71: Chapter 71 The Mysterious Crystal Power Testing Stele is about to explode!

The assessment hall of the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division was a world apart from the somewhat shabby branch in Nanyan Prefecture.

The entire hall was constructed from thousand-year-old basalt, pitch black and exuding an ancient, solemn Aura.

Inside the hall stood eighteen massive pillars carved with Dragons and Phoenixes. Above, a giant night pearl was embedded in the ceiling, illuminating the entire hall as bright as day, revealing every detail.

Holding the recommendation letter from the Nanyan Prefecture Chief, Lin Feng slowly walked into the hall under the guidance of a Steward.

At this moment, many people had already gathered in the hall, all of whom were prominent figures within the provincial Demon Suppression Division.

They gathered in small groups, whispering to one another, their gazes occasionally sweeping over Lin Feng with curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of imperceptible disdain.

"Is this the Lin Feng from Nanyan Prefecture? He doesn't look like anything special."

"Heh, just a lucky youngster who killed a few low-level Danyuan Realm practitioners and thinks he's invincible. He doesn't realize the waters of the provincial capital are much deeper than his little pond."

"I heard the Zhao Family has already put out the word that they're going to make sure this kid dies without a grave!"

Lin Feng turned a deaf ear to these discussions. His gaze fell calmly on the chief examiner in the center of the hall, responsible for this assessment.

It was none other than one of the three Silver Rank Demon Slayers, Examiner Xuanjizi.

Examiner Xuanjizi was dressed in a white robe, possessing an immortal air and a Dao-like demeanor. He held an ancient scroll and was engrossed in reading, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.

Yet, Lin Feng keenly sensed a faint, subtle hostility directed at him beneath that calm exterior.

"Lin Feng of Nanyan Prefecture, here for the Silver Rank promotion assessment."

Lin Feng handed over the recommendation letter. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Only then did Examiner Xuanjizi slowly lift his eyelids, a sharp glint flashing in his seemingly cloudy old eyes.

He took the recommendation letter, gave it a casual glance, and tossed it aside.

"Yan Cheng of Nanyan Prefecture is certainly getting better at his job."

"A newcomer who hasn't even been in the division for two months dares to come for the Silver Rank assessment," he said with a fake smile and a tone with a bit of Yin and Yang sarcasm. "Does he think the threshold of my Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division is something any random person can cross?"

These blunt words left everyone present stunned.

It seemed the rumors were true; Examiner Xuanjizi was on good terms with the Zhao Family and was using his public office to settle a private score, aiming to give Lin Feng a harsh welcome.

Lin Feng's face remained as calm as still water, as if the other man wasn't talking about him.

"Rules cannot be discarded."

Seeing Lin Feng unmoved, Examiner Xuanjizi snorted inwardly. He slowly stood up, pointed to a ten-meter-tall black stone stele in the center of the hall, and declared loudly, "The Silver Rank assessment is divided into three stages. The first stage: True Qi purity test."

"This is the 'xuanjing power measurement stele,' forged from ten-thousand-year xuanjing iron. It can accurately measure the purity and abundance of a Martial Artist's True Qi. When True Qi is poured into it, the stele will light up. Every foot the light rises represents one Rank."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Lin Feng, a playful smirk curling on his lips.

"According to the rules, to promote from Bronze Rank to Silver Rank, the True Qi purity must reach at least six feet to pass. However..."

He changed his tone, his voice suddenly rising.

"Since you, Lin Feng, are so young and have already reached the ninth layer of the Danyuan Realm, you must be exceptionally gifted, far beyond ordinary people. Using standard criteria for you would be a waste of your talent."

"How about this."

Examiner Xuanjizi stroked his beard, putting on a 'for your own good' expression.

"I shall set a separate standard just for you."

"Ten feet!"

"As long as your True Qi can make this power measurement stele light up to ten feet, you pass this first stage!"

Boom!

The crowd erupted in an uproar at his words!

"Ten feet?! Is Lord Examiner Xuanjizi joking?"

"What a joke! Since this xuanjing power measurement stele was established, the highest record was nine feet nine inches, set twenty years ago by the Gold Rank Commander when he was at the Peak of the ninth layer of the Danyuan Realm! Ten feet is simply an impossible task!"

"This isn't an assessment; this is clearly making things difficult! He wants to make this kid look like a fool in public and force him to give up!"

Everyone present could tell that Examiner Xuanjizi was blatantly making things difficult for Lin Feng.

However, as the person involved, Lin Feng didn't show the slightest bit of anger or fear after hearing this 'impossible' task. Instead...

He let out a yawn.

He didn't even bother to ask what the so-called record was, only asking somewhat impatiently:

"How do I test?"

This nonchalant attitude stunned the crowd who were expecting a good show.

Was this kid truly stupid or just pretending?

Examiner Xuanjizi was also taken aback. He hadn't expected the other party to not even bother arguing and simply accept it.

"Place your hand on the stele and pour your True Qi into it."

He snorted and sat back in his chair, waiting to see Lin Feng make a fool of himself.

"Begin."

Lin Feng nodded and slowly walked to the massive black stele.

Under the gazes of everyone—some sympathetic, some gloating, some curious.

He slowly raised his right hand and gently pressed it against the cold stone stele.

There was no world-shaking Aura, nor any flashy visual effects.

He pressed it so casually, as if he were merely touching an ordinary stone carving.

However, the moment his palm made contact with the stele...

[270x Critical Hit triggered!]

Buzz—!!!

A dull hum, as if coming from the primordial wilderness, suddenly echoed from within the stele!

Immediately after, the pitch-black, eternal xuanjing power measurement stele erupted like a lit torch, starting from the base, with an unprecedented, extremely brilliant golden light!

That light was no longer the ordinary white light triggered by previous testers, but a majestic divine light filled with ultimate Yang strength, as if it could purify all the filth in the world!

On the stele, the pillar of light representing the purity of True Qi soared upward at a speed that surpassed everyone's limits of understanding!

One foot!

Two feet!

Three feet!

...

Seven feet!

Eight feet!

Nine feet!

The light pillar was unstoppable, shattering the record of nine feet nine inches held by the Gold Rank Commander for twenty years in the blink of an eye!

And yet, its momentum didn't slow down at all!

"This... this is impossible!"

Examiner Xuanjizi stood up abruptly from his chair, shock and disbelief written across his normally indifferent old face for the first time!

Crack—

The moment the light pillar broke through the ten-foot mark, a crisp, ear-piercing sound of cracking suddenly rang out from within the stele.

The xuanjing power measurement stele, which had stood for hundreds of years and withstood the impacts of countless Geniuses...

Under the overwhelming power of this Nine Yang True Qi, it actually succumbed to the pressure, and fine, spiderweb-like cracks began to spread across it!