The registration site was a huge plaza, already packed with people.
A great number of talented young men and women wore looks of longing, hoping to join the Azure Star Academy and soar to the heavens from then on, rewriting the course of their lives.
At the very front of the plaza, however, an area was unusually spacious. A group of extraordinary-looking young men and women were chatting animatedly.
Huang Hu said to Xia Wuji, "Brother Xia, do you see that person in the purple robe?"
Xia Wuji nodded.
Huang Hu said, "That person is a member of the Great Chu Imperial Family. His name is Chu Yang, and he's at the seventh level of the Primal Energy Realm. His fist technique is extremely formidable. Passing the assessment is as certain as nails driven into a board."
"Beside Chu Yang, there are several other members of the Great Chu Imperial Family. All of them are above the Primal Energy Realm. These people are the top geniuses of the new generation of our Great Chu Imperial Family."
Xu Lan spoke from the side. "I also heard that someone from our Great Chu Dynasty was specially recruited in advance by the higher-ups of the Azure Star Academy this year."
Huang Hu hummed and said, "There is indeed such a person. It's Lin Piaoxue of the Lin Household. Actually, Lin Piaoxue is only at the first level of the Primal Energy Realm. Many people can't understand why she received special recruitment."
A glint flashed through Xia Wuji's eyes, and Lin Piaoxue's figure surfaced in his mind.
In fact, he more or less knew the reason.
Lin Piaoxue should possess some kind of special physique.
However, Xia Wuji had spent little time with Lin Piaoxue and had not deliberately investigated her.
Just then, more people arrived at the registration site.
Many people turned to look.
Two men were dressed in extremely luxurious clothes, glittering with jewels, and their features bore a fifty-percent resemblance.
However, one of them had a bloodstain three fingers wide across his face, making him look rather strange.
Huang Hu lowered his voice and said, "Brother Xia, these two are brothers from the Su Household. Their names are Su Guang and Su Xin."
"Su Guang is at the third level of the Primal Energy Realm, while Su Xin is at the first level."
"The one with the bloodstain on his face is Su Xin. Supposedly, he got into a conflict with someone in Qingyun City three days ago and was taught a lesson. An extremely overbearing force remains in the bloodstain on his face, and despite the Su Household using every method they could, they still couldn't erase the mark."
Xu Lan muttered, "I also heard that Su Xin had a first-tier low-grade spirit sword, and that it was lost in the conflict three days ago."
"I wonder who could be so bold. The Su Household's influence isn't small, and they're also extremely close to the Great Chu Imperial Family."
At that moment, Su Xin followed his brother Su Guang through the crowd.
Hearing the many voices around him discussing the bloodstain on his face and the loss of his first-tier low-grade spirit sword, Su Xin was furious.
For the past few days, he had been sending people to search for that detestable bastard.
Unfortunately, Qingyun City was not the Su Household's territory. Moreover, with the day of the Azure Star Academy's assessment approaching, there were too many people in Qingyun City, so they had failed to find him.
That bastard must be here to take the assessment. He'll definitely appear here. If I find him, I'll make him pay! Su Xin thought through clenched teeth.
His gaze swept around in search.
Suddenly, his vision focused.
"Brother, I found him!"
"It's him! It's him! It's definitely him!"
Su Xin's emotions erupted instantly, completely beyond his control. He pointed straight at Xia Wuji.
Su Guang's brows knitted together as he followed Su Xin's gaze.
Huang Hu and Xu Lan, standing beside Xia Wuji, immediately felt immense pressure.
At that moment, how could they still fail to understand?
The person who had made Su Xin suffer such a heavy loss was none other than the Brother Xia beside them!
The two brothers immediately walked toward Xia Wuji.
One gaze after another turned toward them.
There was going to be a show!
"So that's the kid who was bold enough to beat up Su Xin."
"Su Guang has a notoriously explosive temper. If he stands up for Su Xin, this kid is going to suffer a calamity."
"He offended the Su Household... He must have rocks in his head, asking for trouble."
Su Guang and Su Xin arrived in front of Xia Wuji.
Su Xin's expression was hideous, twisting the bloodstain on his face into an even more grotesque shape. He growled, "You dog! If I hadn't been careless that day, how could you have succeeded? You ruined my face and stole my spirit sword. Today, I'll make you pay!"
Xia Wuji said indifferently, "You provoked me first and attacked me with your sword. I merely taught you a lesson. I already showed you mercy."
The people around them: "..."
How arrogant!
Facing the Su brothers, he spoke so calmly. In everyone's eyes, this was already an act of sheer arrogance.
"My brother's spirit sword is in your hands?" Su Guang stared sharply at Xia Wuji.
Xia Wuji said, "No."
That sword had become scrap metal, and Xia Wuji had tossed it into a corner of the inn.
Su Guang said, "Denying it is useless."
"What can you do?" Xia Wuji said coldly.
Su Guang's eyes narrowed slightly. The sharp light in them spread with a bone-chilling coldness as he said, "What do you think will happen if I cripple both your hands and legs?"
Xia Wuji said calmly, "But you don't have the ability."
"Boom!"
In an instant, a powerful wave of primal energy burst from Su Guang's body.
But at that very moment, a loud shout rang out from the high platform at the front of the crowd.
"Registration for the assessment begins now!"
"No one is allowed to make a commotion!"
"Anyone who disrupts order will not be registered and will be expelled immediately!"
The aura erupting from Su Guang receded like a tide in an instant.
"Brother..." Su Xin was deeply unwilling.
Su Guang stared at Xia Wuji and continued, "I'll give you some time to think it over. Think carefully, then come kneel before us brothers, kowtow and apologize, and return my brother's sword to him. Otherwise, when I personally make my move, I said I would cripple both your hands and legs—and I'll do exactly that."
Then he turned and walked toward the very front of the crowd.
Though Su Xin wanted nothing more than to immediately settle the score, he knew that he couldn't act recklessly now. If he angered the people from the Azure Star Academy, the Su Household's reputation would not be enough to save them.
"Brother Xia..." Huang Hu hurriedly called in a low voice after the Su brothers left.
Xia Wuji said, "Brother Huang, I've gotten myself into a bit of trouble. You should keep your distance from me so you don't get dragged into it."
Huang Hu thumped his chest and said, "Brother Xia, what kind of person do you take me for? Am I someone who's afraid of trouble? Although my Huang Household is inferior to the Su Household, we still have connections with some nobles. I'll find an opportunity to contact them and ask them to help mediate this conflict."
Xia Wuji said, "There's no need to go to such trouble."
Huang Hu said, "It's nothing, no trouble at all. Your affairs are my affairs. After all, you've saved me several times!"
At that moment, registration for the Azure Star Academy's assessment began.
Everyone stepped forward in turn to have their name, age, and cultivation recorded.
The Azure Star Academy handled matters with astonishing efficiency. Although the plaza was packed with a sea of people, registration was completed for everyone in only half an hour.
Next, a young disciple of the Azure Star Academy stood on the high platform and announced in a booming voice, "This assessment is divided into three parts: temperament, comprehension, and actual combat!"
"There are a total of thirty spots for those who can ultimately enter the Azure Star Academy to cultivate."
"In addition, the first-place finisher in each assessment will receive an extra reward."
"Now, the first assessment—the temperament assessment—officially begins. The first-place reward is one First-tier Peak-grade Earth Origin Spirit Pill!"
Before you continue