The spaceship howled across the sky, crossing the vast, boundless ocean until it reached the very center of the Pacific. A colossal metal island stood upright in the ocean, appearing as a single entity—an island that was itself a building, with various spacecraft docked upon it.
"Esteemed customers, welcome to the Earth Cultivation Association. Today marks the start of the registration and assessment for Star Nation University and Cosmic University. Please queue up and enter in an orderly fashion!" An electronic voice echoed from the metal island.
The spaceship descended slowly.
The principal and the formidable homeroom teacher led Feng Lin and the other students from the gifted class as they stepped off.
"You take the others to the Star Nation University assessment point. Feng Lin and I will head to the Cosmic University assessment point!" The principal and the homeroom teacher divided the tasks succinctly.
Then, amid the envious gazes of his classmates, Feng Lin and the principal broke away from the crowd and walked alone toward the very center of the Earth Cultivation Association.
They moved swiftly, and in the distance, they saw a grand hall. Its door slid open silently and naturally.
Feng Lin and the principal stepped inside, and instantly, countless gazes pierced them like swords—filled with hostility, scrutiny, and mockery...
The place was already packed with people, bustling with activity, all wearing various tight-fitting uniforms, likely examinees from middle schools across Earth.
Feng Lin noticed with a start that every single person present was at least an interstellar cultivator, with formidable life force. A few auras mingled among them, giving him a strong sense of threat. Yet they deliberately concealed their life force, making it impossible to gauge their true strength.
He nodded to himself.
Truly a gathering of elites!
Earth, as humanity's home planet, indeed had its hidden depths.
For the Cosmic University registration assessment, elites from every corner of Earth had converged here, making the competition incredibly fierce.
Feng Lin realized that while his life force was strong, claiming to be the top young talent on Earth was still premature.
Interesting!
The more challenging it was, the more intrigued Feng Lin became. If he were to sweep through everything effortlessly, that would be truly dull!
The path of cultivation, breaking the shackles of human life, was inherently defying the heavens. Without a heart bold enough to press forward and fearless of challenges, how could one walk unwaveringly ahead? The greater the challenge, the more excited Feng Lin grew. The strength of his opponents would only spur him to grow faster.
Seeing Feng Lin unfazed, the principal nodded, gaining more confidence in him and decided to offer some guidance.
"See that group of white-skinned youths over there?"
Feng Lin followed his gaze and saw a group of white students, both male and female, with golden hair and blue eyes, standing together with stern expressions. A prominent white cross emblem on their uniform chests caught his eye.
"Those are students from Saint Cross Middle School. This school ranks in the top three on Earth and only admits white students. It inherits a high-level low-tier gene martial art called Holy Light Cross Fist, which uses purifying holy light in its techniques, delivering immense power—not to be underestimated!" the principal explained. Well-traveled and knowledgeable, he continued to clarify the backgrounds of all the examinees present.
"These are examinees from Antarctic Middle School. Though the school isn't highly ranked, around fiftieth on Earth, its inherited gene martial art, Frost Indestructible Body, can harness ice and snow to strengthen the physique, making it quite remarkable. Its techniques also carry freezing damage, catching you off guard!"
"Those lean examinees are from Vedic Middle School. They excel in ancient Indian yoga contortion arts. They may look frail, but they often possess the strength to toss an elephant. Be careful if you encounter them!"
"These are black examinees from Chieftain Middle School, skilled in gene martial arts derived from black witchcraft. Their abilities are bizarre and venomous, often with curse effects—quite terrifying!"
...
Feng Lin listened attentively, not underestimating anyone despite his superior life force compared to his peers. Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit! Moreover, these were the top examinees from various Earth middle schools; otherwise, they wouldn't dare apply to Cosmic University.
Just as the principal and Feng Lin were in perfect harmony—one teaching, one learning—a discordant voice rang out.
"Yosh! Huang-san, your Earth Middle School actually didn't sell off its slots this time, and you dare to have students apply for Cosmic University? That's truly a first in the world—how rare!" The voice was stiff and awkward, as if unaccustomed to speaking Chinese.
Clack, clack, clack!
A group of footsteps quickly approached, surrounding Feng Lin and the principal.
Interrupted while listening intently for no reason, Feng Lin frowned, deeply annoyed. He saw a group of Japanese people in kimonos and wooden clogs, surrounding them with ill intent.
"These are examinees from Yamato Middle School in the Japanese region. The school ranks tenth on Earth, specializing in gene martial arts derived from ninja secret techniques. Their abilities are bizarre and unpredictable, very troublesome!" the principal said, his face full of wariness and caution as he warned Feng Lin.
Feng Lin didn't raise his eyelids or say a word, unwilling to stir up trouble. As long as these petty annoyances didn't hinder him, he couldn't be bothered to even glance at them. But if they truly crossed him, he wouldn't back down, and he'd make them deeply regret it.
Principal Huang of Earth Middle School, being addressed directly by name, also wore a grim expression. As a school principal, if he swallowed his pride, how could he command respect later? He retorted, "Miyata Ryosaku, are you saying only Yamato Middle School's examinees can apply to Cosmic University, while Earth Middle School cannot?"
Feng Lin silently gave him a thumbs-up—well done!
