Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Today is the day of the entrance examinations for Jixia Academy and Jingwei Dao Academy, and the entire capital city is in an uproar over the event.

Teahouses and taverns along the street are open all night long, and window seats next to the university have already been sold at exorbitant prices, yet they are still hard to come by.

Inside the Shun'an Inn, Wang Xiao and his two companions got up very early.

After a simple breakfast downstairs, the portly shopkeeper, who usually stayed at the counter doing accounts, was unusually free today. He personally saw them to the door, smiling and saying, "Gentlemen, I wish you all the best in your endeavors."

"Thank you for your kind words, shopkeeper." Zhou Qian returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

The three stood in front of the inn, the morning breeze slightly cool, gently brushing their robes.

Changqian Street was already teeming with people. Poor students carrying books, cultivators with long swords at their waists, and scions of noble families dressed in brocade robes—all sorts of people were rushing in the same direction.

"Then... shall we part ways here?" Wang Xiao and Zhou Qian looked at Xie An.

"Yes, let's each do our best." Xie An extended his palm.

Wang Xiao and Zhou Qian headed north to Jixia Academy; Xie An headed south, crossing the street to Jingwei Dao Academy.

Generally speaking, studying formations and devoting oneself to martial arts training both require a huge amount of energy and time, so very few people can cultivate both paths at the same time.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the two universities hold their entrance exams at the same time.

However, if a student successfully enters one of the top universities, and later develops an interest in another path of cultivation and also possesses exceptional talent, the academy will not obstruct them. As long as they pass a special assessment, they are allowed to "develop in multiple areas."

Su Qinhe is just like that.

It must be said that the admission methods of these two top universities are unique and exude an air of dominance.

No registration is required; anyone who comes will be accepted. As long as you step through the gates of the university, the assessment will begin immediately.

Upon closer examination, it makes perfect sense. This is a vital area of ​​the capital; who would dare to provoke such a powerful figure?

The entry requirements set by the two universities are the most stringent first screening criteria.

To enter Jixia Academy, one must possess the cultivation level of the Dragon Gate Divine Realm, a height that countless cultivators cannot reach even after a lifetime of effort.

But here, such cultivation level is merely the qualification for entry.

The area in front of Jixia Academy was already packed with people, with a long queue winding all the way from the vermilion main gate, extending westward along Dongchangqian Street, with no end in sight.

Wang Xiao stood at the end of the line and roughly counted that there were at least tens of thousands of students who had come to take the exam.

The competition is incredibly fierce, with only one in ten thousand being chosen.

"Look, the Ye family is here!" A commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd.

Wang Xiao looked in the direction of the sound and saw three figures walking slowly towards the end of the long street.

Leading the way were a man and a woman. The man was tall and slender, dressed in a moon-white robe with light blue cloud patterns embroidered on the hem. His robe fluttered as he walked, exuding unparalleled elegance.

He had a handsome and refined appearance, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like bright stars, a straight and sharp nose, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth, giving people a sense of calm and detachment.

Yet beneath this composure lies an invincible air of dominance, as if nothing in the world could make him frown or anyone could move him.

The woman beside him was even more captivating at first glance.

A long purple dress trailed on the ground, its hem spreading like clouds, making her look like an ethereal fairy who had stepped out of an ancient scroll painting.

Her figure is perfectly proportioned and graceful; any increase would make her plump, any decrease would make her slender, like the most perfect masterpiece created by nature.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, swaying gently in the cool morning breeze.

Her bright eyes were clear as stars set in white jade, yet they held a chilling indifference that kept people at a distance.

Her skin was fair and smooth like solidified jade, crystal clear and without a single blemish.

Wang Xiao had seen quite a few stunning women: Yan Zixi was alluring and captivating, Su Qinhe was elegant and refined like a secluded orchid in a valley, Miss Mulan was bold and courageous, and Yun Qingyao was aloof and cold like a snow lotus on an iceberg.

But the woman in front of him gave him a completely different feeling.

It was a kind of icy and cold feeling, unrelated to her cultivation level, more like a suppression inherent in her bloodline.

The moment we met eyes, she felt like an older sister.

Yes, it's that kind of fear a boy has of his older sister. No reason is needed, no explanation is needed, he's just afraid.

