Chapter 127: The Sudden Change in 'Examination' – Proctor Chen Xing

【Stellar Energy Scan Complete. Stellar Source · Shuimo confirmed control.】

A cold, mechanical electronic voice echoed through the scanning chamber.

The massive door, previously sealed shut, slid open.

Tian Dao slipped on his moon-white robe, hanging beside him, and stepped out with deliberate calm.

The waiting association staff immediately bowed slightly toward him. “Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Shuimo.”

“Not at all. I should be the one thanking you.”

“You’re too kind. It’s merely part of my duty.”

With a graceful gesture, the staff member motioned forward. “Please follow me. The Fifth Squad assessment for Steam Branch is about to begin.”

Tian Dao nodded and led Dannika after the man.

After walking through a narrow, elongated corridor, the three arrived at a spacious arena on the Fiftieth Floor of Gear Tower.

Around the perimeter, seven individuals had already been waiting for quite some time.

All of them exuded the oppressive aura of a Second-Rank Stellar Envoy or higher.

Among them, a man draped in a dark red cloak stood out most—his presence radiating intense pressure, clearly a Second-Rank Upper-tier. He was unquestionably the strongest among the seven.

Seeing Tian Dao’s unfamiliar face, several sharp, assessing gazes immediately locked onto him and Dannika—unhidden suspicion in their eyes.

After all, they were all vying for the position of Fifth Squad Captain. Any potential rival deserved full caution.

Feeling their hostility, Dannika instinctively gripped the hem of Tian Dao’s pants tighter, her small face etched with nervousness.

“Shuimo… Mr. Shuimo… these people look so scary…”

Tian Dao glanced down, smiling gently, and ruffled her hair affectionately. “Don’t worry. It’s just a small matter.”

Then, mid-sentence, his tone shifted.

“By the way, Dannika… do you remember what I taught you these past few days?”

Dannika peeked out from behind his pants leg, nodding vigorously.

She wasn’t forgetting a thing.

A flicker of sharpness flashed in Tian Dao’s eyes.

“Good. Just trust me. This time… it’ll go far beyond what anyone expects.”

Though Dannika didn’t understand what he meant, she instinctively believed he wouldn’t harm her. All she needed to do was stay close, follow his lead.

Just as Tian Dao and Dannika spoke, a clear, calm voice rang out beside them.

“You two seem new here. First time at Steam Branch, I assume?”

Tian Dao turned. Before him stood a man in silver-gray tactical gear, twin short revolvers at his waist, eyes crinkled into perpetual, friendly slits.

Seeing Tian Dao’s gaze, the man smiled warmly and introduced himself. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Yu Chen, former elite member of Steam Branch’s Second Squad.”

You don’t strike back at a friendly face.

Tian Dao responded with equal courtesy. “Likewise. I’m Shuimo, from Deep Blue Capital. Just an ordinary calligraphy enthusiast.”

“Calligraphy enthusiast?” Yu Chen’s ever-drowsy eyes flickered subtly beneath his lids, scanning the faint outline of a long blade beneath Tian Dao’s moon-white robe, and the subtle ink-bamboo embroidery at the sleeve.

An ordinary man wouldn’t be here.

But then again… no one truly was.

He chuckled softly. “Fascinating. I happen to be quite fond of calligraphy myself. We should exchange techniques sometime.”

“Perhaps we will.”

Before Yu Chen could say more, a crisp, metallic clack echoed across the arena.

All eyes turned toward the center.

The metal floor split open with a hiss of steam.

Rising from below, a massive, towering steel stage emerged slowly.

Between the onlookers and the stage, a colossal, shimmering barrier of Stellar Energy—resembling a liquid curtain—appeared, glowing with ethereal blue light.

The brilliance of the barrier seemed to fracture the very sky, as if the entire cosmos had been dissolved into its surface. Beautiful, yet terrifying.

Everyone knew: that delicate-looking curtain was far from fragile.

As the crowd pondered the nature of the test, a proctor in Second Squad uniform stepped onto the center of the stage.

He looked out at the assembled candidates, his voice low and resonant.

“Ladies and gentlemen. The first phase of the Fifth Squad Captain Qualification is called the Stellar Energy Water Screen.”

“Only those with refined control over their Stellar Energy, and a Stellar Energy Value exceeding eight thousand points, may pass.”

“Otherwise… no matter your method, you will not cross this barrier.”

He paused, then smirked.

“Let alone set foot on this so-called ‘exam’ stage.”

A collective intake of breath rippled through the crowd.

They hadn’t expected the first trial to be this brutal.

For most Stellar Envoys, merely unlocking their Stellar Source consumed immense effort. Few, aside from prodigies or those resigned to their limits, bothered to refine the seemingly trivial foundational skill of Stellar Energy control.

This test looked simple—on the surface.

