Registering for the Competition

After eating more than half the insect eggs, the insect king Chu Yuntian had deliberately raised stopped eating. It was hard to imagine where it had put something so much larger than its own body.

Moreover, the message Little Star sent did not say it was full, only that it had consumed enough. After being fed a surge of powerful spirit energy, Little Star's body emitted a faint firefly-like glow. Its light was dimmer than that of the other beetles, yet it somehow seemed even more dazzling. The glow was utterly pure, completely suppressing the other beetles in both strength and status.

Huo Hai could even sense that, in essence, Little Star had already become the king insect of this swarm of Star Gu. This was an evolution of its bloodline. After devouring so many dead insect eggs, Little Star's Star Gu bloodline had become far stronger than those of the other beetles.

With a thought from him, the remaining beetles swarmed forward and devoured all the remaining dead insect eggs. Turning around, Huo Hai planned to feed Little Gold next. Later, he would cast a witchcraft incantation to strengthen his connection with Little Gold.

Before Huo Hai could even squeeze out any blood, a voice rang out from beyond the door. "Young Master, Young Master, come out quickly! Today is registration day. Don't miss the hour." He was exceptionally familiar with the old steward's voice.

"Sigh, looks like there's no chance today. Hide first. We're going to register," Huo Hai said softly. Little Gold nodded and crawled into Huo Hai's sleeve. There were several pouches inside Huo Hai's sleeve, specially made for holding Gu Insects. Nothing could be seen from the outside.

After packing up, Huo Hai walked out. Without another word, the steward led Huo Hai to the Huo Family's group. By then, most people had already arrived. Once everyone was present, the group set off.

The familiar sights of old seemed different today. Everyone was high-spirited, and being among them, Huo Hai was affected as well. It was as though he, too, stood above others. "Sigh, what standing above others? Without strength, you'll ultimately remain at the bottom."

Huo Hai looked at those people who acted arrogantly before ordinary folk yet wore faces full of admiration before the leader and the Lineage's upper ranks, and something seemed to stir in his heart. The pride that had just begun to rise was doused as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head, pressed back down once more. It felt as if something within him had vanished. At that moment, Huo Hai felt extraordinarily refreshed, and even his body seemed clearer and more transparent.

"After we go in, none of you are to speak carelessly. Do whatever you're told to do. Understood?" While his thoughts ran wild, the group had already arrived at the Western Frontier Capital. This was not the territory of any particular Lineage, but the lord's residence.

The lord was the head of the Western Frontier's greatest Lineage, and this round of testing was also held at the lord's manor. Those who had already undergone testing once before were quite familiar with the place. They said nothing, merely followed their Lineage members quietly inside.

"Next, the Huo Family. Come in for testing. You aren't planning to use defective goods to fool us, are you?" A young man spoke arrogantly to the Lineage disciples outside. At such a young age, he already possessed the strength of a Spirit Adept, so his arrogance was only natural. Huo Kai's expression did not look good, but he did not dare say anything and could only smile along.

"Of course, of course. The Lineage conducted internal testing long ago. Look, our Lineage's quota this time is meant for Yun'er. Please register her first." As he spoke, Huo Kai pushed Huo Yuner forward to register.

The young man's eyes lit up when he looked at Huo Yuner, though he immediately concealed it. "Not bad, not bad. From the look of her, her talent should not be poor. All right, tell me your name, age, and cultivation level." The young man stared at Huo Yuner as he spoke.

Though the lust in his eyes was well concealed, Huo Hai, who had been watching him the entire time, still saw it. "Hmph, that level of acting would be pure trash on Earth." Everyone on Earth lived behind masks. Pick anyone at random, and they would put on a better performance than this fellow. The look in the young man's eyes made Huo Hai wary.

"Hmph, I don't care who you are. If you dare lay a hand on my sister, you'd better be prepared to pay the price. Right, wasn't I going to become a bad person? Some other day, I'll use you for an experiment." A cold smile flickered through Huo Hai's eyes.

While the young man was setting his sights on Huo Yuner, he had no idea that Huo Hai, this freak, had already set his sights on him. If he had known, who knew how he would have felt. Everything proceeded normally, without any accidents.

The test was simple. First, one had to meet the age requirement, then use a crystal ball to test one's affinity with spirit energy. Huo Hai had taken this test long ago. Back then, he had given his family quite a fright. Even the tester could not help casting him a sideways glance as he watched Huo Hai inject spirit energy into the crystal ball. This little fellow was young, but his affinity was downright terrifying.

Affinity could not determine whether one's talent was high or low, but it was closely related to talent. Those with high talent would never have low affinity. Likewise, those with high affinity would not have low talent. Looks like I'll earn another merit this time, the tester thought happily as he conducted the tests. These country bumpkins from little places—find a few suitable ones, and on the road they could become his lackeys.

