Chapter 126: Profound Force Test
The elder in charge of Yun Che's group was a dignified old man. He stood in front of the Profound Measuring Stone, swept his gaze across the crowd, and said in a deep voice, "The first round of assessment is the Profound Force Test. Let me reiterate once more: the minimum requirement for entering the Mystic Palace is as follows: Level 1 of the Xuan Entry Realm at age fifteen, Level 3 at sixteen, Level 5 at seventeen, and Level 6 at eighteen. Those younger than fifteen or older than eighteen, as well as those whose profound strength falls below the minimum standard, please withdraw on your own. Do not delude yourselves into thinking the Profound Measuring Stone will make any mistakes!"
Such words were repeated many times every year at the Cangfeng Mystic Palace, yet each year, a large number still got eliminated in the first round. There were always too many young profound practitioners who were unwilling to give up, harbored wishful thinking, didn't want their trip to be in vain, or hoped that the Profound Measuring Stone would malfunction. Thus, despite such clear and strict standards, the first round would still eliminate over half of the participants.
After the old man finished speaking, no one in the venue withdrew. He waved his hand and stood beside the Profound Measuring Stone, announcing, "Now, the first round of assessment begins. When I call your name, come up and press your hand against the Profound Measuring Stone." With that, he picked up the list in his hand and called out, "First: Han Chi!"
"It's starting... Brother-in-law, you're in the sixteen-year-old bracket, and your current profound strength is a full seven levels above the standard! When it's your turn, you'll definitely shock everyone." Xia Yuanba, standing behind Yun Che, said with great excitement. Ever since Qin Wuyou had promised to place him in the outer palace of the Mystic Palace, his inner excitement had never subsided, and he still felt as if he were dreaming.
The one called was a young man who looked sixteen or seventeen. He stood before the Profound Measuring Stone, carefully pressed his hand against it, and showed a nervous expression.
Soon, the Profound Measuring Stone flickered, and three lines of clear text appeared:
Line 1: Age: 17 years.
Line 2: Profound Force: Xuan Entry Realm, Level 4.
Line 3: Disqualified.
This Profound Measuring Stone could not only test profound force but also age! Yun Che marveled that a seventeen-year-old at Level 4 of the Xuan Entry Realm would definitely be an outstanding disciple at the New Moon Mystic Palace, yet here at the Cangfeng Mystic Palace, it didn't even meet the minimum threshold. The imperial capital was truly the imperial capital.
"Disqualified. Step down." The old man looked at the result on the Profound Measuring Stone and said in a cold, rigid tone.
The young man named Han Chi's expression turned panicked. He bowed deeply to the old man and pleaded almost tearfully, "Senior, I'm only one level short, and I'm just a hair's breadth away from breaking through. I might complete the breakthrough tomorrow. Please show some leniency and let me pass. I will be eternally grateful and will repay you in the future..."
"No!" The old man waved his hand sharply. He had seen such situations far too often, and his expression did not change in the slightest. "What do you think the Cangfeng Mystic Palace is? There is no leniency here! Step down at once."
"Senior, I beg you." Han Chi was so anxious he was almost in tears, pleading bitterly, "Senior, entering the Cangfeng Mystic Palace has been my lifelong dream. This trip carries the hopes of my entire family. Please, just let me pass, and I will agree to any condition."
"If you don't meet the standard, even if you kneel here until you die, no one will show leniency! Leave now. You're only seventeen this year, so you still have one last chance next year. Make good use of your final opportunity. If you keep pestering, I'll revoke your qualification for the Cangfeng Mystic Palace permanently."
The old man's last sentence made Han Chi's face turn pale. He dared not say another word and left with a dejected expression.
The first testee had already caused such a scene, but the palace instructors were all used to it. Meanwhile, many of the young profound practitioners waiting for their turn began to sweat profusely.
"Next, Liu Changqing."
"Age sixteen, Xuan Entry Realm Level 2, disqualified! Next..."
"Age eighteen, Xuan Entry Realm Level 5, disqualified! Next..."
"Age fifteen, Xuan Entry Realm Level 2... qualified! Hmm, quite good for such a young age. You've passed the first round. Next."
The tests continued. On average, only one out of every three or four people passed, a pass rate so low that Yun Che was astonished. With the precedent of the first failure, those who didn't pass left with drooping heads, none daring to plead further. Those who passed were, of course, overjoyed, some even crying and covering their faces in excitement.
These young profound practitioners came from all over the country. Many carried their life's greatest dream, and many bore the hopes of their entire families. Once they became disciples of the Cangfeng Mystic Palace, wherever they went, they would wear a dazzling halo.
"Age seventeen, Xuan Entry Realm Level 9, qualified!"
As the numbers appeared on the Profound Measuring Stone, exclamations rose from the crowd. Countless gazes of admiration and envy focused on the young man standing before the stone. Even the old man in charge of testing nodded and gave a slight smile. "Very good. Before you leave the palace, there is great hope for you to enter the Middle Palace. Work hard."
