Enrollment Turmoil and a Shocking Punch

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the carved wooden window, falling onto the inn's floor.

Lin Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, slowly exhaling a breath of stale air. The breath condensed into a faint white ribbon in the air, lingering for a long time.

After a week of secluded cultivation, he not only stabilized his realm at Body Refinement Third Level but also began to integrate the various power-generating techniques of the Cloak Axe Technique into his combat instincts. He could feel the spiritual energy within him surging like never before, like a ceaseless, rushing stream.

"It's time."

He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing and disappearing within them.

Pushing open the door, the morning Cloud Creek City was already full of life. Lin Xiao walked along the wide streets, his mindset completely different from when he first arrived a week ago. Back then, his eyes held caution and scrutiny, but now his heart was filled with confidence and anticipation.

He headed towards the city center. The closer he got to the heart of the city, the more magnificent the surrounding buildings became, the more luxurious the pedestrians' attire, and the subtly higher the concentration of spiritual energy in the air.

Finally, a majestic complex of buildings appeared at the end of his vision.

It was an academy that defied description in its magnificence. A colossal gatehouse forged from bronze, a hundred feet tall, was carved with totems of ancient mythical beasts, exuding an ancient and majestic aura. Beyond the gatehouse stretched endless halls and pavilions, shrouded in mist with cranes crying out, resembling a heavenly realm on earth.

Above the gatehouse hung a massive plaque with four characters inscribed in a flamboyant calligraphy—Cloud Creek Academy.

Just standing there, one could feel a boundless pressure and a supreme reverence for knowledge and power.

In front of the academy lay a vast plaza capable of holding tens of thousands of people. At this moment, the plaza was already crowded with people. Young men and women from all over the Skywind Kingdom, accompanied by their families, had gathered here. Each of them wore an expression of nervousness, excitement, or pride.

Because today was the first day of Cloud Creek Academy's annual enrollment registration.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and stepped into the crowd.

More than a dozen registration points were set up in the plaza, each with a long queue. Lin Xiao casually chose a line and quietly took his place at the end.

"Hey, did you hear? Even the young master of the Royal City Li Family is here for this enrollment! They say he's already a genius at Body Refinement Fourth Level at just sixteen!" "That's not all! Miss Su Yue, the daughter of the City Lord's Mansion, is said to have an Innate Spirit Body and cultivates at an astonishing speed. She's also a popular candidate this year!" "Sigh, compared to these true paragons, it's already a blessing from our ancestors if we can pass the assessment and enter the outer court."

The surrounding discussions gave Lin Xiao a clearer understanding of the intensity of this enrollment. Almost everyone here was a top talent from various regions, where both talent and background were indispensable.

Just then, a voice filled with disdain and contempt rang out from behind him.

"Where did this bumpkin come from? Dressed so raggedly and you dare to come to Cloud Creek Academy to register? Don't you even pee and look at yourself to see what you are!"

Lin Xiao frowned slightly and turned around.

He saw three youths in luxurious attire standing behind him. The one in the lead had fair skin and an arrogant gaze, looking at him as if he were trash. His two followers behind him were fawning and pointing at Lin Xiao.

[System Prompt: Scanning Target: Wang Chen]

[Realm: Body Refinement Second Level]

[Cultivation Method: Tidal Wave Art (Beginner)]

[Background: Eldest son of the Wang family, a cloth merchant in Cloud Creek City]

[System Prompt: Scanning Target: Follower A/B]

[Realm: Body Refinement First Level]

Another one named Wang. Lin Xiao's gaze turned colder.

He ignored the provocation and turned back to continue queuing. To him, such a clown wasn't even worthy of him speaking.

However, his indifference completely enraged the young man named Wang Chen.

"Brat, I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?" Wang Chen lunged forward, reaching out to grab Lin Xiao's shoulder.

In his opinion, a poor boy of low birth like Lin Xiao should have been terrified and knelt begging for mercy just by revealing his identity and strength.

However, before his hand could even touch Lin Xiao's clothes, an icy, bone-chilling killing intent instantly enveloped him!

It was a palpable murderous aura, as if tempered in a sea of corpses and blood!

