“Let’s do it when the time comes,” said Meng Chuan with a smile.
“It’s a deal then.” Princess Li Ying looked to the side. “Young Master Yan, your dual swords are extremely powerful. We should spar once we enter Archean Mountain.”
“Alright.” Yan Jin responded tersely. He was willing to accept any combat opportunities. Every battle was a chance to train himself.
Princess Li Ying smiled and left after exchanging a few pleasantries. She had been born in the imperial family, so she was used to socializing and befriending people who could help her. In her eyes, Meng Chuan and Yan Jin were clearly worth befriending.
…
Time passed.
Occasionally, people would come to talk to Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang! After all, everyone could tell that Meng Chuan would definitely be able to secure a spot, even if they weren’t certain of the final rankings.
The sky gradually darkened as the snowstorm intensified. Everybody waited in the hall and the corridors anxiously.
“The ranking has been decided!” A voice sounded from afar.
The goateed man held a golden scroll. Behind him were other stewards—who had walked through the snowstorm.
The preliminaries’ rankings are out. Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan looked into the distance. They were only curious if he was ranked first or second. It was unlikely he would rank third! As for the other geniuses and their family and friends, they were much more nervous. Many geniuses were not destined to enter the top 100, destroying their chances of participating in the final selection.
Chapter 84 - Ranking
Everybody immediately rushed towards the goateed man.
“Everyone don’t be anxious. I’ll hang this golden scroll on the wall and let everyone see it clearly.” As the goateed man spoke, he walked to a wall in the corridor. He opened the golden scroll and hung it on the wall. At the same time, he laughed loudly and said, “Every person on the list will stay in Blazing Sun Palace overnight with one family member. Tomorrow morning, they will head to Archean Mountain for the final selection. As for those who aren’t on the list, they may leave.”
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Many family members and friends used their movement techniques and rushed to the wall. They carefully scanned through the names on the scroll.
Some geniuses didn’t care about their pride. They also used their movement techniques to rush in and take a closer look.
Where’s my name? Where’s my name? A genius looked anxiously. He couldn’t find his name on the golden scroll.
Ranked 39th? That’s good. At least I passed the preliminaries; I’ll definitely be able to shock everyone and get a spot in the final selection.
“Where’s my son’s name?”
“I’m not in the top 100. Forget it.”
…
Meng Chuan and his father weren’t in a hurry. They walked towards the golden scroll with Yan Jin.
“It’s fine. We can come next year even if you didn’t pass the preliminaries this year.” A man—that exuded old age—consoled his son. “You’ll be twenty next year. You still have one more chance. Don’t worry. You managed to reach the minimum requirement of all three assessments this year. If you cultivate for another year and experience another breakthrough, you’ll definitely be able to obtain a spot next year.”
“Dad, I’ve finally realized how many geniuses there are. Compared to them, I’m still very mediocre. I will definitely work harder when I return,” said his son in a low voice.
The aged man smiled.
His son had been very proud previously. After all, he had far surpassed his peers in his prefecture. He did things independently and acted like an arrogant genius. However, his son’s arrogance had been shattered completely. At Archean Mountain’s entrance examination, he was indeed a mediocre genius. Fortunately, he still had one chance left. He could try again next year.
“Clan Leader, I’ll serve in the military immediately,” said a white-robed woman calmly to a silver-haired elder beside her. “The gap between the others and I is quite huge. I have nothing to say about not being admitted into Archean Mountain.”
The silver-haired elder nodded. “Join the military and accumulate credit. You’ll still have a chance of undergoing the Life-and-Death juncture and become a Godfiend in the future.”
The white-robed woman said calmly, “Either I die on the battlefield or become a Godfiend.” Becoming a Godfiend was her life goal. She had never thought of living an ignoble life.
Many geniuses and family members left one by one. Since they weren’t on the list, they naturally had to leave.
“Impossible. I’m not on the list?” A colorful-robed youth looked at the golden scroll dazedly.
“Let’s go.” The elder beside him pulled him away.
“There must be something wrong. I should enter Archean Mountain. I have to,” muttered the colorful-robed youth.
“Admit your failure,” said the elder.
“I haven’t participated in the final selection. The Godfiends at Archean Mountain haven’t discovered my true potential. They must have made a mistake,” the colorful-robed youth muttered to himself.
The elder shook his head and sighed, forcefully pulling him away.
Most of the geniuses had to leave because there were only a hundred names on the list.
Meng Chuan glanced at the geniuses who had failed. They were either silent, crazed, or indifferent… They had all sorts of reactions, and he felt mixed emotions. Entering Archean Mountain was like night and day for mortals. Many people had placed their hopes on Meng Chuan, but he was in much better shape. Furthermore, he was only eighteen.
He wasn’t like the geniuses who were already twenty years old—where this was their last attempt at Archean Mountain’s entrance examination.
“Awesome, Young Master Meng.”
“Young Master Meng, you are ranked first.”
Before Meng Chuan reached the golden scroll, someone in front congratulated him.
“First place?”