"Why is Young Master Ye Xin walking at the back? The two people in front of him are of even higher status than him?" someone in the crowd whispered in confusion.

Only then did Wang Xiao notice that Ye Xin, the young master of the Ye family who had been the center of attention and enjoyed immense prestige at Chengzheng Square, was now obediently following behind the two of them, acting as their attendant.

Without any pomp or circumstance, they simply followed obediently behind the two, not daring to even raise their heads.

"One is his brother Ye Sheng, and the other is his sister Ye Liu!" A helpful student next to him explained, "In terms of cultivation talent, Ye Xin can only be considered average in the Ye family. That's why he was 'exiled' to the capital at a young age."

The word "exile" made the people around him gasp in shock.

Can "capital city" be used together with "exile"?

Wang Xiao turned to look at the speaker, who was a young man dressed in bright red.

Her bright red outfit was particularly eye-catching, striking and flamboyant.

The boy was born with rosy lips and white teeth, handsome features, and bright, sparkling eyes that seemed to be filled with starlight.

A cynical smile always played on his lips, making it clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.

"May I ask your esteemed name?" Wang Xiao asked proactively.

"My name is Sun Wuji!" The young man smiled heartily, his voice was clear and melodious, and his eyes curved into crescents. "If your name is hard to remember, I can tell you my father's name."

Before anyone could ask further, he continued, "My father is Sun Hongwei, the Minister of War of the current dynasty! If you still can't remember, I can tell you about my uncle!"

Who asked your father's name?

Who wants to know your uncle's name?

Wang Xiao finally realized that Sun Wuji was an incredibly loudmouthed person, and he also understood why Sun Wuji was dressed in red.

He was afraid that others wouldn't know he existed.

Even when no one asked, he was so eager to show off his family tree.

"Then who is your uncle?" Wang Xiao asked, feigning curiosity.

He was indeed curious; even being the son of the Minister of War wasn't enough to demonstrate his status, so who else could be so arrogant?

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Xiao suddenly realized that the surrounding crowd had quietly dispersed, leaving an empty space.

Everyone who had been crowding around him retreated several feet away, but he remained standing there, looking particularly out of place.

Everyone present knew that the young prodigal son's uncle was none other than the current emperor.

Perhaps because their discussion had been overheard, the three members of the Ye family turned their gazes toward Sun Wuji.

"Sister Ye Liu! I've missed you so much!"

Therefore, Sun Wuji was unable to respond to Wang Xiao. He immediately put on an eager expression and strode towards the three members of the Ye family.

He completely ignored Ye Sheng and Ye Xin, heading straight for Ye Liu.

Her tone was intimate and sweet, and her smile was bright and cheerful, a stark contrast to her previous carefree and unruly demeanor.

The only response he received was a pair of cold, indifferent eyes, and a slender longsword that had already been drawn and was held across his shoulder.

The sword was as thin as a cicada's wing, and it gleamed with a faint, cold light in the morning glow.

"Sister Ye, please don't be offended. I will definitely change my impetuous nature in the future!" Sun Wuji said frankly, admitting his mistake repeatedly, but he still couldn't help but take a few steps back.

He knew in his heart that if he took another half step forward, the long sword would surely pierce down without hesitation.

I'm not kidding, it really will happen.

This is Ye Liu.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the three members of the Ye family walked to the end of the line and stood quietly, just like any other examinee.

Sun Wuji followed closely behind, calling out "Sister Ye" repeatedly, but always deliberately keeping his distance and not daring to step into the range of the longsword.

After the group had walked away, the crowd gathered again.

"Is that Ye Sheng, the legendary prodigy of the Ye family who is rumored to possess seven supernatural powers?" someone whispered.

"It is him! He has already cultivated to the Dragon Gate Consciousness Sea Realm, and has never been defeated in fifty battles against opponents of the same level. His strength is extremely formidable!" someone replied, their tone full of amazement.

"He's clearly aiming for the top spot in this assessment, and he wants to surpass everyone from the Yun family!"

Seven supernatural powers!

Wang Xiao was secretly shocked.

The person with the most supernatural abilities he has encountered so far is Lin Shisan, who possesses the Five Elements Mixed Body.

