8: Sky Academy S-level Special Recruitment

“Take it!” Lu Mingchuan’s movements were casual, yet he accurately tossed a Purple-Gold Badge shimmering with deep starlight toward Lin Yuan.

The badge felt slightly heavy in his hand; its material, neither metal nor jade, was icy to the bone. Its surface seemed to have billions of stars slowly rotating, emitting heart-palpitating energy fluctuations. On the back, four sharp, sword-like etched characters read: “Cangqiong Academy · Special Recruitment”! The moment Lin Yuan pinned it to his chest—

Buzz!

An invisible but incredibly tough pale purple energy field instantly expanded, enveloping Lin Yuan’s entire body like a most loyal shield!

[High-Level Protective Field Detected: Starry Bulwark (Simplified Version)]

[Defense Strength: Can withstand the full-force attack of a powerhouse below the third heaven of the Awakening Realm for one minute!]

[Additional Functions: Real-time Vital Signs Monitoring / Precision Spatial Positioning / Emergency Distress Signal]

“This...” Lin Yuan felt that indestructible sense of security, and his heart shook.

“A little gadget from the Equipment Department, a meeting gift for an S-rank seed.” Lu Mingchuan’s tone was as relaxed as if he were introducing a pen, but deep in his eyes, there was a trace of imperceptible solemnity. “With this on, the Zhao family? Hah, even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare harbor any more crooked thoughts about you!”

“Senior Brother!” Zhou Qingxue couldn't help but interrupt, her cold voice carrying urgency. “His Mental Energy...”

“Oh! Right!” Lu Mingchuan slapped his forehead as if he had just remembered. He immediately pulled a palm-sized silver metal box from the seemingly ordinary pocket of his white lab coat, its surface engraved with complex Mental Energy amplification runes. “Here, take this, ‘Mind-Concentrating Incense,’ an internal allocation from the Cangqiong Mentalist Department. You can't buy it outside. Light one before you Cultivate every day, and don't be stingy with them!”

Lin Yuan took the silver box, a warm, jade-like sensation coming from his fingertips. The data panel responded instantly:

[Obtained: Mind-Concentrating Incense (Epic Grade) x 10 sticks]

[Effect: After lighting, Mental Tempering efficiency +100%! Mental activity significantly enhanced!]

[Limit: Maximum of 2 sticks per day (Excessive use may lead to mental instability)]

“Thank you, Professor Lu!” Lin Yuan thanked him solemnly. This incense was exactly the key to his current Breakthrough of the mental Bottleneck!

“Don't be in such a hurry to thank me.” Lu Mingchuan suddenly pulled back his cynical smile. His gaze behind the lenses was sharp as a knife, carrying an unquestionable majesty. “An S-rank seed isn't given for nothing. For the college entrance exam in two months, I want you to achieve three things:”

He held up three fingers, emphasizing each word:

“First, Combat Power—surpass 500 points!”

“Second, Mental Energy—reach 100 points!”

“Third, pass the Cangqiong Academy ‘Nine Heavens Trial’!”

“Nine Heavens Trial?!” Lin Yuan’s heart tightened, and he looked at Zhou Qingxue for an explanation.

A rare look of deep solemnity appeared on Zhou Qingxue’s stunning face, and her voice sank. “The highest specification and most brutal entrance examination of Cangqiong Academy. In the past thousand years, those who have fully passed it... number only three! Those who fail are either dead or crippled!”

“But for those who pass,” a blazing light erupted in Lu Mingchuan’s eyes, as if he had discovered a rare treasure, “the effect of their ‘Mortal Transformation Baptism’ will far exceed ordinary people! The thickness of their Foundation and the magnitude of their potential will be immeasurable! Lin Yuan, your goal is a ‘Perfect Mortal Shedding’! To forge a truly invincible Dao Foundation!”

After seeing the three of them off, the gravity room doors closed tightly.

Lin Yuan immediately replanned his cultivation blueprint! Time was pressing; he had to squeeze out every bit of potential!

