"Senior…" Lin Feng's heart trembled as he clasped his fists nervously.
"Little fellow, well done. You actually only spent a mere ten seconds to break free from the illusions. However, if I were you, I will wait a little more before I exit."
The old man narrowed his eyes. He smiled and looked at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng's heart stirred. A moment later, he understood what the old man meant.
For this third test, his results were too shocking and even caused the Great Emptiness Dao Bell to ring. If he went out now, it would be equivalent to telling everyone that the dao bell rang because of him.
It was the taller trees that got uprooted in a windstorm. Lin Feng understood the logic of this saying very well.
"Many thanks for senior's advice!" Lin Feng thanked the old man.
When he inclined his head again, the old man had disappeared.
After the melodious bell chimes rang three times, it stopped completely.
"Ai, the bell chimes have stopped. How strange. Back then when the fifth-generation vice headmaster caused the Great Emptiness Dao Bell to ring, it rang for a total of six hours before the bell chimes stopped. Yet now, the bell only rang three times."
" Ai...look, Lin Feng has exited. He took about a minute to pass the illusory test and did so even quicker compared to Bai Yifei. This Lin Feng is a ten-star talent, at the sixth-level of the Martial Student Realm, he already possessed 9,000 jin of strength. Also, he only needed one minute to exit the Great Emptiness Illusory Realm. He is truly a heaven-defying monster."
The four branch vice headmasters were incomparably excited as they discussed this.
Right now, the four branch courts were thinking about how they should get Lin Feng to join them.
Naturally, the four branch vice headmasters had no idea that the sound of the bell chimes was sealed away by that mysterious old man. No one else would be able to hear it. If not for him, the bell chimes would still be ringing out at this moment.
"Lin Feng has exited. That's an ancient fiendgod we are talking about, yet he defeated the fiendgod's will so quickly."
"How monstrous. A monster has emerged in the Jialan Academy."
After Lin Feng had exited, the test continued.
The remaining students who had passed the second test went in for the test, and in the end, a total of 312 students successfully passed the third exam.
These 312 students would join the four branch courts of the inner court.
"Lin Feng, my Purple Light Branch Court will allow you to name your conditions. Are you willing to join us?"
"Lin Feng, as long as you join my Falling Moon Branch Court, I can instantly impart the ultimate art of our branch court, the 'Nine Heavens Falling Moon Art', to you.
"Lin Feng, why don't you join my Constellation Branch Court? We will definitely spare no expense to nurture you. Whatever cultivation resources you need, we will definitely satisfy you no matter how difficult it might be."
"Lin Feng, join my Long River Branch Court. Although right now, the authority and strength of the Long River Branch Court are the weakest, the headmaster is someone who understands yellow-tier and mystic-tier formation arts. Your willpower is so strong and you have the talent to learn spirit formations. When the headmaster returns from his trip, he will definitely be happy to impart you spirit formation techniques."
The four branch vice headmasters did their best to invite Lin Feng.
The conditions they had given caused all the other students in the surroundings to feel endless envy.
As for Bai Yifei, who stood at the side, his expression grew even uglier to behold. If there was no Lin Feng, the one getting all the attention now would be him, right?
But because of Lin Feng, no one was interested in him any longer.
Bai Yifei felt incomparable hatred and jealousy for Lin Feng in his heart.
But now, Lin Feng was in a dilemma. Out of the four branch courts, which one should he choose?
By logic, he should first eliminate the Long River Branch Court.
Because, the Long River Branch Court embraced the Dao via sword, and the Dao of Sword was viewed as a Minor Dao by everyone.
Among the four branch courts, the students of the Long River Branch Court were the least; their strength was also the weakest.
As for Gongming Yang, the vice headmaster of the Long River Branch Court, his words about spirit formation actually just something he wanted to use to attract Lin Feng.
Because everyone knew that the personality of the Long River Branch Court's headmaster was extremely bizarre and his movements were elusive. Although the headmaster understood spirit formation techniques, he had never accepted a disciple before.
But even so, Lin Feng still decided to choose the Long River Branch Court.
Firstly, it was because he himself loved the sword.
Roaming the world with a sword strapped behind his back, how cool would that be?
The rage of an ordinary man would instantly cause blood to splatter on the ground.
A flask of wine, a sword in his hand, a horse as his mount. How carefree would that be?
The second reason was because Gongsun Changge was a student of the Long River Branch Court.
Back then when Lin Feng and Bai Yifei had been in a conflict and both sides had been about to fight, Gongsun Changge had stopped the fight. On the surface, it looked like he had done it to maintain the order. But in truth, Lin Feng could tell that Gongsun Changge was silently helping him.
The gazes of everyone turned to Lin Feng, including the overall vice headmaster Wang Lin. If it weren't for him being too old and had to constantly enter seclusion to have a breakthrough, Wang Lin would also feel the desire to accept Lin Feng as a personal disciple.
