Money Really Is Amazing

Watching the solitary Liu Bai, the small groups gathered in twos and threes began whispering among themselves.

These people were companions or friends from the same Spiritual Academy. An academy capable of sending so many people to earn quotas for the Five Great Academies was clearly not some small academy like the Northern Spirit Academy.

Yet their cultivation had been surpassed by Liu Bai. No wonder they were looking at him so strangely.

It seems there are no prodigies here who returned from the Spirit Road. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any true experts absent, Liu Bai thought.

After all, there had been an opportunity for Crown Imbuement at the end of the Spirit Road. Even setting aside the talents of those who could enter, that opportunity alone could give them cultivation far beyond that of ordinary students.

Boom!

Just as everyone was surveying their surroundings, a soft hum suddenly rang out from the center of the platform.

Everyone hurriedly looked over and saw a stone stele at the center of the platform suddenly erupt with dazzling light.

The light gathered atop the stone stele, transforming into an elderly figure of light.

"Little ones, I am one of the monitors of the Northern Azure Spirit Academy's trial grounds."

The elderly figure smiled as he looked at the many young men and women on the platform.

"Next, I will explain the rules here."

The entire platform fell silent, everyone staring intently at the elderly figure of light.

Liu Bai did the same, listening carefully to the explanation.

"The space we are currently in is called the Northern Cang Realm. It is a place specially used by the Northern Azure Spirit Academy to test students. As for the platform beneath your feet, it is known as a Reception Platform...

"There are over a hundred such Reception Platforms throughout the Northern Cang Realm. The one you are on is merely one of them."

Quite a few people were secretly startled by those words.

Did that not mean that at least tens of thousands, perhaps even nearly a hundred thousand people, were undergoing the Northern Azure Spirit Academy's trials in this Northern Cang Realm?

That number was simply terrifying!

Perhaps noticing everyone's shock, the elderly figure dropped another bomb. "Hehe, since there are too many people, places like this Northern Cang Realm have been divided into four... Of course, the other three Northern Cang Realms are currently holding the same trials as yours, though that has little to do with us."

Liu Bai was somewhat speechless. If it had nothing to do with them, why mention it? Was he deliberately trying to rattle everyone's nerves?

Still, the Northern Azure Spirit Academy recruited hundreds of thousands in a single intake. Back when he had read the original novel, he had thought the Northern Azure Spirit Academy was nothing special. It seemed that judgment had been rather biased.

"This Northern Cang Realm is extremely vast, filled with dangerous regions and all kinds of powerful Spirit Beasts. You must pass through these obstacles and reach Northern Cang Hall at the center of the Northern Cang Realm. Only there is there a Teleportation Spirit Array leading to the Northern Azure Spirit Academy, and that is where we will receive you."

If that were all, it naturally would not be too difficult. Although there were many powerful Spirit Beasts and various perilous areas here, as long as these people were careful—avoiding what they could and hiding when necessary—reaching the center would not be overly dangerous.

But what he feared was that there would be other conditions...

Liu Bai merely smiled to himself. Of course there would be... Even the Chunin Exams required people to fight over scrolls, let alone a force on the level of the Northern Azure Spirit Academy selecting new students.

"Of course, that is not all. First, each of you will come forward and touch this stone stele. You will then be graded. There are nine grades in total. Generally speaking, students who obtained ordinary quotas begin at First Grade; students who obtained Seed Quotas begin at Third Grade; and those with Core Quotas begin at Fifth Grade."

After a brief hesitation, people began stepping forward one after another to touch the stone stele.

As the students placed their palms upon it, rays of light shot out from the stele and landed on their foreheads.

Once the light faded, glowing marks appeared on their foreheads.

For the time being, however, everyone's marks were dark yellow, with what seemed to be the number "one" within them.

Clearly, they had all been judged as First Grade.

Looking at the dark yellow marks on one another's foreheads, everyone felt both unwilling and helpless. They had all been the most outstanding youths of their respective academies, and no one liked suddenly becoming the lowest-ranked.

