Star Martial Hall, A-rank Contract

Indestructible!

Sweeping the Army!

Whoosh!

When Ye Fan completely poured his comprehension points into the Spear Art—

The spear seemed to become an extension of Ye Fan's arm.

Graceful as a startled swan, the spear shot forth like a dragon!

With one thrust, the air before the very tip of the spear seemed to form into a white, thorn-like spike.

It pressed forward without hesitation, carrying an edge that could pierce through every obstacle!

This was precisely the Armor Piercing attribute unleashed in full after the Peerless Overlord Spear had been cultivated to the Perfection Realm at ninety percent!

If this had been in ancient Huaxia, in the age of cold weapons—

With this spear strike, nothing could stand in its way.

Taking an enemy general's head amid ten thousand troops would be as easy as reaching into a bag for something!

Sweeping the Army!

Rumble rumble—

The next instant, the spear in Ye Fan's hand changed from a thrust into a sweep.

Its force was immense and heavy, even carrying a faint rumble.

It was as though black clouds pressed down upon a city while thunder rolled.

The shadow it carried swept through like a mountain ridge.

One could imagine that if this spear technique were used in a group battle, anyone grazed by it would suffer broken bones and torn tendons at best, and die on the spot at worst.

"Perfection... the Perfection Realm!"

"If this boy had not practiced this Spear Art before, then his comprehension is simply monstrous!"

The excited cry from earlier came from Instructor Wu Xie.

His face was filled with exhilaration. If the occasion had not been inappropriate—

He would have been dancing with joy.

The latter assessment, however, came from Yin Shanyue, Hall Master of Linjiang City's Star Martial Hall.

"Within half an hour, I want all of Ye Fan's information!"

Yin Shanyue's eyes gleamed as he spoke to someone behind him.

"Yes, Hall Master."

A voice answered.

As for Bai Nuoli and his uncle, their expressions were utterly dreadful.

There was only one phrase in their hearts: "Holy shit!"

They simply could not believe it.

"The assessment time is over."

Time passed, and half an hour vanished in the blink of an eye.

Soon, the system's notification sounded within the third-stage assessment space!

"Assessee Jin Lian. Flowing Shadow Sword Technique, Beginner Level! Evaluation: Pass."

"Assessee Ye Fan. Peerless Overlord Spear, Perfection! Evaluation: Perfect."

The system then gave its assessments of Ye Fan and Jin Lian, who had participated in the third-stage examination.

"What? Perfection? A perfect evaluation!"

"No, impossible. Could the evaluation be wrong?"

Half an hour ago, Jin Lian had still paid attention to Ye Fan's level of comprehension.

But when she saw Ye Fan still struggling just to reach the Beginner Level—

Jin Lian had completely withdrawn her attention and immersed herself in comprehending her own sword technique.

Although she had failed to achieve Minor Mastery in her sword technique, the system had announced that Ye Fan had cultivated a spirit-grade spear technique to the Perfection Realm.

And had even received a perfect evaluation?!

Jin Lian froze at first, then simply could not believe it.

"Attention, assessee Jin Lian. The comprehension evaluation is a combined score given by the system and the upper ranks of the Star Martial Hall. If you dare question it again, you will lose your qualification for assessment!"

The cold mechanical voice issued a direct warning.

At that moment—

Jin Lian even felt a powerful pressure enveloping her.

A layer of fine, fragrant sweat seeped from her fair forehead.

"Ye Fan, what demonic trick did you use? Explain yourself! You must have cheated!"

Jin Lian's lovely face was filled with jealousy and resentment.

"Hmph, idiot."

Ye Fan snorted coldly, too lazy to pay attention to Jin Lian, that ungrateful wretch.

He turned and walked toward the exit of the assessment room.

"You... you dare insult me?"

"You must be guilty! Take a sword from me and reveal your true form!"

Jin Lian ground her silver teeth together. The pair of short swords in her hands traced two beautiful sword flowers, and with a flash of her body, she shot toward Ye Fan like flowing light and dark shadow.

Roar!

Suddenly—

Jin Lian felt that the Youth who had turned around was like a fierce dragon awakening. A long spear thrust out.

The sharp air cone formed by the powerful Spear Tip made her skin sting painfully.

