Ahead of him stood quite a few proud young talents.
"Whoosh!"
Before long, a sturdy-looking youth walked over to Ye Qing's side.
His eyes were filled with a chilling, icy glare.
"Brat, I really want to know—given your strength, where on earth do you get the courage to go against our Li Family?"
The sturdy youth sneered, a murderous intent flashing through his eyes.
This person possessed extraordinary natural talent.
He was the peerless genius of the Li Family, Li Tianmeng!
Compared to a good-for-nothing playboy like Li Feng, his talent was simply in a completely different league.
This time, the Emperor Star Academy was holding its entrance assessment.
Li Tianmeng had absolute confidence that he could storm into the inner courtyard disciples and even become a core disciple.
In fact, given Li Tianmeng's talent, he could easily have entered without taking the assessment.
However, he wanted to participate in the assessment to display his formidable strength in front of the many young talents.
If he caught the eye of the higher-ups at the Emperor Star Academy and was directly made a core disciple, that would be wonderful indeed.
Li Tianmeng's gaze was full of contempt; he hadn't taken Ye Qing seriously at all.
Clearly, with Li Tianmeng's strength, the heroes of the world were nothing more than ants in his eyes.
At twenty years old, Li Tianmeng had already broken through to the Origin Pill Realm.
His talent was transcendent.
What's more, he possessed a five-star Ice Silkworm Bloodline!
The power of his bloodline was quite formidable.
Li Tianmeng was arrogant and proud.
Some time ago, he heard that his cousin, Li Feng, had died in Jinayuan City.
Along with several elders of the Li Family, they had all died together.
Li Tianmeng found this quite strange.
Because the murderer, Ye Qing, had completely mediocre cultivation and nothing impressive about him whatsoever.
Li Tianmeng simply could not understand why the elders of the Li Family had died at Ye Qing's hands.
In truth, the Li Family elders whom Li Feng had brought with him back then were merely in the Yuan Condensation Realm.
They were far from being as powerful as Li Tianmeng.
However, they were still members of the Li Family after all, and since they had died at Ye Qing's hands, the Li Family would not let the matter rest.
Li Tianmeng's relationship with Li Feng was quite ordinary.
Even so, Li Feng was still a young master of the Li Family.
He had died out there.
Today, Li Tianmeng was going to reclaim the Li Family's honor.
"Brat, with your trash-tier talent, I advise you to just give up!"
Li Tianmeng sneered, his eyes filled with mockery.
Chapter 31: The Golden War Drum
Facing Li Tianmeng's taunts, Ye Qing remained silent.
What his talent was truly like couldn't be decided by mere empty talk!
When it was his turn to take the assessment later, the people present would naturally see for themselves.
After Elder Li announced the start of the assessment, many young talents stepped forward to take the test.
On the martial arts arena, there were a total of ten Golden War Drums.
They could accommodate ten disciples taking the assessment simultaneously.
The martial arts arena was dead silent.
Ten young martial artists were taking the assessment, relentlessly striking the Golden War Drums.
To their disappointment, however, the Golden War Drums showed no reaction whatsoever.
The geniuses present were all dumbfounded.
The ten individuals on the martial arts arena possessed quite decent talents.
Yet not a single one of them succeeded.
This showed just how difficult it was to ring the Golden War Drum.
Seeing that the Golden War Drums remained motionless, the ten disciples on the arena had no choice but to leave, filled with resignation.
Their eyes were dim, having lost the chance to join the Emperor Star Academy, and their hearts were clearly filled with bitter unwillingness.
Yet there was nothing they could do.
Wanting to join the Emperor Star Academy wasn't something just anyone could achieve.
With their talent, missing out on the Emperor Star Academy meant they could settle for second best and join a slightly lesser academy.
However, in their view, their future would clearly not be as dazzling as that of disciples from the Emperor Star Academy.
"Next batch!"
Elder Li announced in a booming voice.
Soon, the next batch of disciples participating in the assessment stepped up to try and strike the war drums.
This time, the situation was slightly better.
Three outstanding disciples successfully rang the war drum.
However, according to the regulations of the Emperor Star Academy, to pass the first round of the assessment, one had to ring the Golden War Drum twice!
Just once was clearly not enough!
The second batch of disciples taking the assessment all ended in failure.
Next, other outstanding young people stepped forward to take part in the assessment.
However, most of the results they achieved could only be described as completely mediocre.
Every now and then, a disciple managed to ring the Golden War Drum twice.
Yet that merely reached the threshold for passing.
If they wanted to become outer courtyard disciples of the Emperor Star Academy, there were still other hurdles ahead!
