Mental-Force Amplitude: 23 Times

Twenty-four Bone Spikes shot toward the twenty-four circular targets ahead. This time, twenty-two Bone Spikes vanished along with their targets, leaving two circular targets standing in place.

Li Qi muttered to himself, "Two left..."

The result was within his expectations. He had already sensed something wrong when he attacked—two of the Bone Spikes had not reached their limit.

"His Mental-Force Amplitude is either 22 or 23 times."

Seeing that two circular targets remained, Ian had a better idea of the situation.

Then he said, "Based on twenty-four Bone Spikes, you may state a number to reduce the corresponding number of Bone Spikes."

"One."

Li Qi replied.

As soon as he spoke, twenty-three Bone Spikes appeared out of thin air.

Using his Mental Force to control the twenty-three Bone Spikes, Li Qi did not immediately attack the circular targets ahead. Instead, he carefully sensed his current state.

"As expected, twenty-three Bone Spikes are the limit."

Controlling all twenty-three Bone Spikes at full force, he felt his Mental Force begin to stagnate.

"Go!"

Li Qi gave a soft shout, and the twenty-three Bone Spikes flew toward the circular targets ahead before vanishing without a trace.

Once it was over, he let out a long breath, his expression relaxing considerably. "Examiner Ian, this is my limit."

Hearing this, Ian nodded. "The test is over."

As Ian's words fell, the space changed. Li Qi, who had been standing in the Virtual Universe, found himself seated back in his previous chair.

Li Qi looked slightly dazed. He glanced around before confirming that he had returned to reality.

An electronic voice announced, "Candidate Li Qi, Mental-Force Amplitude: 23 times."

"A Mental-Force Amplitude of 23 times... I wonder how good this result is. Can I receive special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy?"

Li Qi thought to himself.

Just then, Ian's voice came with praise. "Li Qi, your performance exceeded my expectations. You currently have the highest Mental-Force Amplitude among all candidates in this Admission Test."

"Currently the best!"

Li Qi's heart skipped a beat. "Does that mean I really have a chance of receiving special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy?"

Ian smiled and asked, "I have a small question. Could you answer it for me?"

Li Qi changed how he addressed him. "Instructor Ian, please go ahead."

"I looked through your file. It mentions that you killed a Planetary Level beast during the recent Beast Tide. How did you manage that?"

Li Qi answered, "A damaged first-tier Mental Force weapon."

After their earlier exchange, he had sensed that Ian was somewhat unusual. He did not seem like an ordinary examiner.

Ian lowered his head and muttered, "A Mental-Force Amplitude of 23 times, paired with a damaged first-tier Mental Force weapon capable of displaying its power... Killing a low-level Planetary Level beast would not be too difficult."

After muttering to himself, he raised his head with a smile. "Because your talent is outstanding, as one of the chief examiners for this Admission Test, I believe you may enter Zhaoguang Academy directly."

He paused before continuing, "Therefore, I hereby announce that you have obtained a place at Zhaoguang Academy. You do not need to take the Trial Tower assessment."

"What?"

The sudden surprise caught Li Qi completely off guard. Just like that, he had received special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy.

He had thought Ian was merely someone with a somewhat special identity, perhaps an aide to one of the chief examiners. He had never expected him to be one of the chief examiners himself.

"Thank you, Instructor Ian!" He hurriedly bowed in gratitude.

"No need." Ian slightly raised a hand. "At your age, you have achieved an amplitude of 23 times and can even kill Planetary Level beasts.

"This already puts you above the vast majority of candidates. Naturally, you qualify to enter Zhaoguang Academy. You will receive Zhaoguang Academy's admission notice within an hour at most."

After saying that, he waved his hand. "All right, your test is finished. You may leave now. It is time for the next candidate to come in for testing."

"Yes."

Li Qi was thrilled and excited. After respectfully bowing, he left the testing room.

Watching Li Qi leave, Ian tapped his communicator a few times and sent out a message. Then he exited through a side door, while the female examiner from before returned to the testing room.

After leaving the testing room, Li Qi approached Ivanko with a faint smile on his face.

"Third Dad, my Mental-Force Amplitude test result was 23 times. Since the examiner inside was one of the chief examiners, I received special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy."

Arriving beside Ivanko, Li Qi shared the good news.

"What? You obtained a place at Zhaoguang Academy? Eleven, you're not mistaken?"

Naturally, Ivanko did not believe Li Qi's words.

One of this year's chief examiners was from the Holk Family. How could they grant Eleven special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy without even making him take the Trial Tower assessment?

"It's true. Examiner Ian is one of this year's chief examiners. He believes my talent means I do not need to take the Trial Tower assessment and can receive special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy. He also told me that I would receive Zhaoguang Academy's admission notice within an hour at the latest."

Seeing that Ivanko did not believe him, Li Qi repeated what Ian had said.

"Ian?"

Hearing the chief examiner's name, Ivanko recalled the short list of Holk Family members serving as instructors at Zhaoguang Academy. None of them was called Ian.

"So it's true."

