In Liu Ruyue's eyes, Lin Xuan was only here to pester her. The test was merely an excuse.
Sun Tian also walked over and said coldly, "What, still pestering her relentlessly? It's useless. I helped Liu Ruyue break through from the Fifth to the Sixth Grade in a single night. Can you do that?"
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted. What? Liu Ruyue had already reached the Sixth-Grade cultivation realm? That was unbelievable! They all looked on with envy.
Liu Ruyue proudly lifted her chin, while Lin Xuan sneered with disdain. The Sixth Grade? Is that supposed to be impressive? He didn't consider the Sixth Grade worthy of his attention at all.
"You fool!" Sun Tian raged. "Do you really think you're still that genius from back then? You're nothing but trash now!"
Liu Ruyue added coldly, "You're just a Third-Grade piece of trash. What right do you have to look down on my Sixth Grade?"
The others also frowned. "This kid is too arrogant. Does he really think he's the same genius he once was?" someone muttered.
"I bet he'll never reach the Sixth Grade in his entire life."
Lin Xuan stated flatly, "My cultivation is at the Seventh Grade."
What? The Seventh Grade? Upon hearing this, the crowd was once again in an uproar. Could his cultivation have been restored?
Liu Ruyue snapped angrily, "I'm begging you, can you please stop bragging? Three years ago, you were indeed at the Seventh Grade and the number one genius in Cloud Sea City. But things aren't what they used to be! Now, you're just a Third-Grade piece of trash. Stop dreaming, will you?"
So he was just bragging. Everyone suddenly understood. They had wondered how Lin Xuan's cultivation could have possibly been restored.
Sun Tian snorted coldly. "Trash like you has no right to stand with us. Someone, throw him out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a few people quickly approached Lin Xuan, looking ready to throw him out. But at that moment, a stern voice rang out, "Stop."
Immediately after, a middle-aged man walked in. He wore a white robe and exuded a natural air of authority. His appearance instantly quieted the hall. The men who were about to act froze and instead bowed in salute. "Greetings, Senior."
This middle-aged man was an elder from the Heavenly Dao Academy, and he was the one responsible for this examination. He said coldly, "The examination begins now. Line up in an orderly fashion for the assessment."
Upon hearing this, the youths in the hall automatically formed a line.
With a wave of his hand, the middle-aged man activated an Array. A stone stele rose from the ground. The black stele had nine stars on it, representing the nine cultivation realms from First to Ninth Grade. The first stage of the Heavenly Dao Academy's examination was a test of one's cultivation.
The middle-aged man announced, "This time, only those with a cultivation of Fifth Grade or higher will be considered qualified."
A murmur went through the crowd. Fifth Grade? Was the requirement really that high? Many faces fell in despair, though some remained confident.
The examination began.
"Zhang San, Third Grade. Unqualified."
"Li Si, Third Grade. Unqualified."
One after another, the disciples went up to be tested.
"Wang Wu, Fifth Grade. Qualified. Await the next round of assessment."
One by one, the youths went to test. The successful ones were ecstatic, while the failures hung their heads in frustration.
"Next!"
Soon, Liu Ruyue stepped forward. As she appeared, countless eyes fell upon her. Everyone wanted to see if she truly possessed a Sixth-Grade cultivation.
Liu Ruyue walked up to the stele and placed her palm on it. Circulating the Spiritual Power within her body, the light on the stele instantly lit up.
"Liu Ruyue. Sixth Grade. Qualified."
Hearing the elder's words, a smile touched the corners of Liu Ruyue's lips. The others, however, were in an uproar.
"Damn, she really is at the Sixth Grade!"
"That's incredible!"
"Three years ago, she was only at the Third Grade. To break through to the Sixth Grade in just three years is an incredibly fast cultivation speed."
"I bet she'll be able to join the Heavenly Dao Academy this time."
"She's going to soar to new heights!"
The crowd was green with envy.
Hearing their envious voices made Liu Ruyue even happier. She lifted her chin again, shooting a glance at Lin Xuan. He should recognize the reality of our situation now, right? We're no longer on the same level. I am a heavenly prodigy, and he is just trash.
"Next, Sun Tian," the elder's voice rang out.
As Sun Tian stepped out, the entire hall fell silent. Every eye was on him. He was the young master of the Alchemy Clan; surely his strength would be even greater.
"Sun Tian. Seventh Grade. Qualified."
At this announcement, the hall was plunged into a dead silence before erupting into an even greater uproar.
"The Seventh Grade! So high!"
"That's the highest result in the test so far!"
"It's probably the highest cultivation level among all the young disciples here."
"As expected of the young master of the Alchemy Clan!"
"He reached the Seventh Grade at only sixteen? His future is limitless!"
Everyone stared at Sun Tian, their eyes filled with utter envy. Martial Artists were divided into nine grades, with the First Grade being the lowest and the Ninth Grade the highest.
Sun Tian was immensely proud. He said with a wide smile, "It seems I am the number one genius of Cloud Sea City's younger generation."
"Number one genius? Ridiculous," Lin Xuan scoffed. "I reached the Seventh Grade when I was twelve. You dare call yourself a genius in front of me?"
Hearing this, the crowd suddenly remembered that Lin Xuan had indeed reached the Seventh Grade three years ago. In truth, he was the real number one genius.
"That was the past!" Sun Tian sneered. "Now you're just trash."
Liu Ruyue, standing to the side, chimed in, "You're trash now. You aren't even qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as Young Master Sun."
"Not qualified? Then open your eyes and watch me prove whether I am qualified or not." Lin Xuan strode toward the testing stele.
Is this kid really going to test? The people around began to murmur amongst themselves, none of them believing Lin Xuan could succeed.
Liu Ruyue shook her head. He's still living in the past, completely unable to accept reality. He's nothing but trash now. How could he possibly pass the test?
Sun Tian laughed coldly. He declared that not only would Lin Xuan fail to surpass him, but if Lin Xuan even managed to pass the test, he would eat the testing stele.
Lin Xuan took a deep breath and strode toward the testing stele. The confidence on his face stunned the onlookers. Could it be... does he actually have confidence? No, that's impossible.
The elder standing to the side sighed internally. He had heard about Lin Xuan's past and felt it was an immense pity. He worried this test might be the final blow that would completely crush the boy, leaving him with no way to ever recover.
Under the intense gaze of countless people, Lin Xuan stretched out his hand and placed it on the testing stele. The next moment, he channeled the Spiritual Power within his body.
BOOM.
The light on the testing stele flared to life.