The hum resonated.
As half an hour passed, the spirit detection, the second stage, neared its end.
When a hum echoed in the air, Li Xuan and Li Mingkai immediately shifted their gaze upwards.
The names of the top one hundred contestants were now displayed on the luminous screen. Li Xuan and Li Mingkai glanced at each other and smiled.
Their names were among them.
"Brother Li, these physical and spiritual tests seem to focus more on assessing the contestants' all-around strength. I imagine the upcoming spiritual power test will be similar," Li Xuan mused after a moment's thought.
Li Mingkai nodded in agreement. "These four stages do seem to be that way. However, the contestants filtered through these stages must possess exceptional strength and talent."
"The finals will surely be a spectacle. It's only in strong versus strong battles that one feels the desire to fight. At least, I believe such a screening is more conducive to fairness and justice, as the results of the tests cannot be faked."
Li Xuan nodded in agreement. A cultivator's comprehensive strength is determined by their physical body, spiritual power, soul, and combat prowess.
Those who emerge triumphant from these four stages are undoubtedly the cream of the crop.
"The spirit test has concluded. Congratulations to all contestants who have made it into the top one hundred. The spiritual power test will commence in a quarter of an hour."
With a wave of his hand, Li Tieyi retracted the information from the luminous screen in the air. He then surveyed the crowd in the square and spoke slowly.
Upon hearing this, Li Xuan and Li Mingkai once again sat down cross-legged.
A quarter of an hour later, Li Xuan and Li Mingkai also stood up in unison. The contestants in the square were now all looking towards the ten family heads on the high platform.
Under everyone's gaze, Li Tieyi rose again and, with a sweep of his hand, a circular object detached from his wrist. In the eyes of the crowd, it rapidly expanded in mid-air.
In an instant, it was as large as the Luoyang Square.
Li Xuan's eyes flickered with surprise as he looked at the circular object. Judging by the aura it emanated, it was undoubtedly of the level of a congenital spiritual treasure.
Recalling the Spirit Boundary Tablet that had appeared earlier, Li Xuan guessed that this item was likely related to the third stage, the spiritual power test, which was about to begin.
As the circular object stopped growing, Li Tieyi's voice rang out, "This object is called the Qianling Circle. It can detect the strength of spiritual power. For the spiritual power test, just as with the spirit test, you only need to circulate your spiritual power from your dantian."
Li Xuan and Li Mingkai both had a thought, and a beam of spiritual power shot straight into the sky.
The contestants in the square did the same. Beams of spiritual power filled the air, all directed into the Qianling Circle.
Concurrently, a massive luminous screen appeared within the area covered by the Qianling Circle. The level of each contestant's spiritual power beam was displayed.
However, as more spiritual power was injected, the color of the spiritual power beams deepened.
After a quarter of an hour, the spiritual power beams on the luminous screen of the Qianling Circle in the sky gradually stopped rising.
It was clear that during this quarter of an hour, everyone had pushed their spiritual power to its limit.
Li Xuan glanced around and noticed seventy-three golden beams. There were also twenty-five purple beams. This alone accounted for nearly one hundred contestants.
On the other hand, Li Mingkai, standing beside Li Xuan, looked at Li Xuan with some surprise, as the color of Li Xuan's spiritual power beam was beyond his understanding.
On the Huntian Continent, spiritual power strength was divided into six levels: azure, red, white, gold, purple, and crimson.
Li Xuan's ink-like color stood out amidst the multitude of spiritual power beams.
"The test has concluded," Li Tieyi announced, and the contestants in Luoyang Square stopped.
As soon as the test ended, Li Mingkai, with a slight frown, asked Li Xuan, "Brother Li, why is your spiritual power this color?"
Li Xuan chuckled wryly and shook his head. "I don't know. Perhaps it's a mutation."
Li Mingkai was taken aback but nodded in agreement. Apart from mutation, there was no other explanation that could satisfy him.
It wasn't just Li Mingkai who was puzzled. Li Tieyi and the other nine family heads on the high platform of Luoyang Square were also looking at the results compiled by the Qianling Circle with surprise.