Combat Power Sprint: 6 hours of core cultivation daily! For the first four days, Spirit Pith Liquid (2x acceleration) at full power!

Mental Energy Breakthrough: Light 2 sticks of Mind-Concentrating Incense daily, combined with [Mental Tempering (Elementary)], pushing to the limit!

Evolution Point Allocation: Prioritize upgrading the Starlight Body Refining Art! The stronger the Foundation, the faster the improvement!

As the first day ended, the data exploded!

[Base Combat Power: 173.0 (+28 daily!)]

[Mental Energy: 24.0 (+6! Mind-Concentrating Incense + Tempering effect is outstanding!)]

[Evolution Points: 49 (+26 daily income)]

“The efficiency exceeded expectations!” Lin Yuan’s eyes shone with brilliance! Tomorrow, when Evolution Points break 50, it will be time to upgrade the Cultivation Technique!

The next day, the morning light was dim.

Lin Yuan’s gaze locked onto the Starlight Body Refining Art (Yellow Rank High Grade)》 on the panel.

“Consume 50 Evolution Points, upgrade!”

Boom—!

It was as if stars had exploded in his mind! A massive amount of profound cultivation methods, energy circulation maps, spiritual energy compression techniques, and a brand-new “Star Body Tempering” secret method—guiding starlight power to directly hammer the Physical Body's cells! Like a divine revelation, it was instantly branded into the depths of his Soul!

[Starlight Body Refining Art promoted: Intermediate (Profound Rank Low Grade)!]

[Effect: Cultivation efficiency +300%! Spiritual energy condensation significantly enhanced!]

[Unlocked Secret Method: Star Body Tempering (Draws in starlight to deeply strengthen the Physical Body, slightly increasing the efficiency of Combat Power growth)!]

Cultivation Technique activated!

Buzz!

Inside the gravity room, even without it being night, specks of visible silver starlight actually penetrated the thick alloy roof. Like summoned spirits, they drifted down and attached to Lin Yuan’s body, slowly seeping in! His skin took on a jade-like luster, and his muscle fibers emitted a faint hum under the starlight! His Combat Power value skipped wildly like a runaway horse!

Six hours later, the cultivation session ended!

The crimson numbers on the Combat Power tester froze at—

210.0!

A surge of 37 points in a single day! Star Body Tempering was truly terrifying!

“I almost forgot this!” Lin Yuan slapped his forehead, his gaze sweeping toward [Mental Tempering (Elementary)].

“Consume 25 Evolution Points, upgrade!”

[Mental Tempering promoted: Intermediate!]

[Effect: Daily base Mental Energy growth of 6 points!]

[Note: Combined with 2 sticks of Mind-Concentrating Incense and Spirit Pith Liquid, daily theoretical growth can reach 12 points!]

Two days later.

In Lin Yuan’s Sea of Consciousness, the originally calm “mental pond” suddenly boiled! Mental Energy, like a wild dragon breaking its shackles, roared outward!

Buzz!

Invisible mental ripples swept through the gravity room! The walls, instruments, and even the trajectories of dust in the air became crystal clear! His consciousness instantly penetrated the thick alloy door, “seeing” the busy ant colony in the hallway cracks, and “hearing” the low-voiced conversation between Zhou Weiguo and Li Wen in the principal’s office a hundred meters away regarding Lin Yuan’s follow-up teaching!

“Mental Projection!” With a thought from Lin Yuan, a heavy alloy water cup on the table was steadily lifted by an invisible hand, suspended in mid-air!

[Mental Energy: 50.0!]

Another day later, the Spirit Pith Liquid and Mind-Concentrating Incense were all exhausted!

