133: Chapter 133: The Grand Examination Awards and Undercurrents

On the main square of the Qingheng Sect, banners fluttered in the wind.

After several days of life-and-death struggle, the "Comprehensive Disaster Simulation," which had drawn the attention of the entire Sect and even the Central Continent, finally came to an end.

Today's sunlight seemed particularly blinding, shining on the faces of the young Cultivators who had just crawled out of the illusory purgatory, giving them a surreal feeling of having survived a catastrophe.

High above on the platform, the lingering echoes of the golden bell continued to reverberate.

"For this The Grand Exam, the one with the lowest comprehensive combat damage rate, the highest tactical execution, and the most optimal resource utilization is—"

The presiding Elder's voice rose slightly with excitement, amplified by spiritual power to reach every corner.

"Hengchuan Peak!"

The moment these words were spoken, the entire square seemed to freeze for an instant.

Immediately following, cheers erupted from the Hengchuan Peak Disciple seating area.

It wasn't the reserved applause of Disciples from noble families, but a roar of those who had been suppressed for too long and were finally able to hold their heads high.

Senior Sister Xie Handeng remained expressionless, but her straight spine revealed her pride; Wen Xi waved her abacus excitedly, almost hitting the person next to her; and those usually taciturn Utility Disciples had red-rimmed eyes, staring fixedly at the high platform.

They had never imagined that their home, known as "Bankruptcy Peak" and "Labor Peak," could one day stand in the spotlight.

Subsequently, the rewards were announced.

"Additional resource allocation: five hundred Rank 3 Spirit Stones, and ten years of mining rights for a Rank 2 spirit mine."

"Priority for next year's recruitment: Hengchuan Peak may prioritize selecting the top one hundred prospects."

"Internal affairs participation: Hengchuan Peak is permitted to send a representative to join the Sect Resource Allocation Committee."

Each reward was a tangible benefit.

Disciples from other peaks below watched with envy, some admiring, others jealous.

And in those unseen corners—in the Central Continent's Streaming Room, the comments flew like snowflakes.

"The Working Cultivator group is awesome! This is the future for us Cultivators!"

"That SOP is truly amazing, I want to work at Hengchuan Peak!"

"This kind of highly transparent assessment should be promoted to the entire Nine Provinces!"

However, unlike the enthusiasm outside and the carnival in the square, the atmosphere at the Elder seating area seemed rather strange.

Several Elders wore smiles, but their eyes were ice-cold.

Elder Lu stroked his beard, his gaze sweeping over Shen Xingzhou like a viper, and he snorted coldly: "It's just fleeting glory. No matter how many resources are given, they are for that madman, the old monster of Heng Mountain, not for this kid named Shen Xingzhou. Let's see how long he can shine."

[System Emotion Scan: On-site]

External Evaluation (Loose Cultivator/Low-Rank Cultivator): Extremely High (Viewed as a hero who breaks class barriers).

Internal High-Level Evaluation (Elder/Core): Fear + Malice (Viewed as a power-grabber).

Comprehensive Evaluation: Extremely polarized.

Risk Alert: You are becoming the center of the storm.

Just then, the Central Plains Commissioner X-709, serving as a special guest observer, walked slowly onto the platform.

He wore a well-tailored, unpatterned ink-colored official uniform, with that signature smile on his face that made people feel like they were bathing in a spring breeze, yet hid any flaws.

The noise in the square gradually died down.

Everyone knew that this big shot from the Central Continent was the one who truly determined the fate of the Qingheng Sect.

"I am very pleased to see this The Grand Exam at the Qingheng Sect."

The Commissioner's voice was gentle and mellow, clearly transmitted to everyone's ears through the Formation, "Transparent, fair, and efficient. Especially the performance of Hengchuan Peak, it has given me a... long-lost sense of freshness."

He paused, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing precisely on Shen Xingzhou, who was still surrounded by Disciples.

