Wutan City's central square was packed with people at Jia Nan Academy's recruitment site, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.
Young men and women carried their dreams in their hearts as they nervously awaited the magical stone tablet test that would determine their fates.
Mo Lin blended into the crowd. His gaze swept across the area before quickly settling on the cool and elegant girl in a pale purple dress among the Xiao Family's group—Xiao Xun'er.
She seemed to sense his gaze. Her clear eyes casually glanced his way, meeting Mo Lin's for only an instant before separating, though a barely perceptible trace of surprise and curiosity flashed through the depths of her eyes.
Mo Lin's heart tightened slightly. He did not look any longer and turned his attention to the testing area.
The testing proceeded quickly. Several promising Xiao Family youths showed Dou Qi at the seventh and eighth stages, drawing frequent nods from Instructor Ruo Lin.
Instructor Ruo Lin appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her full, graceful figure was accentuated by her azure instructor's robes, giving her a mature charm. Her gentle features also held a hint of capable sharpness.
Once the Xiao Family's testing was complete, Ruo Lin was about to announce the results when a clear voice suddenly rang out.
"Instructor, if a student wishes to apply for a year of leave, what conditions must they meet?"
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw a young man in green robes calmly stepping out of the crowd.
He looked around eighteen, tall and upright, with handsome features and a faint, composed smile at the corners of his mouth. It was Mo Lin.
Instructor Ruo Lin was briefly startled. Looking at Mo Lin, she smiled gently. "And you are? Academy rules state that those whose potential is assessed as S-Class or above may receive half a year of leave. However, your potential must first be assessed through testing."
"My name is Mo Lin, merely a wanderer." Mo Lin walked to the magical stone tablet and placed his hand against it. "We can discuss the leave after the test."
As his words fell, Dou Qi slowly poured in.
Buzz—!
The magical stone tablet suddenly erupted with dazzling light! Its markings soared wildly upward!
Dou Zhe! One Star, Two Stars... Nine Stars!
Da Dou Shi! One Star, Two Stars... Five Stars!
The light finally stopped steadily at—Nine-Star Fighter Peak!
The entire square instantly fell deathly silent! Everyone stared in stunned disbelief, as if their throats had been seized!
An eighteen-year-old Nine-Star Fighter Peak?! This was practically a legendary monster! Even the geniuses of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy rarely reached such a level at that age!
The gentle smile on Instructor Ruo Lin's face completely froze. Her beautiful eyes widened, and her chest heaved sharply with shock.
The teacup in Xiao Zhan's hand fell and shattered, while the Xiao Family members turned pale in horror.
Even Xiao Xun'er's calm eyes rippled with obvious turmoil as she stared fixedly at Mo Lin.
"Ei... eighteen years old, Nine-Star Fighter Peak..." Instructor Ruo Lin's voice trembled. Her gaze upon Mo Lin instantly became blazing hot. "Student Mo Lin! On behalf of Jia Nan Academy, I sincerely invite you to join us! The Academy will devote every resource to your training!"
Mo Lin merely shook his head. "I can join, but I need a year of leave, effective immediately."
"A year of leave upon enrollment? This..." Instructor Ruo Lin's delicate brows furrowed slightly. How could Academy rules be so easily bent? Even S-Class geniuses only received half a year of leave.
The corners of Mo Lin's mouth rose, carrying a hint of provocation. "Rules are dead. I heard the Academy has a challenge tradition. If students have objections to their arrangements, they may initiate a free spar with an instructor and let strength do the talking.
"How about I spar with you, Instructor? No limit on rounds, no restrictions on methods, until one side admits defeat or can no longer fight. If I can make you acknowledge my strength, grant me a year of leave. How about it?"
No limits on rounds or methods?! The crowd erupted! This was no simple spar—it was practically a real battle!
There was an enormous gulf between a Five Star Great Fighter and a Nine-Star Fighter. Where did this youth get such confidence?
Instructor Ruo Lin's competitive spirit was also stirred by this arrogant yet straightforward proposal.
The gentleness disappeared from her face, replaced by a serious and earnest expression. "Fine! Since you insist, then your teacher will fight you with everything she has! Let me see exactly where your limits lie! If you truly possess strength worthy of my recognition, I will personally apply to the Academy for your leave!"
