The Lindao Royal Arena was a cauldron of auditory chaos, where thousands of spectators were crammed into the stands like sardines, their voices merging into a deafening, collective roar as they awaited the arrival of the Lindao Royal Family. Tradition dictated that a member of the bloodline must inaugurate the ceremony, a solitary remnant of dignity permitted by their Sky Lord overlords. Down on the sands, the atmosphere was thick with palpable tension. "The competition permits precisely three hundred and sixty participants," Mulo whispered, elucidating the logistics to Xan. "Fifty slots are reserved for the Royal Guard School, ten are allocated to the Lindao Magical Orphanage, and the remaining three hundred positions are contested by the general populace based on rank and age." "And if the applicant pool exceeds three hundred?" Xan inquired, surveying the sea of cultivators comprising thousands of youthful hopefuls. "Then the Academy administration adjudicates who remains and who departs," Mulo replied with a nonchalant shrug. Xan scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "What an imbecilic regulation; observing this chaotic mob, I highly doubt the administration possesses the competence to resolve this without inciting a riot."
FLASH! The heavens suddenly ruptured, and a brilliant luminescence illuminated the arena, silencing the multitude instantly. A figure descended from the firmament, levitating upon a nimbus of Qi, clutching a glowing golden scroll—the Attendants List. Xan scrutinized the adjudicator; he was a striking individual whose hair was styled in a complex, flowing manner reminiscent of ancient Japanese warriors yet infused with a modern flair, while a neatly trimmed, dignified beard framed his jawline. His attire was the most eccentric component—a formal fusion of sixteenth-century Persian intricate patterns and traditional Chinese flowing robes. The Judge hovered mid-air, his voice projecting with crystal clarity sans amplification. "Esteemed participants, I request that you form a single file along the perimeter of the field; you will enter the Inspection Room individually." Upon concluding his directive, he vanished—teleporting instantaneously.
The multitude obeyed, coalescing into a massive, serpentine queue. As they shuffled forward, Mulo leaned in, utilizing his spiritual sense to identify the heavyweights. "Master Wang, observe the third row, the individual with horns," Mulo whispered tensely. "That is Huo Dinlo, a prodigy of the Dragon Clan who has already attained the Divine Realm, Third Stage." Xan glanced at the man, noting that Huo Dinlo radiated an arrogant, scorching thermal energy, his dermis covered in faint scales. "And adjacent to him," Mulo continued, indicating a figure of ethereal beauty with slit pupils, "is the Mystic Fox; I am ignorant of his true nomenclature, but he is the Young Master of the Heavenly Fox Clan, residing at the Mystic Realm, Ninth Stage—merely one step from the Divine Realm." "Exercise caution regarding them," Mulo warned. "They are the favored contenders." Xan nodded, unimpressed but cataloging their strength, before his gaze drifted to more exotic entities. "Mulo, what of those? Is that a... Time Crocodile? And a Space Ostrich?" Standing in the queue were two hulking beast-men: one resembling a humanoid crocodile bearing an hourglass symbol on its chest, the other a massive, avian humanoid with distorted spatial ripples warping the air around its wings. "Affirmative," Mulo confirmed. "Although they possess rare and potent Elements—Time and Space—their cultivation is deficient, hovering between the Heaven Realm Fourth and Seventh stages; they shall pose no threat to you."
"Excellent," Xan mused. "So among the Creature Clans, only the Dragon, Heavenly Fox, and Holy Lion are genuine threats; what of the Mutated Ones?" "Refuse," Mulo stated dismissively. "Though their numbers are substantial, their genetic instability imposes a ceiling; none surpass the Mystic Realm Third Stage." As Xan and Mulo conversed, a commotion erupted near the Inspection Room. "What is the meaning of this?!" a shrill voice shrieked. "I am twenty-five! How can this apparatus claim I am two thousand years old?! It is defective!" Xan observed the screaming individual, one of the Mutated Ones—a grotesque hybrid of human and avian features sporting a yellow beak and mismatched wings he claimed were "Phoenix." The Royal Guards looked bored as the Heavenly Age Calculator—a massive crystal archway—glowed bright crimson, displaying the numeral [2003 Years]. "Do you comprehend my identity?!" the Chicken-Man squawked, flapping his wings. "I am a scion of the Phoenix Clan!" "Guards," the Judge's voice resonated from within. "Eject this blockhead from the Academy." "Affirmative!" Two burly guards seized the mutant by his wings and dragged him across the stone floor as he continued to scream. They tossed him through the main gates like a sack of refuse. "Hmmph," Huo Dinlo sneered, a dark, arrogant smile playing on his lips. "First place is mine this year; too much trash attempting to ascend the ladder."
