Admissions Assessment, First Trials of the Talented

The aftermath of Myriad Manifestations Academy's completion ceremony had yet to settle, and the discussions and undercurrents it had sparked continued to ferment. Yet within the academy, everything had already begun quietly operating like a finely tuned machine wound tight, making its final preparations for the upcoming first round of admissions.

Central Tower, top-floor Dean's Office.

Qin Mo stood before the enormous crystal window with his hands behind his back. His gaze pierced through the flowing Nine-Colored Light Screen and fell upon the expectant crowd outside the plaza, each harboring their own thoughts. Behind him floated a massive light screen condensed from pure Soul Power, densely covered in endlessly shifting data and runes. It displayed the academy's grand formation's operating status, energy flow, and even clearly marked the strength of the energy fluctuations and approximate cultivation of the spies outside.

Bing'er, Yan'er, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and Ning Rongrong stood solemnly nearby. After half a year of cultivation and Qin Mo's guidance, their auras had grown increasingly refined and composed, their gazes sharp. They already possessed a hint of the bearing of future powerhouses.

"Dean, there are more and more people spying on us from outside. All sorts are mixed in." Bing'er's cool voice rang out, carrying a trace of barely perceptible annoyance. She was in charge of the academy's security and was especially sensitive to those fly-like gazes that refused to go away.

"It does not matter." Qin Mo did not turn around, his voice calm. "Water too clear harbors no fish. Let them watch. Let them guess. Why would Myriad Manifestations Academy need to hide what it does?"

He paused, then turned and swept his gaze across the five girls. "The academy's construction is complete. It is time to bring in fresh blood. Tomorrow, release the admissions notice."

All five girls' eyes lit up. The academy was finally going to officially admit students!

"Dean, how should we set the admissions standards?" Ning Rongrong asked with curiosity and excitement. "Shouldn't we set a very high threshold? For example, Innate Soul Power of at least Level Eight?" She did not want just any random person coming in to share that miraculous Cultivation Tower.

Qin Mo shook his head slightly. "Talent is important, but it is not the only thing. Temperament, perseverance, comprehension, even... luck, are all indispensable."

He walked to the light screen and tapped it with a finger. Runes flowed across its surface and swiftly formed a detailed admissions charter.

"The notice will state this clearly: Myriad Manifestations Academy's first intake will have thirty places. There are no restrictions on background or Martial Soul, but applicants must be under twelve years old."

"There will be three stages of assessment." "The first stage is the Path of Heart's Inquiry. Those who cross the nine steps before the academy gate may enter the preliminary test. These steps possess their own mysteries. They reflect one's true heart and eliminate those with improper intentions or weak resolve." "The second stage is the Spirit Testing Monument. Those who can make the monument light up with three or more rays of light will pass. This monument does not merely test Soul Power Level, but potential and affinity with Heaven and Earth Primal Energy." "The third stage is the Illusion Battle Hall. It will randomly generate Soul Beast Phantoms of the same rank. Anyone who can hold out alone for the time it takes an incense stick to burn without being defeated will qualify. It tests practical combat, adaptability, and resilience."

The charter's details were clear and straightforward. The conditions seemed lenient—no restrictions on background or Martial Soul—but the three stages grew harder with each one. The unheard-of Path of Heart's Inquiry and Spirit Testing Monument in particular clearly concealed profound mysteries.

"Thirty places... isn't that too few?" Ye Lingling asked softly. There was a sea of people outside. Thirty people meant one in tens of thousands.

"Better lacking than indiscriminate." Qin Mo's tone remained calm. "Myriad Manifestations Academy only wants the elite among elites. Resources will only be given to those worth cultivating."

He looked at the five girls. "During the assessment, Bing'er and Yan'er will maintain order and deter troublemakers. Zhuqing, you are the fastest. Monitor the Illusion Battle Hall, and intervene immediately if there is danger. Lingling, support from the side and treat any injuries that may occur. Rongrong..."

Ning Rongrong immediately puffed out her chest and looked at him expectantly.

"You will sit at the center with me. Use your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to assist me in monitoring the entire venue, especially the Spirit Testing Monument's reactions. I need more precise data records."

"Yes, Dean!" Ning Rongrong answered loudly, her little face full of pride and responsibility.

The next morning.

When the first ray of sunlight fell upon Myriad Manifestations Academy's Mystic Crystal Iron Gate, an enormous admissions notice condensed from blazing Soul Power floated above the gate like a Divine Decree. The words upon it shone brilliantly, appearing incomparably clear in everyone's eyes below!

"They're accepting students! Myriad Manifestations Academy is finally accepting students!" "No restrictions on background! No restrictions on Martial Souls! Great!" "Under twelve... sigh, my son is over the age limit!" "There are only thirty places?! That's far too few!" "Path of Heart's Inquiry? Spirit Testing Monument? Illusion Battle Hall? What kind of assessments are these?" "Who cares! As long as I can get in, I'll take any test!"

