But Du Xixi's attention wasn't on the handsome young man in front of her. Instead, she looked at Han San, who stood behind her. Seeing how young he looked, she couldn't help feeling a little surprised. "Little brother, you're only seventeen or eighteen, yet you've already broken through to the twentieth rank? Could it be that you were born with full Spirit Power?"
In her experience, only those born with full Spirit Power could possibly break through to the twentieth rank around the age of six and then ascend to become a great Spirit Master.
"My Spirit Power was full at birth, but I'm not young anymore."
Han San's face darkened. What he hated most was people calling him young. He immediately raised his chin and looked coldly toward the side, his expression so subdued that it hardly matched the low, timid voice one would expect from a child his age.
Du Xixi smiled, feeling a little annoyed, but she restrained herself from letting her mischievous side show and gave him an apologetic look.
Xiao Wu, standing behind Han San, gave a small smile and explained, "Little San's really not young. You can tell just by looking at him. But his talent's still far better than mine. The reason he hasn't grown taller is because..."
"Xiao Wu..." Han San cut her off with a warning look.
"All right, all right. I'll stop." Xiao Wu pursed her lips.
Du Xixi glanced at Han San again, understanding at last. She could tell that the little fellow was a man of great potential.
He wasn't even twenty yet, and already he was famous.
After greeting Du Xixi, she took out seven Spirit Stones and two Spirit Body badges, passed the academy's entrance exam, and, under Wo Xixian's careful guidance, was led into the history department of the academy.
After greeting Han San, he took out the twenty Spirit Stones he had prepared and handed them to the wooden box by the front desk. Then he and Xiao Wu stepped outside to stretch their arms and legs.
But the wooden box only tested Xiao Wu's bones. It had no intention of testing Han San's. The attendant looked at Xiao Wu and said, "Your bones are well suited for training. Release your martial soul so I can test it."
A faint glow shone in Xiao Wu's eyes. She released her Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul, and her Spirit Power reached the twenty-ninth rank.
The attendant gave a satisfied nod. "Mm, you pass. Your name is Xiao Wu, right?"
Then he glanced at Han San, his expression indifferent, and said, "As for you, you're too young. Come back in a few years."
"What did you say?" Han San was furious. He hadn't expected the old man in front of him to look down on him so much.
The attendant's eyes were far sharper than Du Xixi's. Judging by Han San's appearance, he estimated his age at around seven. "You're just here to show off your talent. I can tell you're only seven. Even if you were born with full Spirit Power, you couldn't possibly have reached the twentieth rank within a year. I've made myself clear. History Academy only accepts monsters. You'd better come back in a few years."
That was hardly a pleasant thing to hear. The moment the attendant finished speaking, Han San's eyes flashed red, like a bloodthirsty beast.
Du Xixi, who had yet to leave, heard the exchange and couldn't help laughing. "Haha, that's actually pretty interesting."
Since she hadn't given a clear explanation, Du Xixi now suspected that Wo Xixian was some sort of playboy. Wanting to make things difficult for him, Wo Xixian put on a genial smile and said, "Look at how young Han San is. He's only twelve, and his Spirit Power is already at the twenty-ninth rank. He'll probably reach the thirtieth rank in a few days. I'm afraid he'll be off to Suotuo City before long."
"Is he really that talented?" Du Xixi's big, watery eyes filled with curiosity.
"Probably..." Wo Xixian scratched his head awkwardly. Seeing Du Xixi's reaction, he reminded her softly, "I'd advise you not to embarrass him in front of those two. That kid's very vindictive."
Just a few days ago, at a tavern in Suotuo City, he'd called Han San a little brat. Han San had knocked him to the ground with a hidden weapon. He was lucky he'd been King of Pirates' disciple and had only wanted to test the boy's strength. Otherwise, the poison on that hidden weapon would surely have killed him.
"I know, I know." Du Xixi didn't take it to heart.
In the end, Han San showed off his Blue Silver Grass martial soul and his purple Spirit Essence, convincing the attendant that he wasn't some seven-year-old child. The attendant tested his bones.
There was no other way. The attendant was a Spirit Emperor, and Han San couldn't beat him. Otherwise, since his Spirit Power was weaker than Han San's, he would have been dead already.
Wo Xixian led Han San, Xiao Wu, and Du Xixi into King of Pirates Academy's inner grounds.
Since all three of their Spirit Powers exceeded the twenty-fifth rank, Wo Xixian skipped the second- and third-round entrance exams and led them straight inside.
"All three of you are above the twenty-fifth rank. Not bad, not bad. There are quite a few promising young talents this year. Especially you, the little girl who looks so ordinary yet is actually quite extraordinary. I'd say you're unlikely to reach the eighth rank at most. And yet you've already achieved this much. Your future is limitless."
That was the first thing he said as he looked at Han San and the others. The ordinary-looking little girl he was referring to was, of course, Han San.
Han San's expression darkened. For the third time today, someone had mistaken him for a girl.
This was all Tang Qinghe's fault. Tang Qinghe, you've made an enemy for life.
[Han San's resentment +888888]
[Han San's resentment +1288888]
Elsewhere, Tang Qinghe had just finished the entrance exam. Because his talent had stunned everyone, he was immediately offered a special admission spot by the royal academy, drawing the attention of three instructors from the academy.
The three instructors were accompanied by two other students, Jade Heaven and Zhu Qing.
Jade Heaven was sixteen, at the twenty-first rank, and her Spirit Essence wasn't even of the highest grade. She was the weakest at the royal academy, not particularly gifted and not very noticeable. But to Jade Heaven, getting into the royal academy was already more than enough. She wasn't asking for anything more.
Of the three, Tang Qinghe was the most impressive. At twelve years old, he was already at the thirty-sixth rank—enough to prove his talent.
Zhu Qing was about the same age as Jade Heaven. At eleven, she was at the twenty-first rank and had great hopes of breaking through to Spirit Master at thirteen.
His cultivation speed was already far beyond that of any ordinary student, even Jade Heaven.
The most surprising thing was that he could achieve Spirit Fusion with Tang Qinghe.
Seeing how they looked at him, the three instructors were astonished, as if they had just witnessed a miracle. They seemed to have already seen the royal academy's champions of the next two years.
They immediately announced that Tang Qinghe and the other two would be joining the royal academy's team.
As for whether he could make it onto the royal academy's team and what position he might earn, that was up to him.
Tang Qinghe wasn't particularly interested in joining the royal academy's team.
Han San, on the other hand, had unexpectedly sent him two hundred thousand in message coins that day, which left him feeling rather pleased.
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