Qinglan Mountain stood on the outskirts of Nuoding City, its rolling slopes lush with vegetation. Life Spiritual Energy lingered among the mountains year-round, making it far more suitable than the outside world for plant-type Soul Masters to cultivate. That was precisely why it had given rise to the Qinglan Life Academy, an elite, specialized academy devoted to Life Soul Power and plant-type martial souls.
Lin Chen and Su Qingyuan walked side by side up the mountain's bluestone path. The vegetation around them grew increasingly luxuriant, birdsong rang clear, and the life energy suffusing the air became ever richer. Breathing it in refreshed both body and mind, even allowing their soul power to circulate more smoothly.
Born into a sect, Su Qingyuan had seen much since childhood, yet she had never experienced Life Spiritual Energy so pure and abundant. Wonder filled her eyes as she looked around. From time to time, she turned toward Lin Chen beside her, an involuntary blush always rising to her cheeks.
Ever since Lin Chen had saved her and effortlessly healed her wound with his Life Blue Silver Grass, Su Qingyuan had developed an indescribable fondness for this seemingly ordinary boy with such an extraordinary bearing.
She had met far too many talented disciples in her sect, each with eyes atop their heads, arrogant in their gifts. But Lin Chen was different. He was steady and reserved, powerful without showing off. Though only six, he possessed a maturity and dependability far beyond his peers. Above all, the unusual Life Blue Silver Grass in his palm filled her with curiosity.
"Lin Chen, what kind of martial soul is your blue silver grass, exactly? I've never seen blue silver grass that can heal wounds. Isn't all the blue silver grass on the continent just the most ordinary trash martial soul?" Unable to suppress her questions any longer, Su Qingyuan asked softly, her eyes brimming with curiosity.
Lin Chen turned to look at her. Seeing the girl's clear, unclouded eyes, he lifted the corners of his mouth slightly and explained calmly, "My blue silver grass follows the path of life. Unlike ordinary blue silver grass, it's rooted in Life Soul Power and excels at healing, enhancement, and restraint. It isn't the trash martial soul people think it is."
He did not elaborate. Some secrets were best kept buried in his heart.
Su Qingyuan nodded, only half understanding, but the curiosity in her eyes grew stronger. Inwardly, she became certain that the boy before her was no ordinary person. One day, he would surely become someone who shook the entire continent.
They chatted along the way and reached the summit of Qinglan Mountain before they knew it.
An academy of timeless grandeur, yet without extravagance, stood quietly at the center of the summit. Its gates were fashioned from thousand-year-old wood and carved with patterns of exotic flowers and rare plants, giving off faint fluctuations of soul power. Above them, bold, vigorous lettering proclaimed its name—Qinglan Academy.
Dense ancient trees surrounded the academy, and flowers and plants of every color covered its walls. Rich Life Spiritual Energy washed out from within. Viewed from afar, it resembled a hidden paradise, utterly cut off from the clamor of the outside world.
By then, quite a few boys and girls seeking admission had gathered at the gates. Most were six or seven years old and accompanied by their parents. Their eager eyes made it clear they had come for Qinglan Academy's reputation.
However, Qinglan Academy's admissions were exceptionally strict. Not everyone could enter. It accepted only thirty students each year, requiring not only a martial soul compatible with Life Spiritual Energy, but also success in its own entrance assessment. The elimination rate was extremely high.
Lin Chen and Su Qingyuan entered the academy side by side and headed straight for the registration desk.
A middle-aged woman in a green robe sat behind the desk. Her features were gentle, faint Life Soul Power wreathed her body, and her cultivation was unfathomable. She looked up at the two, her gaze warm but carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"Applying for admission? State your names, martial souls, and soul power levels." The middle-aged woman spoke softly, her voice as soothing as a mountain spring.
"Lin Chen. Martial soul: blue silver grass. Level ten, innate full soul power." Lin Chen's tone was calm, without the slightest boastfulness, yet his words stunned everyone.
The previously noisy crowd instantly quieted somewhat. The surrounding boys, girls, and parents all turned toward Lin Chen, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
"Blue silver grass? Innate full soul power? Did I hear that right?"
"Isn't blue silver grass a trash martial soul? How could it have innate full soul power?"
"That boy must be boasting! How could blue silver grass possibly reach innate full soul power?"
Doubts and murmurs rose one after another. Everyone believed Lin Chen was talking nonsense. After all, the belief that blue silver grass was a trash martial soul had long taken root in people's hearts, while innate full soul power was one in ten thousand. The two could not possibly exist in the same person.
Su Qingyuan was also a little startled by Lin Chen's words. She knew he was strong, but she had never imagined he possessed innate full soul power. Her fondness and admiration for him deepened further.
She quickly stepped forward and said softly, "Teacher, my name is Su Qingyuan. My martial soul is an Ice Spirit Flower, and my soul power is level nine."
