After all, a single bloom doesn’t make a spring.
But the current situation—with the fierce and fearless Lü Qing, the explosive Wu Jianfei, and others like Chu Bai and Wang Qingli watching like tigers stalking their prey—was different. This state of affairs, where a hundred flowers bloomed and many powerful contenders vied for supremacy, truly demonstrated the profound foundation the Dayuan Prefecture Daoist School had built in nurturing talent over the past year.
This was a political achievement.
Judge Li’s eyes, which seemed to pierce through the Law Net, swept over the scene below. He nodded slightly, a rare look of approval on his face.
"Not bad."
His voice was steady and powerful. "There are indeed a few promising candidates. Their temperament, their methods, and their daring, competitive spirit are all first-rate."
"Especially Ji Li. Despite his Noble Family background, he lacks any trace of arrogance or a pampered air. He’s decisive and ruthless in his actions. Lü Qing and Wu Jianfei are the same—they face powerful foes without fear or retreat, possessing a fierce and courageous spirit."
As he spoke, Judge Li’s gaze drifted, almost imperceptibly, to the young man in the distance. The boy was quietly performing Breath Regulation, but had in reality already secured two treasures for himself.
"It seems the placements for this year’s Immortal Officials... are going to be quite unpredictable."
This evaluation carried immense weight.
In previous Immortal Official Examinations, the top ten candidates were usually already decided by this stage. All that remained was to determine their ranking.
But this year, in a situation where a pack of wolves was circling, who dared claim that victory was already in their grasp?
"The ones being selected now are all future pillars of the state who will one day take charge of a region and guard the Law Net for our Great Zhou. We can’t be careless."
Judge Li looked to Lu He and said with a serious expression, "Dean Lu, you’ve truly put your heart into this year’s cohort."
Lu He’s heart settled upon hearing this. He quickly cupped his hands in a fist and said humbly, "You flatter me, Judge. It is merely our duty."
The Great Cultivators watched the intense battle below, their words generous with praise.
Wind and sand swirled.
The Gold Acceptance Seal, the very object that had triggered the three-way melee, was now like a leaf in the wind. Blasted back and forth by relentless waves of Spiritual Power, it never managed to land in anyone’s hands.
Just as the three were locked in a stalemate, a familiar streak of fiery red light once again tore across the battlefield.
WHOOSH!
In an instant, the Gold Acceptance Seal, which had been about to fall, was snatched from mid-air by the figure streaking past. The motion was so swift that the afterimage had yet to fade.
"Who dares?!"
Wu Jianfei’s eyes were already bloodshot. His chest heaved as he roared, gasping for breath. He had all this pent-up Fire Qi and nowhere to vent it, yet someone dared to snatch food from a tiger’s mouth at this critical moment?
’Interesting. Someone else dares to intervene...?’
Ji Li also narrowed his eyes, staring with great interest.
When he got a clear look at the newcomer, an expression of astonishment crossed Lü Qing’s face. "Junior Brother Chu?" he exclaimed.
A hundred zhang away, Chu Bai stood straight as a pine, holding the brilliantly glowing golden Dharma Seal high. His calm gaze swept over the three of them.
"I dare."
The youth’s voice was clear, echoing across the wasteland.
Then, he said something that made Ji Li’s expression change slightly:
"I’ll start refining this Seal now. If you want it, come and stop me!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.
Weren’t these the exact words Ji Li had used to humiliate everyone when he was walking on air just a moment ago?
Now Chu Bai had thrown them right back at him, word for word, and right to his face! This was a blatant provocation, a direct slap in the face!
"You want to compete too?"
Instead of getting angry, Ji Li laughed. A sinister coldness flashed in his eyes. "Good! Very good! Since you want to play, I’ll play along!"
Before his voice had faded, he stomped hard on the empty air.
HUMMM!
The air vibrated violently. The Power of Primordial Magnetism erupted, and his speed instantly skyrocketed. He became like a silver bolt of lightning, shooting straight for Chu Bai.
The other two also reacted in an instant.
"That kid got the Fire Element Ring, his speed is too fast! We have to stop him quickly, or if he gets away, we’ll never catch him!"
Wu Jianfei roared. The memory of Chu Bai leading him on a chase for what felt like half a day was still fresh in his mind. He’d be damned if he let him pull the same trick again!
Lü Qing also swung his Giant Sword horizontally and followed close behind.
Faced with an assault from three top-tier experts, Chu Bai’s expression didn’t change. He simply turned and fled.
However, this time, Ji Li was clearly prepared.
"Trying to run? Stay right there!"
Ji Li’s hands formed seals at high speed. He barked a low command at Chu Bai’s retreating back.
[Primordial Magnetic Reprint]!
BOOM!
The familiar gravitational magnetic field descended once again.
Chu Bai felt his shoulders sink as if he were carrying a great mountain. His previously lightning-fast Fire Step Ascension was instantly hindered. Thanks to the Endless Life of his Five Elements Spiritual Power, he wasn’t completely immobilized like Lü Qing and the others, but his speed still slowed to a crawl.
’Damn, I’ve been slowed down!’
Chu Bai’s heart tightened. Now that he’d lost his speed advantage, an incredibly fast expert like Ji Li would catch him in no time.
’If I can’t run, then I’ll have to fight!’
SWISH SWISH SWISH!
With a backhanded wave, Chu Bai unleashed hundreds of Spirit Water Needles behind him like a torrential downpour, trying to disrupt the three pursuers’ path.
But for Ji Li, who was single-mindedly focused on capturing him, this level of interference was only a minor hindrance.
Just a few breaths later.
Ji Li was already ten zhang behind him. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he made a grasping motion with one hand, aiming straight for the Dharma Seal in Chu Bai’s hand.
"Hand it over!"
"In your dreams!"
Chu Bai suddenly spun around, advancing instead of retreating.
[Formless Cloud Hand]!
BOOM!
An incredibly solid giant palm of Cloud Qi materialized and shot out, carrying the terrifying pressure of the Perfection Level as it slammed viciously toward Ji Li’s chest.
Ji Li’s expression changed slightly. He hastily changed his move to defend, and a Primordial Magnetic Shield rose around him.
A dull THUD.
Ji Li felt an overwhelming force, as if a mountain had crashed into him. The palm strike sent him flying several zhang through the air. He stumbled back two more steps upon landing before finally steadying himself, his earlier, effortless grace completely shattered.

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