As the sound of the Copper Gong faded, the atmosphere in the Martial Arts Arena instantly grew taut to the extreme.
On the hundred Spirit Nurturing Platforms, the originally colorless Spiritual Light began to change.
As the Law Net operated, the Spiritual Qi descending from the sky was precisely channeled onto each stone platform.
Some platforms glowed with crimson firelight, making the surrounding air instantly scorching. Others flickered with a sharp, white light, exuding a bone-chilling edge. Still others were a heavy, earthen yellow, or held a verdant Wood Qi.
The Five Element Spiritual Energy, and even some mutated attributes, were now displayed without reservation.
At this moment, most of the examinees appeared lost and flustered.
Everyone had only just broken through to the Qi Cultivation realm. How could they possibly possess the knowledge to recognize so many types of Spiritual Qi?
Even those from the great Noble Families had, at most, only heard of such things. For the moment, it was unlikely they could recognize them all.
Faced with so many choices, they didn’t know which platform to pick. Some even threw caution to the wind and charged toward the nearest one.
Chu Bai stood his ground, in no hurry to act.
His gaze swept over the hundred stone platforms like a hawk, and the powerful Perception Power from his Rapid Thinking Fate Chart instantly covered the entire arena.
’Scorching fire, sharp metal, heavy earth...’
He quickly analyzed the situation. ’My main cultivation technique is the Purifying Spirit Flow, founded on Pure Qi. While Pure Qi is compatible with all skills, trying to absorb Fire or Metal Attribute Spiritual Energy in a race against time like this would be highly inefficient. Worse, the attribute conflict would damage my meridians.’
’I have to find a Water Attribute or an Attributeless Spirit Nurturing Platform!’
The Attributeless platforms were the most sought-after, and they had already been taken by the quickest examinees.
After all, with those, one didn’t need to worry about attribute conflicts. Since it was first-come, first-served, and the rules only permitted switching at the end of each round, it was naturally best to claim one as fast as possible.
Chu Bai decisively gave up on them and continued his search.
Suddenly, his gaze locked onto a stone platform about twenty paces to his front-left.
That stone platform emitted a faint, deep-blue glow. Its aura was cool and gentle, and the surrounding air had even grown slightly damp as Water Qi condensed.
’That’s the one!’
Just then, another examinee nearby also seemed to notice the platform’s merits. With a twitch, he prepared to dash for it.
’Trying to snatch it from me?’
A small smile played on Chu Bai’s lips.
’Was the Body Technique I honed these past few months as a sparring partner in the Zhao Mansion just for show?’
With a subtle shift of his feet, his body flashed like a phantom, leaving second but arriving first. Under the other man’s astonished gaze, Chu Bai landed securely on the platform and sat down cross-legged.
"Hmph!"
Seeing the spot had been snatched, the man was indignant. But he knew private duels were forbidden during the assessment, so he could only turn away in frustration to find another platform.
Chu Bai paid the other man no mind. The moment he was settled, he formed a hand seal, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.
’Begin!’
As his Mastery-level Small Qi Gathering Technique activated at full power, Chu Bai himself seemed to transform into a vortex.
The free-floating Water Attribute Spiritual Qi on the platform was drawn in, surging into his body like a whale drinking the ocean.
This process of absorption was completely different from his usual cultivation.
Normally, cultivation involved refining Spiritual Qi into Magical Power to be stored in the Dantian; it was like eating food to nourish the body.
This assessment, however, required drawing Spiritual Qi into the body, circulating it once through the meridians, using one’s body as a filter to remove the most volatile impurities, and then channeling the result into the Jade Ring on one’s finger.
It was like being a Passing Wealth God—all about throughput, not retention.
This method was many times faster than normal cultivation!
As the first wisp of filtered, pure Spiritual Qi flowed in, the specially made Jade Ring, originally dull and dark, lit up with a faint, soft white glow.
The scoring had begun!
However, as the Spiritual Qi flowed continuously through his meridians, side effects began to appear.
This Spiritual Qi was, after all, forcibly condensed by the Law Net. Though it appeared pure, it actually contained all sorts of tiny, miscellaneous particles from the world.
It had not undergone deep refinement, making it like murky water full of silt and sand.
When silt flows through a pipe, it naturally leaves sediment behind.
After just fifteen minutes, Chu Bai could feel a fine layer of impurities clinging to his meridian walls. This created a distinct sense of blockage and a stinging pain, as if countless tiny ants were crawling through his veins.
He opened his eyes slightly and scanned his surroundings.
He saw that many of the surrounding examinees were now frowning, some with their faces contorted in pain. They had been forced to slow their absorption rate and divert most of their energy to clearing impurities from their meridians. Their once-rapid pace had slowed to a visible crawl.
’So this is the challenge of the first round... a test of the endurance of one’s meridians and their ability to purge impurities.’
Understanding dawned on Chu Bai, and a confident smile touched his lips.
’Too bad this won’t work on me.’
With a mere thought, he mobilized the strand of azure Purifying Power within his Dantian.
’Flush!’
Like a clear spring flowing through a dry riverbed, the azure Magical Power instantly surged through his entire body.
Wherever it passed, the incredibly stubborn impurities clinging to his meridian walls—like snow meeting boiling water—instantly dissolved and were washed away completely!
The feeling of blockage and stinging pain vanished instantly. His meridians became clear and smooth once more—and even tougher than before.
"Hooo..."
Chu Bai let out a long breath, a feeling of utter comfort spreading through him.
Freed from the obstruction of impurities, his absorption speed didn’t just stop slowing down—it grew faster and faster!
The Spiritual Qi on the platform formed a small funnel, continuously pouring into his body before being converted and channeled into the Jade Ring.
The Jade Ring on his finger glowed ever brighter, transforming from a faint glimmer to the brilliance of a firefly, making it exceptionally dazzling among the crowd of examinees.
Not far away, a young man on a Fire Attribute platform was drenched in sweat. Fire Spiritual Qi was inherently volatile and contained more impurities, searing his meridians with pain and forcing him to stop and rest.
He subconsciously glanced in Chu Bai’s direction, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
’Is... Is that guy made of iron? How has his speed not decreased at all? In fact, it’s gotten faster?!’
Even Gu Qinghe, who was persevering through sheer force of will with a respectable speed, couldn’t help but give a wry smile when he saw Chu Bai’s calm, unhurried, and even smiling expression.
’The gap between us seems to have widened again.’
「Before he knew it, a double-hour was nearly up.」
Just as Chu Bai was lost in the thrill of racking up points, the giant, golden Law Net overhead suddenly emitted a low hum.
VMMMM—
Golden light flowed out, sweeping over the entire arena like a wave.
The Spiritual Qi Attribute of the Spirit Nurturing Platforms became extremely unstable. The gentle Water Qi began to dissipate, replaced by a gradually rising, scorching heat.
’The first round is over. The attributes are changing!’
Chu Bai’s heart jolted. He immediately stopped his cultivation technique and braced himself for the change.

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