The head examiner, quickly regaining his composure, nodded to Chu Yan. "Impressive. Now, please demonstrate your martial arts proficiency."
Chu Yan nodded, stepping forward to the center of the training hall. The air around him seemed to still as he drew his practice sword with a fluid motion, the polished steel glinting in the overhead lights. His movements were precise and controlled, every step deliberate as he assumed a starting stance.
Taking a deep breath, Chu Yan began the demonstration. His sword moved with an almost supernatural grace, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. Each stroke was executed with perfect precision, and the onlookers could see that his control over the blade was absolute.
He started with the foundational movements, each one flowing seamlessly into the next. It was clear that he had not only mastered the sword art but had pushed it to its very limits. As he progressed, his strikes became faster, more powerful, and yet still maintained an eerie precision. The energy he channeled into each movement made the blade seem almost weightless, as if it were an extension of his own body.
The examiners watched in awe as Chu Yan transitioned into more advanced techniques. His swordsmanship was a spectacle of speed, power, and finesse. The limit level of the sword art was known to be the pinnacle of mastery, where every movement was executed with such perfection that it seemed almost impossible to surpass.
For a moment, the hall was utterly silent, the examiners and students alike too stunned to speak. The display of skill they had just witnessed was nothing short of extraordinary.
The head examiner finally broke the silence, his voice carrying a note of genuine shocked. "Chu Yan, your proficiency in basic sword art has reached the limit level. This is an achievement rarely seen among students at your level. You have exceeded the requirements for this stage."
There was a collective intake of breath as the other students processed the examiner's words. The limit level was something that most martial artists only dreamed of attaining, yet Chu Yan, still a student, had already achieved it.
Among the students, Su Ming, Zhang Yu, and Li Fui exchanged looks of disbelief and admiration. They had known Chu Yan was strong, but this demonstration had revealed just how far beyond them he truly was.
Even Ouyang Feng, who prided himself on his own abilities, couldn't help but feel a mixture of respect and frustration. He had always seen Chu Yan as a rival, but today's demonstration made it clear that Chu Yan was on an entirely different level.
As Chu Yan stepped back, the other students in the hall began to murmur in hushed tones, their eyes following him with a mixture of awe and envy. He had not only met the requirements of the examination but had done so with a level of skill that left an indelible mark on everyone present.
"Chu Yan, that was incredible," Su Ming said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I've never seen anyone move like that."
Zhang Yu nodded in agreement. "I knew you were strong, but this… You've really out and out monster."
Chu Yan smiled bitterly," Compared with those geniuses in big cities, I'm still far off from so called 'monster'."
Li Fui, usually more reserved, became shocked. "To be honest, I never thought you could become shameless like that!"
Ouyang Feng, who had been watching quietly, finally stepped forward. He looked Chu Yan in the eye, his expression serious. "You've proven yourself today, Chu Yan. But the competition isn't over. As you say before, the cultivation realm doesn't represent overall strength."
Ouyang Feng, with his usual confident stride, walked to the center of the hall. Despite knowing that his cultivation was lower than Chu Yan's, he remained determined to prove his own strength.
The examiners nodded for him to begin, and Ouyang Feng closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on his inner energy. When he opened them, his aura began to radiate outward, revealing his cultivation level. The energy he projected was strong and steady, but it did not match the overwhelming power that Chu Yan had displayed earlier.
"Late-stage Third Layer of the Martial Artist realm," one of the examiners announced, nodding with a bit shock.
What going on with this school? One monster after another appear in the same place!
Based on previous year's records, it's already good for schools, especially No. 2 schools, to have Second-Layer Martial Artist realm students. Now, not only do they have a third-layer martial artist, they even have a freaking fourth-layer martial artist realm student!
There was a noticeable stir among the students. Though not as powerful as Chu Yan's Fourth Layer cultivation, Ouyang Feng's strength was still formidable. His cultivation level was impressive, considering he was still in the third-grade.
Without hesitation, Ouyang Feng unsheathed his sword, preparing to demonstrate his own mastery of the basic sword art. His movements were sharp and controlled, displaying his proficiency. Each strike was executed with precision, but there was a noticeable difference compared to Chu Yan's earlier demonstration.
While Ouyang Feng's technique was flawless, it was clear that his proficiency had not yet reached the limit level. Instead, his movements were at the perfection level—remarkably high, but not quite at the same peak that Chu Yan had achieved.
As Ouyang Feng concluded his demonstration, there was a brief pause before the head examiner spoke. "Your proficiency in the basic sword art has reached the perfection level," the head examiner stated, his tone respectful. "And your cultivation at the Late-stage Third Layer of the Martial Artist realm is impressive."
Ouyang Feng nodded, accepting the evaluation. Though he had performed exceptionally well, there was no denying the gap between him and Chu Yan. He returned to the sidelines, his expression contemplative as he processed the realization that Chu Yan had surpassed him.
'I thought this year will be the same, boring years as previous one. It seems like there will be interesting competition happen during this examination.'
Glancing at Ouyang Feng and Chu Yan's back, the head examiner smiled mysteriously.