Chapter 3

As Lin Nan's eyes slowly closed, the square was filled with the noisy chatter of many people. Although the disciples who had just entered Xichen Manor were only beginning their strength tests, his talent had already been widely talked about when he entered Xichen Manor. And Lin Nan was one of them.

"Lin Nan, it's said that he reached the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage a few months ago. His cultivation talent is also quite high..."

"This test isn't a big deal for him. It's just that we don't know if he's still at the fifth level."

As the chatter rose, Lin Nan had already completely closed his eyes, as if gathering his spirit. In that instant, he suddenly raised his right hand and slowly reached out toward the crystal ball under the sunlight.

Just as Lin Nan's palm was about to touch the crystal ball, almost all the voices of the people discussing suddenly stopped. It was as if they were holding their breath, waiting to see what kind of shock Lin Nan would bring them.

"Whoosh!"

The moment Lin Nan's palm touched the crystal ball, the blinding white light suddenly became even more dazzling. More strangely, a circle of white energy gathered around Lin Nan's body. Within this white energy, six white lines rippled like ripples.

"Hiss..." As this scene unfolded, some people on the scene couldn't help but draw in a breath. After taking a deep breath, exclamations of amazement began to echo.

"In just a few months, Lin Nan has advanced from the fifth level to the sixth level of the Foundation Establishment stage. His talent is truly rare in our Xichen Manor."

"It seems that Lin Nan will definitely be a key figure to cultivate in the future."

On the other side of the pillar, Xichenzi narrowed his eyes. When Lin Nan slowly opened his eyes, he stroked his white beard in satisfaction and nodded.

On the pillar, the middle-aged man, seeing this scene, smiled contentedly. He announced loudly to everyone present, "Lin Nan, sixth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, passed. Next, Mu Han."

As the middle-aged man's voice faded, Lin Nan's gaze swept over the people participating in the test, and a hint of pride appeared in his eyes.

At the same time, a sixteen-year-old boy slowly walked up to the stone platform. He didn't have the same confidence as Lin Nan and appeared quite nervous as he stepped onto the platform. From his appearance, it seemed his strength had not yet reached the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

For these onlookers, a person with cultivation talent wasn't always their main topic of discussion. In some ways, while exaggerating others, they often belittled themselves. Thus, those without cultivation talent became the stepping stones for them to elevate themselves.

So, when Mu Han stepped onto the platform, a mocking smile appeared on their faces.

"Heh... Mu Han, though he's already sixteen, has been stuck at the third level of the Foundation Establishment stage for a long time, unable to break through to the fourth level. From his appearance, it seems he hasn't reached the fourth level."

"I remember that when I took the test a month before, I was still at the third level, but I managed to break through in the last month. Haha... Cultivation isn't just about talent; it also requires diligence."

"You know, I remember there's a groundskeeper in our Xichen Manor named Bai Shi. He didn't pass the test last year, and our Master, seeing he had nowhere to go, made an exception and let him stay in our manor. If he doesn't reach the fourth level this year, I wonder if our Master will make another exception in front of so many people."

As these people discussed, they subconsciously turned their gaze to those participating in the strength test. After scanning the crowd, their eyes ultimately settled on Bai Shi.

"Heh... From his appearance, he doesn't seem worried. He looks quite confident. After cultivating for a year and only reaching the first level of the Foundation Establishment stage, could something unexpected happen this year? Could he reach the fourth level?"

"I don't think so. He just seems shameless."

As these mocking voices rose, Bai Shi's expression remained unchanged. He stared at the platform, seemingly waiting for his turn like the others. In reality, he didn't want to step onto the platform at all. He knew his strength, but this was a process he had to go through. Last year, when he stepped down from the platform amidst the mocking voices, he had seen through the true faces of these people. So this time, he was much calmer.

Like Lin Nan, Mu Han closed his eyes after stepping onto the platform. After closing his eyes, he took several deep breaths, trying to calm his complex emotions. In the end, he raised his right hand, but it trembled as he did so.

