Chapter 39: Entrance Test, VS Tianlin
Lin Mo waited in the office for a moment, left his luggage there, and then followed Director Xue out of the admissions office.
Director Xue led him past several teaching areas to an open air Spirit Master sparring field.
The field was quite large, with simple defensive measures around it. It was clearly a place the academy reserved for students to practice real combat.
At that moment, 5 older students, 4 boys and 1 girl, stood at the edge of the field, whispering among themselves.
When they saw Director Xue bringing a strange child over, their gazes immediately landed on Lin Mo.
Director Xue stopped, pointed at the 5 students, and said to Lin Mo, "Lin Mo, the entrance assessment is simple."
"Do you see those 5 students? They are all second year students of the academy. You only need to choose 1 of them to spar with."
Lin Mo's gaze swept over their faces one by one. He asked calmly, "Director Xue, what is the assessment standard?"
"Do I need to defeat the person I choose, or do I need to defeat all of them?"
His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to the 5 second year students.
They froze for a beat, then amused expressions surfaced. They exchanged glances, all feeling that this child, clearly much younger than them, was talking far too big.
The most robust boy could not help letting out a sneer. He did not speak, but the meaning in his eyes was obvious. With that small frame, you want to defeat all of us?
Director Xue showed no surprise. He explained evenly, "According to the usual process, you do not need to defeat your opponent."
"You only need to last for a period of time against the student you choose and fully demonstrate your strength, proving you are not just a pretty but useless medicine jar. That will be enough."
"Practical combat is the best way to test strength. Of course..."
His tone shifted, gaining a hint of playfulness. "If you can defeat the opponent you choose head on, that naturally proves your strength and allows you to enroll smoothly."
He paused, then pointed at the 5 students again. "Their strength is arranged from left to right, from lowest to highest."
"The one on the far left has Rank 14 spirit power, and the one on the far right has Rank 16 spirit power."
Then, as if remembering something, Director Xue added another sentence, his tone carrying a faintly provocative edge.
"Oh, right. If you choose to challenge the strongest one and successfully defeat him, the academy will not only waive all your tuition and fees, it will also provide an additional scholarship to fund your later Cultivation."
"Consider this an extra credit question for your entrance assessment."
Director Xue sounded generous.
From the Spirit Master handbook and recommendation letter Lin Mo had shown earlier, he already knew Lin Mo entered Nuoding Academy as a Work Study Student. His family background was clearly not wealthy.
Heaven Dou Intermediate Spirit Master Academy did not lack this bit of funding. What they truly lacked were geniuses with extraordinary talent like Lin Mo.
Using a few resources to attract and keep a genius was a bargain.
Hearing that, Lin Mo's brow twitched slightly. Waiving tuition and fees plus an extra scholarship?
That condition was practical. Since the benefit had been placed right in front of him, there was no reason not to take it.
His gaze immediately fell on the student standing farthest to the right, a youth who looked 13 or 14.
He had sharp eyes, a lean, powerful build, and neat short hair. The aura he gave off was clearly different from the others.
"In that case," Lin Mo said without hesitation, raising his hand to point at the far right. "Director Xue, I choose him as my opponent."
Seeing Lin Mo pick the strongest one so decisively, the other 4 second year students all showed surprise.
They had thought Lin Mo would choose someone average and simply drag it out for a while. They did not expect him to bite into the hardest bone.
The youth Lin Mo chose was also stunned for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curved into an arc filled with battle intent. He stepped forward, staring at Lin Mo with a burning gaze.
Director Xue nodded. He was not surprised by Lin Mo's choice.
"Tianlin, step forward. Lin Mo, your opponent is him."
At Director Xue's signal, the 2 walked to the center of the sparring field and stopped 10 meters apart.
The 4 students who were not chosen retreated to the edge of the field with Director Xue to watch.
By Spirit Master sparring custom, both sides had to announce their names and Ranks.
Tianlin spoke first. "Tianlin, Martial Soul: Demon Wolf, Rank 16 Power Attack System Spirit Master."
After reporting his information, he instinctively looked at Lin Mo. At this moment, his gaze held more curiosity than contempt.
He was curious what spirit power Rank this child, who looked several years younger than him, actually had.
Lin Mo answered calmly. "Lin Mo, Martial Soul: Charmander, Rank 16 Power Attack System Spirit Master."
"Rank 16?!"
When Tianlin heard the Rank Lin Mo reported, his eyes widened instantly, disbelief filling his face.
He had originally thought Lin Mo was at most Rank 12 or 13, and that he only dared to challenge him because of a powerful Martial Soul. He did not expect the other side to be the same Rank as him.
Looking at Lin Mo's youthful face, Tianlin's mind went blank for a moment. At what age did this kid reach Rank 16?
Not only Tianlin, even the 4 second year students watching from the side gasped in unison and exchanged stunned looks.
This guy, is he really as young as he looks?
"The test begins!" Director Xue did not give them time to digest it and announced the start of the spar.
As Director Xue's voice fell, Tianlin immediately reined in his astonishment and let out a low shout.
"Demon Wolf, Possession!"
His body transformed rapidly.
His hair turned gray black and coarse. His fingernails lengthened into sharp claws that gleamed coldly, and a hint of wolf ferocity appeared in his pupils.
The aura of a Rank 16 Spirit Master spread outward, and a yellow hundred year Spirit Ring rose from beneath his feet.
He leaned forward slightly, assuming a pouncing stance, ready to strike at any moment.
Almost at the same time Tianlin completed his possession, Lin Mo's mind shifted.
A flash of red light swept past, and Charmander appeared at his feet, tail swaying.
At the same time, a bright yellow Spirit Ring rose from beneath Charmander, rotating rhythmically around it.
Feeling the aura pouring off Charmander, Tianlin's pupils contracted sharply, and the last trace of contempt in his eyes vanished completely.
To some extent, he was similar to Lin Mo. Both came from commoner families. Both had reached this point through a decent Martial Soul and relentless hard work, eventually earning their place in Heaven Dou Intermediate Spirit Master Academy.
But his talent was clearly far below Lin Mo's.
He was already 13, yet his spirit power Rank was only 16.
Facing an opponent like Lin Mo, he suddenly felt a pressure he had never felt before.
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/Eldryx]