"This is a 'low-cost, high-survival' model with great potential. For the entire Cultivation world, this is a sample worth digging into."

Having said this, the Commissioner lowered his voice slightly, but under the amplification of the spiritual Formation, it seemed even clearer, each word striking like a hammer against everyone's hearts.

He looked at Shen Xingzhou, a meaningful arc curling at the corners of his mouth, and said softly: "Especially that Shen Xingzhou—at the center of the Formation, the Demon Mark was controlled quite well."

In that instant, the air in the square seemed to solidify.

The wind stopped, the banners ceased to flutter.

Even the spiritual birds flying in the distance seemed to be frozen in mid-air by these words.

Everyone heard it.

Even the new Disciples who didn't understand the trade could understand what the two words "Demon Mark" meant.

If the previous "Hengchuan Peak First Place" was something to be envied, then this sentence was like a basin of ice water, extinguishing all the joy from just a moment ago, replacing it with a chill that seeped into the marrow.

"Demon Mark?"

"Did I hear that right? The Commissioner said Demon Mark?"

"Shen Xingzhou... has a Demon Mark?"

Whispers spread rapidly like a plague.

The worshipful gazes that had originally been directed at Shen Xingzhou changed within a few breaths, becoming suspicious and uncertain, even carrying a hint of fear.

Some subconsciously took half a step back, as if a bomb that could explode at any moment was standing there.

On the Elder seating area, the expressions of several Elders changed drastically, and they stood up directly.

"Demon Race?!" an Elder exclaimed, the teacup in his hand shattered with a "pop," "What kind of thing did the old monster of Heng Mountain bring into the Sect?!"

The rumors about Shen Xingzhou's "unknown background" and "bizarre talent" were finally officially and fatally confirmed at this moment.

Shen Xingzhou stood in the crowd.

The tight circle of protection around him appeared to loosen slightly, in a way that was hard to detect, because of those four words.

The Disciples' eyes changed as they looked at him—it was a complex gaze, mixed with awe (due to the life-saving grace just now) and fear (due to his Demon Race identity).

He did not dodge, nor did he explain, simply lifting his head calmly to meet the playful eyes on the platform and the countless piercing gazes around him.

He knew this was the Commissioner's revenge, and also the Commissioner's "pricing."

Since you are unwilling to be my secret pawn, then be my "open scheme."

I will put you in the sunlight, let you stand at the top with the title of Demon Mark, and see who dares to touch you, and who can tolerate you.

[Identity Exposure Rank Update]

Current Status: Open Secret to the entire Sect.

Change: From "Internal minority aware (Elder level)" → "Everyone knows (including Outer Sect Disciples and Loose Cultivators)".

Risk Re-evaluation: Viewed as "Potential internal threat/heretic": Risk value ↑ 60% (traditional Cultivators instinctively repel it).

Viewed as "Controllable Demon Race sample": Attention ↑ 90% (Central Continent and radicals are interested).

System Note: You are no longer a simple Cultivator.

You are a "special case" walking on the edge between human and Demon.

The Commissioner looked at Shen Xingzhou's calm face, the smile in his eyes deepening.

He waved his hand, signaling for the ceremony to continue, as if that thunderous remark just now was just a casual comment.

But the crack had already formed, and it could never be bridged again.

Shen Xingzhou slowly lowered his eyelids, hiding the trace of fatigue in his eyes.

At this moment, although he held the first-place banner in his hand and the rewarded Spirit Stones hung at his waist, he knew more clearly than ever—he had won this competition, but he had also lost many things.

For instance, his innocence as a "human."

For instance, the qualification to hide safely in the crowd and be a Mortal.

At the bottom of the System interface, a line of scarlet text emerged in the gradually dimming light, like the most ruthless verdict on his fate: "You have won back the face of the entire The Grand Exam, and lifted Hengchuan Peak into the spotlight. But in this gaze of the masses, you have completely lost that 'clean identity.' From now on, you are a hero, and also a monster; a savior, and also a hidden danger."