Wang Chen's body stiffened abruptly, his outstretched hand halting in mid-air. He stared at Lin Xiao's back in horror, a cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

What was going on? That bumpkin's eyes... why were they so terrifying?

"Get lost if you don't want to die."

Lin Xiao still didn't turn around, merely uttering four words through gritted teeth.

The voice was not loud, but it struck Wang Chen and his two followers like a heavy hammer.

"You... you dare threaten me? Do you know who I am!" Wang Chen shouted, his voice laced with an involuntary tremor, though his words were blustering.

Just then, two guards in the academy's standard armor strode over, their voices cold as they barked, "Noisy behavior is forbidden in front of the academy! Anyone causing trouble will have their registration qualification revoked immediately!"

The aura of these two guards was clearly at Body Refinement Fifth Level or higher!

Wang Chen's arrogance deflated upon seeing the guards. He glared venomously at Lin Xiao's retreating back and gritted his teeth, "Brat, you just wait! I'll deal with you once we're inside the academy!"

With that, he and his two followers slunk away and joined another queue.

A minor disturbance was thus quelled. However, the gazes of the people queuing around Lin Xiao now held a different quality. There was sympathy, schadenfreude, and for a few, a hint of admiration for his composure in the face of adversity.

Lin Xiao paid no mind to this, his mind completely focused on the upcoming registration test.

After about an hour, it was finally his turn.

The person in charge of registration was a middle-aged mentor with a goatee. He asked without looking up, "Name, age, origin, cultivation."

"Lin Xiao, sixteen years old, from Qingyang City, Body Refinement Third Level," Lin Xiao replied calmly.

Upon hearing "Qingyang City," the mentor's pen paused slightly. He raised his eyelids and looked Lin Xiao up and down with some surprise, "Qingyang City? A remote place like that can produce a cultivator at Body Refinement Third Level?"

His tone carried the innate sense of superiority common to residents of big cities.

Lin Xiao remained silent.

"Do you have a letter of recommendation?" the instructor asked again.

"No."

The instructor pouted, his contempt deepening. He impatiently pointed to a black crystal stone, taller than a person, beside them. "Go get tested. If a full-power strike on the 'Stone of Strength' can light up three grids, you'll pass the initial screening."

This 'Stone of Strength' was a tool the academy used to test the basic strength of applicants. The stone was divided into ten grids, with each grid representing the strength of the early stage of Body Refinement First Level, and three grids representing the peak of Body Refinement First Level, and so on.

Just now, Wang Chen had lit up five grids with a single punch during his test, reaching the standard for the middle stage of Body Refinement Second Level, drawing gasps of admiration from many around.

At this moment, all eyes were focused on Lin Xiao.

"Hmph, a bumpkin with no background dares to offend Young Master Wang. I bet he can't even light up two grids!" "Body Refinement Third Level? Anyone can brag, we'll see his true colors soon enough."

Not far away, Wang Chen crossed his arms, a look of schadenfreude on his face as he waited to watch the show.

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Xiao slowly walked up to the 'Stone of Strength'.

He didn't strike a pose or gather his strength for a long time like others. He simply stood casually and threw a punch with no fanfare.

The punch looked soft and weak, without any force, not even stirring a breeze.

"What's he doing? Did he not eat?" "I thought it was something amazing, turns out he's all show and no go!"

Laughter erupted.

However, in the next second, all the laughter abruptly stopped.

Lin Xiao's fist landed lightly on the black stone surface.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a barely audible "buzz."

Immediately after, the silent 'Stone of Strength' began to glow from the bottom: the first grid, the second grid, the third grid... The light spread upwards with an unstoppable momentum!

Fourth grid! Fifth grid! Sixth grid! Seventh grid! Eighth grid!

The light broke through like a bamboo, reaching the very top of the eighth grid, even causing the bottom of the ninth grid to faintly flicker with light!

Peak Body Refinement Third Level!

The entire registration area fell into dead silence.

Everyone seemed frozen, staring dumbfounded at the dazzling crystal stone, their minds blank.

The goatee instructor's pen fell to the table with a "clatter." He opened his mouth wide enough to fit an egg, his expression shifting from contempt to bewilderment, then to shock, and finally settling into profound astonishment!

