Chapter 161 - 125: Which One is Li Wen?
As the Chuhe King’s deep voice faded.
The word "Unparalleled" seemed to carry a heavy echo, reverberating through the main hall before spreading to every corner of the venue.
In an instant, over two thousand pairs of eyes locked onto Li Wen, who stood in the central area.
Those gazes were a mixture of astonishment, envy, and disbelief.
At the same time, the Chuhe King’s words also officially marked the end of the first day’s assessment.
And just as he had implied, after announcing Li Wen’s evaluation, the Chuhe King’s gaze did not linger.
He swept his gaze across the entire hall one last time, his voice like a great bell, clearly imprinting itself on everyone’s mind: "The three preliminary assessments are over."
The moment his voice faded, the King-level expert’s figure vanished on the spot like a bursting bubble, without causing even the slightest ripple in space.
Immediately after, the Marquis Level expert who had been overseeing the proceedings stepped forward and announced to the many geniuses below:
"The first day of assessment is complete. All who have not been eliminated will now follow the attendants to the side halls to rest. The list of the top one thousand participants in the three preliminary assessments will be announced shortly. Tomorrow"—his gaze swept over the expectant and nervous faces below—"the final two assessments of combat and comprehension will be held! Only the top two hundred participants, determined by the combined rankings from both days, will be the final selections and qualify for admission to Blaze University! Remember, be on time for tomorrow’s assessment!"
When he finished speaking, he exchanged a look with the other Marquis Level host beside him. With a flicker, they both transformed into streaks of light and disappeared.
On the high platform, the other spectating Marquis Level experts also rose. Some used profound Body Techniques, others flew through the air, and in an instant, they had all left Heart Mirror Hall, leaving the main stage empty and silent.
In the vast hall, only the several thousand gifted young men and women who had endured a full day of tense assessments remained, their expressions varied. They were accompanied by the numerous respectful attendants from the Fire Hall, who stood waiting on both sides.
After a brief silence, a low murmur of discussion spread through the crowd like a rising tide.
’Tomorrow’s combat and comprehension trials are where I’ll truly get to shine.’
In a corner, a powerfully built young man from Northern Europe clenched his fists, a sharp glint in his eyes.
He had excelled in the strength assessment, and while his temperament score was slightly weaker, his rank was still decent. He was absolutely confident in his actual combat abilities.
’As long as I can maintain my performance in tomorrow’s combat and comprehension trials, I still have a chance to get into Blaze University.’
A young man whose scores in the three assessments put him right on the bubble for the top one thousand nervously wrung his hands, muttering to himself for encouragement.
"...I wonder if this Li Wen can maintain today’s stunning performance in tomorrow’s assessment."
Most gazes, however, remained fixed on the black-clad young man, the focus of their discussions revolving around him.
Some marveled at his supreme Spiritual Sense, while others were more critical, eager to see how this genius from a county-level city, who was rated "Unparalleled Spiritual Sense," would perform in the last two assessments that required raw power and deep comprehension.
"All you chosen ones, please follow us."
The attendants’ gentle yet firm voices rang out at the right moment, interrupting everyone’s thoughts.
The same group of attendants who had led them into Heart Mirror Hall that morning reappeared and began to orderly guide the remaining participants toward the side halls.
Those who had already been eliminated in the three assessments were led away by another group of attendants. They silently departed the magnificent Heart Mirror Hall, heading toward Fire City with feelings of dejection or indignation.
One path led to rest and anticipation in the side halls; the other signified the end of their journey.
The wait was always long and torturous.
After being led to an elegantly furnished but tense side hall, most of the geniuses seemed restless, with the exception of a few like Li Wen, who sat with his eyes closed, regulating his breath, as calm as still water and seemingly oblivious to the surrounding turmoil.
A palpable anxiety filled the air, and the sound of hushed whispers was like the buzzing of a swarm of bees.
"Sigh, I don’t know if I can make the top two hundred..." a pale-faced young man couldn’t help but say to his companion, voicing his worries.
"Relax. Your strengths are in tomorrow’s combat and comprehension trials, especially comprehension, which has always been your forte. You made it into the top thousand in the preliminaries, so you just need to hold steady." His companion, though equally nervous, did his best to comfort him.
"I hope so..." The young man gave a bitter smile. "If I can’t get into Blaze University in the end, I’m afraid I’ll have to settle for one of the Four Great Martial Academies. Once you fall behind, you keep falling further behind. I’m afraid that a few years from now, when I see you again, I’ll have to respectfully call you ’Senior’..."
His words were laced with anxiety about the future and the fear that the gap in their strength might grow infinitely wide.
Similar conversations echoed quietly throughout the side hall.
The tense wait was like an invisible thread, tightening around everyone’s nerves.
VMMMM—
Just as the wait had become agonizing, with every second feeling like a year, the huge, once-blank Crystal Stone wall at the very front of the side hall suddenly lit up.
After the soft, solemn light stabilized, the first thing that came into view were five magnificent, gilded words that seemed to burn with the fire of conviction—
[Blaze University - Preliminary Rankings]
As the light flowed, lines of incredibly clear text began to appear one by one beneath the large words, showing names, ranks, and their corresponding summary evaluations for the three assessments (Strength, Temperament, Spiritual Sense):
1. Li Wen: A, A+, Unparalleled
2. Du Yun: A+, A, A+
3. Fang Chenghong: A, A, A
......
20. Ron Zaka: A+, B-, A
...
117. Chu Feng: B, B+, B
...
HISS—