The eyes of the four branch vice headmasters were filled with fervent warmth as they stared at Lin Feng.
"I choose the Long River Branch Court!" Lin Feng spoke.
"Hahaha. Good. Excellent. Lin Feng, don't you worry. My Long River Branch Court will definitely nurture you well."
After a short moment of being startled, Gongyang Ming began to laugh uproariously.
During these years, the genius students were all recruited away by the Purple Light, Falling Moon, and Constellation Branch Courts. The Long River Branch Courts could only choose from the pool of students that were not selected by them. As the vice headmaster of the Long River Branch Court, Gongyang Ming naturally felt extremely sullen by this fact.
And now, the monstrous-level genius, Lin Feng, actually chose the Long River Branch Court. This caused the sullenness Gongyang Ming felt to all be swept away.
Gongsun Changge also revealed a smile. "Haha, this is great. With Lin Feng joining us, the strength of our branch court might increase greatly. When the time for the inter-competition between the four branch courts comes, there would surely be a good show to watch."
"Lin Feng, you have to consider carefully. Joining the Purple Light Branch Court is the best choice."
"Lin Feng, you are still young. You might be too impulsive, so you have to think thrice before making your decision."
"Lin Feng, you should consider it more meticulously and not make a decision so quickly."
The vice headmasters of Purple Light, Falling Moon, and the Constellation Branch Court all called out reluctantly, wanting Lin Feng to change his mind.
"Many thanks for the invitation of the three vice headmasters. This student has already decided and won't change my decision," Lin Feng replied.
"Ai, what a pity, what a pity…"
The other three vice headmasters all shook their heads.
"Next, you all will be responsible for recruiting the students. We will make a move first."
The three vice headmasters of the other branch courts instructed their respective deacons and left with waning enthusiasm.
They didn't even have the mood to cast another glance at Bai Yifei.
Upon seeing the four vice headmasters who had been vying for him earlier simply turn and leave like that, Bai Yifei was extremely enraged. Such contrast was truly hard to endure.
And the cause of everything was none other than Lin Feng!
Bai Yifei leaped out and spoke loudly, "Sir deacons, every year after the end of the three examinations, I heard that there's still a challenge segment. I wonder if there's such a segment today?"
Deacon Song Canghai nodded. "There is such a segment indeed. You can choose to challenge someone or simply spar with them. In addition, you can use this segment to settle private grudges. However, there are two conditions. The first is that both sides must agree. Secondly, the two who are in combat can only fight barehanded. Weapons are not allowed. Also, one must stop the moment the other party is injured. Both parties cannot go overboard."
"Since there is such a rule, this disciple wishes to issue a challenge to someone."
Bai Yifei turned and stared at Lin Feng. He malevolently laughed. "Lin Feng, are you willing to accept my challenge?"
Rumble~
In the surroundings, uproars could be heard. No one had imagined that Bai Yifei would challenge Lin Feng.
However, Lin Feng's single punch reached 9,000 jin of strength while Bai Yifei's single punch was merely 5,000 jin. Why did he still challenge Lin Feng? Wasn't he courting death?
This caused everyone to feel extremely puzzled.
Bai Yifei seemed very afraid that Lin Feng wouldn't accept his challenge. He spoke in disdain, "Lin Feng, during the test, your punch reached 9,000 jin while mine only reached 5.000. Don't tell me you are afraid to accept my challenge? You are simply a coward!"
Lin Feng frowned, he felt like this was a trap. Bai Yifei wasn't a fool. Now that he was trying to provoke and egg Lin Feng on, it felt like he was worried that Ling Feng wouldn't agree.
Lin Feng guessed that Bai Yifei must have some unspeakable secrets. However, he felt no fear at all. Upon facing Bai Yifei's provocation, Lin Feng calmly replied, "Since you are looking to be abused, I will grant you your wish."
When he heard Lin Feng's words, Bai Yifei revealed a smile as though his plot had succeeded. He completely ignored Lin Feng's provocative words and then sinisterly continued, "Good. Since you dare to accept the challenge, why don't we sign a life-and-death agreement? In this battle, fists and legs have no eyes. We will each be responsible for our own injuries and deaths."
When Bai Yifei said these words, everyone in the vicinity was incomparably shocked.
He wanted to sign a life-and-death agreement with Lin Feng!
"My intentions exactly," Lin Feng calmly spoke.
Song Canghai then continued, "This challenge segment originally will end at an appropriate timing, the moment victory is decided. We want to avoid injuries to both combatants. However, since both of you are willing to be responsible for your own injuries and deaths, the rules of combat in the academy will no longer apply to the two of you."
Lin Feng and Bai Yifei both nodded.
Swish~ swish~
The two of them came to the platform at the side of the Great Emptiness Cliff.
Countless people turned their gazes to the two of them. Everyone was filled with anticipation at how this battle between geniuses would end.