The crowd instantly erupted! Countless young soul masters and their parents, who had waited for so long, were thrilled and eager to try. Meanwhile, the spies from various factions hurriedly sent the news back at top speed.

"Silence!"

A cold feminine shout rang out like an icy spring cascading over stone, instantly suppressing all the clamor.

The academy gates slowly opened, revealing Bing'er and Yan'er at the entrance. One wore a long ice-blue dress, cold as snow; the other wore fitted crimson attire, blazing like fire. The aura of their ultimate Martial Souls was released without restraint, and the tangible pressure of Soul Ancestors instantly silenced the noisy crowd. Many felt their breathing catch.

"Those wishing to participate in the assessment, step forward in order and walk the Path of Heart's Inquiry! No noise, no pushing. Violators will be expelled!" Bing'er's voice held no emotion. Her gaze swept over the crowd, and everyone it touched felt a chill rise from the depths of their hearts, not daring to act recklessly.

Very soon, the first participant appeared. He was a boy of around eleven or twelve, plainly dressed, with nervousness and anticipation on his face. His Soul Power was roughly Level Fifteen. He took a deep breath and cautiously stepped onto the seemingly ordinary nine steps before the academy gate.

Nothing happened when he took the first step. The second, the third... But when he stepped onto the fifth, his body suddenly swayed. A struggling, pained expression appeared on his face, as though he were enduring tremendous pressure. In the end, he let out a scream and was sent flying by an invisible force. He crashed to the ground, his face pale.

A wave of startled cries arose from the crowd.

"Unqualified. Next." Bing'er announced expressionlessly.

Over the next several attempts, more than a dozen people came forward. Most failed by the third or fourth step. Some turned pale and retreated in disarray after stepping onto the very first. This Path of Heart's Inquiry seemed capable of striking directly at one's heart, magnifying inner fear, hesitation, and distracting thoughts. With even the slightest lack of resolve, one could not pass.

At last, a youth dressed in brocade robes and carrying an arrogant air stepped forward proudly, surrounded by two guards. He was around ten years old, yet his Soul Power had already reached Level Eighteen. He clearly came from an extraordinary background.

"Hmph, just a bunch of tricks with some steps. Watch this young master cross them in one step!" he snorted, carelessly planting a foot on the stairs.

Yet the instant his foot landed, his face turned deathly pale. It was as if he had seen something utterly terrifying. He screamed and scrambled back in a panic, his trousers even wet between the legs, drawing a burst of laughter.

"Improper intentions, a heart filled with distracting thoughts. Unqualified." Bing'er said coldly. The youth was humiliated and enraged, and his guards hurriedly helped him away.

The assessment continued cruelly, with a staggering elimination rate. Of the hundreds who tried, only a handful crossed all nine steps.

At that moment, a small girl dressed in patched coarse clothing, thin and slightly sallow-faced, timidly walked up to the steps. She appeared only eight or nine years old, and her Soul Power fluctuations were weak, perhaps around Level Ten—just enough to meet the standard for obtaining a Soul Ring.

A wave of mocking laughter and skeptical murmurs arose from the crowd.

The little girl bit her lip, but her eyes were unusually resolute. Step by step, she began climbing, slowly but steadily.

One step, two steps... Sweat began to bead on her little face, and her body trembled slightly as though resisting enormous pressure. Yet her gaze remained clear, and her footsteps never faltered.

Seven steps, eight steps... nine steps! She successfully crossed the final step and stood inside the academy gates! Though her little face was pale and she was nearly exhausted, her eyes shone with joy.

"Passed. Name, Martial Soul, age." A trace of barely perceptible surprise flashed through Bing'er's eyes as she spoke.

"I... I'm Lin Xiaowan. My Martial Soul is... straw. I'm nine this year." The little girl answered timidly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Straw Martial Soul?" The crowd erupted again. A Waste Martial Soul like that could pass?

Bing'er merely nodded and recorded it. "Rest to the side and prepare for the next stage."

Several more people passed the Path of Heart's Inquiry afterward. Among them were many with unusual Martial Souls or low Soul Power but unyielding determination.

At noon, one figure drew everyone's attention.

He was a youth of around eleven or twelve, dressed in faded blue fitted clothes. He had black hair, black eyes, and an ordinary face, but carried a composure far beyond his age. He strode steadily to the steps without hesitation and began walking upward one step at a time.

He was not fast, but every step was exceptionally firm and steady. Faced with the illusory pressure of the Path of Heart's Inquiry, his expression remained unchanged and his gaze resolute, as though nothing could shake his mind.

He crossed all nine steps with ease.

"Passed. Name, Martial Soul, age." Bing'er spoke again.

The youth cupped his hands and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I am Huo Yun. Martial Soul: Soul Suppressing Bell. Level 29 Soul Grandmaster, twelve years old."

Level 29! Twelve years old! And his weapon Martial Soul was the Soul Suppressing Bell, a rather excellent Control Type Martial Soul!

The crowd immediately burst into cries of amazement! This was a true genius!

Even Qin Mo atop the tower nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Huo Yun for a moment.

