Chapter 281: Chapter 273: The Four-Colored Array

Awarding an S Level score was no small matter.

After Elder Huo single-handedly gave the highest possible score, the other judges had no choice but to infuse their Divine Sense into the Jade Treasure Pill Furnace and examine the Tide Array’s operation.

A moment later, the second and then the third judge to connect their Divine Sense also wore expressions of amazement. One of them said:

"An S Level score isn’t out of the question. Let me study it a little longer."

However, the judges waiting behind them could no longer hold back. "Withdraw your Divine Sense!" one shouted. "Let me get in there and experience it!"

Gu Ming’s Tide Array had only two reserved interfaces for Divine Sense, allowing a maximum of two individuals to take control of the main array at once. The others could only sense the Great Dao’s aura and the effects of the Refinement from within the Pill Furnace.

Beyond that, they couldn’t directly perceive the more profound intricacies of the Array’s application.

「An hour later.」

As the judges finished their examinations one by one, their expressions varied.

Some gave an A+ score, while others made the call on the spot and awarded an S Level score.

An S Level score couldn’t be given out lightly; it wasn’t as simple as an A+ score, which only required a few lines of commentary.

For a judge to award an S Level score, they had to personally write an extensive analytical report, breaking down every aspect of the contestant’s Array. They had to clearly define its highlights, its groundbreaking nature, or its otherwise unique appeal.

Seeing this, the members of the Ruan Family were overcome with excitement, their lips practically splitting into grins that reached from ear to ear.

After all, an S Level score awarded live at the national competition was on a completely different level from the scoring system of the provincial exams.

The title alone carried a certain brand prestige, enough to convince consumers that this was the premier Alchemy Array for Low-star Pet Beasts.

As long as it carried the title of an S Level score from the national competition, buyers would line up endlessly for the Array Diagram.

While writing his lengthy analysis, Elder Huo instructed a student to call over Ruan Huaiyi, who was lost in a blissful reverie.

"Huaiyi, Gu Ming probably hasn’t organized this Array into a formal thesis yet.

"You need to have him write the thesis as soon as possible and submit it to the Hall of the Great Dao for certification.

"Although I see no issue with giving him an S Level score, it will be difficult to convince the public without certification from the Hall of the Great Dao."

Ruan Huaiyi knew this score alone wouldn’t be convincing enough. Besides, when the time came to put it on the market, they would need the credibility of the Hall of the Great Dao. He nodded at once.

"I’ll arrange for it right away."

With that, he summoned his Pet Beast and had it go instruct Gu Ming to write the thesis on the technique and submit it for certification as soon as possible.

Then, he thought of Gu Ming’s family background and his habit of being frugal with materials.

He then retrieved a gleaming, golden Wenquxing Brush, Ink, Paper, and Inkstone Set from his Beast Taming Space and had the Pet Beast deliver it to Gu Ming.

Elder Huo watched him take out the stationery set, feeling puzzled, but he didn’t voice his thoughts.

’Why does he even need to help prepare basic stationery?’

’Shouldn’t all contestants have their own high-quality stationery?’

’Could it be that the Ruan Family and Gu Ming haven’t signed an exclusive contract yet?’

Elder Huo normally never paid attention to the contestants’ financial situations. After all, any candidate who made it to the national competition either came from a wealthy family or had the backing of a corporation or school. They would naturally have things like stationery fully prepared.

He had never imagined that Gu Ming’s team was one of the rare few among all the contestants—a team of commoners who had yet to sign a "genius contract."

Gu Ming was busy studying the technique.

The on-site competition problem forbade the use of Grass Element Spiritual Qi and also required him to catalyze the growth of the extremely difficult-to-nurture Black Ghost Wood. This was a major restriction for him.

If he could use his Plant Life Light Wave, he could have solved this problem in minutes. But unfortunately, that wasn’t allowed.

When the Brush, Ink, Paper, and Inkstone Set from the Ruan Family arrived, Gu Ming could no longer remain silent. He offered his thanks to the invisible Pet Beast.