"It's a deal!"
The area was quickly cleared. Under the fading glow of the sunset, Mo Lin stood proudly in his green robes while Instructor Ruo Lin's blue robes fluttered in the wind. Their gazes met, and the air filled with a grave, murderous tension. This would be a battle without restraint!
"Watch out!" Instructor Ruo Lin no longer held back. With a sharp cry, the powerful aura of a Five Star Great Fighter erupted in full!
The azure whip in her hand moved like a giant serpent awakening from slumber. With a shriek that tore through the air, it turned into a solid bolt of blue lightning and stabbed directly toward Mo Lin's chest!
The speed, force, and angle of this strike were all flawless, without the slightest hint of probing!
Mo Lin's pupils contracted. He did not dare be careless. Icy Dou Qi surged violently through his body as Ice Emperor's Claw instantly covered both arms, which he crossed before himself to block!
Clang!
A deafening crash like metal striking metal exploded!
Mo Lin's body shuddered violently. The bluestone beneath his feet cracked inch by inch, and he slid backward several yards before barely steadying himself. Waves of numb soreness spread through his arms.
The full-force strike of a Five Star Great Fighter was truly terrifying!
"Water Mandala!" Instructor Ruo Lin pressed her advantage. Her long whip danced as Dou Qi surged forth, condensing in midair into a lifelike giant water serpent seven or eight meters long!
The water serpent raised its head in a silent roar. Carrying vast energy fluctuations, it opened its enormous jaws and lunged at Mo Lin as though it would devour him whole!
This was the true power of the Mysterious Tier Intermediate Combat Skill, Water Mandala!
Facing this terrifying attack, a fierce glint flashed in Mo Lin's eyes. He let out a low roar and pushed Ice Emperor's Armor's defense to its utmost limit, a layer of crystalline ice armor spreading over his body!
At the same time, Ice Emperor's Claw shone brilliantly. Both claws carried bone-piercing cold as they charged boldly into the water serpent's gaping jaws!
Boom—!
A thunderous explosion rang out! Ice shards and water droplets scattered in every direction as an energy shockwave swept outward!
Mo Lin grunted, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His crystalline ice armor shattered, and his body was violently flung away before crashing heavily to the ground.
Yet he swiftly rolled over and leaped back to his feet, his gaze still as sharp as a blade!
Instructor Ruo Lin was even more shocked! She had not expected Mo Lin to withstand her full-power Water Mandala without falling! Such defensive strength and resilience far surpassed that of an ordinary Da Dou Shi!
"Raging Wave Whip Shadows: Ninefold Waves!" She hesitated no longer and unleashed her trump-card Mysterious Tier Advanced Combat Skill!
The long whip transformed into nine incomparably solid blue whip shadows. One wave followed another, endless like a tsunami, carrying destructive power as they enveloped Mo Lin!
The power of every wave rivaled the previous Water Mandala!
Sensing the deadly threat, Mo Lin knew he could no longer hold anything back.
He abruptly planted his feet, drew in a deep breath, and blue light blazed in his eyes!
"Snow Dance... Blazing Sun!"
Buzz—!
Centered on him, the temperature within a radius of thirty meters suddenly dropped below negative one hundred and eighty degrees!
Countless goose-feather snowflakes appeared from thin air, whirling and dancing wildly as a clearly visible pale-blue domain abruptly spread out!
Within the domain, Mo Lin's aura suddenly surged. His speed, perception, and the power of his ice-element combat skills all received a substantial boost!
Meanwhile, Instructor Ruo Lin felt her body grow heavy, as though her movements had sunk into a mire. Even the circulation of her Dou Qi became somewhat sluggish.
"What kind of combat skill is this?! Its effects are this powerful?!" Instructor Ruo Lin cried out in disbelief, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment!
Taking advantage of the moment her mind was shaken, Mo Lin moved!
With the boost of the Snow Dance Blazing Sun domain, his speed became ghostlike, and he narrowly evaded the first few waves of whip shadows.
Ice Emperor's Claw swept out repeatedly, shattering the following whip shadows.
But the Ninefold Waves were simply too terrifying. His blood and Qi still churned violently, and his injuries worsened.