Disciples who barely scraped through the first round often had a very high probability of being eliminated in the subsequent assessments!
"Next batch!"
Elder Li's imposing voice echoed across the entire arena.
As time passed, it finally became the turn of the Li Family's peerless genius, Li Tianmeng!
Within the Li Family, Li Tianmeng was hailed as a once-in-a-millennium talent.
His talent was plain for all to see in the capital!
Seeing Li Tianmeng step forward, Elder Li of the Emperor Star Academy wore a gratified smile on his face.
Li Tianmeng passing the assessment was an absolute certainty.
The only question was just how impressive Li Tianmeng's performance would turn out to be!
Elder Li of the Emperor Star Academy had held Li Tianmeng in high regard back when he was still in the family clan.
Today, he would get to witness Li Tianmeng's glory with his own eyes.
Li Tianmeng nodded toward Elder Li, then strode with large, confident steps into the martial arts arena.
Before him stood a magnificent Golden War Drum.
"Boom!"
Li Tianmeng threw a punch forward.
Carrying a vast surge of yuan power, its might was astonishing.
The next moment, the Golden War Drum emitted a thunderous roar.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Immediately afterward, the Golden War Drum rang out once more.
Four strikes of the Golden War Drum—Li Tianmeng's result was more than brilliant enough.
As long as he maintained his current level of excellence in the subsequent performances, becoming an inner courtyard disciple of the Emperor Star Academy would be effortless.
"Boom!"
Just as the Golden War Drum rang four times, shocking the vast majority of the people present, the Golden War Drum unexpectedly rang a fifth time!
The crowd was struck with even greater shock.
Being able to ring the Golden War Drum five times was considered an extremely exceptional achievement in the history of Emperor Star Academy's assessments.
"Boom!"
Yet the astonishment of the onlookers didn't stop there.
Amidst the shocked gazes of the crowd, Li Tianmeng struck the Golden War Drum a sixth time!
The roaring sound of the Golden War Drum echoed across the entire arena, shaking everyone to their core!
Everyone fell into a state of deep shock.
To be able to ring the Golden War Drum six times in one go fully proved Li Tianmeng's peerless talent.
Envious gazes poured in from all directions.
Along with a trace of jealousy!
After all, most of the young people present couldn't possibly achieve a feat as brilliant as Li Tianmeng's!
"Such formidable talent!"
"Li Tianmeng is amazing!"
"I'm afraid Li Tianmeng will have the best score in this new disciple assessment!"
Enthusiastic cheers erupted across the grounds.
Among the young generation of the capital, Li Tianmeng already had a large following of fans.
Coupled with his dazzling performance today, which shocked a crowd of people, it was only natural.
"Next batch!"
Elder Li said in a loud voice, his face beaming with joy.
Clearly, as a proud talent of the Li Family, Li Tianmeng achieving such an outstanding result brought great honor to the Li Family.
"Brat, did you see that? Your so-called talent is nothing more than garbage in front of me, not even worth mentioning!"
Having completed the assessment, Li Tianmeng walked out of the martial arts arena.
As he passed by Ye Qing, he didn't forget to hurl a taunt.
Ye Qing smiled calmly.
He didn't bother arguing with him at all.
Right now, it was far too early to tell how things would end.
"Brat, I'm going to make you understand what a true genius is, while you are nothing more than good-for-nothing trash!"
Suddenly, another proud talent walked over to Ye Qing's side.
His face was filled with a playful, mocking expression.
The Jiang Family's proud talent, Jiang Renxiong, had arrived!
Yesterday, the Jiang Family's young master, Jiang Ming, had died at Ye Qing's hands.
The Jiang Family was furious.
However, protected by Zhao Ruoning, the Jiang Family dared not make a move.
This time, the Jiang Family knew that Ye Qing was coming to participate in the entrance assessment of the Emperor Star Academy.
It was the perfect opportunity to humiliate Ye Qing.
Jiang Renxiong, the proud talent of the Jiang Family, was on par with Li Tianmeng.
Both were elite figures of the younger generation.
Originally, given Jiang Renxiong's talent, becoming an inner courtyard disciple of the Emperor Star Academy would have been completely effortless.
Yet he still chose to come and participate in the assessment.
On one hand, he wanted to prove his talent and strength in front of the world.
On the other hand, it was purely out of a desire to suppress Ye Qing.
Ye Qing had killed the young master of the Jiang Family; if the Jiang Family didn't make some sort of response, they would likely become the laughingstock of all the major clans.
Moreover, Jiang Ming was the Jiang Family Patriarch's most beloved son.
Jiang Ming's death must have driven the Jiang Family Patriarch into a rage!