The panel data had a magnificent update:

[Host: Lin Yuan]

[Base Combat Power: 321.0]

[Mental Energy: 60.0]

[Realm: Preparatory Martial Artist]

[Aptitude: Outstanding Talent]

[Cultivation Technique: Intermediate Starlight Body Refining Art (Profound Rank Low Grade)]

[Martial Skill: Mountain Crushing Fist (Major Achievement 59%)]

[Evolution Points: 103 (+26/daily)]

[Primordial Purple Qi Fusion: 0.025%]

[Special: Item Appraisal (Intermediate), Mental Tempering (Intermediate)]

[Equipment: Cold Star Sword (+20), black tortoise ring (Protection 3/3), Star Badge (Protection)]

[College Entrance Exam Countdown: 57 days]

Six days later, in the early morning. The doorbell of the gravity room was pressed, carrying a hint of panic.

Lin Yuan opened the door. The scene outside made him startle slightly.

The once insufferably arrogant Zhao Hao was now collapsed on his knees like a pile of mud, his forehead pressed hard against the cold floor, his body shaking like a sieve. In front of him, Zhao Tian male—the helmsman of the Zhao Group and once a prominent figure in Tianming City—was also kneeling on both knees, his hands holding a jade box that was warm to the touch and emitting a seven-colored glow high above his head. His face no longer held any trace of a powerful leader, leaving only fear and humility.

“Lin... Student Lin!” Zhao Tianxiong’s voice was dry and tight, cracking as he spoke. “My son was ignorant and offended you greatly in the past! This... this is the ‘Seven-Colored Cloud Ganoderma,’ obtained by my Zhao family at the cost of our entire fortune. I hope you will accept it as a... a small token of apology!”

Appraisal Skill activated instantly:

[Seven-Colored Cloud Ganoderma (Epic Grade)]

[Effect: Contains vast life essence and astral Origin, can increase base Combat Power by 50 points without side effects!]

[Hidden Attribute: Deeply cleanses the Physical Body, significantly strengthening the ‘Mortal Transformation Baptism’ effect! Increases potential upper limit!]

Lin Yuan took the jade box expressionlessly; it was warm to the touch and shimmering with light. Seeing this, a flash of pain crossed Zhao Tianxiong’s eyes, but he hurriedly pulled out a crystal card flashing with a high-level energy mark: “There... there are also thirty million credit points, please...”

“No need.” Lin Yuan’s voice was flat but carried an unquestionable power as he raised his hand to interrupt. “Donate these thirty million to the ‘Tianming First High School Student Aid Fund’ established by Principal Zhou. The stipend the academy gives me is enough.” He intentionally puffed out his chest slightly, and that purple-gold S-rank badge shimmering with starlight reflected a cold and noble luster under the hallway lights.

Zhao Hao’s gaze touched that badge, and he recoiled as if burned by a branding iron, letting out an extremely suppressed whimper and shaking even more violently.

After the Zhao father and son disappeared down the hallway as if granted a general amnesty, scrambling and crawling away, Zhou Weiguo’s figure leisurely strolled out from the shadows of the corner, a hint of gratified cold laughter on his face. “Guess what happened this morning? The Zhao Group's stock price halved immediately at the opening! The three core partners announced a permanent termination of cooperation! Banks are calling in loans! Hmph, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter!”

Lin Yuan’s fingertips lightly brushed over the cold starry patterns of the badge on his chest, and an indescribable sense of power and control arose spontaneously. This was the absolute authority brought by being an S-rank seed of a top academy!

The final sprint begins!

Inside the gravity room, starlight fell like a waterfall! The dense starlight almost condensed into liquid, completely wrapping Lin Yuan! The spiritual energy around him boiled and roared, having already condensed into a visible pale purple flame!

Last night, his base Combat Power had reached: 471.0!

Mental Energy: 96.0!

Evolution Point Reserve: 259!

Today, the goal was set on the double limits! Inside the gravity room, starlight fell like a waterfall. The spiritual energy around Lin Yuan had condensed into substance. After today's cultivation ended, his Combat Power reached 496, and he immediately consumed the Seven-Colored Cloud Ganoderma. Simultaneously, the Mental Energy numbers on the data panel skipped wildly: 98... “Gulp!” Without hesitation, Lin Yuan swallowed that Seven-Colored Cloud Ganoderma shimmering with light!

Boom—!!!

