Ye Zhi brought Xiao Hongchen and the other two to the first checkpoint, the Spirit Power test. This checkpoint was quite ordinary with nothing particularly special about it.
Ye Zhi simply took out an instrument to scan each of the three individuals, directly recorded their Spirit Power Ranks, and without saying anything else, immediately led them to follow her to the second checkpoint.
The second checkpoint was a willpower test of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King. When the three of them cast their gazes upon the portrait of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, they suddenly felt a terrifying Aura crush down upon them like a tangible substance.
Xiao Hongchen's body suddenly sank, his legs bending slightly as if a heavy burden of thousands of catties was pressing down on his shoulders. Fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and his breathing became rapid.
"This... this is just too terrifying?!"
Xiao Hongchen gritted his teeth. Although this Aura was terrifying, it did not crush him instantly, meaning this checkpoint was testing willpower. He, Xiao Hongchen, was a Genius of the Sun Moon Empire, dual-cultivating as a Soul Engineer and developing his Spirit. Having worked hard all the way to the present and survived so many difficult days, how could he possibly fall here now?!
Moreover, this was only the second checkpoint; the subsequent checkpoints would be even harder, and he absolutely could not fall!
After a period of time, the three of them were almost unable to hold on any longer. Ye Zhi waved her hand, and the portrait concealed itself. The Aura pressing down on the three of them instantly vanished, making them feel completely relaxed all over.
"Alright, next we will begin the third checkpoint. Eat this Medicinal Pill."
Saying this, Ye Zhi took out a medicine bottle from her Spirit Tool. Inside the bottle were three Medicinal Pills, one for each person. Xiao Hongchen suddenly felt his entire state instantly recover, prompting him to look on in absolute shock.
"The test needs to evaluate your true strength, so it will keep you in your best condition. Continue coming with me."
The third checkpoint was the strength test, and the fourth checkpoint was the speed and reaction test.
These checkpoints were not simple, but the three of them all passed, though they still did not know what their scores were like.
The fifth checkpoint was the Secondary Profession test.
Ye Zhi looked at the three of them and asked.
"What is your Secondary Profession?"
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen exchanged glances and then spoke simultaneously.
"Soul Engineer."
Ye Zhi nodded and then led the two of them to a workbench filled with metal parts.
"Show me your level."
Xiao Hongchen took a deep breath and then started working.
His movements were very fast, his hands flying among the parts. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he assembled a Spirit Tool ray gun.
Meng Hongchen was not to be outdone either, likewise completing the creation of a Spirit Tool.
Ye Zhi inspected the two people's works and nodded, then her gaze fell upon Ji Juechen.
"How about you?"
Ji Juechen was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
"I do not have a Secondary Profession." (In the original work, he is not a Soul Engineer, but rather the actual chief of the Spirit Tool Department)
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were very helpless upon seeing this scene. They had not expected this academy to actually examine their Secondary Profession... This was Ji Juechen's shortcoming.
Not to mention Soul Engineers, he had never even heard of things like Mecha Manufacturers, and chefs and the like certainly were not simple either. Ji Juechen was simply a Sword Cultivator and did not understand these things.
Xiao Hongchen's brows furrowed slightly, his heart filled with worry, hoping that they could ultimately pass the assessment.
Ye Zhi did not say much else, just lowered her head to record it, and then continued speaking.
"Let us go, the sixth checkpoint, comprehensive combat."
Ye Zhi brought the three of them to a wide field.
In the center of the field, there was a huge arena. The perimeter of the arena was covered with Spirit Tool arrays, emitting a faint glow.
"You guys wait here for a moment."
After finishing, Ye Zhi raised her wrist, activated her bracelet, and began communicating.
"Na'er, Lan Fozi, Xiuxiu, come over for a moment." (Using Bai Xiuxiu's name here; Dong Qianqiu is not convenient to use for various reasons)
"Also, Xiaoyu, you come over too."
Not long after, three figures walked over from a distance.
They were three young girls who looked very young, even looking a bit younger than Tang Wulin and the others.
Walking at the very front was a girl with long silver hair. Her hair cascaded down behind her like a waterfall, and her pair of silver pupils were like two crystal-clear crystals. Her appearance was peerless and her skin was snow-white—it was precisely Na'er. (The color of the pupils is corrected to silver)
Following closely behind her was a girl with long blue hair. Her hair scattered behind her like a blue ocean, gently swaying as she walked. Her pair of blue pupils were likewise clear and moving, with a peerless appearance—she was Lan Fozi.
There was also another girl with dark blue long hair and dark blue pupils, with a slight baby fat on her face, making her look pink and tender and quite cute—she was Bai Xiuxiu.
The three girls walked up to Ye Zhi and stopped.
Ye Zhi glanced at them, then turned around to look at Xiao Hongchen and the other two.
"These three are all first-year freshmen after the start of the semester."
"Next, you must choose opponents from among the four people, including Xiaoyu, to battle."
"However, you can only choose two opponents among the three girls of them, which means you must fight against Xiaoyu."
"If you win the battle, you can directly obtain full marks for this checkpoint."
Xiao Hongchen's gaze swept across Na'er, Lan Fozi, Bai Xiuxiu, and Xu Xiaoyu, as he considered looking for an opponent.
Right at this moment, Ji Juechen spoke up first.
"I choose Xu Xiaoyu."
His voice was calm without any hesitation.
Xiao Hongchen was slightly stunned, then turned his head to look at Ji Juechen.
Of course he knew Ji Juechen's thoughts. Ji Juechen's strength was above his and Meng Hongchen's, and choosing the upper-classman Xu Xiaoyu this time was definitely to share the pressure.
