Chapter 64

"It's a cruel method, but it's often very effective." Chu Min's expression remained unchanged. She ate very little, but drank even faster.

"Is it really necessary?" Wen Yan couldn't help but ask, directed at Chu Min but also at the four of them.

"It's just a Soul Selection Assembly. There was one last year, this year, and there will be one next year, every year," Wen Yan said.

"The Soul Selection Assembly isn't that important," Xi Fan said, "but we have our reasons."

"Have you made your decision?" Chu Min looked at Xi Fan. Despite her decisive nature, she sought final confirmation from Xi Fan, indicating how serious his choice was.

"I have decided," Xi Fan nodded, without a moment's hesitation.

"Start now?" Chu Min asked.

"Start now," Xi Fan said.

"Very well!" Chu Min nodded.

Because Xi Fan had made the right decision. If he had given up, Chu Min wouldn't have said anything; if he had chosen to wait until his injuries healed, she would have refused him. Waiting for his injuries to heal seemed to offer a better chance, but the cultivation Xi Fan faced was one of life and death, allowing no room for retreat or侥幸 (侥幸 means侥幸, but in this context, it means '侥幸 attitude'). Waiting for his injuries to heal was already a form of retreat. In such a mindset, even if he gained more cultivation time, it wouldn't help. This mindset itself was a fatal flaw, especially since Xi Fan was about to break through and connect his Essence Soul.

"Eat less," this was Chu Min's final advice to Xi Fan. As for Mo Lin, she didn't ask him anything; Mo Lin was in the best condition among the three.

Thus, two more figures appeared in the afternoon forest.

Mo Lin sat under a tree, not moving like Su Tang, who was constantly active, because he needed to connect his Pivot Soul. He bit a piece of grass, which was very bitter, but Mo Lin savored it as if it were a delicacy, savoring it carefully.

Taste is a unique perception of the Pivot Soul. Stimulating taste can serve as a guide. This is similar to how Lu Ping's control over his Resonance Soul improved subtly when he listened to Wen Yan speak or music. However, Lu Ping's focus was different; he needed to practice control itself, so Chu Min discouraged this method. For Mo Lin, seeking a breakthrough and connection was key, and using this method to stimulate control was a simple and practical approach. Although the effect was very subtle, as Wen Yan said, it was better than nothing.

As for Xi Fan, he lay motionless under a tree.

Sunlight, wind, and grass brushing against his face, but he felt nothing. After his Force Soul was stripped away, he had lost basic tactile sensation, unable to see, hear, smell, taste, or touch.

He was cultivating his Essence Soul, which is consciousness and emotion. With all five senses deprived, there was no external information to reach him, and he couldn't use even the simplest aid like Mo Lin biting a piece of grass. He lay there quietly, and no one knew the intense struggle his consciousness was undergoing. On the surface, his cultivation seemed the most peaceful and serene, but in reality, it was the most dangerous.

Wen Yan watched, seeing Mo Lin and Xi Fan stripped of their Soul Forces by Chu Min, and seeing them seek breakthroughs in this terrifying state.

She didn't know their reasons, but their determination and attitude deeply moved her.

Clap... Clap... Clap...

Lu Ping continued picking up fragments, turning large piles into small ones, and small ones into large ones. Although he wasn't in the same terrifying state as the other three, his focus was no less intense.

Should I also put in more effort?

Clearly, these cultivators were far below her in realm, yet she felt a deep sense of crisis. The top students at Tianzhao Academy had never made her feel so thoroughly outshone.

I can't relax!

Realizing she had spent the whole morning idly reading and watching others cultivate, Wen Yan felt she had wasted time. She didn't linger here any longer and left to begin her own cultivation.

Only five people remained in the forest.

Su Tang continued wandering around, Mo Lin kept tasting various things in his mouth, Xi Fan remained serene and peaceful, and Lu Ping continued picking up fragments. Chu Min, from her position, could see all four of them, holding a new bottle of wine, the aroma spreading around.

Bipolar Academy.

Across from Tianzhao Academy, the competitive atmosphere between the two academies had been intense since their founding. Over several hundred years, neither had managed to defeat the other. Both academies had developed into powerful institutions, often neighbors on the continent's academy rankings. In the Zhiling District's sub-rankings, they were truly the top two.

But at the entrance of Bipolar Academy, a large group of dejected students gathered, some with slight injuries.

These students were from the Gorge Peak District, first and third-year students who had come to borrow the tower for their major exams.

The exams went smoothly, but at Bipolar Academy, they felt like lowly creatures in a high society, suffering discrimination. Just now, a student couldn't bear it, leading to a group fight. In the end, they were beaten and chased out of the academy, heads hanging low.

They were supposed to leave today, but in this manner, everyone felt humiliated. Yet, they had no recourse, being far inferior in realm. They could only curse silently and leave in disgrace.

"Ha ha ha." Several Bipolar Academy students had chased them all the way here, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Seeing no one from Gorge Peak Academy argue back, they left without further harassment.

"A bunch of hicks, wasting our time." One of them spat on the ground. The conflict today started with a similar insult. Someone mocked the Gorge Peak Academy students for their low realm, saying their cultivation was a waste of time. The argument escalated to a fight, and the Gorge Peak Academy students' humiliation seemed to confirm their view.

"Who are these people?" At the entrance of Tianzhao Academy, students were coming and going, curious about the dejected group leaving and asked the Bipolar Academy students.

Though the two academies were competitors, the students didn't treat each other as mortal enemies and maintained normal interactions.

"A bunch of hicks from the Gorge Peak District. Their academy's Soul Tower is broken, so they came here to borrow ours for their exams. Their level is embarrassing," the Bipolar Academy student said loudly, clearly wanting the Gorge Peak Academy students to hear. In response, the Gorge Peak Academy students quickened their pace to leave.

"Are they that bad?" The Tianzhao Academy students were stunned.

"Of course. Oh, I heard your academy had four intruders yesterday? Quite a commotion! Who were they?"

"Students from the Gorge Peak District."

"Students from the Gorge Peak District? They caused such a fuss? I heard they even destroyed the Sound Tower this morning?"

"Who spread that? Can't you see it's still standing?" The Tianzhao Academy student pointed angrily at the wall. The Sound Tower was tall enough to be seen from several streets away.

"Oh, it didn't collapse? But it's close, right?"

"Stop spreading rumors!"

The students from the two academies could interact, but that didn't mean they were friends. A wrong word could quickly escalate tensions.

"What? Want to practice? Perfect, I wasn't satisfied with beating those losers earlier. Let me teach you a lesson!"

"You? Do you even know how to spell 'die'?" The Tianzhao Academy student rushed out, and a new fight broke out in an instant.

The wide street between the two academies was rarely used. This was because, on average, there were 3.2 fights per day on this street throughout the year...

(Update is here, please recommend and vote for the Three Rivers Award!)

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