King of Ten Thousand Years

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Spirit-Sensing Stone

Early the next morning.

「Lingyun County, at the Lingyun Martial Mansion.」

When Luo Tian and Chen Haofei arrived, four to five hundred youths from various cities had already gathered nearby.

"So many people."

Luo Tian was a bit surprised. There were more people for the assessment than he had imagined.

"This is normal," Chen Haofei explained. "Lingyun County City governs eight cities, and there are hundreds of Martial Arts Families, large and small."

And this was just Lingyun County.

The Azure Cloud Kingdom had forty to fifty county cities, not even counting the bustling Royal Capital.

As for the entire continent?

The Azure Cloud Kingdom was just a remote corner of the Dongchen Continent.

’It’s a shame Xueyao isn’t here for the assessment,’ Luo Tian sighed to himself.

Ning Xueyao’s explanation was that she was in hiding and didn’t want to expose her identity. Besides, she had her family’s martial arts to practice.

"The assessment is about to begin!"

"Anyone at the Second Layer of Meridian Opening or higher, and under eighteen years old, can participate in the assessment."

A resonant voice boomed.

In front of the Martial Mansion, there was an instantaneous silence.

Afterward, the hundreds of youths were led by an examiner into an open area within the Martial Mansion.

In the center of the open area was a raised platform.

"The first stage will primarily test your Martial Veins."

A middle-aged chief examiner spoke, his voice low and deep, yet it carried clearly to the hundreds of people present.

At that moment, a beautiful young woman in a teacher’s robes appeared on the platform. Her every frown and smile was captivating enough to steal one’s soul.

"So beautiful! The Lingyun Martial Mansion actually has such a young teacher?"

A wave of astonishment swept through the youths below.

"It’s Liu Ziyan! The number one genius of the Lingyun Martial Mansion and a prodigy on the Azure Cloud Kingdom’s Human List."

Those with prominent family backgrounds recognized the young woman at a glance.

"Liu Ziyan!"

Luo Tian’s brow furrowed.

He was baffled. How did Liu Ziyan end up in charge of the assessment, and why was she wearing a teacher’s uniform?

"I heard Liu Ziyan’s cultivation has already reached the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening or higher. She sometimes acts as a guest teacher in the Martial Mansion."

Chen Haofei’s expression changed.

It wasn’t strange for Liu Ziyan, as the Mansion Master’s direct disciple, to be one of the people in charge of the assessment.

However, this put Luo Tian in a very disadvantageous position.

At the same time, Luo Tian noticed Liu Ziyan’s charming eyes looking down at him from her elevated position, a hint of mockery in her gaze.

It was the look of a superior gazing down upon a servant.

"Luo Tian, you will soon understand the difference in status between us."

A cold, clear voice sounded in his ear.

It was... Liu Ziyan’s voice!

Luo Tian’s gaze sharpened. This was a True Qi Sound Transmission Secret Technique.

Only those at the Meridian Opening Realm Seventh Layer or above possessed the means for Secret Transmission.

"Did you think I couldn’t see through you? You plan to first pass the Lingyun Martial Mansion’s assessment and then try to enter one of the three great Martial Arts Holy Mansions."

Liu Ziyan’s eyes held a smile, but her voice was filled with ridicule.

What!

’She actually guessed my goal!’

Luo Tian was shaken to the core.

This Liu Ziyan was far too clever; she had deduced all this just from his clash with Lin Yun yesterday.

At the same time, Luo Tian felt several other hostile gazes on him from across the field.

Among them was Lin Yun, whom he had defeated yesterday.

There was also Qi Hong, the strongest genius of this year’s assessment and the organizer of the gathering at the Full Moon Tower.

In addition, Luo Tian saw a few other familiar faces, like Liu Yuanba of the Liu Family, who had now also advanced to the Second Layer of Meridian Opening.

"The Martial Vein test begins now," the middle-aged head examiner announced indifferently.

As soon as he finished speaking, some of the youths waiting in line stepped forward to be tested.

"Inject your True Qi into the Spirit-Sensing Stone."

Liu Ziyan, her expression as serene as a goddess’s, handed a few pale white Crystal Stones to the students being tested.

BZZZT!

After one of the girls injected her True Qi, three rings of white light lit up on the Crystal Stone’s surface.

"Yellow Tier Upper Grade Martial Vein."

Beside the platform, a dedicated teacher was responsible for recording the names and test results.

Martial Veins were divided into Celestial, Earth, Profound, and Yellow Tiers.

A Celestial Tier Martial Vein was so rare on the continent that one might not be seen for centuries, making them the stuff of legends.

An Earth Tier Martial Vein was already considered a sign of supreme talent.

A Profound Tier Martial Vein was also considered the mark of a genius.

A Yellow Tier Upper Grade Martial Vein could only be considered average.

Only after successfully undergoing Meridian Opening could one inject True Qi into a Spirit-Sensing Stone to test the grade of their Martial Vein.