The Path of Heart's Inquiry assessment lasted an entire day. In the end, fifty-seven people were selected from nearly a thousand applicants. The elimination rate reached ninety-five percent!

Regardless of their Soul Power, the strength of their Martial Souls, or their backgrounds, these fifty-seven people undoubtedly possessed exceptional resolve.

The following day brought the second stage: the Spirit Testing Monument.

The fifty-seven who had passed the Path of Heart's Inquiry were brought to the center of the academy plaza. There stood a three-meter-tall black stone monument, its surface smooth as a mirror and carved with profound patterns.

"Place your hand on the monument and pour in your Soul Power." Yan'er, who was presiding over the test, announced brightly.

The first to step forward was Lin Xiaowan, the little girl with the Straw Martial Soul. Nervously, she pressed her small hand against the cold monument and infused it with her weak Soul Power.

The monument trembled slightly, and a faint but steady white light appeared.

"One white light. Potential... low-grade. Unqualified." Yan'er shook her head slightly. According to the charter, three or more rays of light were required to pass.

Lin Xiaowan's little face instantly dimmed, and she lowered her head in disappointment.

At that moment, Qin Mo's voice drifted calmly from the tower through the Amplification Array. "The white light is pure, her temperament is simple and honest, and her affinity with the spiritual energy of vegetation is extraordinary. Permit her to participate in the third stage."

Everyone was stunned. The dean was making an exception for a girl with a Straw Martial Soul?

Lin Xiaowan suddenly lifted her head, hope reigniting in her eyes. She bowed deeply toward the tower.

The assessment continued.

Most who had passed the Path of Heart's Inquiry could trigger two or three rays of light, mainly yellow and cyan, representing different potential inclinations. Those who could reach four rays were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

It was Huo Yun's turn.

He pressed his palm against the Spirit Testing Monument and poured in his Soul Power.

Buzz!

The monument trembled violently, then erupted with dazzling brilliance!

Gold, cyan, blue, purple! Four full rays of light shot into the sky, illuminating one another. The golden ray in particular was exceptionally bright, representing the extraordinary quality of his Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power!

"Four rays of light! Gold, cyan, blue, purple! Supreme-grade talent!" Even Yan'er could not help voicing her praise.

The crowd cried out in amazement again and again.

Huo Yun's expression remained calm as he withdrew his hand, as though he had merely done something trivial.

In the end, of the fifty-seven people, twenty-one passed the second stage, including the exceptional case of Lin Xiaowan.

The third stage: the Illusion Battle Hall.

It was a circular hall, its interior inscribed with powerful illusion formations and energy simulation formations. After a participant entered, the formations would generate corresponding Soul Beast Phantoms to attack them according to their Soul Power Level.

Holding out for the time it took an incense stick to burn meant qualification.

Combat was the most direct and the most brutal. One person after another was defeated by the Soul Beast Phantoms, injured, and forced to withdraw, only to be swiftly healed by Ye Lingling waiting nearby.

Huo Yun once again demonstrated astonishing strength. Relying on the Soul Suppressing Bell Martial Soul's control abilities, he maneuvered skillfully and even defeated a Soul Beast Phantom of the same rank, passing with ease.

The most surprising person, however, was Lin Xiaowan, the girl with the Straw Martial Soul. Her offensive power was nearly nonexistent, yet she displayed a peculiar resilience. Her Straw Martial Soul seemed able to absorb part of the damage, and her instinct for evasion was extremely strong. She always managed to avoid fatal attacks at the most crucial moments. Though she was in a miserable state, she ultimately managed to endure until the incense stick burned out!

After the three stages of assessment ended, only eighteen people had successfully passed every test and become Myriad Manifestations Academy's first official students!

This result shocked the outside world once again. Such harsh selection, yet only eighteen were admitted! Myriad Manifestations Academy's standards were terrifyingly high!

Yet no one dared object. Everyone had witnessed the fairness and difficulty of the three stages. Those who passed were all truly outstanding seedlings, exceptional in resolve, potential, and practical combat!

The next day, Myriad Manifestations Academy's enormous Mystic Crystal Iron Gate slowly opened once more.

Qin Mo stood on the platform inside the gates, with Bing'er and the other five girls behind him.

The eighteen new students who had passed the assessment stood in neat rows on the plaza, their hearts filled with excitement, unease, and pride as they looked up at the young dean.

Qin Mo's gaze slowly swept across the eighteen youthful yet spirited faces. Among them were the impoverished Lin Xiaowan, the exceptionally talented Huo Yun, twin brothers with unusual Martial Souls, and an orphan girl with a stubborn gaze...

His voice rang clearly in every new student's ears:

"Congratulations. You have passed the assessment and become members of Myriad Manifestations Academy." "From this day onward, forget your past. Forget your origins." "Here, you have only one identity—the students of Myriad Manifestations Academy!" "Your future will be decided by your own effort and will!" "Now, enter the academy!"

With boundless hopes for the future, the eighteen new students stepped through the academy gates veiled in flowing Nine-Colored Light.

Thus, a brand-new era began.