Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon
Everybody immediately rushed towards the goateed man.
“Everyone don’t be anxious. I’ll hang this golden scroll on the wall and let everyone see it clearly.” As the goateed man spoke, he walked to a wall in the corridor. He opened the golden scroll and hung it on the wall. At the same time, he laughed loudly and said, “Every person on the list will stay in Blazing Sun Palace overnight with one family member. Tomorrow morning, they will head to Archean Mountain for the final selection. As for those who aren’t on the list, they may leave.”
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Many family members and friends used their movement techniques and rushed to the wall. They carefully scanned through the names on the scroll.
Some geniuses didn’t care about their pride. They also used their movement techniques to rush in and take a closer look.
Where’s my name? Where’s my name? A genius looked anxiously. He couldn’t find his name on the golden scroll.
Ranked 39th? That’s good. At least I passed the preliminaries; I’ll definitely be able to shock everyone and get a spot in the final selection.
“Where’s my son’s name?”
“I’m not in the top 100. Forget it.”
...
Meng Chuan and his father weren’t in a hurry. They walked towards the golden scroll with Yan Jin.
“It’s fine. We can come next year even if you didn’t pass the preliminaries this year.” A man—that exuded old age—consoled his son. “You’ll be twenty next year. You still have one more chance. Don’t worry. You managed to reach the minimum requirement of all three assessments this year. If you cultivate for another year and experience another breakthrough, you’ll definitely be able to obtain a spot next year.”
“Dad, I’ve finally realized how many geniuses there are. Compared to them, I’m still very mediocre. I will definitely work harder when I return,” said his son in a low voice.
The aged man smiled.
His son had been very proud previously. After all, he had far surpassed his peers in his prefecture. He did things independently and acted like an arrogant genius. However, his son’s arrogance had been shattered completely. At Archean Mountain’s entrance examination, he was indeed a mediocre genius. Fortunately, he still had one chance left. He could try again next year.
“Clan Leader, I’ll serve in the military immediately,” said a white-robed woman calmly to a silver-haired elder beside her. “The gap between the others and I is quite huge. I have nothing to say about not being admitted into Archean Mountain.”
The silver-haired elder nodded. “Join the military and accumulate credit. You’ll still have a chance of undergoing the Life-and-Death juncture and become a Godfiend in the future.”
The white-robed woman said calmly, “Either I die on the battlefield or become a Godfiend.” Becoming a Godfiend was her life goal. She had never thought of living an ignoble life.
Many geniuses and family members left one by one. Since they weren’t on the list, they naturally had to leave.
“Impossible. I’m not on the list?” A colorful-robed youth looked at the golden scroll dazedly.
“Let’s go.” The elder beside him pulled him away.
“There must be something wrong. I should enter Archean Mountain. I have to,” muttered the colorful-robed youth.
“Admit your failure,” said the elder.
“I haven’t participated in the final selection. The Godfiends at Archean Mountain haven’t discovered my true potential. They must have made a mistake,” the colorful-robed youth muttered to himself.
The elder shook his head and sighed, forcefully pulling him away.
Most of the geniuses had to leave because there were only a hundred names on the list.
Meng Chuan glanced at the geniuses who had failed. They were either silent, crazed, or indifferent... They had all sorts of reactions, and he felt mixed emotions. Entering Archean Mountain was like night and day for mortals. Many people had placed their hopes on Meng Chuan, but he was in much better shape. Furthermore, he was only eighteen.
He wasn’t like the geniuses who were already twenty years old—where this was their last attempt at Archean Mountain’s entrance examination.
“Awesome, Young Master Meng.”
“Young Master Meng, you are ranked first.”
Before Meng Chuan reached the golden scroll, someone in front congratulated him.
“First place?”
Meng Chuan and his father walked through the crowd and finally saw the golden scroll. The words on the golden scroll seemed to contain a sense of pressure.
His gaze swept across the scroll and saw the names of Jin Huan, Yan Jin, Chu Yong, and many others. At the top was the name “Meng Chuan.”