Buzz!

Amid their frustration, the stone stele suddenly erupted with a powerful beam of light.

The beam was a deep crimson, eventually gathering upon the forehead of a youth standing before the stele.

As the crimson mark appeared, it faintly formed the number "three."

"Third Grade? He actually obtained a Seed Quota!"

That crimson light was far too conspicuous. Many startled gazes turned toward him, and quite a few people looked at him with envy.

The White-Robed Youth glanced at the crowd's envious expressions, slightly raised his chin, and a trace of pride flashed across his face.

Someone who had obtained a Seed Quota was more than qualified to look down on students who had merely received ordinary quotas.

However, that gaze made everyone deeply uncomfortable. In their original academies, they had been the ones looking down on others like this. Now that the tables had turned and it was happening to them, it was hard to accept.

Of course, no one did anything overly extreme.

After all, none of those who had made it here were fools. Leaving aside whether this would cause trouble during their trials, the fact that the other party was stronger than them was enough to make everyone behave.

They might have been young, but that did not mean they did not understand the law of the strong preying on the weak.

Liu Bai took a look. The youth judged to have a Seed Quota was at the late Spirit Wheel Realm, one of the few late Spirit Wheel Realm cultivators on this platform.

Could it be that this stone stele grades people based on spiritual energy cultivation? If so, I should be able to receive a Third-Grade evaluation as well, right?

He just did not know what conditions were required for a Fifth-Grade Core Quota. Judging by the original novel, one probably needed to become a king on the Spirit Road to qualify...

Very soon, Liu Bai stepped forward as well. As expected, he was also judged Third Grade. As a "genius youth" who had obtained a Seed Quota, he naturally enjoyed his own moment of being the center of attention.

On this Reception Platform alone, six people had already obtained Seed Quotas...

Well, a six-in-a-thousand chance. It seemed the people on this Reception Platform were a rather impressive batch.

At that moment, a strange smile seemed to curl across the elderly figure's lips.

"You all now have your graded ranks, so let me continue. According to the rules, any student below Fourth Grade will ultimately be eliminated. In other words, they will lose their qualifications to enter the Northern Azure Spirit Academy."

Uproar!

The platform instantly erupted. All the students were dumbfounded. Did that not mean that nearly everyone here was basically unqualified?

"However, little ones, there is no need to panic. Your current grades are not fixed and can be raised. The method is not difficult. So long as you kill Spirit Beasts or obtain natural treasures containing spiritual energy, the marks on your foreheads will automatically absorb some of that spiritual energy, thereby increasing your grade."

Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. So their grades could be raised by hunting Spirit Beasts and obtaining natural treasures. There was nothing to worry about then.

"Of course, that is not the fastest method. The fastest method is to seize the spiritual energy within someone else's mark. That will allow you to raise your grade rapidly."

"Especially when seizing high-grade marks. For example, if you are currently First Grade but defeat a student with a Seed Quota and obtain the spiritual energy in their mark, you will immediately rise from First Grade to Third Grade."

The elderly figure wore a smile like an old fox tempting people into committing crimes.

Hearing this, everyone's expressions became strange. These rules were practically encouraging students to fight and plunder one another...

It seemed the Northern Azure Spirit Academy's trials truly were not simple!

Mm, an elimination system for the lowest ranks. It is quite suitable as a trial method, Liu Bai thought with a quiet smile.

Unfortunately, this was still an examination, so excessively bloody methods such as outright murder were not encouraged. But that did not mean no one would die. In a savage place like this, there were plenty of ways to make someone die without personally laying a hand on them.

Just like Mu Chen—he had been able to stir up a bloody disaster on the Spirit Road. That showed that rules could be exploited at times. But the final outcome still depended on those who made the rules, much like Mu Chen, who had likewise been expelled from the Spirit Road...

At that moment, Liu Bai could already faintly sense some hostile gazes around him. His crimson mark was simply too conspicuous amid a crowd of yellow ones. Who knew how many greedy eyes would fall upon him?

