Chapter 23: TOP5 Converge! The Talent War Begins!

Inside a speeding black sedan, Lin Ye accepted a business card. "Xu Feifei?"

"Allow me to introduce myself." Xu Feifei extended her hand. "I'm Director Liu Fang's assistant at Qingyang City's Education Bureau. Pleasure to meet you, Lin Ye!"

"Likewise, Assistant Xu." Lin Ye shook her hand briefly. "What brings you here?"

"Critical visitors demand your presence." Her tone remained neutral. "Your phone was off. I had to track you down."

"Visitors?" Lin Ye didn't ask how she'd located him at Thunder Martial Hall—for authorities, finding someone was trivial. He'd anticipated this. "Faster than I expected."

The Education Bureau's conference room glowed faintly gold through quantum-barrier reinforced glass, designed for high-tier Special Ability Holder negotiations. Director Liu Fang wiped sweat from his palms as he adjusted his tie for the third time—five pairs of eyes across the table wove an invisible energy net, thickening the air.

"Gentlemen, when was the last time we gathered like this?" Li Chongshan of Dragon Abyss Military University broke the silence first. The major's hawk-like gaze swept the room. 

(Dragon Abyss Military University feeds elites directly into the military.)

"Major Li, spare the pleasantries." Song Muzhou of Capital Jing University sipped tea, his buzzcut sharp as his tone. "We're all here for the same prize." The two had clashed for decades, their rivalry igniting instantly.

A long-haired man in gray robes shattered his teacup. Starvein Tea leaves ignited midair: "Save nostalgia for the graves! I'm here to claim the kid!" Tang Zhiqiang, recruitment director of Demon Capital University, lived up to his "Mad Tiger" moniker.

"Director Tang remains… spirited." The sole woman, Ren Keying of Celestial Pivot University, chuckled. Her jade-green robes draped curves that belied her lethality. "But stealing from Celestial Pivot requires our consent."

"All moot until the candidate speaks." Zhao Qiming of Imperial Capital University finally opened his eyes. "Why bicker prematurely?"

Beside Liu Fang, Principal Zhang Tianming massaged his temples. These five legends—each a titan in their domain—could crush his career with a word. That they'd gathered for one student? Unprecedented.

The conference door swung open. Lin Ye strode in behind Xu Feifei, his loose training clothes clinging to sweat-damp skin. Five pairs of eyes locked onto him like targeting lasers.

Principal Zhang Tianming rose hastily. "Lin Ye, meet Director Liu Fang of the Education Bureau." He gestured clockwise: "Director Zhao Qiming of Imperial Capital University, Colonel Li Chongshan of Dragon Abyss Military Academy…"

Lin Ye shook hands with glacial calm, black pupils unwavering under the suffocating aura of five Fifth-Tier Special Ability Holders. "Honored, Director Liu. Professors."

Zhao Qiming's brow lifted. Most graduates partied post-exams—yet this boy reeked of ozone and burnt tungsten from recent training. More impressively, he stood unbowed by their latent pressure. An Awakened resisting Fifth-Tier suppression? Unprecedented.

"You know why we're here." Zhao Qiming slid a rune-carved metal sphere across the table. "Your registered E-Class Static Control doesn't explain vaporizing a Bloodthirsty Ragebear. Care to retest?"

Lin Ye gripped the Ability Assessment Sphere. Energy shackles snapped around his wrists as ancient glyphs flared. The Nine Heavens Thunder Prison erupted uncontrollably—a primordial thunder beast's silhouette roaring within the lightning.

"Undocumented Special Ability detected. Rank: S-Class."

The room froze.

"S-Class." Li Chongshan broke the silence, voice taut. "This stays buried. One leak, and every nation's assassins swarm Qingyang."

Nods circled the table. S-Class Seeds were planetary treasures—and targets.

"Enough theatrics!" Tang Zhiqiang slammed the table. "Demon Capital University offers full Dragon Vein access and a Core Disciple slot!"