After all, if Ji Juechen chose a first-year opponent, then he and Meng Hongchen would have to face the remaining two first-years and Xu Xiaoyu.
In that case, the pressure would be even greater.
"I have noted it down."
Xiao Hongchen said in a low voice, then sized up Na'er, Lan Fozi, and Bai Xiuxiu.
The three girls looked very young and had not even enrolled yet; they should be just like the three of them, having not studied through this academy yet.
So... they should not be too strong, right?
A flash of contemplation crossed Xiao Hongchen's eyes, and right at this moment, Lan Fozi suddenly spoke.
Her voice was crisp and melodious, carrying a hint of a smile.
"If you want to challenge a strong person, then naturally you should choose me."
"I am very formidable."
Hearing this, Xiao Hongchen raised his head to look at Lan Fozi. Those blue pupils were filled with confidence.
Xiao Hongchen was silent for a moment, then made his decision.
"I choose her."
Hearing this, the corners of Lan Fozi's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile.
Then, Meng Hongchen's gaze landed on Bai Xiuxiu.
"I choose her."
Hearing this, Bai Xiuxiu blinked her eyes and then nodded.
Na'er stood to the side, watching this scene, then turned her head to look at Ye Zhi and smiled.
"It seems I was not chosen."
After hearing the three of them make their choices, Ye Zhi walked over to the machine on the side and began operating it.
Hum—!
On the arena, a dazzling light suddenly lit up!
The light grew brighter and brighter, and then around the perimeter of the arena, it formed a huge transparent light barrier.
The light barrier enveloped the entire arena within it, isolating the inside and outside into two separate Worlds.
"Alright."
Ye Zhi turned around and looked at Xiao Hongchen and the others.
"Ji Juechen, you go up first."
Ji Juechen nodded, then raised his steps and walked onto the arena.
Standing under the stage, Xiao Hongchen watched Ji Juechen's back, a complex emotion surging in his heart.
Old Ji, keep it up.
Xu Xiaoyu also walked onto the arena and stood opposite Ji Juechen.
He still maintained that ice-cold appearance.
"Begin."
Ye Zhi's voice sounded, and Xu Xiaoyu raised his hand. A blue light suddenly lit up in his hand, which then condensed into a long-handled staff in his hand.
The staff was completely snow-white, with a blue crystal embedded at the top, emitting a freezing chill.
Afterwards, five black Spirit Rings slowly rose beneath Xu Xiaoyu's feet! (Characters summoned in advance will also grow like Tang Wulin and the others)
Five Spirit Rings, all of them were of the ten-thousand-year Rank!
Xiao Hongchen's pupils shrank abruptly. Could they actually be five ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings?
"Second Spirit Ability, Wrath of Ice!"
Without giving Xiao Hongchen time to exclaim, Xu Xiaoyu launched an attack.
Hum—!!!
The Ice Staff in Xu Xiaoyu's hand swung fiercely!
A dazzling blue light shot out from the crystal at the top of the Ice Staff, and then condensed into a spear about two meters long in mid-air!
The ice spear was completely crystalline, with magical patterns faintly flashing on its surface, emitting a suffocating chill! The moment the ice spear condensed and formed, it shot directly toward Ji Juechen!
The speed was extremely fast, arriving right in front of Ji Juechen almost in an instant!
Standing under the stage, Xiao Hongchen could feel the terrifying might emanating from that ice spear.
Ji Juechen's pupils shrank abruptly, but his reaction was also quite fast. He raised the sword in his hand, and five Spirit Rings beneath his feet lit up simultaneously: two yellows, two purples, and one black.
He did not dodge, because he knew he could not dodge it.
Ji Juechen took a deep breath, and then poured all of his Spirit Power into the sword in his hand!
All of his Spirit Abilities were amplification types, with no fancy attacks, only pure strength.
Hum—!!!
A fierce Sword Intent burst forth from Ji Juechen's body! That Sword Intent was like a tangible substance, heavily crashing into that ice spear!
Boom—!!!
The ice spear and sword blade collided together, erupting into a huge roaring sound!
Ji Juechen's body was jarred back several steps, and fresh blood seeped from the web between his thumb and index finger.
His complexion turned pale, but... he held on, and that ice spear was blocked by him.
Standing under the stage, Xiao Hongchen breathed a sigh of relief. However, the next moment his expression changed again.
"Second Spirit Ability, Wrath of Ice!"
This time, it was not just one piece of ice, but over a dozen!
More than a dozen two-meter-long ice spears hovered in front of Xu Xiaoyu, their spear tips uniformly pointing at Ji Juechen!
On every single ice spear, a suffocating and terrifying chill emanated!
Over a dozen ice spears superimposed together, creating a quite terrifying Aura!
Xiao Hongchen was completely stunned on the spot.
No way, one of them was already so strong, and now he was directly releasing so many?
Moreover, Xu Xiaoyu looked as if he had not consumed much Spirit Power at all.
How... how is this supposed to be fought?
Looking at those dozen-plus ice spears, Ji Juechen was silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke to concede defeat.
"I have lost."
He really could not beat this; Ji Juechen was sweating profusely.
Xu Xiaoyu glanced at him, then gently waved the Ice Staff in his hand. Those dozen-plus ice spears instantly shattered, turning into floating ice dust that dissipated into the air.
Ji Juechen turned around and walked down the arena. He walked up to Xiao Hongchen and spoke.
"Next, I leave it to you."
Xiao Hongchen nodded earnestly. Ji Juechen had fought the hardest one for them, so could they possibly fail?
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
1 Review = 1 Bonus Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.