Chapter 22: Chapter 22, The End, Separate Paths
Translator: 549690339
“Wow, Lu Yun, you’re amazing.”
Lu Liangpeng and Lu Tianhu gathered around him at the same time, their faces excited. “If the Old Village Head knew you had a Level 5 Innate Talent, they would be extremely satisfied.”
The children of the mountain village were the most simple and honest. They did not harbor an ounce of jealousy towards Lu Yun, but instead, genuinely felt happy for his natural talent.
“You guys aren’t bad either, both having Level 2 Innate Talent; there’s a chance you both could become disciples of the Martial Academy.”
“Yeah, the three of us will enter the Martial Academy together and bring glory to Spirit Creek Village!”
With a faint smile, Lu Yun walked away nonchalantly, but his mind was filled with thoughts.
Before the medicine bath, his innate talent was Level 4.
After the two medicine baths, his innate talent had changed to Level 5.
So, did Lu Tianhu and Lu Liangpeng have a One-star Innate Talent before the medicine bath?
Or was the increase in innate talent due to the panel he had?
Looking at the receding figures of Lu Yun’s group from a distance, Mu Qingyun’s face was extremely ugly.
First, the matter with innate talent left him feeling upset, then he found out that the poor country boy he looked down upon actually had a Level 5 Innate Talent, far surpassing his Level 3 Innate Talent.
The huge contrast was difficult for him to accept as a self-proclaimed genius. Gradually, he felt a growing sense of jealousy and unwillingness in his heart.
For Lu Yun’s displayed talent, some were jealous and unwilling, some were envious, and some treated it calmly. It varied from person to person.
Lu Yun didn’t mind the gazes of those around him as he and Lu Tianhu went to a relatively quiet corner to await the next test.
Actually, with his Level 5 Innate Talent, he didn’t need to participate in the next test; he could directly become a disciple of the Martial Academy.
But he wanted to see what it was like. As for whether he would participate in the end, that depended on the situation.
Time passed quickly, and the sun gradually shifted from the center of the sky.
The innate talent test for over a thousand people had ended.
Without exception, there were only two Level 5 Innate Talents in the entire field: Peak Level 5 Innate Talent Xiao Chen and Ordinary Level 5 Innate Talent Lu Yun.
Additionally, there were thirteen Level 4 Innate Talents, fifty-two Level 3 Innate Talents, and three hundred twenty-seven Level 2 Innate Talents.
This meant that after the Innate Talent Test, fewer than four hundred people remained.
Moreover, this was only the second test.
How many people would be eliminated and how many lucky ones would remain after the unknown third test?
As the innate talent test concluded, the teenagers with only one-star Innate Talent or without any innate talent were expelled from the field, and the lively central square became much quieter.
“Very well, you guys have once again stayed and are one step closer to becoming my Junior Brothers.”
Meng Hongfei’s eyes swept over the people in front of him and said lightly, “The final examination is about to begin. Line up quickly and orderly.”
Soon, everyone quieted down and stood in neat square formations at the fastest speed.
“Bring up the Measuring Strength Pillar!” With Meng Hongfei’s words, sixteen heavily armored soldiers carried a huge stone pillar over. When they put it on the ground, the green stone on the ground crumbled instantly.
The entire pillar was black, about five meters tall, and with a diameter of about one meter. On the front at waist height, there were faint traces resembling fist imprints and marks from sword techniques.
There was a transparent line about the width of a middle finger on the right side of the pillar, extending from the base to the top, with a scale marked next to it.
The scale ranged from one to one hundred.
“This is the Measuring Strength Pillar, specifically designed to test one’s strength.”
Meng Hongfei pointed at the strange-looking black stone pillar and said, “Most of you are in the Enter Martial Realm, the stage specifically designed to temper your body, improve your blood and strength, and increase your explosive power. The final assessment will be based on the standard of your body’s explosive power.”
“There are one hundred scales on the Measuring Strength Pillar, each representing ten jin [1 Chinese pound] of explosive power. You will be responsible for using your full strength to attack the Measuring Strength Pillar. Each person gets three tries. If you don’t reach fifty scales after three attempts, you’ll be eliminated!”
“The test begins!”
With Meng Hongfei’s words, the teenagers began to rub their hands in anticipation, especially those who had stayed at the Soaring Dragon Restaurant like Mu Qingyun.
These people were all at the late stage and peak of the Enter Martial Realm.
For them, this final strength examination was just a formality.
But they wouldn’t be satisfied with just going through the motions.
“Excuse me, Senior Brother, can we use sword techniques?” Mu Qingyun, who wanted to regain his dignity and unwillingness from before, asked tentatively.