The smug grin on Wang Chen's face froze. He stared at the stone as if he had seen a ghost, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Peak Body Refinement Third Level? How could this be?! How could a country bumpkin from Qingyang City possess such terrifying strength?!

"Gulp."

Someone, unknowingly, swallowed hard, breaking the silence.

Immediately after, a tidal wave of exclamations erupted from the crowd!

"My heavens! Nine grids! He almost lit up the ninth grid!" "Peak Body Refinement Third Level! He's only sixteen!" "Where... where did this monstrous genius come from?!"

In an instant, all the mockery and doubt turned into awe and shock. In this world where strength reigned supreme, Lin Xiao had retorted all the disdain in the most direct and forceful way.

The goatee instructor finally snapped back to reality. The way he looked at Lin Xiao instantly changed. It was the fervent gaze of someone who had discovered a peerless treasure.

He quickly stood up from his seat, his face beaming with a warm smile, and personally handed Lin Xiao a bronze token engraved with a number: "Ahem... This... student Lin Xiao has extraordinary talent, truly extraordinary! This is your registration token, please keep it safe. In three days, use this token to come to the inner plaza for the formal entrance examination."

His attitude was completely different from before.

Lin Xiao took the token. Engraved on it was a number: "735".

He ignored the shocked gazes around him and the sight of Wang Chen's face turning a mottled purple. He simply nodded at the instructor and turned to leave.

He left his fame hidden.

"Hey, student, please wait a moment!"

Just then, a hearty voice called out to him.

Lin Xiao turned his head and saw a sturdy, dark-skinned youth with a simple and honest appearance walking quickly towards him.

"Hello, my name is Shi Lei, from Iron Rock City." The youth scratched his head, revealing a row of white teeth, his smile very sincere. "Brother, you were amazing! That punch really made my blood boil! Want to be friends?"

[System Prompt: Scanning Target: Shi Lei]

[Realm: Body Refinement Third Level]

[Talent: Innate Divine Strength (Not fully awakened)]

Lin Xiao looked at him. He saw no trace of ulterior motives in the youth's eyes, only pure admiration and goodwill.

He nodded. "Lin Xiao."

Just then, another clear voice, like that of an oriole, rang out.

"And me, and me! My name is Su Yue, I'm from Cloud Creek City. Student Lin Xiao, how did you do that punch just now? It clearly didn't look like you used much force, so why was it so powerful?"

A girl in a light yellow dress, with bright eyes and pearly teeth, and an elegant and lively demeanor, also came closer, her curious large eyes blinking as she studied Lin Xiao.

[System Prompt: Scanning Target: Su Yue]

[Realm: Body Refinement Third Level]

[Talent: Primary Spirit Body (Slightly increases cultivation speed)]

She's the City Lord's daughter.

Lin Xiao looked at the man and woman before him. One possessed Innate Divine Strength, the other a Spirit Body. Both were undeniable geniuses.

He knew his academy life might not be as lonely as he'd imagined.

"Just a small trick," Lin Xiao replied calmly.

Despite the enthusiasm from the two geniuses, he maintained his unique composure.

Shi Lei and Su Yue exchanged glances, seeing a hint of helplessness and even greater interest in each other's eyes. This Lin Xiao fellow not only had unfathomable strength but also such a cool personality.

"Lin Xiao, how about we team up for the assessment in three days?" Shi Lei invited. "I'm strong and can tank. Su Yue excels at footwork and can provide support. With you as our powerful damage dealer, the three of us will definitely sweep the assessment!"

Cloud Creek Academy's entrance assessment wasn't a solo fight; many parts required teamwork.

Lin Xiao pondered for a moment and nodded. "Sure."

He was used to being alone, but he also understood that in a place like the academy, having a few reliable allies was better than being by himself.

Seeing his agreement, Shi Lei and Su Yue broke into happy smiles.

The three chatted briefly, exchanged contact information, and agreed to meet again in three days.

After bidding them farewell, Lin Xiao walked alone on the road back to the inn.

He could feel quite a few subtle, lingering gazes still watching him from behind. The commotion he caused at the registration point today was too significant; it had likely attracted the attention of many interested parties.

The corners of his lips curled into an almost imperceptible arc.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.