"Do you want to continue?" Qin Xiaowan asked again. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was lovely to hear. While the crowd found it melodious, to the young man, it sounded like a curse.
"Fine, you're vicious! You win! If you have the guts, leave your name. One day, I swear I'll defeat you with my sword." The young man couldn't stop himself from spitting out the threat, though it was unclear if he was just trying to save face or if it was what he truly felt.
"Qin Xiaowan. If that day ever comes, I'll be waiting. I just hope you won't disappoint me!" Qin Xiaowan said with a faint smile. It was an incredibly sweet smile that made many in the crowd's eyes light up, deepening their admiration for her.
At that moment, the middle-aged man on the stage announced, "Qin Xiaowan is the winner of this match! I'm surprisedâevery single recruit we're seeing this time is exceptionally talented! You two may leave the stage now. Let's have the next group!"
After stepping down from the stage, Qin Xiaowan slowly walked over to Ye Tian and Ye Feifei. "Xiaowan, you're incredible! To think you could predict your opponent's line of attack like that. I'm so impressed!" Ye Feifei couldn't help but exclaim.
"That was just luck," Qin Xiaowan said with a smile. "But getting into Linyuan Academy makes all my recent days of hard Cultivation worthwhile. It's not like you two, who got in easily without even needing to take the test."
"Xiaowan, I know what happened in the past affected you greatly, but it's over now. Try not to dwell on it too much. Should we leave or keep watching?" Ye Feifei asked.
Hearing Ye Feifei's words, Qin Xiaowan's expression didn't change in the slightest, but inwardly, she was seething with rage. 'Don't dwell on the past? This is the hatred from the annihilation of my clan! Who could possibly forget? Who wouldn't think about it?'
'Even if the Qin Family was at fault, who could accept what the Ye Family did? They drove the entire Qin Family out of Lisha City, leaving us to fend for ourselves. I don't even know where my two older brothers are, or how my other clan members are faring. How could I possibly not think about it?'
"Let's keep watching for a bit. We might improve our own combat experience, and perhaps that academy official will have more announcements to make later," Qin Xiaowan said with a smile, her gaze shifting to Ye Tian.
Ye Tian noticed her gaze. In it, he saw a very complex emotion. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, that one can see a person's inner world through them.
Yet, at this moment, Ye Tian couldn't discern Qin Xiaowan's true thoughts. "Xiaowan is right," he said. "These people in the open selection are all from smaller families, but we shouldn't underestimate them. They might even be stronger than those who got in directly. After all, there are even some at the One Vein Ninth Layer here."
Ye Feifei nodded. She trusted Ye Tian's judgment implicitly. The three of them stood where they were and continued watching the matches on the stage. However, many eyes in the crowd weren't on the fights, but on the trio. Quite a few gazes fixed on Ye Tian were filled with hostility. To them, it was unforgivable that he was standing so close to the goddess of their hearts.
Throughout the qualification tournament, Ye Tian noticed two competitors at the One Vein Ninth Layer, though both were only in the Initial Stage. Naturally, both of them advanced. A fight between them would be spectacular, but the chances of that happening here were slim. It was something he might only see after they were all inside the academy.
The tournament ended in the afternoon. Some were joyous, others despondent. Such is the cruelty of reality, especially in a world where the strong devour the weak. Still, no one had been killed, which was the best possible outcome.
"This concludes the open selection for new recruits," the middle-aged man announced. "All who were victorious, please place your number tokens on the stage. These tokens are made of a special material. By infusing them with your Spiritual Power, you can record your personal information. The academy will use the information on the tokens for your admission."
"The day after tomorrow, you will all officially become members of the academy. I hope you will all learn the best Martial Skills and receive the finest training."
"Of course, those who did not get in should not be discouraged. You can still apply during the next recruitment drive. As long as you are a true talent, you need not fear being overlooked. Sooner or later, your time to shine will come," the middle-aged man added.
His words were met with enthusiastic applause. Those who had been eliminated were despondent, but this news reignited their fighting spirit, filling them with hope that they might succeed in entering the academy next time.
The successful candidates infused their Spiritual Power into their number tokens, inscribing them with their personal information before placing them on the stage.
Gradually, the crowd dispersed, and the open selection drew to a close. The trio of Ye Tian, Qin Xiaowan, and Ye Feifei returned to their inn.
A meal with wine had been prepared in their room. "Xiaowan, congratulations on getting into Linyuan Academy! Your performance today was fantastic. I'm sure you'll be chosen for focused training!" Ye Feifei said.
"Feifei, you're too kind," Qin Xiaowan said with a smile. "If you and Ye Tian had competed, I'm sure your fights would have been the truly exciting ones. I just relied on a bit of opportunism, that's all."
"Come, let's toast to that!" Ye Tian said, raising his cup. "May we all rapidly increase our strength at the academy and accomplish what we set out to do!"
The three of them raised their cups and drained them in one go. The mood during the meal was cheerful. Qin Xiaowan didn't betray a hint of her inner turmoil, and neither Ye Tian nor Ye Feifei had any idea that her heart was filled with a deep-seated hatred she was desperately suppressing.
ăSoon, the day to enter Linyuan Academy arrived.ă
The academy's main gate was on the north side of Lin Yuan City, while the open selection tournament had been held on the south side. The two locations were several miles apart, a testament to the sheer size of Linyuan Academy.
Early the next morning, the trio rose, washed up, ate breakfast downstairs, and settled their bill at the inn before setting off for Linyuan Academy.
They encountered many others along the way. While just over a hundred had advanced from the open selection, there were several hundred people on the road. These were recruits from various other cities. Each city, regardless of its size, was allotted a few slots, and naturally, those chosen had to be among their city's most outstanding talents.
This was how Ye Tian and Ye Feifei had been able to bypass the test. It was something of an exception, especially since Lisha City wasn't large and was considered a third-rate city at best.
Ye Tian scanned the cultivation levels of the crowd. Most were around the One Vein Seventh Layer. Not many were at the Sixth Layer, though there were a few at the Eighth Layer, and even fewer at the Ninth Layer. As for anyone in the Two Vein Realm, he hadn't seen a single person yet.
The journey was quiet. After all, they were all strangers to one another, united by a single goal: to enter Linyuan Academy.
After a half-hour walk, the grand main gate of Linyuan Academy appeared before them. A wave of excitement washed over the crowd. Normally, the area for thousands of meters around the academy was a restricted zone where no one was permitted to linger.
But now, they were standing right here, and soon they would be able to enter and cultivate within its walls. It was only natural for them to be thrilled.
Ye Tian gazed at the academy gates in the distance and thought to himself, 'Linyuan Academy, I've arrived. Here, I will become stronger⊠even stronger.'