"Gu Yuan, are you watching?" Chu Ling asked softly.
"Ah! Oh, I am," Gu Yuan replied, snapping back to attention somewhat hastily.
Gu Yuan's gaze shifted to the phone screen. It displayed a document resembling a PowerPoint presentation. The first slide read:
【Name: Xuanyuan Tianxia】
【Hometown: Xiajing】
【School: Tianxia University Affiliated High School】
【Realm: Body Tempering Completion】
【Strength: According to unreliable sources, it has reached an astonishing twenty thousand jin, making him the strongest high school student in the third year of Tianxia.]
Next to this introduction was a picture of Xuanyuan Tianxia, a strikingly cold and handsome young man.
Reading Xuanyuan Tianxia's profile, Gu Yuan gasped, "This kid is terrifying. I thought my strength of over ten thousand jin was impressive, but I didn't expect a monstrous prodigy with twenty thousand jin."
As his finger slid down, more geniuses appeared on the screen:
【Name: Luo Qi】
【Hometown: Xiajing】
【School: Xiajing Experimental Middle School】
【Realm: Body Tempering Completion】
【Strength: ... The last recorded strength value was nineteen thousand eight hundred and forty-four jin.]
...
His finger continued to scroll until it reached the last page:
【Name: Ren Tiandu】
【Hometown: Zhongzhou City】
【School: Zhongzhou City First High School】
【Realm: Body Tempering Completion】
【Strength: According to insiders, the last test score was seventeen thousand six hundred and fifty-five jin.]
*Hoo.*
Gu Yuan returned the phone to Chu Ling, exhaling a breath of turbid air. He knew there were many prodigies, but he hadn't expected so many. The document introduced a total of one hundred and fifty individuals, all possessing strength exceeding seventeen thousand jin at the Body Tempering realm. His own test results wouldn't even rank here.
And this was just from their last tests. In the time since, Gu Yuan himself had made significant breakthroughs, let alone these geniuses. Some were cunning strategists, others were masters of survival. This martial arts examination wouldn't be simple.
Chu Ling seemed to sense Gu Yuan's thoughts and said softly, "Gu Yuan, don't be nervous. This year's martial arts examination is rated as the highest quality in fifty years. Let's stay calm and just perform to our best!"
She then symbolically clenched her small fists, her adorable demeanor making Gu Yuan's lips curl into a smile.
The pressure in his heart eased considerably.
With a smile on his face, he said to Chu Ling, "Thank you, Chu Ling."
"Why thank me? Aren't we friends?" Chu Ling mumbled shyly, fiddling with her fingers.
Hearing Chu Ling's words, Gu Yuan smiled and stood up. "I'll head back now. Good luck, my friend!"
With that, he picked up his tray and left.
Chu Ling remained in her spot, muttering, "Gu Yuan just said 'my friend'."
Her face instantly turned crimson. She covered her cheeks with her hands, making strange little sounds.
"Gu Yuan finally acknowledges me! *Wuwu*, I'm so happy!"
Her mind involuntarily recalled their first meeting.
She quickly picked up her tray, returned it to the dish return area, and hurried back to the dormitory.
Gu Yuan returned to his dormitory, Chu Ling's image surfacing in his mind. A smile involuntarily played on his lips. This feeling was indeed quite nice.
However, the most important thing now was the martial arts examination. This wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts.
A serious expression on his face, Gu Yuan sat at his desk, taking out paper and a pen. He began writing.
He was a candidate from the Zhongzhou region, and his first opponents would be the top contenders from Zhongzhou, like Ren Tiandu. Information about these geniuses was well-protected. He only had some basic details, and even those were astonishing. Their base strength alone exceeded that of ninety-nine point nine percent of martial arts candidates.
These geniuses also possessed martial skills and weapons that hadn't been revealed, and possibly even innate divine abilities.
Gu Yuan wrote down the names of the top geniuses from the Zhongzhou Prefecture that he had learned from Chu Ling. He analyzed his current position, estimating himself to be among the top tier in Zhongzhou, and within the top one hundred nationally.
*Hoo.*
He exhaled softly, burning the paper to ashes and tossing the remains into the trash can.
