The Era of Gods

Chapter 39: Payment and Return

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Exceeding the Faith value cost of one point of Divine Power is something most students would be reluctant to do, calling it foolish and not worth it, but Lin Xiao felt it was very worthwhile.

Because once the promotion was complete, the threads of faith between him and these 128 devotees in his Sea of Gods suddenly thickened. Whether they were previously True Believers or Devout Believers, at this moment they all became Fanatic Believers —128 Fanatic Believers.

The Faith value provided by the Black Scale Naga race was higher than that of the Fishman, about a third of that of Humans, but when Faith value reached the level of Fanatic Believers, the contribution often could not be measured by conventional rules.

Normal human Fanatic Believers could provide between fifty to a hundred points of Faith value each day, so by that logic, a third would be between seventeen and thirty-three points. But in reality, the Faith value Fanatic Believers could provide often exceeded this amount; in a state of frenzy, reaching half that of humans was possible.

With these 128 Fanatic Believers, Lin Xiao could gain three to four thousand points of Faith value every day. Even taking the median value of 3,500, that equaled over 1.27 million a year. These Naga could live for fifty years, and after leveling up, sixty or even longer. Subtracting ten years and counting fifty, they could provide a total of 63.87 million Faith value points for him over a lifetime.

As well as fighting for him in the Outlands, reproducing offspring, and even after death entering the God Country, they could become Prayers continuing to provide Faith value.

Okay, it’s possible some might die in battle along the way; that was inevitable.

But even so, counting only half of that was still over thirty million Faith value points. Compared to the current expenditure of over one million, the rate of return was astonishingly high.

Lin Xiao never had a short-sighted focus on immediate benefits; he never skimped on necessary expenditures when it was time to pay up.

A few hundred students sparsely stood on the immense golden platform, but the number was much less than before; these were the students who had passed three rounds of elimination and had successfully advanced to the second year of high school.

After passing the three rounds of elimination, they had already advanced to the second year of high school. The following tests were merely for class assignments.

After three rounds of elimination, only seventeen students remained in Class Three of the first year — fewer than expected. Like the other classes, they gathered in groups based on their classes, waiting for the last few classmates to return.

Wan Chuan and Yuan Hong were chatting together, with the other students standing a few steps away from them.

Yuan Hong, looking forward, casually asked:

“How many Half-Elves did you kill in that round?”

Wan Chuan glanced at him, and after a long moment, blurted out two words:

“Lost count.”

“So, not many?”

“Definitely more than you.”

“Tch, I am…”

A beam of golden light descended from the sky, signifying someone had been eliminated by reaching their limit in Endless Mode. In that instant, it drew everyone’s attention, even interrupting their conversation as they turned to look.

The golden light settled on the platform, revealing a handsome young man, causing most students to be surprised:

“Who is that? What class is he from? How come we’ve never seen him before?”

Lin Xiao, who previously had mid-level grades in both his class and grade just two spots away from being ranked 250—was quite ordinary and largely unrecognized outside of his own class.

Compared to other students’ confusion, his classmates were shocked, and Yuan Hong even blurted out:

“That’s impossible!”

Having just been eliminated from Endless Mode, he knew all too well how difficult it was and what lasting longer than himself signified.

That was why he couldn’t believe that a classmate who had been middle-of-the-pack just a month ago had so swiftly surpassed him.

But the reality was just that. When Lin Xiao arrived at his class’s area, a few classmates subconsciously stepped back to make room for him, to which he smiled slightly:

“Thank you!”

Reality was indeed so straightforward; before, no one would have taken the time to acknowledge him, but now, without saying a word, people voluntarily made space for him. That was the difference.

Turning to glance at Yuan Hong and Wan Chuan, whose skeptical look hadn’t quite faded, he nodded in acknowledgment and turned away, ignoring them.

After a while, two streams of golden light, one after the other, nearly simultaneously, hit the ground, revealing the figures of Yan Renjie and Wan Ying. They exchanged provocative glances and then turned to walk away without the camaraderie between geniuses one might expect.

They were the last to arrive, and after returning to their class, a series of golden light spheres around the perimeter of the platform cast beams of light, each projecting an image of a homeroom teacher. Together, they all bowed towards the dazzling Divine Power orb at the dome of the ceiling. Then a golden light descended from the heavens, transforming into a handsome, white-haired, middle-aged man.

All the teachers and students bowed respectfully and shouted in unison:

“Vice-Principal His Excellency!”

The white-haired middle-aged man nodded slightly and went straight to the point:

“This term’s first-year final examination and elimination stages have now concluded. Those remaining have passed and will advance to the second year next term.”

He paused for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject:

“Due to the former principal’s decision, there is an additional Endless Mode challenge following the three elimination stages. The last ten who endured will receive rewards. Those ranked fourth to tenth will each receive one five-star Card of common rarity, free to choose any type.”

“The third place will receive a five-star Card of rare quality, with the type of their choosing.”

“The second place will get a five-star Card of uncommon quality, type of their choice.”

“The first place will receive an Epic quality five-star Card, also with the type of their choice.”

Saying this, he scanned all the students below, smiling slightly as he continued:

“In addition, the old principal will offer a spot for the HuaXia District first-year Super Newcomer Summer Camp, to be randomly assigned to one of the top three students.”

It wasn’t an illusion; Lin Xiao could distinctly feel the breathing of Wan Chuan and Yuan Hong beside him grow slightly more rapid. Looking to the other side, even Yan Renjie and Wan Ying, the two most outstanding geniuses of the year, were showing expectant looks.

Lin Xiao understood their anticipation. It wasn’t for the ranking or the reward cards, but for the prestigious invitation to the HuaXia District, first-year Super Newcomer Summer Camp.

The so-called Super Newcomer Summer Camp was a one-time annual event for newcomers, jointly organized by five super academies and one hundred thirty-three key colleges in the HuaXia region.

Participating did not guarantee direct entry into these key colleges, but the event was co-hosted by numerous colleges, selecting elite geniuses from high schools across the entire HuaXia region.

Participating in the first year would allow one to enter the radar of these key institutions. If they displayed sufficient potential, admittance into the corresponding top-tier college could provide bonus points during the college entrance exams after the third year of high school.

If one showed enough promise, they might even receive a special invitation.

Whether it was immediate entry into the purview of the numerous key colleges or obtaining additional points for college entrance exams, the Summer Camp held immense allure for them.

Typically, a city would have only one or two spots for this Summer Camp, which would have to be fought over by all the high schools in the city before being given to a student. However, Lin Xiao’s Five Middle School happened to have a disciple of the former principal who was an important figure in one of the Super Academies, hence they sometimes received spots..