Power Test

Could the Heavenly Illusory Sacred Realm really be that easy to pass?

But Shen Fei could never have imagined that, during this time, Xiao Ninger had practiced the Wind Thunder Winged Dragon Art and was already no longer the Xiao Ninger she had been before! After achieving Soul Power Manifestation, Xiao Ninger's cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. At the same time, she had received the full support of the entire Winged Dragon Family. The Xiao Ninger of today was worlds apart from who she had been.

"You'd better qualify to enter the Heavenly Illusory Sacred Realm before you start talking!" Shen Fei sneered. Only the particularly outstanding students from each year were allowed to enter the Heavenly Illusory Sacred Realm!

The Heavenly Illusory Sacred Realm! Nie Li smiled faintly. That was exactly where he wanted to go. In his previous life, he had returned to the already-ruined City of Brilliance and entered the Heavenly Illusory Sacred Realm. The secrets hidden inside were beyond the wildest imagination of ordinary people!

So Nie Li also had to qualify to enter the Heavenly Illusory Sacred Realm!

"Don't worry. Ninger will pass the Heavenly Illusory Sacred Realm's test. Just you wait and see. Now get lost!" Nie Li said coldly. Someone like Shen Fei wasn't worthy of being his opponent. Nie Li wasn't just going after the young people of the Sacred Family—he was going after the entire Sacred Family!

Shen Fei's gaze fell on Nie Li. A vicious idea suddenly flashed through his mind, and he sneered. "Nie Li, do you have the guts? The Sacred Family is going to organize a martial arts tournament for young geniuses, and we'll invite the Sky Mark Family too. You and I will fight on the arena, and there'll be no complaints, even if one of us dies! What do you say? Dare to do it?"

How despicable! The students watching nearby couldn't help cursing under their breath. Shen Fei was a student in the genius class, already seventeen years old, and his cultivation had reached Silver Rank. Nie Li, meanwhile, might not even have reached Bronze 1-star. Shen Fei had actually challenged Nie Li to a fight—he was practically trying to get Nie Li killed!

Even if Nie Li refused, nobody would blame him.

"Well? Do you dare? If you don't, you're a coward!" Shen Fei sneered, utterly disregarding everyone else's disapproval.

Xiao Ninger immediately looked at Nie Li nervously. Nie Li smiled calmly, squeezed her delicate hand, and gave her a reassuring look.

"Since you've challenged me, why wouldn't I dare?" Nie Li laughed heartily, radiating confidence.

The students around them had never expected Nie Li to accept Shen Fei's challenge without hesitation. Shen Fei was a genius-class student who had reached Silver Rank! Was Nie Li crazy?

Seeing Nie Li's confident expression, Xiao Ninger's anxious heart soon settled. She couldn't help being captivated by the look on his face. She had a feeling that nothing in the world could stump Nie Li! He had a mysterious ability to set everything right.

"You said it, so don't go back on your word. I'll be waiting for you at the Sacred Family's genius tournament!" Shen Fei snorted. His eyes swept over Nie Li and Xiao Ninger like blades. Enjoy yourselves while you can, you shameless couple. Just wait and see how you'll cry!

Shen Fei turned and left. In the distance, Shen Yue glared viciously at Nie Li before following Shen Fei away.

Much later, Ye Ziyun finally returned. She looked at Nie Li and asked with concern, "I heard you accepted Shen Fei's challenge?"

"It's fine. I know what I'm doing. Seeing you worry about me is really touching!" Nie Li chuckled.

Ye Ziyun was at a loss for words. She stamped her foot in annoyance. "Who said I was worried about you? Don't flatter yourself. Shen Fei reached Silver Rank a long time ago. His cultivation is at least Silver 2-star. Are you sure you can win?" Though she claimed not to care, Ye Ziyun was actually quite concerned.

"I'll see when the time comes!" Nie Li shrugged.

"You were willing to accept Shen Fei's challenge for Ninger. It looks like you really do care about her. You'd better treat her well, or I won't let you off!" Ye Ziyun snorted. For some reason, as she spoke, a pang of dejection rose in her heart. If you like Ninger so much, why did you have to draw me into this, too? Remembering what had happened in that underground palace, she felt a little indignant. Nie Li had seen everything he shouldn't have!

"Shen Fei's a rotten person. I couldn't bear to let a kind girl like Ninger fall into his hands, so I helped her out!" Nie Li hurried to explain. He did have some affection for Xiao Ninger, but no matter what, it couldn't compare to the bond he and Ye Ziyun had shared in their previous life, when they'd faced life and death together.

"You're not exactly any better!" Ye Ziyun pouted.

Hearing Ye Ziyun's words, Nie Li could only smile wryly. In his previous life, he had been through far too much. His hands had been stained with blood, and he had done plenty of things that went against morality, but he had been forced into them. No matter what, he wasn't a despicable little man like Shen Fei.

"You don't need to explain any of this to me. It has nothing to do with me anyway!" Ye Ziyun raised her delicate brows and gave a little snort.

