The clamorous cheers gradually subsided as Liu Yichen stood proudly on the stage, basking in the adoring gazes of the crowd. A faint smile lingered on his lips, though his heart was already brimming with joy.
"Ding! Anger Point from Mo Wanqing +10!" "Ding! Anger Point from Zhu Xiaotian +20!" "Ding! Anger Point from Liu Zixuan +50!" The constant chime of the system notifications in his mind was as crisp and pleasant as the sound of a mountain spring leaping over rocks, filling Liu Yichen with delight.
This unexpected first place in the assessment not only brought him fame but, more importantly, a massive amount of anger value!
Below the assessment stage, Mo Wanqing frowned slightly, her expression one of displeasure. Zhu Xiaotian gently patted the back of her hand, the soft tapping sound like a dull drumbeat in the quiet night. He comforted her in a gentle voice, "Wanqing, don't take it to heart. Liu Yichen just got lucky. A true genius wouldn't even bother with this entrance test. His level of strength is nothing in the Polaris Sect." Though he spoke these words, Zhu Xiaotian felt as if he had swallowed a fly. As the son of the governor of Qingyun Prefecture, how could he stomach being overshadowed by a nobody?
Mo Wanqing's expression softened slightly at Zhu Xiaotian's words, but a trace of disdain remained. "Brother Xiaotian is right. A lucky guy like him isn't worth our attention. Any disciple from my Mo family is a hundred times stronger than him!" The contempt in their eyes was unmistakable. To them, Liu Yichen was nothing more than a clown, unworthy of their regard.
On the high platform, Liu Zixuan's face was ashen, but he forced a smile as he announced the final rankings: "The first place in this entrance assessment goes to Liu Yichen! Second place, Zhu Xiaotian! Third place, Mo Wanqing! Fourth place, Liu Ziyun!" He paused before continuing, "The top four will be personally trained by the deputy masters of the Polaris Sect's four great halls..." As Liu Yichen listened, a cold smile formed in his heart. Liu Zixuan might appear magnanimous on the surface, but inside, he was undoubtedly seething with rage. However, Liu Yichen didn't care. He knew this was just the beginning.
"Ding! Anger Point from Liu Zixuan +100!" The system notification chimed again, and Liu Yichen felt as though it were the high note in a beautiful symphony, further lifting his spirits. He clenched his fist, feeling the tension in his muscles, and a confident smile spread across his face.
"Upgrade the Mystic Spirit System!" "Draw a prize!" A flash of golden light later, a graceful figure appeared before Liu Yichen.
"Diao Lingyue greets her master," the woman said, her voice as clear and melodious as a silver bell swaying in the wind.
Liu Yichen gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, her exquisite features like a masterpiece painting, and felt a surge of confidence. He took a deep breath, his eyes shifting to Zhu Xiaotian and the others below the stage, and began to walk toward them...
"Are you talking about me?"
As the assessment ended, the crowd gradually dispersed, revealing the once-empty square. Liu Yichen stepped down from the stage, the breeze brushing against his face like a soft feather, bringing a hint of coolness. His eyes scanned the surroundings, and he noticed a few familiar figures standing at the exit of the assessment stage.
Zhu Xiaotian, Mo Wanqing, and Liu Zixuan stood side by side, blocking his path like three towering mountains. Liu Yichen's heart tightened, a wave of nervousness washing over him. He could hear his heartbeat quicken, like the rapid beat of a drum. He recognized these three—they were the ones who had shown hostility, even outright threat, toward him earlier. Their presence here now was clearly not a friendly one.
An invisible pressure enveloped him, making it hard to breathe, as if an unseen hand were gripping his throat. The lingering noise of the square seemed distant and muffled, as though he were trapped in a vast cage, locked in by three pairs of hostile eyes.
"Mystic Spirit System, open the data panel," Liu Yichen silently commanded.
A translucent panel appeared before his eyes, displaying his various stats: Host: Liu Yichen; Level: Star Observation Realm Level 7 (can be upgraded); System Level: 0 (can be upgraded); Anger Points: 5884/5000;
"Upgrade the system," Liu Yichen ordered without hesitation.
"Ding! Detected that the host's provocation points are full. Confirm upgrade?" the system prompted.
"Confirm!" "Ding! Congratulations, host. The Mystic Spirit System has been successfully upgraded! Current level: 1! You have gained one lottery chance!" A flash of golden light later, a colorful roulette wheel appeared on the panel.
Liu Yichen's heart was filled with anticipation as he stared at the wheel, as if trying to see through it.
"Start the draw," he said, taking a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly.
"Please choose a number, 1-9," the system prompted again.
Liu Yichen stared at the numbers on the wheel and silently thought, "6." The pointer began to spin, faster and faster, before gradually slowing down.
