Chapter 214: Chapter 204: Plucking the Stars
While Situ Houtu hesitated, uncertain, Feng Tongming—who ranked third in the test—made her move. Her target was a star the size of a bowl.
The Cultivation Technique Feng Tongming practiced was called the Red Sun Heart Refining Technique. It was a method that utilized the sun for Cultivation and was originally an Advanced Technique. However, for some unknown reason, its later stages had been lost.
After losing its latter Cultivation Technique, the Red Sun Heart Refining Technique became a Mid-Level Technique. As a genius with the blood of the Ancient Phoenix Clan, Feng Tongming had cultivated this technique to the Great Success Realm in just over ten years. Her heart was one of pure clarity, and her strength even surpassed that of Jiang Ailiang.
As Feng Tongming unleashed her Cultivation Technique with all her might, her figure resembled a Fire Phoenix dancing in the air. Her entire body was wreathed in raging flames that lit up the starry sky of the True Hall.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Feng Tongming waved her palm lightly, reaching for the star from afar.
The star seemed to sense Feng Tongming’s move. Its light suddenly receded until it was completely dim and lusterless. Even if one stared with wide-open eyes, it was impossible to find any trace of it.
Feng Tongming’s Red Sun Heart Refining Technique, in addition to cultivating flames, placed the utmost importance on cultivating one’s mental state. In order to possess a Transparent Heart, Feng Tongming had even changed her name to what it was now.
After so much Cultivation, while Feng Tongming wouldn’t dare claim her heart was as clear as crystal, it was far more transparent than that of an ordinary Martial Artist. A transparent heart could reflect all things in the world. The moment the star’s light receded, Feng Tongming had already reacted, swinging her right hand and unleashing a blazing torrent of fire.
The torrent of fire Feng Tongming unleashed was incredibly bright, as if a new sun had suddenly appeared in the starry sky. Bathed in its brilliant light, the star could not escape Feng Tongming’s eyes, even with its own light retracted.
Feng Tongming instantly locked onto the star’s position. Her figure flashed like a meteor streaking through the night sky, abruptly crossing over fifty feet to snatch the star into her hand.
"Excellent!" Feng Tongming’s series of movements was graceful and unhurried. She had plucked a star with ease, displaying formidable strength. Even though the other youths were all proud and arrogant, they couldn’t help but cry out in approval.
With Feng Tongming having plucked a star, the only ones who had yet to act were Zhaang Ye and Situ Houtu. All eyes turned to Situ Houtu, awaiting his performance.
Although Zhaang Ye had taken first place in this test, the reputation Situ Houtu had built since childhood was not so easily overshadowed. Most of the young geniuses present had heard of Situ Houtu’s fame, and thus they were eagerly anticipating his performance.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Situ Houtu’s figure flickered and abruptly vanished from his spot.
Situ Houtu was wearing grey clothes. When he leaped into the starry sky, his grey robes immediately merged with the night, making it impossible for anyone with poor eyesight to see him at all.
As everyone watched, Situ Houtu’s figure instantly leaped to a height of over six hundred feet, and he gently extended a palm.
The youths were all stunned to see Situ Houtu’s action. In front of him was nothing but empty space; there wasn’t even a single small star. Why, then, was Situ Houtu reaching out into the void?
Most of the youths were baffled by Situ Houtu’s move. Feng Tongming, however, with her Transparent Heart, seemed to have faintly sensed something. A flicker of understanding shone in her eyes as she stared intently at Situ Houtu.
Zhaang Ye watched Situ Houtu with a hint of admiration in his eyes, thinking to himself, ’Situ Houtu’s Comprehension is truly on another level. Every star in this True Hall moves as unpredictably as a Celestial Horse Soaring, yet he was able to grasp their trajectories in such a short time. That kind of ability is truly remarkable.’
Just as the youths were wondering, a star materialized out of thin air, appearing right beside Situ Houtu. With a slight extension of his palm, Situ Houtu easily plucked it from the sky.
"Ah!"
Seeing Situ Houtu pluck the star, the youths had a sudden realization. ’So that’s it! Situ Houtu had already calculated the star’s trajectory and knew where it would appear. That’s why he was waiting there in advance. The moment the star appeared, he simply reached out and plucked it!’
Witnessing Situ Houtu’s frightening Comprehension and Computation Power, all the youths secretly sucked in a cold breath. ’With that kind of Comprehension and Computation Power, if I were to fight him, he’d probably find the flaws in my Combat Skills in no time. That would be absolutely terrifying...’
Seeing Situ Houtu’s performance, the Second Hall Master couldn’t help but smile faintly, a hint of admiration in his eyes. ’Although Situ Houtu was outshone by Zhaang Ye in the test, he is, after all, a genius seen only once every five hundred years. His Comprehension and strength are both impeccable. I doubt even Zhaang Ye could surpass the performance he just gave.’
Situ Houtu had made his move. Now, only Zhaang Ye remained.
The four Hall Masters and the youths all watched Zhaang Ye, waiting for his performance.
A determined glint flashed in Zhaang Ye’s eyes. He unstrapped the Heavy Saber from his back and set it aside. Then, he initiated the Cloud Stepping Technique, and his entire body rose gracefully like a cloud, ascending higher and higher. In a matter of moments, Zhaang Ye had reached a height of over seven hundred feet.
