The group eventually entered the area zoned off for the entrance exam. The area was set up in the exact middle point of the Royal Yan and Emperor star academy and was filled with old teachers, current students, and aspiring youngsters hoping to join the academies. Each academy had sent at least one representative to the area in order to accept students into their respective academies. In the center of the area was a grand stage which was split into 4 zones. Each zone contained a set of 9 drums assembled in a semi circle and a rectangular mat inside with one more singular drum in front of the mat.
Zhou Xinqiu and the others met up with some other groups from the Zhou sect that had also reached the area earlier and caught up with them about their travels here. "Welcome newcomers from afar! The examination for today will begin shortly. Please heed my instructions before heading up to the stage and embarrassing yourselves. If you have not already done so, please register your name and place of origin with Mrs. Hua over there." He pointed at a lady sitting at a booth. "In a few minutes all aspiring students will be called up one by one onto the stage to display their abilities. The way we will test your abilities is quite simple. When called, you will sit on the mat and exert your most potent force onto the singular drum in front of the mat. The drums will then subsequently beat based on your talent potential!"
"Beating the first two drums means you can reach or pass the early qi circulation levels. The next two is the same for mid qi circulation levels and the fifth and sixth drums are for the late qi circulation level talent potentials. The last three however, are for the cream of the crop! Beating the seventh drum means you may reach the early qifu stage, eighth drum represents the mid qifu stage and the dreaded ninth drum represents the late qifu stage! With the information thereafter provided, each academy can extend invitations to the aspiring students!" A fat man introduced the need-to-know information all the students.
"Ah seems simple enough! Let's go sign up!" Zhou Xinqiu laughed and stood up.
"Simple!? In the previous year only 6 people in total beat the ninth drum!" A young man dressed in green scolded.
"Who asked you!?" Yu Ling stared at the man and yelled.
"Shut up little girl you aren't qualified to speak here" The young man began releasing an emerald color aura from his body while raising his palm.
"Excuse me, please refrain from fighti—" The fat man spoke before being interrupted.
BOOM
Yu Qingsu disappeared from her spot and appeared straight in front of the young man striking him with one finger causing the man to be pushed back a few steps. "She's more qualified than you. Let's go" Yu Qingsu turned, held Yu Ling's hand, and walked towards the signup area. Zhou Xinqiu scoffed as the rest of their group followed Yu Qingsu as well.
—-
"Lu Lang of the Lu family please head up to stage!" A young and short man stepped up onto the stage and sat down on the evaluation mat. Raising his hand, he gathered qi onto his palm and struck the drum with all his might. The singular drum emitted sound waves out to all the other drums resulting in the first of the nine drums to vibrate, then the second and third vibrated as well until the fifth drum vibrated and stopped.
"Late Qi Circulation talent level!" The fat man announced.
some lesser known academies extended invitations to Lu Lang before he eventually accepted one and left the stage.
After 20-30 more people came up onto the stage with none of them surpassing the sixth drum, one interesting young man finally came up onto the stage.
"Lin Xulan! Isn't he the younger brother of the Royal Yan Academy's third highest prodigy?"
"Oh Ya! This one should be good! I heard that his older brother had beaten the eighth drum during his examination." Some students gossiped.
Lin Xulan dressed in white robes with his hair tied back walked onto the stage and looked toward the fat man with a kind smile. "May I?"
"Of course young sir! Whenever you're ready!"
Lin Xulan sat down and stared into the crowd before closing his eyes. He first placed his right palm onto the drum in front of him. The energy within his body squirmed around his veins rushing towards his palm which made his veins bulge. He opened his eyelids revealing his now glowing white pupils. Raising his hand one inch above the drum he slammed it down creating a mini shockwave. The single drum blasted the wave out to the set of 9 drums.
First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh!
"Waaaa he already beat this month's record so far" Some girls on the side were fan-girling over his strong aura. The seventh drum produced a boom and the eight drum also rang. The ninth drum began to shake ever so slightly but then died right after. Lin Xulan then stood up from the mat and bowed towards the students, turned towards the examiners and bowed again all while keeping his kind smile on his face.
"Should we extend our invitation?" A young man in blue asked the old man standing next to him.
"No, he will join the royal yan academy. No need to lose face" The old man indifferently spoke.
"Lin Xulan! It seems I will have the honor to ask the Lin family to once again let one of their sons join our prestigious Royal Yan Academy!" The most decorated man in the area laughed out loud. He sat on a golden throne with many students around him. He was the envoy selected by the Royal Yan Academy to accept students this month.
"I would like to thank sir for the offer. I accept!" Lin Xulan beamed and walked to their side.
"Wonderful!"
"Let's continue! Hmm let's see who is lucky enough to have to top that performance. Would the person with the name… Ah?… 'Huo Mingliang' please come to the stage…" The fat man had a peculiar expression on his face when he saw the name.
"Huo?… I haven't heard of a prince with that name before." Someone spoke
"Can it be?! The same Huo Mingliang!?!? The grandson of the exiled genius of the Huo Clan!?!?"
"Oh this will be interesting wont it" The young man in blue mumbled to the old man next to him.
"Mmmm indeed it will"