It was only because of Zhao Ruoning's protection that they hadn't directly attacked Ye Qing yet.
Jiang Renxiong's appearance ignited the enthusiasm of the many young people present.
In their view, the score Jiang Renxiong achieved would definitely be extraordinary.
Everyone looked up to geniuses, and Jiang Renxiong was the object of admiration for the vast majority of the youths present.
His talent reached a height that most young people could never hope to attain!
Chapter 32: Jiang Renxiong and Li Tianmeng
Amidst the watchful gazes of the crowd, Jiang Renxiong walked into the martial arts arena.
Before him stood the magnificent Golden War Drum.
"Boom!"
The bloodline power within Jiang Renxiong surged violently, and a bloodline manifestation appeared behind him.
Five-star Wind Wolf Bloodline!
Possessing a five-star bloodline was proof enough of Jiang Renxiong's extraordinariness.
Bolstered by the power of his bloodline, Jiang Renxiong threw a punch that shook the heavens and earth.
The Golden War Drum rang four times.
It was heart-shaking!
The next moment, the Golden War Drum rang out once more.
A total of six strikes!
The score Jiang Renxiong achieved was indeed identical to Li Tianmeng's.
Their talents were naturally on par with one another.
It was only logical that they achieved similar results.
"Such formidable talent!"
"Have five-star bloodlines become as common as cabbages now?"
"What a pity, my bloodline is only four-star by birth. Compared to them, it's still far inferior!"
A flurry of discussions erupted.
Seeing Jiang Renxiong's dazzling performance, the youths present were all cast into the shade.
They felt that compared to Jiang Renxiong, their own talents were simply not worth mentioning at all.
Jiang Renxiong puffed out his chest like a proud little rooster.
His face was plastered with an arrogant expression as he walked out of the martial arts arena.
Passing by Ye Qing, Jiang Renxiong tilted his nose up toward the sky, looking utterly arrogant.
"Brat, if you can achieve even half of my score, I'll call you dad!"
As Jiang Renxiong spoke, his eyes were filled with mockery.
He had heard all about what happened yesterday in the Hall of Heroes.
However, Jiang Renxiong didn't believe for a second that Ye Qing could fight against experts of the Origin Pill Realm; whatever he had relied on was undoubtedly just the Blood Sword in his hand.
The Blood Sword was extraordinary, but in Jiang Renxiong's eyes, Ye Qing's cultivation was nothing more than garbage, completely unworthy of mention!
"Sorry, I don't have a son as ugly as you."
Ye Qing said indifferently.
"You!"
Jiang Renxiong was shaking with rage.
"Brat, later on I'll be sure to see what kind of performance you can put on!"
With those words, Jiang Renxiong flicked his sleeve and walked away.
However, he didn't go far.
Instead, he stood right by the side, watching Ye Qing's every move.
He wanted to watch Ye Qing make a fool of himself.
Before coming, the Jiang Family Patriarch had instructed Jiang Renxiong to seize every opportunity to brutally humiliate Ye Qing.
If possible, landing a vicious blow during the assessment and getting rid of Ye Qing was completely acceptable!
The Jiang Family Patriarch held a deep, burning hatred for Ye Qing.
Jiang Ming's death had driven the patriarch mad.
Had it not been for the presence of Zhao Ruoning, the Jiang Family Patriarch would have directly brought a group of experts and dragged Ye Qing back to the Jiang Family that very night.
"Next batch!"
Elder Li of the Emperor Star Academy called out.
Among the disciples who took the assessment next, there were still a few who managed to ring the Golden War Drum two or three times.
They met the standard to advance to the second round of assessments.
However, compared to Jiang Renxiong and Li Tianmeng, the results they achieved still fell drastically short.
Before long, it was Ye Qing's turn to step up.
The proud talents present cast a series of watchful gazes his way.
It wasn't because they expected Ye Qing to achieve some monstrously defying result.
Because in the eyes of most people, given Ye Qing's cultivation, it was impossible for him to get any good score.
To ring the Golden War Drum, one's cultivation had to pass muster first.
Both Jiang Renxiong and Li Tianmeng had cultivation levels that reached the First Stage of Origin Pill.
Coupled with their five-star bloodlines, that was how they managed to ring the Golden War Drum six times.
As for Ye Qing, his cultivation didn't even meet the baseline requirement to begin with.
Wanting to achieve a decent score would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
He probably wouldn't even be able to ring the Golden War Drum twice.
"Brat, I genuinely advise you not to humiliate yourself. With your strength, success is simply impossible!"
"Haha, exactly, brat, you'd better hurry home and hide behind Miss Zhao's skirts!"
Jiang Renxiong and Li Tianmeng both sneered repeatedly, completely dismissing Ye Qing.