Ivanko patted Li Qi on the shoulder and praised him. "Well done! Come on, let's go back and tell your grandfather this good news."

Thus, the two left with smiles on their faces, leaving those waiting to watch the spectacle utterly astonished.

"What's going on? Did he pass the Admission Test?"

The middle-aged man who loved watching excitement looked bewildered. "The timing doesn't add up! There's no way he could have passed the Trial Tower assessment so quickly!

"Could it be that the Holk Family finally grew a conscience and did not make things difficult for that kid called Li Qi Royce? That's not normal!"

Including him, everyone else was utterly baffled and could not figure out what had happened.

Ian took the high-speed elevator back to the chief examiners' office. He sat down at his seat and began chatting with the person opposite him.

"I found a rather promising youngster while I was out just now. His talent is excellent, so I gave him special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy without taking the Trial Tower assessment."

The person opposite him asked, "Oh? What's his name? Perhaps I know him."

Ian answered, "Li Qi Royce."

A middle-aged man who had been working with his head lowered at the head seat immediately looked up upon hearing Li Qi's name.

He hurriedly asked, "Instructor Ian, who did you just say you granted special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy without taking the Trial Tower assessment?"

"Li Qi Royce. What is it, Instructor Marcel?" Ian asked.

"Instructor Ian, this is a serious problem!" Marcel's expression changed slightly. "The academy entrusted us with the role of chief examiners. We cannot betray that trust. Handing out admission places so casually is extremely irresponsible."

Ian narrowed his eyes. "Instructor Marcel, what do you mean by that?"

"May I ask, Instructor Ian, does Li Qi Royce have a Mental-Force Amplitude of 25 times?" Marcel asked.

"No." Ian answered patiently.

"Since he does not, why did you give Li Qi Royce a place?" Marcel continued.

"I already told you why. It is because his talent is exceptional." Ian gave his reason. "I even believe he has the best talent of anyone in this Admission Test."

"Instructor Ian! How do you know he has the best talent?" Marcel asked aggressively.

"Instructor Marcel, are you questioning my judgment?" Ian's expression turned cold.

Ian was a proud man!

A useless first-tier Stellar Level Martial Artist raised in a greenhouse like Marcel was worthy of questioning his judgment?

"I do not mean to question you, Instructor Ian. It is simply that some people conceal their talent very well, making them extremely deceptive."

Marcel offered a slight explanation to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

Of course, even if Ian chose to become hostile over this matter, he was not afraid!

They were both first-tier Stellar Level Martial Artists, so the gap in their strength would not be too great. Besides, Kuka Planet strictly prohibited private combat.

Marcel said, "For example, Li Qi Royce's father was once a genius with a Force-Output Amplitude as high as 21 times.

"But his comprehension was poor, and he was ultimately eliminated from Zhaoguang Academy."

"So?" Ian asked.

"So I hope you can revoke the place and have Li Qi Royce return to take the Trial Tower assessment. If his assessment results are excellent, everyone will be happy.

"But if his results are unsatisfactory, then it will not reflect poorly on you, Instructor Ian."

Marcel believed he had considered everything thoroughly. This was a solution that benefited everyone.

"Heh, Instructor Marcel." Ian chuckled and shook his head. "I will not misjudge him, so I cannot revoke a place I have already granted."

Ian was extremely confident. There were very few people in Zhaoguang Academy who were better than him at judging others!

He had traveled through the universe with his teacher for over a hundred years. His knowledge and experience were not something these greenhouse flowers who had never left Kuka Planet could compare to.

"Since that is the case, then I have no choice but to personally correct your mistake, Instructor Ian." Marcel's expression turned cold. "In the name of the first chief examiner."

"You are the first chief examiner, so naturally you have the authority to reject the direct-admission privilege application I submitted."

Ian tapped casually on the desk, then revealed a faint smile. "But I will also report this matter truthfully to the dean. Instructor Marcel, take care of yourself."

He had figured it out. Marcel was targeting Li Qi Royce. Given the latter's age, it was unlikely that he had any dealings with Marcel, so it was most likely a family grudge.

"In the name of the first chief examiner, I reject the direct-admission privilege granted by the third chief examiner, Ian Tuert, to candidate Li Qi Royce."

Marcel declared coldly. At this point, they had completely torn off all pretenses, and he truly rejected Ian's privilege application.

After hearing Marcel's declaration, Ian shook his head slightly, stood up, and walked out of the chief examiners' office.

The core United Training Camp on Kuka Planet had just suffered enormous losses and urgently needed new geniuses to replenish its ranks.

Yet that idiot Marcel still had the mood to settle personal grudges through public office.

"A fourteen-year-old with a Mental-Force Amplitude of 23 times—his talent is rated upper-tier by the system. As long as he does not fall on the second floor of the Trial Tower, entering the academy is certain."

Ian truly could not understand where Marcel got the confidence to do this. "Could it be..."

A thought suddenly occurred to him. "He didn't actually read Li Qi Royce's file, did he?"

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He could not help laughing. "That idiot! Did he really not read the file?"