C22 The Talent Shocked the Entire Audience.

"Old Bei, you've kept your cards close to your chest!"

As the assembly of family heads watched the black-clad youth on the stage below, their eyes inevitably drifted towards a white-haired elder in the pavilion.

He was the head of the Bei Family, a major clan in the eastern region of Willow State.

That youth, Bei Yu, was a scion of the Bei Family!

In response to the scrutinizing looks from the other Patriarchs, the white-haired elder simply offered a faint smile, his expression betraying little excitement.

Bei Yu was a prodigy whom the Bei Family had been grooming in secret for years. They had hoped to unveil his talent during this recruitment exam and take everyone by surprise. However, the emergence of another with Profound Grade talent had preempted their plans. While the presence of Profound Grade talent was still awe-inspiring, it was no longer exclusive, which somewhat soured the mood of the Bei Family's Patriarch.

His discontent was shared by the other family heads in the arena, particularly those who had painstakingly cultivated geniuses of Yellow Grade Level Nine, all wearing somber expressions.

They had all harbored ambitions of their young charges making a grand impression at the recruitment exam, but now the spotlight had been stolen by two individuals with Profound Grade talent.

"Huang Loong, Yellow Grade Level Nine, pass!"

Just then, another announcement rang out.

A youth in yellow looked dejectedly at Bei Yu, the black-clad youth on the adjacent stage.

Huang Loong hailed from the Huang Family, another prominent household in Willow State East.

With his Yellow Grade Level Nine talent, he had expected to rank among the top contenders in this year's enrollment. Yet, out of nowhere, two anomalies with Profound Grade talent had appeared. To make matters worse, one was in his very cohort. The crowd's focus was entirely on Bei Yu, leaving Huang Loong feeling utterly overlooked.

At the peak of his youthful pride, his current state of vexation was palpable.

Conversely, Mentor Yanshan, perched in the pavilion above, was delighted by the turn of events.

He had thought this year's recruitment in Willow State East might yield little in the way of talent, but to his pleasant surprise, he found himself presented with an unexpected bounty.

Two individuals with Third Grade Profound talent, and three with Ninth Grade Yellow talent... What a delightful turn of events!

"Crash!"

Mentor Yanshan was deep in thought when suddenly the sound of a teacup shattering pierced the air.

He turned, puzzled, to see what had happened.

The Bei family patriarch was visibly shaking, his eyes bulging as he stared intently at something below.

"Hmm?"

With a furrowed brow, Mentor Yanshan followed his gaze downward.

And when he saw what the patriarch was looking at, his own eyes widened in disbelief.

"This... This..."

The other patriarchs on the balcony quickly gathered to see what had caused such a commotion, their mouths agape, faces etched with astonishment.

There stood Chen Yi, clad in white, his demeanor serene as he lightly touched the crystal ball. And on the crystal ball, four words blazed forth, searing into the eyes of all present.

Third Grade Earth Grade!

Those four words alone plunged the previously bustling room into a stunned hush.

Everyone's mouths hung open.

Earth... Earth Grade?

Could it be?

Were they seeing things?

This... This is Earth Grade?

Many rubbed their eyes in disbelief, only to look again and find the same four words on the crystal ball.

They hadn't been mistaken!

It was indeed the Earth Grade!

Chen Yi, the young lord of the Chen family, possessed an Earth Grade Talent!

"Wow!"

A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd.

If a Profound Grade Talent was a rarity in the East of Willow State, then an Earth Grade Talent was unheard of for centuries.

"Yi!"

Atop the balcony, Chen Shanheng trembled with excitement at the sight.

Though he knew Chen Yi was a skilled Pharmacist and wouldn't lack talent, he had never imagined it would be of the Earth Grade!

This was Earth Grade Talent!

Forget Willow State, such a talent might be scarce even across the entire South Wind Empire!

"Excellent! Truly excellent! Exceptionally so!"

After a moment of stunned silence, Mentor Yanshan regained his composure, exclaiming with fervor, his face alight with wild joy.

Earth Grade!

This was the Earth Grade!

He could have never anticipated that in a modest place like Willow State East, he would encounter an Earth Grade Talent. It seemed the heavens were indeed smiling upon him!

As mentors at South Wind Academy, there's a clear hierarchy among them.

The more senior the mentor, the greater their authority and access to cultivation resources within the academy.

Currently, Mentor Yanshan is teetering on the brink of advancing to the next level. Just a few more Mentor Points, and he'll ascend the ranks. Yet, he hadn't expected his trip to Willow State East to yield any points. He had already scoped out the young talent in this region during previous recruitments.

But to his surprise, this batch brought an unexpected delight!

Beyond the two with Profound Grade Talent, there emerged one with Earth Grade Talent... If he could bring them all back to the academy, the Mentor Points he'd earn would be more than enough for his promotion!

"Head of the Chen family, you've kept quite the secret!"

The other family heads turned to Chen Shanheng, their eyes wide with wonder, "An Earth Grade Talent—your son's potential is boundless!"

They had thought Old Bei of the Bei family had kept a tight lid on things, but the Chen family's secret was even more profound...

An Earth Grade Talent!

