or even be judged as a "Heart Demon hidden danger".

3. Mental state assessment:

Comprehensive assessment of stress levels, loyalty, and sense of belonging.

Shen Xingzhou's pupils shrank slightly.

This was simply a death question.

What kind of place was Hengchuan Peak? It was the "Scrapyard" of the entire Sect, a corner piled with waste and forgotten Disciples. Having worked here for so long, it was impossible for everyone not to have resentment in their hearts. If this questionnaire could truly measure one's true thoughts, then Hengchuan Peak's score would likely be terribly ugly.

"Satisfaction..." Wen Xi looked at the title, her face turning unusually serious. "This is hard to fake. Data can be fabricated, but the human heart cannot."

"Yeah." Su Ciyao smiled bitterly. "Our previous advantage was 'being poor with dignity', but this item tests 'happiness'. Are the people of our Hengchuan Peak... happy?"

The surrounding Disciples looked at each other. The original excitement instantly faded, replaced by a sense of confusion and a trace of imperceptible gloom.

Shen Xingzhou was silent. He looked at the Senior Sisters and Junior Brothers who followed him. Although they had cooperated tacitly just now, it was a tacit understanding forced out by survival pressure, not happiness from the heart.

This third assessment was not to test who could perform better, but to test the "human heart".

Just then, a line of faint blue small text slowly appeared at the bottom of the System panel, carrying a trace of meaningful coldness:

"Battle damage and resources can be quantified. Even a pile of scrap metal can have its remaining value calculated.

But the human heart is harder to change than an account book.

You can calculate the utilization rate of Spirit Stones, but can you calculate how many years of resentment they have accumulated?"