As if in the silence that followed, Mu Han's palm suddenly touched the crystal ball floating in mid-air. The crystal ball's light flashed, and a wave of white energy appeared around Bai Shi's body. Within this white energy, only three white lines slowly wriggled...

"Ah..." Xichenzi, standing beside the pillar, sighed helplessly when he saw this scene.

"Mu Han, third level of the Foundation Establishment stage. According to the rules of our Xichen Manor, you must... leave Xichen Manor by tomorrow."

The middle-aged man's voice was extremely low, as if making such a decision required a great deal of resolve.

Mu Han pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and walked down from the platform with a mix of disappointment and sorrow.

As Mu Han left, almost everyone's gaze focused on him. The mocking looks made him feel an inexplicable unease, even though he didn't look at them. He quickly walked through the crowd, not looking back, trying to distance himself from these mocking eyes as much as possible.

"Next, Ouyang Jingjing."

Just as everyone's attention was on Mu Han, a voice from the platform caught their attention, and their eyes lit up as they turned to the test participant, a fifteen-year-old girl!

This girl wore a white robe, and her every move exuded a noble aura. Her slender figure had the two peaks that a mature woman should have, and her large, round eyes sparkled with a clear light. Her calm expression didn't change even under the crowd's admiring gazes. Her long black hair flowed down to her waist, making many female cultivators envious. The fragrance emanating from her body seemed to bring a sense of peace and comfort to those who smelled it.

She stood among the crowd like a shining pearl, radiating a dazzling aura. As she took a step forward, the people in front of her instinctively made way for her.

Ouyang Jingjing was not only the most famous beauty in Xichen Manor but also one of the most talented. It was said that her strength had already reached the eighth level of the Foundation Establishment stage! This number was unmatched by anyone who had entered Xichen Manor with her.

"Jingjing..." When Ouyang Jingjing walked past Bai Shi, he suddenly called out.

Ouyang Jingjing paused, turned to look at Bai Shi, and smiled sweetly. This smile was only seen on her face when she looked at Bai Shi in Xichen Manor.

"Bai Shi, I believe that even if you leave Xichen Manor today... you will succeed in the future." In the entire Xichen Manor, the only person who believed in Bai Shi was Ouyang Jingjing, the one everyone admired!

Each time he saw Ouyang Jingjing, Bai Shi felt a strange sense of calm, like still water, with no ripples, but his mind was filled with a hint of concern.

He smiled faintly and nodded.

As Bai Shi and Ouyang Jingjing exchanged glances, the cultivators who had been staring at Ouyang Jingjing couldn't help but feel jealous, and mocking voices began to rise as she walked away.

"A first-level Foundation Establishment cultivator also dares to speak to Jingjing like that. It's like a toad lusting after a swan."

"Bai Shi, I advise you to give up on that idea."

Bai Shi didn't respond to these mocking voices. Instead, he turned his gaze to the platform, where Ouyang Jingjing was slowly closing her eyes.

Even the way Ouyang Jingjing closed her eyes was captivating, making people entranced. The fragrance she emitted seemed to linger in the air, and as she completely closed her eyes, she slowly extended her delicate hand.

Her long, white fingers were flawless, like snow. When people saw Ouyang Jingjing, their breathing quickened.

Under the sunlight, Ouyang Jingjing standing on the platform looked like a celestial being, sacred and untouchable. Even Xichenzi, sitting beside the pillar, smiled wryly and muttered, "This girl already has such a stunning appearance. I wonder how many men she will captivate when she grows up."

Gathering her spirit, Ouyang Jingjing slowly extended her hand toward the crystal ball. The moment her palm touched the crystal ball, a blinding white light burst forth with a "whoosh." Around her body, a surge of white energy appeared, and eight white lines clearly emerged. These lines seemed to struggle within the white energy, as if they might break free at any moment.

More importantly, above the eighth white line, a faint white phantom line appeared. This was the sign of breaking through the eighth level of the Foundation Establishment stage and advancing to the ninth level!