52: Potential Test: Martial Emperor's Potential?

Three days later, deep in the Kunlun Mountains.

A military transport plane wove through the clouds, carrying the top one hundred Geniuses from the national exam in its cabin.

The atmosphere was so oppressive you could wring water out of it.

Lin Fan sat by the window, closing his eyes to rest.

Beside him were Su Muyu and Qin Yue—it was unclear how these two had gotten together, but they were currently whispering to each other.

"Lin Fan," Qin Yue suddenly leaned in, lowering her voice, "I received news that this training camp is not quite right."

Lin Fan opened his eyes: "What's wrong with it?"

"It was supposed to be a regular training camp jointly organized by the various martial arts universities," Qin Yue said with a grave expression, "but the rules were suddenly changed yesterday, and it has been taken over directly by the Kunlun Secret Realm Management Committee."

"Kunlun Secret Realm Management Committee?" Lin Fan raised an eyebrow, "Never heard of it."

"It's normal that you haven't heard of it," Su Muyu took over, "It is the country's highest-level confidential organization, directly responsible to the central government, specifically managing all ancient Secret Realms and ruins within the country."

"In previous years, they never intervened in the training of the younger generation, but this time they have suddenly stepped in..." Qin Yue frowned, "I suspect it has something to do with that newly opened ancient ruin."

Lin Fan was thoughtful.

At this moment, the cabin broadcast sounded:

"Attention students, we will arrive at Kunlun Base in ten minutes. Please prepare yourselves, and after disembarking, follow the guidance to the assembly point."

"Repeating: This training camp is under the full responsibility of the Kunlun Secret Realm Management Committee. All actions must comply with instructions; violators... will bear the consequences."

The last four words carried a cold warning.

There was a stir in the cabin.

"What's the situation? So serious?"

"I heard the mortality rate for this training camp might reach 10%..."

"10%?! That's so high!"

"Exploring ancient ruins is inherently at your own risk."

Lin Fan listened to the surrounding discussions, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Interesting.

It was getting more and more interesting.

...

The transport plane landed at a secret base surrounded by mountains.

On both sides of the runway were fully armed soldiers, all of whom had at least the aura of a Great Martial Master!

Further away, a dozen silver-white buildings crouched like giant beasts, full of futuristic technology.

"Is this Kunlun Base?" some students exclaimed.

"I heard that the country's top scientific research achievements and martial arts Legacies are hidden here..."

"Shut up, all of you!" a cold voice rang out.

Everyone looked up.

On the high platform in front, three people were standing.

In the middle was a middle-aged woman wearing a white research gown, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a cold temperament.

Behind her stood two young people, a man and a woman, both wearing black combat uniforms, expressionless.

"I am the chief instructor for this training camp, Instructor Bai Su."

The middle-aged woman pushed her glasses, and her voice spread across the field through a megaphone, "For the next month, you will be under my full training."

"Now, count off!"

Everyone instinctively lined up.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

...

"One hundred!"

Instructor Bai Su scanned the crowd, her gaze lingering on Lin Fan for a moment before moving away.

"Very good, everyone is here."

"First, I will announce three ironclad rules."

She held up one finger:

"First, private fighting is prohibited during the training period. Violators will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the camp."

Second finger:

"Second, all training content must be completed. Those who cannot complete it will be eliminated."

Third finger:

"Third, and this is the most important one!"

Her gaze suddenly became sharp:

"All information regarding the ancient ruin, the Kunlun Ruins, is prohibited from being leaked. Violators... will be treated as traitors!"

The whole place was dead silent.

Treason!

That meant losing one's head!

"Now, let's conduct the strength assessment." Instructor Bai Su turned to the side, "Everyone, step forward in order and place your hand on the Spirit Stone."

Beside the high platform, a black stone stele half a person tall stood there, its surface covered with mysterious patterns.

"The Spirit Stone can accurately detect your true Realm, blood qi value, and... potential rating."

"The rating ranges from F to SSS and will determine your resource allocation in the training camp."

"Begin!"

The first student stepped forward and pressed his palm on the stele.

Hum!

The stele lit up with a faint light, and text appeared:

【Name: Wang Hao】

【Realm: Late Stage Martial Master】

【blood qi value: 4.2】

【Potential Rating: B】

"B-grade, next."

The second student stepped forward:

【Realm: Peak Martial Master】

【blood qi value: 4.8】

【Potential Rating: A-】

"A-, not bad."

The assessment proceeded quickly.

Most students were between B and A grade, and an occasional A+ would cause a small range of exclamations.

Ye Wuchen stepped forward.

【Realm: Early Stage Great Martial Master】

【blood qi value: 5.5】

【Potential Rating: S-】

"S-!" someone exclaimed.

