Just as the three of them were surveying their surroundings, a soft hum suddenly rang out from the center of the platform. A stone stele standing there erupted with dazzling light.
The light gathered above the stele into a figure with an aged yet kindly face.
"Young ones, I am one of the Monitors from the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy overseeing your trial."
The elderly figure smiled at the boys and girls on the platform. "Now, I will explain the rules of this trial."
Everyone on the platform fell silent, their gazes fixed intently on the figure.
"This place is called the Northern Cang Realm. It is a space our Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy uses specifically to test students. There are four such spaces in total."
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, the old man nodded in satisfaction and began his explanation.
"The platform beneath your feet is called a Reception Platform. Over a hundred Reception Platforms have been established at various locations throughout the Northern Cang Realm."
Tsk! Filthy rich beyond all reason!
That thought flashed through Su Qing's mind as he listened to the old man's introduction.
The concentration of spiritual energy here alone far surpassed that of the Northern Spiritual Academy.
And without considerable resources, there was simply no way to sustain hundreds of ultra-long-distance Teleportation Spirit Arrays.
While Su Qing marveled at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy's money-powered might, the old man above the stele continued.
"Now, please come forward and touch the stone stele beside me."
At his words, people on the platform began stepping forward one after another, reaching out to touch the stele.
As they touched it, rays of light drifted onto their foreheads. When the light faded, marks remained upon them.
The old man continued speaking as everyone approached the stele in turn.
"These are the marks for this trial. An ordinary quota grants a level-one mark, a seed quota grants level three, and a core quota grants level five. The highest level this mark can reach is nine."
Everyone glanced at the marks on one another's foreheads. So far, they were all dull yellow level-one marks.
"So ugly..."
Someone in the crowd muttered a complaint.
Before long, a ray of light brighter than the others drifted down from the stele and landed on the forehead of a white-robed youth.
When the light faded, his mark was entirely different from the others: a deep crimson "three," the mark of a seed quota.
Envy, jealousy, and a host of other feelings mingled in the gazes around him, making the arrogance on the white-robed youth's face all the more pronounced.
Although his condescending gaze displeased some of the students, there was nothing they could do about it.
Su Qing and his two companions were in no hurry to approach the stele. Only when a scattered handful of people on the stone platform had yet to touch it did they walk over.
When two dark red marks appeared on Su Qing's and Mu Chen's foreheads, startled cries rose from the crowd.
By now, five seed quota holders had appeared on this Reception Platform.
Seeing that everyone had received a mark, the kindly old man coughed softly to draw the attention of those on the platform.
"Very good." The old man surveyed them with satisfaction and continued, "Since you have all received your quotas, I will now announce the rules of this trial."
"As you can see, the Northern Cang Realm is exceedingly vast, filled with dangerous places and all manner of powerful spirit beasts."
"You must pass through these obstacles and reach the Northern Cang Hall at the center of the Northern Cang Realm. At the same time, you must raise the marks on your foreheads to at least level four. Anyone whose mark fails to reach level four will be eliminated."
"The levels of the marks on your foreheads are not fixed. When you kill spirit beasts or obtain heavenly materials and earthly treasures containing spiritual energy, your marks will automatically absorb some of that energy."
"Once enough spiritual energy has accumulated, your marks will rise in level."
The old man smiled at everyone and said with ill intent, "Of course, the fastest method is to steal the spiritual energy from other people's marks."
"Especially from high-level marks."
"For example, you are currently level one. But if you defeat students with seed quotas and obtain the spiritual energy in their marks, you will immediately rise from level one to level three."
"Your level will also affect your future standing in the academy and how much importance is placed on you."
In everyone's eyes, the elderly figure's broad smile no longer seemed kindly. He looked like an old fox, luring them in step by step.
As his words fell, a glimmer of greed appeared in some of the gazes on the platform, Su Qing's included.
While the old man explained the rules, Su Qing quietly leaned close to Mu Chen's and Tang Qian'er's ears in turn and whispered some instructions.
Smiles appeared on both their faces, and their eyes shone with eagerness.
Once the old man finished his explanation, the atmosphere among those on the Reception Platform suddenly grew rather strange. Everyone warily put distance between themselves and the others.
Clearly, apart from the dangerous places and spirit beasts scattered throughout this realm, their greatest threat came from the other students.
Watching the strange atmosphere unfold, the old man smiled in satisfaction before speaking again.
"One final reminder: if you wish to give up, simply shatter the mark on your forehead."
"A Monitor will then take you away, but you will also be eliminated immediately."
"Now, the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy's trial officially begins!"
The elderly figure gave everyone a faint smile. Then his form slowly faded until it vanished completely.
Even after he disappeared, no one on the stone platform acted rashly, afraid of becoming someone else's target.
By now, most of the students had gathered in groups of two or three, while quite a few people clustered around the seed quota holders.
Presumably, those seed quota holders and their followers had come from large spiritual academies and already knew one another.
Su Qing and his two companions stood somewhat apart, but the presence of two seed quota holders among them also made the others wary.
Seeing people retreat toward the edge of the stone platform one after another, intending to leave first, Su Qing had no intention of letting them go.
Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Arts: Mountain-Shaking Earth-Splitting!
Su Qing stamped his foot, and a shock wave swept across the stone platform. In an instant, the rock covering its surface shattered, throwing everyone off balance.
Seeing Su Qing make his move, Mu Chen unleashed the Spirit Array he had prepared, their coordination seamless. Blazing Flames raged above the stone platform.
Seeing Mu Chen succeed, Su Qing's eyes gleamed fiercely. With a savage grin, he formed another hand seal and unleashed his art again.
Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Arts: Wind-Reversing Fire!
The wind fed the flames. Swirling gales swept raging fire around the stone platform, completely surrounding it.
Although this barrier of wind and fire could not hold these people back for long, it gave Su Qing all the time he needed.
Su Qing fully unleashed the spiritual pressure of his cultivation at the peak of the early Divine Soul Realm. Platinum flames and arcs of lightning wreathed the Kunwu Sword.
Before anyone could regain their balance, Su Qing pushed off with both feet. An afterimage shot forward, trailing streaks of white like flowing silk.
He came like thunder gathering its wrath; he ceased like rivers and seas settling into clear radiance!