Five minutes felt unbearably long in the midst of such agony.
The stifled groans and labored breathing in the classroom never stopped. Many students' bodies trembled slightly against their will, and cold sweat soaked the floor. But in the end, not a single person gave up.
When the last Purple Lightning Spark quietly faded from a student's tense fingertips, it was as if every ounce of strength had been drained from the classroom. A chorus of relieved, nearly exhausted sighs filled the room.
Many slumped straight down in their seats, panting heavily as though they had just finished a marathon. Their faces were pale, but their eyes held a trace of relief and lingering fear at having made it through the trial.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Clear applause rang out from the podium.
Lin Yi looked at the students below, nearly drained but all of whom had persevered, and a faint, approving smile appeared on his face.
"Congratulations."
His voice broke the silence in the classroom. "Every one of you passed the first test. That proves you have the minimum willpower required to endure the pain of Source Energy entering your body."
"That's good."
His simple words of approval brought excited flushes to the pale faces of many students. A shared sense of pride and an initial feeling of belonging quietly took root.
Then Lin Yi changed tack and announced news that immediately lifted everyone's spirits:
"To encourage you all to learn from one another and strive to surpass each other in your upcoming training, I'll personally provide a batch of Spirit Radiance Crystals as additional rewards."
He emphasized the point: "These rewards are open to every student, including the observers from the various national delegations. Everyone will have an equal chance to earn them through their own efforts."
At that,