126: Chapter 126 Which one is Li Wen?

Chapter 126: Which One Is Li Wen?

As the profound voice of King Chu He fell.

The two words "Peerless" seemed to carry a certain heavy echo, reverberating within the main hall, and then spreading to every corner of the venue.

In an instant, over two thousand gazes simultaneously focused on Li Wen, who stood in the central area.

Those gazes were mixed with astonishment, envy, and disbelief.

Simultaneously, King Chu He's words officially declared the conclusion of the first day's assessment.

The fact was just as he said; after announcing Li Wen's evaluation, King Chu He's gaze did not linger for long.

He swept across the crowd one last time, his voice like the peal of a great bell, clearly imprinted in everyone's heart: "The preliminary selection's three assessments are concluded."

As soon as the words fell, the figure of this King-level Expert silently dissipated where he stood, like a bubble, without even stirring a ripple in space.

Immediately afterward, the Marquis-level Expert who had been presiding over the specific procedures stepped forward and announced loudly to the many Prodigies below: "The first day's assessment is complete. All those who have not been eliminated, please follow the attendants immediately to the side hall for rest. The list of the top one thousand in the combined scores of the preliminary selection's three assessments will be announced shortly. Tomorrow,"

He swept his gaze over the expectant or nervous faces below, "the practical combat and Comprehension Ability assessments will be conducted! The top two hundred from the comprehensive ranking of the two days will be the final qualifiers, possessing the qualification to enter Kindling University! Remember, be present on time for tomorrow's assessment!"

When he finished speaking, he exchanged a look with another Marquis-level host beside him, and the two figures flickered, also vanishing like streams of light.

On the high platform, the remaining Marquis-level Experts who were observing also rose one after another. Some used profound movement techniques, others flew by controlling the air, and in an instant, they left Jian Xin Hall, leaving the main stage empty and silent.

In the vast hall, only the thousands of young Prodigies, male and female, who had experienced a full day of tense assessment and wore various expressions, remained, along with the numerous Kindling Hall attendants standing respectfully on both sides.

After a brief silence, low discussions spread through the crowd like a tide.

"Tomorrow's practical combat and Comprehension Ability are the stages where I can truly shine."

In a corner, a strong young man from Northern Europe clenched his fist, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

He had performed excellently in the strength assessment, his Heart-Nature was slightly weaker but his ranking was acceptable, and he possessed absolute confidence in his practical combat ability.

"As long as I maintain my level in tomorrow's practical combat and Comprehension Ability, I still have a chance to enter Kindling University."

A youth whose scores in all three assessments had just barely scraped the bottom line of the top two hundred muttered to himself, nervously rubbing his fingers for encouragement.

"— — — — I wonder if Li Wen can maintain today's astonishing performance in tomorrow's assessment."

More gazes remained fixed on the black-clothed youth; the focus of discussion revolved around him.

Some marveled at his supreme spiritual sense, while others scrutinized him, wanting to see how this Genius from a county-level city, who was rated as having "Peerless Spiritual Sense," would perform in the latter two assessments that required hard strength and deep insight.

"Prodigies, please follow us."

The attendants' gentle yet unquestionable voices sounded at the appropriate time, interrupting everyone's thoughts.

The same group of attendants who had led them into Jian Xin Hall that morning reappeared, guiding the yet-to-be-eliminated group in an orderly manner toward the side hall.

Those contestants who had already been eliminated in the three assessments were led by another group of attendants, silently leaving the magnificent hall of Jian Xin Hall, heading towards Xinhuo City with feelings of disappointment or unwillingness.

One path led to rest and anticipation in the side hall; the other path meant the end of this journey.

The waiting time was always long and agonizing.

After being led to the elegantly furnished but tense side hall, apart from the very few, like Li Wen, who were calm as still water, eyes closed for meditation, seemingly completely unaffected by the outside disturbances, most of the Prodigies appeared restless.

Anxious emotions permeated the air, and whispers spread like the buzzing of a swarm of bees.

"Sigh, I don't know if I can make the top two hundred — — — —" A youth with a pale face couldn't help but voice his worry to his companion beside him.

"Relax, your advantages lie in tomorrow's practical combat and Comprehension Ability; Comprehension Ability, in particular, has always been your strong suit. If you make the top thousand in the preliminary selection, you just need to hold steady afterward."

Although the companion was also nervous, he tried his best to comfort him.

"I hope so — — — —" The youth gave a bitter smile, "If I ultimately can't get into Kindling University, I'm afraid I'll only be able to go to one of The Four Great Factions' martial schools. Then, one step behind means every step will be slow. Perhaps a few years from now, if I see you again, I'll have to respectfully call you 'Senior' — — — —"

The words revealed anxiety about the future and fear that the gap in strength might widen infinitely.