Meng Chuan: A–, A+, S
Ji Yuantong: A+, A, A+
Zong Sha: A+, A, A
...
Meng Chuan came to a realization after seeing this. Ji Yuantong and Zong Sha were evaluated to be A+ for the preliminaries’ first assessment! The Archean Mountain Godfiends gave special treatment to sharpshooters.
Zong Sha had broken through fewer light barriers than Meng Chuan in the first assessment, but his evaluation was the same as Ji Yuantong’s. Clearly, the criterion for a sharpshooter was somewhat different. They were the only two who obtained an A+ for the first assessment.
There were only two A-pluses for the second assessment. One was Jin Huan, while the other was Meng Chuan. In fact, Meng Chuan was ten percent faster than Jin Huan, making him better, but Meng Chuan had only received an A+. He didn’t reach S—which clearly had a very high threshold.
Amongst all the geniuses, only Meng Chuan attained an S grade.
S? An S actually appeared this year? Ji Yuantong looked at the only S grade on the list and fell silent.
Ji Yuantong scored 2 A-pluses and an A in the preliminaries. That was definitely an extremely monstrous score. However, Meng Chuan scored an S grade.
Ji Yuantong looked at Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan—who were not far away. He turned and left, but his eyes were filled with battle intent. After the final selection, I will definitely become number one.
Ninth. Yan Jin looked at his ranking calmly. Roughly ten people had Godfiend foundations that were on par with his. Being ranked ninth was quite low.
I cultivate dual sword techniques. The preliminaries only showcase a single sword’s strength. Yan Jin looked at the ranking. Only the final selection will showcase my true strength.
He admitted that he was weaker than Meng Chuan. But, he was still stronger than Jin Huan and the others! Yet, Jin Huan was ranked sixth, while he was ranked ninth.
There’s actually an S grade? Chu Yong, Yan Feng, Jin Huan, Princess Li Ying, Dong Fang, Ning Yibo, Yan Chitong, and many other geniuses were shocked when they saw the S grade. Especially those from the powerful Godfiend family clans, they knew how rare an S grade was in the preliminaries.
...
Blazing Sun Palace occupied a large area and had long prepared accommodation for exam participants and their family members. There were a lot of rooms, totaling three hundred rooms. Now, all the geniuses and family friends were settled in.
Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang took two neighboring rooms.
Whoosh! Whoosh! It was late at night, and the snow didn’t let up.
Meng Chuan stared at the snow through the window as his thoughts drifted. The final selection was tomorrow. Although he was confident he could obtain a spot, he wasn’t sure about his final ranking.
Once a spot is obtained, one will be admitted into Archean Mountain officially. According to Archean Mountain’s rules, one has to reach an extremely high realm before one can leave the mountain. I wonder when I will next return to my hometown. In five years? Ten years?
The time he returned home would definitely be far into the future. He definitely wouldn’t be able to see his grandaunt again. The clan leader was in his nineties, and few mortals could live past a hundred years. It was unlikely that they could meet again.
I know what you’re looking forward to. I won’t disappoint you. Meng Chuan vowed silently.
...
Elsewhere in Blazing Sun Palace.
Candle flames flickered.
When King East River heard the snowfall, he smiled and wrote a letter in his room. After writing it, he smiled in satisfaction.
“Ah Tong,” said King East River. His voice traveled a quarter kilometer away.
Soon, a figure arrived at King East River’s residence.
“Go, send this letter to Mountain Lord.” King East River waved his hand, and the letter flew out. It flew out the window and arrived at the figure in the yard.
“Yes.” A pair of wings sprouted out from the figure’s back. With a whoosh, he soared into the sky and flew towards Archean Mountain rapidly.
Heavy snow indicates a bountiful harvest. King East River looked at the snow outside and smiled. We’ve discovered another peerless piece of unpolished jade. I hope he can grow and become a powerful Godfiend for us humans.