49-The Spot is Already Fixed.

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This chapter has some Chinese nationalism, just wanted to put it out there.

I guess its to be expected since its a Chinese novel.

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Su Mo listened to the clamoring reporters around him, feeling utterly baffled.

What were these people on about?

The Blood Slaughter God's disciple?

Hadn't he already become Tu Hongwu's disciple earlier? Why were they asking if he wanted to be the Blood Slaughter God's disciple?

What the hell was going on?

Did his master already announce he'd taken him as a disciple?

That was fast!

But as Su Mo pieced it together, he got even more confused.

What was up with this master of his?

He'd already taken him as a disciple—so why publicly declare he'd take this year's top scorer?

Wait… maybe in his eyes, Su Mo snagging top scorer was a done deal, so he'd said it like that.

Was this the legendary "pre-fixed pick"?

Getting locked in like this? Honestly, it felt damn good!

If he could, he'd take more of it!

He thought it, but Su Mo wouldn't say it out loud. And he had zero interest in dealing with these reporters—he didn't exactly like them.

No love for reporters here, but Principal Wang? Different story.

Wang stepped up beside Su Mo, then threw up a soundproof barrier with a solemn look.

"Su Mo, the ranking exam's next—it'll be an arena format this time, not like past years. Back then, if they couldn't win, they'd just quit.

But this year, the Blood Slaughter God just announced he's taking the top scorer as his disciple, so it might get brutal. You still confident?"

Su Mo glanced around, making sure no one could eavesdrop, then said: "Relax—top scorer's mine this year, no question!"

"Hahaha, good, good! Ambitious! I said way back you'd be this year's top scorer for sure.

Now, not only are you grabbing that title, you're gonna be the Blood Slaughter God's disciple—a real-deal God-rank!"

Watching bald Old Man Wang laugh with his hands on his hips, Su Mo gingerly poked his side, flashed the Yue-Breaking Fang Tian Halberd, and said:

"Hey, doesn't this halberd look kinda familiar?"

Wang froze, then squinted at the weapon in Su Mo's hands. After a quiet moment, he mused:

"Didn't notice 'til you said it—now that I look close, it does ring a bell. Kinda like the one I was gonna give you… Wait, where'd you get this?!?"

Mid-sentence, Wang's eyes caught Su Mo pulling up the weapon's info panel, and his tone flipped.

"Just wanted to let you know—during the national exam, I ran into the Blood Slaughter God. Took him as my master in there. This is one of his welcome gifts."

Wang's face stiffened, then split into wild laughter, the sound jarring in the sealed space.

"Good, good, good! Next up, don't say a word—just watch me perform!"

With that, Wang dropped the barrier and strode up to the reporters:

"I said before the school exam—top scorer's Su Mo, hands down. No one's his match in a single round!

And the Blood Slaughter God? Su Mo's idol since he was a kid—his dream's always been to be his disciple!"

"Su Mo, ever since he was little…"

"I can vouch for this…"

Wang and Wang Defa tag-teamed the reporters, hyping Su Mo to the heavens.

They spun tales of Su Mo's lifelong admiration for the Blood Slaughter God, leaving him stunned.

After soaking in the praise-fest, Su Mo finally made it home.

By then, the top 200 national exam rankings were out.

These 200 would duke it out in the final ranking exam.

Normally, the exam'd be over by now.

The last 200? Just a detailed pecking order.

Xiao Family Ancestral Hall

"You've probably all heard about the Blood Slaughter God taking a disciple. Xiao Hongtu, I'll let your third-place national exam slide for now,

but in the ranking exam, you have to take first. The rest of the Xiao kids will pave the way.

My calculations say your biggest threat's Su Mo.

Chu Tian's got Chu War God backing him—he doesn't need to fight us for the Blood Slaughter God's slot, though he might still gun for first.

Su Mo's the real issue. I'll set up a wheel war—wear him down 'til he's spent. Then you strike. Got it?"

Northwest An City

"Dad, about the Blood Slaughter God taking a disciple…"

The middle-aged man shook his head: "Just asked your uncle—it's locked in. You don't need to fight for it.

With him as your backer, there's no point chasing this slot.

But if you can snag top scorer, I'd be proud."

…

Online news exploded—not just in Great Xia, but worldwide. Other nations jumped in after hearing it. After all, it has been 30 years since a God Rank last took a desciple.

Pretty Nation: "God-rank powerhouses are Earth's shared treasure.

He should scour the globe for the best disciple,

not blindly pick from some petty Great Xia exam.

This is irresponsible to the planet."

Deutschland: "We've got plenty of stellar students too—let them join Great Xia's exam this year."

That sparked a global chorus—every country wanted their kids in Great Xia's exam.

Great Xia's brass shot it down flat: "Our exam's for Great Xia students only.

If your kids wanna study here, we'd welcome them with open arms,

but this year's exam is on its last leg—so try next year."

Su Mo tuned out the global chatter—it wouldn't change a thing.

The Blood Slaughter God they were squabbling over? Already his master. Top scorer was just a formality now.

Dodging reporters all the way home, he found Su Yu still parked in front of the TV, watching exam updates.

Seeing her, he thought of the Forced Awakening Stone in his system space, and his heart raced.

He'd planned to use it on her right away, but after a beat—years had passed already; what's a few more days?

Better to wait 'til the exam wrapped up officially.

[Ring ring ring!]

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his phone buzzed.

An unknown number. He hesitated, then picked up.

"Mr. Su Mo? The skill you ordered from Great Xia Commerce is here. If you've got time, come pick it up."

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