“You can use any martial arts, including sword techniques and fist techniques.” Meng Hongfei responded.
After getting an accurate response, everyone revealed the weapons they carried on their person.
There were all sorts of weapons, such as knives, spears, halberds, hammers, and axes; every type imaginable.
Xiao Chen simply took a glance at the Measuring Strength Pillar and stepped out of the queue, not intending to participate in the test.
He possessed a five-star innate talent and was the only one at the Meridian Passage Realm, and it wouldn’t matter whether he participated or not.
Meng Hongfei just nodded slightly without saying anything.
Sword light flickered, Mu Qingyun suddenly drew his sword, using his full strength to strike the Measuring Strength Pillar. With a ‘pang’ sound, Lu Yun and the others clearly saw a red glow rising from the base of the pillar, extending along a transparent line the width of a finger, eventually stopping at the “eighty-one” mark.
“Eighty-one on the scale!”
“So strong, his explosive attack power has reached eighty-one on the scale!”
Someone exclaimed aloud.
Feeling the shocked gaze of the crowd, Mu Qingyun enjoyed it immensely. As if he suddenly thought of something, he glanced in Lu Yun’s direction.
Unfortunately, the result disappointed him. He couldn’t find any sign of shock or other unusual expressions on Lu Yun’s face.
“Hmph, pretending to be calm!” Mu Qingyun snorted in his heart.
As long as one reached fifty on the scale, it would be considered a pass. His explosive power reached eighty-one, a full thirty-one points higher than the passing line. Such results were unattainable for ordinary people.
In his view, Lu Yun was merely at the middle stage of the Enter Martial Realm and came from a backward, remote mountain village. He probably had the worst martial arts background. How could such a person ignore him?
The more he thought about it, the more intense his jealousy towards Lu Yun became, causing him to overlook one crucial point.
Lu Yun had less than a tenth of his cultivation time and possessed one of the only two five-star innate talents.
Lu Yun was originally watching the tests of the others. Suddenly, he felt something unusual, as if being stared at by a venomous snake, making him somewhat uncomfortable.
After noticing this, he quickly glanced around. When his gaze fell on the figure to his right, he suddenly stopped, as he saw a very familiar figure.
Silver-white robe, a calm and collected expression, sharp eyes.
Xiao Chen!
He had the best innate talent and the highest cultivation. Among all the candidates, he was undoubtedly the most dazzling existence.
But at this moment, he nodded slightly towards Lu Yun.
Lu Yun was a little confused, nodded back to acknowledge the gesture, and then looked away.
“Huh?” Lu Yun furrowed his brow slightly, “That uncomfortable feeling is still there; could it not be Xiao Chen?”
Immediately after, he scanned the surroundings once more and met a pair of eyes.
“It’s him?” When Lu Yun saw Mu Qingyun’s cold gaze, he instantly knew where that uncomfortable feeling had come from.
This kid seemed a bit off.
Through Mu Qingyun’s eyes, Lu Yun could sense that there was considerable ill-will towards him.
“We only met once; surely he doesn’t bear ill-will towards me!” Lu Yun thought sarcastically, “Or maybe I have that legendary jinxed constitution.”
After ridiculing himself, he retracted his gaze, and also made a mental note of Mu Qingyun.
“Incredible! It’s eighty-three on the scale.”
“That one isn’t bad either, hitting eighty-nine on the scale.”
About half of the participants had completed the test by now.
Among them, Mu Qingyun had performed the best so far with eighty-one on the scale. As more candidates reached higher points, they immediately received attention.
“”Ninety-one on the scale?!”
As the test went on, someone finally broke the ninety-point barrier. Lu Yun glanced at the teenager and knew he was one of the earlier people who entered the Soaring Dragon Restaurant.
Next, Lu Tianhu and Lu Liangpeng tested one by one. They each used all three chances, but still couldn’t reach fifty on the scale. They returned disheartened.
Regarding this, Lu Yun didn’t know how to console them, so he chose to remain silent.
Sometimes, the best consolation for a disheartened person is to do nothing.
Emerging from disappointment is often more effective and quicker for growth than any consolation.
“I’ve decided, since 1 can’t become a Martial Academy disciple, I’ll join the army and start from the bottom as a soldier!”
In the square, Lu Langping raised his head, looking at the slowly setting sun with a renewed sense of vigor.
Seeing Lu Liangpeng’s face beaming with pride once again, Lu Tianhu smiled faintly, also firming up his resolve in his heart.
The three teenagers from Spirit Creek Village embraced the warm setting sun, each with their own thoughts.
Their shadows cast long, long lines on the plaza..