Immovable Wisdom King Guards the Exam Hall, Gravity Trial Decides the Victor

Dai Mubai's endurance and agility assessment drew to a close, with the majority of candidates collapsing from exhaustion and stopping right there. In the end, only Lin Chen, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and two other youths who barely managed to hold on successfully qualified for the next round.

"Keep up, we're heading to the next testing ground." Dai Mubai stretched his sore limbs. Even though his own soul power was significantly depleted, he maintained the dignity of a core Shrek Academy student, turning and walking toward the depths of the academy.

The group followed closely behind, passing through a dense bamboo forest until a martial arts arena paved with hard black rock appeared before them. The crisscrossing cracks of varying depths on the ground bore witness to the intensity of countless soul master duels, exuding a heavy sense of oppression.

In the center of the arena stood a burly figure like an iron tower. The man had dark skin, knotted muscles, and radiated an aura of savage power. Two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring were neatly arranged beneath his feet, and the steady fluctuations of his soul power swept across the entire arena; just standing there was enough to strike fear into the hearts of others.

"This is Teacher Zhao Wuji, a core instructor at Shrek Academy. His martial soul is the Vajra Bear, a level 76 power-attack system battle soul saint known as the Immovable Wisdom King. He will personally oversee the third round of the assessment," Dai Mubai said, standing still and introducing him to the group in a deep voice, his tone filled with clear reverence for Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji turned his head slowly, his sharp gaze sweeping over all the candidates present. Without needing to deliberately exert his soul power, the formidable aura belonging to a soul saint instantly enveloped the field. Several candidates who were already mentally unstable instinctively retreated, their faces turning pale in an instant.

"Little monsters, no need for small talk." Zhao Wuji's voice was deep and resonant, making people's eardrums itch. "My round tests your pressure resistance and resilience. The rules are simple: survive in my gravity domain for the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, and you pass."

As his words fell, he slammed his right hand into a fist. His third soul ring instantly lit up with a brilliant glow, and his third soul skill—Gravity Enhancement—was suddenly unleashed!

An invisible, heavy pressure swept across the entire arena, causing the ground to sink slightly. The candidates felt as if a thousand-jin burden had suddenly been placed upon them; many were forced to their knees on the spot, and cries of agony rang out one after another. Aside from Lin Chen and the other three, the two lucky candidates who had advanced were pressed directly to the ground, their bones emitting sounds of unbearable strain, unable to rise.

"The force isn't enough, double it!" Zhao Wuji's eyes sharpened as he exerted his soul power again, and the gravity soared to four times its normal state.

Those two candidates could no longer hold on and collapsed completely to the ground, faces filled with despair as they lost their eligibility for the assessment. Only Lin Chen, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing remained standing.

Lin Chen's soul power circulated steadily, maintaining the fluctuations of a level 21 Soul Elder. His Ink Shadow Spirit Cat martial soul quietly manifested, with black cat ears and a nimble long tail appearing. Relying on the innate lightness of his martial soul and a physical foundation far beyond the norm, his feet were like a pine tree rooted in the earth. His posture remained upright, and he did not sway in the slightest under four times gravity, his expression as calm as if he were simply standing normally.

This scene caught Zhao Wuji's eye, leaving him secretly astonished. He could see clearly that Lin Chen's soul power was indeed only level 21, yet he could resist the gravity released by a soul saint so easily. This foundation and composure were far beyond those of his peers.

Nearby, Xiao Wu activated her Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul, barely resisting the pressure with her extremely flexible physique. Her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and she bit her lip hard to endure. Zhu Zhuqing released her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul, using her agile footwork to constantly adjust her posture and minimize the impact of the gravity, her body trembling slightly.

As for Tang San, his situation was already miserable to the extreme. The previous continuous assessments had already depleted his soul power, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted. Suddenly facing four times gravity, he felt as if his legs were filled with lead, his bones ached, and he was swaying, his face as pale as paper.