The other five students with Third-Grade Marks surely felt the same way. However, they each had more or fewer companions around them, which could serve as a deterrent to others. They themselves were also eyeing everyone else's marks, such as Liu Bai's, who stood alone...

"Alright. One final reminder: if anyone wishes to give up, simply shatter the mark on your forehead. A monitor will naturally take action and remove you. However, anyone who loses their mark will be eliminated immediately."

"Now, I solemnly announce that the Northern Azure Spirit Academy's trial grounds have officially begun!"

As his voice fell, the elderly figure of light rapidly dimmed.

At that moment, everyone immediately became vigilant. Quite a few people had already leaped straight off the Reception Platform.

Liu Bai and the other five Seed Quota holders exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of wariness in the others' eyes.

Suddenly, a Brocatelle Youth smiled and called to the others, who were also preparing to leave. "Five friends, I have a suggestion. Would you be willing to hear it?"

The others stopped in curiosity, and even Liu Bai could not help looking over.

At the Brocatelle Youth's gesture, Liu Bai and the others hesitated briefly before walking over to hear what he had to say.

Many people nearby were filled with curiosity upon seeing this, and quite a few could not resist wanting to watch. But some seemed to realize something and promptly left even faster.

Thus, the six Seed Quota holders on this Reception Platform gathered together. They stood in a circle about ten meters apart, quietly waiting for the Brocatelle Youth to speak.

A nearly imperceptible smile curled across the Brocatelle Youth's lips. The others did not notice it, but Liu Bai saw it clearly. Judging by how hard it was for the other fellow to suppress that grin, he was probably up to no good.

"What do you want to say?" The White-Robed Youth, the first to obtain a Seed Quota, crossed his arms and arrogantly raised his chin.

"Hehe, nothing much." The Brocatelle Youth finally stopped suppressing his grin. Looking straight at them, he sneered, "I merely wish to ask you to hand over your marks to me..."

Uproar!

An instant commotion erupted across the Reception Platform. Anger flashed through the youths' eyes. They had never imagined that he would say something so absurd.

Even Liu Bai was startled. He had no idea what backing this fellow had to dare say something so outrageous. Did he think he was Luo Li?

"What did you say?"

"You're courting death!"

"I think you should be the one handing over your mark!"

The youths immediately flew into a rage. One after another, powerful spiritual energy auras erupted from their bodies as they pressed toward the Brocatelle Youth.

Liu Bai remained calm. He suddenly realized that the Brocatelle Youth's suggestion was actually rather good... Aside from himself, there were five other Third-Grade Marks here. If he could obtain them all, would he not rise directly to Fourth Grade?

Why had he not thought of such a wonderful idea earlier?

The Brocatelle Youth showed no panic whatsoever. With a raise of his hand, an Azure Longsword appeared in his grasp.

A wisp of azure spiritual wind coiled around its blade. Even without spiritual energy being poured into it, the sword itself emitted a sharp aura that made everyone's hearts tighten with danger.

"A Spiritual Artifact?!" The White-Robed Youth among the five was startled and could not help shouting.

Others with extraordinary backgrounds recognized it as well. The sword in his hand was actually a Spiritual Artifact...

"No, it is not an ordinary Spiritual Artifact. It is a wind-attributed Middle-Grade Spirit Sword!" another Black-Robed Youth said solemnly.

Even Heaven Fusion Realm experts would not easily obtain such an item. In the hands of Spirit Wheel Realm youths like them, it was absolutely something capable of crushing opponents of the same level.

No wonder the Brocatelle Youth dared say such things. It seemed he had long been brimming with confidence.

A Spirit Sword... This is my first time seeing one, Liu Bai silently thought.

Was the biggest reason all the Attack Spiritual Arts he cultivated were fist and palm techniques not because he lacked a suitable weapon? He had originally planned to see whether he could get himself a handy Spiritual Artifact after arriving at the Northern Azure Spirit Academy, then cultivate a corresponding Spiritual Art. Yet this fellow could casually take out a Middle-Grade Spirit Sword already.

Money really was amazing!