Chapter Five: The Assessment

After breakfast, Liu Feng continued his cultivation. The true essence circulated within his body, following the method described in "Awakening the Potential," growing ever more abundant with each cycle. Suddenly, Liu Feng sensed an obstruction in the flow of his inner power, as though an invisible gate had appeared within, blocking the path forward.

Through his cultivation techniques, Liu Feng understood that his meridians were hindering the flow of true essence. If he could break through this barrier, his strength would become even greater.

Focusing his mind, Liu Feng directed the true essence to surge rapidly through his body, then forcefully charged at the point of obstruction.

A thunderous boom echoed within him—the sound of the barrier breaking.

He felt his strength increase by nearly a third, becoming even more vigorous. As his power grew, the speed at which he assaulted his meridians quickened, until it sounded as if hundreds or thousands of cracks were resounding within him.

Liu Feng realized that the obstructions in all his meridians had been shattered, and the true essence could now flow unimpeded.

Delighted, he knew this breakthrough meant he had reached the fourth stage of the Gathering Qi Realm.

The Gathering Qi Realm was divided into nine stages; in the first three, the true essence was condensed in the dantian. As one’s strength grew, the essence would repeatedly assault other meridians in the body. Once all the major meridians had been opened, one would enter the fourth stage, where true essence could be projected outside the body, vastly increasing destructive power.

After breaking through to the fourth stage, Liu Feng felt several times stronger than before.

On a sudden impulse, Liu Feng activated his martial skill. With a slash that seemed to split the air, a blade of energy formed in his hand, growing to nearly a meter in length. The blade vibrated, sending ripples through the surrounding space.

With a powerful slash at the ground, a deafening crash erupted, leaving a gash three meters long and one meter deep.

Liu Feng had not expected such force, and joy welled up within him. With this strength, he would have much greater confidence entering the Academy.

Once admitted, he would strive to grow even stronger, determined to stand out and ensure his parents could live truly carefree lives—a goal he had always pursued.

And so, Liu Feng devoted himself to relentless cultivation, growing ever more powerful. Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

Liu Yuming said, “Xiaofeng, get ready. In two days, it will be the entrance examination for Yuanwu Academy.”

“Xiaofeng, when you get there, take care of yourself. Don’t associate with shady people, and be sure to keep safe,” Zhao Jing said, her voice full of concern.

“Father, Mother, don’t worry. I’m already fifteen; I know how to take care of myself. You don’t need to worry,” Liu Feng replied.

The night passed without incident. After breakfast the next morning, Zhao Jing handed Liu Feng a bank note. “Xiaofeng, this is ten thousand taels of silver. Take good care of it—it’s what your father and I have saved through years of hard work.”

Taking the silver from his mother, Liu Feng choked with emotion. “Don’t worry, I’ll work even harder at the Academy. I’ll make a name for myself, and let you live a life free from worry.”

Liu Yuming said, “All right, off you go. Be careful on the road. Your mother and I will take care of ourselves.”

After bidding farewell to his parents, Liu Feng set off for Chiyang City. The journey passed without incident, and a day later he arrived.

Entering the city, Liu Feng was dazzled by the bustling scene: heavy traffic, grand pavilions and towers, imposing structures everywhere, crowds streaming back and forth, and all manner of shops. It was far larger and livelier than Qingfeng Town.

He went into a restaurant, which had five floors. It was the afternoon mealtime, and the place was packed. Liu Feng found an empty seat on the second floor and sat down.

After ordering, he sipped his tea while waiting for his food.

“Have you heard? Tomorrow is the Yuanwu Academy entrance exam. So many young people have come; everyone is fighting for a spot.”

“That’s because the Academy is rich in cultivation resources, so you can improve your strength quickly. Yuanwu Academy is famous here in Chiyang City.”

“I heard those who perform exceptionally well can even join a higher sect. Entering a sect is a leap to the heavens.”

“Sects are enormous. After all, our Qingyu Kingdom is just a small nation under the jurisdiction of the Tianyuan Sect. There are hundreds of such countries within its sphere of influence.”

As Liu Feng listened to the diners’ discussions, he gained a general understanding of Yuanwu Academy. Entering truly offered a chance to soar—but only if one had the strength.

After eating, Liu Feng left the restaurant and found an inn to rest.

The next morning, after breakfast, he asked for directions to Yuanwu Academy and set off.

Before the Academy gates, a sea of people had already gathered. Three chairs were set out, occupied by three men in their thirties. Nearby stood five large blocks of blue stone.

The man in the center spoke, “I am Yang Yu, the instructor in charge of this examination.”

He continued, “Any aspiring youth aged between fourteen and eighteen may take part. The examination fee is ten thousand taels of silver; if you do not pass, the fee will be refunded.”

Hearing the sum, many people shook their heads in disappointment, unable to produce the money.

Nonetheless, several hundred young people registered with the three examiners.

Another instructor announced, “There are two parts to the test: strength assessment and mental willpower assessment.

“The strength test is to break one of these five blue stones, which require between two thousand and six thousand jin of force. The strength test begins now.”

The young candidates gathered around.

A sixteen-year-old stepped up, summoned his true essence, and struck the first block. Crack! The stone remained intact. Over a dozen more tried in succession, but none could make a dent; all were eliminated.

“I’ll try!” A youth in white stepped to the first stone and struck with his palm. With a sharp crack, the stone split in two.

“First test, passed,” Yang Yu said, recording the youth’s name.

Many others failed, though a few managed to pass. One by one, the hundreds of candidates took their turns. At last, only a dozen or so remained untested.

When it was Liu Feng’s turn, he stepped up to the third stone, summoned his true essence, and struck. The block, which required four thousand jin of force to break, split cleanly in two.

“Amazing—four thousand jin of power! There wasn’t even anyone like that last year.”

“The difficulty is higher this year. Last year, a thousand jin was enough to pass. Not anymore,” the crowd murmured.

Yang Yu said, “At last, a promising candidate.”

“Indeed,” the other two instructors agreed.

Then, another youth in white approached and struck the five-thousand-jin stone. Boom! The stone shattered into three pieces.

“Incredible—a true prodigy,” all three examiners exclaimed.

In the end, twenty people passed the strength test.

Yang Yu said, “Next is the test of mental willpower. The twenty of you will stand together. I will exert the spiritual pressure of the sixth stage of the Gathering Qi Realm. If you withstand it for ten minutes, you pass.”

Liu Feng and the others stood together as Yang Yu, five meters away, unleashed his spiritual pressure.

Time ticked by. After five minutes, one youth collapsed and was escorted away by another instructor. Several more fell as the minutes passed.

When ten minutes were up, ten candidates remained.

Yang Yu announced, “Today, ten candidates have passed. Welcome to Yuanwu Academy.”

The successful candidates, including Liu Feng, had their names recorded, then followed the three instructors into the Academy, where they received the keys to their dormitories.

The Academy’s dormitories were divided into ten sections, housing over a thousand students. Liu Feng and the other ten were all assigned to Section One. Passing through the teaching buildings, they reached the student quarters.

Walking toward Section One, they encountered three people coming the other way. As the two groups crossed paths, someone suddenly fell to the ground.

“Hey kid, are you blind? You bumped into me! Apologize right now and give me a hundred taels of silver for medical expenses,” one of the trio, a short fellow, demanded arrogantly.

“It was you who walked into me and knocked me down, and now you want me to pay? How is that reasonable?” retorted one of Liu Feng’s group—the very one who had been knocked down.

The short fellow snarled, “So you want to deny it after bumping into someone? Seems you need to be taught a lesson, so you remember next time.”