It was as if a star had exploded inside his body! A torrent of life essence and astral Origin, pure to the extreme, washed through his limbs and bones! Every cell was cheering and jumping, greedily devouring! The Combat Power value was like sitting on a rocket, soaring crazily!

496... 497... 498... 499!

At the same time, waves surged in his mental sea! [Mental Tempering (Intermediate)] was running at full speed! That invisible barrier obstructing mental transformation emitted an overburdened groan under the impact of the vast Mental Energy!

Just at the moment Mental Energy was about to break through the 100-point mark!

A sudden change occurred!

The Primordial Purple Qi dormant within his body seemed to receive some kind of supreme summons and suddenly boiled! Like a bursting purple celestial river, it crazily surged toward his Dantian Qi Sea! A tiny but incredibly deep purple vortex, seemingly capable of devouring starlight, roared into existence at the center of his Dantian!

"About to break through?!" Lin Yuan's mind shook violently! This was the sign of reaching the limit of a Preparatory Martial Artist! The gate to the shedding mortality realm was swinging open for him!

At the critical moment! Without hesitation, he poured all his concentration and his 99 points of majestic Mental Energy, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, into the boiling Primordial Purple Qi!

BOOM—!!! CRACK!!!

It was as if the first crack of thunder at the dawn of the Universe had exploded in the depths of his Soul!

His Mental Energy value boldly shattered its shackles—102! (shedding mortality realm First Heaven!)

Driven by the dual forces of the Seven-Colored Cloud Ganoderma's residual medicinal power and the limit-breaking energy, his combat power soared—546! (Limit-breaking state!)

[Unlocked Mental Combat Technique: Mental Spike (Low-Level)!]

[Primordial Purple Qi Fusion: 0.025%]

[Evolution Points: 285 (+26/day)]

"I did it!" Lin Yuan snapped his eyes open, and two beams of purple light, condensed as if solid, shot out from his pupils, leaving two deep, tiny holes in the thick alloy wall! His aura was as deep as an abyss and as heavy as a prison; he had completed the first true leap in his life's level!

Principal's Office.

Zhou Weiguo, who was in a holographic call with Lu Mingchuan, suddenly felt the expensive purple clay teacup in his hand "crack" as a fissure opened without warning, splashing hot tea onto his hand.

Lu Mingchuan's words in the holographic image came to an abrupt halt. His eyes behind the lenses narrowed into a dangerous line as he "stared" intently toward the gravity room across endless space, as if piercing through layers of obstacles.

"This fluctuation... that brat! He really... did it?! It's only been a few days?!" His voice carried unbelievable ecstasy and a slight... tremor from being startled by a monster.

In the early morning, the sunlight filtering through the top window of the gravity room cast a golden edge over Lin Yuan.

He slowly finished his cultivation, and the terrifying power surging within his body settled into a calm state. The data panel flickered silently, recording this inhuman achievement:

[Base Combat Power: 546.0]

[Mental Energy: 102 (shedding mortality realm First Heaven)]

[Realm: Preparatory Martial Artist Limit-breaking]

"Lin Yuan!" Lu Mingchuan's voice exploded from the communicator with unprecedented urgency. "Three o'clock this afternoon! At the school gate! If you're even a second late, I'll tear down your gravity room!"

The moment of departure.

After packing his simple belongings, Lin Yuan took one last look at this gravity room that had witnessed his rise. On the walls, dense fist prints, sword marks of varying depths, and even distorted pits left by mental shocks silently told the story of his repeated, frantic Breakthroughs.

He pushed open the long-unvisited cafeteria doors, and the clamor and aroma rushed toward him. The moment the bustling crowd saw him, the noise seemed to hit a mute button, only to explode into an even louder wave of awe and adoration!

"Look! It's Senior Brother Lin Yuan!"

"Hiss... That badge! It's purple-gold! Cangqiong Academy S-grade!"

"I heard his combat power has already broken 200! What a monster!"

Lin Yuan's expression remained calm. He took a meal tray, his gaze swept over the crowd, and he walked straight toward a somewhat familiar figure sitting by the window.

