CHAPTER 27 — "THE DEAN'S CHAMBER & THE SOUL TEST"
The door to the Dean's personal chamber opened with a deep rumble, as if reality itself moved aside for him. The air inside the room was thick with ancient energy — heavy enough to make weaker students faint instantly.
But these weren't normal students.
The Top 10 prodigies of the continent stepped forward.
Ouyang Xue'er — Divine Frost Princess
Ling Yifan — Newly Ascended Divine Spear Saint
Long Hao — Gold Peak (fake), Void Master
Bai Qianlan — Moonlit Mirage
Chen Wulian — Heaven-Forged Battle Body
Wang Junxie — Epic-tier Fire Dragon Body
Zhao Lanyue — Epic-tier Spirit Archer
Han Duwei — Epic-tier Lightning Physique
Mu Qingxun — Epic-tier Earth Tyrant Talent
Jin Roulan — Epic-tier Sword Maiden
All of them had watched the phenomenon caused by the five prodigies inside the Spirit World.
And their reactions were… intense.
Wang Junxie clenched his fists so hard the air crackled with flame.
"That… THAT was Divine aura. Ling Yifan actually upgraded his talent?! How is that fair?!"
Zhao Lanyue gulped."I saw Bai Qianlan distort space just by breathing… what kind of illusion talent is that?"
Han Duwei's eyes twitched."Chen Wulian's skin looked like metal. How am I supposed to fight that?!"
Mu Qingxun exhaled deeply."They're monsters. Especially that Long Hao… I didn't see any phenomenon from him, but he FEELS dangerous."
Jin Roulan narrowed her eyes at Long Hao."His talent is only Gold Peak? Liar. No one with a Gold talent fights like that."
Ouyang Xue'er puffed her cheeks proudly."Of course he's strong."
Long Hao:"…I didn't ask you to advertise me."
She stomped lightly."I-I wasn't advertising!"
Chen Wulian laughed."Let them know, Princess!"
Long Hao sighed.
Bai Qianlan quietly observed the Epic geniuses' reactions.Her cold gaze softened — very slightly — when it passed over Long Hao.
Vice-Dean Rui Jin observed the five prodigies with narrowed eyes.
"Ling Yifan ascending to Divine-tier…Bai Qianlan distorting space…Chen unlocking defensive plates…Ouyang's stability…And Long Hao…"
He squinted at Long Hao a bit longer.
"…something about him still feels wrong."
Long Hao smiled politely.
Rui Jin:Hmph."I'll figure you out later."
A shimmering light filled the chamber.
An ancient dragon soul swirled above.
Then—
THE DEAN stepped forward, sitting on a throne of condensed spiritual qi.
His presence silenced the world.
"Welcome," he said, "Top 10 of Azure Dragon Academy."
Even the Epic-tier geniuses knelt unconsciously under the pressure.
Only the Five Prodigies managed to stay standing — barely.
Long Hao didn't bow.He simply nodded respectfully.
The Dean's eyes flickered with hidden amusement.
The Dean raised his hand.
A sphere of soul-light appeared above the room.
"Each of you will come forward.I will examine your soul foundation."
All five kneeled and stepped forward one by one.
Jin Roulan entered the light —Her sword will manifested behind her."Soul strength adequate," the Dean said.
Mu Qingxun stepped in —Earth trembled under him."Stable. Good foundation."
Han Duwei nearly electrocuted himself."Chaotic, but promising."
Zhao Lanyue's spirit archer mark glowed softly."A precise soul. Rare."
Wang Junxie exploded flames everywhere.Rui Jin coughed."STOP SETTING THE FLOOR ON FIRE."
The Dean nodded."Fiery, but manageable."
All five were sweating — deeply humbled.
Then…
The Dean's gaze sharpened.
"Now for the ones the heavens favor."
The light froze.
Snowflakes materialized.Everything turned cold, quiet, divine.
The Dean nodded once.
"Divine soul. Pure. Stable."
Xue'er bowed slightly.
The light distorted.
Illusion petals drifted.Mirrors split into dozens of reflections.Even the Dean's chamber blurred for a second.
