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Chapter 269: Ten Institute IX
Chapter 269: Ten Institute IX (Requesting Monthly Vote)
"Begin testing!"
"First candidate: Guan Shan!" Teacher Lu Wei called sharply.
The next second, Guan Shan—compact and wiry—stepped forward from the crowd and entered the Vital Energy Analyzer.
He spread his arms wide, lowered his center of gravity, and gripped the black metallic rings. With a sudden burst of force—
"Ha!"
He roared, veins bulging in his arms as his eyes widened. Vital Energy surged, sending a powerful shockwave rippling outward.
The infrared scanner swept his body, and the electronic screen instantly displayed the result.
[Candidate: Guan Shan, Vital Energy Stat: 65.2]
"Wow, that’s so high!"
"This is nearly 20 points higher than my stat! Is the gap really this big?"
"No wonder he’s a top expert at Sixth Institute!"
The crowd erupted into astonished whispers. Guan Shan stepped out, his face breaking into a grin.
"Next, Guo Heng!" Lu Wei announced with a nod.
All eyes turned as Guo Heng—a hulking, muscular figure—strode forward. He gripped the metallic rings and erupted with force, his body swelling like a carved stone statue. A ferocious aura erupted from him.
"Beep!"
The screen lit up with data:
[Candidate: Guo Heng, Vital Energy Stat: 66.9]
"Guo Heng, you’re amazing!" Jiang Tao couldn’t help but praise.
"Guan Shan, you’ve been overtaken!"
"Guo Heng’s suddenly risen! Is he gunning for second place now?"
Stepping out amid the chatter, Guo Heng clenched his fists, his face alight with excitement. He was clearly thrilled with his score.
"Next, Jiang Tao!" Lu Wei continued.
"Watch closely, everyone!" Jiang Tao bellowed, his towering frame pushing through the crowd.
Entering the machine, he gripped the rings, took a deep breath, then erupted with power. His muscles swelled, radiating terrifying strength.
Vital Energy roared, condensing into force. A fierce gale whipped up around him.
It felt like a raging adamantine-bodied ape had awakened.
[Candidate: Jiang Tao, Vital Energy Stat: 70.1]
The crowd erupted again.
"Jiang Tao’s incredible! His stat broke 70!"
At the sight of the number, Guan Shan and Guo Heng’s expressions shifted.
"Jiang Tao’s truly strong now. He’s almost locked in second place at Sixth Institute."
Jiang Tao grinned broadly as he stepped out, exhilarated.
"Brother Qi, did I do you proud?" he asked, turning to Lin Qi.
Lin Qi raised a thumb. "Impressive, Tao!"
Lu Wei’s heart skipped a beat. A score over 70? That was the level of an Academy Head!
Was Sixth Institute about to birth another S-Rank Genius?
A bargain S-Rank Genius would be an unimaginable windfall.
Composing herself, she called the next name.
"Next, Lin Qi!"
"Lin Qi?!"
The moment his name was announced, even students from other classes rushed over.
Three layers deep, the crowd packed around the Analyzer, all desperate to see the Vital Energy Stat of this Academy Head.
"Brother Qi’s up. I can’t wait—what will his stat be?"
"We haven’t tested stats since the start of term. I bet Brother Qi’s is nearing 80!"
"Too high? Maybe around 78?" The crowd buzzed.
Jiang Tao watched Lin Qi’s back, curiosity burning.
"With Brother Qi’s strength, he’ll definitely beat me by far. Maybe 80?"
Lu Wei, too, burned with anticipation.
Lin Qi stepped forward, calm under the spotlight. He entered the Analyzer, extending his hands to grip the black metallic rings.
In the next instant, an invisible pressure erupted from his body.
"Boom!"
His eyes sharpened. Muscles tensed beneath his clothes, Vital Energy surging.
"Thump! Thump!"
His heartbeat thundered, blood rushing like the roaring Yellow River.
"Roar!"
The crowd seemed to hear a tiger’s roar as an invisible stormwave erupted from Lin Qi.
"Beep! Beep!"
The scanner’s infrared lights swept his body. The screen displayed:
[Candidate: Lin Qi, Vital Energy Stat: 90]
The moment the number appeared, silence fell—then chaos erupted.
"Heavens!"
"Did he just score 90?!"
"My stat’s only 30, but Brother Qi’s 60 higher? Is he even human?" Someone gaped.
Guan Shan, Guo Heng, Wang Qiufeng, Chen Zichuan—even Yu Jing far away—stared, stunned.
"Brother Qi, you’re too ridiculous! You’re almost at the Fourth Realm!" Jiang Tao exclaimed.
Lu Wei’s eyes widened. In five years at Azure Firmament Martial Academy, besides the Ten Institute prodigies, she’d never seen such a score.
Lin Qi, however, wore a calm expression.
"Just fine."
Everyone silently groaned. Here we go—Brother Qi’s humblebragging again.
Jiang Tao sighed, exasperated. He’d thought he’d narrowed the gap.
He’d scored 70. Brother Qi had 90. Only 20 points behind, yet…
Everyone else was already miles behind. They might never catch up.
Lin Qi looked at the stunned crowd, genuinely unbothered. After all, over a month ago, he’d learned that a Ten Institute genius had reached the Third Realm’s peak.
A 90 stat was still far from enough.
…
The test continued for two hours before wrapping up. Scores were uploaded for ranking.
Everyone headed to the cafeteria, eating dinner while waiting.
Azure Firmament’s cafeteria was massive, feeding thousands at once. With final exams over, students from every institute gathered here.
"Did you hear? Third College’s Ao Feng scored 78 in Vital Energy Stat! Terrifying!"
"You think 78’s impressive?" someone countered smugly. "Wait—did you know our Academy Head Huo Wanyang’s stat is 87? Almost 90!"
The challenger fell silent.
"87? Still, Huo Wanyang’s an SS-Rank Genius. Of course he’s strong."
"Tch, only 87?" Another student scoffed. "Huo Wanyang’s nothing compared to our Academy Head Brother Qi!"
"Brother Qi’s scored a full 90!"
The cafeteria exploded in shock.
"90? He’s nearly at the Fourth Realm! A freshman hitting graduation-level standards already?!"
Sophomores and juniors stared, dazed. These freshmen were monstrous.
"Results are out!"
"Brother Qi, the rankings are up in the group chat!"
Jiang Tao projected two holographic lists from his phone.
[Azure Firmament Six Colleges Rankings]
[1st: Lin Qi]
[2nd: Jiang Tao]
[3rd: Guo Heng]
…
Lin Qi nodded. The Six Colleges ranking matched his guess. He turned to the second list.
[Freshman Final Rankings]
[1st: Lin Qi (Sixth Institute)]
[2nd: Huo Wanyang (First Institute)]
[3rd: Ao Feng (Nine Pavilions)]
…
"Brother Qi, you’re still first among freshmen", Jiang Tao grinned, seeing his own overall rank: 13th.
Lin Qi wasn’t surprised, continuing his Grade-4 Nutritional Meal.
"Buzz!"
His phone vibrated. A message from Dean Liu: a summons to the office.
…
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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