It took almost an hour for the crowd of prospective students to gather. Yu Chenguang gazed at the crowd before spotting Jian Wu among them. The young man was standing beside two others who seemed to be chatting with him. He didn’t think those two knew anything about him, so it was probably just a coincidence they got together.

“Welcome, young hopefuls,” he said. His voice carried to every corner of the pavilion, silencing all conversation. “You are here because you wish to attend the Shang Kingdom Imperial Academy. Here at the academy, we treat all students as equals. Whatever your current cultivation level are does not matter. By the time you are ready to graduate and join the army, our academy will ensure that you have at least reached the Asura Realm.”

This was the reason their academy had so many students despite not having members with as strong a cultivation as one of the Three Great Sects. While the Three Great Sects had several disciples who were close to reaching the peak of the Asura Realm, most of these students would only reach the first subrealm, maybe the second or third if they applied themselves. That was okay. Their kingdom did not rely on overwhelming power but numbers and their alliance with the Heavenly Sword Sect to protect themselves.

“Because our academy is one that focuses on cultivation, there are several prerequisites you must pass before you can be allowed to join. First, any new student must be no older than eighteen. Second, you must have at least broken through to the Hunger Realm. Our first test will be to ensure that you are not above the age of eighteen and have reached the required realm to attend our academy.”

Yu Chenguang looked out at the crowd to see several suddenly looking nervous. They were probably ones who were older than the required age.

There was a reason they only allowed people who were younger than eighteen to attend the academy. It was harder for people to cultivate the older they got. More resources were required for someone in their twenties to reach the Asura Realm than someone in their teens. A cultivator who was eighteen could reach the Asura Realm in three years. A person who was twenty would take six and require two to three times as many resources. This was common knowledge that had been learned through much trial and error.

Yu Chenguang made a sweeping gesture toward the obelisk. “I would like you to direct your gaze toward the testing stone. This stone will read your bones to tell your age and your cultivation level. Keep in mind that if you do not meet both requirements, you will be asked to leave. Now, let us begin.”

Yu Chenguang stepped back and allowed one of the other people there to step forward. He was the oldest among them. His gray hair and the wrinkles lining his face made him look ancient, yet he stood with a straight back. His robes were thick, but Wu Jian could make out the broad shoulders hidden underneath the garment.

“Each of you should have received a tablet with a number on it. You are to go up there based on your number. All you need to do is place your hand on the obelisk and channel your chi into it. Now, starting with number 1, please go up and get tested.”

A young man who looked nervous slowly walked up to the obelisk. His shaky movements betrayed his feelings. He stopped in front of the obelisk, gulped, then placed his palm onto it.”

“Haaaaaaah!”

He channeled his chi, lighting up the obelisk. Particles gathered within the stone. They were like tiny moats of white light that stood in stark contrast to the obelisk’s blackness. A set of numbers appeared. 17. Followed by words. First Subrealm. Hunger Realm.

“You pass!” said the old man.

The young man placed a hand on his chest, breathed a sigh of relief, and walked away from the obelisk. His place was taken by another young man. This one was eighteen and had a second subrealm Hunger Realm cultivation.

One by one the people went up. A good majority passed, but there were a few who did not. Yu Chenguang wished he could be surprised that there were people who tried to pass even though they did not meet the age requirements. This happened every year. Some fools thought they could somehow trick the testing stone.

19.

Third Subrealm. Hunger Realm.

“You fail!” said the old man.

“What?! Come on! I’m just one year off! Can’t you make an exception here?!” demanded the young man who had just taken the test. His indignation did nothing to sway the instructor.

“If we made an exception for you, we would have to make an exception for everyone. There is a reason we have these rules in place. We cannot make exceptions to anyone,” said the old man.

“What the fuck! This is stupid! I came to this academy because I was told you treated everyone fairly, but you’re just as bad as the sects you claim to be different from!” the young man complained.

“We do treat everyone fairly. But we also have rules, and we make our requirements for entrance into the academy clear. You are the one at fault for either not reading the rules or thinking you can enter regardless. Now, I suggest you leave.”

“Don’t worry. I’m gone. Fuck this.”

The young man stormed out of the pavilion and the testing continued. Several numbers who were called up didn’t show, which led Yu Chenguang to suspect they were either over age or under age. It looked like they had wisened up.

“Number 62!”

A young man walked out of the crowd. He had hair like silk and skin like fresh snow. His features were feminine and soft, but it was still easy to tell he was a guy from the broadness of his shoulders and lack of breasts. The white and blue robes he wore let everyone know of his noble status. They were ostentatious and made from obviously expensive silk.

His appearance caused the crowd to murmur.

Yu Chenguang narrowed his eyes. It looked like a rather problematic young man had just appeared.

***

“Who is that?” Wu Jian asked.

“You don’t know who that is? Have you been living under a rock?” asked Ding Hong.

Wu Jian shrugged. “I’ve been traveling abroad.”

“Well, that explains it. Then allow me to educate you, my ignorant friend. That man is Yong Hai. He is the heir to the Yong Family. They’re a militaristic family in charge of protecting our borders with the Zhou Kingdom. Their head is Yong Mihong. I’ve heard he’s a peak Asura Realm Cultivator. Word is he has a fierce rivalry with Yu Chenguang.”