"Thank you for your patronage," the system announced. Liu Yichen frowned, took a deep breath, and said again, "6." The pointer spun once more, but the result was the same: "Thank you for your patronage." He gritted his teeth, a stubborn determination rising within him. "One last time, 6!" The pointer spun rapidly, and this time, Liu Yichen's eyes were almost glued to the panel.
He held his breath, his heart pounding as if it might leap out of his chest. The pointer slowed and finally came to a stop on the number "6."
(Some repetitive psychological descriptions have been streamlined here.)
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have gained a character summoning opportunity!" Liu Yichen clenched his fist, the overwhelming joy surging through his mind, almost making him shout out loud.
But the next moment, he couldn't help but slap his forehead in frustration. "If only I had chosen 6 the first time! I wasted two chances!" As his excitement subsided slightly, Liu Yichen eagerly clicked the "Use" button.
"Character summoning begins. Countdown: 10 seconds..."
10, 9, 8...
In Liu Yichen's mind, countless figures flashed by like a revolving lantern.
Xiang Yu, the mighty warrior who could uproot mountains; Zhuge Liang, the master strategist who could decide victories a thousand miles away; Dugu Qiubai, the unparalleled swordsman...
Each figure made his heart race, and he longed to summon them to his side immediately.
7, 6, 5...
Time ticked by, and Liu Yichen could feel his palms growing slightly damp, as if he were holding a wet cloth.
4, 3, 2...
A blinding white light burst from the panel, enveloping Liu Yichen entirely. He instinctively closed his eyes, a buzzing sound filling his ears, like the roar of surging waves, as if the entire world were trembling.
The light vanished abruptly, and a graceful figure appeared before Liu Yichen.
The woman was dressed in snow-white robes, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall. Her delicate features were like a finely crafted work of art, and her bright eyes sparkled like stars.
Liu Yichen was momentarily stunned before a wave of ecstasy washed over him.
"Diao Lingyue greets her master," the woman said with a slight bow, her voice as clear and melodious as a silver bell.
"This... this..." Liu Yichen was so excited he could barely speak. His trembling hand reached out, wanting to touch the stunning beauty before him, but he stopped mid-air, feeling the slight tremble in his fingers—a mix of excitement and restraint.
"Data... data panel..." Liu Yichen thought, and Diao Lingyue's stats appeared before his eyes: Name: Diao Lingyue; Level: Star Illumination Realm Level 1; Attributes: Strength 50, Agility 80, Intelligence 100, Spirit 120; Skills: Sealed (can be unlocked); Loyalty: 100%; Talents: Heavenly Spirit Root, Photographic Memory, Exceptional Comprehension.
"Heavenly Spirit Root, Photographic Memory, Exceptional Comprehension... Tsk tsk, these talents are simply extraordinary!" Liu Yichen marveled inwardly, filled with anticipation for Diao Lingyue's future. A woman with such talents, once her seals were unlocked, would undoubtedly achieve astonishing progress in her cultivation. He could already envision Diao Lingyue standing at the pinnacle of the continent, looking down upon the world.
"Where is Diao Lingyue now?" Liu Yichen glanced around but saw no sign of her.
"Diao Lingyue will appear at the nearest safe location within five minutes and will be implanted with memories of this world," the system's voice echoed in his mind.
Liu Yichen nodded, feeling somewhat reassured. Five minutes was enough time to deal with the current situation.
When he saw Zhu Xiaotian and the others, Liu Yichen wasn't intimidated by their imposing presence. His mind raced as he analyzed the situation. He knew Zhu Xiaotian, as the son of the governor, was undoubtedly proud, while Mo Wanqing was deeply arrogant about her family's status, and Liu Zixuan was eager to establish his authority in the Polaris Sect.
Liu Yichen decided to exploit these psychological weaknesses.
He deliberately said nonchalantly, "Zhu Xiaotian, as the son of the governor, how will you explain to your father that you were outperformed by a nobody like me in this assessment? Mo Wanqing, your Mo family's glory doesn't seem to shine through you. And Liu Zixuan, you want to be the leader of the younger generation in the Polaris Sect? With such pettiness?"
His words struck their sore spots. Zhu Xiaotian's face turned grim, and he was on the verge of lashing out in anger, but Mo Wanqing held him back, realizing that acting out now would only make them look worse. Liu Zixuan gritted his teeth, his hatred for Liu Yichen growing, but he also knew he couldn't act recklessly at this moment.
Liu Yichen continued, "If the three of you gang up on me now, it won't look good. Are you afraid I'll surpass you in the future?" As he spoke, he subtly observed their expressions, noticing that his words were already causing doubt in their minds.
Then, Liu Yichen added, "Let's have a contest of our understanding of the sect's rules. Whoever loses must publicly admit their inferiority." Zhu Xiaotian and the others, confident in their knowledge of the sect's rules and seeing this as a way to avoid exposing their weaknesses in combat, agreed.
Liu Yichen was inwardly delighted. During his preparation for the assessment, he had thoroughly studied the sect's rules.
