Chapter 572: Chapter 497: Professor Cui_2
But a second later, Yang Xiao noticed a trend in the light fading. The spiritual power maintaining the Ghost Lantern was being drawn away by the opposite side. The speed of extraction was neither fast nor slow, just equal to his input. Simultaneously, a sound of "whoosh whoosh" water echoed near Yang Xiao’s ears.
Based on his own feelings, the opposing magic artifact was likely a water bottle or something of a teapot, exactly the thing extracting his spiritual power.
"Is this the ability of a Spirit Tester?" Yang Xiao thought. The Director had once introduced that this Professor Cui was a very rare Spirit Tester.
The other party didn’t call a halt, and Yang Xiao hadn’t reached his limit either. Both sides continued this stalemate, and about 1 minute later, a "tch" sound came from behind the curtain. Yang Xiao frowned, "Professor Cui, is there any problem?"
"No, continue." Professor Cui’s tone had changed from before.
About another minute passed. "Hmm?" Professor Cui made a sound that perplexed Yang Xiao, as if he had discovered something unexpected.
"Shall we continue?" Yang Xiao cautiously asked.
"Can you still go on?"
"I can hold on."
Like that, another minute passed until Yang Xiao felt sweat forming on his forehead and his head slightly becoming heavy, then he voluntarily cut off the flow of spiritual power. However, at this point, he was still far from his limit; he felt he could squeeze out more.
After putting down the Ghost Lantern, he saw a blurry figure on the opposite side suddenly stand up, "Impressive, very impressive!" Professor Cui paced back and forth, extremely agitated, "Nolan Shuo has really found a treasure, who could have expected a Captain Level to have such intensity!"
"Bang bang bang!" Someone was knocking on the door, Director Nalan’s voice came through the gap, anxiously inquiring, "What are you discussing, any results yet?"
Lifting the curtain, Professor Cui quickly walked to the door and flung it open. Nolan Shuo strode in, "Professor Cui, are the results out yet?"
"They are." Professor Cui adjusted his glasses, his expression still couldn’t hide his excitement, "Director Nalan, I apologize for my previous rash behavior. Your Lin’an Bureau truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers, this Captain Yang’s spiritual power intensity has far exceeded the Middle Level of Severe, approaching the Upper Level of Severe."
"Is this really...not something unexpected?" Nolan Shuo couldn’t help but smirk, but he immediately suppressed it, switching his tone awkwardly while displaying a calculated demeanor, he glanced at Yang Xiao and plainly said, "Little Yang, I am somewhat disappointed you didn’t reach the Upper Level of Severe. Reflect on this when you get back. In my expectations, you should have been close to the Ghost Level threshold."
"I have let down the Director’s cultivation." Yang Xiao stood at attention, his apology very sincere.
"Director Nalan, your demands are too harsh. In the entire Rongcheng, among the 14 primary and secondary Captains, only three reach the spiritual power intensity of Severe Grade, and one of them barely made it. Only Captain Qu from the City Heart Bureau is slightly stronger than Captain Yang." Professor Cui couldn’t help but defend Yang Xiao.
Yang Xiao thought to himself that Professor Cui really knew how to touch on sensitive topics. Right now, what his own Director least wanted to hear were the words ’City Center Official Residence,’ because with that Captain Qu there, his Director had suffered a lot over the years from Director Huang Guozhao.
Indeed, as soon as he heard the three words ’Qu Muzhi,’ his Director immediately showed displeasure, his face fell as he retorted, "What’s so special about him, Qu Muzhi? How many years has he been in the field, and how long has our Little Yang joined the Patrol Defense Office? Anything Qu Muzhi can do, our Little Yang can do; anything Qu Muzhi can’t accomplish, our Little Yang can still handle. In short, the City Heart Bureau is simply not as capable as our Lin’an Bureau! If Huang Guozhao dares to come and flaunt, I’ll go to our internal network and post anonymous messages to scold him."
"It’s not necessary..." Yang Xiao hurriedly urged his Director to calm down.
However, Professor Cui showed no interest in the feud between Nolan and Huang Guozhao. He was more interested in Yang Xiao himself. Thus, he grabbed Yang Xiao’s hand, wanting to perform another test, while also dismissing Nolan.
"Another test?" Yang Xiao asked, puzzled.
"Last time we tested spiritual power intensity, this time it’s your acceptance and control power over spiritual power." Professor Cui grasped Yang Xiao’s wrist as if worried he would run away.
Upon hearing these words, Yang Xiao became even more confused. He had heard from Beibei before that it was regarding the testing of spiritual power intensity, but she had never mentioned testing acceptance and control power.
Professor Cui patiently explained that only those whose spiritual power intensity reached above Severe Level were qualified for the next test. He also gave an example: spiritual power intensity represents a person’s foundation, and only those with a solid foundation can consider skills-related elements.
Sitting back down, Yang Xiao curiously asked, "What do I need to do this time?"
"This time the roles of attack and defense are reversed; you will be the passive recipient. I will do my utmost to influence the operation of your magic artifact with spiritual power, and you need to maintain the use of your magic artifact as much as possible." After a pause, Professor Cui solemnly added, "This test carries certain risks, you must be cautious, not overdo it, and immediately call a halt if you reach your limit."
"Understood."
As their magic artifacts contacted once again through the curtain, Yang Xiao instantly felt an eerie force interfering with the Ghost Lantern. It was hard to describe the sensation, like having a bottle continuously pouring water over the lamp’s flame.
All Yang Xiao had to do was to maintain the flame as vigorously as he could, yet the direction and intensity of the water changed constantly, sometimes even coming from directions that Yang Xiao couldn’t comprehend. This was not merely a contest of brute strength but rather relied on a subtle skill.