In their minds, Ye Qing's first round of the assessment was bound to end in utter failure very soon.
If Ye Qing actually became a disciple of the Emperor Star Academy, it wouldn't be so easy for the Li and Jiang families to deal with him in the future.
Ordinary people wouldn't dare casually kill a disciple of the Emperor Star Academy.
They still had to show some respect to the academy.
However, judging by the current situation, the probability of Ye Qing becoming a disciple of the Emperor Star Academy was virtually zero.
Savage grins surfaced on the faces of both Li Tianmeng and Jiang Renxiong.
"Boom!"
Soon, Ye Qing walked into the martial arts arena.
Before him stood a single Golden War Drum.
The next moment, Ye Qing threw a punch.
Behind him, a bloodline manifestation emerged.
The bloodline manifestation of the Eight Desolations Fire Dragon!
A golden fire dragon radiated boundless majesty, shaking the entire audience to its core!
In an instant, the arena fell into absolute silence.
Those who had been mocking Ye Qing just a moment ago instantly turned pale, their eyes filled with sheer disbelief.
A six-star bloodline!
Within the Great Zhou Empire, this belonged almost entirely to the very pinnacle of existence.
Most of the core disciples of the Emperor Star Academy possessed merely five-star bloodlines.
Those who possessed a six-star bloodline were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
There were barely a few such individuals across the entire Great Zhou Empire.
With Ye Qing displaying his six-star Eight Desolations Fire Dragon bloodline manifestation, the entire audience was struck speechless.
Shocking!
It was simply too shocking!
A six-star bloodline compared to a five-star bloodline belonged to two completely different tiers of existence.
The gap was far from ordinary!
Although Ye Qing's cultivation was still nothing special at the moment...
Ye Qing was young!
He was only sixteen years old this year.
Backed by his powerful six-star Eight Desolations Fire Dragon bloodline, his future was blindingly bright.
And one had to remember, the bloodline Ye Qing had awakened belonged to the dragon clan!
The Eight Desolations Fire Dragon!
Among bloodlines of the same star rating, dragon clan bloodlines were invariably much more powerful.
It could be said that Ye Qing's six-star Eight Desolations Fire Dragon bloodline stood at the very apex of all six-star bloodlines.
"Such terrifying bloodline power!"
"This... this is impossible!"
"The legendary six-star bloodline! He actually possesses a six-star bloodline!"
"Hiss!"
A chorus of sharp gasps echoed through the air.
Everyone was plunged into a state of profound shock.
"Dong, dong, dong!"
Moments later, the Golden War Drum rang out.
Four consecutive strikes!
And there wasn't the slightest sign of weakening!
The entire audience was shaken!
Four strikes of the Golden War Drum was already a heaven-defying feat.
One had to remember that Ye Qing had achieved this with a cultivation level at the First Stage of Yuan Condensation!
Compared to Jiang Renxiong and Li Tianmeng, he was trailing by a full major realm.
"Dong, dong!"
Suddenly, the Golden War Drum rang out once more!
Six strikes of the Golden War Drum!
The result Ye Qing achieved was in no way inferior to those of Jiang Renxiong and Li Tianmeng!
"Dong, dong, dong!"
The Golden War Drum continued to roar.
With every punch Ye Qing landed on the Golden War Drum, a single strike rang out, unobstructed as if nothing could hinder it.
The material of the Golden War Drum was extremely special; if the power of a single punch wasn't strong enough, the drum wouldn't sound at all.
Furthermore, Ye Qing could sense the presence of a sealing force lingering around the Golden War Drum.
One could easily imagine the sheer difficulty of ringing it.
Yet Ye Qing had effortlessly achieved nine strikes on the Golden War Drum with a wave of his hand. The result he attained was simply inconceivable!
Chapter 33: The Colosseum
The roaring sounds of the Golden War Drum continued to echo!
The tenth strike!
However, after completing the tenth strike, Ye Qing could feel that the yuan power inside his body was beginning to run thin.
There was still a second round of the assessment ahead.
Ye Qing hadn't reached his absolute limit yet.
Even so, there was no need to keep striking the Golden War Drum.
Right now, the score he had secured was exceptionally brilliant!
There was simply no one else who could compare to him.
Soon, Ye Qing left the martial arts arena, leaving behind a crowd of stunned spectators.
Most of them hadn't even been able to ring the war drum at all.
A few others had managed to ring the Golden War Drum twice, barely securing a chance to advance.
Yet compared to Ye Qing, the gap between them was simply too vast.
"This..."
Outside the martial arts arena, the entire place was dead silent.
Everyone was utterly shocked.