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Before countless probing gazes, Lan An hesitated not a moment, channeling Fire Spiritual Energy fused from his dual Variant Flames into the Proof Spirit Orb.
A color emerged…
Golden…
More radiant, dazzling, and noble than mere gold, it stunned the crowd, their minds reeling.
Yet, within a breath, a phenomenon unfolded. The orb, not settling at golden, turned translucent, pure as morning dew.
Boom!
Before myriad shocked eyes and gaping mouths, Lan An's Proof Spirit Orb shattered into fragments, dissipating into the heavens.
"What happened?"
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, even the seven Elders frozen, unable to react. Only the Chief Elder's pupils contracted sharply, staring at Lan An, countless thoughts swirling, his mind a mystery.
"What's this? Why did he destroy the Proof Spirit Orb?"
"Hmph, obvious! Fearing his Spiritual Energy's impurity, he resorted to cheap tricks!"
"Exactly, that's it!"
"Destroying the orb disrespects the Academy eliminate him!"
"Absolutely, expel him from the trials!"
The crowd, recovering from shock, erupted in jeers, their voices laced with schadenfreude. Envy of Lan An had long festered; this was their chance to condemn him.
Unnoticed, high above the Academy, space rippled faintly, betraying the unrest of hidden observers—not one, but many. Secret divine senses conversed, inaudible to all below:
"Shattering a Proof Spirit Orb—this has happened only once in Academy history!"
"Across eons, through countless generations of prodigies, only one ever shattered the orb with Spiritual Energy!"
"You mean him? This youth rivals him? Absurd…"
"Indeed, the Third Principal of our Academy…"
"Let's not conclude hastily. Two Variant Flames he's worth watching."
"His dual Variant Flames didn't escape us old monsters' eyes."
"Agreed, observe his performance in the remaining trials before judging."
Consensus reached, the divine senses faded, as if never present.
In the plaza, Yan Ri smirked mockingly at Yan Hong Lian and Yan Die Qing. The sisters ignored him, their delicate hands clenched, worry etched on their faces. Ruo Xue's peerless visage paled, her eyes brimming with unconcealed anxiety.
"Dear husband?" Outside, Mu Zi Yin and the three wives gazed at Lan An, hands clasped tightly.
"If you're eliminated, we'll leave too!" Li Zhu Luan gripped his hand firmly.
The others nodded in unison.
Lan An's heart warmed, yet frustration gnawed at him. Even he was clueless about the orb's explosion. "Jin Ni, what happened?" he asked the spirit.
"Well… I didn't expect the fused Variant Flames to yield such terrifying purity, surpassing ten percent. Their blistering heat overwhelmed the Proof Spirit Orb, a mere low-grade treasure it's no surprise it exploded!" Jin Ni replied, apologetic.
"You didn't know the power of fused Variant Flames?" Lan An asked, astonished.
"By heaven's laws, a cultivator can wield only one Variant Flame more would cause bodily destruction! You and Yan Yue Qi fused them thanks to the Immortal Genesis Scripture's dominance. As for Taboo-grade secrets, I'm ignorant, hence this oversight!" Jin Ni sniffled, tears welling.
"Don't worry, I don't blame you. Worst case, we skip the Academy!" Lan An soothed her with a smile.
He gained deeper insight into the Immortal Genesis Scripture, a technique defying heaven's laws—no wonder the Heavenly Dao viewed it as a thorn. The Heavenly Dao, an emotionless rule-enforcing mechanism, annihilated anything disrupting cosmic order.
Lan An raised his head, ignoring the mocking crowd, his face serene. Ten million Prestige Points stung, but if the quest failed, so be it. His guilt lay in failing his wives' expectations, his fists tightening.
The four wives encircled him, ready to depart if he was expelled.
"How do we resolve this?" the Seventh Elder finally asked his peers.
The six exchanged glances. The Sixth Elder said, "I saw no attack used to shatter the orb, but the trial rules don't address this scenario."
"Destroying the orb disrespects the Academy expel him as a warning!" the Fifth Elder, an aged man, declared. Tied to Le Kang through his cherished disciple Le Zhan Frenzy Battle Gang's Leader and Le Kang's cousin he seized this chance. After Lan An's banquet humiliation, Le Kang had urged Le Zhan to enlist the Fifth Elder's aid against him.
In the plaza, Le Kang and Le Zhan stood together, sneering at the mirror's image of Lan An and his wives. "Dare scorn the Frenzy Battle Gang? Pay the price, haha!" Le Kang gloated, his gaze lustful on the wives.
The other Elders hesitated, weighing Lan An's elimination. The Seventh and Sixth Elders, lowest in rank and strength, felt regret—a rare genius lost would wound the Academy. Yet, they awaited the collective decision.
"Those with black Proof Spirit Orbs, leave Sacred City within ten seconds! You're eliminated!" the Chief Elder, typically aloof, thundered.