Similar conversations echoed back and forth throughout the side hall.

The tense wait tightened everyone's nerves like invisible threads.

"Buzz."

Just as everyone felt every second was like a year, the huge, originally blank crystal wall at the very front of the side hall suddenly lit up.

After the soft yet solemn light stabilized, the first thing that came into view were eight grand, gilded characters that seemed to burn with the fire of conviction — —

["Kindling University · Preliminary Selection Ranking"]

The light flowed, and below the grand characters, lines of crystal-clear names, rankings, and brief evaluations corresponding to the three assessments (Strength, Heart-Nature, Spiritual Sense) began to appear in sequence:

1. Li Wen: A, A+, Peerless 2. Du Yun: A+, A, A+ 3. Fang Chenghong: A, A, A 20. Ron Zaka: A+, B-, A 117. Chu Feng: B, B+, B

"Hiss."

"As expected — — — —"

"Peerless! It really is the Peerless evaluation!"

Exclamations and sighs instantly replaced all the whispers.

"Where is my name?! Where is my name?!"

A youth quickly scrolled down the ranking on the light screen, his expression changing from expectation to paleness, and then to despair. His eyes stared fixedly at the screen, his fingers unconsciously pinching his palm, trying to find his own codename among the constantly decreasing slots.

"197! I made the top two hundred! Thank goodness, thank goodness. As long as I perform normally in practical combat and Comprehension Ability tomorrow, I can definitely enter Kindling University!"

A young man who narrowly clung to a spot within the top two hundred let out a sharp breath. A trace of relief and a strong will to survive appeared on his forehead, which was damp with cold sweat.

"— — — — To think — — — — I couldn't even make the top thousand?"

In a corner, Luo Zhen, the dispirited Genius from Changning First High School, watched the light screen roll from the first line to the very bottom without his name ever appearing. The last trace of color drained from his face.

He looked at the dazzling name at the top of the screen — Li Wen.

Both were from Changning City: one from the prosperous downtown First High School, the other from an ordinary county-level high school.

At this moment, one stood at the top of the list, attracting everyone's attention, while the other couldn't even touch the lowest ranking threshold, not even qualifying to be the last place.

The immense disparity made him almost unable to stand steady.

"The heroes of the world are truly like carp crossing the river. We were previously like frogs in a well."

Several Prodigies ranked outside the top hundred, who had previously ranked at the very top in the Jiangnan Province Second Mock Exam, looked at each other and sighed sincerely.

The halo of being the best in the province in the past had dimmed to almost invisible in this hall that gathered Prodigies from across the globe.

Chu Feng's gaze passed over numerous names, finally settling on his own codename next to "117." He then looked up, his gaze complexly directed towards Li Wen, who was still closing his eyes nearby, seemingly detached from the outside world.

"In Jiangnan Province, you are first, and I am second — — — — I thought the gap was only a hair's breadth — — — — I never expected it to be a chasm."

Chu Feng murmured silently in his heart, complex and inexpressible emotions surging in his chest, including submission to a superior expert, but also a touch of loneliness at being left so far behind.

The gap of over a hundred places in the ranking clearly demonstrated the vast distance between them.

Evening.

The lights in the side hall were on all night.

Some were too excited to sleep, repeatedly mulling over their rankings and tomorrow's strategy; others tossed and turned, anxious about the assessment tomorrow that would decide their fate;

Some closed their eyes, breathing deeply, eliminating all distracting thoughts, seeking only to meet the test in their absolute Peak state; still others sat still like rocks, their minds having long since flown elsewhere.

The night passed without incident.

The long river of time flowed quietly until the first hint of pale dawn appeared on the eastern horizon.

The next day, early morning.

The top thousand Prodigies from the preliminary selection reassembled under the guidance of the attendants.

Unlike yesterday when they went to Jian Xin Hall, this time their destination was the depths of the Xinhuo Ancestral Vein, the true core of Kindling University.

Passing through the mountain gate Restriction shrouded in mist, the vast and boundless Origin Qi of heaven and earth rushed towards them.

The scene that met their eyes made even the Prodigies who had been shocked yesterday hold their breath again.

Completely different from any modern university in the outside world, Kindling University was clearly a massive, ancient Sect established upon the boundless Ancestral Vein.

Towering, steep mountains dotted the landscape, creating a magnificent spectacle.

On the Peaks, ancient and majestic palaces and pavilions built into the mountains could be seen. Some featured flying eaves and dougong brackets, while others were solemn and dignified, hidden amidst the ethereal sea of clouds, flowing with an ancient charm interwoven with time and power.

Occasionally, streaks of rainbow light and strange colors shuttled between the mountains; these were traces of powerful Martial Artists flying by air or controlling flying artifacts.