The spiritual power levels of the other contestants were immediately apparent, but Li Xuan's dusty, ink-like spiritual power color was inexplicable.
"Esteemed lords, have any of you encountered such a spiritual power color?" Li Tieyi asked after a moment of contemplation, shaking his head with a wry smile.
His expression suggested he had no idea about the meaning of Li Xuan's spiritual power color.
"I have never seen such a color before. Although the density of Li Xuan's spiritual power is no weaker than that of other contestants, even comparable to the purple level, according to the rules, he likely won't receive any points." A middle-aged man in black robes shook his head.
"I concur," said a middle-aged woman standing beside Li Tieyi, as soon as the man in black finished speaking.
Li Tieyi looked at the others with some helplessness. "In that case, let's all vote. Let's vote on whether this contestant can enter the top one hundred."
As soon as Li Tieyi finished speaking, the man in black robes and the middle-aged woman who had spoken earlier looked up at the other seven family heads.
"This child possesses such dense spiritual power, even surpassing contestants of the purple level. It would be unfair if he were not awarded any points. Therefore, I suggest awarding him points," said an old man with a white beard after a moment of thought.
"I second Elder Fang's opinion," said a middle-aged woman with a veil over her face, as soon as the old man finished speaking.
"According to the rules of the competition and the definition of the six levels of spiritual power strength, I do not agree to award him points."
"..."
As everyone expressed their opinions, the final result was six to three.
Li Tieyi let out a wry chuckle. "It seems that even if I agreed to award points, it wouldn't change the outcome. I just hope this contestant doesn't feel unfairly treated."
"Announce the results. This contestant named Li Xuan has already accumulated twenty points. If he is truly extraordinary, entering the finals should not be difficult." Elder Fang, the old man with the white beard, sighed slightly and then said to Li Tieyi.
Li Tieyi nodded slightly, then with a wave of his hand, the names of the top one hundred contestants appeared on the luminous screen in the sky.
"Hmm? Brother Li, why isn't your name there?" Li Mingkai was stunned by the results displayed on the screen and rubbed his eyes to look again. Then, his gaze shifted to Li Xuan as he asked.
Li Xuan smiled wryly and shook his head. "Perhaps it's because my spiritual power level cannot be categorized."
"Has Father's eyesight deteriorated? Brother Li, your spiritual power is no less potent than mine," Li Mingkai grumbled.
Li Mingkai thought for a moment and then said, "But Brother Li, don't worry too much. You've already earned twenty points, and with your strength, entering the finals shouldn't be difficult. It's even possible to rank within the top fifty-six on the Heavenly Rankings."
Li Xuan smiled and replied, "These tests are merely to select contestants with good talent and potential. The real battle has yet to begin. Besides, losing ten points doesn't affect me much."
"Haha, I knew you weren't that pedantic, Brother Li. In that case, I wish you the best of luck in the next round, the combat test!" Li Mingkai said with a relieved smile, cupping his fists.
Li Xuan smiled and nodded. "Let's wait until all four stages are completed before discussing the results. However, given your status and strength, Brother Li, I believe entering the top fifty-six on the Heavenly Rankings should not be difficult."
"Hahaha, let's stop flattering each other. It's almost time for the final combat test of these four stages. The first three tests have taken up quite a bit of time. Now, this combat test will serve as a warm-up for the finals." Li Mingkai chuckled, then his gaze shifted towards the high platform in the square.
Li Xuan nodded slightly. While talent and potential can determine how far a spiritual master can go, historically, peak existences haven't relied solely on them.
Combat is the ultimate arbiter of strength.
"Indeed, it's time to stretch our limbs," Li Xuan murmured, his gaze also turning towards the high platform.
"It seems this Huntian Continent isn't much if it can't even recognize the Chaos Body of the young master. Young master, I suggest you leave this place as soon as possible," the voice of the Heavenly Dao Brush echoed in Li Xuan's mind.
Li Xuan: "..."