A Five-Thousand-Year Ghost Leopard? (Please Bookmark, Recommend, and Vote!)

"Yes, yes, yes."

Ma Yun smacked his forehead and smiled apologetically at Xu Tianming.

"I was being rash. We'll discuss everything after Student Xu completes the assessment."

As he spoke, he cast a rather reluctant glance at the long saber in Xu Tianming's hand.

For a high-ranking Soul Engineer, rare metals with special properties were no less tempting than Soul Bones of an exceptionally high age.

"Well then, Xiao Zhao, why aren't you arranging Student Xu's assessment already?"

Ma Yun gave a light cough and shot the assessment instructor a meaningful look.

The assessment instructor immediately understood and hurried over to open the gates to the assessment area.

"Student Tianming, you'll be facing a five-thousand-year soul beast, after all. You must be extremely careful."

Ma Yun patted Xu Tianming on the shoulder and offered a reminder.

"Elder Ma, don't worry."

Xu Tianming smiled brightly, then strode into the assessment area.

The instant Xu Tianming stood still with his long saber in hand, Ma Yun, watching from outside the assessment area, keenly noticed that Xu Tianming's bearing had undergone a dramatic change.

Although his aura had not increased in the slightest, for some reason, he gave off an exceedingly dangerous feeling.

"Is this the new student who reached Level 37 at only eleven years old?"

Just as Ma Yun stared fixedly at Xu Tianming in the assessment area, a voice abruptly sounded beside his ear.

He jolted in fright, then swiftly turned around.

An elderly man of short but extremely stout build, dressed in a black robe embroidered with golden patterns, had appeared behind him at some unknown time.

Though the old man looked somewhat well-fed, he naturally carried the imposing air of someone long accustomed to authority.

"Yes, Headmaster."

The old man was naturally Jing Hongchen, headmaster of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.

After receiving news that a genius Spirit Master had appeared among the academy's new students, he had hurried over.

"This student is named Xu Tianming. Not only did he reach Level 37 at such a young age,"

Ma Yun quickly began introducing Xu Tianming to Jing Hongchen.

"but his first Soul Ring is a purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring, while his second and third Soul Rings are black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings!"

To Ma Yun's surprise, Jing Hongchen merely nodded slightly. There was not much surprise on his face, only an inexplicable sigh.

"So he is Xu Tianming. Such talent is truly unmatched in the Sun Moon Empire for ten thousand years!"

Hearing this, Ma Yun frowned slightly. After looking around, he hesitantly lowered his voice and asked Jing Hongchen:

"Headmaster... could it be that you know this child?"

"He is the son of that man from Dongyang City."

Since Ma Yun was Jing Hongchen's subordinate, Jing Hongchen did not conceal Xu Tianming's identity.

"Gasp!"

Ma Yun's eyes widened as he inwardly thought, Just as expected.

As he had guessed, Xu Tianming truly was a member of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family.

"But Headmaster, with talent this astonishing, why... why had no one ever heard of him before?"

Ma Yun asked in confusion.

Logically, whether it was a sect, academy, or clan, once a genius emerged, they would certainly publicize it far and wide.

Leaving aside distant examples, in the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy alone, who did not know Jing Hongchen's grandson, Xiao Hongchen, who was hailed as the Sun Moon Empire's number one genius?

And Meng Hongchen, whose talent was only slightly inferior to her elder brother's?

"That man from Dongyang City has always been cautious. Back then, he even managed to remain unscathed and withdraw safely from the imperial family's struggle for power."

Since the matter concerned the imperial family, Jing Hongchen lowered his voice considerably.

"Presumably, his son inherited his father's teachings as well."

"Moreover, I heard that the heir to the Dongyang City Lord's estate often leaves Dongyang City to train elsewhere, so his reputation is not widely known."

For some reason, Ma Yun suddenly thought of the great purge launched by the current Crown Prince Xu Tianran after the assassination attempt against him several years ago, and he fell silent as well.

"Why isn't he using Martial Soul Possession? Is he not ready?"

At that moment, Jing Hongchen, looking into the arena, suddenly frowned.

"Hm?"

Ma Yun hurriedly followed Jing Hongchen's gaze. Xu Tianming stood boldly in the middle of the arena, yet he had not summoned his Martial Soul.

"Student Tianming, why haven't you summoned your Martial Soul? Are you not ready?"

Ma Yun immediately shouted toward the arena.

"Why would I need to summon my Martial Soul for a mere five-thousand-year soul beast?"

Xu Tianming chuckled and replied loudly.

"This..."

Ma Yun choked at those words and looked toward Jing Hongchen beside him.

"Student Tianming, a five-thousand-year soul beast is no joke. Are you sure you won't summon your Martial Soul?"

Jing Hongchen personally called out toward the Trial Grounds.

"No need. Please begin as soon as possible."

Xu Tianming spun his long saber in a graceful flourish, his clear voice echoing throughout the Trial Grounds.

"Then let us begin!"

Jing Hongchen did not try to persuade him further and merely gestured toward the distance.

With him, a Title Douluo and Level 9 Soul Master, present, even if something unexpected happened, he was confident he could save Xu Tianming.

Besides, he wanted to see exactly what Xu Tianming, who was already a three-ringed Soul Elder at such a young age and possessed three Soul Rings beyond their proper age, was capable of.

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

Accompanied by a series of dull mechanical sounds, the enormous iron gate in the Trial Grounds was slowly raised.

From the pitch-black passageway, a faint scent of blood gradually spread through the arena.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of frantic running came from within the passageway.

The next instant, a black figure burst from the passageway and lunged at Xu Tianming with incredible speed.

Xu Tianming's lips curled upward slightly as he raised his long saber above his head.

Roar!

Amid the roar, the black figure revealed its full appearance beneath the sunlight.

It was a black leopard over five meters long and nearly three meters tall, its fur a pure black without the slightest trace of another color.

"A five-thousand-year Ghost Leopard?"

Xu Tianming murmured to himself.

Ghost Leopards were already among the finest agility-type soul beasts, and this one had been raised by the Sun Moon Empire Soul Guidance Academy for an unknown length of time.

The moment it was released, it was like a tiger unleashed from its cage. In the blink of an eye, it had already pounced before Xu Tianming.

"I thought the assessment was supposed to involve a two-thousand-year soul beast. What is this five-thousand-year Ghost Leopard doing here?"

Jing Hongchen frowned and asked Ma Yun from the viewing stand.

"I... I just wanted to see what he could do too."

Ma Yun's old face flushed bright red as he lowered his head and offered an embarrassed explanation.

"Nonsense!"

Jing Hongchen sternly reprimanded him:

"He is, after all, a close relative of the imperial family. If something happens to him, are you planning to repay them with your life?"

Even so, his gaze remained fixed firmly on Xu Tianming in the Trial Grounds.