The admission test for the Four Symbols Academy is divided into four rounds.
The first round is a cultivation realm test. Those below the eighth level of body refinement or whose age exceeds sixteen will be eliminated.
The second round involves navigating the Wooden Man Alley. Failure to pass within the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn will also result in elimination.
The third round is a mental test. Candidates must endure the spiritual pressure of an elder deacon of the Four Symbols Academy for the duration of one stick of incense to pass.
The final round is a arena battle, and only the top 90 individuals will officially be admitted to the Four Symbols Academy.
However, among the thousand test participants, there are a few who are almost guaranteed to pass the admission test with flying colors.
"Oh, which ones?"
"Li Xuanhong of Lingjian Mountain Villa, the former prince of the Moyuan Empire—Mo Qian, Ao Li of the War King family, the young prince Liu Yifeng, and Nalan Wuchang of the Nalan family."
"All five are only fifteen or sixteen years old, and it is rumored that their cultivation realms have already reached the late Yellow Realm."
After speaking, Luo Fei even provocatively raised an eyebrow at Xin Ci and continued, "How about it? Are you satisfied with this intelligence?"
"If you want to know more, I can even tell you the cultivation techniques and martial skills they are currently practicing."
However, Xin Ci fell into deep thought, unsure of his chances of winning against these individuals.
Even if he were to face them, Xin Ci did not fear them in the slightest.
Although he was only in the early Yellow Realm, the spiritual energy contained within his two Qi vortexes was comparable to that of the late Yellow Realm.
Therefore, Xin Ci had sufficient confidence to deal with them.
Meanwhile, Mu Qingqing, within the consciousness space, looked bewildered, blinking her starlight eyes.
"The main storyline hasn't changed much, but why have a few unfamiliar characters appeared?"
In Mu Qingqing's understanding, in the original plot of this section of the novel, only the young prince Liu Yifeng was in the late Yellow Realm.
Where did the other four come from?
The system had told her that the male lead's growth path would be more obstructed than in the original work.
But she hadn't expected so many unfamiliar characters to appear.
Mu Qingqing couldn't help but worry if these newly added characters would cause significant trouble for the male lead.
After all, due to her influence, the plot where the male lead might meet an untimely end was also possible.
Her taking control of the body to resolve crises for the male lead in the previous few instances were clear examples.
Those who received their number plates gathered in a spacious square. In the center stood a black stone tablet, about ten meters tall.
Beside it stood a white-robed old man with graying temples and a remarkably spirited gaze, appearing to be in his sixties.
As he tapped his staff on the ground, a powerful spiritual pressure erupted, causing everyone present to tremble inwardly and fall silent instantly.
With such immense presence and spiritual energy, this elderly man had at least reached the Heaven Realm.
"Esteemed testing candidates who have traveled from afar, I am Gong Ci, the Deacon Elder of the Teaching Hall of the Four Symbols Academy. I will be solely responsible for this new student test."
"Now, we will commence the first round of testing. All individuals will step forward according to their numbers. Only those with a cultivation realm above the eighth level of body refinement and an age not exceeding sixteen will proceed to the next round."
After hearing Elder Gong Ci's explanation, the young men and women below were filled with excitement.
The test was finally about to begin.
The first to be tested was a dark-skinned youth, who placed his hand on the black stone tablet.
The black stone tablet vibrated slightly, and then a line of golden characters appeared.
"Xu Nuo, ninth level of body refinement, fifteen years and eight months old."
Elder Gong Ci glanced at it and stated calmly, "Pass."
Soon, the next person stepped up.
"Bai Dong, eighth level of body refinement, fourteen years and one month old."
"Pass!"
"Yang Ziqing, early Yellow Realm, fifteen years and four months old."
"Pass!"
...
"He Yu, early Yellow Realm, sixteen years and one month old."
"Fail!"
Finally, the first unqualified youth appeared on the stone tablet. Even though this youth had reached the early Yellow Realm, his age exceeded the limit by one month.
He had no choice but to leave the scene with regret.
Although the others trembled inwardly, they had no time to pity this youth.
"Su Baiwei, early Yellow Realm, fifteen years and three months old."
"Pass!"
Su Baiwei's appearance added a bright and radiant glow to the testing square.
"Wow, I didn't expect this year's new students to be of higher quality than the previous batch, and there are so many beautiful junior sisters."
"Are you sure she's your junior sister? This is only the first round of testing."
Two youths clad in white and blue striped robes, with a coiled white and blue pattern embroidered on their chests, were conversing not far from the square.
They were students of the Azure Dragon Institute, responsible for assisting Elder Gong Ci in receiving the new students this time.
They also occasionally commented on individual new students.
After her test, Su Baiwei walked off the stage but inadvertently spotted Xin Ci in the crowd, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.
"How did that guy get in?"
Although Su Baiwei had her doubts, those who had passed the test could only wait in another area.
She was determined to see what Xin Ci's situation was.
"He's here! He's here! He's here!"
"Who's here? Why are you so excited?"
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted excitedly, leaving some people confused.
"Of course, we're excited! The next one to be tested is the young prince Liu Yifeng!"
"Really! He's one of those outstanding individuals among these test participants."
"Now we really get to see it."
As the gazes of the crowd converged, a white-clothed youth carrying a white cherry blossom spear on his back, with a resolute gaze, stepped out.
The people around him consciously parted to create a path.
Liu Yifeng placed his palm on the stone tablet.
"Liu Yifeng, peak of the late Yellow Realm, fifteen years and eight months old."
This display instantly caused a huge stir.
"As expected of the young prince, already nearing the Profound Realm before the age of sixteen. Truly a genius."
"Of course. It's said that the young prince went to battle at the mere age of twelve, honing his spear skills."
Many people below immediately began to praise Liu Yifeng.