Meng Chuan and his father walked through the crowd and finally saw the golden scroll. The words on the golden scroll seemed to contain a sense of pressure.
His gaze swept across the scroll and saw the names of Jin Huan, Yan Jin, Chu Yong, and many others. At the top was the name “Meng Chuan.”
Meng Chuan: A–, A+, S
Ji Yuantong: A+, A, A+
Zong Sha: A+, A, A
…
Meng Chuan came to a realization after seeing this. Ji Yuantong and Zong Sha were evaluated to be A+ for the preliminaries’ first assessment! The Archean Mountain Godfiends gave special treatment to sharpshooters.
Zong Sha had broken through fewer light barriers than Meng Chuan in the first assessment, but his evaluation was the same as Ji Yuantong’s. Clearly, the criterion for a sharpshooter was somewhat different. They were the only two who obtained an A+ for the first assessment.
There were only two A-pluses for the second assessment. One was Jin Huan, while the other was Meng Chuan. In fact, Meng Chuan was ten percent faster than Jin Huan, making him better, but Meng Chuan had only received an A+. He didn’t reach S—which clearly had a very high threshold.
Amongst all the geniuses, only Meng Chuan attained an S grade.
S? An S actually appeared this year? Ji Yuantong looked at the only S grade on the list and fell silent.
Ji Yuantong scored 2 A-pluses and an A in the preliminaries. That was definitely an extremely monstrous score. However, Meng Chuan scored an S grade.
Ji Yuantong looked at Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan—who were not far away. He turned and left, but his eyes were filled with battle intent. After the final selection, I will definitely become number one.
Ninth. Yan Jin looked at his ranking calmly. Roughly ten people had Godfiend foundations that were on par with his. Being ranked ninth was quite low.
I cultivate dual sword techniques. The preliminaries only showcase a single sword’s strength. Yan Jin l
ooked at the ranking. Only the final selection will showcase my true strength.
He admitted that he was weaker than Meng Chuan. But, he was still stronger than Jin Huan and the others! Yet, Jin Huan was ranked sixth, while he was ranked ninth.
There’s actually an S grade? Chu Yong, Yan Feng, Jin Huan, Princess Li Ying, Dong Fang, Ning Yibo, Yan Chitong, and many other geniuses were shocked when they saw the S grade. Especially those from the powerful Godfiend family clans, they knew how rare an S grade was in the preliminaries.
…
Blazing Sun Palace occupied a large area and had long prepared accommodation for exam participants and their family members. There were a lot of rooms, totaling three hundred rooms. Now, all the geniuses and family friends were settled in.
Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang took two neighboring rooms.
Whoosh! Whoosh! It was late at night, and the snow didn’t let up.
Meng Chuan stared at the snow through the window as his thoughts drifted. The final selection was tomorrow. Although he was confident he could obtain a spot, he wasn’t sure about his final ranking.
Once a spot is obtained, one will be admitted into Archean Mountain officially. According to Archean Mountain’s rules, one has to reach an extremely high realm before one can leave the mountain. I wonder when I will next return to my hometown. In five years? Ten years?
The time he returned home would definitely be far into the future. He definitely wouldn’t be able to see his grandaunt again. The clan leader was in his nineties, and few mortals could live past a hundred years. It was unlikely that they could meet again.
I know what you’re looking forward to. I won’t disappoint you. Meng Chuan vowed silently.
…
Elsewhere in Blazing Sun Palace.
Candle flames flickered.
When King East River heard the snowfall, he smiled and wrote a letter in his room. After writing it, he smiled in satisfaction.
“Ah Tong,” said King East River. His voice traveled a quarter kilometer away.
Soon, a figure arrived at King East River’s residence.
“Go, send this letter to Mountain Lord.” King East River waved his hand, and the letter flew out. It flew out the window and arrived at the figure in the yard.
“Yes.” A pair of wings sprouted out from the figure’s back. With a whoosh, he soared into the sky and flew towards Archean Mountain rapidly.
Heavy snow indicates a bountiful harvest. King East River looked at the snow outside and smiled. We’ve discovered another peerless piece of unpolished jade. I hope he can grow and become a powerful Godfiend for us humans.
…
Chapter 85 - Going Up Archean Mountain
Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon
The snow had stopped by the next morning. Thick snow covered the ground.
After eating breakfast, the geniuses and their family members gathered in an open space outside a hall.
I’m finally at the final selection. It’s my last chance. A genius stood alone in the corner, his eyes filled with determination. I have to make a final gamble. I’m already twenty years old. I must get a spot this time.
Many geniuses fell silent. The pressure was immense.
Even the princess, Li Ying, and the others who barely made it to the top ten in the preliminaries were nervous. They were confident of getting a spot, but they were afraid! If Archean Mountain were to suddenly choose other seedlings, pushing them beyond the top 20, wouldn’t it be dumbfounding?
After the initial selection, the only ones who would definitely get a spot were probably Meng Chuan, Ji Yuantong, and Zong Sha.
“They’re coming.”
“King East River and the others are here.”
Everyone fell silent. Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan looked up. King East River, the sloppy man, and the cyan-clothed woman walked in from the entrance. The three of them stopped in front of the crowd.