Clang, clang—

She raised her swords to block, but the instant they made contact—

She felt as if she were gripping a tyrannosaur in her hands. She could not hold on at all.

The two short swords were sent flying!

Jin Lian was horrified.

This was an absolute crushing advantage in Vitality Value, Martial Arts Mastery, and martial combat techniques alike!

Pfft.

Even though the Spear Tip was still ten centimeters from Jin Lian's brow—

The fierce wind generated by it had already torn a bloody gash into her delicate skin.

One could imagine that if they had fought a true life-and-death battle—

Jin Lian would already have died from that single spear strike!

Jin Lian's peach-blossom beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief.

Yesterday, she had been tested to possess S-rank Spiritual Aptitude, soaring in a single leap to become a heaven's favored daughter admired by countless people.

Her ambitions had swelled, and she had long since begun to look down on the members of the Ye Family who had shown her kindness all these years.

A fine bird chose the tree it perched in; she and Ye Fan would belong to two different worlds.

Yet she had never expected—

That in less than a single day—

Ye Fan would undergo an even more terrifying transformation, like a giant dragon awakening!

"I won't kill you. Return everything my Ye Family has poured into you over these years. From today onward, all grace and righteousness between you and my Ye Family are severed!"

The Youth's voice was icy as he turned and left.

Leaving only Jin Lian, collapsed limply on the ground.

"His background is clean, and he is resilient and hardworking. With such talent and comprehension—haha, what a fine seedling!"

When Hall Master Yin Shanyue held Ye Fan's detailed information in his hands, he beamed with delight.

He liked Ye Fan more and more.

Naturally, Ye Fan's information also included a description of Jin Lian.

It made him deeply dislike this ungrateful girl.

When the Martial Hall nurtured talent, aptitude and potential were the most important considerations.

Of course, there was another aspect that was equally important!

That was a martial artist's character.

Just imagine: no matter how monstrous your talent was—

If, after being nurtured, you could not fight for Huaxia and the Human Race—

Or even defected to the enemy—

The consequences would be endless disaster.

Such people would absolutely be discarded outright in the Martial Hall's cultivation evaluations.

Perhaps—

If Ye Fan had not appeared today, the whitewashed Jin Lian could easily have passed the Martial Hall's assessment and received a Cultivation Contract.

But Ye Fan's brilliance had also illuminated Jin Lian's filth.

In Hall Master Yin Shanyue's eyes, Jin Lian had been eliminated outright.

"Old Wu, bring Ye Fan to my office. We'll discuss the contract."

Yin Shanyue patted Wu Xie on the shoulder, his face full of approval.

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Wu Xie was overjoyed, and his words of thanks were naturally a heartfelt expression of gratitude toward Yin Shanyue.

Because—

Both Yin Shanyue and Wu Xie knew—

Once Ye Fan grew up, his achievements would surely far surpass Wu Xie's.

And this opportunity to make early contact and build goodwill with him had been given to Wu Xie. It was naturally a favor.

"May I ask, Hall Master, what grade of Cultivation Contract will we give Ye Fan...?"

Wu Xie asked, his breathing slightly hurried.

"A-rank. That is already the highest authority I possess."

Yin Shanyue's voice drifted back from afar.

Upon hearing this, Wu Xie's heartbeat accelerated.

"An A-rank Cultivation Contract?! Their Linjiang City Star Martial Hall might not see even one in an entire year, yet today, he had encountered one!"

As for Bai Nuoli and his uncle, they were completely dumbfounded.

Bai Nuoli looked as though his parents had died. He could already foresee that with Wu Xie recommending a genius worthy of an A-rank Cultivation Contract, Wu Xie's promotion this year was nearly a foregone conclusion.

Moreover, he would lose a precious treasure!

In the future, he might even have to endure Wu Xie making things difficult for him. The road of life was long, and misery would keep him company.

"Ye Fan, come here!"

The moment Ye Fan stepped out, he saw Instructor Wu Xie eagerly coming up to greet him.

Seeing the man's enthusiasm, Ye Fan's heart stirred. It seemed there was hope.

Though he appeared calm on the surface, the Youth was ecstatic inside.

Just what kind of Cultivation Contract would I receive?