As the enormous golden Law Net overhead gave another low tremor, the multicolored spiritual radiance on the Martial Training Ground abruptly went out. Immediately afterward, a new wave of light surged forth like a tide, covering the hundred Spirit-Gathering Platforms once more.
The second round of attribute changes had begun.
This time, no one retained their earlier composure.
Many had not yet fully emerged from their previous cultivation state before being forced to stop. Some failed to withdraw their power in time and suffered a spiritual energy backlash, a trace of blood spilling from the corners of their mouths.
"Quick! Find a suitable spot!"
The crowd erupted into motion. After the first round, everyone understood how important it was to seize the initiative.
Chu Bai was also forced to interrupt his cultivation. He swiftly opened his eyes, and the keen perception granted by [Quick-Witted] spread out instantly, scanning the surrounding Spirit-Gathering Platforms.
This time, however, his luck clearly was not as good.
Fire, wood, earth... why are they all attributes that either counter mine or have nothing to do with it?
Chu Bai's brows knitted tightly.
He primarily cultivated a water method. If he forcibly absorbed fire spiritual energy, the incompatible fire and water would injure his meridians. If he absorbed earth spiritual energy, earth countered water, drastically reducing his efficiency. As for wood spiritual energy, water nourished wood, so he could absorb it—but that would mean spending his own spell power to nourish the wood energy. It was a losing bargain through and through.
Looking farther afield, he spotted several water-attribute stone platforms glowing a deep blue at the other end of the Martial Training Ground.
But they were too far away, and people had already crowded around them.
In that brief moment of hesitation, several quick-eyed, quick-handed candidates had already claimed those platforms. On one of them, two people had nearly come to blows over a spot. Without the Black-Armored Guards to deter them, they would probably have started fighting.
I can't get over there.
Chu Bai made a calm assessment.
Time was pressing. Every breath spent hesitating meant lost points and another step toward elimination. In an assessment where every second counted, there was simply no time to choose the perfect answer.
If I can't get the best, I'll choose what suits me most.
Chu Bai's gaze swept around before finally settling on a Spirit-Gathering Platform a dozen or so steps to his right.
That stone platform did not give off the familiar moisture of water. Instead, it flickered with a chilling white light, radiating a sharpness that made his skin prickle.
It was metal-attribute spiritual energy.
Among the five phases, metal gives rise to water.
The principles of generation and restraint among the five phases, which his master had taught him, swiftly flashed through Chu Bai's mind. Metal energy is sharp, cutting like a blade when it enters the body. But if I can tame it, metal can become water, flowing without end. Absorbing and converting it won't be as efficient as pure water, but it can hone the edge of my spell power, and it's reasonably compatible. At least it won't clash with me like fire or earth.
Not my first choice, but not a bad one either.
His decision made, Chu Bai sprang into motion, rushing toward the metal-attribute Spirit-Gathering Platform like an arrow loosed from its bow.
Several people nearby had also spotted it, but whether they feared that sharp metal energy or were simply a little slower, Chu Bai ultimately beat them to it and sat cross-legged on the platform.
"Rise!"
Chu Bai wasted no words. The instant he sat down, he began circulating his cultivation method.
"Hss..."
As the first wisp of metal energy entered his body, Chu Bai could not help sucking in a sharp breath.
How was this absorbing spiritual energy? It was more like swallowing a handful of steel needles! That supremely sharp aura rampaged through his meridians, threatening to slice them apart inch by inch.
"Transform!"
Chu Bai gritted his teeth and forcibly mobilized the wisp of deep-blue spiritual power in his dantian.
The supple current met the sharp metal energy head-on. Softness overcame hardness; water tempered metal.
Scoured and enveloped by his spell power, the violent metal energy gradually had its edges worn away, becoming a stream of water carrying a faint sharpness that slowly flowed into the Jade Ring.
Although the conversion was considerably slower than in the previous round, this spiritual energy was of extremely high quality, every strand densely refined.
