A week later, at the city hall of Divine Bird City, crowds gathered for the entrance exams.
The city hall, located at the very center of the city, was a massive building spanning more than a dozen acres. Its simple design featured a stone floor, red wooden pillars, and a brick roof.
The city hall was primarily used for events such as martial art tournaments or festivals, as it could hold hundreds of thousands of people.
Today, it was buzzing with activity as cultivators formed lines to hand in their application forms for the schools they wished to attend. While some aimed for the big schools, others applied to smaller ones due to a lack of confidence.
The most famous school, Peacock School, had the longest line of applicants eagerly awaiting their chance to hand in their application forms.
Though they knew it would be the most challenging exam, some cultivators still believed in luck and hoped to pass. Even if they failed, it was less embarrassing to fail Peacock School's exam than any other school's. They could always try again the following year.
Those who had handed in their application forms were chatting with their friends about their preparations for the exam, while others gossiped about the top candidates. Everyone was looking forward to participating in the entrance exam, hopeful for a chance to attend their desired school.
"As I expected, Goddess Mei is applying to Peacock School. It's good that I chose Peacock School to take the test. Even if I don't pass, I get to see her in action."
"True!! I bet she's also aiming for the top ranking this year."
"Yeah!! Although I don't know her current cultivation, who can actually surpass her in this exam?"
"Heh, don't you know she's ranked second in preschool?"
"Bullshit!! Then who's ranked first?"
"Aren't you forgetting the greatest genius of our city?"
"Aah, that's right. I thought he already entered school, given that he awakened his bloodline at nine."
"Yes, I heard many schools approached him with countless benefits, yet he refused them all."
"Well, it's also expected from someone from Ying Clan, one of the city's four great clans."
The crowd expressed their agreement in unison.
"What about other geniuses from the other two great clans?"
"You mean from Sikong Clan and He Clan?"
The asking cultivator nodded.
"He Clan's third young master, He Chen, should be participating in Peacock School's entrance exam. He's not very strong but should be strong enough to pass."
"What about the Sikong? Their power is only second to the Mei clan. Surely, they can produce a genius who can rival the so-called greatest genius."
Divine Bird City had four great clans: Mei, Sikong, Ying, and He, listed by their strength, respectively.
Although Mei Clan ruled the city, the strengths between the four great clans were not far apart. There were several Wing Realm Masters in each of the four great clans.
"Well, they have their geniuses, but they won't participate in Peacock School's exam."
"Why?"
"What?! Either you're dumb, ignorant, or pretending to be asking that question."
The crowd also agreed with his statement.
"Well, I really don't know." The one asking "why" earlier turned red in embarrassment.
One cultivator among the crowd answered after sighing: "I'll tell you. Sikong Clan regards Mei Clan as their sworn enemy."
"Although the Mei thinks nothing of it, they still put up their guard around people from Sikong Clan, so the Sikong would never send their geniuses into the enemy's territory."
"One last thing, Sikong Clan has its own school, Sparrow School. Why would their geniuses come to take the exam of another school?"
While Ying Clan and He Clan supported Mei Clan's idea of taking control of the city, the Sikong did not think the same.
They always thought they were more suitable for ruling the city and could improve the city's overall strength to fight and conquer all nearby cities if they were in charge.
On the other hand, the Mei focused on making friends with every neighboring city, creating a peaceful environment for citizens, hence their ideals were complete opposites.
One was peace, the other was war.
There was no way to compromise between the two.
The Sikong's animosity towards the Mei had always been conspicuous, but since Feng Luotian's father came, they held themselves back from openly antagonizing Mei Clan.
Nevertheless, their feelings were still there.
"Anyway, even if someone from the Sikong participates in Peacock School this year, there's no way they can match our Goddess Mei, right, everyone?"
"Yeah!!"
While the crowd was enjoying the commotion, Mei Yue'er, Sun Wuji, and Ying Lizhua had already finished submitting their application forms. Alas, Feng Luotian was nowhere to be found.
"Sun Wuji, you said he'd be here for sure," Mei Yue'er complained with an anxious expression.
"Of course he will! He promised us he'd come back awakened, remember? When has he ever broken his word?" Sun Wuji replied confidently, although he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
He knew that Feng Luotian was unpredictable, one day he said he wanted to live like a commoner, and the next day, he was eager to leave the city to find an opportunity to break through.
Ying Lizhua took advantage of the situation and sneered at Sun Wuji's confidence: "There's no way he can awaken just like that, don't you think? Why would you even listen to such a joke, you stupid monkey?"
Sun Wuji didn't back down from any provocation and countered with full force: "You know what, Ying Lizhua? I wonder if there's ever a day where your mouth is shut. Your breath is so smelly that I can smell it from a mile away."
Ying Lizhua instantly flared up in rage, and they engaged in close combat, but neither had the advantage since they didn't use any Theríon or skills. They were only pulling hair, pinching cheeks, and tearing clothes. Even some street kids would fight more creatively than they were.
Such a childish scene induced the surrounding crowd to laugh and wonder whether they were enemies or friends.
At that moment, there came another jeer from the side: "What? God's Cripple Son is not here yet? I remember last time he said something very haughty. But I see that he doesn't even have the courage to come. He must be a damn coward who was all bark and no bite."
It was the chubby young master, Mei Hongli.
Another provocation? Bring it on!!
Sun Wuji sent a similar jab to encounter it: "I should have known that there is another skunk nearby. Aah, so smelly!!"
"You!! Hmph!! Sun Wuji, let's hope that you are more capable than your crippled friend. But even if you are really talented, there is no way you are taking the top in this exam." Mei Hongli harrumphed.
"Of course, your highness. Having your father as the exam proctor, I see no reason for you not to take the top. Instead, it would be rather embarrassing if you can't take the top, don't you think?" Sun Wuji gave another sarcastic remark.
Mei Hongli's expression turned serious as he frowned: "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh? You don't get it?" This time the one who replied back to Mei Hongli's question was not Sun Wuji.