Immovable Wisdom King Holds the Examination Ground, Gravity Trial Separates the Strong from the Weak

Dai Mubai's endurance and movement assessment came to an end. Most of the candidates collapsed to the ground, utterly drained, and were eliminated on the spot. In the end, only Lin Chen, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and two boys who had barely managed to hang on until the finish qualified for the next round.

"Keep up. We're going to the next examination ground." Dai Mubai stretched his aching limbs. Though much of his Soul Power had been spent, he still maintained the dignity of a core student of Shrek Academy. He turned and headed deeper into the academy.

The others hurried after him. They passed through a bamboo grove thick with leaves, and an expansive training ground paved with hard black stone came into view. Cracks of varying depths crisscrossed the ground, bearing witness to countless fierce battles between Soul Masters. A heavy, oppressive aura hung over the place.

At the very center of the training ground stood a burly figure, towering like an iron pagoda. His skin was dark, his muscles knotted, and an overbearing aura of strength radiated from him. Five Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black—were arrayed beneath his feet. His steady Soul Power swept across the entire grounds. Just standing there, he was enough to inspire fear.

"This is Teacher Zhao Wuji, a core instructor at Shrek Academy. His Martial Soul is the Vajra Bear. He's a seventy-sixth-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Saint, known as the Immovable Wisdom King. He'll personally oversee the third assessment." Dai Mubai came to a stop, his voice carrying unmistakable reverence as he introduced Zhao Wuji to the group.

Zhao Wuji slowly turned his head, his sharp gaze sweeping over every candidate present. He didn't even need to deliberately activate his Soul Power; the formidable aura of a Soul Saint instantly enveloped the entire grounds. Several candidates whose nerves were already frayed instinctively stumbled backward, their faces turning deathly pale.

"Little Monsters, I'll spare you the nonsense." Zhao Wuji's voice rang deep and loud, making their eardrums tingle. "This round tests your ability to endure pressure and your resilience. The rules are simple: hold out for the time it takes one incense stick to burn in my Gravity Domain, and you pass."

As soon as he finished speaking, he clenched his right fist. The third Soul Ring around him blazed with light, and his third Soul Skill—Gravity Enhancement—activated in an instant!

An invisible weight swept across the entire training ground, making the earth sink slightly beneath them. The candidates suddenly felt as though a thousand pounds had landed on their shoulders. Many buckled at the knees on the spot, cries of pain rising one after another. Apart from Lin Chen and the others, the two candidates who had barely made it through were pressed straight to the ground. Their bones creaked under the unbearable strain, and they couldn't get back up.

"That's not enough. Double it!" Zhao Wuji's eyes sharpened as he activated his Soul Power again, sending the gravity soaring to four times its normal level.

The two candidates could no longer hold on. They lay flat on the ground, faces full of despair, disqualified from the assessment. Only Lin Chen, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing remained standing.

Soul Power flowed steadily around Lin Chen, maintaining the level of a twenty-first-rank Soul Elder. The Ink Shadow Spirit Cat Martial Soul quietly possessed him, revealing black cat ears and a nimble tail. With the innate lightness of his Martial Soul and a physical foundation far beyond that of ordinary people, his feet seemed rooted in the earth like sturdy pines. He stood tall without the slightest tremor under fourfold gravity, looking so composed that he could have been standing there on an ordinary day.

The sight left Zhao Wuji secretly astonished. He could see clearly that Lin Chen's Soul Power was indeed only at the twenty-first rank, yet he could withstand the gravity released by a Soul Saint with such ease. His foundation and composure far surpassed those of Soul Masters his age.

Nearby, Xiao Wu activated her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul and barely held out against the pressure with her exceptionally flexible body. Fine beads of sweat covered her forehead, and she bit down on her lip as she struggled to endure. Zhu Zhuqing released her Nether Civet Martial Soul and kept adjusting her stance with nimble movements to lessen the impact of the gravity, but her body was trembling slightly.

Tang San, meanwhile, was in an utterly wretched state. The previous assessments had already drained his Soul Power, leaving both body and mind exhausted. Under the sudden fourfold gravity, his legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. Pain coursed through his bones, and he swayed on the verge of collapse, his face as pale as paper.

