Seven Breaths! (Bookmark, bookmark, bookmark)

Master Wu was ecstatic.
Just by looking at her appearance, he could roughly estimate Jiang Feng's age.
A child who had only just come of age, already stepping into the Dawn Realm, with a strength of four breaths in her luminous power—such remarkable talent! The grade of her Heartseed must be high, perhaps four rings? Five rings? Plus the meticulous guidance from Hua Su...
Most crucially, she was still so young, only just advanced, so the score for one chain would give her ten points. Four breaths multiplied by four—that’s forty points.
If relying solely on their own people from Ancient Vine Academy, this score would just allow Jiang Feng to rank tenth. Tenth place would be enough for her to win the wager made earlier.
But the key issue was that among their own, there was also Hong Cheng. This inconspicuous giant had reached One Chain, Four Apertures, earning a high score of forty-two points, instantly raising the standard for the top ten!
That way, Jiang Feng couldn’t make it into the top ten—she was bound to lose!
Such a child would soon fall into his hands!
Wu was delirious with joy and stepped forward, but the next turn of events made his face change drastically, nearly forgetting to breathe!
Right before his eyes, the brilliance of luminous power lit up for the fifth time!
The fifth breath!
This was exceedingly rare. Two academy officials strode in, astonished as they watched the young girl and the bronze tree before her.
Jiang Feng’s expression was utterly relaxed. Her hand gently caressed the trunk, feeling the cool energy surge into her body, merging with the surging luminous power.
Her luminous power rippled gently within the origin branch, thick as honey yet flowing without any sluggishness. Its color was not the ordinary golden yellow but a honey-golden radiance, warm as sunlight.
She could feel the bronze tree breathing, drawing her entire body and Heartseed into its rhythm.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly exhaled.
As she inhaled, the glow on the bronze tree dimmed; as she exhaled, it brightened again.
The sixth breath!
Jiang Feng had entirely forgotten the wager with Ancient Vine Martial Hall, forgotten the occasion she was on. She was wholly immersed in her resonance with the bronze tree.
At the same time, she sensed that the field, along with the entire trial hall, seemed imbued with some lingering substance, making her feel as comfortable and unified as returning to her mother’s womb.
The seventh breath!
Jiang Feng let out a long breath, just about to continue when suddenly a voice pierced straight into her mind—
“That’s enough!”
A woman’s voice, deep yet tinged with gentleness, struck heavily within her heart.
Ye Xiao!
Jiang Feng snapped back to herself, countless thoughts flooding her mind, finally recalling where she was and what she was doing.
If she continued, she would stand out too much—her secret might be exposed!
The thought had barely formed when her Heartseed stilled, breaking its connection with the bronze tree.
Jiang Feng abruptly withdrew her hand, stepping back two paces.
The surroundings were silent, barely a breath heard. She opened her eyes and saw the people nearby.
Master Wu stared, face full of shock; Ping Luan Shan, Hong Cheng... everyone gaped at her in disbelief.
Beside them stood two academy officials in broad sleeves, equally stunned, though maintaining some composure.
How many breaths had she just measured?
Jiang Feng instinctively turned to look at the Jietian County ranking outside.
A brand-new name appeared at the top, flashing three times before settling.

Seventy points!
The base score for one chain was ten points; seven breaths multiplied by seven—that’s seventy points, a full twenty-five points ahead of the second place, maintaining an extraordinary lead!
Before the trial, she had seen the strength of her own luminous power, which led her to wager with the Ancient Vine Martial Hall. But she hadn’t expected her power to reach seven breaths—even while holding back!
An academy official, about sixty years old, strode up to her and pressed a finger to her brow.
Jiang Feng instinctively wanted to dodge but stopped.
A mark of light appeared on her forehead, paused for a moment, then disappeared.
Master Wu finally snapped out of his daze and shouted, “Impossible! This is cheating! How old is this kid? How could she possibly have such luminous power strength?!”
The academy official waved his sleeve, turned to Wu, and asked sternly, “Do you dare question the Jietian Seal?”
Wu immediately shut his mouth, not daring to speak further.
The Jietian Seal represented the supreme power of the heavens—how could he dare to question it?
But that meant the seal confirmed Jiang Feng’s result? This child was only a few years old and already had luminous power of seven breaths?
Where did Hua Su find such a prodigy?!
The official turned again to Jiang Feng, his expression now benevolent. He asked, “Your name is Jiang Feng, correct? How old are you this year?”
Jiang Feng pressed her lips together and answered truthfully, “A few months shy of sixteen.”
A flash of surprise crossed the official’s face, then he mused, “Ah, your surname is Jiang... are you from the Jiang clan?”
Scions of noble families, using special methods, could indeed fuse a Heartseed between fourteen and sixteen.
He thought he had found the reason, but Jiang Feng shook her head. She looked at the official and whispered four words: “A thousand mountains and rivers.”
The official drew a sharp breath. He stared at Jiang Feng for a long time before finally shaking his head. “So that’s it. No wonder...”
He gently patted Jiang Feng’s head and said warmly, “Excellent score. Keep working hard!”
Jiang Feng nodded seriously. “I certainly will!”
The official said, “My name is Fang Liuxian. If you need anything, you may ask me.”
“Master Fang!” the younger official beside him exclaimed.
Fang Liuxian waved his hand and addressed the crowd, “The trial is not yet over. Let us continue.”
Jiang Feng had spoken those four words so softly that Wu hadn’t heard, but he noticed the change in Fang Liuxian’s expression. His heart skipped—this child’s background was surely extraordinary!
His gaze flickered, and as he turned, he saw another youth who had accompanied Jiang Feng, smiling at him.
Ping Luan Shan, seeing Jiang Feng’s score, was both shocked and delighted, then remembered Wu.
The wager he had worried about all morning was now someone else’s concern.
Ping Luan Shan grinned and said, “I recall someone volunteering for a wager just now.”
Wu glared at him, then looked aside, meeting Jiang Feng’s gaze.
He forced himself to say, “I clearly said three rounds of exams! It was this kid who decided on the trial herself—I never agreed!”
Ping Luan Shan protested, “You clearly...”
Jiang Feng raised her hand, stopping him, and smiled, “Very well, three rounds it is. Final tally of total points?”
Wu felt uneasy, but with ten students, the highest already at One Chain, Five Apertures—five levels above Jiang Feng!
But what if the child had another hidden trump...?
His mind raced, searching for an excuse to wriggle out of this—he could punish his own students, but being forced by outsiders would disgrace the entire Ancient Vine Martial Hall!

