Chapter 13: Showy Display
On top of the stage, the spectators inclined their heads to look at the empty air, as the residual sound of the drumbeats reverberated in the air, and a terrifying surge of energy emerged — so powerful that it was capable of shocking people.
“A demoness. No wonder Ye WuQue from the Ye Clan was willing to give up the marriage engagement with the royal clan for her. As a phoenix among women, her accomplishments in the future will definitely not be any lesser when compared to Ye WuQue.” Seifer from the Royal Academy silently stated in his heart. This woman, regardless of the cost, they must ensure that she joined the Royal Academy.
“Autumn Snow, should you enter the Royal Academy, I can immediately gift you with a Yuanfu-Graded Cultivation Technique, as well as three incomparably exquisite innate-level techniques. How about it?” Seifer offered, extending an invitation for Autumn Snow to join the Royal Academy.
“The same goes for my Divine Wind Academy. We’re willing to gift you with a Yuanfu-Graded Cultivation Technique, including three innate-level techniques. Other than that, we would get an elder of the Yuanfu Realm to personally coach you.” The Divine Wind Academy immediately raised the bar, offering even better conditions.
“The Seven Star Academy offers you the choice to choose between three Yuanfu-Graded Cultivation Techniques, and would also gift you three innate-level techniques. Not only that, we will grant you special rights to bring five of your family members along for enrolment as well.” The Seven Star Academy, not only were they willing to nurture Autumn Snow, they even gave her a chance to extend the invitation to her family members.
“The Emperor Star Academy, welcomes your enrolment.” The representative standing beside Mustang, after hearing the invitations made by the other representatives, couldn’t tolerate it any longer as he too extended an invitation - causing the placid expression on Autumn Snow, to finally break out into a smile. The four great academies had all extended an invitation to her.
Autumn Snow didn’t responded immediately. She turned her body, and calmly stated as she looked to Qin Wentian, “Do you understand now?”
“Understand what?” Qin Wentian asked back.
“Our so called marriage engagement, in the face of the absolute disparity between us, is nothing but a joke. In the future, just peacefully live out your life and be a ordinary human.” Autumn Snow calmly continued, “My life and yours, from the start, we were destined to be two parallel lines, never to intersect.”
After saying that, Autumn Snow turned her body back and walked forward. The gazes of all the spectators were on her, curious about the choice she would make.
“Wait!” At this moment, a voice could be heard, causing Autumn Snow to once again cast her glance towards Qin Wentian. Traces of a smile could be seen in his eyes, causing Autumn Snow to freeze involuntarily.
“Your examination has ended, but what about me? I haven’t even started.” Qin Wentian tranquilly stated, causing Autumn Snow to raise her eyebrows. Qin Wentian wanted to attempt the examination too?
Qin Wentian proceeded forward, arriving in front of the enormous drum. Currently, his cultivation level was at the 5th level of the Body Refinement Realm. Even with the tremendous boosting effect from his Heavenly Hammer Astral Soul, his strength would still have a disparity when compared to Autumn Snow. But now, he had no choice but to go all out, staking his life on the line.
The disparity between the 5th and the 7th level of the Body Refinement Realm was extremely immense. A normal cultivator at the 5th level would only possess a strength level of 25 bulls. As for Qin Wentian, he was a special case. He had broken through to the 5th level of the Body Refinement Realm by only absorbing Astral Qi. And as a Stellar Martial Cultivator, with the aid of the boosting effects from the tyrannical Heavenly Hammer Astral Soul, he was able to display twice the level of strength when compared to an ordinary 5th level Body Refinement Realm Martial Cultivator, reaching the strength level of 50 bulls.
In addition to that, with the Dragon Subduing Fist he’d recently cultivated, Qin Wentian was able to boost his current strength level to another level, further shortening the distance between him and Autumn Snow. And thus, this time round, he was prepared to exert himself to the utmost.
“Hmph!” Talon’s coldly snorted. If Qin Wentian was unable to cause the drumbeat to reverberate at least three times, he would definitely teach him a lesson.
Mustang narrowed his eyes in laughter, it was as though he knew that a lion — the king of the beasts — was about to rise.
And Qin Chuan, who was sitting in the grandstand, underwent a myriad of changes in his expressions. Did Wentian really manage to solve the problem of his crippled meridians, and finally step onto the pathway of cultivation?
Qin Wentian glanced at the enormous drum ahead, and entered into an altered state of mind - a realm of thoughtlessness, forgetting everything. It was as though he had transferred all the negative emotions within him, onto the enormous drum in front of him.
Abruptly, Qin Wentian erupted into motion, his fist was like a raging wind, as he struck out onto the drum.