In their desperate battle, Wang Xiao used all his trump cards and barely managed a pyrrhic victory.

It is unheard of for someone to possess seven supernatural powers.

He turned to look at Zhou Qian beside him, only to see that the other man had a solemn expression, his lips were tightly pursed, and his brows were slightly furrowed.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling scared?" Wang Xiao asked softly.

Zhou Qian hesitated for a moment and slowly shook his head, but Wang Xiao could clearly see that his hand, which was gripping the spear, was trembling slightly.

"I've heard that Yun Xiu of the Yun family is also an unparalleled genius, and also possesses the Hunyuan Body!" Talks rose and fell all around.

"That's right, but no one has ever seen him use his second supernatural power."

Why is that?

"What else could it be? One supernatural power was enough to sweep away all opponents; why would we need to use other supernatural powers!"

"Why haven't the Yun family members shown up yet?"

"What's the rush? It's not like whoever arrives first is better."

As everyone was discussing this, a figure with an air of otherworldly grace suddenly appeared in the center of the gate of Jixia Academy.

The old man was dressed in a dark blue academic robe, his attire neat and solemn.

The collar is embroidered with elegant silver patterns, and the waist is tied with a dark black belt. The copper belt hook is simple and unadorned, without any superfluous decorations.

Her long, gray hair was tied up with a simple wooden hairpin. Her face was thin with slightly high cheekbones, but her eyes were clear and sharp, like bright lamps, making people afraid to look directly at her.

He stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an awe-inspiring majesty and extraordinary demeanor.

"I am the old Gongzheng, the chief examiner for this year's entrance examination." The old man's voice, though not loud, carried clearly throughout Changqian Street, reaching every ear. "This examination consists of three stages. Once you step through this gate, the examination questions will appear on their own. To ensure absolute fairness, all candidates will take the same questions and will be placed in their own independent secret realms to complete the examination alone. Only those who rank in the top one hundred in total score across the three stages will advance to the next round of selection. Do your best, and the final ranking will be publicly announced, serving as your credential for future admission."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the thousands of students, and said in a solemn tone, "The Jixia Academy entrance examination has officially begun! Students, please proceed!"

"Should the final rankings also be published?"

"I have to give it my all now; I can't afford to be laughed at for my low ranking after I enroll!"

The crowd erupted in noise again.

"Aren't the top 100 students supposed to get in directly? Why is it now the next round?" Wang Xiao was full of questions.

Su Qinhe had clearly stated that Jixia Academy only admits 100 disciples every five years, and the top 100 should be able to enroll directly. Now, however, a second round of selection is being added.

Before he could think it over, the candidates ahead had already started to set off.

The gates of Jixia Academy were wide open, and spiritual light flowed within, while a hazy mist obscured the view, making it impossible to see the actual scene inside.

The first candidate stepped forward steadily, entered the light curtain, and disappeared instantly.

Second place, third place... a group of candidates filed in, their steps varying in speed, their expressions ranging from tense to composed, but all of them entered the light curtain.

A burly man strode to the door and stepped inside.

But just as he approached the door, a blinding white light burst forth, and a tremendous force swept out from inside the door, violently throwing him away and slamming him heavily to the ground.

"Your cultivation is insufficient; do not come here to cause trouble and disrupt order!" Gong Zheng shouted sternly, not even glancing at him. "Take this person away from the examination hall!"

Two guards immediately stepped forward, one on each side, and dragged the distraught, burly man away from the line of examinees.

The burly man's face was ashen; his lips moved several times, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Only then did everyone realize that their cultivation level was insufficient to even enter the gate.

No wonder the Jixia Academy's assessment is so simple and casual. There are no cumbersome registration procedures or layers of qualification review. You just need to stand at the gate, and the academy will judge whether you are a mule or a horse.

Beyond simplicity and casualness lies absolute strength and confidence.

Wang Xiao took a deep breath and turned to look at Zhou Qian: "I'll go in first."

After saying that, he strode forward and walked straight to the main gate of Jixia Academy.

The light flowed within the doorway, like a deep, bottomless pool, its depths and path unclear.

Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

With a flash of light, Wang Xiao's figure vanished in an instant.