"As expected of the Ye family Genius, he actually reached the Great Martial Master Realm after the national exam!"

Instructor Bai Su nodded slightly: "S-, very good. Next."

Tang Sect of Shu Young Lord Tang Ying stepped forward.

【Realm: Peak Martial Master】

【blood qi value: 4.9】

【Potential Rating: A+】

"What a pity, almost S-grade."

Next was Xuanyuan Potian.

His face was still pale; clearly, his injuries from three days ago had not fully recovered.

He pressed his palm onto the stele.

【Realm: Peak Martial Master】

【blood qi value: 4.5】

【Potential Rating: B+】

"B+?" everyone was stunned.

Xuanyuan Potian was the number one Genius of Dragon Capital; he should have been at least S-grade before!

"The aftereffects of the blood-burning secret technique," someone whispered, "His potential has been mostly burned away; in this life... he will likely stop at the Martial Ancestor Realm."

Xuanyuan Potian clenched his fists until they creaked, keeping his head down as he walked back to the team.

"Next, Su Muyu."

Su Muyu stepped forward and pressed her palm lightly.

Hum!

The stele shone brightly!

【Realm: Early Stage Great Martial Master】

【blood qi value: 6.1】

【Potential Rating: S+!】

"S+!" The whole audience was in an uproar!

"Higher than Ye Wuchen!"

"Did she hide her strength before?"

A flash of surprise crossed Instructor Bai Su's eyes: "Su Muyu... are you from the Su family?"

Su Muyu nodded calmly: "Yes."

"No wonder," Instructor Bai Su was thoughtful, "Next, Qin Yue."

Qin Yue stepped forward.

The moment she pressed her palm down.

Hum!!!

The light erupting from the stele was almost blinding!

【Realm: Middle Stage Great Martial Master】

【blood qi value: 7.3】

【Potential Rating: SS!】

"SS-grade!!"

"My god! Middle Stage Great Martial Master! She's only eighteen!"

"With this potential... she will definitely become a Martial King in the future!"

Even Instructor Bai Su was moved: "Qin Yue, your file says you were a Peak Martial Master..."

"Just had a Breakthrough." Qin Yue smiled slightly and retreated back to the team.

But Lin Fan noticed that when she retreated, she winked at him.

"Hidden quite deep..." Lin Fan muttered to himself.

"Last one," Instructor Bai Su looked at Lin Fan, "Lin Fan."

All eyes were focused on him.

This number one in the national exam, the cleaner of the earth cave, the monster who took on two hundred and ninety-nine people in the Arena... what exactly was his rating?

Lin Fan walked up slowly and pressed his hand on the stele.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

The stele... had no reaction.

"Hmm?" Instructor Bai Su frowned, "Is the Spirit Stone broken?"

The young man behind her stepped forward to check: "Instructor, the instrument is normal."

"Then why is there no reaction?"

The crowd also discussed it.

"Could Lin Fan... actually be very weak?"

"Maybe he used some secret technique to temporarily boost his strength, and now his true colors are revealed?"

"I said it, how could a Martial Master be so strong..."

A flash of glee crossed Xuanyuan Potian's eyes.

However, just at this moment.

Hum!!!

The stele suddenly vibrated violently!

It wasn't glowing.

It was... cracking!

Crack!

A crack spread from the top of the stele to the bottom!

Immediately after—

Boom!!!

The entire Spirit Stone exploded into powder!

The whole audience was dumbfounded.

The two young men behind Instructor Bai Su stepped forward instantly, protecting her and staring vigilantly at Lin Fan.

"What did you do?" Instructor Bai Su's expression was grave.

Lin Fan looked innocent: "I just pressed it."

"The Spirit Stone can withstand a blood qi test at the Martial King level," Instructor Bai Su stared at him, "Unless your blood qi or potential... exceeds the Martial King level."

Silence.

Dead silence.

Exceeds the Martial King level?

Wouldn't that mean... Martial Emperor potential?

Eighteen-year-old Martial Emperor potential?!

"Impossible!" Xuanyuan Potian shouted out, "He must have used some method to destroy the instrument!"

"Right! The Spirit Stone must have been problematic long ago!"

"Request a re-test!"

Many people echoed.

They couldn't accept that Lin Fan, coming from a humble background, might have a potential one major Realm higher than them, these aristocratic Geniuses.

Instructor Bai Su was silent for a moment, then suddenly took out another, smaller piece of jade from her bosom.

This piece of jade was purple all over, with Dragon patterns intertwined on the surface.

"This is the Dragon Blood Spirit Stone, specially designed to detect special Physiques and hidden potential." She looked at Lin Fan, "Do you dare to try again?"