Exposing the Trick, Deep Meditation

The scene before them suddenly changed.

The three of them appeared in another world.

This was still a valley, but the environment was vastly different from before.

Lush vegetation covered the area, along with towering trees whose broad canopies blotted out the sky.

The air brimmed with rich life energy.

"What's going on? Has the preliminary selection not ended yet?"

Qian Lei sat on the ground, gasping for breath as he voiced his question.

"It hasn't ended. Shrek Academy is full of tricks. How could they let you pass so easily?"

As soon as Nan Xuanyu finished speaking, footsteps suddenly sounded from within the forest.

Liu Feng rushed forward, ready for battle.

Just then, a slender figure approached with graceful steps.

"Ling Yiyi!"

Qian Lei blurted out.

Only after seeing that it was her did the three of them finally relax.

"You performed exceptionally well and achieved outstanding results. You were transported here because there is something I need to tell you."

Ling Yiyi continued with a smile:

"Qian Lei!"

Her gaze fell on Qian Lei.

"Huh?" Qian Lei poked his head out from the back. "What is it, Sister Ling?"

Ling Yiyi smiled.

"I have good news for you. If you are willing, you have been admitted early."

"What? Early admission?"

Qian Lei looked utterly bewildered, unable to understand what she meant.

Ling Yiyi smiled.

"Your Martial Soul has been recognized by the academy. You may choose early admission.

In other words, if you are willing, you are now a new student of Shrek Academy's Outer Court, one of the thirty available spots."

Qian Lei froze completely. Had happiness really come this suddenly?

"Ah, r-really?"

Qian Lei could hardly believe his ears.

Ling Yiyi smiled. "So, do you believe it or not?

Also, you need to tell me your choice immediately."

Qian Lei swallowed.

"I'm willing. Of course I'm willing! Thank you so much!"

He was so excited that he could barely speak coherently.

He had never expected to be admitted early.

"Don't celebrate too soon. This is also part of the assessment.

"If I'm not mistaken, if you choose early admission, then the two of us will be eliminated because we will lose you as a teammate and be unable to form a three-person group.

"If the academy's subsequent assessments are all conducted in three-person groups, then the two of us won't be able to take part in the later assessments.

"This is testing your character, to see whether you would abandon your teammates for personal gain.

"At the same time, it is testing the two of us, to see whether we would resent you for disregarding us.

"I dare say that if you truly choose to be admitted now, then you will definitely be eliminated in the end."

While Qian Lei was still excited, Nan Xuanyu dumped a bucket of cold water over him.

"Damn it, that's disgusting."

After hearing Nan Xuanyu's words, Qian Lei could not help swearing.

"Sister Ling, is what he said true?"

Qian Lei looked at Ling Yiyi and asked.

Ling Yiyi did not answer. She gave Nan Xuanyu a deep look, then turned back to Qian Lei and asked:

"So, what is your choice?"

"Then of course I can't abandon my teammates. My choice is to continue participating in the later assessments!"

Qian Lei answered without hesitation. By now, he completely trusted Nan Xuanyu.

"Very well. Good luck to you."

Ling Yiyi smiled and waved her delicate hand. A beam of light enveloped the three of them.

With a flash of light, the three returned to the valley where they had been before.

The lava pool had already calmed, and the surroundings were empty.

Although Qian Lei had not chosen early admission, a look of regret still appeared on his face.

But he had thought it through. The reason he could summon such powerful Soul Beasts was inseparable from Nan Xuanyu's support.

If he went to Shrek Academy alone, he would quickly be eliminated and expelled as well.

"The preliminary selection has ended."

An electronic voice rang out. Light flashed, and the three of them vanished from the desolate valley at the same time.

When they appeared again, they were already at the entrance to the training grounds.

The three had ended their journey through the Douluo World, and the Simulation Pods slowly opened.

They climbed out of the Simulation Pods and discovered that no one else had left.

Everyone was waiting outside.

All eyes turned toward them, and shock appeared on everyone's faces.

No one had expected these three to hold out for so long.

"Everyone, go back and rest. The results will be announced tomorrow!"

Yin Tianfan glanced at Nan Xuanyu with a look of approval and spoke.

"Yes."

The twenty-one High-Energy Youth Class students answered in unison before finally heading out.

Lu Qianxun took the initiative to walk over and extended his hand toward Nan Xuanyu.

"Thanks."

Nan Xuanyu had helped them during the assessment.

Nan Xuanyu raised his hand and high-fived him.

"It was nothing. We're all classmates!"

"If we can continue taking part in the later assessments, let's team up. You can be the commander. How about it?"

Lu Qianxun said sincerely.

Nan Xuanyu was stunned. He had not expected the always somewhat arrogant Lu Qianxun to say something like that.

"Sure, no problem!"

Nan Xuanyu nodded.

Lu Qianxun and Ye Lingtong were both powerful Assault-type Battle Soul Masters.

Chang Jianyin's control abilities were also extremely strong.

If they formed an alliance, the pressure would lessen considerably.

After Nan Xuanyu and the other two returned to the academy dormitory, they each entered a meditative state.

Everyone had gained something from participating in this assessment.

They needed to meditate and reflect on it.

This time, Nan Xuanyu entered Unity of Heaven and Man, a state of Deep Meditation.

The next day, after Qian Lei and Liu Feng got up, he still had not awakened.

When the teachers learned of this, they were all profoundly shocked.

Deep Meditation was a state that every Soul Master dreamed of attaining.

It was a special state in which one's body and mind fully merged with meditation, reaching the optimal condition.

Deep Meditation did not merely improve one's meditative state, allowing Soul Power to increase more quickly.

More importantly, in this state of complete emptiness of body and mind, it could greatly enhance one's comprehension, allowing one to grasp levels that were normally unattainable.

It was most beneficial for breakthroughs and advancement.

Mu Chongtian, Yin Tianfan, and the others were all immensely envious, even somewhat jealous.

After all, they had never experienced Deep Meditation themselves.

That afternoon, the preliminary selection results were released.

Among the countless examinees on Tianluo Star, only the top one hundred could advance to the next round of assessments.

Everyone had gathered before the screen early, waiting for the announcement.

"They're out!"

Mu Chongtian's eager voice rang out.

Ji Hongbin, sitting beside him, immediately straightened up.

Mu Chongtian spotted familiar names at once.

"Rank ninety-nine: Jin Xiang, Tang Yuege, Li Pengbin. Heaven Luo Academy. Points: thirty-nine."

"Haha, Jin Xiang and the others made it through! That's great!"

Mu Chongtian was so excited he nearly jumped up.

In his memory, Jin Xiang and the others had not lasted particularly long.

At least four other groups had lasted longer than they had.

That meant that, including Jin Xiang's group, at least five groups—a total of fifteen people—had advanced.

"Rank ninety-nine. Your luck really is quite good!"

Ji Hongbin turned to Jin Xiang and the others with a smile.

At that moment, the three of them shouted wildly from their seats, overjoyed.

Everyone was gathered in the classroom to watch the announced results, cheering and celebrating together.

Naturally, those who had lasted less time than the three could only sigh repeatedly, their faces full of regret.