Xuanwu War Sovereign

"Zhao Xiaohu, Mid-stage Martial Arts Third Realm, fourteen years old, eliminated!"

"Sun Kang, Late Stage of Martial Arts Third Layer Heaven, sixteen years old, eliminated!"

"Situ Yue, Early Stage of Martial Arts Third Heaven, fifteen years old, eliminated!"

"Long Qingqing, Early Stage of Martial Arts Four Heavens, nineteen years old, eliminated!"

...

On the enormous Profound Array Map, next to the testing platform, a middle-aged man glanced indifferently at the profound runes that appeared one after another on the platform, announcing the results in a detached tone.

One by one, dejected boys and girls stepped down from the platform. Some had grim faces, some clenched their teeth, some were pale as death, and others were expressionless. It was a perfect display of the human condition. As expected, each new failure drew a wave of sighs.

The long line of nearly a hundred people had already shrunk by almost half, yet aside from the chubby boy at the very beginning, not a single person had managed to pass the test.

"Next!" a delicate-featured young woman responsible for recording the results called out softly from the side.

Just then, a frail-looking boy of eleven or twelve walked up. His hair was done up in a cone-shaped topknot, not yet capped in the style of an adult. Judging by his clothes, he seemed to be the child of a wealthy family, not a disciple of one of the great clans. Nearby, a beautiful young woman watched him with an encouraging gaze.

The boy bit his lip, his forehead beaded with nervous sweat. At the middle-aged man’s signal, he tensely placed a hand on the crystalline, bluish-jade testing slab. A glittering light then rose from the Profound Array Map beneath his feet, surged into his palm, and produced a colorful rune...

The middle-aged man’s indifferent expression changed, a flash of astonishment in his eyes. His lips moved as he announced...

"Qian Lai, Late-stage Martial Arts Fourth Layer, twelve years old, Superior!" This time, the middle-aged examiner had actually used the word "Superior."

The ratings had five grades: Failed, Pass, Average, Superior, and Excellent. Superior was already an extremely high evaluation; not a single person had qualified for it all morning!

’I passed!’ A thrilled smile spread across Qian Lai’s face when he heard the middle-aged examiner announce his results.

"Late-stage Martial Arts Fourth Layer at twelve years old!" HISS... A series of sharp inhales came from the crowd. Many looked at the somewhat introverted boy with newfound respect. His talent was truly extraordinary. He had a very high chance of passing the full test and entering All Stars Academy.

"Isn’t that the only son of Mr. Qian the great philanthropist from the south of the city? Mr. Qian spent his life doing good deeds but unfortunately passed away a few years ago. Everyone thought the Qian Family was about to decline, but who would have thought his only son would be so remarkable! It seems good deeds are indeed rewarded!"

"The Qian Family? Aren’t they the wealthiest family in Mountain and River City? Although the Qian Family isn’t one of the Nine Great Families, their businesses span more than half of the Yan Kingdom. They’re fabulously wealthy!"

’Qian Lai!’ Qin Feng’s eyes glittered. Listening to the buzzing discussions around him, he felt the name was somehow familiar, as if he had heard it in his later life. He just couldn’t recall where he might have come across it.

’But one thing is for sure: this boy is definitely not simple. No one whose name is remembered, even in passing, in a future era could ever be simple.’

After that, a dozen more teenagers walked up to the testing platform one by one. However, most of their results were dismal, and they were eliminated. Only two of them, with cultivation at the Early Stage of Martial Arts Four Heavens, barely managed to pass the test and were rated "Pass."

The wheat was being separated from the chaff!

Next was a calm-faced young girl. Dressed in a pink gown, she stood out in the crowd like an elf, attracting the gazes of many aspiring young men.

The girl was only eleven or twelve, but her features were exquisitely delicate. Her eyes were as pure as water, darting about playfully. With her long, blinking lashes, she had a mischievous, pixie-like air.

She exuded a captivating spiritual quality!

This girl was undoubtedly exceptional. There were many young women present, most from prestigious families who had inherited the fine genes of their parents. Each one was outstanding in her own right—a flock of orioles and swallows, each with her own unique charm. Yet, the moment this girl appeared, all others seemed to pale in comparison.

"Young Miss, it is your turn!" She was accompanied by two elderly matrons. These two women were burly and imposing, and the auras they emanated were even more terrifying than the Ancient Relic Species, the Yunling Giant Tiger, that Qin Feng had encountered. They were clearly Martial Artists who had surpassed the Martial Arts Seventh Layer Heaven.