"San, steady your mind, circulate your soul power with all your might, and use the characteristics of your martial soul to disperse the force!" Yu Xiaogang, standing outside the field, clenched his hands tightly and shouted at the top of his lungs. He had spent his life studying soul master theory, but he knew nothing of the Mysterious Heaven Skill within Tang San and could not provide more targeted guidance, so he could only offer reminders based on basic theory.

Tang San endured the intense pain, trying to circulate his soul power as Yu Xiaogang suggested, but under the terrifying suppression of gravity, the circulation of his soul power was extremely sluggish, and he could only rely on sheer resilience to hold on. Sweat dripped down his cheeks, quickly soaking his clothes, and he trembled uncontrollably, on the verge of collapsing at any moment.

"Double it one last time. If you can't hold on, just give up!" Zhao Wuji's voice rang out again, and six times gravity crashed down!

With a crisp sound of bone, Tang San's knees could no longer support him and buckled violently. He had to use his hands to brace himself against the ground to avoid collapsing completely, a trail of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth as he reached his limit.

In contrast, Lin Chen remained standing firmly. He pushed the lightness of the Ink Shadow Spirit Cat to the limit, his soul power circulating without the slightest disorder. The six-fold gravity felt like a gentle breeze, and he even had the energy to look around, observing everything beside him with indifference.

Zhao Wuji took in the state of both, judging their worth instantly. While Tang San's willpower was acceptable, his strength was insufficient and his temperament was restless, causing him to lose his composure under pressure. Lin Chen, however, was steady and calm, with both strength and temperament being top-tier. The appreciation in his eyes deepened.

At this moment, Tang San's consciousness began to blur. The intense pain throughout his body and the exhaustion of his soul power left him nearly suffocated. Looking at the calm and composed Lin Chen not far away, resentment and jealousy surged wildly in his heart. He could not understand why he was being outshone by Lin Chen at every turn.

These distracting thoughts caused his already precarious state to collapse completely. Lin Chen happened to turn and look at him; his calm eyes held no emotion, yet they carried an invisible sense of suppression that instantly shattered Tang San's final psychological defense. A sweetness rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, fainting and falling heavily to the ground.

"San!" Yu Xiaogang cried out and moved to rush into the field, but was blocked by Dai Mubai.

"During the assessment, outsiders are not allowed to interfere. He is already out," Dai Mubai said coldly, leaving no room for negotiation.

Yu Xiaogang looked at the unconscious Tang San, his face turning ashen. His heart was full of resentment toward Zhao Wuji's ruthlessness, and he looked at Lin Chen's back with even more intense hatred, yet he was helpless.

Zhao Wuji glanced at the fallen Tang San, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes, before turning his gaze to the still-standing Lin Chen, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing. He announced in a deep voice, "Not bad. The three of you, you pass the assessment!"

As his words fell, he withdrew his soul power. The gravity that had enveloped the arena instantly dissipated, and the field returned to normal.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing instantly lost their strength, collapsing to the ground and gasping for air, their faces filled with the relief of having survived a disaster. Lin Chen, however, remained standing firmly, though his breathing was slightly rapid. He still had more than half of his soul power left, and his face remained calm and composed.

Zhao Wuji walked up to Lin Chen and patted his shoulder heavily. The force was enough to fracture the bones of an ordinary soul master, but Lin Chen only swayed slightly, firmly absorbing the impact. "Level 21 Soul Elder, able to withstand my six-fold gravity. Your physique, martial soul, and temperament are all impeccable. You are a good seedling."

"Many thanks for the recognition, Teacher Zhao." Lin Chen bowed slightly, his attitude humble and devoid of any arrogance.

Zhao Wuji nodded and turned to look at Dai Mubai. "Take them to see Flender and handle the enrollment procedures."

"Yes, Teacher Zhao." Dai Mubai responded, then signaled for the three of them to follow.

Lin Chen reached out to help Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing up. Both girls looked at him with gratitude, and the three followed Dai Mubai toward the depths of the academy, leaving only Yu Xiaogang holding the unconscious Tang San in the empty arena, his expression terrifyingly dark.