Chen Xue was eating in small bites with her head down, only looking up blankly when the meal tray landed opposite her. When she saw who it was, her chopsticks fell onto the table with a "clack." Her small face instantly turned beet red, and she scrambled to pick them up, accidentally knocking over her soup bowl in the process.

"May I sit here?" Lin Yuan's voice was gentle, carrying a faint, unnoticeable smile. This girl, who had defended him in her own clumsy way during his darkest times, held a special place in his heart.

"Of... of course! Please sit!" Chen Xue's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, and the tips of her ears were so red they looked like they might bleed. She wished she could bury her face in her meal tray.

"I'm going to Cangqiong Academy." Lin Yuan picked up a piece of braised pork—tender, fatty, and enticingly glossy—and naturally placed it in her nearly empty bowl. "I'll wait for you at Cangqiong during the college entrance exams."

Chen Xue stared at the piece of braised pork, her eyes reddening slightly. Her voice carried a hint of dejection and a sob: "I... I've only just broken 20 points... Cangqiong is... too far away..."

A warm current rose in Lin Yuan's heart. He solemnly took out a warm, mutton-fat white jade bottle from his robe and pushed it gently toward Chen Xue. Inside the bottle lay two round, flawless Medicinal Pills the size of longans, radiating a misty, precious light—[Qi Gathering Pill (Perfect)]! These were treasures he had meticulously upgraded last night at the cost of 30 Evolution Points; each one could increase combat power by 10 points with no side effects!

"Take them and do your best," Lin Yuan said in a voice that brooked no refusal. "I'll wait for you at Cangqiong." As he stood up, he gently patted the girl's slightly trembling shoulder, leaving behind a firm and warm silhouette.

In the Teacher's office, when the usually stern class Teacher Teacher saw Lin Yuan walk in—especially the Purple-Gold Badge on his chest that symbolized supreme glory and the future—her eyes instantly turned red. Her lips quivered, and a thousand words were stuck in her throat, finally turning into a few trembling words:

"Good... that's wonderful... if only your parents could see this..." She turned her face away and quietly wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes.

Lin Yuan silently placed a prepared space compression box on her desk. Inside were resources like Body Tempering Pills and Qi Gathering Pills that he no longer needed but were incredibly precious to ordinary students: "A small token for my juniors."

"Principal Zhou is waiting for you on the top floor," Teacher said, her voice raspy. "He pushed aside everything else."

Top floor, Principal's Office.

Pushing the door open, he saw Zhou Weiguo with his back to the door, holding a soft flannel cloth and wiping an old-fashioned photo frame with extreme focus, almost reverently. In the photo, three high-spirited young men in exploration gear stood before a distorted, rotating light gate to another world, smiling brilliantly and fearlessly. Lin Yuan immediately recognized the young man on the left with eyes as sharp as an eagle's as his father, Lin Zhengnan! The one in the middle with his arms around their shoulders, laughing heroically, was a young Zhou Weiguo!

"You're here?" The principal didn't turn around, his voice low and distant. "Do you know why I insisted you must take the college entrance exam and fight for that 'National Top Scholar' title?"

Lin Yuan bowed deeply to the figure and said with certainty, "Because of the 'Star Source Pool'! The position of Top Scholar allows one to enter the center of the pool and receive the most perfect Star Source Baptism!"

"Correct!" Zhou Weiguo turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing with brilliant light like a waking lion! He walked quickly to an antique safe in the corner and, after a series of complex operations, took out a dark green Jade Slip with tattered edges and cracks that emitted a faint, ancient fluctuation, placing it solemnly in Lin Yuan's hand.

"Your father found this... while exploring a forbidden land side-by-side with me. I originally wanted to wait until you became a Martial Artist before..." He didn't finish his sentence.

The moment the Jade Slip touched Lin Yuan's palm!

Hum!

The data panel vibrated violently, erupting with an unprecedented, brilliant golden light!

[Detected: Primordial Renewal Art (Fragment)!]