The leading Japanese middle-aged man flew into a rage upon hearing this. "Baka! Our Yamato Middle School is a top-ten prestigious school on Earth—how can it compare to your lousy Earth Middle School? If you're smart, sell us your slot, and I'll give you one million star coins, so you don't waste this precious opportunity!..."
The Japanese blabbered on and on.
Feng Lin watched coldly, his eyes growing sharper, like blades. Hearing this Japanese guy repeatedly demanding to take his slot, and offering only a tenth of the star coins as if doing charity—was he mocking him?
With his Earth Middle School being so disparaged by this Japanese, Principal Huang's face turned even uglier. He snorted coldly, "That's none of your concern! I've already promised my student, and I won't go back on my word. This is our school's genius examinee, Feng Lin. He's already an official interstellar cultivator, and he may not be weaker than your Yamato Middle School's examinees!"
He firmly backed Feng Lin, revealing only his cultivation level, wisely keeping Feng Lin's true life force a secret.
The Japanese middle-aged man's face twitched, and he bared a malicious grin. "Souka! Though both are interstellar cultivators, there are still differences in life force. In that case, I'll help Huang-san properly test Feng Lin's mettle, so you don't waste that slot!"
The Japanese examinees behind him threw their heads back and burst into loud, arrogant laughter, their brazenness plain to see.
"Hattori Juzo!" the Japanese middle-aged man barked.
"Hai!" A short Japanese youth in a black tight-fitting suit stepped forward, his gaze on Feng Lin as venomous as a snake's, his pupils pitch-black, flickering with eerie light.
The next moment, he struck without warning, his hands forming seals rapidly, his eyes spinning like dark vortexes, devouring souls. "Ninja Secret Technique—Heart Decapitation Art!"
An icy, intangible wave spread over. Feng Lin's vision blurred, and all light vanished around him. The world seemed draped in a black curtain, utterly dark. A chill crept up his back, sharp and piercing, as if a guillotine were about to fall and behead him in one stroke, filling his heart with the terror of imminent death.
For a moment, Feng Lin stood motionless, as if utterly helpless. The Japanese crowed with glee, looking at him like a pitiful wretch about to die. Struck by this Heart Decapitation Art, even if he survived, he'd be half-dead. This kid was finished!
Hahaha...
"Mental illusion!" The principal gasped, realizing the dire situation. Mental trauma was the most terrifying; even if saved, the victim's spirit would be shattered, leaving them unable to use even a tenth of their full strength. He hadn't expected the Japanese to be so bold, using such despicable underhanded tactics to cripple Feng Lin, Earth Middle School's genius!
The principal was frantic, his eyes blazing with fury.
The conflict in the hall drew amused glances from examinees of other schools, who watched with relish, eager to see the drama unfold.
"Boring trick!" Feng Lin remained utterly calm, unfazed by the surrounding darkness. He knew it was just his optic nerves momentarily deceived by the mental illusion, creating a false perception of night. Using a mental illusion on someone who had awakened their spiritual gene—wasn't that like showing off before an expert? After all, the spiritual gene was an evolution of the mental gene. In terms of mental power, the spiritual gene was the ancestor of the mental gene!
A cold smirk curled at the corner of Feng Lin's mouth. He had no patience to waste on these Japanese. Since they'd struck with such ruthlessness, he wouldn't hold back either!
Boom!
Feng Lin's brow flickered, and his mental power surged out like a flood, instantly suppressing the Heart Decapitation Art. He found a gap in the opponent's sea of consciousness and forcefully squeezed in.
Ah!
A scream startled everyone.
Feng Lin's vision cleared in an instant, and he saw the once-arrogant Hattori Juzo writhing on the ground like a pig awaiting slaughter, clutching his head, blood streaming from his seven orifices, wailing in agony. The sound was so harrowing it sent chills down the spine.
This man had gone mad!
Feng Lin didn't spare him another glance. This guy had used a mental illusion, fully exposing his mental energy with no defense in his sea of consciousness. When Feng Lin's mental power, ten times greater, surged in, the backlash was bound to burst his head!
"Hattori-san! What's wrong with you?" Panic spread among the Japanese as they crowded around, only to see Hattori Juzo with white eyes, drool dripping from his mouth, completely catatonic.
Mental backlash!
The onlookers, all top geniuses from various schools, included many who recognized the technique. They quickly identified Feng Lin's method, their eyes filled with deep wariness. Mental illusions were intangible and hardest to defend against; if they ever became his opponents, they'd need to be careful.
Seeing their comrade crippled, the Japanese erupted in fury, charging at Feng Lin like a pack of rabid wolves and dogs, howling in rage.
"Baka! You dared to cripple Hattori-san—I'll make you pay with your life!"
"Kill this brat!"
"Mess with us Japanese, and no one gets off easy!"
...
The Japanese drew their katanas, the blades gleaming with sharp light, exuding a bloody, murderous aura.
Feng Lin stood his ground, unmoving, his internal power rapidly gathering like a volcano on the verge of eruption, ready to annihilate everything before him.
"Silence!" A deep shout rang out, and a massive wave of life force surged from afar like a turbulent sea, unstoppable, instantly quelling the chaos in the hall.
Clack!
Boots stomped on the floor as a burly general led a squad of elite soldiers into view. His eyes, as sharp and predatory as an eagle's, swept the crowd, and no one could meet his gaze.
Everyone's heart tightened, feeling like small, weak animals targeted by a hawk in the sky, filled with unease.