Chapter 1305: Ruthless and Merciless

"Where did I toy with you? You asked on your own. I never forced you to!"

Ling Feng shot him a sideways glare. Lu Tianyi clenched his fists, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes as he gave Ling Feng a cold look and stormed off.

Since this was the site of the qualification assessment, he knew better than to make trouble no matter how unhappy he felt.

"

Hehe!

" Mo Sanqing jumped out from the side with a sinister chuckle and said, "Brother Ling, this time you really messed with the wrong person. Lu Tianyi may look plain, but his strength is no joke. His reputation is even greater than Mu Feiyang of the Mu family, so you'd better watch yourself!"

He sounded as if he were offering a reminder, yet the mockery behind it was impossible to miss.

Ling Feng lifted his shoulders in a lazy shrug and could not be bothered to respond. He let it pass for Mo Qingfeng and Mo Qiuhua's sake.

Mo Sanqing grew even more annoyed when Ling Feng ignored him. He wanted to flare up but knew he could not win a fight, so he could only hold it in and swallow his anger.

"Alright, all participants, your information has been recorded. The assessment officially begins now! Please step forward in order for testing, we start with physique."

Ning Guichen looked down at the crowd and spoke slowly. "As you all know, physiques are divided into common bodies, Spirit Bodies, and Sacred Bodies. Spirit Bodies are further ranked into Sky, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. If your body isn't Spirit Body and above, no matter how strong you are in other areas, you still fail. Anyone below Spirit Body can leave on your own."

He signaled the disciples in charge. They quickly brought out a half-man-tall device. The tester only needed to place a palm on the left groove and the crystal pillar on the right would display the physique grade.

The first in line was a burly man with eighth level king-tier cultivation. He followed the instructions and placed his hand in the groove. The crystal pillar flickered with a faint glow. Ning Guichen shook his head and said in a steady voice, "Common body, you are not qualified. You may leave!"

"That's impossible!"

The big man clenched his teeth and said, "I'm at the eighth level of Spiritual Sea Realm, only two steps from Human Emperor. How can I not be qualified?"

"As I said, without having a Spirit Body, it doesn't matter how strong you are otherwise. The path of cultivation is harsh, and your talent limits you. Even though you reached the eighth level of Spiritual Sea Realm, your chance of breaking through to Human Emperor is zero. You may leave, do not waste everyone's time."

"No! I don't believe it! I don't believe it!"

He still refused to go. Qingxuan Zi let out a cold snort from the high platform and waved a hand, sending the man flying.

"Ridiculous. Next!"

With one move, Qingxuan Zi nearly crippled the man. The remaining candidates stiffened their necks. Those who already knew they did not meet the Spirit Body threshold withdrew one after another, and nearly a tenth of the crowd thinned out instantly.

"

Sigh

..."

Ning Guichen sighed softly. Many with poor talent trained far harder than the gifted ones, yet martial arts had never been something effort alone could conquer.

Talent set a hard ceiling, and the further one progressed, the more impossible breakthroughs became. If someone lacked even a Spirit Body, the Human Emperor realm was nothing but a dream.

"So ruthless!"

A chill flickered in Ling Feng's eyes as he met Qingxuan Zi's gaze.

Qingxuan Zi offered a faint curl of his lips, glanced at Ling Feng as if he were beneath notice, and sat back down.

"You just wait! Old geezer!"

Ling Feng snorted and thought to himself,

My physique improves with every spirit infusion. Though I likely didn't even possess a Spirit Body at the start, my current body must be at the same level as the Earth Spirit Body level, perhaps even approaching the Sky Spirit Body.

Of course, Ling Feng had no idea what level it actually placed him at. The Chaotic Body already exceeded the limits of the test itself and could evolve without end, so ordinary methods of measurement meant very little to him.

"That old geezer Qingxuan Zi really is ruthless."

On the platform, Lin Mu let out a low curse. Ning Guichen, standing right next to him, felt a jolt of panic the moment he heard it. He didn't dare follow up on the remark and hurriedly announced, "Alright. Next participant, step forward for the test."

Number Two was a frail-looking female cultivator. After seeing what happened earlier, she was even more terrified. She carefully placed her hand on the groove.

Three brilliant lights lit up on the crystal pillar, bright and clear. Ning Guichen nodded with a light laugh. "Advanced Mystic Spirit Body, not bad."

The woman's face brightened with relief and she bowed. "Thank you, Senior Brother Ning."

Ning Guichen recorded her result and called for Number Three.

Time passed little by little. At last it was the turn of the one everyone had been talking about, Princess Qian Ling.

The princess blinked her bright eyes as she studied the crystal pillar, then calmly set her hand down.

Six segments of the pillar lit up at once. Ning Guichen clasped his hands and congratulated her. "Congratulations, Junior Sister Princess Qian Ling. With your Thunder Spirit Sacred Body, you don't even need to take these tests. I heard that Senior Uncle Tian Tao of the Profound Thunder Hall has already prepared to take you in as a direct disciple. Allow me to congratulate you in advance."

Princess Qian Ling returned a graceful bow and said softly, "Thank you, Senior Brother Ning."

Lin Mu could not resist leaning forward with a grin. "Junior Sister Princess, my name is Lin Mu. If you have time, come visit the Earth Spirit Hall!"

The princess smiled politely, pleased by the attention. "Alright. If I have time, I will come visit Senior Brother Lin."

Lin Mu's expression twisted at once. He shook his head hard. "No, that won't do. You're too pretty. If that lecherous old man sets his eyes on you, he'll probably try to peek at your bath. I'll visit you at the Profound Thunder Hall instead. Don't worry, I know all the paths. Whether it's the Three Divine Hall or the Five Spirit Hall, I'm very familiar with the places where the senior sisters and junior sisters bathe, I..."

"

Ahem!

"

Ning Guichen coughed sharply. Lin Mu froze, then burst into a strained laugh. "Nothing. Forget I said anything!"

Princess Qian Ling's cheeks flushed a light pink as she glanced at Lin Mu again. She then offered polite bows to the senior brothers and sisters of the Five Spirit Hall before leaving.

"Senior Brother Lin, everyone is watching. Can you please mind your image?" A female disciple nearby frowned and deliberately put some distance between them as if she did not know him at all.

"

Hehe

..."

Lin Mu only grinned. In his heart he muttered,

I was scouting the area for that old pervert. I, a proper gentleman, have zero interest in peeking.