He went into the bedroom, and with a flash, a fierce great bow appeared.
His palm gently brushed over the Chong Xuan Chi Lian, and he squeezed out a drop of blood, letting it seep into the bow's body.
This was a simple blood sacrifice method. Infusing his blood into a weapon would make it more responsive. Weapons forged from high-grade materials could even manifest a spirit.
The Heavenly Power gushed from his palm, slowly nourishing the Chong Xuan Chi Lian. With every thread of Heavenly Power that entered it, the impurities within the Chong Xuan Chi Lian decreased by a trace.
Half an hour later, after the Chong Xuan Chi Lian had absorbed enough Heavenly Power to become saturated, Gu Yuan put it away. The materials used for the Chong Xuan Chi Lian were relatively low-grade, so it would automatically saturate after absorbing Heavenly Power for half an hour daily.
With another flash, a brown wooden box appeared in his hand. A trace of grief flickered in Gu Yuan's eyes.
He placed it on the table and moved his fingers lightly.
With a *click*, the wooden box opened, revealing a long saber encased in a black lacquered and gilded scabbard.
Gu Yuan picked it up with both hands, his right hand gripping the hilt, and applied force with his arm.
*Whizz!*
A gleaming saber, adorned with gilded patterns, emerged with a hum, catching Gu Yuan's eye.
The saber was about a meter long, its blade approximately four centimeters wide and one centimeter thick at its widest point. The blade was straight, with an arc at the tip and a reversed edge.
He lightly flicked the blade, producing a pleasant ringing sound. The gleaming blade was like a pool of autumn water.
This saber was remarkably similar to the Xiu Chun Dao from his previous life. According to the original host's memories, this was a treasured family heirloom. After the resurgence of spiritual energy, some mutated metals were added, and it was reforged. In its current state, it was evaluated as a fifth-tier weapon. However, lacking any supernatural properties, it only possessed tenacity and sharpness. It had a beautiful name: Qiu Shui!
Gu Yuan raised Qiu Shui above his head, facing east towards Tian Yuan City. He bowed slightly and whispered, "Father, bless Gu Yuan."
An indescribable feeling washed over him, and his mind felt clear. Gu Yuan realized then that he had truly become Gu Yuan of this world, truly integrated into this world, and accepted the original host's life.
He squeezed a drop of blood from his index finger and let it drip onto Qiu Shui. The gleaming blade instantly absorbed it. Gu Yuan felt a faint, almost imperceptible connection linking him to Qiu Shui.
He sheathed Qiu Shui, then sat cross-legged on the bed, circulating his qi and blood. Qiu Shui was placed on his lap, gradually absorbing the qi and blood energy that Gu Yuan exuded.
Time flew by swiftly, and soon it was the next day, the time for assembly.
Yesterday, apart from having dinner, Gu Yuan had spent all his time in his dormitory circulating his qi and blood.
"Gu Yuan." Chu Ling's voice came from behind him.
Gu Yuan turned around and saw Chu Ling emerge from the elevator, heading straight for him. A smile touched his lips.
When Chu Ling reached his side, he asked softly, "Did you rest well?"
Chu Ling looked at Gu Yuan, feeling that he had changed somehow, though she couldn't pinpoint what. It was as if a filter had been removed, making him appear more genuine.
"Pretty well," Chu Ling nodded. "And you?"
"Alright. Let's go, it's time to assemble." Gu Yuan turned and walked towards the assembly point, Chu Ling quickly following.
Li Tianzhi and his subordinate, who had just exited the elevator, watched the backs of Gu Yuan and Chu Ling as they walked side-by-side, chatting amiably.
The subordinate glanced at Gu Yuan and Chu Ling, then at Li Tianzhi. "Boss, this..."
A conflicted expression flickered across Li Tianzhi's face, eventually resolving into a sigh of resignation. "Let's go. Don't worry about them."
He knew that he was no longer comparable to Gu Yuan. His past ambitions would just fade away with the wind.
The subordinates looked at Li Tianzhi's somewhat dejected back, exchanged glances, and then silently followed him.
Li Qing waited until everyone had assembled and began the journey to the first martial arts examination location: the Zhongzhou Martial Arts Examination Secret Realm.