Xia Wuji's body erupted with dazzling radiance from his essence energy, its brilliance dazzling to behold.
And within that radiance, Essence Flowers bloomed one after another, like a sea of flowers.
Everyone's eyes widened in an instant. As they watched this utterly unbelievable scene, it was as if their heads had been struck hard, leaving their thoughts blank.
Their throats and hearts seemed to be gripped by invisible hands, while the flow of essence and blood within their bodies briefly stagnated.
"They bloomed..."
"Essence Flowers..."
"So many!"
"One, two, three..."
"Ninety-nine!"
"I'll count again!"
"Ninety-nine... There really are ninety-nine!"
"The Sixth Prince only condensed thirty-eight Essence Flowers, yet Xia Wuji... he has ninety-nine!"
"How did he do it?"
"What level of comprehension is this?"
Exclamations rose and fell one after another.
Just moments ago, the Twelfth Prince, Chu Jue, had stood before Xia Wuji, arrogantly shouting at him. Now, his body was stiff as a stake, his face pale as paper.
The ninety-nine Essence Flowers blooming beside Xia Wuji were like ninety-nine slaps striking his cheeks.
In the distance, the Sixth Prince, Chu Yang, who had originally worn an arrogant expression and regarded this entire affair with disdain, was now also staring toward Xia Wuji.
Chu Yang's expression turned hideous. He clenched his fists, veins bulging across the backs of his hands.
He... had once again been outshone by Xia Wuji, just as he had yesterday.
And this time, Xia Wuji held an absolute advantage!
The gap between Chu Yang and Xia Wuji in terms of mentality and comprehension was simply too vast—a chasm as insurmountable as a heavenly moat.
As the Sixth Prince of the Great Chu Imperial Family, hailed as the greatest martial genius in the Great Chu Imperial Family in nearly a century, Chu Yang's pride... had been shattered over these past two days!
He had lost yesterday. In today's assessment, he had even cheated, yet he still suffered such a crushing defeat!
On the platform.
"I knew he could do it!" Lin Piaoxue said with a delighted smile.
The Azure Star Academy disciple in charge of presiding over the second assessment also wore an expression of deep emotion. "With yesterday's mental assessment results and today's comprehension assessment results, as long as he passes the third round, the practical assessment, he'll surely achieve great things in the future—even if his performance in the practical assessment is somewhat lacking!"
Xia Wuji looked at the stunned Chu Jue before him. "Finished counting?"
The corners of Chu Jue's mouth twitched, but he said nothing.
"Then honor the wager," Xia Wuji said coldly.
Chu Jue gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. He growled, "It's only five Yuan Crystals. I'm not so incapable of accepting defeat!"
As he spoke, he waved his hand. A guard immediately ran over, took out five Yuan Crystals, and handed them to Xia Wuji.
Xia Wuji accepted the Yuan Crystals.
Chu Jue snorted. "Xia Wuji, don't celebrate too soon!"
With that, he turned and started to leave!
"Wait!"
Xia Wuji shouted coldly. "Did you forget something?"
"Kneel for me!"
Chu Jue turned around again. His eyes seemed ready to spew fire as he roared, "Xia Wuji, don't push your luck!"
Xia Wuji let out a scornful laugh. "You made a wager, so you must accept the consequences. Can't afford to lose?"
"So many people here witnessed it with their own eyes. You want to renege?"
Chu Jue's chest nearly burst with rage. He shouted, "I am a prince of the Great Chu Dynasty! You want me to kneel? Can you bear it?"
Xia Wuji's expression remained indifferent. "Being able to kneel before me is your honor."
Everyone's expressions became complicated.
Xia Wuji actually intended to force Chu Jue to kneel!
At once, several noble scions of the Great Chu Dynasty spoke up.
"Xia Wuji, know when to stop. Don't go too far!"
"The Twelfth Prince has already given you five Yuan Crystals. What more do you want?"
"Don't be so ungrateful. Let alone the fact that you aren't an Azure Star Academy disciple yet—even if you become one, you still can't afford to provoke the Great Chu Imperial Family!"
Suddenly, someone walked over.
It was none other than the Sixth Prince, Chu Yang.
He stood beside Chu Jue, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's as he fixed his gaze on Xia Wuji. "Leave some leeway in your actions. Where mercy can be shown, show mercy. If you go too far, it won't benefit you either."
"I'll give you three more Yuan Crystals. Then the wager between my younger brother and you will end here!"