The Dean raised an eyebrow.
"Your soul is intricate…A difficult path, but powerful."
Bai Qianlan nodded silently.
The light thundered like a forging hammer.
Boom.Boom.Boom.
Spiritual plates manifested around him.
The Dean smiled.
"Ha! Rare to see someone whose soul is forging its own armor."
Chen grinned proudly.
The entire soul chamber exploded with light.
A divine spear appeared behind him.Dragons roared in the air.Space cracked.
Epic geniuses dropped to their knees.
Even Rui Jin's face twitched.
The Dean spoke solemnly:
"A newly ascended Divine soul.Stable. Fierce. Unyielding."
Ling Yifan bowed with warrior pride.
The Dean's eyes sharpened.
Long Hao stepped forward calmly.
The soul light touched him—
And suddenly—
Nothing happened.
No explosion.No distortion.No divine light.
Just…
A quiet, deep, endless darkness.Like the entrance of a forbidden abyss.
The Dean's eyes widened.
Vice-Dean Rui Jin leaned forward.
The Epic-tier geniuses held their breath.
The Dean whispered:
"…strange."
Long Hao blinked.
"What did you see, Dean?" Bai Qianlan asked.
The Dean smiled faintly.
"A mystery.A shadow.A path I cannot yet read."
Long Hao simply nodded.
Inside, his Eclipse System whispered:
[Soul Hidden Successfully][Deception Level: Absolute]
Perfect.
After all ten finished the test, the Dean stood.
The Dean rose from his throne.
"Now… hear this clearly."
The chamber shook with each word.
"In six months, the world will witness the Freshman Grand Prix."
Murmurs erupted.
The Dean raised his voice:
"This is NOT merely a competition between Azure Dragon Academy students."
Everyone froze.
"This is a war of pride between the continent's academies."
The Tournament Will Include:
Azure Dragon Academy
Vermillion Phoenix Academy
Dragon Turtle Academy→ The Three Great Academies
And—
FIFTEEN other major academies across the empire.
Shock rippled through the room.
Wang Junxie:"F-Fifteen more?!"
Zhao Lanyue:"There are monsters outside our academy too…?"
Han Duwei:"We've been fighting locals until now…?"
Mu Qingxun swallowed."That means… there are genius killers everywhere."
Jin Roulan whispered:"Are we even ready?"
Chen Wulian cracked his knuckles."GOOD! Let the other academies bring their monsters! I'll crush them!"
Bai Qianlan looked thoughtful."So this is the continent's true stage…"
Ling Yifan smirked."I will take first place."
Ouyang Xue'er smiled sweetly."I'll take first place too."
Both turned toward Long Hao.
Long Hao shrugged."I'll try a bit."
Vice-Dean Rui Jin threw his hands in the air.
"WHY do you talk like that before fighting 18 academies' top talents?!"
Ouyang Xue'er glared."That's why I need to train him!"
Bai Qianlan narrowed her eyes."He won't be alone."
Ouyang:"Huh?! Why would you train with hi—"
Long Hao walked away.Both girls chased him.
The Dean waved his sleeve.
"This meeting is concluded.Prepare well.The continent waits for your rise… or your fall."
The Top 10 bowed respectfully and exited the chamber.
When the doors closed—
The Dean exhaled.
"I didn't expect him to be that strong."
Vice-Dean Rui Jin raised an eyebrow.
"Which one?Ling Yifan's divine ascension was impressive."
"No."
"Ouyang Xue'er's divine stability?"
"No."
"Chen Wulian's armor? Bai Qianlan's illusions?"
The Dean shook his head.
"It's him."
Rui Jin stiffened.
"…Long Hao?"
The Dean stared toward the exit.
"That boy…He's hiding too much."
He closed his eyes.
"Too deep.Too silent.Too dangerous."
Rui Jin swallowed.
"So he might be—"
"Yes," the Dean whispered."He might become the greatest genius this generation has ever seen…"
A pause.
"…or its greatest calamity."
[CHAPTER ENDS]