Martial Spirit Mirror

However, the moment Xiao Lingtian finished speaking, another sudden change erupted in the arena.

The azure radiance emitted by the Martial Purity Instrument grew increasingly blazing, so dazzling that people could barely keep their eyes open. A terrifying energy spread outward, and everyone nearby suddenly felt an immense pressure.

Before long, the Martial Purity Instrument seemed unable to withstand that terrifying energy. Fine, interwoven cracks began appearing across its surface, growing wider and wider until, with a bang, the entire instrument exploded into powder.

"An... an instrument explosion. You're not Heaven Tier—you... you're above Heaven Tier."

Zhao Cang stared at the white dust the Martial Purity Instrument had become, his face full of disbelief.

Xiao Chen was too terrifying!

The Martial Purity Instrument had actually failed to endure the energy in his dantian and exploded outright!

The Martial Purity Instruments used for testing by Great Xia's Martial Hall could at most detect Heaven Tier aptitude. When someone above Heaven Tier underwent testing, the instrument could not bear it and would explode directly.

Yet throughout all of Great Xia, not to mention Heaven Tier talents, even Earth Rank talents were pitifully scarce.

In Great Xia's several-thousand-year history, instruments had exploded only three times in total.

The most recent time had been a thousand years ago.

Who would have thought that Xiao Chen would make the Martial Purity Instrument explode today!

Everyone present was stunned by this abrupt scene, and many even found it difficult to breathe.

"Above Heaven Tier! Could it be a King Physique?"

"Could Xiao Chen's dantian... really have recovered?"

"Of course it has! Otherwise, could he have shattered the Martial Purity Instrument?"

Xiao Zhentian looked at Xiao Chen standing proudly in the arena, and his mind went blank for an instant.

His eldest son had regained his talent?

Had that Born King Physique, one that shook the ages and dazzled the present, returned?

Wen Wanrong trembled all over with excitement, unable to utter a word!

As for Ye Qingxuan, besides shock, her face was now filled even more with regret!

Had she known Xiao Chen's talent had recovered, she would never have broken off the engagement with him!

Although Xiao Lingtian was strong, compared with a Born King Physique, he fell far, far short!

This time, she had picked up sesame seeds and lost a watermelon.

Xiao Lingtian, meanwhile, stood there blankly, looking utterly lost. He muttered, "Impossible! Impossible! How did he recover his talent? How is that possible?!"

While everyone was still immersed in their shock and had yet to react, the person in charge of Profound Yellow Academy rushed straight to Xiao Chen. He seized Xiao Chen's hand with utmost sincerity and said ingratiatingly, "Young Master Xiao, join Profound Yellow Academy. Not only will I promise you the position of Holy Son and unlimited resources, I will also guarantee that the next position of academy head of Profound Yellow Academy will be passed to you. Are you willing?"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone immediately turned to look at the person in charge of Profound Yellow Academy. The leaders of the other great academies all wore stunned expressions.

They thought, That bastard is really cunning! He actually moved to poach him before we could react?

In the next instant, the person in charge of Overlord Academy rushed over and sneered. "Li Huangshan, your Profound Yellow Academy ranks only fifth in Barren North, yet you dare invite Young Master Xiao to enroll? Can your tiny temple possibly house such a great Buddha?"

After saying that, he turned to Xiao Chen with a broad grin. "Young Master Xiao, if you ask me, you should join Overlord Academy. Everything Overlord Academy has can be given to you."

Very quickly, the person in charge of Southern Mausoleum Academy also hurried over and retorted, "Li Manxiong, your Overlord Academy is full of crude men with developed limbs and simple minds. How boring would it be for Young Master Xiao to go there? Come to Southern Mausoleum Academy instead—there are beauties in abundance to keep you company!"

"Young Master Xiao, join Zhenkun Academy, and I'll introduce my daughter to you. My daughter is—"

The person in charge of Zhenkun Academy could no longer sit still either. He came before Xiao Chen, intending to use his daughter as a bargaining chip.

But before he could finish, Li Manxiong cut him off in a strange, mocking tone. "She has the back of a tiger, the waist of a bear, and a terrifying appearance! Hahaha! Young Master Xiao, don't let him fool you!"

"Li Manxiong, you son of a bitch, are you determined to make trouble for me?"

"So what if I am? You dare snatch the future Qilin Child of Overlord Academy? Forget making trouble for you—I'd risk my life fighting you!"

"I'll fuck your mother! Last time, you were hunted by a great demon and came crying to beg me for help. If I hadn't saved you, would you be standing here competing with me for someone now?"

"You still dare mention that? If you hadn't sold out your teammate and run off by yourself, would that great demon have beaten me so badly?"

"If we couldn't beat it, were we supposed to stay and wait for death? You want to have a round with me?"

