"Foundation: Second Rank Jade Sinews..."

"Foundation: Second Rank Jade Sinews..."

"Foundation: Third Rank Jade Sinews..."

On the field, Spirit Charms of all colors burst forth one after another as full-powered weapon strikes smashed into the Test Stone. With each blossoming ring of light, the gasps from the spectating students grew louder and more intense.

"Holy shit, that guy with the blade over there is so fierce! A Fifth Rank genius!"

"Don’t we spear-users have some tough guys too? The one who just finished was also Fifth Rank!"

The clamor was deafening. Some people pumped their fists, their faces flushed and palms sweating. A general pattern emerged: the students testing later tended to have higher Talent, causing the atmosphere to grow even more electric.

More than the degree of Spirit Fusion, what really excited them was seeing the Jade Sinew Rank. It was the most direct and dramatic measure of power—more reliable than even a Stabilizing Needle.

The students were roughly divided into the Spear System and Non-Spear Type factions. Whichever side produced a genius would erupt in cheers.

Suddenly, a golden light flashed, followed by a loud BOOM.

VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM~

All seven rings on the Test Stone lit up, encircling the three-pointed, double-edged spear at its center. Lin Wei’s solitary figure stunned even more students, and for a moment, the cheers were like rolling thunder.

"Foundation: Seventh Rank Jade Sinews. Vast Thunder Spirit Charm. High degree of Spirit Fusion. Spirit Fusion Test complete. You may apply for a standard Martial Artist certificate."

Zhai Song announced loudly, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Lin Wei was undoubtedly a peerless prodigy, born with [Martial Arts Talent]. It was no surprise he could achieve such a result, having bonded with that three-pointed, double-edged spear as his Lifebound Weapon several years ago.

’It’s just a shame his uncle is also at the academy, makes it inconvenient to take him on as a personal disciple...’

Nearby, Wu Daoqing, who was sitting with his legs spread wide, squinted at Lin Wei as he strolled off the field. He smiled faintly. "Your Spear System has taken in another Seventh Rank Jade Sinews genius this year. Congratulations."

Zhai Song snorted softly. "Old Wu, you must be preparing to formally accept that Axe Dao genius as your personal disciple, right? I should be the one congratulating you."

Wu Daoqing answered with a smile, a haughty pride brewing in his eyes.

"Last up for the Non-Spear Type, Liang Taiyue, come up and test!"

Amidst the shouts of the student MC, the last student in the waiting area strode forward, gripping a Mountain-Opening Axe. Its handle was longer than half his height, and the blade looked sharp enough to split a skull.

He planted his feet apart, his body like a mountain, and the axe gleamed with a cold light as it passed over his head.

"This Liang Taiyue truly is an Axe Dao genius," An Ling said, his brow furrowing slightly and his breathing hitched. "In such a short time, he’s already developed the form for [Soldier Body Integration]."

Jiang Qiu remained silent, his fists clenched so tightly they felt hot.

’The Spirit Fusion Test doesn’t allow using moves, yet just raising the axe creates such a concentrated pressure from his Spirit Charm. This person’s Realm is indeed a whole stage higher than mine.’

’I’ll have to fight even harder for first place.’

BOOM—

BANG!

A brown radiance suddenly slashed out, and the faint shadow of a giant elephant seemed to stomp down. The Test Stone, which had stood firm as Taishan Mountain, suddenly trembled, and its blood-red lines flashed brightly!

VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM!

Eight rings reacted in succession! The residual Kun Earth Spirit Charm washed over the crowd, causing every student’s hair to flutter. They stared wide-eyed and gasped, "Holy shit, Eighth Rank?!"

At that moment, the Non-Spear Type students absolutely erupted. Even on the Spear System’s side, many were left dumbfounded, especially the new students.

"Haha, not only is Liang Taiyue’s aptitude for the Axe Dao extremely high, but his foundation is also outstanding," Wu Daoqing exclaimed, slamming the table as he shot to his feet. "Eighth Rank Jade Sinews, with an excellent degree of Spirit Fusion!"

Zhai Song was silent, letting out a soft breath.

’To think he was hiding it so well. A year passes, and suddenly an Eighth Rank Jade Sinews pops up. A genius of this level is truly rare.’

"Old Zhai, oh, Old Zhai. I bet you didn’t expect the most outstanding student in this year’s Spirit Fusion Test to not be from your Spear System, did you?"

Wu Daoqing was in high spirits. He sat back down, spreading his arms wide, his face a mask of smug satisfaction.

"That’s not necessarily true."

Zhai Song’s tone was even.