But beneath, it was a trap.

“Just a curtain of water. All this talk for nothing!”

Seeing no one move, the man in the crimson cloak stepped forward.

Flames roared around him, like molten asteroids descending from the sky, slamming into the barrier.

But just as everyone expected him to burst through effortlessly—something happened.

The red-cloaked Envoy froze mid-motion.

His flames flickered wildly. Veins bulged on his forehead. His face twisted in agony.

Yet, thanks to his 9,000+ Stellar Energy Value, he endured the barrage of three hundred distinct Stellar Energy fluctuations—a chaotic storm of interference and tearing force.

He barely made it through, collapsing into the stage, gasping for breath, sweat pouring from his brow.

He’d passed—but at great cost.

The sight sent shockwaves through the remaining candidates.

If even the strongest struggled so much…

What chance did they have?

“Shuimo, I’ll go ahead.”

“Good luck.”

Unlike the reckless charge of the crimson-cloaked Envoy, Yu Chen’s approach was calculated.

He stopped before the barrier, eyes scanning its flow with intense focus.

At the precise moment he detected a brief pause in the energy pattern, he stepped forward—smoothly, seamlessly—into the barrier.

An invisible ripple spread outward.

But to all observers, it was as if he’d simply walked through a normal curtain of water—effortless, unbothered.

On the stage, the crimson-cloaked man’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

What?! How?!

He’d pushed himself to the limit—barely surviving.

Yet this Second-Rank Middle-tier Envoy… just walked through like it was nothing?

He was Second-Rank Upper-tier. This guy was only Middle-tier!

But then—something even more bewildering happened.

Moments after Yu Chen passed, Tian Dao stepped forward, leading Dannika through the barrier.

And just like Yu Chen—no ripple, no resistance, no disturbance.

It was as if they were strolling through a park.

The crowd stared, dumbfounded.

Even the Steam Branch Squad Captains in the stands exchanged stunned whispers.

“Yu Chen passing so easily? Not surprising. But that guy from Deep Blue Metropolis… what’s his deal?”

“I’ve never heard of him. Not even a whisper.”

“Who knows. The New Federation’s huge. Thousands of Stellar Envoys. Sometimes, a monster shows up.”

“Look—see that guy being personally greeted by the Chairman? That’s the newest phenomenon. A monster among monsters.”

The Second Squad Captain glanced toward the VIP Room.

There, seated in silence, was Chen Xing—her expression unreadable.

Though younger than most present, everyone knew: her power was already at the standard level of a Central Council Squad Deputy Captain.

Most Deputy Captains hovered around Third-Rank Middle-tier.

And yet, she’d defeated even Third-Rank Upper-tier opponents.

[Fifth Squad Captain Qualification Arena – VIP Room]

“Chen Xing, don’t you think our Steam Capital lads are doing quite well?”

Steam Branch’s Chairman, Liam, smiled proudly at the screen, watching Yu Chen’s effortless passage.

But Chen Xing—still lost in thought—didn’t respond.

Foxes, seated beside her, cleared her throat twice, subtly reminding her to show basic courtesy.

Finally, Chen Xing snapped back.

Then, she said something that sent shockwaves through the VIP Room—and froze Tian Dao’s blood in the Dimensional Screen.

“Chairman Liam… may I make a request?”

“Ah? Go ahead, Chen Xing. As long as it’s reasonable, I see no reason to refuse.”

“I’d like to serve as the lead proctor for this Fifth Squad assessment. I’d like to personally test these candidates.”

“…Huh?”

Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard.

So was Tian Dao, standing in the arena below.

He stared at the screen—Chen Xing’s calm, focused face—his mind screaming alarms.

No, no, no—this isn’t how it goes!

In the original story, Chen Xing was only a spectator. She watched the captain selection unfold through the Dimensional Audience, using it to introduce the main combat strength of Steam Capital’s Upper City to the viewers.

That was the script.

But now… she’d ripped it apart.

She wanted to join the test.

Something was wrong.

And Tian Dao knew what it was.

She’d sensed something about him.

She wanted to test him herself.

The implications sent a chill down his spine.

Because if the story had followed the original path—this exam would’ve been a walk in the park.

But now? With Chen Xing as proctor?

The variables had exploded.

Especially with her legendary, almost rule-breaking intuition.

Chen Xing… old friend… why are you making this so hard on me?

You’re messing with the script. And as the writer… I’m going to be very upset.

But no matter how much he raged inside, he could only watch helplessly as the scene unfolded.

“Hmm. There’s no issue with your request,” Liam said, after a pause. “And honestly, having a Central Council-level expert evaluate these candidates? It’ll only benefit them.”

“I agree.”

Chen Xing smiled—rare, genuine.

“Thank you, Chairman Liam.”

“Just a formality.”

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end