Chapter 78
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Chapter 78: Where Am I, Who Am I
Yi Qianmo mastered the Disguise Skill within a few days, yet maintaining his current appearance required continuous spiritual power to fool cultivators.
When the two left Tingyu Tavern, they soon arrived at Tianyuan Academy.
As the top institution in the Yan Kingdom, Tianyuan Academy was not only renowned for its talented disciples but also for its grandeur. It was said that, aside from the royal palace, no other structure in the kingdom rivaled the academy’s luxury.
Outside the academy, a massive crowd had gathered. Today marked the registration day for the prestigious exam, and not everyone qualified to participate.
To register, one had to meet the first criterion: being an innate master. Those who hadn’t reached this stage could not even dream of taking the test.
In Green Cloud City, Yi Qianmo had encountered no more than ten innate masters. Yet, here at the academy gates, thousands of them were present.
Among these, hundreds of cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage stood out. These individuals were not affiliated with the kingdom’s four great sects but hailed from various smaller sects and regions. While these lesser sects were often overlooked, they wielded enough influence to dominate their territories.
The registration was organized into two lines: one for innate masters and another for Qi Refining Stage cultivators. Those who had already achieved the Foundation Establishment Stage were exempt from the exam and could directly join the academy.
Zhou Lanting escorted Yi Qianmo to the gates. Without so much as a farewell, she turned and left.
Yi Qianmo didn’t stop her. He understood her predicament. Zhou Lanting practiced the Heavenly Demon Technique, a high-level demon path technique. Though Taoist Qingmu had modified it to remove most of its risks, its very nature forced her to remain vigilant. Now, with the Heavenly Demon Pill in her possession, she likely sought seclusion to advance to the Golden Core Stage.
If the Blood Demon Sect discovered her survival, they would undoubtedly pursue her.
Yi Qianmo joined the line of Qi Refining Stage cultivators. He soon noticed three familiar faces—the young men from the ship incident.
“I can’t believe they have the audacity to take the big exam,” he thought, surprised.
These three had abandoned Su Yucheng during the Blood Demon Sect’s ambush. Seeing them here was unexpected.
When it was Yi Qianmo’s turn, he approached the test stone, a tool used to verify spiritual power. Infusing the stone with spiritual energy caused it to change color, ranging from light yellow to golden yellow. The deeper the color, the purer the energy, and the higher the cultivator’s talent.
Yi Qianmo observed the others. Most tested as light yellow, a few as yellow, and almost none reached golden yellow.
Among the three young men, two tested yellow, while the third caused a stir when the stone glowed golden. The examiner personally escorted him inside, treating him with great respect.
When Yi Qianmo’s turn came, he hesitated. To avoid drawing attention, he deliberately diluted his spiritual power with true energy before channeling it into the stone.
Unexpectedly, the stone’s color fluctuated, shifting from light yellow to yellow.
This strange phenomenon drew suspicion. Around him, murmurs arose, and people shot him accusatory looks, assuming he was cheating.
The examiner furrowed his brow. “Take him away! A hundred strikes and banishment from the capital!”
Two Black Armored Guards, the Yan Kingdom’s elite warriors, stepped forward. Their intimidating presence made the crowd step back in awe.
Yi Qianmo, however, stood unfazed. As the guards attacked, he released his spiritual power, forcing them to retreat.
The examiner paled, realizing his mistake. Bowing quickly, he said, “Immortal Master, my apologies for the misunderstanding. Please, this way.”
Without a word, Yi Qianmo walked inside, his attention caught by the cold glares of the three young men.
Moments later, the crowd gasped as another cultivator tested golden. The dazzling light surpassed even the earlier test. Oddly, the young man looked bewildered, as if lost in thought.
“Where am I? Who am I?” his expression seemed to ask.
The examiner approached him with admiration, but the young man’s nervous demeanor left onlookers puzzled.
“Could it be my leftover spiritual power?” Yi Qianmo mused, chuckling softly. He ignored the commotion and proceeded inside.
After completing registration, Yi Qianmo received a token for the main exam and was assigned a shared room to wait for the next day.
Entering his room, he found one of the three young men already present.
The young man’s expression turned cold. “Where did this ugly monster come from? Get out!”
Yi Qianmo froze, then realized the hostility.
“It’s because of my disguise,” he thought, suppressing a smile.
Before he could retort, a voice behind him rang out, “As fellow candidates, how can you judge someone by their appearance?”
Turning around, Yi Qianmo saw the bewildered young man from earlier.
With righteous indignation, the newcomer stepped forward and took Yi Qianmo’s hand. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one will bully you.”
Yi Qianmo blinked in surprise, then smiled. “Thank you for your care, Brother.”
“My name is Guan Shanqing,” the young man said, his cheeks reddening. “And I’m likely younger than you.”
Yi Qianmo chuckled. “Then I’ll call you Shanqing. You can call me Su Muzhi.”
Guan Shanqing nodded enthusiastically, ignoring the scowling young man in the room.
Together, the two struck up an easy conversation, leaving the other occupant fuming in silence.