Ye Ziyun was always cool and graceful around other people, keeping them at arm's length. The fact that she had a temper showed she cared about him! Nie Li clasped his hands behind his head and took a deep breath. The world was so beautiful; he was thoroughly enjoying how things were now. Compared with the endless wandering and killing of his previous life, life at the academy was peaceful and serene. Getting under the skin of despicable men like Shen Yue, Shen Fei, and Chu Yuan, and teasing beautiful girls like Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ninger—what a pleasant life!

Seeing Nie Li looking so pleased with himself, Ye Ziyun suddenly got angry for no reason. "What are you smiling about?"

"Am I smiling? No!" Nie Li said, lips pursed in a grin.

Ye Ziyun was thoroughly frustrated. Nie Li was just too annoying, too infuriating—she wanted to beat him to a pulp! But for some reason, even though she found him so irritating, she still liked spending time with him. Perhaps she'd gone too long without a friend. Being with Nie Li felt easy and comfortable, with no constraints.

Seeing Nie Li chatting and laughing with Ye Ziyun, while Goddess Ziyun seemed to be playfully pouting at him, the boys watching were dumbstruck by her charming, enchanting expression. They were all green with envy. Nie Li had just embraced Goddess Ninger, and now he was flirting with Goddess Ziyun!

Why did Nie Li get all the good things? It was far too unfair!

Du Ze, Lu Piao, and the others couldn't help feeling a little envious of Nie Li, but they weren't jealous. Nie Li was their brother, their brother for life! Du Ze and Lu Piao chatted with the other students in their class, and Du Ze's distinctive leadership qualities began to show. Many of the commoner students had already said they were willing to follow him.

A little while later, Shen Xiu sashayed over. Her gaze swept across the students, and when it landed on Nie Li, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.

Shen Xiu said in an unfriendly tone, "It's almost our class's turn to be tested! Everyone, follow me!"

"Mentor Shen Xiu, you said before that if I reached Bronze 1-star, you'd resign on the spot. Does that still count?" Nie Li suddenly asked with a smile. "If you apologize to me and ask me to release you from our bet, I might consider it!"

Trying to bluff me? It won't be that easy! Shen Xiu snorted. "I, Shen Xiu, always keep my word. If you reach Bronze 1-star, I'll resign!"

Nie Li shrugged. "Then you'd better hurry up and write your resignation letter!"

"Wait until the test shows you've reached Bronze 1-star!" Shen Xiu snorted, then led all the students in the class toward the testing hall.

Sacred Lan Academy had several thousand students, so it took a long time for each class to get through the testing.

Along the way, many students chatted excitedly.

"I heard the Demon Spirit Master junior class tested two students with Soul Power at Bronze 3-star! The Demon Spirit Master junior class really is impressive!"

"Of course. Many of them have cultivated for a year or two longer than us!"

"I also heard the Rune Master junior class tested a martial artist whose strength reached Bronze 2-star!" A group of students dressed in all sorts of clothes chattered among themselves.

Sacred Lan Academy had six junior classes. Though they had different names and specialized in different talents, children were the most malleable. They often changed the direction of their cultivation. Of all the classes, the Demon Spirit Master junior class attracted the most attention because it had the most geniuses.

According to how things had gone in his previous life, Xiao Ninger and Ye Ziyun would both enter the Demon Spirit Master junior class and spend a year cultivating there, while Nie Li would remain in the junior martial artist apprentice class. Though he cultivated hard, his progress was slow, and he remained unknown.

But this life's course would surely be different from his previous one. Not just Xiao Ninger and Ye Ziyun—even Du Ze, Lu Piao, and the others would have their fates completely changed!

"The junior martial artist apprentice class is here!"

"Is that the class everyone says is the worst? I heard lots of them have Red Level Seas of Consciousness!"

"Can people with Red Level Seas of Consciousness even cultivate?"

"But I heard a few of them have decent talent and are about to reach Bronze Rank. Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ninger, for instance!"

Hearing those two names, several boys' eyes lit up. Beautiful girls always drew the most attention, wherever they went. Though they were still young, they had been cultivating from an early age, and their keen minds already understood plenty.

The two most beautiful girls among the junior classes were undoubtedly Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ninger. When the boys from the Demon Spirit Master junior class saw Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ninger, their eyes brimmed with eagerness. If nothing unexpected happened, both girls would enter the Demon Spirit Master junior class to study further. Then they'd have a chance to get close to them!

Seeing the eager looks in the eyes of the boys from the Demon Spirit Master junior class, Nie Li smiled faintly. In this life, they were in for a disappointment! Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ninger would both likely enter the Demon Spirit Master genius class!

Led by Shen Xiu, the students of the junior martial artist apprentice class lined up and entered the testing hall. On the distant raised platform, the academy's senior staff looked down at them.

"The first test is the Power Test. Who wants to go first?" One of the instructors turned toward Shen Xiu and asked.

Shen Xiu looked at the students of the junior martial artist apprentice class. Shen Yue stepped forward and said haughtily, "I'll go first!" Then he walked toward the towering Power Testing Stone nearby.