"Who is she?" Qin Feng asked, his gaze shifting slightly. ’This girl is already so lovely at just eleven or twelve. In a few more years, she’ll probably be another nation-toppling beauty...’

"Zou Yuxian, the legitimate daughter of the Zou Family, one of Mountain and River City’s Nine Great Families. What, are you interested? Her status is noble. She’s not someone a rogue cultivator like you, with no sect or family, can covet!"

Yu Yao glanced at Qin Feng, a strange light in her foxy, beautiful eyes. Yu Yao herself was an exceptionally stunning beauty. At fifteen or sixteen, her body was just beginning to blossom. She had a tall, slender figure that had developed remarkably well over the years, and she was stacked.

A gorgeous face, jet-black hair, a graceful, slender waist, and long, shapely legs—she was stunningly beautiful and carried herself with poise. She already possessed all the charms of a mature woman.

Zou Yuxian was beautiful, to be sure, but she hadn’t fully matured yet; she was still an unripe fruit. How could she compare to Yu Yao, whose allure was beginning to show? Yet, to Yu Yao’s frustration, Qin Feng hadn’t even given her a proper look.

Now, seeing Qin Feng’s attention on Zou Yuxian, Yu Yao felt a flicker of jealousy without even realizing it herself.

Qin Feng pondered for a moment, an unusual glint in his eyes. He wasn’t the type to be paralyzed by the sight of a beautiful woman. The reason he was focused on this girl was because of the spiritual quality she radiated.

Qin Feng also possessed an extraordinary spiritual quality! But his wasn’t innate; it was born only after he absorbed the spirituality of the Mystic Turtle Divine Pill.

The young girl moved with the light steps of a lotus. She was dressed in a pale pink gown, covered by an outer layer of white gauze. The folds of her dress flowed and pooled on the ground like shimmering moonlight on snow, making her steps seem even lighter. She placed a slender, jade-like hand on the Testing Stone Slab. Her pink sleeve slid down, revealing a wrist that outshone the purest snow...

On the Profound Array Map, a flash of crystalline light shimmered and entered the body of the girl, whose eyes were closed.

"Zou Yuxian, Martial Arts Fifth Layer Late Stage, thirteen years old, Excellent!" This time, the middle-aged examiner used the word "Excellent" for the first time!

Gazing at the information that appeared on the Testing Stone Slab, the normally stoic middle-aged man took a deep look at the pink-clad girl, a rare, faint smile touching the corners of his eyes. He even spoke again.

"Zou Yuxian, you are very good. I hope you will continue to strive for greatness. All Stars Academy welcomes you!"

The field fell silent. All eyes were fixed quietly, with gazes of either envy or jealousy, on the elf-like girl. Many people swallowed nervously. Martial Arts Fifth Layer Late Stage at thirteen years old—such a performance was simply breathtaking.

Even the notoriously proud expert from All Stars Academy was showing her favor. Before, not even Qian Lai, who had received a "Superior" rating, had gotten this treatment!

After Zou Yuxian, more young men and women stepped up to the testing platform. Most of them were of noble birth, predominantly disciples of Mountain and River City’s Nine Great Families. A dozen of them actually passed the first round in succession, bringing a rare smile to the cold face of the man conducting the test.

But none of them managed to earn another "Superior" or "Excellent" rating. Most were just "Pass" or "Average."

Soon, it was the turn of the arrogant boy who had sneered at Qin Feng and his companions earlier. He sauntered confidently to the testing platform and slammed a hand onto the stone slab like a bolt of lightning.

In an instant, the testing Profound Array erupted in a burst of colorful light. Looking at the information on the slab, the middle-aged examiner stared at the arrogant boy in surprise, then a smile spread across his face as he announced the result.

"Guan Xiaopeng, Martial Arts Fifth Layer Late Stage, twelve years old, Superior!"

The arrogant boy, Guan Xiaopeng, frowned slightly. Although he had received a rare "Superior" rating, it was still a step below his target of "Excellent." He quickly lifted his head, though. While he couldn’t compare to Zou Yuxian, he was second to none among the rest. His gaze swept over the other youths with a faint sense of superiority and disdain, and when his eyes landed on Qin Feng, they held a trace of provocation.

Soon, after Yu Yao passed her test, it was finally Qin Feng’s turn!