The messenger, in turn, didn’t forget to remind Gu Ming to write up the thesis quickly so the Hall of the Great Dao could induct it.

"Is it urgent?" Gu Ming asked.

The Pet Beast hesitated, then traced the symbol for "S Level" in the air.

Since the Pet Beast was invisible, its gesture couldn’t be seen. There were only faint ripples in the air as its fingers moved.

The Thousand-eyed Wind Bird on site had a keen perception of the wind and could feel the beast secretly making the gesture.

However, since the beast wasn’t being overt, the bird decided to turn a blind eye.

Gu Ming’s Divine Sense, however, completely enveloped the creature. Even though it was invisible, his Divine Sense was attached to its fingers, allowing him to perceive the letter it was tracing for the score.

’So it was a sign for S Level.’

Gu Ming was stunned. He hadn’t expected to receive an S Level score at the national competition. If he recalled correctly, this was the first time in nearly five years that an S Level score had been awarded.

With that realization, he became fully invested.

Rather than continuing to work on the competition problem, it was better to perfect the thesis for his Array and secure the score he’d been given.

He knew why they were rushing him to finish the thesis. The judges backstage must have had a disagreement.

His Array wasn’t convincing enough on its own, and some judges had given it a score lower than S Level.

Gu Ming refused to let his creation be devalued to a mere A+ Level score, so he immediately put brush to paper and began writing his thesis.

He was fully confident, as the Array was already complete.

As he wrote, his brushstrokes seemed to bloom like flowers. Streaks of golden ink on the pale gold paper shone with a dazzling white light, like the Holy Light of the Great Dao.

The halo of light radiating from the words and lines mesmerized Lu You, who was standing beside him. Through it, she could discern even more details of the Tide Array.

As Gu Ming’s assistant, her own perception of the array was naturally not as profound as his.

For her, seeing the words was like seeing the Array itself. Concepts that had been vague and unclear to her now instantly clicked into place, a moment of pure enlightenment.

The nearby Thousand-eyed Wind Bird, which was observing the writing of the Array thesis, faithfully recorded this phenomenon of Daoist Skill and transmitted the footage to the backstage proctoring area.

The judges were still in the middle of a heated debate. But when the ones who had given an A+ Level score saw the broadcasted footage, they immediately fell silent, quietly watching the live feed.

None of the judges present were fools. Writing that could make brushstrokes bloom like flowers and words shine like gold was a clear sign that the Cultivation Technique itself possessed immense Great Dao potential. It could communicate directly with the Celestial Dao through text, and the fundamental principles of the Array were condensed within it.

This was, without a doubt, an Array thesis that would inevitably draw the attention of the Hall of the Great Dao. It was by no means a mere One-Colored, Two-Colored, or Tri-Colored level paper.

It might even be an Array capable of producing a Four-Colored Holy Light!

By this measure, the potential of Gu Ming’s Array was incredibly high. It might even be expandable to the upper limits of the Four-star Pet Beast Level.

About an hour later, his thoughts flowing unimpeded, Gu Ming flicked his wrist and added the finishing touch to his thesis.

The shining golden words on the page instantly erupted with a profound sound, as if the roar of ocean waves and tides was surging from the manuscript itself.

At this point, Gu Ming had not yet written the final certification on the thesis. He thought for a moment, then wrote two lines of text:

Main Title: "On Several Simple Methods for Converting Tidal Power within a Pill Furnace"

Array Name: "Ah Kun - Swallowing Tide Refining Array" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Just then, Gu Ming gently blew on the ink on his thesis. The clouds in the sky suddenly parted, and the magnificent Hall of the Great Dao emerged. Its doors swung wide open, casting down an immense, brilliant Great Dao Holy Light that poured into the manuscript.

Simultaneously, several other beams of Holy Light split off. One poured into the Four-star Pill Furnace where Gu Ming was, enveloping both him and Ah Kun. Another stream shot into the interior of the high-grade Jade Treasure Pill Furnace.