Cultivation: But Not a Game-Chapter 98 - 47: Narrow Victory, First Place
After distributing the rewards, Vice President Ding Hao immediately walked over to the next person, Ding Lingyu, offering a customary word of encouragement before moving on to the next reward.
It was clear that Vice President Ding was not in a good mood at the moment.
After quickly distributing the rewards to the top eight contestants, Ding Hao returned to the front of the crowd and said in a deep voice:
"This year’s grand examination will be held at the end of the year, ranking the top one hundred."
"Those ranked 51-100 will be rewarded with 10 taels of gold, 500 guild contribution points, and 2 opportunities to listen to a guild offering lecture."
"Those ranked 21-50 will receive 20 taels of gold, 1,000 guild contribution points, and 3 listening sessions of a guild offering lecture."
"Those ranked 11-20 will receive 30 taels of gold, 1,500 guild contribution points, 5 listening sessions, and can choose any one fifth-rank magical treasure or flying sword."
"Those ranked 4-10 will receive 50 taels of gold, 2,000 guild contribution points, 7 listening sessions, a choice of any fifth-rank premium magical treasure or flying sword, a spot as an outer disciple of the Danxia Sect or Qingcang Sect, and a promotion to elite guild member."
"The 3rd place will receive 80 taels of gold, 3,000 guild contribution points, 10 listening sessions, any sixth-rank magical treasure or flying sword, a spot as a formal disciple of the Danxia Sect or an outer disciple of Xuanzhen Immortal Sect, and a promotion to elite guild member."
"The 2nd place will receive 100 taels of gold, 4,000 guild contribution points, 15 listening sessions, any sixth-rank premium magical treasure or flying sword, a spot as a formal disciple of the Danxia Sect or an outer disciple of Xuanzhen Immortal Sect, and a promotion to elite guild member."
"The 1st place will receive 150 taels of gold, 5,000 guild contribution points, 20 listening sessions, any sixth-rank rare magical treasure or flying sword, a spot as an elite disciple of the Danxia Sect or a formal disciple of Xuanzhen Immortal Sect, and a promotion to elite guild member."
After saying all this, Vice President Ding left directly, and the guild leaders followed suit.
Everyone visibly relaxed a bit and began to chat in low voices.
"I didn’t expect the rewards for the top few in the grand examination to include this."
Su Yu remembered Chu Xinyue previously promising him that he could join the inner sect of Xuanzhen Immortal Sect at Jade Flower Peak as a formal disciple, which seemed to overlap with this reward.
"That’s not right, it’s not overlapping."
"Mr. Chu can only let me join Jade Flower Peak, but most of Jade Flower Peak’s disciples are female and not specialized in Sword Dao, which doesn’t suit me."
"If I can take first place in the grand examination and get a spot as a formal disciple, I can choose an inner sect peak that suits me, instead of wasting several years transferring peaks."
Su Yu thought more and more about the feasibility of this.
"I can strive for this opportunity."
At this moment, Ding Lingyu suddenly turned around and walked up to him. Su Yu came back to his senses and heard Ding Lingyu say in a deep voice:
"I didn’t expect you could really defeat me, I was careless. I won’t give you the chance at the year-end grand examination."
Su Yu smiled slightly and accepted the challenge without hesitation:
"I won this fight with difficulty, indeed taking advantage of your carelessness. But since I can win this time, I can win next time as well."
"See you in three months!"
"See you in three months!"
With these words, Ding Lingyu turned and left.
As soon as he left, Gu Zhiqiu came over and asked softly:
"Mr. Su, what did he say to you?"
"He wants to fight me again in three months."
"Oh, it means he’s not convinced, huh."
Gu Zhiqiu immediately had a look of understanding.
Su Yu smiled and said:
"It’s normal not to be convinced. He was indeed careless in this round, and in terms of real strength, he is indeed slightly superior."
At this time, He Shoucheng also came over, listened to the conversation, and nodded, saying:
"In terms of real strength, he is indeed slightly superior, he didn’t even have time to use his magical treasures before you defeated him. But a loss is a loss, slow reaction itself indicates a weakness in strength. If you can win this time, you can win next time too."
Su Yu smiled and waved his hand, saying:
"Enough about that, let’s go get something to eat."