Chu Bai steadied himself and once again entered that state of utterly focused cultivation.
Atop the raised dais.
The three examiners looked down from above, taking in everyone's performance on the grounds.
Zhang Cheng sat in the principal seat, his expression stern and cold. To his left sat an elegant, middle-aged scholar named Li Wenyuan, the Prefectural Dao Academy instructor responsible for classics theory. To his right was a burly man with a thick beard named Zhao Wu, who oversaw the Dao Academy's combat training.
"This young man is excellent."
Li Wenyuan gently waved his folding fan and pointed at Chu Bai, admiration filling his eyes. "In the first round, he gathered qi like a whale swallowing the sea, clearly demonstrating an exceptional foundation. In the second, he remained calm in the face of change, did not blindly follow the crowd, and showed an understanding of how the five phases generate one another, making decisive choices. Whatever his final score in this first trial, his temperament and adaptability alone have already secured him a place among the leaders."
Zhang Ironface nodded slightly. A barely perceptible flicker of appreciation passed through his seemingly emotionless eyes. "A promising seedling. Far better than those aristocratic clan children who only know how to bury themselves in books or build themselves up with pills."
"A promising seedling, yes. Unfortunately..."
Beside him, Zhao Wu sighed, his voice tinged with helplessness and indignation. "Unfortunately, he was born at the wrong time. In previous years, a performance like his would have made admission to the Dao Academy a nailed-down certainty. But this year..."
At that point, Zhao Wu paused and held up two thick fingers, giving them a shake. "Our Anping County Dao Academy has only two official places left."
"Two?" Zhang Cheng frowned slightly. "Haven't there always been three?"
"That's ancient history now." Zhao Wu gave a bitter smile. "Just a few days ago, the Qingzhou Provincial Government issued an ironclad order. They said the killing intent tide along the border is growing more severe by the day. To concentrate resources on nurturing the finest geniuses, those with greater hopes of reaching foundation establishment or even the purple abode, the provincial government has decided to cut the places allotted to the Thirty-Six Prefectures under its jurisdiction and their hundreds of county towns."
"Anping County is still relatively fortunate. Some small, remote counties haven't even kept a single place. Their allotments were merged outright."
At those words, the atmosphere on the dais grew somber.
With resources concentrated and the weak weeded out in favor of the strong, competition would naturally become fiercer than ever.
"Two places..." Zhang Ironface swept his gaze across the grounds before finally settling on three figures.
"The one holding a water-attribute platform and advancing steadily—that's Wang Teng, the deputy county magistrate's son, isn't it? He comes from a family with a long tradition of learning, and his fundamentals are the most solid. He's currently ranked second."
"And that one..." Zhao Wu pointed at a platform flickering with lightning in a corner. "That lad named Li Han uses some ruthless methods. He actually dares to swallow thunder spiritual energy directly, and does it extremely quickly. He's currently in first place."
"Then there's Chu Bai, currently in third."
Zhang Ironface said gravely, "As for the others... their foundations are still somewhat lacking. I'm afraid they have no chance."
"Three people competing for two places."
Li Wenyuan closed his folding fan and sighed. "One of them is bound to be eliminated. Whoever it is, it will be a great pity."
On the Martial Training Ground, time trickled away.
The second round was nearing its end.
At that moment, he was immersed in the mingled pain and pleasure of metal energy tempering his meridians.
As strand after strand of water spiritual energy carrying a keen edge flowed into the Jade Ring, he could feel his own spell power seemingly acquiring a trace of sharpness as well.
Time was pressing, leaving him no chance to remove it completely. Fortunately, it was not really an adverse effect, and the two were compatible.
Though he knew nothing of the examiners' discussion, having come this far, Chu Bai knew only one thing.
No matter how cruel the rules were, no matter who his opponents were, only by being strong enough could he break through every barrier.
Even if there were only one place, he would fight for it!
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