Second Time

Chapter 43 - Appraisal

All of the applicants gathered in a courtyard even larger than the one they'd been in for the initial test. The various groups that had arrived over the past weeks had been drawn together. Six late Heavenly Realm experts, each with a different weapon, stood at the far end.

Cai Fei recognized two of them. They were Yan Chunhua and Wen Huifang, the Steel Emperor's wives, representing the saber and spear.

"The first three tests will simply measure the aspects of your cultivation that aren't measured in your realm," a muscular man leaning on an axe said. "That is, your soul, the purity of your qi, and your body's strength. Each one will be graded out of five and added to your points."

A cultivator called out, "Isn't it unfair to us in Core Formation that we lose out on five points by default?"

"Do we need to be fair to mere Core Formation cultivators?" He sneered. "Everyone, split up into six groups. Move in front of the person with the weapon you're most familiar with."

Shao Yue and Cai Fei both went in front of the sword-wielding proctor. The rest of the crowd mostly went to either sword or saber, followed by spear and then the rest.

The one in charge of swords was a man with long black hair and a thin yet powerful build like a wild cat. "We'll go in order of points. Whoever has the most points, come up now."

Shao Yue and a man who hadn't been in her group during the initial test walked forward, arriving in front of the proctor.

The man held up his identification token and grinned. "I've got seventeen. What about you?"

"Forty-one," Shao Yue said, showing her own.

For the ones who hadn't seen Shao Yue before, the number was like a bolt of lightning shooting through them.

"I've heard of you," the proctor said, nodding. "Heavenly Realm at age twenty-three, very impressive. Show me your qi."

The other aspiring disciples began murmuring. Shao Yue stepped over and held out her hand, a ball of water hovering above it.

"Perfect, five. Next, immerse your divine sense into this Soul Light Crystal. The brighter it glows, the stronger your soul."

He handed her a clear gem. She blinked. The Soul Light Crystals came in different grades for each Realm. The one he had handed her wasn't a Heavenly Realm grade crystal, but an Emperor Realm grade one.

Shao Yue had no reason to make a scene, so she submerged her divine sense into it, turning it into a blazing star.

The man was rather taken aback by that. He retrieved the crystal. "Uh, f-five. Next, punch me without using any qi."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

"Please defend yourself."

Shao Yue pulled her fist back, took a step forward, and punched. Her blazing vital essence roared through her body, the power of a grade seven monster beast unleashed.

Fear immediately gripped the proctor. Rather than a fist, it felt more like a meteor was descending from the heavens towards him. He hurriedly gathered his qi and crossed his arms over his chest to take the strike.

The sound of the impact resounded throughout the courtyard, attracting everyone's eyes just in time for them to see the proctor flying ten steps backwards before managing to steady himself. He winced and rubbed his arms.

"Five."

He took Shao Yue's token and increased the number from forty-one to fifty-six, then sent her over to the waiting area. She watched as the rest of the people went through the tests, but nobody really caught her eye.