As the final wave—the strongest one—was about to strike him, resolve flashed in Mo Lin's eyes!
He frantically compressed and condensed the domain's power at his fingertips, pouring all of his ultimate icy Dou Qi into it without reservation!
"Emperor Sword: Peerless Ice Extreme!"
A three-foot-long sword instantly condensed, wholly translucent as if carved from ancient profound ice.
Cold mist coiled around the blade, subtly distorting even the surrounding space. An incomparably chilling sword intent, as though it could freeze the soul itself, soared into the sky!
Mo Lin gripped the sword with both hands and slashed toward the final solid blue tidal wave!
There was no huge explosion, only a faint slicing sound. The ice sword's edge passed through the blue wave, splitting the attack containing Instructor Ruo Lin's immense Dou Qi in two as easily as a hot knife through butter!
The incomparably sharp sword intent even pierced through the whip shadows and pressed directly toward Instructor Ruo Lin herself!
Instructor Ruo Lin's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly swung her whip to block!
Bang!
The phantom ice sword collided with the long whip and shattered explosively!
Yet the extreme cold and razor-sharp sword intent made Instructor Ruo Lin's wrist go numb, nearly causing her to lose her grip on the whip!
She retreated seven or eight steps before dispelling the force of the impact, her blood and Qi roiling violently within her!
She stared blankly ahead.
Mo Lin knelt on one knee, supporting himself with his sword. His face was pale as paper, and his aura had weakened to the extreme. He was clearly at the end of his strength, unable even to maintain his domain.
But he had taken it! He had taken the full series of attacks from a Five Star Great Fighter!
That final sword strike had been utterly stunning, enough to make even her feel a lethal threat!
The entire area was silent enough to hear a pin drop! Everyone was stunned by this ferocious battle, which had far exceeded their expectations!
Instructor Ruo Lin looked at Mo Lin, who was breathing heavily yet still held a firm gaze, and the shock in her heart became impossible to describe!
Genius was no longer enough to describe him! He was a monster! A peerless prodigy seen only once in a thousand years!
His terrifying ability to fight above his rank, that unheard-of domain skill, that astonishing ice-element sword technique... Every one of them overturned everything she knew!
What rules? What leave? None of it mattered now! What mattered was that this youth had to join Jia Nan Academy, at any cost!
Instructor Ruo Lin quickly walked over to Mo Lin. The seriousness and shock on her face had long since been replaced by an almost shameless enthusiasm and sincerity.
She even disregarded an instructor's dignity and crouched halfway down, staring at Mo Lin with blazing eyes as she spoke in extreme excitement.
"Mo Lin! No, Student Mo Lin! You win! I, Ruo Lin Ge Lan, swear in the name of a Five Star Great Fighter: one year of leave! No—if you need it, even two years can be discussed!
"As long as you agree to join Jia Nan Academy! I will immediately handle every procedure for you personally and apply to the headquarters for the highest level of training resources! Jia Nan Academy needs a student like you! No, a future star!"
Mo Lin panted heavily as he looked at the Five Star Great Fighter instructor before him, who had completely abandoned her composure and stared at him so passionately it seemed she might swallow him whole. The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. Isn't this change in attitude a little too extreme...? Where's the dignity of a Five Star Great Fighter? Still... I finally achieved my goal.
He struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and smiled helplessly. "All right, Instructor Ruo Lin's kindness is difficult to refuse. One year of leave will be enough. I'll join."
"Wonderful!" Instructor Ruo Lin was overjoyed. She immediately took out a student jade badge and specially approved leave documents from her storage ring, practically stuffing them into Mo Lin's hands for fear that he might change his mind. "This is your identification badge and leave documentation! Jia Nan Academy will welcome you at any time in a year! No, we'll be awaiting your arrival!"
Mo Lin accepted the jade badge and documents, feeling the Academy's mark contained within them. He nodded. "I'll go in one year."
After speaking, he ignored the countless gazes around him—filled with awe, worship, and reverence as if they were looking upon a god. He gave Instructor Ruo Lin a slight nod, then turned and slowly departed, dragging his exhausted yet still upright body away.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long. Today's all-out battle was destined to become a legend in the recruitment history of Wutan City and even Jia Nan Academy.
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