After the intense confrontation between Shen Fei and Xue Hui, and the outcome being a duel scheduled a couple of weeks from now, all the onlookers dispersed and returned to their class areas to take the test.
Just like the other classes, the students of the Fighter Apprentice Class also went to prepare for the upcoming test.
The Fighter Apprentice Class tests were divided into two parts: the strength test, which used a punching strength measuring machine, and the soul force test, which used a soul crystal.
As the sounds of the gong reverberated, signaling the start of the test, the Fighter Apprentice Class was led to the testing area by their teacher, Shen Xiu, who somehow looked more annoyed than usual.
This annoyance not only stemmed from seeing Nie Li again after a long time, but also from the rest of the commoner students who had just shown themselves after their long absence.
Due to the merit point system the Divine Medicine Pavilion was offering, many of these commoner students found it more beneficial to do various jobs to earn points rather than attend Shen Xiu's classes.
This made Shen Xiu secretly fume with anger. Of course, she couldn't care less about the whereabouts of her students.
What truly angered her was that their absence only implied that her lessons were unimportant.
Eighty percent of the attendance in the Fighter Apprentice Class had been missing for the past few weeks, making it the only class in the Holy Orchid Institute to do such a thing to their teacher. It was simply a slap to Shen Xiu's face.
Upon approaching the testing area, Shen Xiu stopped and stood beside her class while making some snarky remarks directed at those who had just shown themselves. She then asked for a volunteer who wished to take the test first.
"Finally, I've been waiting for this." With a proud stride, Shen Yue approached the strength test.
His eyes swept across the students around him, giving Nie Li and his group a provoking grin.
The test taker explained to Shen Yue that to measure his strength, he needed to punch the machine three times with all his strength.
The highest score among the three attempts would become his official score.
With the explanation over, Shen Yue lowered his stance and sucked in a mouthful of air before exhaling sharply. This was followed by a loud thud as Shen Yue's fist struck the strength testing machine.
The test taker's gaze remained fixed on the machine, and after recording the result, he announced Shen Yue's score.
"First try, strength of one hundred thirty, one-star Bronze Rank Fighter."
The students let out surprised gasps, many becoming intimidated to take their own tests after seeing such a result.
Satisfied with the reaction he was receiving, Shen Yue's lips twisted upward before repositioning himself for another try.
In the end, the highest score Shen Yue achieved was one hundred thirty-five.
Next, Shen Yue walked toward the soul force test and placed his hand on the massive soul crystal before injecting his soul force into it.
The test taker's eyes were glued to the glow inside the soul crystal before recording the results.
"Soul force of one hundred fifteen, one-star Bronze Rank Demon Spiritualist!"
This time, the reaction Shen Yue received was far more frantic than the one during the strength test.
"One-star Bronze Rank Demon Spiritualist at such a young age. Shen Yue's prospects are quite promising," one of the observing teachers said in a praising tone.
Of course, Shen Yue didn't waste any time showing off in front of Nie Li and his gang, greatly aggravating Lu Piao.
Annoyed, Lu Piao stepped forward, eager to show his strength to everyone, but before he could reach the testing area, he was shoved to the side, making him stumble into Du Ze's arms.
"Ladies first, bro."
Enraged, Lu Piao rushed to his feet and turned to face the source of the voice, fully intending to confront whoever had pushed him. However, his words got stuck in his throat once he recognized who the culprit was.
Blonde and tanned, she exuded an aura of confidence so bright that she seemed like the personification of the sun itself.
Mei Lin approached the strength test without showing any hesitation. Standing in front of the machine, she waited for the test taker to reset the score before he gave the signal to begin.
Once told to go ahead, Mei Lin's expression shifted from smug to serious. A ferocious grin spread across her face as she cocked her arm back. Balling her fist tightly, Mei Lin threw her punch forward. It moved so fast that it sliced through the air with a loud whooshing sound before striking the strength testing machine with tremendous force, causing the device to slide several inches backward and shocking everyone around her.
"Boom! That was Aunt Yinyin's signature punch, the Widower! It took me a while to perfect that punch. Whoa! That feels great... So! How did I do?"
Ecstatic, Mei Lin began striking several martial poses, completely ignoring the dumbfounded looks she was receiving.
The test taker was left stunned. His head mechanically turned toward the device, and with trembling hands, he recorded Mei Lin's test results. An audible gulp could be heard the moment he saw the score.
"T-Two thousand six hundred, strength of a two-star Silver Rank Fighter!"
What followed was a combined eruption of disbelief and astonishment as the entire school grounds exploded into an uproar.
"S-Silver Rank Fighter at such a young age? What a genius! For someone like this to appear in the Fighter Apprentice Class, this is simply monstrous talent!" Ye Sheng exclaimed in great shock.
Before the test began, Vice Principal Ye Sheng had prepared himself to witness the emergence of several geniuses.
After all, with all the elixirs circulating in the market, it was expected that many students would experience massive boosts in strength.
Thus, Ye Sheng had expected to see one or two dark horses emerge within the Fighter Apprentice Class.
But this?
Never in his dreams had he imagined witnessing a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl possessing the strength of a Silver Rank Fighter, especially a commoner student at that.
"That girl has been seen hanging around with the princess of the Divine Family, so perhaps they provided her with training resources," one of the observing teachers said, causing Ye Sheng to nod in agreement. Indeed, that was the only explanation for such a tremendous increase in strength.
The Divine Family was generous enough to allow many younger generations to obtain their elixirs through various jobs.
Thus, it was no surprise that they also provided cultivation resources to members of their faction.