[Compatibility with "Starlight Body Refining Art (Intermediate)": 97.8%!]

[Can consume 200 Evolution Points for 'Grandmist Deduction/Completion'!]

"This is... an Opportunity the three of us brothers exchanged our lives for." Zhou Weiguo's voice was filled with endless memories and gravity. "Take it and use it well! Don't let down your father... or the blood we shed back then!"

Three o'clock in the afternoon, school gate.

A silver "Star Shuttle" hovercar with extreme streamlining and a body shimmering with a liquid metal luster was parked quietly, looking incredibly futuristic. Beside the car, Zhou Qingxue stood tall like a green pine in the snow, dressed in a moon-white Cangqiong Academy uniform. Her cool gaze turned toward the approaching Lin Yuan, and she nodded slightly: "Get in. We're going to the Spaceport to transfer to an 'Explorer-class' starship."

Lin Yuan took one last look at the city and campus where he had lived for seventeen years. At the school gate, Chen Xue was waving her arms frantically, her tears sparkling in the sunlight; Teacher stood not far away, nodding vigorously; and in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor of the teaching building, Zhou Weiguo's silhouette stood with hands behind his back, like an eternal sentinel.

"Vroom—" The Star Shuttle rose silently into the air, its anti-gravity engine starting as the ground rapidly receded.

Just then, the light and shadow inside the car distorted, and Lu Mingchuan's hologram—wearing an experimental robe stained with suspicious oil and with messy hair—popped out abruptly, holding a half-eaten energy bar: "Aha! Almost forgot this! Catch!" A minimalist yet high-tech silver chip popped out from a hidden compartment in the side of the seat.

[Cangqiong Academy · S-Grade Freshman Guide Chip]

[Contains: 1000 Initial Credits Exchange System (Full Access)]

[Special Unlock: S-Grade Core Seed Exclusive Privilege Zone!]

"Take a look if you're bored on the way. If there's anything you want, just use your credits to exchange for it when you get to the academy. I've already opened up the highest permissions for you!" Lu Mingchuan's image said indistinctly while munching on the energy bar.

Zhou Qingxue spoke up of her own accord, which was rare, her voice carrying a hint of envy that was hard to detect: "I suggest you look at the S-zone first."

Lin Yuan inserted the chip into his wrist communicator interface.

"Swish!"

A massive holographic screen unfolded inside the car, and a dazzling exchange list refreshed like a waterfall:

Star Body Forging Chamber (Deep) Usage Rights: 50 credits/month

Awakening Realm Peak Mentor One-on-One Practical Guidance: 200 credits/hour

Mental Power Virtual Battlefield (Advanced): 150 credits/session

Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade Marrow (Body Tempering Saint Grade): 800 credits/drop

...Lin Yuan's fingers slid rapidly; the list seemed endless. When he reached the very bottom, a striking crimson area suddenly lit up! The font was bolded and highlighted, like burning flames:

Star Core Baptism: 20,000 credits

[Description: Harness the power of the miniature stellar core suppressed by the academy to perform the deepest level of life Origin baptism! Reshape your Foundation! Elevate your potential! Only 3 spots available per year!]

"Star Core Baptism?!"

Zhou Qingxue's breathing instantly became hurried, and her cool voice even carried a slight tremor: "An S-grade baptism of the academy! Legend has it... it has the power to seize the creation of heaven and earth! The last user stepped into the Awakening Realm within three years!" She took a deep breath and looked at Lin Yuan with burning eyes, "But, if you can take the title of National College Entrance Exam Top Scholar... you won't need this baptism..."

"Hold on tight!" The Star Shuttle's speed suddenly increased to its limit, turning into a silver stream of light that tore through the clouds and sped toward the giant Spaceport in the distance!

At the port's docking area, a colossal object lay in wait. It was covered in a matte black special alloy, and on its streamlined hull, an emblem of a giant sword piercing through a star was engraved—Cangqiong Academy! The cold metallic luster and the majestic energy fluctuations of the emblem silently proclaimed the grandeur and power of Cangqiong Academy!