C10 Another Test Paper.

"Luo Ke, it doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing, I need you in my office in ten minutes," Cheng Linglong barked into the phone with a near roar.

"Ms. Cheng, can't you just tell me over the phone if it's urgent? I'm currently working in the Spiritual Battle World..." Luo Ke was puzzled. His class teacher, usually so gentle, seemed off today.

But before he could get another word out, Cheng Linglong had hung up.

With no other choice, Luo Ke requested leave from his boss, Huang Cheng, who was still ruminating over Luo Ke's refusal to apprentice under Master Liang. With a wave of his hand and a tone tinged with disappointment, Huang Cheng said, "Go on, then."

Exiting the Spiritual Battle World, Luo Ke mounted his hoverbike.

This bike glided smoothly over uneven terrain and was incredibly fast. Within ten minutes, Luo Ke reached the teachers' office at Shanhai Middle School.

"Ms. Cheng, what did you need to see me for?" Luo Ke parked his bike and entered the office.

Inside, two teachers sat beside Cheng Linglong. One was Yang Zhongping, his basic pharmacy instructor, and the other, Chen Yuangan, the head teacher of the elite class. Both wore stern looks, eyeing Luo Ke as if he were a suspect.

Luo Ke sensed trouble; Cheng Linglong's summons was surely not for anything trivial.

"You're right on time. Have a seat," Cheng Linglong gestured to a chair nearby.

Luo Ke settled into the chair with ease. Cheng Linglong was known for her gentle demeanor, and he trusted she wouldn't be too severe.

"I've called you here to discuss your recent basic pharmacy exam," Cheng Linglong said, extending the test paper to him.

"Is there a problem? Did I perform poorly?" Luo Ke took the paper, his curiosity piqued. At the top of the page, a bold "100" stared back at him.

Relief washed over him.

He had feared a system error had led him to answer everything incorrectly.

Upon reviewing the paper, he confirmed his multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and debate answers were all correct, with no points deducted. Perplexed, he inquired, "Ms. Cheng, I scored perfectly, so why the anger?"

"Luo Ke, I'm your teacher, and we're not so different in age—you can think of me as your sister. I want you to be honest with me: how did you achieve full marks? If you're truthful, I'll understand," Cheng Linglong implored earnestly.

"I earned these marks fair and square. What's there to confess? Are you suggesting I cheated? This isn't a college entrance exam; even if I had cheated, what good would it do?" Luo Ke responded, clearly annoyed.

Armed with his academic system, acing basic theory was a breeze.

"I've just received a report from a student claiming you cheated. Come clean now—how did you get your hands on the test answers?" Teacher Yang slammed his hand on the desk, glaring at Luo Ke, who stood his ground.

"Confess? My grasp of basic pharmacy is solid. I scored full marks on merit. If you doubt me, go ahead and prepare another test. I'll ace it just the same," Luo Ke retorted, unfazed.

"Humph, you're determined not to concede until you're faced with the absolute end, aren't you? Listen, if you come clean about cheating now, I can go easy on you. But if you remain obstinate and force us to give you another test, and then you fail, you won't slip away from punishment so easily."

Yang Zhongping had already received Hong Chenghui's report and, based on his usual impression of Luo Ke, was convinced that Luo Ke had cheated to score full marks. He didn't bother giving Luo Ke another test; it seemed like too much of a hassle.

"Just admit it, Luo Ke. Stop this futile resistance. We have witnesses," Chen Yuangan urged.

He had been green with envy upon hearing someone in Grade 12, Class 6 aced the pharmacy exam. But once he learned the truth, he couldn't help but revel in schadenfreude.

A student cheating on a diagnostic test to impress a girl? Ridiculous. What's the use? Prove yourself on the college entrance exam, get into a top university, and then you might win a girl's affection.

"What witness?" Luo Ke was baffled. He had relied on his memory to answer the questions. If he had cheated, it was only with the help of the system, a secret known only to him. Not even the Celestial King could intimidate him!

"Hong Chenghui claims you snuck in cheat sheets and kept referring to them during the exam, which is how you scored perfectly. He also says you've been working late to save up for the test answers. Is there any truth to his accusations?"

Cheng Linglong echoed Yang Zhongping's words as Luo Ke remained defiant.

"I was wondering why I didn't catch you cheating. So you finished your dirty work in the first five minutes while I was distracted with handing out the papers. If only you applied that cunning to your studies, your grades wouldn't be this dismal," Chen Yuangan taunted.

"Hong Chenghui? He's blatantly lying. Ms. Cheng, call him here to face me. I've done nothing wrong." Luo Ke felt a surge of anger at the mention of Hong Chenghui.

He had planned to confront Hong Chenghui after improving his own abilities, but now the opportunity had presented itself. Today seemed as good a day as any to settle the score.

"Hong Chenghui is a martial student; he doesn't have time to waste like you. He's busy training and can't come to face you. Just confess to cheating on the diagnostic test. Considering it's your senior year, we'll be lenient and note it as a minor infraction. But if you persist in your denial, it won't be just a minor issue. I'll take it straight to the Education Department and have you expelled," Chen Yuangan threatened with a mix of clemency and severity.

Yet Luo Ke remained unfazed, confident in his innocence.

"Cheating on such a test? You underestimate me, Luo Ke. Bring on the harder questions. As long as they're from Basic Pharmacy, I'll still ace them," Luo Ke declared with conviction.

"Mr. Yang, it seems our words have fallen on deaf ears. Let's do this: we'll draft a new test for this intransigent student. If he fails, we won't go easy on him just because he's an orphan. We'll report straight to the Education Department and have him expelled."

Witnessing Luo Ke brimming with confidence, Chen Yuangan couldn't help himself and decided to draw up an exam to really put Luo Ke to the test.