"Here!"
Ke Xin raised her arm high, confidently stepping out of the crowd. She glanced back at Lu Fei, who raised his fist and waved, signaling her to do her best.
The little fan immediately felt a surge of confidence, her steps practically floating.
Ke Xin's talent was already quite good, making her somewhat famous among the first-year freshmen. Especially after the previous grade competition, where her默契配合 (mòqì pèihé - tacit understanding and coordination) with "Shadowless Cat" earned them a top ten finish, a feat that still impressed many.
Ding Min smiled and said, "Ke Xin, you must perform well! Instructor Ling Lu specifically asked me to inform her of your spiritual power level the moment it's known."
"Understood!"
Ke Xin nodded heavily.
She then placed her hand on the six-pointed star gem. As a dazzling light erupted, a string of numbers appeared on the gem.
151!
Although many knew Ke Xin's spiritual power level would not be low, this result still surprised many.
Beastmasters, at every stage, had minimum spiritual power requirements. For example, a beginner Beastmaster needed at least 100 points. An intermediate Beastmaster required 200 points, while advanced Beastmasters needed 500 points, and top-tier Beastmasters, 1000 points.
And as the ultimate pinnacle, a Beastmaster Grandmaster had even higher requirements, a qualitative leap, demanding spiritual power above 5000 points!
This was why many people on the continent remained top-tier Beastmasters their entire lives, unable to take that final step before death.
Therefore, when Ke Xin's spiritual power score was revealed, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd. With her current spiritual power level, not only was she far beyond the beginner Beastmaster threshold, but she was also close to touching the intermediate Beastmaster requirement.
Ding Min stared at the numbers on the six-pointed star gem, dumbfounded. After a long moment, he snapped back to reality.
He didn't speak to Ke Xin or anyone present. Instead, he took out his phone and made a call.
After a few rings, the call was connected.
Ding Min's voice was urgent.
"Dean! Are you free now? Please come quickly to the B-District testing arena. There's a momentous event that requires your personal presence!"
The Dean Ding Min referred to was naturally Lin Yuansheng. When he hung up, everyone looked at him in utter bewilderment.
"What happened that requires the Dean's attention?"
The students waiting for their tests exchanged whispers and discussed amongst themselves.
Before long, Lin Yuansheng, dressed in a Tang suit, entered. Although he was only in his fifties, his hair was white, especially the receding hairline which made him look older. However, his posture was upright as he walked, and his presence commanded immediate respect.
"Dean Lin!"
"Dean Lin!"
...
The students on either side parted, greeting him in unison.
Lin Yuansheng, accompanied by the Dean of Studies, Lin Zuodong, moved through the crowd. When his gaze swept over a familiar face within the throng, his previously imposing aura vanished instantly.
Lu Fei turned his head away, avoiding the awkwardness of eye contact.
Lin Yuansheng arrived at the main stage and asked,
"What is it? What has happened?"
Ding Min hurried to reply, "Dean! Look here!" He pointed to the six-pointed star gem behind him.
Lin Yuansheng frowned slightly and followed Ding Min's gesture. His previously lowered eyes suddenly lifted, and his gaze brightened as if he had discovered a treasure.
"151?"
Lin Yuansheng suppressed his rising excitement and asked, "Who is this?"
"Dean! This is the spiritual power tested by student Ke Xin!"
"Ke Xin?" Lin Yuansheng recalled the name. His peripheral vision caught sight of Ke Xin standing nearby. He remembered her appearance; this student had left a relatively deep impression on him.
Lin Yuansheng said with a hint of anticipation, "Student Ke Xin, could you test again for me to see?"
Ke Xin nodded and placed her hand on the six-pointed star gem once more.
Flashes of light flickered, and the familiar numbers reappeared.
It was still 151.
Lin Yuansheng took a deep breath, his complexion rosy and his spirits high.
He beckoned Ke Xin over, a benevolent smile on his face.
Then, he turned to the crowd and announced,
"Just now, student Ke Xin has broken the highest spiritual power record for the freshman entrance examination in our academy's history!"
"Everyone, please applaud!"
Clapping erupted like a tidal wave, ceaseless.
To the contrary, Ke Xin, the person in question, seemed a bit bewildered, "I broke the academy's record?"
From within the crowd, Lu Fei clicked his tongue in admiration.
"I didn't expect this little girl's talent to be so astonishing!" He remembered what Chu Huainan had told him: Huangfu Chenyi's innate spiritual power was 181. Although Ke Xin didn't possess this level of spiritual power naturally, she was still extremely outstanding.
Thinking of this, Lu Fei couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness. He was a man who aimed to be on par with Huangfu Chenyi. If the gap were too large, it would be truly embarrassing.
Because of Ke Xin's astounding performance, Lin Yuansheng decided to stay and observe the test results of other students. This made all the students feel honored, and they strove to showcase their best, hoping to leave a good impression on Lin Yuansheng.
However, Lin Yuansheng's eyes frequently flickered towards Lu Fei. He was intensely curious about how great the talent of someone whom the Ten Elders valued so highly could be.
In the following period, more students stepped forward for their tests, but their results were generally ordinary. The best spiritual power reached 122. However, with the immense impact of Ke Xin's display, everyone couldn't muster much excitement.
Lin Yuansheng sat there, almost drifting off to sleep.
Yet, when he heard Ding Min call out the next name, Lin Yuansheng's spirit suddenly sharpened.
"Next up, Lu Fei."
Lu Fei's spirit perked up. It was finally his turn.
"Here!" he responded, then walked towards the stage.
Ding Min smiled and said, "Begin."
Lu Fei nodded lightly.
He placed his arm on the six-pointed star gem.
The moment his hand touched the gem, ripples began to spread across its previously calm surface. This hard gem now appeared like the surface of water.
Lin Yuansheng jolted up from his chair in shock.
"What is this situation?" Lin Yuansheng asked, his face astonished.
Concurrently, the light that had been radiating from the gem began to intensely contract and condense.
Finally, it all converged into Lu Fei's palm.
Lu Fei felt a burning sensation in his palm, akin to constantly rubbing one spot.
He instinctively wanted to withdraw his arm but soon realized that his hand seemed to be adhered to the gem, completely unable to be pulled away.
Before Lu Fei could react, the six-pointed star gem began to tremble violently.
What was initially a pure, holy white light suddenly became imbued with numerous colors – red, purple, yellow...various colors alternated, and finally, several colors appeared simultaneously.
The trembling of the six-pointed star gem grew more intense.
The next moment, fine cracks began to appear on the gem's surface!