System Possession, One Sword Shocks the Gods

11: Hidden Dragon Emerges from the AbyssAt daybreak, the central square of Qingyun City was already bustling with people.

In the center of the massive bluestone square, several high platforms had been temporarily erected. The most eye-catching one featured a black stone stele about ten feet tall, its surface covered in mysterious patterns—this was the ”Strength Testing Profound Stele” used by Tianfeng Academy to test strength.

The square was surrounded by crowds who had come to watch the ceremony, as well as young Cultivators from Qingyun City and surrounding towns, everyone looking excited and eager. This was an opportunity to change their fate, and no one wanted to miss it.

Ye Chen, dressed in a green robe and carrying the qingfeng sword wrapped in coarse cloth on his back, stood quietly at the edge of the crowd. His presence was restrained and his eyes were calm, making him look out of place among the nervous and excited youths around him.

His gaze swept across the square, spotting many familiar faces. Several people from the Ye Family had also come, led by Ye Xiong. From a distance, he caught sight of Ye Chen, his eyes turning gloomy with undisguised resentment, but he seemed to have some reservations and did not approach. Beside him stood several young disciples from the side branches of the Ye Family, most of whose cultivation was at the Body Tempering sixth or seventh level.

Ye Chen also saw several middle-aged men in luxurious clothing whose Aura was no weaker than Ye Xiong’s; they were likely the leaders of other Families.

”Clang—!”

The melodious ring of a bell echoed throughout the square, and the noisy crowd gradually fell silent.

A solemn middle-aged man wearing the light blue standard robe of Tianfeng Academy leaped onto the central platform. His gaze was like lightning as he scanned the crowd, naturally emitting a powerful Spiritual Pressure that made everyone below feel a chill in their hearts.

Kaiyuan Realm Peak! Perhaps even the Linghai Realm!

”Silence!” The middle-aged man’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it clearly reached everyone’s ears. ”I am the Outer Court Deacon of Tianfeng Academy, Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy. Today, I will preside over the Qingyun City recruitment examination.”

”The first part of the examination: Strength Test! Use pure Physical Body strength to strike the Strength Testing Profound Stele! If three patterns light up, you pass! Six patterns is ’Good’! Nine patterns is ’Excellent’! If you can trigger the Profound Light at the top of the stele, you are a Genius and can be directly selected!”

The rules were simple and direct, and a wave of discussion immediately broke out below. The testing standards of the Strength Testing Profound Stele were quite high; lighting three patterns at the Body Tempering Seventh Level was already no easy feat.

”Now, the examination begins! Those whose names are called, come up to the platform for testing!”

One by one, young men and women were called onto the stage. Some were so nervous their hands and feet trembled, while others were full of confidence.

”Wang Hu, Body Tempering sixth level, failed!”

”Li Xiujuan, Body Tempering Seventh Level, three patterns, passed!”

”Zhang Meng, Body Tempering Seventh Level Peak, four patterns, passed!”

The testing proceeded in an orderly manner, with the successful candidates overjoyed and the failures dejected. Soon, it was the turn of the Ye Family disciples.

”Ye Ming, Body Tempering Seventh Level, three patterns, passed!”

”Ye Xiao, Body Tempering sixth level Peak, failed!”

Ye Xiong’s expression was not very good. At that moment, a name was called on the stage.

”Ye Feng!”

A sturdy-looking Ye Family youth with an arrogant expression leaped onto the platform. He was a disciple of the Ye Family’s main branch and one of Ye Chenfeng’s loyal followers, with a cultivation level already at the Body Tempering eighth level.

He took a deep breath, shouted to release his energy, and slammed a fist hard against the Strength Testing Profound Stele!

”Buzz!”

The patterns on the stele quickly lit up. One, two... five, six! It finally stopped at the sixth pattern, the light remaining steady.

”Ye Feng, Body Tempering eighth level, six patterns, Good!” Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy Deacon nodded slightly in approval.

An envious gasp erupted from the crowd. Ye Feng raised his head proudly, his gaze sweeping toward the Ye Family’s direction, lingering for a moment on Ye Chen with undisguised contempt.

Only then did Ye Xiong’s expression look a bit better.

The testing continued, and after a few more people, finally—

”Ye Chen!”

When this name was called, a momentary silence fell over the square, followed by an even louder burst of discussion.

”Ye Chen? Which Ye Chen? It couldn’t be the one whose martial veins were destroyed...”

”He still dares to come and participate in the examination?”

