Assessment Begins

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The day of the Immortal Academy assessment had finally arrived.

All the students who had entered the academy last year gathered in the Immortal Academy plaza today, waiting for the assessment to begin.

"He's here—it's Yuwen Yue!"

A burst of cheers erupted from the crowd, showing just how popular Yuwen Yue was among students of his generation.

After all, Yuwen Yue was handsome, kind to others, and already possessed the cultivation of the fourth level of the Qi Condensation Realm. He was blessed with both talent and looks, so naturally he had no shortage of admirers.

Yuwen Yue waved and smiled at everyone, then found a quiet spot and waited alone.

"Another one is here. That sword looks awfully familiar—it's Wu Liujian!"

"I heard he's the sixth-generation heir of the Wu Family Sword Pavilion in another province, which is why he's called Liujian."

A long sword rested on Wu Liujian's back. His figure stood straight, his expression warning strangers to keep away. From afar, he looked like a sword itself, radiating a cold, sharp aura.

A scorching aura rushed toward them, and the crowd hurriedly parted to make way, afraid of being burned by it.

"Meng Qing!"

"My heavens, I never thought he had cultivated the Blazing Sun Cultivation Method to the realm of True Flame Manifestation. He'll definitely have a place among the top five in this Grand Competition."

"Six or seven of the top ten Class A students have already arrived. Only Jiang Miaoyi is still absent. I wonder whether the Green Robe Fairy will glance at me this time."

"Everything exists in dreams!"

His companion mercilessly shattered his fantasy, leaving him dejected. Then he suddenly felt a breeze brush past him, and a figure in green robes flashed by his side.

"The Green Robe Fairy!"

The newcomer was Jiang Miaoyi. Her steps were light, and after several flashes, she arrived before Yuwen Yue, leaving several afterimages of azure lotuses behind her. The two nodded in greeting, then each adjusted their breathing.

"What an exquisite movement technique!"

Shen Yi was mixed in with the crowd and saw Jiang Miaoyi's movements just now. He could not help but praise her.

"Shen Yi! Today, I, Li Yue, challenge you! I swear I'll wipe away my past humiliation!"

Li Yue recognized Shen Yi among the crowd at once. Battle intent surged in his eyes as he stared in Shen Yi's direction.

The sudden challenge instantly stirred a thousand ripples through the crowd. Even Jiang Miaoyi and Yuwen Yue could not help turning their beautiful eyes toward him.

"That's right, how did we forget Shen Yi? He's the top-ranked Class A student!"

"He still hasn't shown himself. Could it be that his cultivation is lacking, and he doesn't dare face reality?"

Shen Yi had spent most of the past year away, so most people did not know what he looked like. Thus, no one in the crowd recognized him.

"Li Yue has now broken through to the Qi Condensation Realm and wants to wipe away his past humiliation. That does fit the saying: thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—do not mock a youth for being poor. Now we'll see how Shen Yi responds."

"Fine! I accept!"

Shen Yi spoke with a calm expression, his tone devoid of the slightest ripple. He met Li Yue's gaze directly, without the slightest hint of panic.

"This Shen Yi... I can't see through his cultivation!"

"Give it a rest. You're only at the third level of the Body Forging stage, and you think you can see through someone else's cultivation?"

A burst of laughter immediately rose from the crowd, easing the tense atmosphere somewhat.

Feng Yang and Chen Chong suddenly appeared in the air. Looking at the sea of people filling the plaza, they waved their hands and released a streak of light. With a flash, a stone stele appeared at the front of the plaza, after which they signaled that the people below could begin the assessment.

"The assessment begins. Everyone will step forward in order according to their entry rankings to test their cultivation. If your cultivation has reached the Qi Condensation Realm, the stele will turn gold. Those at the fifth level of the Body Forging stage or above will be blue, while those below the fifth level of the Body Forging stage will be black."

Shen Yi stood at the very front, while a winding, twisting line stretched behind him—a spectacular sight.

"Gold!"

Shen Yi was the first to step forward. He placed both hands on the stone stele, then wrote down his name. At once, the stele bloomed with blue light.

The crowd stirred, all marveling that Shen Yi truly deserved to be called the "top-ranked Class A student, blessed with outstanding talent"!

Shen Yi walked calmly to one side. Looking down, he saw a number appear in his palm: "One." It was presumably meant for the upcoming contest over Grotto-Heaven Qualification.

As expected, Jiang Miaoyi received a gold rating. As she passed Shen Yi, he clearly saw the character "Two" in her hand.

Yuwen Yue came next and also received a gold rating. Smiling, he showed the two of them the character "Three" in his hand. This action filled many of the male cultivators present with jealousy—Yuwen Yue had actually smiled at Shen Yi.

The testing continued in orderly fashion across the plaza. Golden light flashed from time to time, stirring up waves of commotion.

Feng Yang and Chen Chong were very satisfied as they watched the cultivation levels of the disciples. Under this Golden Age, the more talented people there were, the more beneficial it would be to the Immortal Academy's development.

This continued for more than an entire day. When the final person triggered a flash of black light, the first stage of the assessment was finally complete.

"There are thirty thousand disciples taking this assessment. Thirteen thousand are below the fifth level of the Body Forging stage, seventeen thousand are at the fifth level of the Body Forging stage or above, and five hundred and one are in the Qi Condensation Realm. There are one thousand two hundred and one participants in the Immortal Academy Grand Competition, competing for Grotto-Heaven Qualification."

The crowd sighed in amazement. The path of cultivation truly was cruel, like sifting sand through great waves. And this was only the Qi Condensation Realm—one could see just how difficult the road of cultivation ahead would be.

"Next is the Immortal Academy Grand Competition. The Spirit Stele will also determine the order of the battles!"

As soon as the instructor finished speaking, the Spirit Stele flashed with light, then scattered across the plaza, forming arena-like structures. Two columns of golden text slowly appeared on the Spirit Stele.

"The first round of matchups has been displayed. Please prepare yourselves!"

Streaks of golden light descended. The students whose names had appeared on the steles felt a wave of dizziness. When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves standing on the arenas, with their opponents for this round directly before them.

Six hundred arenas had long been surrounded by spectators. Whether they were there to support their goddesses or to watch others make fools of themselves, every arena was packed so tightly that not even water could trickle through.

"Fairy Jiang's opponent is just a seventh-level Body Forging brat. She'll definitely win with ease."

"Goddess Yuwen will surely win without even breaking a sweat."

"Shen Yi's opponent is Chu Xiong, who's at the peak of the ninth level of the Body Forging stage. Shen Yi won't lose to him, will he?"

On the arena, Chu Xiong's expression was grave. Looking at the relaxed Shen Yi before him, he unexpectedly felt fear rise from the depths of his heart.

It must be an illusion!

Chu Xiong was broad and powerfully built, every muscle on his body packed with explosive strength. The cultivation method he practiced was called the Savage Beast Art, and it suited his physique perfectly.

Yet as he looked at the ordinary-looking Shen Yi before him, who seemed completely harmless, a trace of fear arose within him.

"Senior Shen, be careful!"

Chu Xiong shouted, suppressing the fear in his heart. Like a savage bull, he charged at Shen Yi.

"Not a bad build, and your strength isn't low either. Unfortunately, it's still not enough!"

Shen Yi neither dodged nor retreated. Only when Chu Xiong had charged right before him did he raise his hand and seize the fist Chu Xiong had swung.

The wind from the punch blew Shen Yi's hair, but Chu Xiong could advance no farther. With his fist held by Shen Yi, he was unable to move for a moment.