Chapter 37: The Test is Over
"Ha—!" A fiery roar echoed through the square as flames roared to life.
The dragon claw, covered in red scales, swiped through the air, clashing violently against the gleaming Seven Killing Sword. The claws, sharp as daggers, clenched tightly, disregarding the sword's piercing edges as blood dripped steadily from the gash in the palm.
"You crazy girl," Chen Junting muttered, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face.
With a sudden forceful motion, he swung his left hand, smashing it against the dragon claw. The collision of soul power felt like a fiery explosion—blazing and sharp at once—as flames and sword energy erupted outward, scorching the air between them.
Without warning, he shifted his weight, and the Seven Killing Sword, momentarily caught in the dragon's grip, wrenched free. The sharp blade tore through the dragon's scales, its piercing edge biting into the hardened flesh as a wave of soul power surged, magnifying the attack's devastating impact.
"Bang!"
Wu Feng staggered back as the sword was forced from her grasp. The shockwave from the clash sent her sprawling, and before she could recover, a sharp, cold pressure bore down on her chest—Chen Junting's sword hovered at the tip of her nose, a silent testament to his dominance.
Mu Jin's voice broke the tension. "Alright, it's over."
As the words left her lips, white petals rained down from the sky, landing softly on Wu Feng's wounds. Instantly, the blood ceased flowing, and the gashes began to heal, leaving no trace of the earlier injury.
"You lost again," Mu Jin remarked, her tone matter-of-fact. "You only used your first soul skill."
"What else could I do?" Chen Junting shrugged, clearly unbothered by the outcome. With that, he turned and stepped off the stage, leaving Wu Feng to reflect on her defeat. She was the last student of Class Nine to participate in the practical test.
The test results were in, and after five rounds of intense battles, only the final endurance test remained.
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The afternoon sun blazed high in the sky as Mu Jin gathered the class in the central square. But the moment they stepped onto the open ground, a strange weight pressed down on them, and their bodies seemed to sink slightly into the ground.
"Is this some sort of soul power pressure?" Wu Feng mused, sensing something unfamiliar in the air.
"Could be," Chen Junting responded, eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation. He had already pinpointed the difference between this pressure and the familiar energy suppression of soul power. "No, this isn't a soul guide. It's a soul skill."
As the middle-aged man beside Mu Jin raised his hand, a subtle black soul ring flickered beneath his feet, confirming their suspicions.
"Is this a gravity control skill?" Ning Tian speculated, already piecing together the puzzle.
Chen Junting was quick to correct her, "Not quite. Gravity in such a vast area? That's a domain-type soul skill. This is a simple gravity-enhancing technique."
Mu Jin gave a nod of acknowledgment and addressed the class. "Today's endurance test will be a long-distance run, but with a twist—you'll be running under the influence of enhanced gravity. And no using martial spirits, soul bones, or soul guides. The test will measure your stamina and determination."
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The students hesitated at first, but soon, most of them began to adapt to the added weight. The air grew heavier with every step they took, and their bodies sank under the weight of an unseen force.
At first, the heavier gravity felt manageable. A few students laughed and joked, feeling confident. But soon, that confidence began to fade as the minutes stretched on. The strain began to show.
It wasn't long before some of the weaker students stumbled and collapsed. Mu Jin quickly dispatched them with a packet of herbs and a piece of paper, allowing them to leave the square and rest.
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By the end of the test, the only student still standing was Chen Junting.
The middle-aged man, standing beside Mu Jin, couldn't hide his surprise. "I didn't expect Class Nine to have such a prodigy," he commented with genuine admiration.
Mu Jin accepted the compliment with a small smile. "Chen Junting is indeed impressive. But there are more talented students in our class than just him," she replied, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
The conversation shifted, and Mu Jin soon learned about Xie Huanyue from Class Two, and Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu from Class Five. The mention of the Zhu Family and the White Tiger Duke's Mansion immediately piqued her interest.
"Could there really be a martial soul fusion technique?" she thought, her mind racing. While the idea intrigued her, Mu Jin's attention was quickly refocused on Chen Junting, whose progress was far more pressing at the moment.
With the test completed, the students gathered to receive their results. Chen Junting's six-dimensional score, written on a piece of paper, was handed to him. As he read through it, his eyes glimmered with pride. His scores were the highest in every category—no surprise there. However, at the bottom of the sheet, a special note from Mu Jin caught his attention.
"This training method is for reference only."
Wu Feng read the note aloud, prompting a few chuckles from the group. Chen Junting's laugh was low and almost mocking as he glanced at Wu Feng. "Insightful, isn't it?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Wu Feng's eyes narrowed in frustration, but she held back, not willing to escalate the teasing further.
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Later, back in the dormitory, Chen Junting handed out another set of herbs—these ones top-tier, far superior to the ones Mu Jin had given. Dugu Xin, recognizing the quality, smiled wryly. "These are rare, even by our standards," he said, making no attempt to hide his amusement.
"It's nothing," Chen Junting replied nonchalantly. "You're all teammates now. Sharing is part of the deal."
Despite the calmness in his words, the students couldn't help but feel the weight of his generosity. Dugu Xin couldn't help but chuckle, remembering his sect's abundance. To them, these herbs were commonplace. But to the rest, they were a prized commodity.
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Over the next few days, Mu Jin's training intensified. The exercises were grueling, but with every passing day, the students in Class Nine could feel themselves growing stronger. Though the training was difficult, no one gave up. Each test, each moment of suffering, became a stepping stone towards greater strength.
And through it all, Chen Junting, who had once been the focus of suspicion, emerged as an undeniable leader. His power and wisdom were becoming increasingly clear to all.
Meanwhile, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Huo Yuhao continued their training under Chen Junting's guidance. Though their improvements were subtle, Huo Yuhao's progress in spiritual detection was nothing short of remarkable—his range now extended to an impressive fifty meters.
As the days wore on, Class Nine began to solidify their place in the academy, each student carving their own path toward greatness.
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(End of Chapter)
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