Metal Nature Forges Arms, Killing Intent Becomes Astral Force

Above the square, the Water Mirror hung high, clearly reflecting every turn of events inside the Spirit Realm.

"Not bad. A few have already seen through the intent."

Judge Li watched several agile students in the image slaughtering Demon Beasts with abandon. He nodded slightly, a rare trace of satisfaction appearing on his habitually stern face.

"The three rounds of this examination are linked, one after another. Not a single one can be omitted."

"If anyone thinks they can slack off in the second round, conserve their strength, and simply survive until the third, they are sorely mistaken."

Beside him, Vice Dean Lu He stroked his long beard and agreed. "Precisely. High-grade Magical Artifacts are excellent, but for children still in the Qi Refining Early Stage, they are beyond the syllabus."

"With their meager cultivation, they can barely activate a high-grade Magical Artifact. It would be all show, consuming enormous power without bringing out its true might."

Lu He pointed to the image of Chu Bai's fluid suppression of the beasts. "Take Chu Bai. If he hadn't hunted several Demon Beasts earlier and drawn Killing Intent into his body, suppressing that herd of Ironclad Boars so easily would likely have drained his spiritual power dry."

"Killing Intent's amplification doesn't just strengthen the body and Spell Arts. It's also the bridge that lets these low-level cultivators wield higher-grade Magical Artifacts."

"Those who gained high-grade Magical Artifacts in the first round must risk their lives hunting enough Demon Beasts in this one and accumulate enough Killing Intent. Only then can they show the true edge of their divine weapons in the third round's Arena battles!"

"Thus, they must give their all in every round. There's no room for the slightest complacency."

At this, Lu He paused and turned to Judge Li, uncertainty