"Next candidate!" the guard bellowed. It was Xan's turn. "It is your turn, Wang," Mulo said, stepping back. "Master Wang, fortune be with you; I shall observe from the stands, as non-participants are forbidden from interacting with candidates until the competition concludes." Xan nodded once, adjusted his jacket, calmed his respiration, and stepped into the Inspection Room. The chamber was cool and dimly lit, smelling of ozone and sterilized metal; several guards stood like statues along the walls, while a single Examiner sat behind a long stone table covered in strange instruments. "Greetings," Xan said politely, bowing slightly. The Examiner, a middle-aged man with thick spectacles and a bored expression, did not look up from his scroll. "Greetings, esteemed participant," he droned mechanically. "We proceed according to protocol; first, verification of bone age. Place your hand upon the Heavenly Age Crystal." He indicated a smooth, transparent sphere glowing with faint blue light. Xan stepped forward and placed his palm firmly on the cool surface. Hummm. The crystal vibrated, calculating the biological age of his skeletal structure and soul signature.
[25]
The number floated in the air in bright green numerals. "Hoo," the Examiner exhaled, finally looking up. "You are precisely on the limit; one year senior, and you would have faced disqualification. You pass. Now, we measure your Cultivation Realm." The Examiner retrieved a fist-sized crystal from a velvet-lined box that pulsated with deep crimson light, resembling a solidified heart. "This is a Blood Origin Crystal," he explained. "It measures the purity and density of your Qi through your bloodline; deposit exactly one drop of blood onto the surface." Xan nodded. "Understood." He raised his right index finger, focused his Inner Qi, and forced a tiny, sharp burst of energy to slice a small cut. A single drop of blood welled up—dark red to the naked eye, yet seemingly absorbing the ambient light, heavier than mercury. Drip. The drop fell onto the crystal. For a second, nothing happened; the Examiner leaned in, bored.
Then, the room exploded with chromatic violence. FLASH! The crystal did not turn the standard red or blue; first, it blazed with blinding Golden light—the aura of his Divine Essence—then was instantly swallowed by pitch Black void—the Void Dragon Bloodline—followed by pure White—the power of Life and Creation—and finally, a deep, violent Red—the Ancient God's Killing Intent. CRACK. A spiderweb fracture appeared in the center. "What?" the Examiner whispered. SHATTER! The fist-sized crystal exploded into fine dust, scattering across the table. The room went dead silent. "Impossible!!!" the Examiner yelled, eyes bulging. "That was a High-Grade Origin Crystal! It withstands Peak Mystic Realm pressure! Try again! You must have sabotaged it!" He frantically pulled another crystal. "Touch this one!" Xan sighed internally, realizing this would be expensive. He touched the second stone. Gold. Black. White. Red. CRACK. BOOM. Dust. "Again!" the Examiner shrieked, sweat pouring down his face. BOOM. "Again!" BOOM. Xan stood calmly watching the Examiner descend into madness as one by one, the priceless crystals were reduced to sparkling powder. By the twelfth crystal, the table was covered in magical dust worth a small fortune. The Examiner stood trembling, holding the empty box, realizing this wasn't sabotage; the boy's blood was simply too heavy for the laws of this world to measure. "Guard!" he screeched, voice cracking. "Summon Lady Marta! Immediately! We have a critical anomaly!" "Yes, sir!" One guard activated a movement technique, blurring and vanishing instantly to locate the Academy Goddess. Xan rubbed the back of his neck, surveying the debris. "So much for maintaining a low profile," he mused.