Chapter 6: Ten Stars Shine, the Genius Arrives

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Ten Stars Shine, the Genius Arrives

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“Look, the deputy directors of the Purple Light, Star, Falling Moon, and Changhe Branches have all come out themselves.”

A student pointed to the academy’s senior members above the arena.

The Four Major Divisions of the Inner Academy, each branch had its own characteristics.

The Purple Light Branch inherited the “Purple Light Sun Shining Divine Technique,” absorbing the power of the sun, with a cultivation technique that was fierce and domineering.

The Star Branch inherited the “Star Galaxy Mysterious Heaven Technique,” absorbing the power of the stars, with a cultivation technique that was soft yet strong.

The Falling Moon Branch inherited the “Nine Heavens Falling Moon Technique,” absorbing the power of the Falling Moon, with a cultivation technique that leaned toward being gentle.

The Changhe Branch inherited the “Great Sun Long River Sword Skill,” using the sword to enter the way, with swordsmanship of endless power. However, many believed that using the sword to enter the way was a deviant path and not the path of the Great Tao. Among the Four Major Divisions, the Changhe Branch ranked last, while the other three battled fiercely for supremacy.

“When will the assessment begin, dear Deputies?” Deacon Song Canghai asked.

“Let’s begin now.”

The four deputy directors nodded in agreement.

“Yes.”

Song Canghai nodded in response and shouted, “Silence now, the Inner Academy assessment officially begins, starting with the first assessment, the Martial Soul test.”

Martial Souls were mysterious and varied, but no matter what type, they were all graded.

The higher the quality of the Martial Soul, the greater the achievements one could attain in the future.

“Alright, let’s begin now.”

Song Canghai called out.

On the arena lay a smooth stone, known as the Soul Testing Stone, which could evaluate the level of one’s Martial Soul.

One student after another climbed onto the arena to begin testing.

“Second Grade talent, not qualified.”

“Third Grade talent, not qualified.”

“Fourth Grade talent, not qualified.”

…

Students excitedly stepped onto the arena but walked down in utter disappointment.

Any kind of Martial Soul talent was divided into ten grades.

To join the Inner Academy, the first requirement was that the Martial Soul must be above the fifth grade. Those not meeting this criterion would not be admitted.

“With a hundred thousand Outer Disciples in the academy, those who can pass the first stage will surely be extremely scarce.”

Lin Feng pondered slightly.

“Fifth Grade Martial Soul!”

Suddenly, excitement spread as during a test, the Soul Testing Stone emitted five rays of light.

This was the mark of a Fifth Grade Martial Soul, causing a buzz.

“This is the seventh young master of the Yan family, talented from a young age, and has awakened a Fifth Grade Martial Soul. It seems highly likely he will join the Inner Academy this time.”

Many envious eyes turned to the young man on the arena.

“Good, go rest now and prepare for the second test.” Deacon Song Canghai nodded in satisfaction.

The young master of the Yan family leaped down from the arena, brimming with confidence.

Next, student after student went up to test. Often, it took testing over a hundred people to find one with a Fifth Grade Martial Soul, making the first elimination rate extremely high.

“Buzz”!

On the arena, rays of light soared into the sky, this time again five rays.

“Su Yuexi, Fifth Grade Martial Soul!”

Another wave of exclamations sounded.

Amidst the envious gazes of countless people, Su Yuexi walked down from the arena, her head held high like a proud swan.

Su Yuexi possessed a Flame Martial Soul, known for its fierce attacks, so achieving a Fifth Grade Martial Soul was not entirely unexpected.

It wasn’t long before Bai Yifei also went up to test.

“Whoosh…”.

The Soul Testing Stone emitted an astonishing wave, followed by six rays of light shooting up.

“Sixth Grade Martial Soul!”

Sounds of gasping echoed.

Even the deputy directors sitting in the arena displayed delighted expressions.

A Fifth Grade Martial Soul could be called a genius.

A Sixth Grade Martial Soul was considered a super genius.

Even within the Inner Academy, those with a Sixth Grade Martial Soul were rare.

Xuanyuan Mo, deputy director of the Purple Light Branch, smiled and said, “A Sixth Grade Martial Soul appears. I’ve heard this Bai Yifei possesses a Dragon Lion Martial Soul, a top-tier Soul among Beast Martial Souls, and is of a Sixth Grade quality. If he passes the Inner Academy assessment, Bai Yifei should certainly be taken in by our Purple Light Branch.”

Shen Guji, deputy director of the Falling Moon Branch, smiled and said, “Brother Xuan Yuan, your Purple Light Branch already has enough geniuses. I think this Bai Yifei should be ours at the Falling Moon.”

“Haha, esteemed colleagues, both your Purple Light Branch and Falling Moon Branch are nests of prodigies. I believe this Bai Yifei should belong to our Star Branch.”

Dongfang Cheng, deputy director of the Star Branch, joined the conversation, vying for the student.

Only Gongyang Ming, deputy director of the Changhe Branch, did not participate in the contention.