Then a realization struck Ye Sheng, causing his eyes to widen. Immediately, he attempted to stop the test taker from testing Mei Lin's soul force, but he was already too late.
BOOM!
The sound of the soul crystal exploding echoed across the testing grounds, followed by cries of shock from the students.
"Just as I thought. Of course her soul force has surpassed five hundred. It's no surprise that a primary soul crystal would explode during her test."
Yet Ye Sheng was far from angry about the destroyed soul crystal. On the contrary, his heart was overflowing with emotion.
Mei Lin's existence held enormous significance for the future of Glory City.
Her talent was so overwhelming that Ye Sheng didn't even dare take her as his disciple. Such a genius should be personally taught by someone like Lord Ye Mo.
Then another thought struck Ye Sheng.
Since Mei Lin was part of Chen Linlin's faction, there was a possibility that she was already receiving guidance from that mysterious Legend Rank expert, thus explaining her massive cultivation growth.
Ye Sheng looked toward the teachers beside him and told them to stop arguing over who would become Mei Lin's teacher before returning his attention to the test.
"There's no need to repeat the soul force test. I'll ask the City Lord to personally test Mei Lin's soul force later. Continue testing the other students."
Receiving Ye Sheng's orders, the test taker informed Mei Lin that her test was over and that she could return to her friends.
Confused, Mei Lin simply gave the test taker a thumbs up before running back toward her group.
Watching her retreating figure, Ye Sheng revealed a satisfied smile and informed the observing teachers that Mei Lin would be placed into the Demon Spiritualist Genius Class and receive focused nurturing.
"Silver Rank!? What the heck, Nie Li? Did you give that chick a cultivation technique like us? How did she become so strong in such a short time?!"
Instead of an answer, Lu Piao received a knuckle to the top of his head, causing him to shriek in pain.
"Lu Piao, don't address a girl like that. Did I not teach you to respect women, or do I need to beat the lesson into you so you'll remember my words?"
In his shock over Mei Lin's score, Lu Piao had completely forgotten that Xiao Xue was with them. She was a childhood friend he had introduced to Nie Li back when they needed money to buy Purple Haze Grass, which eventually led to her joining their group.
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm just surprised by how strong that g- I mean, how strong that girl has become."
Xiao Xue merely scoffed at his words, though even she was wondering how Mei Lin had become so powerful. As Nie Li's friend, she herself had also received a powerful cultivation technique that had rapidly increased her strength.
'If that's the case for me, Lu Piao, and the others, then who is responsible for Mei Lin's growth?' Xiao Xue pondered.
Her eyes drifted toward the boy Mei Lin was talking to, and suddenly she had a strong suspicion that he was similar to Nie Li. Both of them were mysterious.
Nie Li remained silent and didn't answer Lu Piao's question. Instead, he was pondering the fact that Mei Lin's soul force possessed the same unusual quality as Chen Linlin's and Xue Hui's, something highly abnormal compared to ordinary people.
Casting Xue Hui's group a sidelong glance, Nie Li focused his gaze directly on Xue Hui.
This caused Nie Li to feel a growing sense of crisis in his heart, giving him an even stronger urge to increase his cultivation speed.
Nie Li believed that Xue Hui was opposing the Sacred Family, but he still had no idea about Xue Hui's true origins or ultimate goals.
'Ally or foe? Or perhaps neither... Maybe he's someone far more dangerous than the Sage Emperor.'
Clenching his fists, Nie Li watched as two more girls from Xue Hui's group stepped forward to take the test, and their results were not far behind Mei Lin's.
Jing Ya, three-star Silver Rank. Yue Ling, one-star Silver Rank.
Both of them also caused the soul crystal to explode.
At this point, the entire school grounds had fallen into chaotic uproar.
The people connected to the Divine Family had revealed themselves to be monsters.
All of them possessed Silver Rank strength and shattered the soul crystals. No wonder the Divine Family was protecting those three commoner girls. It turned out that all of them possessed heaven-defying talent.
Even Lord Ye Mo had not reached such heights at their age.
"Bunch of monsters!" countless people exclaimed.
At this point, many students had paused their own tests, more engrossed in watching the results of the Fighter Apprentice Class. Even the test takers from the other classes had stopped working and simply watched alongside the students.
Murmurs flooded the school grounds the moment Xiao Ning'er stepped before the strength testing machine. Her expression remained solemn as she waited for the test taker's signal.
Although many students despised Shen Fei as a person, the fact that Xiao Ning'er had publicly turned her back on him to pursue another man made her the target of ridicule.
Many students sent Xiao Ning'er scornful looks, while others whispered insults behind her back.
But Xiao Ning'er ignored them all. She merely nodded when the test taker signaled for her to begin.
What happened next completely changed the way people viewed Xiao Ning'er.
The moment Xiao Ning'er's fist landed against the strength testing machine, all the students who had been badmouthing her found themselves trembling in disbelief as the machine flew several feet backward.
The instant Xiao Ning'er's arm snapped forward, the air around her dispersed violently, the pressure erupting outward with such force that nearby students were knocked onto their backs.
The students, Ye Sheng, the observing teachers, Nie Li's group, and even Ye Ziyun all revealed shocked expressions.
The test taker, who had been sprawled on the ground, shakily pushed himself upright and limped toward the strength testing machine.
Shocked, the test taker stared at Xiao Ning'er with a bewildered expression before checking the result again. Inhaling sharply, he bellowed the score at the top of his lungs.
"Twenty-one thousand, six hundred fifty-two! Strength of a two-star Gold Rank Fighter!"
End of Chapter 61
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