Ice Spirit Flower was a supreme plant-type martial soul, endowed with exceptional natural gifts. With level-nine soul power as well, she was a rare genius!
A flicker of surprise crossed the middle-aged woman's eyes, and she regarded Lin Chen more seriously. She could clearly sense the gentle, substantial Life Soul Power within him. It was certainly no fabrication, and his claim of innate full soul power was very likely true.
She did not question them further, merely nodding and handing them two green wooden tokens. "Take these tokens to the assessment grounds and sit the entrance assessment. Pass, and you may enroll. Fail, and you must leave immediately."
Lin Chen and Su Qingyuan accepted the tokens, turned, and headed for the assessment grounds.
Along the way, the surrounding gazes remained fixed on Lin Chen—some doubtful, some mocking, others curious. He ignored them all and walked with unhurried steps. Such worldly judgments meant nothing to him.
Before long, they arrived at the assessment grounds.
The assessment grounds were a broad, level area with three special stone tablets at its center. Each corresponded to one of the three assessments—martial soul life affinity, soul power control, and response under desperate circumstances.
Candidates had to pass all three assessments to enroll. Failure in even one meant immediate elimination.
At that moment, quite a few children were already being tested. The vast majority were stopped by the first assessment, the martial soul life affinity test. Qinglan Academy only accepted plant-type Soul Masters compatible with Life Spiritual Energy. Anyone with an affinity below sixty percent was immediately eliminated.
One child after another left with drooping heads. Only a handful passed the first test.
Soon, it was Lin Chen and Su Qingyuan's turn.
Su Qingyuan took a deep breath and stepped forward first, placing her palm on the first assessment tablet and activating her Ice Spirit Flower martial soul.
At once, a crystalline, translucent ice spirit flower manifested, and pale blue soul power flowed into the tablet. Light flickered across its surface as a line of text slowly appeared—martial soul: ice spirit flower; life affinity: eighty-five percent!
An affinity of eighty-five percent was truly exceptional!
Approval flashed in the assessing instructor's eyes. He nodded slightly. "Passed. Next test!"
Everyone around them was shocked again. They had never expected this delicate-looking girl to be a genuine genius. An eighty-five-percent life affinity was enough to place her among the leading applicants that year!
Su Qingyuan passed the first two assessments without trouble and reached the third, the test of response under desperate circumstances. She had to withstand a ten-year soul beast's attacks for the time it took an incense stick to burn. With her level-nine soul power and Ice Spirit Flower Martial Soul, she passed easily and secured admission.
Everyone's attention instantly returned to Lin Chen. They wanted to see whether this boy claiming to have blue silver grass and innate full soul power was a true genius or merely a pretender.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lin Chen slowly stepped forward, his expression calm and free of nervousness.
He gently placed his palm on the assessment tablet. Holding nothing back, he activated the Life Soul Power within him and awakened the Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul in his palm.
In an instant, pale green Life Blue Silver Grass slowly manifested, and gentle Life Soul Power flowed into the assessment tablet.
The previously unremarkable tablet erupted with dazzling green light. The radiance grew brighter and brighter, almost illuminating the entire assessment ground. Rich life energy spread from the tablet, resonating with Lin Chen's blue silver grass martial soul.
A line of golden text slowly appeared on the tablet, coming clearly into everyone's view—
Martial soul: blue silver grass; life affinity: one hundred percent!
Boom!
Dead silence fell over the entire grounds. Everyone's eyes widened, their faces filled with shock. They stood utterly frozen, without so much as a crow's cry or a sparrow's chirp!
One hundred percent life affinity!
Such perfect affinity had never appeared since Qinglan Academy's founding!
The assessing instructor abruptly rose to his feet. Disbelief filled his eyes as he stared fixedly at the blue silver grass in Lin Chen's palm, his body trembling despite himself.
He had taught at Qinglan Academy for decades and seen countless geniuses with plant-type martial souls, yet no one had ever achieved one hundred percent life affinity. It was simply unheard of—a talent that defied the heavens!
Those who had mocked and doubted Lin Chen all shut their mouths. Shame and astonishment covered their faces, and the way they looked at him changed completely. Their earlier disdain became the deepest awe and admiration.
A blue silver grass martial soul with not only innate full soul power, but one hundred percent life affinity as well—what sort of heaven-defying talent was this?
Su Qingyuan also stood rooted to the spot, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief. Towering waves surged through her heart. She had known Lin Chen was outstanding, but she had never imagined he was outstanding to this degree!
One hundred percent life affinity meant he was a favored son of heaven, blessed by the Life Spiritual Energy. His future achievements would know no bounds!
Lin Chen, however, remained completely unruffled. He had expected one hundred percent life affinity all along. His Life Blue Silver Grass was, by its very nature, the martial soul most compatible with the Life Origin between heaven and earth. Perfect affinity was only natural.
"First assessment, passed!" Even the instructor's voice trembled slightly, his tone filled with excitement he could not conceal.