Martial Disciples in the Body Tempering Realm couldn’t be tested because their Martial Veins hadn’t been activated.

BZZZT!

Suddenly, the Spirit-Sensing Stone in the hands of a cold-faced youth lit up with four rings of white light.

"Profound Tier Low Grade talent!"

A hint of delight appeared on the middle-aged chief examiner’s face.

"Isn’t that Gao Xuan of the Gao Family from Hongguang City? He actually has a Profound Tier Martial Vein!"

Below, many people exclaimed in amazement.

Gao Xuan?

Luo Tian suddenly found the youth very familiar.

Looking closer, wasn’t this Gao Xuan, the one he had defeated, stripped naked, and looted back on Black Demon Ridge?

Meeting again today, Gao Xuan’s cultivation had reached the Third Layer of Meridian Opening, and he even possessed a Profound Tier Low Grade Martial Vein.

"It’s him!"

Gao Xuan saw Luo Tian as well. Remembering the humiliation on Black Demon Ridge that day, his face filled with resentment, and he shot him a fierce glare.

On the platform, the youths continued to be tested one after another, with mixed results.

Among them, the one with the highest talent was Qi Hong, the Young Master of the Qi Family, who possessed Profound Tier Upper Grade talent.

Second was the Mu Family’s young lady, Mu Yuyan, who had a Profound Tier Middle Grade Martial Vein.

Both of them were from one of the County City’s Four Great Families.

"It’s our turn. Brother Luo, you go first," Chen Haofei said.

He was still very curious about Luo Tian’s Martial Vein.

"Alright."

Luo Tian nodded and stepped onto the platform.

"Luo Tian, as a genius from Qingchang City, my Liu Family once sponsored you. Don’t let everyone down, okay?"

Liu Ziyan offered a dazzling smile, putting on an appearance of concern.

But Luo Tian sensed a hint of conspiracy in her smile.

’This Liu Ziyan volunteered to be in charge of the assessment. She must have a plan to deal with me.’

"Mm."

Luo Tian took the white Crystal Spirit-Sensing Stone and slowly injected his True Qi.

The next moment, Luo Tian’s expression changed slightly. He felt his injected True Qi become severely obstructed after entering the Spirit-Sensing Stone.

After a few breaths, the Spirit-Sensing Stone showed no reaction.

"Luo Tian, you don’t have an inferior Martial Vein, do you? Even the Spirit-Sensing Stone isn’t reacting."

A playful glimmer shone in Liu Ziyan’s smile.

Her voice wasn’t quiet, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

"No way! An inferior Martial Vein?"

Below the stage, a wave of shocked whispers broke out as the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves.

At this moment, Qi Hong, Lin Yun, Gao Xuan, Liu Yuanba, and the others below all revealed gloating expressions.

An inferior Martial Vein was slightly better than a Wasted Vein, as it could break through to the Meridian Opening Realm.

However, an inferior Martial Vein was the worst possible talent, even lower than a Yellow Tier Low Grade.

"The Lingyun Martial Mansion does not accept those with inferior Martial Veins. He can be eliminated in the first stage," the middle-aged chief examiner stated indifferently.

The Lingyun Martial Mansion’s assessment had two stages.

The first stage was the talent test.

The second stage was the strength test.

In the end, students would be admitted based on the combined results of both stages.

’How despicable! Liu Ziyan must have tampered with the Spirit-Sensing Stone.’ Luo Tian’s expression darkened.

’Hmph. The one I gave you is a discarded Spirit-Sensing Stone. Not even my Earth Tier Martial Vein could make it light up.’ A wide smile bloomed on Liu Ziyan’s face, and she felt immense satisfaction.

’You want to pass the Lingyun Martial Mansion’s assessment and enter one of the Three Great Holy Mansions?’

’With me here, you won’t even pass the first stage!’

Liu Ziyan was already prepared. The moment Luo Tian became angry and questioned her, she would use "offending a teacher" as a pretext to truly cripple him.

Thinking of this, a vicious glint flashed in the depths of Liu Ziyan’s eyes.

Killing intent!

Luo Tian’s powerful Spiritual Sense detected the dangerous aura coming from Liu Ziyan. She had a full eight Qi Veins within her body, containing terrifying power!

He vaguely understood that if he lost his temper and questioned her, Liu Ziyan definitely had a way to retaliate.

Liu Ziyan was the number one genius of the Lingyun Martial Mansion and the Mansion Master’s disciple. If he confronted her, he would surely be the one to lose out.

"Light up for me!"

Luo Tian suddenly took a deep breath and activated the Divine Vein within him, the one like an Ancient Nether Dragon.

Instantly, a twisting pattern of icy blue light, shaped like a roaming dragon, coiled around the discarded Spirit-Sensing Stone, which then lit up with two rings of light.

"Th-This... How is this possible!"

The smile on Liu Ziyan’s beautiful face froze, and her voice trembled slightly.

Even her Earth Tier Martial Vein couldn’t make this discarded Spirit-Sensing Stone light up in the slightest.