This was indeed an amazing opportunity for the competitors on stage. Many of them were at the limit of the Mind Focusing Realm and interacting with spiritual items were what they desperately needed. An immortal master had armies of Mind Focusing Realm cultivators, but limited time and few spiritual items. But here on the stage there were more than enough for everybody.
Once a person's mind developed to a certain point, they would be able to sense a mysterious aura and energy that surrounded all living things, the earth, and the heavens. This was spiritual energy. Whether it be naturally occurring spiritual crystal or immortal items, objects that contained spiritual energy allowed cultivators to train their comprehension of spiritual energy. Those without such items could venture into special lands and sacred grounds that naturally permeated spiritual energy. By bathing oneself in high levels of spiritual energy, it made it much easier to achieve a breakthrough.
Huang Wuji continued. "Naturally we don't expect you to breakthrough, only make some progress using your comprehension. After the one hour, you can showcase what you have comprehended through martial arts, inscription, painting, or whatever medium you choose. The four of us will judge your performance. Now... Begin!"
There was a minor scuffle as the competitors scrambled for the most desirable items. Eventually those that found the item they wanted too crowded went to find a less occupied one. It helped to be as close as possible where the spiritual emission was the strongest without touching the items themselves.
Zhou Ziyun didn't go for any popular ones and instead sat in front of a painting that contained four words, 'Sky Earth Dream Life'.
These words seemed very simple. Yet, Zhou Ziyun fell into a trance as her brilliant mind delved into the mysteries of the brush strokes. The calligraphy on the words not only conveyed meaning but also the thoughts and intent of the creator. It contained a manifestation of the energy of the human body and the vitality of nature...
Sky is to dream as earth is to life. What did it mean to dream of the sky? What was the meaning of life on this earth? Why were people able to cultivate, was it a desire to fly in the sky like the birds or the desire for eternal life?
Zhou Ziyun sat in complete silence while the other competitors still jostled with each other for the best positions. After about twenty minutes...
Boom!
A wave of energy washed over the stage, even some of the audience felt it. Somebody broke through!
"Woahhh!"
That shockwave and the audience's cheers jerked all of the competitors out of their focus. They looked around and eventually all eyes fell onto Zhou Ziyun.
"Amazing! Stupendous!" The announcer's voice yelled out with rabid excitement, "Pure genius in action! Our most talented junior has already reached the 6th Level of the Mind Focusing Realm! Truly a gift given by heaven!"
The other competitors were shocked but it still wasn't over. They also gained a huge boost of competitive energy. If she could do it, they could also achieve a breakthrough! However, they were shocked when she got up and went to another item, a large stone pillar covered with runic inscriptions.
What was this? Was she already done with the painting? Many people started to ridicule her. How could she be so arrogant to imply she had completely comprehended an immortal's item? However, they didn't understand or perhaps they refused to believe that such was indeed the fact. Zhou Ziyun had nothing more to gain from the four words so of course she would move on.
Silence fell again as everybody concentrated on their own goals. Very quickly, the hour was almost over. A huge runic formation showed the time remaining that quickly approached the end. Some began to give up after seeing the time, lamenting at their utter failure or lack of comprehension ability. Others were still hard at work, striving for every last second.
The audience began to obnoxiously chant in the last few seconds. "Five... Four... Three... Two... One... Time!"
Boom!
At the same exact moment, another wave of energy burst out from the stage. The audience cheered in excitement; another person had achieved a breakthrough. Perhaps it was someone at the 9th Level who was very close to the 10th Level! All the heads turned towards the source...
"Wahhhhh! Are you kidding me?!" The announcer seemed to lose his mind, "It's not a dream! You can't teach this! This is pure heaven defying genius! Zhou Ziyun reached the 7th Level! Magisterial!"
Perhaps no one could encompass what the competitors were feeling better than He Guxie who fainted from shock. He was the genius of his sect, groomed from a young age for success. He had the best lineage, the best cultivation arts, and the best teachers. He thought up until today that he was a genius bestowed by the heavens, a once in a generation talent. Today, he experienced the new sensation of being steamrolled; his confidence shattered, pride trampled, utterly defeated!
There were no objections from He Zicheng as the judges straight up declared Zhou Ziyun the winner of the fourth test. Nobody else came close. Two breakthroughs in the Mind Focusing Realm within one hour was simply unheard of. The rest of the competitors were examined one by one for their achievements but they were all merely fighting for second.
Soon after the fourth test finished, the scores of the third test with the written exam were announced. Everybody was given another jolt as Zhou Ziyun achieved the top score again! Perhaps they should have been mentally prepared for such a result but perhaps they were also in denial.
Zhou Ziyun completed her dominating performance and steamrolled everyone in the Mind Focusing Realm. It was simply not fair. She had mental capacity and comprehension that was unrivaled. It might be only a matter of time before she challenged the very best within the Spirit Initiate Realm.
"Great job!" Chen Wentian laughed as he gave her a hug.
He didn't care if it lasted a bit too long and a hundred thousand pair of eyes were staring at them. His disciples continued to give him surprises one after another. He was truly blessed by the luck god.
---
It was evening and inside a richly decorated hall, there were eleven people gathered. He Xinghan sat while starting at the ten people rigidly standing before him. He had an ugly look on his face.
"I won't blame you all for today." He Xinghan said eventually.
Ten sighs of relief sounded as the disciples deflated.
"It's lucky they are the fourth seed and will be forced to fight us in the first round." He Xinghan said. "Those two sluts are too talented; they can't be allowed to grow any further."
He turned to his son, "He Xuange, you'll be responsible for preparing the rest for this. Attack them without restraint. Disregard their surrender. The lord and I will be fully prepared to block Chen Wentian and the other immortals. Cripple them!"
He Xuange and the other nine 10th Level Mind Focusing Realm disciples bowed. "Yes, master!"