C25 The Spirit Rhino

After a heartfelt farewell,

Two days later, at the Central Square of Wood County City,

Early in the morning, Mentor Yanshan and his colleagues had already gathered.

As soon as Chen Yi and the fourteen other youths arrived, they were ushered onto the pre-arranged carriages and set off beyond the city limits.

Crowds had amassed along the streets, forming two lines to bid them farewell.

"Go for it, Young Master Chen Yi!"

"Young Master Chen Yi, you're our Wood County City's pride. You have to make it into South Wind Academy!"

...

Cheers and shouts filled the air, and Chen Yichao responded with warm smiles to each.

Wood County City, hosting the preliminary exams for Willow State East, saw only Chen Yi as a native among the fourteen who passed. The rest hailed from other cities, making him the village's beacon of hope.

The citizens of Wood County City were naturally rooting for him to conquer every challenge and secure a place at South Wind Academy!

And the chances of that happening were quite favorable.

For the first time in history, an Earth Grade Talent emerged from Willow State East, and it was in him. This filled the people of Wood County City with immense pride and confidence in his prospects at South Wind Academy.

However, not everyone shared this sentiment.

Take the Wang Family, for instance.

At that moment, Wang Sheng and other Wang Family seniors stood on a pavilion along the street, their faces clouded with gloom as they watched the popular Chen Yi depart.

This recruitment examination spelled utter defeat for the Wang Family.

They didn't just fail to pass the first round; they didn't even have a youth make it to the third. It was their worst performance in generations, largely because their protege, Wang Yun, couldn't participate.

But the one they blamed for their misfortune was Chen Yi!

Their bitterness and anger were squarely directed at him.

Wang Sheng watched Chen Yi's carriage disappear down the street and asked in a stern voice, "What's the status of our plan?"

Wang Hee answered, "We've made contact, and they've agreed to take action. However, it looks like we'll have to wait until the retests in Willow State City are over. Also, they're asking for a commission that's 30% above our initial budget!"

Wang Sheng watched as Chen Yi slowly vanished from view, his gaze resolute. "Thirty percent it is! No price is too high to eliminate this kid," he declared with conviction.

"I understand," Wang Hee responded with a nod.

Though he was reluctant to see such expenses incurred, the prospect of Chen Yi's potential growth was an even less desirable outcome. Indeed, should Chen Yi mature, it would spell catastrophe for the Wang Family.

...

"Wow, look at the size of that Spirit Beast!"

On the outskirts of Wood County City, a massive white rhino several meters in length sprawled out like a small hill.

The astonishment was palpable among the young passengers on the carriage, with exclamations echoing at the sight.

Mentor Yanshan, with a smile, informed them, "This creature is known as the Spirit Rhino, naturally endowed with a colossal build and remarkable agility. It can cover an average of ten thousand miles in a single day!"

"So that's the Spirit Rhino! I've read about it in the Spirit Beast Compendium!"

"I have as well. I've heard that many major trading firms favor it for transporting goods. Seeing it now, it's clear why they do!"

"With a build like that, I'd wager it could carry nearly a hundred people at once, right?"

...

This revelation sparked a flurry of conversation among the dozen or so youths.

Living in the eastern part of Willow State, even those from prominent families had their limits in worldly experience. The vastness of Willow State alone, let alone the entire Blue Cloud Realm, was beyond their travels. Having never ventured beyond the eastern territories of Willow State, their exposure to the wider world was understandably limited.

Thus, the sight of the Spirit Rhino, a common Spirit Beast throughout many regions of the Blue Cloud Realm, was met with wonder and amazement!

However, not everyone shared in this sense of novelty.

Take Chen Yi and Du Qianyan, for instance.

Chen Yi's past life experiences had long since elevated his perspective beyond the confines of the Blue Cloud Realm.

Du Qianyan, on the other hand, was not tied to any particular family from Willow State East. His sudden emergence, coupled with his exceptional talent, hinted at an extraordinary background.

"Alright, everyone aboard and ready to depart!" Mentor Yanshan commanded.

With a stomp, a surge of Spirit energy erupted beneath him, propelling him effortlessly onto the back of the Spirit Rhino.

The other seven mentors quickly followed his lead.

For the fourteen young men, the task at hand seemed deceptively simple.

The Spirit Rhino towered several meters tall, nearly five meters even while crouched. A Cultivator in the Meditation Stage typically had a jump reaching three or four meters at best. Clearly, this was a stretch.

Mentor Yanshan and others perched atop the rhino showed no inclination to assist.

The teens were savvy enough to recognize this as a trial set by their mentors.

Without hesitation, one youth steeled himself, pushed off the ground, and soared upwards. He nearly reached the rhino's back, but at the last moment, his ascent halted, and he plummeted to the ground.

A cloud of dust billowed up, leaving him coated in grime and looking rather disheveled.