At the mention of "Middle Palace," almost all the young profound practitioners showed expressions of longing and desire. If one could enter the Middle Palace, it would grant a fairly high status even in the Cangfeng Imperial Capital, enough to bring glory to one's family.
The young man removed his hand from the Profound Measuring Stone, a confident and proud smile on his face. He looked arrogantly at the other young practitioners, both those who had already passed and those still waiting, and said, "I am Ao Yan. I hope all my future fellow disciples will offer their guidance. But as for being the top of this group, I've already secured it."
Ao Yan's demeanor was very arrogant, but being at Level 9 of the Xuan Entry Realm at seventeen was certainly something to be proud of. Whispers about him arose among the crowd, and people learned that Ao Yan came from Ju Mo City in the west, where his family was the undisputed top power, no weaker than any local sect.
"Next, Yun Che." The old man's voice came again.
"Brother-in-law, it's your turn!" Xia Yuanba immediately became excited at the sound of Yun Che's name.
Yun Che stood before the Profound Measuring Stone, extended his right palm, pressed it against the stone, and slightly channeled his profound force.
The Profound Measuring Stone immediately glowed.
"Sixteen years old, Xuan Entry Realm Level 10, qualified."
When the old man announced this result, loud exclamations erupted around them. Countless gazes, several times more amazed than before, instantly focused on Yun Che. Ao Yan's result had already drawn admiration and envy, but the young man who followed immediately surpassed him by an entire level. Moreover, the gap between them was far greater than that, as Yun Che was a full year younger. If Yun Che were also seventeen, surpassing Ao Yan would not be a matter of just one level.
Ao Yan, who had been standing off to the side with a triumphant expression, froze. His eyes locked onto the result on the Profound Measuring Stone, unable to believe what he saw. Then, his face gradually grew hot... Just moments ago, he had proudly declared that the top spot in this group was his for the taking, and immediately after, someone younger than him had directly surpassed him. His earlier words felt like a slap to his own face.
"Heh, only sixteen years old and already half a step away from the True Xuan Realm. Very good!" The old man nodded slowly, a deep smile of approval appearing on his face. "You are the best testee I've encountered today. If you maintain your talent, perhaps within less than two years, you can enter the Middle Palace. Work hard."
Yun Che nodded and calmly stepped into the line of those who had passed. Countless eyes still followed him, and whispers continued to rise around him.
"Who is this person? He must be a young master from some big family, right?"
"Do you even need to ask? People from large sects don't enter the Mystic Palace. Apart from those big sects, only families with deep resources and heritage can cultivate such a super genius... That instructor said he might enter the Middle Palace within two years. That's so enviable it makes me want to die."
"Big brother, you're truly amazing! Only sixteen and already almost at the True Xuan Realm! Um... may I ask how you should be addressed?"
As soon as Yun Che stood there, the fifteen-year-old boy who had been the first to pass came over, looking up at him with admiration. When the old man had called Yun Che's name, he hadn't caught it clearly.
Yun Che remembered that this fifteen-year-old boy was called Yun Xiaofan. He shared the same surname, and his gaze was pure, making him seem very innocent. Yun Che smiled and said, "My name is Yun Che. I remember you're called Yun Xiaofan, right?"
"Right, right!" Seeing that Yun Che had remembered his name, Yun Xiaofan grew excited and said in surprise, "Ah? You're also surnamed Yun? What a coincidence!"
"Fate," Yun Che said cheerfully, taking a liking to this Yun Xiaofan.
"Hehe," Yun Xiaofan had thought that someone with such astonishing results would be haughty and aloof, but he never expected such warmth. His heart felt warm, and his nervousness eased considerably, but his admiration grew even more. "Brother Yun, where are you from? With your strength, you must be a young master from a very big family, right?"
Yun Che shook his head with a smile. "I'm no young master from a big family. Just an ordinary person. By the way, I'm from Liu Yun City."
"Ah? Liu Yun City?" Yun Xiaofan was startled. He thought hard for a moment, then showed an embarrassed expression. "I'm young and haven't seen much of the world. I don't think I've even heard of that city's name before."
"Hmph! Just a small city in the east that's barely bigger than a town. A godforsaken place like that—few people know about it, and even more have never heard of it."
A sardonic voice came from the side. Ao Yan was looking at Yun Che out of the corner of his eye. Just now, he had heard Yun Che say he wasn't from a big family but an "ordinary person," and that he came from one of the smallest cities in the Cangfeng Empire. A look of disdain appeared on his face as he snorted, "Yun Che, don't think that just because your profound force level is higher than mine, it means anything. Profound force doesn't equal combat power. A profound practitioner with powerful profound arts and skills is what truly deserves to be called a profound practitioner. Unfortunately, someone from a small place like you wouldn't understand that. Even though your profound force is one level higher than mine, let alone one level, even if it were three levels higher, you wouldn't be a match for me."