“Boom, Boom, Boom…” The drumbeat sounded out three times. Although there was nothing astonishing about this, it still caused many in the audience to be dumbstruck. Wasn’t Qin Wentian someone who had crippled meridians? He had actually managed to reach the 3rd reverberation. This signified that he at least had the strength level of 30 bulls.
“Wentian!” Qin Chuan shuddered violently, the sound of these three drumbeats, was akin to heavenly music in his ears, causing his soul to shiver in delight
Beside Qin Chuan, Qin Yao clenched her hands into fists. Her brother, had actually managed to cause the 3rd reverberation.
Talon, Bai Qingsong, Autumn Snow and the rest went slack jawed, as shock suffused their features. However, they soon recovered. Wasn’t it only three reverberations? It meant he only had the strength level of 30 bulls. Maybe he had absorbed the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth and cultivated as a Martial Cultivator.
In Qin Wentian’s body, cracking sounds could be heard. His body was flooded with infinite strength as his Stellar Meridians transformed into a spiral tunnel, gathering Astral Energy crazily, causing the gathered Astral Energy to flow through all his energy channels, all the way to his arm, infusing the fist of his with herculean might.
“Raging Dragon Leaving the Oceans!” Qin Wentian roared. At this moment, he was comparable to a ferocious dragon, explosively bursting out of the oceans. Gathering boundless might in his fist, he mercilessly struck at the drum again.
“Boom….” The intense sound of the drumbeat was like thunder that shocked the heavens, causing pain to the eardrums of the spectators.
“Boom, Boom, Boom..” The drumbeats reverberated unceasingly, the sound emitted, rang out in the four directions, and the full force of the blow was not fully expended yet.
Qin Wentian was fully immersed in that state, as if he was one with the drums. That terrifying surge of rebound energy, redirected back to his body, caused his soul to vibrate with it. Crackling sounds rang out unceasingly as his bones structure underwent a baptism under the pressure. It was as though he was undergoing impurities cleansing, leaving him only with a extremely revitalising feeling — he was in the midst of a breakthrough!
Despite that, the sounds in his body were masked by the reverberation of the drumbeats, and just as the 5th reverberation rang out, all the spectators were thunderstruck. Qin Wentian had actually caused five reverberations! Not only that, there were still some lingering aftermath that hinted at the possibility of the 6th reverberation.
Hints of excitement appeared in Qin Wentian’s eyes. Never had he expected to breakthrough to the 6th level of the Body Refinement Realm in this examination. Seems like the Astral Energy from the Yuan Meteor Stone were not wasted indeed.
“Excellent!”, Qin Chuan cried out joyfully. Five reverberations, which meant that Wentian had the strength level of 50 bulls.
The sleeping genius, had finally awakened.
“He actually managed to reach the 5th reverberation.” Bai Qingsong and the rest were still in shock. This was beyond their expectations, Qin Wentian was actually that talented?
“Not only did you forbid me from absorbing the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth, you actually hid the fact from me, and secretly cultivated the Yuan Qi from Heaven and Earth, reaching your current cultivation level today. How ridiculous.” Autumn Snow glared at Qin Wentian. With his strength level of 50 bulls, Qin Wentian’s cultivation should be at the 7th level of the Body Refinement Realm, or even higher. However, she was sure that Qin Wentian had not managed to condense an Astral Soul yet.
Autumn Snow could never have imagined that Qin Wentian only used a span of 7 days to reach his current level of cultivation. In addition, she would also not be able to imagine that he was in fact, the purest Stellar Martial Cultivator, with no taint of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi in his system, and condensed an Astral Soul from the 5th Heavenly Layer, coupled with the fact that his body, compared to others in the same level, was even more perfect as a result of enduring hellish pain through his Tempered Thousand Hammer Refinement Technique. There was no way for her to imagine how immense the boosting effect would be.
“Pitiful.” Qin Wentian lightly stated, as he glanced at Autumn Snow. In that instance, Astral Light blossomed in radiant splendor - an Astral Soul, with a faint golden halo, in the shape of a gigantic hammer could be seen materializing atop of Qin Wentian’s forehead. That halo produced was even brighter and more resplendent than the Astral Soul of Autumn Snow. The energy that emanated from it, was also countless times more terrifying.
“Boom!” Suddenly, a thunderous sound rang out. Oh God, it was an Astral Soul, Qin Wentian, not only did he possessed a strength level of 50 bulls, he was also a Stellar Martial Cultivator.
One must know that, earlier, when Qin Wentian had his affinity for the Astral Qi tested, he had achieved a 9-star talent rating.