He hadn’t made up his mind when someone suddenly strode out from behind him and shouted, “Fine, I’ll wager with you!”
This person was dark and thin, skin rough like an old farmer, with piercing, bright eyes.
Jiang Feng was startled, “You are...”
The youth lifted his head and chest, “I’m a student of Ancient Vine Martial Hall, named Teng Zhi. I’ll wager with you!”
Jiang Feng recognized the name. On the Jietian County ranking, it was just below hers, only one place apart.
One Chain, Five Apertures, strength of three breaths—Teng Zhi!
Ping Luan Shan exclaimed, “Hey, have you no shame? How old are you, and how old is Jiang Feng? Someone with One Chain, Five Apertures wagering against her, who has just broken through?”
Teng Zhi replied calmly, “She proposed the wager. I’m merely accepting.”
Ping Luan Shan wanted to say more, but Jiang Feng interrupted, “That’s right, I proposed it. Fine, I’ll wager with you! Three competitions—Heaven, Earth, and Man. If I lose, I’ll join Ancient Vine. If I win, you needn’t crawl home; just come to our Yuanshan.”
Unexpectedly, Teng Zhi said, “No.” His eyes were sharp and bright as he declared, “A wager is a wager. We lost the trial—I accept defeat! No matter who wins the three rounds, I’ll crawl back to Water Curtain Town. Just watch!”
Jiang Feng gazed at him for a long while, then suddenly smiled. She held out a hand, “So it’s settled?”
Teng Zhi looked at her hand and showed a trace of disdain. “A wager is a wager. I have no interest in the filth of nobles.”
With that, he turned into the crowd, refusing to speak further.
Wu did not stop Teng Zhi, but after glaring twice at Jiang Feng, he followed suit.
Ping Luan Shan rubbed his chin, “What’s with him? What’s your connection to the nobility?”
Jiang Feng replied, “Perhaps the trial’s result gave him some misunderstanding?”
Ping Luan Shan nodded, “Still, he’s interesting... By the way, how is your luminous power so strong?!”
Jiang Feng smiled, “A gift of talent?”
Ping Luan Shan snorted but did not press further.
...
...
At that moment, Fang Liuxian was gazing up at the Jietian County ranking, his expression solemn.
The young official beside him asked quietly, “Master Fang, do you have any concerns?”
Fang Liuxian shook his head and sighed, pointing to the ranking, “Xiao Qu, look at these scores and compare them to the past two years.”
Academy official Qu Chun replied, “Aside from this seven-breath youth, the top ten’s scores aren’t much different from before.”
Fang Liuxian asked, “And the scores behind them?”
Qu Chun answered cautiously, “They seem... a bit stronger than before.”
“More than just a bit! Especially candidates ranked twelve to twenty—by points alone, they’re at least ten above previous standards!”
Fang Liuxian pointed to the ranking, “Take these three, for example. This is their third time taking the county exam; the past two years they failed. Do you think, with these scores, they would not have made the top thirty before?”

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fatfox911, Ochre Sand, Will Accompany You Through Hardship, Han Hua! Love you all~~~ And everyone supporting me in the review section, my deepest thanks!!
Quietly fixing a bug, haha—changed ‘A Thousand Mountains and Rivers’ back from ‘Mountains High, Waters Long’…