The testing proceeded quickly. Out of the Huo Family's many disciples, only a few had been selected, all of whom had already passed the Lineage's internal tests. Now that they had come to register for testing, they naturally all passed. Only after the testing ended did Huo Hai have time to look around.

"What's going on? Why are they all disciples from several Lineages? Can ordinary people not register?" Huo Hai asked softly, looking puzzled. Hadn't they said earlier that anyone suitable could register and participate?

Seeing that many people did not understand, an elder of the Huo Family explained in a low voice, "Of course not. Today is for Lineage disciples to undergo internal testing. The tests for ordinary people begin tomorrow and will last three days in total. Those who have passed internal Lineage tests generally have no problems with their talent. But ordinary people are different. Far too many who do not meet the requirements come to try their luck."

"So that's how it is. Then when will the trial begin, and where will it be held?" Huo Hai asked again.

The elder shook his head. "The tests begin in five days. As for where they will be held, I don't know either. The Imperial City Academy arranged all of this. However, the mountains nearby were sealed off some time ago, so it should be somewhere in those mountains."

Huo Hai nodded to show that he understood and asked no more questions. But because of Huo Hai's questions, the others gradually began discussing among themselves. Their voices were low; after all, the elders were watching. How could they be allowed to make trouble at a time like this?

"All right, the Huo Family's testing is over. Next, the He Family. Hurry up and don't waste time." The young man remained no more courteous than before.

Like the Huo Family, the He Family did not dare say anything. The He Family head respectfully saluted and greeted him, then led his own people inside. Unlike the Huo Family, which had few members, the He Family had a long history and many disciples. They had brought several times as many people as the Huo Family. Relying on their numerical advantage, the He Family received far more benefits than the Huo Family each time.

It could be said that if not for the fierce internal strife within the He Family, which consumed too much of its strength in infighting, the Huo Family would not have been able to compare with it at all. Even so, the He Family was still the second-largest Lineage in the entire Western Frontier.

"Haha, isn't this the Huo Family's idiot? How can an idiot still pass the test? Has the Imperial City Academy's recruitment standard gotten lower and lower? Don't tell me he used a Lineage quota." At that moment, a piercing voice rang out from the silent crowd. The speaker was none other than He Ya. This fellow had come today as well.

Feeling everyone's attention on him, He Ya looked immensely pleased with himself. To be the focus of all eyes, and all of them experts at that. "Haha, what are you looking at? I'm talking about you. Ask around if you don't believe me. Huo Hai, this idiot, is already a fool, yet he can still participate."

At those words, the faces of everyone in the Huo Family changed. No matter what happened within the Lineage, they had to maintain unity before outsiders. This was especially true of a relatively united Lineage like the Huo Family. The He Family members also looked extremely awkward. This idiot—could he not distinguish the occasion? What was he trying to do, shouting and making trouble here?

Before either Lineage could react, however, the young man sneered. "Hmph, what are you? How dare you shout and yell here? Believe it or not, I can make sure you fail the test." This was one of a tester's powers.

He Ya glared at him fiercely. "Hmph, I'm using a Lineage quota. Do you dare refuse to let me pass? You're just a mere tester, ah—" Before he could finish, the He Family head slapped him across the face.

"You beast! Apologize to the envoy at once! Do you not plan on entering the academy?" That slap left He Ya stunned. He had never imagined that his father, who had always doted on him, would actually strike him. The He Family head kept signaling at He Ya with his eyes. Only after a long while did He Ya finally realize that he seemed to have caused trouble. He reluctantly offered an apology.

The He Family head was furious beyond measure. The man might be young, but he could very well be stronger than the He Family head himself. This was the Western Frontier, yes, but it was not territory belonging to the He Family alone. Besides, would the Imperial City Academy allow a mere He Family to pass judgment on it?

It looked like he would have to properly discipline this useless thing after returning tonight. Otherwise, wasting a quota for nothing would be more loss than gain. The He Family was a top-tier great Lineage in the Western Frontier, but in the Southern Cloud Kingdom, it was merely a second-rate Lineage. In the imperial capital, it would be third-rate—nothing at all. He had truly spoiled the boy too much these past years.

"Let's go. There's nothing worth watching. But the He Family has certainly grown capable—they even dare look down on people from the Imperial City Academy." Huo Kai spoke lightly, then turned and left. The relationship between the two Lineages was not good to begin with.

Sure enough, upon hearing Huo Kai's words, the envoy's expression darkened considerably. Huo Kai laughed inwardly. It seemed that during this year's testing, far fewer members of the He Family would pass than usual. He had said that deliberately.