Yet, his peers refrained from mockery, knowing they might fare no better.

Several attempts followed, each ending in failure.

"Bam!"

Suddenly, a figure shot up from the ground and, in a flash, landed on the Spirit Rhino's back.

"It's Du Qianyan!"

"He made it up!"

Du Qianyan, the youth with the enigmatic background, seemed to leap without effort, leaving many of his fellow youths stunned.

But the surprises were just beginning.

No sooner had Du Qianyan ascended than Bei Yu, unwilling to be shown up, propelled himself onto the rhino. Hu Zhen and Huang Loong were hot on his heels.

All eyes then turned to Chen Yi.

The youths with talents above Yellow Grade Level Nine had all made it, except for him.

Chen Yi didn't disappoint. With a mere tip-toe, he effortlessly sprang into the air and alighted on the rhino's back with casual grace.

His ease left the others with a bitter taste in their mouths.

They were all the same age—why was it so effortless for Chen Yi and not for them? Even those who had managed the jump watched him with grave expressions.

He barely touched the ground with his feet, using almost no force to spring into the air. They tried to imagine themselves doing the same, but it seemed like an incredibly difficult feat.

Even Mentor Yanshan and his peers were taken aback.

Typically, a Cultivator needs to firmly plant their feet on the ground to leap upward, using that resistance to propel themselves. Chen Yi made it look easy, leaping without any apparent effort, but in reality, it was a formidable challenge. Even for them, replicating such a feat with Chen Yi's effortless grace would be tough.

This single display was a testament to Chen Yi's extraordinary jumping prowess!

With his exceptional talent, formidable combat skills, and superior leaping ability...

It was astounding to find such a prodigy in Willow State East!

Mentor Yanshan and the others couldn't help but marvel, their smiles reflecting their amazement.

They were responsible for Willow State East, and the emergence of such a talented youth was a boon for them.

At the end of each recruitment assessment, South Wind Academy awarded points to the mentors based on the abilities of the students they brought in. The stronger the students, the more points the mentors received.

As Chen Yi's strengths became more apparent, their delight only grew!

Below, the determined youth kept trying despite his failures. After several attempts, two managed to clamber onto the rhino's back. The rest, no matter how hard they tried, couldn't succeed.

Witnessing this, Mentor Yanshan decided not to push them further. He simply had the Rhino Stomp its foot, generating a shockwave that bounced all the youths onto its back.

Caught off guard, the youths landed in a heap, with two of them ending up headfirst, as if they were diving into the rhino's back. Thankfully, the rhino's back was soft enough to prevent injury.

Despite avoiding harm, their appearances suffered greatly.

Their earlier trials had left them with clean, neat appearances. Now, they were covered in dust and grime, their clothes torn and ragged, resembling nothing less than a band of beggars.

The stark contrast dealt the young hopefuls a significant blow.

They had dreamt of making a name for themselves in Willow State, basking in endless acclaim!

Yet, this was merely a minor challenge casually set by Mentor Yanshan and his colleagues, and it had left them in disarray. Observing the ease of Chen Yi and his companions, a bitter taste filled their mouths.

Making a name in Willow State...

Their aspirations had been far too naive!

Mentor Yanshan had observed the demeanor of each youth. Without much commentary, he prompted the Chasing Spirit Rhino into action, steering towards Willow State City.

He had orchestrated this modest trial to confront the youths with the harshness of reality, to spare them a greater shock during the more rigorous examination ahead. That future setback could prove far more devastating than what they had just experienced.

He had witnessed countless youths crumble under such pressure.

Though resilience was a matter of personal fortitude, Mentor Yanshan had no desire to see the individuals he had scouted fall apart during the trials. His own reputation mattered little; what he couldn't bear was to see young lives shattered so early.

Failing to gain entry to South Wind Academy didn't equate to a lack of strength. In fact, clearing the preliminary tests already indicated a measure of potential. Even if they didn't become exceptionally powerful Cultivators, qualifying as competent ones was well within reach.

Mentor Yanshan couldn't stand the thought of a promising youth being undone by a single entrance exam. Despite the slim chances of these candidates becoming his students, he remained committed to nurturing them throughout the selection process.

The youths were unaware of his thoughts, but the seven mentors present understood clearly, and it was precisely why they held Mentor Yanshan in such high regard.

Mentors of his caliber were becoming a rarity. Many would dismiss those unlikely to be admitted to the academy. After all, such students offered no benefit to them. Yet, knowing this, Mentor Yanshan still chose to extend his protective care. This alone marked him as an exemplary mentor!

And he was, without a doubt, a model for them to emulate.

The seven mentors gazed upon the group of young aspirants before them, a sense of admiration stirring within. "To be chosen by Mentor Yanshan is indeed a stroke of fortune for these youngsters!" they mused.