"You must be talking about the Director’s new personal disciple, right?" Wu Daoqing chuckled, his gaze shifting to the black-robed young man who was last to go for the Spear System. The corner of his mouth lifted. "I’ve heard that the students who came out of Celestial Xin Hall alive all have decent aptitude. One of them, Qian Cheng, was even scouted by Old Wang from the Body Tempering Academy. And Jiang Qiu was already the top genius of Gao Yuan City, so his Talent is surely even more exceptional."

"But even Lin Wei, who possesses [Martial Arts Talent], only reached Seventh Rank Jade Sinews. Even if Jiang Qiu is more outstanding, he’ll most likely only reach Eighth Rank. And in the short span of a month, he probably hasn’t even completed his [Weapon Forging and Spirit Fusion]."

"His performance might not be all that impressive."

Zhai Song’s gaze was profound. The large hand resting on his knee tightened slightly, wrinkling the fabric of his pants. A cold, damp aura emanated from him.

’In terms of Spirit Fusion, Junior Brother Jiang Qiu will definitely be rated "extremely high," but his Jade Sinew Rank is unknown.’

’Even if he does reach Eighth Rank or higher, Liang Taiyue will definitely issue a challenge. The gap between them would be huge; he’d lose the number one spot nine times out of ten.’

’The master’s reputation will be ruined in his final years.’

As his thoughts twisted to this point, Zhai Song took a deep breath, his tiger-like eyes glancing at Wu Daoqing. "Old Wu, does the personal disciple you’ve taken a fancy to have to fight for first place?"

"The young are always competitive. To be hot-blooded is to be young." Wu Daoqing chuckled, not backing down an inch. "Besides, they are contending for fame, which in turn stabilizes their Dao heart."

’Just because Jiang Qiu is the Director’s new personal disciple, he should give up the number one spot in the Spirit Fusion Test?’

’Impossible.’

’An Axe Cultivator opens mountains when they meet them, and slays dragons when they meet them!’

"HUUUH..."

Before the towering Test Stone, Jiang Qiu took a shallow breath and drew the [Chuyuan] spear from his Storage Ring, his eyes narrowing slightly.

’This Test Stone hides faint traces of an ancient aura. It must have been tempered for tens of thousands of years in a Secret Realm to have reached its current state, gaining the ability to react to Spirit Charms and Jade Sinews.’

It was covered in tiny pits, all marks left behind from years of Spirit Fusion Tests. The newest chip, from the axe strike, was a bit more conspicuous, its dark surface a shade deeper.

TAK...

After tapping the spear tip on the ground, he pushed back with his arm and elbow, pressing down. Jiang Qiu’s gaze focused as all the Qi Blood and Spirit Charm in his body converged in his arms. With a sudden FWOOSH, Flame erupted from the spearhead, and the Dragon Spirit stirred restlessly within.

[Lifebound Weapon: [Chuyuan]]

[Feature 1: Dragon Spear Spirit, Flame-Forged Moves]

"Holy shit, senior, is that the Director’s new personal disciple you were talking about? I think that’s Jiang Divine, the one who got first place on the college entrance exams!"

"Quiet, I’m thinking."

Xue Zhang pushed his curly bangs aside with both hands, his eyes wide. "This Spirit Fusion Test is fucking terrifying!"

"What? What did someone just say? The Director’s personal disciple? Jiang Divine?"

"Holy shit, for real? The Director took a student as a personal disciple?"

"Even if he was first in the exams, that shouldn’t be enough, right? That’s a fucking huge leap!"

A single spark ignited everyone’s passionate blood. In an instant, every student present fixed their gaze on Jiang Qiu, and a tidal wave of noise and clamor crashed down.

Jiang Qiu’s expression remained unchanged. The veins on his hands bulged as the [Chuyuan] spear shot out, its flaming tip parting the air.

ROAR—

A Dragon’s Roar resounded! The shadow of a Dragon Spirit materialized behind Jiang Qiu, so tall it seemed to touch the dome of the sky. Its vertical pupils were terrifying, and in an instant, the students’ own pupils trembled as a chill ran down their spines.

BANG—

The spear tip struck the stone wall, like an iron rod poking a porcelain plate.

VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM, VMM—

Blood-red light flared across nine successive rings, yet the two-meter-tall Test Stone was still trembling, and it even seemed to be faintly swelling.

KRAK...

Jiang Qiu’s pupils contracted. He could vaguely see the Dragon Spirit hidden within the spearhead surge upstream. The small, budding horns on its head rammed into the Test Stone, becoming the final straw that broke the camel’s back.