”I heard he seems to have recovered some of his cultivation recently?”

”So what if he recovered? With damaged martial veins, what achievements can he possibly have?”

Countless gazes—curious, disdainful, and gloating—all focused on that green-robed figure.

Ye Chen remained expressionless as he walked steadily onto the platform under everyone’s gaze. His calmness was in sharp contrast to the clamor below.

Ye Feng stood at the edge of the stage with his arms crossed, sneering, ”Trash, don’t come up here and make a fool of yourself. The Strength Testing Profound Stele won’t go easy on you just because you used to be a ’Genius’.”

Ye Chen acted as if he hadn’t heard, walking straight to the dark Strength Testing Profound Stele.

He didn’t take a long time to gather strength like the others; he simply raised his right fist casually. The pure spiritual energy tempered by the Basic Qi Guiding Art within his body instantly condensed at his knuckles without the slightest leak.

Then, he threw a punch.

The movement was simple and unadorned, even appearing somewhat casual.

”Thud!”

With a dull sound, his fist landed on the stele.

There was no world-shaking Aura, nor any phenomena of exploding spiritual light.

However, in the next instant—

”Buzz!!!”

The Strength Testing Profound Stele shook violently! The patterns on the stele, like a lit fuse, flared up frantically!

One, two, three... in the blink of an eye, it broke through six patterns! The speed didn’t slow down at all—seven patterns, eight patterns!

The whole place was in an uproar!

Even Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy Deacon, who had remained expressionless, had a flash of astonishment in his eyes.

The light was unstoppable, instantly lighting up the ninth pattern!

”Nine patterns! Excellent!” someone in the crowd cried out in shock.

However, it wasn’t over yet!

At the moment the ninth pattern lit up, a faint white Profound Light suddenly shot into the sky from the top of the Strength Testing Profound Stele. Although it was only about a foot high, it was incredibly clear!

Profound Light at the top of the stele! The talent of a Genius!

The entire square fell into instant silence!

Everyone’s eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the rising Profound Light and the still-calm green-robed figure on the platform.

The arrogance and sneer on Ye Feng’s face froze completely, turning into shock and horror.

Ye Xiong even stood up abruptly, his face ashen and his fists clenched so hard his nails almost dug into his flesh.

”No... impossible! His martial veins are destroyed, how could he...” he muttered to himself, unable to accept this reality.

Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy Deacon took a deep look at Ye Chen and announced loudly, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible admiration:

”Ye Chen, Body Tempering eighth level, nine patterns, triggered the Profound Light at the top of the stele! Evaluation: Genius! Directly passes the first round of the examination!”

Boom!

The silence was broken, and the square erupted in a thunderous clamor!

”Body Tempering eighth level?! When did he reach the eighth level?”

”Triggered the Profound Light! How many years has it been since our Qingyun City produced such a Genius?”

”Wasn’t he crippled? What exactly is going on?”

Ye Chen ignored all the discussions and gazes. He nodded slightly to Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy Deacon and turned to walk down the platform. When he passed Ye Feng, he didn’t stop, as if the other person were just air.

Ye Feng’s face turned from red to white. Feeling the pitying and mocking gazes from around him, he was overwhelmed with shame and anger, yet he couldn’t say a single word.

On the platform, Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy Deacon watched Ye Chen’s retreating back, lost in thought.

”His martial veins indeed seem to be damaged, but the purity of his spiritual energy and the strength of his Physical Body far exceed those of the same level... This boy is quite interesting.”

The first round of the examination ended with only about thirty people passing. Ye Chen had undoubtedly become the most dazzling presence.

Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy Deacon’s voice rang out again: ”Rest for one hour, then we will proceed to the second round of the examination—Actual Combat!”

”The rules for Actual Combat: an Arena Free-for-all! The final ten people remaining on the arena will be those selected for Tianfeng Academy this time!”

A free-for-all!

Everyone’s hearts chilled. This meant that not only did one’s own strength have to be solid, but one also had to know how to cooperate, be wary, and even... calculate!

Ye Chen sat cross-legged in a corner, eyes closed to regulate his breathing, with the qingfeng sword resting across his knees.

He knew that the real test was only just beginning. Those gazes hidden in the shadows would never let him enter Tianfeng Academy so easily.

”Lin Batian... will you make a move?” He sneered inwardly, his fingertips lightly brushing the cold scabbard.

The Hidden Dragon has emerged from the abyss, and a storm is about to rise.