After Teacher Qin Ming and Ye Lingling left, Gu Yecheng found a spot and sat down cross-legged.
Looking at the mysterious iron armguard on his arm, Gu Yecheng realized it was his first time seeing such a thing. Although it was a common soul device, its value couldn't be low. Such items were usually only sold at major auction houses—not in ordinary shops.
He opened his right palm, where a single purple leaf-shaped hairpin gently rested—this was the hairpin Lingling had given him.
For the first time, Gu Yecheng felt what it was like to miss someone. According to her team leader, she was going to undergo long-term training at the Great Soul Arena. He wondered when he would see her again.
While he was lost in thought, quick footsteps approached. Looking up, he saw a little girl who looked about eight or nine years old.
Gu Yecheng quickly stood up, wary, and said, "Don't come closer. What do you want?"
The little girl stopped when she saw his serious and guarded expression. She gently asked, "I want to ask, today is the Royal Academy's assessment—why are you the only one here?"
So she was just asking for directions. Gu Yecheng relaxed. After being beaten by his mom before, his alertness had increased a lot—if he relaxed even a little, who could withstand a sudden attack?
But… this little girl looked no older than nine. Was she really here to take the assessment? That seemed way too young.
Generally, only those who graduate from the Junior Soul Master Academy qualify to enter the Tiandou Royal Academy for further study. That would mean at least twelve years old. So how could she be this young?
Had she never even gone to an ordinary school? Less educated than himself? This was…
Shaking off his thoughts, he didn't want to dwell on it—after all, she was just asking. He shouldn't discourage her.
"Little sister, you came too early. The academy's assessment is scheduled for the afternoon, so you'll have to wait here for a while," Gu Yecheng said, raising his hand.
"Alright! Thank you, big brother!" she replied.
Nodding, the little girl sat down beside him and took a piece of bread from her backpack to eat.
Not wanting an awkward silence, Gu Yecheng also took out two sesame flatbreads from his own backpack and began eating.
Still, one thing puzzled him deeply: her soul power was far stronger than his—by at least several levels, probably around level twenty-nine. That wasn't normal.
Even innate full soul power users didn't usually have such strength, right? Could she be like him, an innate level twenty?
No, that wasn't possible—innate level twenty soul powers usually have no luster and wouldn't even activate the testing crystal ball.
The Flower Spirit had explained that innate level twenty soul powers come with at least one initial soul ring. Even if it was just a ten-year-old ring, it would meet the minimum standards for soul master advancement.
But he sensed her soul power was shining and not a typical level twenty. Plus, her soul power lacked completeness and luster, so she wasn't an innate full soul power user either.
After a while, he asked, "Little sister, how do you cultivate your power? You're so young, yet you already have two soul rings?"
Now the little girl was surprised. How did he know she was a two-ring Great Soul Master? Everyone else thought she only had one ring.
"Big brother, how… how do you know?" she asked curiously.
Gu Yecheng whispered, "I'll tell you a secret—my soul power can sense others' soul power levels, even if they don't activate their soul powers. I can tell how many soul rings they have and roughly what level they are."
"Wow! Big brother, that's amazing!" The little girl clapped her hands, clearly impressed.
"Hey! You haven't told me how you cultivate yet!" Gu Yecheng asked, hoping her answer might help his own training.
"That's a secret. I won't tell you!" she stuck out her tongue at him, then went back to eating her bread.
Sighing, Gu Yecheng didn't press further. Cultivation was a gradual process anyway.
Besides, he was an innate level twenty with an imperial-level soul power. His training speed would be incomparable to those with innate full soul powers.
His Hellfire Lotus soul power currently allowed him to train at about the same speed as innate full soul power users, but once he reached the Soul Saint level and his soul power evolved into the Hellfire Demon Lotus, his training speed would multiply.
By ten o'clock, under the blazing sun, more people gradually gathered.
They wore luxurious clothes, gold and silver adornments, clearly children of noble families. Some were escorted by parents, some even brought pets.
The bustling crowd soon reached several hundred people.
Finally, from the forest, a middle-aged man wearing silver attire and with a face as bright as a silver plate strode forward.
Soon, he reached a large rock on a high ground and stood there.
With a strong, clear voice, he announced, "Welcome everyone to the Tiandou Royal Academy!"
"The assessment is about to begin. Accompanying parents may go up the mountain to watch. Students taking the assessment, please stay here in line. Someone will come to register you shortly. Remember to fill in your recommender's name—no one is allowed to sneak in."
After saying this, the man gestured politely to the noble parents, inviting them to ascend and watch the assessment.
Once the crowd separated, the remaining people were mostly candidates.
By estimate, about 120 candidates stayed behind. Among them, there were surely a few trying to take advantage.
The Royal Academy's teaching quality was unquestioned—many people benefited greatly even from a single day of study here.
A senior student named Wang Li was registering candidates' information.
After kicking out those trying to cheat, there were exactly 120 candidates left.
When Wang Li finished, the middle-aged man checked the list and said, "My name is Sun Buyu, you may call me Teacher Sun. I am the chief examiner for this assessment."
"I believe you have all heard about the Royal Academy's class division rules."
"Talent and strength have always been the main themes of this world. If your talent isn't good enough, then prove yourself with your strength!"
Sun Buyu knew well that these people lacked the required talent; otherwise, they would have been selected for the Special Class long ago.
The Special Class had fewer than fifteen students, and soon some would graduate, leaving less than ten.
But everyone in the Special Class had outstanding talent, at least innate level eight soul power.
Since these candidates didn't meet the talent requirements, strength would be the filter for this group of over a hundred.
Sun Buyu continued, "The assessment will be… starting from my left here, you will run a full circle around the mountain."
"The course is already marked with guiding lines. According to the Education Committee's rules, no shortcuts are allowed—anyone caught cheating will be expelled immediately."
"The first thirty to reach the finish line will join the Advanced Class; the rest will remain in the regular classes."
"Oh, by the way, you are allowed to use soul power during the assessment. However, since most of you are under level thirty, you won't be able to maintain soul power for the entire run."
"Those with soul power in the twenties can at best run half the course; those with soul power in the teens might not even make a quarter."
"So, this is a comprehensive test. Even if your strength is lacking, as long as your willpower and stamina hold, you might overtake those with higher soul power."
A candidate with sausage-like lips raised his hand and asked, "Teacher Sun, I have a question!"
"Go ahead!" Teacher Sun gestured invitingly.
The sausage-lipped candidate said, "Since this is a running test, wouldn't it favor agile attack-type soul masters the most? If I'm just an auxiliary-type soul master, wouldn't this put me at a serious disadvantage?"
(End of chapter)
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