Over the years, the Changhe Branch had waned, with their students always being the remainder picked by the other three branches.

Gongyang Ming wasn’t keen on competing with the three major branches.

At this moment, Bai Yifei, wearing a proud expression, already stepped down from the arena.

“Brother Fei, you’re amazing.” Su Yuexi clung to Bai Yifei’s arm, exclaiming with admiration.

Bai Yifei smiled smugly and, catching sight of Lin Feng not far away, approached with Su Yuexi.

“Haha, Lin Feng, did you see my talent? You, a half-witted person, what right do you have to compete with me? You overestimate yourself. Let me advise you: if you want to live, leave Jialan Academy now and never appear before me again. In honor of Yuexi, I’ll spare you a life. But if you don’t know what’s good for you, I’ll let you taste the consequences of slighting me.”

Bai Yifei eyed Lin Feng with a sneer, his gaze full of disdain, not considering Lin Feng worth his notice.

Beside him, Su Yuexi giggled and said, “Lin Feng, let me give you a piece of advice: leave the academy quickly. With your sickly body, attempting the test is just asking to be humiliated.”

“Shut up, you wretch!” Lin Feng coldly glared at Su Yuexi.

Su Yuexi shrieked, “Lin Feng, what right do you have to scold me? I, Su Yuexi, am a favored daughter of heaven. Isn’t it right not to choose a waste like you? No matter from which aspect, you fall leagues behind Brother Fei. The man I, Su Yuexi, love is naturally someone like Brother Fei, a favored son of heaven. Do you still think I would ever like someone like you? Leave the academy early. Otherwise, you won’t have a good ending here.”

“Poor Lin Feng, he healed Su Yuexi only to end up like this.”

“I heard Lin Feng’s talent was originally quite promising, and his Martial Soul was rather rare. He was once a star of hope, but now, I think there’s no hope of him joining the Inner Academy.”

Around them, some students were whispering comments.

Lin Feng glanced at Su Yuexi and couldn’t even bother to say another word to Bai Yifei and Su Yuexi, that pair of wretches.

He turned and walked toward the arena.

Lin Feng was about to be tested.

“A waste, not hoping to pass the test, is he?” Bai Yifei sneered.

Su Yuexi added in agreement, “Indeed, such a waste. Compared to Brother Fei, he’s leagues behind.”

By then, Lin Feng had already reached the arena.

He placed his right hand on the Soul Testing Stone.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…”

Four rays of light shot up into the sky consecutively.

“Fourth Grade Martial Soul?” Many shook their heads. Even if it’s Fourth Grade, so what?

A Martial Soul not reaching the Fifth Grade would be eliminated.

Though only one grade apart, Fourth and Fifth Grade were worlds apart!

“Just a Fourth Grade Martial Soul, indeed a waste…” Su Yuexi sneered.

Lin Feng coldly gazed at Su Yuexi, this girl who had once followed him, calling him Brother Feng, had become completely unrecognizable now.

The girl who once made his heart flutter and who he was willing to give everything for—now, seeing her face, Lin Feng felt nothing but intense disgust.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, moving his gaze away from Su Yuexi’s contemptuous face, and cast it toward Bai Yifei.

Bai Yifei looked at him provocatively, mocking, “A Fourth Grade Martial Soul compared to my Sixth Grade—it’s just utter trash. A waste is a waste.”

Yet the corners of Lin Feng’s mouth curled into a slight smirk as he derisively said, “Sixth Grade Martial Soul, is it really that impressive?”

The next moment, Lin Feng channeled his Martial Soul.

The power of the Martial Soul continued to flow into the Soul Testing Stone.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Three more piercing rays of light shot skywards.

Seven-star Talent.

In the testing square, countless gazes were fixated on the arena, all in utter shock.

Everyone appeared as if they had seen a ghost, their expressions filled with disbelief.

Seven-star Talent, the Jialan Academy hadn’t seen a student with a Seven-star Talent in three years.

“How is this possible? How can you have Seven-star Talent? There must be a mistake; the Soul Testing Stone must be malfunctioning.”

Bai Yifei cried out, unable to accept it.

“Seven-star Talent, Seven-star Talent, it’s not real, it must not be real.”

Beside him, Su Yuexi kept shaking her head, unable to accept that Lin Feng had Seven-star Talent.

“Haha, can’t face reality? Bai Yifei, you coward, today I’ll show you how vast the gap is between us.”

Lin Feng laughed heartily and poured his full strength into his Devouring Martial Soul.

The force of the Martial Soul continuously fed the Soul Testing Stone.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.”

Another three rays burst skyward.

A total of ten rays broke through the clouds.

At that moment, the entire testing square was filled with countless eyes, all looking as if they had seen something supernatural.

It was as if time had stopped.

“Ten-star Talent, it’s Ten-star Talent. Our Jialan Academy has produced someone with Ten-star Talent.”

All four deputy directors couldn’t stay seated. Each stood up abruptly, incredulous, shouting hoarse with astonishment.

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