As the contest began, Liu Yichen's explanations of the rules were logical and well-supported, earning nods of approval from some of the disciples present. Meanwhile, Zhu Xiaotian and the others began to falter, their answers becoming vague and unclear.
In the end, Zhu Xiaotian and the others had no choice but to publicly admit their inferiority and slink away in defeat.
Zhu Xiaotian was filled with resentment. His fists clenched so tightly that his nails nearly dug into his palms. He roared inwardly, "This Liu Yichen, he's just playing tricks. How could he make me suffer such humiliation? I, Zhu Xiaotian, have never been humiliated like this before. How can he possibly surpass me?" His eyes burned with anger, as if he wanted to devour Liu Yichen, but after his recent defeat, he didn't dare act rashly. He could only bury his resentment deep within, his heavy footsteps echoing like hammer blows as he left, each step a release of his pent-up frustration.
Mo Wanqing was equally indignant. Her once-arrogant face was now twisted with anger. She thought, "How can the glory of my Mo family be trampled by this nobody? I, Mo Wanqing, will repay this humiliation tenfold. Liu Yichen is just a schemer. There's no way I'm truly inferior to him." She bit her lip until it turned pale, her hatred coiling around her thoughts like a venomous snake. But in front of the crowd, she could only leave with her resentment, her steps filled with bitterness.
Liu Zixuan was trembling with rage, his hatred palpable. He thought, "Liu Yichen, you despicable scoundrel. You've made me lose face in front of everyone. The authority I've worked so hard to build in the Polaris Sect has been destroyed by you. I am the true leader of the younger generation, and you're just a clown. This time, you got lucky, but next time, I won't let you off so easily." He suppressed the urge to rush at Liu Yichen and fight, leaving with a heart full of resentment and anger, his departure as cold as a winter breeze.
Meanwhile, the onlookers began to murmur among themselves.
Some of the younger disciples' eyes sparkled with admiration. A thin, short disciple jumped up excitedly, waving his arms and saying, "Senior Brother Liu Yichen is amazing! Not only did he win the assessment, but he also made those arrogant guys lose face in public!" His words were animated, his eyes nearly squinting with excitement.
Another disciple nearby crossed his arms and nodded in agreement. "Yes, his wisdom is far beyond theirs. He's a true powerhouse." Their gazes were filled with reverence, as if they were looking at a legendary figure.
However, those who were friendly with Zhu Xiaotian, Mo Wanqing, or Liu Zixuan had more complicated expressions.
A disciple who was close to Zhu Xiaotian frowned and muttered discontentedly, "Liu Yichen must have used some underhanded tactics. There's no way Brother Xiaotian could lose to him." He shook his head repeatedly, his face filled with disdain, and occasionally shot skeptical glances in Liu Yichen's direction.
His companion, a tall and muscular disciple, remained silent but crossed his arms tightly, his muscles tense, his face showing a mix of doubt and displeasure, his eyes slightly narrowed as if deep in thought.
A disciple from the Mo family, watching Mo Wanqing's retreating figure, was also filled with indignation. His face flushed red, his eyes wide with anger, and his fists clenched as if he wanted to rush forward and confront Liu Yichen. "How could Sister Mo lose to this guy? There must be some trickery involved."
Some of the neutral onlookers simply observed quietly, but their perception of Liu Yichen had shifted.
An older disciple stroked his chin, his eyes closed in thought. After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, a glint of wisdom in them. "This Liu Yichen may seem unremarkable, but he possesses extraordinary intelligence and courage. He will undoubtedly make waves in the Polaris Sect in the future." The disciples around him nodded in agreement, some with their chins resting on their hands, their eyes filled with curiosity and contemplation.
Liu Yichen took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to Zhu Xiaotian and the others in the distance, a playful smile curling on his lips.
With each step Liu Yichen took, the air around him seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on Zhu Xiaotian and the others like a cold wind piercing through their clothes and chilling their skin. Their legs trembled involuntarily.
As he approached, his figure loomed larger in their eyes, like a massive shadow enveloping them.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, like the calm before a storm.
Liu Yichen stopped before the three of them, his smile widening.
With a light chuckle, Liu Yichen subtly released a wisp of Mystic Spirit energy. Zhu Xiaotian felt a cold sensation seep into his body, as if death itself were staring at him. His legs weakened, and he nearly collapsed, feeling the energy slither through him like an icy snake.
Mo Wanqing and Liu Zixuan were no better. The disdain on their faces had vanished, replaced by fear and unease.
"Hmph, you were so arrogant earlier. Now, it's time for you to pay the price!" Liu Yichen straightened his back and strode confidently toward Zhu Xiaotian and the others.
Each step was like a drumbeat, filled with power and momentum.
The lingering noise of the square seemed to transform into a triumphant fanfare, heralding his victory.
His eyes shone with confidence, like a sword about to be unsheathed, its edge gleaming.
"Where's Xun'er?"