“That Astral Soul was even brighter than the halo of Autumn Snow’s. Surely, it must have originated from the 3rd Heavenly Layer or higher.” The hearts of the spectators were all trembling in awe.
A 9-star rating for affinity for Astral Qi, and he had condensed an Astral Soul from the 3rd Heavenly Layer. At this moment, Qin Wentian was the one that caused the crowd to focus their gazes on him. As for Autumn Snow, it was as if she had been shunted to the side, becoming something insignificant.
“Excellent, Excellent!” Qin Chuan could not hold back his joy any longer as he loudly exclaimed. It was as if all the sadness and depression in his heart had been spat out. It was too satisfying! A 9-star talent, as well as an Astral Soul condensed from the 3rd Heavenly Layer!
“Who said that my son Wentian was unworthy of Autumn Snow. Is Autumn Snow even worthy enough for him?!” Qin Chuan coldly stated, gazing at Bai Qingsong. At this moment, the countenance of Bai Qingsong was extremely ugly to behold, it was as if he dared not believed what was happening before his eyes. How was this possible?
The representatives from the four great academies, had sat down after Autumn Snow finished displaying her might. However, at this moment, they all stood up again, gazing at the blinding Astral Soul atop of Qin Wentian’s forehead. How radiant, how resplendent.
“Hu… a monster is born.” Mustang deeply sucked in a huge breath, as his gaze heated up. He was the first to discover the talent of Qin Wentian. To think that now, the sleeping dragon had finally awakened.
“The Emperor Star Academy, welcomes your enrolment.” Mustang warmly smiled, and extended the invitation to Qin Wentian.
However it was as though Qin Wentian had not heard the invitation. His gaze was riveted on Autumn Snow, as a cold smile hung from his lips, “I wish to question the Bai Clan: When did I ever have bad intentions towards Autumn Snow? And as for you, Autumn Snow, do you even have the abilities needed to guide me?”
As the sound of his voice faded away, Qin Wentian drew in a huge breath. The Astral Energy within him, formed a terrifying spiral, surging frantically, enveloping his entire arm. The Astral Energy contained within his arm was saturated to the point where it almost exploded. Qin Wentian’s fist flickered between the forms of a heavenly hammer, and that of a soaring dragon. Emanating an overbearing, extremely tyrannical aura, and containing herculean might, his fist swung onto the surface of the gigantic drum. This strike of his, was his ultimate, containing all the strength he possessed.
“Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!” Both the skies and earth shuddered, as the thunderous drumbeats shocked the heavens. The sound of the reverberations rang out continuously, with no intentions of stopping.
“Boom!” The 6th reverberation, it was as though 10,000 horses was galloping at insane speed, causing tremors in the hearts of the spectators.
“Boom!”, when the 7th reverberation rang out, everyone in the audience was flabbergasted, Qin Wentian had matched the record of Autumn Snow with this strike.
What was even more terrifying, was that there was still a lingering sound, as if the drumbeats had no intention of ceasing.
“Boom!” As the 8th reverberation rang out, it was as though the thunderous sound had stolen the hearing of the crowd. The spectators only felt a strong gust of wind, from the aftermath of that reverberation, blow upon their face, as they felt numbness in their hearts. The wind also blew on the face of Autumn Snow. The 8th reverberation. Qin Wentian had broken her record! It was as though she had been slapped heavily by that gust of wind. How shocking.
“Next, in the second round of the examination, i will truly show you how great the divide is between you and me.”
“My life and yours, from the start, we were destined to be two parallel lines, never to intersect.”
The prideful words of Autumn Snow lingered in the air. However, how weak did those prideful words sounded now.
The earlier brilliance of Autumn Snow had diminished almost into nothingness, as the 8th reverberation rang out. Be it in terms of talent, or strength, she had no way to compete with Qin Wentian.
The gaze of Mustang grew heated as he drew in a deep breath. Decisiveness could be seen flickering in his eyes, as he stated, “The Emperor Star Academy retracts their earlier invitation to Autumn Snow. Qin Wentian, I represent the Emperor Star Academy, and sincerely extend an invitation for you to join us.”
The other representatives beside Mustang glanced at him, while their expressions flickered. However, in their hearts, they agreed with his decision. Two geniuses — obviously, Qin Wentian was the more brilliant one. Forsaking Autumn Snow for Qin Wentian, was the right choice to make.
“The Emperor Star Academy, because of Qin Wentian, has actually rejected Autumn Snow!” This decision left many in the crowds gasping as their hearts trembled. At this moment, sounds of discussion broke out amongst the crowd. The show today was indeed fascinating.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone