46: Canaan College and Admissions Assessment

Life in Peace Town was peaceful and fulfilling.

Although the inn Xiao Chen rented was simple, it was quiet.

He lived a secluded life, spending most of his time consolidating his Spirit Realm Soul cultivation and familiarizing himself with the newly acquired Dou Di Bloodline power.

The Spirit Nurturing Art circulated more smoothly, and his early-stage Spirit Realm Soul power was at his command, with a stable perception range of about a hundred meters, and the precision of his energy manipulation reached new heights.

Although the faint golden clan mark on his forehead had receded, Xiao Chen could feel a formidable power contained within it; once activated, it would be earth-shattering.

The initial awakening of the Dou Di Bloodline had transformed his physique, filling him with vitality and strengthening his meridians; although he still did not cultivate Dou Qi, his physical strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Fighting Master.

He occasionally visited the market in Peace Town, using the gold coins from his synthetic pills to buy rare medicinal ingredients and information about Jia Nan Academy.

Information gathered from various sources indicated that Jia Nan Academy's enrollment assessment was extremely strict, valuing not only cultivation but also potential, character, and talent.

The assessment consisted of several rounds, including aptitude testing, Illusory Spirit Realm soul-searching, and practical combat exercises, with each round eliminating a large number of applicants.

Three months passed in a flash.

The day of the enrollment assessment finally arrived.

On this day, the central square of Peace Town was packed with people.

Young talents from all over the continent gathered here, their eyes burning with eagerness, ready for action.

In front of the square, on a temporarily erected high platform, sat several figures with profound auras, who were the elders and instructors responsible for this recruitment at Jia Nan Academy.

Among them, a mature woman in a light blue instructor's robe, with a gentle and graceful demeanor, was particularly eye-catching; she was Instructor Ruolin, a Five-Star Great Dou Master.

Xiao Chen blended into the crowd, concealing his aura, appearing unremarkable.

However, his soul perception quietly spread out, observing the surrounding competitors.

He discovered many young people with strong auras, several of whom were Fighting Master level, and even one or two who had hidden their strength with subtle auras.

Clearly, the appeal of Jia Nan Academy was extraordinary.

"Silence!" a solemn-faced elder stood up, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, "The Jia Nan Academy enrollment assessment begins now! First round, aptitude testing! All applicants, in order, place your hands on the Soul Testing Crystal Stele and infuse your Dou Qi or spiritual power!"

In the center of the square, several huge transparent crystal steles stood.

Applicants lined up and stepped forward in turn.

When a palm was placed on the crystal stele, it would light up with different colors and numbers of light patterns according to the tester's aptitude.

Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple corresponded to different talent levels, while the number of light patterns represented the depth of potential.

Most testers could only make the crystal stele light up with red or orange light patterns, with one or two being the limit, and were quickly eliminated.

Occasionally, one would light up with yellow light patterns, causing a small stir.

When a young man from the Chu Yun Empire made the crystal stele light up with four green light patterns, the instructors on the high platform all nodded slightly.

When it was Xiao Chen's turn, he took a deep breath and placed his palm on the crystal stele.

He had no Dou Qi, so he could only infuse his soul power.

He carefully controlled the intensity, only displaying soul fluctuations equivalent to a Great Dou Master (as a Spirit Realm Soul would be too astonishing).

Buzz!

The Soul Testing Crystal Stele vibrated violently, instantly erupting with brilliant blue light, and light patterns lit up one after another, finally stabilizing at six blue light patterns!

"Blue! Six light patterns!"

"Oh my god! Such high soul talent!"

"Who is this guy? Why is there no Dou Qi fluctuation at all?"

The square immediately erupted in an uproar!

Blue talent was already extremely rare, and six light patterns meant immense potential!

On the high platform, a flicker of surprise flashed in Instructor Ruolin's beautiful eyes, and the other elders also cast astonished gazes.

A young man with no Dou Qi, yet possessing such formidable soul talent, was truly peculiar.

Xiao Chen calmly withdrew his hand and retreated into the crowd of those who passed the first round.

He knew that he had successfully attracted the academy's attention, but this was precisely what he wanted.

The first round ended, with nearly a thousand people eliminated, leaving fewer than two hundred.

The second round was Illusory Spirit Realm soul-searching.

Everyone was led into a huge array formation, which, once activated, generated illusions that targeted the deepest desires, fears, and obsessions of the heart.

This round tested the firmness of one's will and the ability to maintain one's true self amidst temptation and pressure.

For Xiao Chen, whose soul realm had already reached the Spirit Realm, this level of illusion had almost no effect.

He walked through it as if taking a leisurely stroll, easily seeing through all falsehoods, and was the first to exit the formation.

His calm demeanor once again drew the attention of the elder presiding over the assessment.

The third round was practical combat exercises.

The remaining more than one hundred people were randomly grouped for arena battles.

The rules were simple: falling off the arena or voluntarily admitting defeat resulted in failure.

Xiao Chen's opponent was a Three-Star Dou Shi, from a large family in a certain empire, wielding a high-grade common-tier long spear, full of aggressive momentum.

"Kid, no matter how strong your soul power is, without Dou Qi, you're still trash! Get down here!" The Fighting Master sneered, his long spear like a dragon, piercing directly at Xiao Chen's face with fierce Dou Qi.

The spectators all thought Xiao Chen would suffer a loss, as soul power often wasn't as direct as Dou Qi in a head-on confrontation.

However, Xiao Chen merely shifted his body slightly, executing the Swimming Fish Steps to its utmost, his figure like a ghost avoiding the spear tip.

At the same time, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and an invisible Soul Impact, like a sharp awl, pierced towards his opponent's mind!

"Ugh!" The Three-Star Dou Shi cried out, his attack instantly collapsing, and he clutched his head, painfully squatting down, instantly losing his combat ability.

Soul Impact! Simple, brutal, effective!

The entire venue fell silent!

Everyone was stunned by this bizarre scene!

In just one exchange, a Three-Star Dou Shi was instantly defeated? And in such an unseen and intangible way?

In the next few battles, Xiao Chen almost always ended the fight in the same way.

His powerful soul power combined with exquisite movement techniques often allowed him to subdue his opponents with a Soul Impact before they even reacted.

His performance attracted more and more attention and discussion.

"This young man's soul power is used with divine skill; he can actually fight above his rank purely through soul means!"

"His movement technique is also extraordinary; he can be so agile without Dou Qi support!"

"It seems a remarkable young fellow has come to this enrollment."

On the high platform, Instructor Ruolin looked at Xiao Chen's figure, her interest growing deeper.

An elder beside her whispered, "Ruolin, this young man has an extraordinary soul talent, and his character is also good, but his cultivation path... is a bit peculiar; he doesn't seem to be a traditional Alchemist or soul cultivator."

Ruolin smiled slightly: "No matter, the academy embraces all, and precisely needs such unique students.

I think he can become my disciple."

Finally, the practical combat exercises ended, leaving only the last twenty people.

These twenty people were the elites who had passed the assessment and were qualified to enter Jia Nan Academy.

The solemn elder stood up again, his gaze sweeping over the twenty young and vibrant faces below the platform, and he said in a deep voice, "Congratulations, you have passed the assessment and become new students of Jia Nan Academy!

Now, choose the department and instructor you wish to join!"

Jia Nan Academy was divided into several departments, such as the Dou Qi Department, Alchemy Department, Array Formation Department, Beast Taming Department, and so on.

The instructors also spoke up, introducing their areas of expertise.

Just then, Instructor Ruolin stood up, her gaze falling directly on Xiao Chen, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable power: "Xiao Chen, are you willing to become my disciple?

Although I primarily cultivate water-attribute Dou Qi, I also have some knowledge of soul cultivation, and perhaps I can guide you."

The crowd erupted in an uproar!

Instructor Ruolin was a famous beauty instructor in the academy, powerful and with high teaching standards; countless geniuses wished to become her disciple, yet she actually extended an invitation to a young man without Dou Qi?

Xiao Chen looked up, meeting Instructor Ruolin's clear and inquisitive gaze.

He could see sincerity and expectation in her eyes.

After a brief moment of thought, Xiao Chen bowed respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant, saying, "Disciple Xiao Chen is willing to become Instructor Ruolin's disciple!"

He chose Instructor Ruolin partly because of her attitude, and partly because he wanted to take this opportunity to systematically understand the cultivation system of this world, especially knowledge related to soul cultivation.

As the continent's foremost academy, Jia Nan Academy's foundation was far beyond what he could explore on his own.

"Good!" Instructor Ruolin smiled with satisfaction, "From today onwards, you are my disciple!"

The other students who passed the assessment also chose their preferred instructors.

Xiao Chen noticed that the young man in green who had hidden his strength in combat chose an elder from the Dou Qi Department known for his strictness.

Another young woman with peculiar pupil techniques was taken as a disciple by a master from the Alchemy Department.

The enrollment assessment concluded successfully.

Xiao Chen, along with Instructor Ruolin and several other newly accepted disciples, boarded the flying boat bound for Jia Nan Academy.

The flying boat soared through the clouds, with continuous mountain ranges and vast plains below.

In the distance, the outline of a majestic and grand city appeared on the horizon; in the center of the city, a magnificent complex of buildings was built against the mountain, with pavilions, terraces, and towers, shrouded in mist, like a fairyland.

That was Jia Nan Academy!

Xiao Chen stood on the deck of the flying boat, looking at the approaching academy, his heart filled with anticipation.

New environment, new challenges, new opportunities.

Here, he would systematically learn the knowledge of this world, further enhance his strength, and secretly investigate the secrets related to the system, the Xiao Clan, and the Illusory Spirit Realm.

However, he could also feel several faint gazes, filled with scrutiny and even hostility, cast from different directions of the academy.

Clearly, the arrival of him, this "Dou Qi-less soul genius," had already attracted the attention and... calculations of some people.

Life at Jia Nan Academy was destined not to be peaceful.

But Xiao Chen was fearless; his path to becoming a powerful expert would officially begin here!