His commanding voice struck every ear, paling faces. An unwilling cultivator gritted his teeth, bowing, "Elder, what of the one who shattered the orb?"
"Yes, what about him? Is he expelled like us?" The crowd roared, jeering at Lan An.
Lan An sighed inwardly, "Human nature unable to rise, they drag others down or demand equality."
"Him? Why expel him?" the Chief Elder asked calmly, as if the orb's destruction was trivial.
"He attacked the orb, disrespecting the Academy banish him!" a failed genius shouted.
"Which eye saw him attack it?" the Chief Elder retorted, his gaze sweeping the crowd.
Under his scrutiny, heads bowed, including the Fifth Elder's. "Then why did the orb explode, Elder?" the Fifth Elder asked, clasping his hands.
The Chief Elder's eyes roamed the field, his voice resounding, "The Academy's Proof Spirit Orbs for testing new students can only contain up to ten percent pure Spiritual Energy. Beyond that, they shatter. Understand?"
"No… impossible…" The crowd leapt, rejecting the outrageous truth.
Even the seven Elders' eyes widened, the revelation beyond their Void Refining Stage comprehension.
"Ten seconds are up. If you won't leave, I'll escort you!" the Chief Elder said softly, his hand tracing the air.
A terrifying spatial rift opened.
"Enter!" With a cold shout, his sleeve flicked.
A horrifying suction erupted, dragging every black-orb holder into the void, their bodies immobile, puppets to the Chief Elder's will. In moments, over half the candidates vanished, not one spared.
"Such terrifying power!" awe filled countless minds.
Lan An and his wives recalled a humble village, where an elderly couple selling water had wielded similar might.
In the Academy plaza, the Chief Elder's verdict flushed Ruo Xue's cheeks rosy, her eyes brimming with affection for the mirrored youth. Turning to her sisters, she beamed, "That's my man!"
Su Mei and Hua Yu Feng exchanged glances. Their third sister's pride wasn't mockable it inspired awe. "Our Sect Leader only reached ten percent purity. This man exceeds it?" they thought, curiosity about Lan An surging.
"That's more like it! Worthy of my trust, hehe!" Yan Hong Lian puffed her chest proudly, her crimson lips curving, pride boundless.
"Hmph, you were worried earlier, but he didn't disappoint!" Yan Die Qing stood tall, hands on hips, grinning, yearning to leap into his arms.
"Pah, blind luck!" Yan Ri's heart burned with jealousy, cursing inwardly. Seeing the sisters' pride in another man, his heart bled. He resolved to report this to the Yan Clan. The fiery, domineering Clan Leader wouldn't tolerate a toad lusting for swan flesh. Poor Yan Ri, unaware his revered leader had already shared countless intimate moments with Lan An.
"See? I said he could help you!" Nangong Yu beamed at Nangong Wan Rong.
"Truly formidable!" Nangong Wan Rong's eyes sparkled at the youth's miracle, hope stirring.
"Master remains terrifying!" Han Shen's reverence deepened, her resolve against betraying Lan An unshakeable.
Le Kang and Le Zhan's faces darkened. Lan An's comeback was a stinging slap. "Relax, two trials remain he won't pass easily," Le Zhan assured Le Kang.
"Pass or not, if he enters the Academy, we'll make him pay!" Le Kang sneered, nodding.
"I look forward to it," Le Zhan squinted, a glint of killing intent flashing.
Unnoticed, at the plaza's quiet corner, a man with a grim, disbelieving face fled swiftly one of Luo Yu's three companions, a Luo Clan genius.
Chup chup! Outside, Li Zhu Luan, bolder than her sisters, kissed Lan An's cheeks joyfully, laughing.
Once shy around him, she'd grown fearless as his woman. The wives exchanged glances, pride shining in their eyes. Their man's miracle filled them with joy how could they not celebrate?
"Thank you, Chief Elder!" Lan An clasped his hands, sincerely addressing the elder aloft.
The Chief Elder glanced at him indifferently. "I merely did my duty. High Spiritual Energy purity proves little. Fail the next trials, and you'll be eliminated."
"This junior understands!" Lan An nodded.
The Chief Elder and several Elders nodded inwardly. This youth, immensely talented yet humble, was a seed worth nurturing.
The first trial culled over half the candidates, leaving fewer than five thousand from over ten thousand. The survivors, all geniuses, brimmed with confidence.
Before eager eyes, the Chief Elder flicked his sleeve.
Boom boom boom!
A treasure soared from his sleeve, hovering in the sky, expanding to a terrifying size, casting half Sacred City in shadow.
Clearly, another trial tool.
A colossal mountain, suspended midair, bore countless steps from base to summit. Lan An and his wives counted ninety-nine steps a climbing test?
Amid awestruck gazes, the Chief Elder declared calmly, "Second trial: Test of Will."