King East River swept his gaze across everyone and said, “Today is Archean Mountain’s final selection. The final selection will be your last chance. As long as you show enough strength or have sufficient potential, our Archean Mountain will give you a spot. However, there are only twenty spots. Most of you are destined to be eliminated.”
Everyone listened calmly.
“Do a good job. Eighty-three of you are already twenty this year,” said the sloppy man as well. “If you miss this chance, you won’t have a second chance.”
“Let’s go.” After King East River spoke, the space around him distorted, enveloping everyone present. People could not look at King East River directly once again.
Meng Chuan felt an invisible force envelop him gently. There was something invisible beneath his feet, supporting him. Following that, he flew up.
The three Godfiends flew up with nearly two hundred people. They flew straight towards the massive Archean Mountain—which towered into the clouds.
How can they fly so fast with nearly two hundred people being carried by them? Meng Chuan was somewhat shocked as well. The geniuses saw themselves flying higher and higher, slowly exiting Archean City as they headed towards Archean Mountain.
He could clearly see Archean Mountain, but even at King East River’s terrifying speed, it still took ten minutes for them to arrive.
Meng Chuan and company were shocked when they faced Archean Mountain up close.
Towering, massive, vast…
It was so big that they appeared tiny in front of it.
Whoosh.
After flying through the mountain, they went past mountainsides, mountain peaks, and mountain valleys.
King East River led the geniuses to the entrance of a massive canyon. Many Godfiends had already gathered at the entrance. Aside from Marquis Southcloud, Marquis West Sea, and the other Godfiends—who had been watching yesterday—there were also unfamiliar Godfiends. They numbered about fifty.
“That’s Meng Chuan?”
“S-grade spiritual perception?”
Many of the Godfiends—who had just arrived—noticed Meng Chuan.
After King East River landed, he walked to a linen-clothed elder.
“Elder Yi,” said King East River with a smile. “Are you here to watch the final selection as well?”
“Mountain Lord personally instructed me to take a good look at this Meng Chuan,” said the elder. The two of them stood in front of the other Godfiends. The other Godfiends clearly respected the two since they were Regis Godfiends. There were very few Regis Godfiends, and they held extremely high statuses. Furthermore, most Regis Godfiends had to guard large-scale passes, preventing them from leaving. It was very rare for two Regis Godfiends to spectate the test.
“You can begin,” said the elder. “I’ll just watch from the sidelines.”
“Okay.” King East River took a few steps forward and looked at the geniuses. He said, “The final selection has two trials. The first trial is demon-slaying!”
Many geniuses’ eyes lit up immediately. Archean Mountain’s final assessment often changed, but demon-slaying was an immutable trial!
“Many of you believe that you couldn’t showcase your true strength at the preliminaries. Now your chance is here. Slaying demons is the best way to showcase your strength.” King East River pointed at the canyon in front of them. “Look, there are countless demons imprisoned in the canyon. In a while, you will be engaging them in battle. You can kill as many as you want. Killing ten demon lieutenant commanders is enough. Any more would be useless. As for demon commanders? The more you kill, the better.”
Only then did Meng Chuan and company take a closer look at the canyon.
The huge canyon was blocked by fog. Through the fog, one could vaguely see caves on the cliffs. If one listened carefully, they could hear low growls.
The caves on the cliff sides were quite far away from Meng Chuan, exceeding the range of his senses—which was half a kilometer.
Countless demons are imprisoned in the canyon? Why would Archean Mountain imprison
so many demons? Is it to test us? Meng Chuan wondered about Archean Mountain’s motives.
“The trial lasts for five minutes,” continued King East River. “If you are about to lose your lives, I will rescue you. Alright, all of you can enter.”
Meng Chuan, Yan Jin, Ji Yuantong, Zong Sha, Chu Yong, Yan Feng, Yan Chitong, Jin Huan, and the other geniuses walked towards the huge canyon.
As for the family members, they could only watch the trial nervously.
“King East River,” said a red-robed Godfiend.
“Let’s begin.” King East River nodded.
Only then did the red-robed woman take a step forward. Her figure blurred as she arrived in the huge valley.
Meng Chuan and company stared at the red-robed Godfiend in surprise.
The red-robed Godfiend continued walking. She walked one step at a time, passing many geniuses before reaching the caves near the huge canyon.
Every cave had chained demons. These demons had limited motion. They lived in the dim caves for extended periods and hated humans even more.
Suddenly, their chains unlocked and fell to the ground with a thud.
“Oh?” The demons in the cave were somewhat alarmed. Why had the chains—that imprisoned them—unlock? However, they were immediately overjoyed.
“We can leave now.”
“A demon monarch must have saved us.” The demons rushed out of the caves.
The red-robed Godfiend walked through the canyon. Many demons were jumping down from the caves. Some demons were scaling the cliffs like they were walking. Some demons spread their wings and flew above the canyon.
The ground, cliffs, and sky were filled with demons. There were over a thousand of them.
“There’s a human here.”
“Kill her.”
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