How on earth did the Chen family nurture such a prodigy?

Confronted with their astonishment, Chen Shanheng could only offer a wry smile.

What secret could he possibly keep? He himself was in the dark about Chen Yi's true talent. This revelation of Earth Grade Talent had taken him by surprise as well.

Yet, the awe in the other family heads' voices did bring him a measure of satisfaction.

While Chen Shanheng basked in their admiration, Wang Sheng's mood was the polar opposite—dark and stormy.

Who could be the least accepting of Chen Yi's displayed Earth Grade Talent?

Undoubtedly, Wang Sheng.

Putting aside his deep-seated hatred for Chen Yi, the longstanding feud between the Chen and Wang families was reason enough. Should Chen Yi rise to prominence, it would spell disaster for the Wang family.

He couldn't fathom Chen Yi showing any future mercy to his family.

"This little wretch must be dealt with!"

Wang Sheng's gaze hardened as he watched Chen Yi below, his resolve steeling.

In the arena, amidst the gasps and murmurs of the crowd, Chen Yi's face was the picture of serenity.

The outcome had been anticipated by him all along. The recent cleansing of his body with medicinal liquids was not in vain. His only limitation was his current physical weakness; otherwise, his test results would have been even more impressive. Nevertheless, achieving Earth Grade status in the eastern region of Willow State was quite an accomplishment. He had reached the goal he set out to achieve.

In his past life, the Life Devouring Blood Insect had caused Chen Shanheng endless worry on his behalf. Now, reborn, he intended to let Chen Shanheng bask in the limelight.

"Chen Yi, Earth Grade, Third Grade, pass!" The mentor beside him finally snapped out of his daze, announcing the result with palpable excitement.

Having been a mentor for many years, this was his first encounter with a youth possessing Earth Grade Talent!

Chen Yi, however, remained unaffected by the mentor's enthusiasm, descending from the platform with a serene demeanor. As he moved, the arena's many eyes followed, his display of Earth Grade Talent instantly turning him into the focus of everyone present.

Bei Yu, standing nearby, couldn't hide his displeasure. Those admiring glances were meant for him! His Profound Grade Talent would have stood out in any other recruitment assessment, but now, it was eclipsed by Chen Yi's Earth Grade Talent, leaving him feeling bitter and resentful.

But Chen Yi was indifferent to Bei Yu's animosity, simply returning to his spot with a composed face. His three hundred years of past experiences had instilled in him a tranquil disposition, impervious to most disturbances—except, perhaps, for certain events or particular individuals.

Following Chen Yi's performance, the remaining youths completed their tests in quick succession. The first round's results soon became clear.

While not quite reaching into the thousands, the number of young men and women who had signed up was certainly over a thousand. Yet, after this round, over eighty-five percent were eliminated. Only a little over one hundred and twenty individuals, those who had achieved at least Sixth Grade Yellow Rank, remained.

Despite anticipating a rigorous selection process, the actual sight of such a drastic culling elicited a collective intake of breath from the crowd.

This was merely the first round, with two more rounds of assessment yet to come!

The initial phase of the assessment typically consists of three rounds. We've just completed the first. Now, the second round is about to unfold before us all.

Seven mentors converged on a platform, positioning a formation plate at its center. They simultaneously executed hand seals, channeling energy into the plate. A visible layer of transparent energy radiated outward, swiftly encompassing the entire platform.

It formed a clear, frame-like barrier around the platform.

From the loft, Mentor Yanshan timely addressed the group, "We now proceed to the second round of the preliminary examination, which will test your endurance and willpower. The platform now features a suppressive array that exerts both gravitational and mental pressure. Upon entering, you'll first encounter the physical challenge of gravity. If you withstand that, mental pressure awaits. Endure the array's crushing force for over fifteen minutes, and you'll pass!"

"Should you find it unbearable, call out. Don't overexert yourself, as you'll be responsible for the consequences!"

With a sweeping gesture, Mentor Yanshan commanded, "Now, all the young participants who passed the first round, step onto the platform!"

The hundred-plus youths who had cleared the first round promptly ascended the platform. Despite being encircled by a substantial-looking ring of transparent energy, it posed no obstruction. They passed straight through.

The platform, a hundred meters in both length and width, easily accommodated the group without feeling crowded.

"Everyone, sit down cross-legged!"

At Mentor Yanshan's command, the youths uniformly took their seats.

Mentor Yanshan then gave a nod to the seven mentors stationed below the platform. They caught his cue and, with synchronized hand seals, the transparent energy frame on the platform began to undulate.

Those within could distinctly sense the gravity around them intensifying at a tangible rate.

Pressure mounted quickly, escalating with each passing second. Before long, many of the youths began to struggle.

Within two minutes, some were visibly pale, drenched in sweat, their bodies trembling.

“I… I can’t go on!!”

A youth cried out, his face ashen.

Instantly, a mentor leapt onto the platform and escorted the overwhelmed youth away.

The South Wind Empire was known for its prestigious South Wind Academy, where Wang Sheng of the Wang Family studied. He was deeply involved in the research of the Blood Venomous Insect, particularly the Life Devouring Blood Insect, a Sixth Grade creature feared by many.