Xia Wuji smiled.
His smile was filled with deep disdain.
"If I had lost, would you have told Chu Jue to know when to stop? Would you have told him to leave some leeway?"
"Since he lost, everything will proceed according to the wager!"
Xia Wuji was forceful, his tone making it clear that there was no room for negotiation.
On the platform, Lin Piaoxue glanced at the Azure Star Academy disciple presiding over this assessment. He was from Celestial Pivot Peak, so he naturally understood what Lin Piaoxue meant.
Besides, he was not from the Great Chu Dynasty and had no reason to fear the Great Chu Dynasty's people in the Azure Star Academy. He could also do Lin Piaoxue a favor. Why wouldn't he?
Thus, he coughed lightly and said, "I saw everything that happened just now. Chu Jue provoked him first, and he willingly accepted the wager. Then he should fulfill it quickly instead of wasting everyone's time here!"
Chu Yang's brows knitted together, and his expression grew even uglier.
Chu Jue gnashed his teeth, a sound like a beast's low growl rumbling from his throat. "Xia Wuji, are you sure you want to tear all pretense of peace with my Great Chu Imperial Family?"
"Kneel for me!" Xia Wuji shouted. In an instant, an invisible, mighty pressure slammed into Chu Jue's mind like a sharp sword.
Chu Jue suddenly trembled from body to soul. His legs went weak, and with a thud, both knees hit the ground as he knelt heavily before Xia Wuji.
At that moment, the entire venue fell silent once more!
The Twelfth Prince, Chu Jue, had actually knelt before Xia Wuji!
Everyone felt that the scene was too unreal. In the Great Chu Dynasty, members of the imperial family stood high above all others, yet today, one of them had been humiliated into kneeling before someone else.
With that one kneel, Chu Jue's dignity and pride completely collapsed.
Chu Yang was also so furious that smoke seemed to pour from all seven orifices. He immediately pulled Chu Jue to his feet.
Chu Yang glared at Xia Wuji with a sinister gaze. "You'll regret this!"
After leaving those words behind, Chu Yang led Chu Jue—whose reputation had been utterly ruined—away from Xia Wuji.
"Three hours are up!" On the platform, the Azure Star Academy disciple announced loudly, "First place, Xia Wuji, who condensed ninety-nine Essence Flowers!"
Xia Wuji remained calm as he walked toward the platform.
"Brother Wuji, congratulations!" Lin Piaoxue said excitedly.
Xia Wuji smiled faintly. "It was just luck."
The male Azure Star Academy disciple also smiled. "That wasn't luck. Your mentality and comprehension didn't merely place you far ahead in this year's assessment. Among the assessments I've seen over the past few years, they're also at the very top."
"Xia Wuji, first place in this comprehension assessment is rewarded with a low-grade, first-rank spiritual weapon. What type would you like?"
"I'll choose a spiritual sword," Xia Wuji said.
The man nodded. "All right. Wait here for a moment. Someone will bring you a spiritual sword shortly."
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Xia Wuji said.
Xia Wuji returned to Huang Hu and Xu Lan's side.
The male Azure Star Academy disciple on the platform swept his gaze across the crowd. "A total of 237 people passed this second assessment."
"The practical assessment will begin three days from now."
"And the practical assessment will last seven days."
"You can all return and make proper preparations."
Afterward, everyone gradually dispersed.
Although Xia Wuji had once again astonished everyone in this assessment, the crowd kept even farther away from him.
Huang Hu, on the other hand, did not avoid him in the slightest. He acted exactly as he had before.
Xia Wuji returned to the Huang Household's estate. Not long afterward, Lin Piaoxue arrived.
"Brother Wuji, I've brought you the reward for placing first in the assessment!" Lin Piaoxue said with a smile. Then she handed Xia Wuji the sword in her hand.
Xia Wuji accepted the spiritual sword.
He drew it from its sheath.
Swordlight flashed.
It was a very ordinary low-grade, first-rank spiritual sword.
Xia Wuji examined it a few times before returning it to its sheath.
Lin Piaoxue stayed at the Huang Household's estate for a while before leaving.
Xia Wuji, meanwhile, asked Huang Hu for a cultivation room in the estate.
Now, he had quite a few resources in hand. He ought to make full use of them!
In these three days, he might not break through to the Primal Energy Realm, but at the very least, he had to advance to the peak of the Sea of Qi Realm!
Before you continue