"Little San, steady your mind! Circulate your Soul Power with all your strength and use your Martial Soul's traits to deflect the pressure!" Yu Xiaogang stood outside the grounds, fists clenched as he shouted at the top of his lungs. He had spent his life studying Soul Master theory, but knew nothing about the Mysterious Heaven Skill within Tang San's body. He couldn't offer any more specific guidance, and could only call out a reminder based on the fundamentals.

Tang San gritted his teeth through the pain and tried to circulate his Soul Power as Yu Xiaogang had advised. But under the terrifying force of gravity, the flow of Soul Power through his body had become sluggish. He could only grit his teeth and hold on through sheer tenacity. Sweat streamed down his cheeks, soon soaking his clothes, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably. He could collapse at any moment.

"One last increase! If you can't hold on, give up!" Zhao Wuji's voice rang out again as sixfold gravity crashed down!

A crisp crack came from Tang San's body. His knees finally gave way, buckling sharply. He could only brace himself with both hands to keep from falling completely. A thread of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He had reached his limit.

Lin Chen, by contrast, still stood firmly in place. He had taken the Ink Shadow Spirit Cat's lightness to its utmost, his Soul Power flowing without the slightest disruption. Sixfold gravity felt like a gentle breeze against his face. He even had the strength to look around, calmly taking in everything beside him.

Zhao Wuji took in the state of both boys and immediately knew who came out on top. Tang San had decent willpower, but his strength was lacking, and his temperament was too restless. Under the pressure, he had completely lost his composure. Lin Chen, on the other hand, was calm and steady; both his strength and character were first-rate. The admiration in Zhao Wuji's eyes deepened.

Tang San's consciousness was beginning to blur. The pain throughout his body and his depleted Soul Power left him nearly suffocating. Watching Lin Chen stand calmly nearby, resentment and jealousy surged wildly in his heart. He couldn't understand why Lin Chen always seemed to outshine him in everything.

The turmoil in his mind made his already precarious state collapse completely. Lin Chen happened to turn and look at him. His gaze was calm and devoid of emotion, yet it carried an invisible force of oppression that shattered Tang San's last psychological defenses. His throat tightened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before collapsing unconscious to the ground.

"Little San!" Yu Xiaogang cried out and started to rush onto the training ground, but Dai Mubai raised an arm to stop him.

"During the assessment, outsiders aren't allowed in. He's already been eliminated." Dai Mubai's voice was cold, leaving no room for argument.

Yu Xiaogang stared at Tang San's unconscious form, his face dark with fury. Resentment toward Zhao Wuji's cruelty filled his heart, and he looked at Lin Chen's back with even greater hatred. Yet there was nothing he could do.

Zhao Wuji glanced at Tang San on the ground, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes. Then he turned toward Lin Chen, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing, who still stood tall, and announced gravely, "Not bad. The three of you pass!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he withdrew his Soul Power, and the gravity enveloping the grounds vanished in an instant. The training ground returned to normal.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing immediately went limp and slumped onto the ground, panting heavily, their faces full of relief at having survived. Lin Chen remained standing steadily, his breathing only slightly hurried. More than half his Soul Power remained, and he still looked calm and composed.

Zhao Wuji walked over to Lin Chen and gave him a heavy pat on the shoulder. The force was enough to break an ordinary Soul Master's bones, but Lin Chen only swayed slightly and took the blow in stride. "A twenty-first-rank Soul Elder who can withstand sixfold gravity—your body, Martial Soul, and character are all beyond reproach. You're a fine prospect."

"Thank you for recognizing me, Teacher Zhao." Lin Chen bowed slightly, humble and free of arrogance.

Zhao Wuji nodded, then turned to Dai Mubai. "Take them to see Flender and handle their enrollment."

"Yes, Teacher Zhao." Dai Mubai replied and motioned for Lin Chen and the two girls to follow.

Lin Chen reached out and helped Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to their feet. They looked at him with gratitude, and the three followed Dai Mubai deeper into the academy. Yu Xiaogang was left behind on the empty training ground, holding the unconscious Tang San as a terrifying darkness settled over his face.