They were led onto a winding mountain path, climbing towards one of the mountain Peaks that was particularly spiritual and shrouded in clouds.

Ancient trees towered on both sides of the mountain road, and spiritual plants covered the ground.

Finally, they reached their destination — "Wudao Peak."

Halfway up the mountain, an extremely vast area, resembling a small plain, had been chiseled out, forming a giant white jade plaza.

The ground of the plaza was paved with special jade stones polished smooth by time, upon which faint, profound patterns and indelible traces of combat could be seen.

At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered in the plaza.

The high platform seen yesterday was still there; King Chu He and the group of Marquis-level Experts were already seated.

And on both sides of the high platform and in the open spaces at the edge of the plaza, many figures with outstanding temperaments and slightly older ages had appeared.

They wore various uniforms of Kindling University, their expressions showing pride, scrutiny, or pure curiosity, their gazes converging on the group of young Prodigies who had just ascended the plaza.

These were the Senior students of Kindling University.

They stood like spectators, watching the infusion of fresh blood.

"They're here, these are this year's newcomers, the top thousand from the preliminary selection."

"Which one is that Li Wen who received the 'Peerless' evaluation?"

"See there? The one walking near the front in the middle, wearing ordinary black Martial Artist clothes, whose build looks balanced but not exaggerated, that's him."

"His demeanor is quite steady, and he's quite handsome." A Senior Sister's focus was different from the others.

"Tsk, a Spiritual Sense attribute reaching the 'Peerless' level, how many years has it been since that happened?"

"Another Prodigy has been born! I dare to bet that as long as he doesn't die prematurely, he is a guaranteed seed for the Marquis-level Realm! He even has the potential to impact higher Realms."

"Jiangnan Province, Qingshi County — — — — Even a small place can produce a true Dragon. This Heart-Nature and Spiritual Sense talent are simply — — — —"

"I wonder if he can still perform well in practical combat and Comprehension Ability today — — — —"

The voices of the Kindling University Senior students were not deliberately suppressed and clearly reached the ears of the newly arrived Prodigies, invisibly imposing immense pressure.

Li Wen stood firmly on the white jade plaza, ignoring the probing gazes cast upon him.

His breathing was long and steady. His gaze calmly swept over the magnificent Wudao Peak plaza, past the Senior students whose Auras were deep and profound, finally resting in the direction of the main stage.

The mountain wind carried a crisp Spiritual Qi, brushing against his cheek, also bringing the Aura of a new challenge.

Today was the day for the true stage performance.

Practical Combat Assessment, Comprehension Ability Test.

The voice of Marquis Qingyuan, imbued with Marquis-level majesty, echoed across the white jade plaza: "Silence!"

All discussion ceased immediately, and the venue was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

He nodded slightly, and King Chu He calmly rose, hands clasped behind his back.

King Chu He's gaze swept over the thousand people in the venue like a physical entity. His voice, containing power that could stir the Divine Soul, clearly imprinted itself on the heart of every Genius: "This morning is the Comprehension Ability assessment. You will enter the Enlightenment Chamber in batches."

He paused slightly, giving everyone time to process.

"Within the murals, everything is contained, holding a complete set of technique Moves for every type of weapon in the world. What you must do — —"

"— — is to choose one type of weapon and, to the best of your ability, comprehend the Move it contains."

King Chu He's voice was steady and clear, "The more Move you comprehend, the better your Comprehension Ability evaluation will be."

"Now, the first batch of two hundred people, enter."

Rumble! The towering door of the Enlightenment Chamber beside the main stage suddenly burst open, revealing the empty hall inside.

The two hundred Prodigies whose order had already been determined by drawing lots stood up one after another.

"Finally, the Comprehension Ability test is here. I must rush into the forefront in this round!" A youth clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with confident light.

"I just hope not to fall too far behind — — — —" Another person's worry was hard to hide on his face as he looked toward the deep entrance.

The two hundred people filed in.

As the last person's figure disappeared behind the door, a heavy rumbling sound echoed again, and the door of the Enlightenment Chamber closed completely, isolating the inside from the outside.

However, this did not block the view from the outside.

A huge three-dimensional light screen suddenly lit up above the plaza, displaying the scene inside the Enlightenment Chamber in real time.

Inside the Enlightenment Chamber.

Upon stepping into the hall, everyone's gaze was instantly captured by the massive mural in front of them.

The mural was four meters high and nearly a hundred meters long.

The scene depicted on it was extremely complex: sabers, spears, swords, halberds, fists, palms, finger strikes, and even figures of many strange weapons crossed and intertwined. Moreover, profound postures of martial arts figures were hidden within the patterns, resembling a vast library of Martial Dao runes.