Gu Zhiqiu laughed heartily and said:
"Let’s go, this is indeed worth celebrating."
"Let’s invite Zhuang Zhuo and the others."
They left the arena, talking and laughing, and flew towards the south of the city.
Halfway, Su Yu received a message from Chu Xiaoyu:
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
"I didn’t expect you could defeat Ding Lingyu. I’ve already told Miss, and she wants to see you when she returns to the city tonight."
"What time tonight?"
"At dinner time."
"Okay."
Su Yu closed the communication. Before he could say a few words to everyone, he received a new message from the guild’s newcomer instructor, Fu Ping, also congratulating him on defeating Ding Lingyu.
Afterward, his messages kept coming without stopping, people he knew before were constantly congratulating him.
"This fight has quite an influence, huh!"
But it’s normal. Ding Lingyu has always been immensely strong, having distanced himself from them early. Everyone believed that no one from the same cohort or recent cohorts was his match, not even close.
Who would have thought that suddenly someone could defeat him head-on, naturally shocking everyone.
This feeling was quite exhilarating, allowing him to quickly amass prestige.
But this prestige is still unstable, like fluff in the wind, easy to disappear. Only by defeating Ding Lingyu again in the year-end grand examination will this prestige stabilize.
With enough prestige and the title of cohort leader, once he returns from further training at the sect, he can immediately be elevated to a core guild member again.
This is crucial and important.
A core guild member is the highest-tier member of the guild, qualified to hold any guild position, from mid-level officials to the leaders of the three main regiments, even Vice President, belonging to the core members, theoretically possible to step up directly as Vice President.
Of course, that’s just in theory; in practice, it’s impossible.
You, a newly promoted newbie with no achievements, how could you possibly step up directly and grasp significant power?
However, regardless of seniority, with or without power, the status of a core member is evident,
and you can choose not to hold a position, without being bound by a role, you can go wherever you want.
Like Mr. Liao, the Sword Immortal of the guild, a guild offering, similar to a sect elder, enjoying various guild benefits and can freely roam wherever he pleases, typically not needing to return for major guild matters.
Su Yu’s plan for his future is along these lines.
While pondering within, the group had arrived at the south of the city, found a renowned restaurant and celebrated for a while.
Two hours later, everyone left one by one, and he returned to his residence and went straight to sleep.
When he awoke again, it was already evening, the sky outside was slightly dark.
He opened the communication and saw a message from Chu Xiaoyu, with a time and address.
He yawned, checked the time, and replied:
"On my way."
After a brief wash-up, he left for the address Chu Xiaoyu provided.
It was the same place as before, Qingxin Small Residence.
When he arrived, Chu Xinyue was already there. He stepped forward and clasped his fists in a salute:
"Mr. Chu!"
Chu Xinyue glanced at him, a sparkle in her eyes, and a slight smile appeared on her face:
"Truly beyond my expectations, you did well!"
Su Yu smiled slightly, modestly said:
"A narrow victory, I almost lost."
Chu Xinyue also nodded and said:
"It was indeed a narrow win, had he been more careful, you would have lost."
"Furthermore, if your strength doesn’t improve significantly in these three months, you’ll definitely lose."
Her eyes lifted slightly, she said lightly:
"You have no chance."
Su Yu was slightly taken aback, thinking perhaps she was exaggerating.
Chu Xinyue saw through his thoughts, laughed softly, and said:
"Don’t feel it’s impossible, even if he doesn’t improve an iota in these three months, he has ways to easily defeat you."
"Uh....."
Knowing he wouldn’t be convinced, Chu Xinyue didn’t bother explaining, instead changing the topic to another question:
"What level is your current swordsmanship realm?"
Su Yu immediately opened his panel to check and said:
"Entering the Hall, progress is 42/100."
"It’s a bit far off."
"Tomorrow you’re coming with me to meet someone."
Su Yu immediately thought of something and curiously asked:
"Has Mr. Liao, the Sword Immortal, returned?"
"He won’t be coming."
"???"
Sitting on the side, making tea for them, Chu Xiaoyu pouted and explained:
"Mr. Liao has sent a reply not long ago, clearly refusing the invitation, so Miss had to find someone else."
"Oh!"