Wu Jian listened intently as the young man, Yong Hai, walked up to the obelisk and placed his hand on it. A bright glow flashed within the obelisk. The number 18 appeared within, followed by his cultivation.

“H-holy shit! He’s a second subrealm Asura Realm Cultivator!”

“I didn’t realize there’d be someone so strong coming to attend the academy!”

“H-he’s so handsome! Kya! He looked my way! Did you see him look at me?!”

“Why would he look at you? You’re just an ordinary girl. Do you think a man of his stature would look at a weed on the side of the road? You’re deluding yourself.”

“You don’t have to be so mean about it! A girl can dream, can’t she?”

“Sure, if it makes you happy, I guess.”

Yong Hai stepped back, turned, and bowed to the instructors on the stage before walking back into the crowd. The supreme confidence in his footsteps let Wu Jian know this man believed there was no one here who could beat him.

The numbers continued being called.

“Number 290!”

“Guess it’s my turn now,” Ding Hong said.

“Good luck,” said Wu Jian.

“I hope you break your legs,” added Bai Yazhu.

“I’m… really not sure that’s what you mean,” said a sweating Ding Hong.

Bai Yazhu stared at him. “It was exactly what I mean.”

“S-so cruel…”

Ding Hong looked defeated, but he quickly pepped back up and walked to the obelisk. He placed his hand on it, revealing that he was a seventeen year old at the Fifth Subrealm of the Hunger Realm. That was actually pretty impressive all things considered. It was the second highest cultivation after Yong Hai.

Bai Yazhu went next. She was sixteen and had a Third Subrealm Hunger Realm cultivation. That wasn’t bad, especially considering her commoner background. She was a commoner and Ding Hong’s childhood friend. Ding Hong was not of common birth, but his family ruled a rural city, so they weren’t as strict when it came to who he associated with.

“Number 292!”

“That’s me,” said Wu Jian.

“Good luck,” Ding Hong said.

“Good luck,” said Bai Yazhu.

“Why do you wish him luck and not me?!”

“Because you’re annoying.”

“That’s slander!”

Wu Jian left the bickering pair and walked out of the crowd. His mask drew a lot of attention, but he was certain most of the people were talking about him because he had arrived with Hou Jingshu.

He ignored them and stood before the obelisk, which was roughly twice his height and several times as wide. Wu Jian placed his palm on the cold stone surface and channeled his chi into it. A flash so bright it nearly blinded him erupted from within the obelisk. Several screams rang out as other people were also blinded. When the light subsided, a number and his cultivation appeared for everyone to see.

“W-what the heck?! What’s going on?! Are my eyes deceiving me?!”

“There’s no way… how can anyone just entering the academy have a cultivation this high?!”

“I’m imagining things! That’s it. This must be a figment of my imagination…”

The number 16 was followed by the words Seventh Subrealm Asura Realm.

Wu Jian almost sighed as he listened to the hubbub. Everyone was talking, but he could hear them just fine thanks to Byakko’s blood enhancing his senses. He knew this would happen. He did worry a little that being in the spotlight like this would cause someone to figure out who he was, but that was illogical. No one in this crowd knew of the Wu Clan. He should be safe. The only one who worried him was Yu Chenguang, but he hoped the man wouldn’t look too deeply into him.

Wu Jian turned around and glanced at the crowd. His gaze seemed to have silenced everyone. He looked over at Ding Hong and Bai Yazhu. Ding Hong’s mouth hung open. He was going to catch flies if he didn’t close it. Bai Yazhu also looked shocked. She had seemed fairly cold up to this point, so her expression was pretty amusing.

The real treat was Yong Hai, who looked like he had bit into an extremely sour lemon. His entire face was set in a nasty glare that went unnoticed by many within the crowd. Wu Jian could only see it because he was standing on a raised platform.

Yong Hai seemed to eventually notice Wu Jian’s gaze and his face twisted into the semblance of a smile. It looked like he was still struggling though.

The crowd parted as Wu Jian made his way back to Ding Hong and Yai Bazhu.

“Hey, bro! Brother. Why didn’t you tell me your cultivation was so high?!” demanded Ding Hong.

“I don’t know why I should have told you when you never asked,” said Wu Jian.

“Touche. I’ll accept that. But still, like, what kind of monster are you?”

“A monster?”

“That’s right. A monster. There’s no way a sixteen year old can have a Seventh Subrealm Asura Realm cultivation unless they’re a genius.”

“Jingshu… er… Her Highness Hou Jingshu has the same level as me,” said Wu Jian.

Ding Hong scratched his head. “Really? I guess that’s understandable since she is the princess of our kingdom, but that doesn’t explain you. Didn’t you say you were traveling abroad? How did you get so strong when you were away?”

“I partially agree with Ding Hong,” said Bai Yazhu. “Only members of powerful sects or families attain your kind of cultivation, and even they aren’t as young as you.”

“I don’t know what to tell you,” said Wu Jian with a shrug.

“Ugh, you and your air of mystery,” Ding Hong sighed.

The testing continued, and while no one came even close to Wu Jian’s cultivation, there were a few young men and women who had reached the peak of the Hunger Realm. There was even one young woman who had reached the First Subrealm of the Asura Realm, making her the third strongest person to enter.

Once everyone had finished testing, Yu Chenguang stepped forward once again.