Chapter 146: Chapter 144: Niu Kexin’s Power
"Huh? She’s just a frail-looking girl!"
"Have you noticed? There are no Energy fluctuations from her, and her movements are completely artless. She couldn’t be a mortal, could she?"
"Look at how shy and awkward she is. She doesn’t have the air a Cultivator should have at all. She’s more like a sheltered young lady."
As Niu Kexin walked out, the crowd broke into a flurry of discussion.
In their eyes, anyone who possessed an Imperial Academy Order should be a heroic and magnanimous figure. Even a woman should be a valiant heroine, exuding the unmistakable air of an expert.
But Niu Kexin, no matter how they looked at her, didn’t seem like a genius Cultivator.
"Shut up!" Liu Hui roared.
’How dare they openly mock his master’s lady, his respected sister! It was unbearable.’
Having broken through to the Purity Realm, Liu Hui stood over two meters tall. Combined with the enhancement from his Dragon Energy, he looked unbelievably powerful.
However, everyone present was proud and arrogant, and none of them were the type to back down from a challenge.
"What we say is none of your damn business!"
Liu Hui’s belligerent pride was stoked. His gaze swept across the crowd. "Got a problem with it? Let’s fight."
"Fine by me! You think I’m scared of you?"
Seeing this, Jin Sanpang was about to throw his hammer, but Mo Qi stopped him.
’Was he kidding? Jin Sanpang was in the Vajra Realm.’ Although there were plenty of geniuses in the crowd who had reached the Purity Realm, they were nowhere near Jin Sanpang’s level. ’If Jin Sanpang accidentally hammered a few of them to death, things would get seriously out of hand.’
"Insolence!"
A tyrannical presence descended, halting the imminent battle.
An elder said with a furious expression, "What do you think this place is? If you want to fight, do it after you’re Within the Pass. For now, all of you will be silent! If anyone dares to make a move, don’t blame me for being merciless!"
"Hmph. You’re lucky. Otherwise, I would’ve taught you a lesson."
"See you Within the Pass. You’d better pray you don’t run into me!"
Several of them sneered, one even making a throat-slitting gesture, their killing intent completely undisguised.
Liu Hui couldn’t stand it. He clenched his fists, about to transform.
"That’s enough. Don’t stoop to their level," Mo Qi said, patting Liu Hui’s shoulder.
Liu Hui’s anger vanished in an instant, and he stood respectfully behind Mo Qi.
"Take out a little notebook and write them all down," Mo Qi added. "Once we’re Within the Pass, we’ll give them some... ’special attention’."
"As you command, Master."
Liu Hui actually produced a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone from who-knows-where and began recording the auras of those who had provoked them.
He even made a copy and handed it to Jin Sanpang.
"Fatty, remember this. Once we’re Within the Pass, if you run into any of these guys, strip them bare. Got it?"
Jin Sanpang nodded repeatedly. "San Pang understands."
"As is customary, before the annual selection, we must test your aptitude and talent," the elder said, retracting his oppressive aura.
"There are four tests in total, targeting physical body, True Essence, bloodline, and profession. You can take all four or choose just one. This will help you understand your own strengths and help us place you accordingly."
’Interesting!’ Mo Qi was quite surprised by the Mountain and Sea Empire’s testing methods. ’Unlike the convoluted trials of the Void Sect, the Mountain and Sea Empire actually lets you choose just one of the four options. This way, they’re much less likely to overlook a genius. It also demonstrates the Mountain and Sea Empire’s confidence: even if you excel in only one area, they believe they can cultivate you into a powerhouse! This alone showed the vast difference between the Void Sect and the Mountain and Sea Empire.’
"Present your Imperial Academy Order," the elder said, turning to Niu Kexin.
Niu Kexin took out her Imperial Academy Order. After confirming it was authentic, the elder spoke again.
"Young lady, since you possess an Imperial Academy Order, you will go first."
Niu Kexin wasn’t familiar with the four tests, so she could only look to Mo Qi for help.
Mo Qi smiled. "Sister Kexin, just pick any one you like. It’ll be fine."
His words prompted a fresh round of uproarious laughter from the crowd.
They couldn’t believe she couldn’t even decide on something as simple as which talent to test. They had no idea how someone like her could have obtained an Imperial Academy Order.
Even the three elders in charge of the testing shook their heads in private.
Niu Kexin pursed her lips. Thinking of her own freakish strength, she said, "I’ll test my physical body."
The three elders froze.
No matter how they looked at her, Niu Kexin didn’t seem like a Body Cultivator.
"Young lady, are you sure you don’t wish to pick another? Although you possess an Imperial Academy Order, these test results will directly affect your resource allocation in the future. It would be best to choose your strongest area."
Though he had his doubts about Niu Kexin, the elder still offered his well-intentioned advice.
"No, I’ll stick with the physical body test," Niu Kexin said, her tone resolute.
"Haha, she actually wants to test her physical strength! Look at how frail she is, what is there to test?"
"She just got lucky and has an Imperial Academy Order. Even if her results are a pile of crap, she’ll still get into the Imperial Academy. We can’t compare to that."
"I wonder where she got her Imperial Academy Order. You don’t think she... traded for it with some big shot, do you? After all, she is rather good-looking."
"Now that you mention it, that makes sense."
The murmurs grew louder, and the speculation became increasingly vile.
The smile on Mo Qi’s face slowly faded, replaced by an icy chill.
He could tolerate them questioning Niu Kexin, even looking down on her, but he would not tolerate them insulting her.
Just as Mo Qi was about to summon a clone to teach them a lesson, the three elders made their move.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
Every single person who had been speaking out of turn was sent sprawling to the ground with a slap.
"The Imperial Academy Order represents the honor of the Empire! How could it possibly be obtained through some sordid transaction? Considering this is your first offense, I will let it slide. But if there is a next time, the punishment is death!"
All those who had been struck fell silent, too terrified to utter another word.
But the way they looked at Niu Kexin, Mo Qi, and their companions was no longer filled with mere disdain, but with bitter resentment.
The elder ignored them and led Niu Kexin to a massive, solid gold gate.
"This is the Trial Power Gate. Do not use any True Essence. Strike it with your raw physical strength, and it will display a result scaled to your level of Cultivation."
Niu Kexin took a deep breath, concentrating all her strength into her right fist.
’She had heard every last word of their gossip. It wasn’t just an insult to her; it was an insult to Mo Qi. Mo Qi had given her the Imperial Academy Order. No matter what, she couldn’t let him down.’
At this thought, Niu Kexin’s blood began to boil.
A savage aura erupted from her, fierce and powerful, with no trace of her earlier frailty.
The expressions of the three elders shifted.
Just then, Niu Kexin threw her punch.
Her fair, delicate fist smashed against the golden gate.
DONG!
A deafening boom echoed as the massive gate began to vibrate intensely.
A dazzling golden light shot skyward. Ten feet... twenty feet...
Higher and higher it climbed, instantly bursting through the confines of the great hall and soaring into the heavens.
Outside on the palace square, the watching crowd also witnessed the spectacle.
"My god, that’s the golden light from the Trial Power Gate! This... How is this possible? Why did it break through the roof of the hall?"
"Break through the roof? It’s practically reaching the heavens!"
"I remember the so-called King of Body Cultivators from back in the day could barely get the golden light to poke through the hall’s roof, right?"
"Such power... such a physique... The Imperial Academy has struck gold this time!"