The soul power control test followed. Lin Chen handled it with practiced ease, precisely directing his Life Soul Power, gathering and dispersing it at will. His control reached perfection, and he passed effortlessly, without any suspense.
The final assessment tested his response under desperate circumstances.
The assessing instructor personally summoned a ten-year soul beast, a Greenwood Snake. Skilled in plant restraints and venomous attacks, the Greenwood Snake was far stronger than an ordinary ten-year soul beast and was used specifically to test students' adaptability and practical combat ability.
The Greenwood Snake appeared, its forked tongue flicking as its cold eyes locked onto Lin Chen. Green soul power surged around its body, and it immediately lunged at him with tremendous speed, trailing a sharp rush of wind.
Everyone around him broke into a nervous sweat on his behalf. This Greenwood Snake was exceedingly troublesome. Even a level-ten Soul Master would find it extremely difficult to withstand.
Su Qingyuan clenched her fists, watching the boy on the grounds with worry written all over her face.
Lin Chen stood where he was, his expression composed. Facing the charging Greenwood Snake, he showed no hint of panic.
The Life Blue Silver Grass in his palm burst forth. Pale green soul power surged, and countless strands of Life Blue Silver Grass broke through the soil. Like nimble, elongated snakes, they instantly coiled toward the Greenwood Snake, faster and stronger than the beast itself!
The Life Blue Silver Grass's innate restraining power perfectly countered the Greenwood Snake's plant soul power. In the blink of an eye, it wound tightly around the snake and pinned it firmly in place, unable to move.
Even more astonishingly, Lin Chen's Life Blue Silver Grass released no offensive power whatsoever. Instead, it exuded a gentle life energy that gradually calmed the frenzied Greenwood Snake until it lost all aggression.
Overcoming hardness with softness, taming a soul beast through the Life Force rather than killing it—this was the unique path of Life Blue Silver Grass!
The assessing instructor watched with shining eyes, excitement filling his heart. He knew Qinglan Academy had found a treasure!
This boy would surely become the most heaven-defying genius in Qinglan Academy's history. In the future, he would undoubtedly shake the entire Douluo Continent!
"Third assessment, passed with perfection!"
At the instructor's announcement, the entire grounds erupted once more. Everyone looked at Lin Chen with admiration. This boy with a blue silver grass martial soul and such utterly heaven-defying gifts had won over everyone present.
Lin Chen withdrew his Life Blue Silver Grass and calmly left the assessment grounds, returning to Su Qingyuan's side.
"Lin Chen, you're amazing! One hundred percent affinity, and that control just now—you were so cool!" Su Qingyuan hurried forward to meet him, her face full of excitement and admiration, her bright eyes smiling.
Seeing the girl's radiant smile, something stirred in Lin Chen's heart, and a faint smile curved his lips as well.
Just then, the assessing instructor strode over and looked at Lin Chen with an exceptionally solemn expression. "Student Lin Chen, you've passed the assessment and are now officially a student of Qinglan Academy. The dean instructed me to bring you to him immediately if you passed. He has an important matter to discuss with you!"
Everyone was shocked again. They had never expected Lin Chen to receive a personal summons from the dean. Such treatment was virtually unprecedented!
Lin Chen understood. He knew his one hundred percent life affinity had already caught the attention of the academy's senior figures. This summons had to concern his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Perhaps he could learn more secrets about Life Soul Power from the dean, or even obtain an opportunity to acquire his first soul ring.
He did not refuse. Nodding slightly to the instructor, he said, "All right. Sorry for the trouble, instructor. Please lead the way."
Then Lin Chen turned toward Su Qingyuan and said softly, "Go settle into the student dormitory first. I'll come find you later."
"Mm!" Su Qingyuan nodded obediently, watching with reluctant eyes as Lin Chen left with the instructor.
Lin Chen followed the assessing instructor along the academy's woodland paths until they reached a quaint pavilion deep within the grounds. This was the residence of the Qinglan Academy's dean. The Life Spiritual Energy here was extraordinarily rich, several times denser than at the assessment grounds.
They pushed open the pavilion door. An elderly man with white hair but a vigorous spirit sat in the courtyard, resting with his eyes closed. The Life Soul Power surrounding him was immensely profound, like a vast ocean whose depths could not be measured.
Sensing Lin Chen's arrival, the elderly man slowly opened his eyes and looked at him. In an instant, Lin Chen felt a gentle yet powerful force lock onto him. Even the Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul within his body trembled slightly, sending out waves of resonance.
"Good! What perfect life affinity! What a Life Blue Silver Grass! After a hundred years, the Qinglan Academy has finally waited long enough to welcome you!" The elderly man looked at Lin Chen with eyes full of approval and excitement, voicing his praise again and again.
Lin Chen's heart tightened. He bowed respectfully to the elderly man. "Student Lin Chen greets the dean."
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