"Then let's have a round! Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Li Manxiong's brows shot upright. An exceptionally terrifying martial aura instantly erupted from his body, and the phantom of a savage bear a hundred zhang tall suddenly appeared behind him, incomparably ferocious.

"Holy shit, Overlord Academy's ultimate art, the Savage Beast Scripture! This is way too terrifying! I only glanced at that savage beast phantom once, and I already feel like I'm about to suffocate!"

"Xiao Chen is fucking incredible! The five great academies have always stood high above everyone else, with others begging to enter them. Who would've thought that today, they'd nearly start fighting over Xiao Chen alone!"

The people below the stage were all dumbfounded.

The person in charge of Zhenkun Academy froze for a moment.

Li Manxiong was serious?

In front of so many students, he did not even care about his face anymore?

"Li Manxiong, is this really necessary over one student?"

Li Huangshan frowned.

"Li Huangshan, stop pretending here! One student? Is he an ordinary student? He's a Born King Physique! A hundred of you put together wouldn't compare to a single hair on his body! Tell me, is it necessary or not? If anyone thinks they can snatch him from me, I'd like to see who dares!"

Li Manxiong sneered.

The great academies had been openly and secretly competing for years, and their relationships were far from good. Several of these academy leaders already had grudges against Li Manxiong, so he simply tore away all pretense.

A Born King Physique was simply too important. As long as he could secure one, even dying here today would be worth it!

But the people in charge of the various academies were no pushovers either. One of them directly roared, "Li Manxiong, since you've laid everything out, I won't pretend anymore either. Southern Mausoleum Academy is determined to have this Born King Physique! If you remain stubborn and refuse to repent, then we may have no choice but to fight you!"

The atmosphere immediately became incomparably tense. Several people glared furiously at one another, and war could break out at any moment!

Just as they could no longer suppress their anger and were preparing to make a move—

"Enough! You're all so old already, and you still want to fight? So many people are watching. You've thrown the academies' dignity away completely!"

The person in charge of Zhenkun Academy stepped forward to mediate.

He was relatively mature and steady. Seeing nearly ten thousand students staring at him in shock, he truly could not bring himself to start fighting!

If they really fought—

How would the five great academies have any face left afterward?

A King Physique was good, but he did not want to lose face either!

Hearing this, the others immediately suppressed their anger and gathered around Xiao Chen once more.

"Young Master Xiao, Saintly Wasteland Academy is also quite interested in you."

At that moment, Zhang Qitian, the person in charge of Saintly Wasteland Academy, walked over and spoke with a faint smile.

Compared with when he had invited Xiao Lingtian earlier, Zhang Qitian now had several more traces of a smile on his face. Clearly, he thought more highly of Xiao Chen.

Seeing this, the faces of the people in charge of the other great academies immediately darkened.

They had acted so urgently because they wanted to secure Xiao Chen before Saintly Wasteland Academy spoke.

Now that Saintly Wasteland Academy had already made its offer, there was naturally nothing left for them.

Saintly Wasteland Academy was simply too powerful, not on the same level as them at all. No martial artist could refuse an invitation from Saintly Wasteland Academy.

Chou Wantian, who had just been about to approach Xiao Chen and sweet-talk him, also halted in his tracks. A trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes as he gave up on recruiting Xiao Chen.

Given Sword Immortal Academy's current condition, forget competing with Saintly Wasteland Academy for talent—even competing with any one of the five great academies would be no different from an idiot dreaming.

When Xiao Zhentian and Wen Wanrong saw Zhang Qitian approach Xiao Chen, their entire bodies trembled with excitement.

Could the Xiao Family have two Qilin Children enter Saintly Wasteland Academy?

That would be a feat unseen in Barren North Province for hundreds of years!

If that truly happened, the Xiao Family would prosper for at least another thousand years.

The nearly ten thousand students below the stage, meanwhile, were filled with envy and jealousy.

Joining any one of the five great academies would be enough to change their fate and let them soar into the sky in a single leap. Saintly Wasteland Academy was undoubtedly the best choice among them.

Sadly, not a single academy had admitted them, while Xiao Chen, that bastard, was being fought over by all five great academies. They were all human—how could the gap be so vast? Was there any justice left in this world?

Seeing no reaction on Xiao Chen's face, Zhang Qitian's eyes flashed with surprise.

Shouldn't any student who received an invitation from Saintly Wasteland Academy be wild with joy?

Why was this young man so calm, without the slightest ripple on his face?

But Zhang Qitian did not think much of it. He directly took out an ancient mirror shimmering with spiritual light and said, "Little Brother Xiao Chen, please stand beside this old man and receive the illumination of the Martial Spirit Mirror!"

The moment he spoke, everyone in the arena was stunned. Zhang Qitian had clearly said earlier that he was also interested in Xiao Lingtian, so why was he now calling only Xiao Chen forward to receive the Martial Spirit Mirror's illumination? Was he planning to abandon Xiao Lingtian?