The First Summoner - Chapter 80

After listening to her father’s message, Shen Yan considered it for several seconds, then channeled spiritual power into the crystal and replied, “Father, everything is well with me. I’ll take care of myself. You must stay safe too.”

Shen Tianhao quickly sent a reply.

Shen Yan sat down on the bed. She had no intention of resting. Instead, she planned to refine spiritual energy and break through to the next realm.

She meditated and cultivated throughout the night.

Yet she still failed to break through. She remained short of one final trace of spiritual power and could not reach the critical point.

She had no choice but to stop for now.

After washing, she left her room to meet the Zhuge brothers and head to Western Region Academy’s registration site.

The brothers had also risen early. As soon as the three met, they set out. The farther they walked, the denser the crowd became, and a constant uproar filled the streets.

Only when they drew closer did they discover that the line of young people applying to Western Region Academy had already stretched onto the bustling avenue.

Zhuge Weiran stared. “There are so many people.”

Zhuge Youlin craned his neck for a better look. The line was extraordinarily long, with at least five or six hundred people.

“How long will we have to wait?” he grumbled.

Zhuge Weiran suggested, “Let’s secure a place in line first.”

Shen Yan was about to nod when a fat old man sidled up beside them. He smiled broadly at the three, then introduced himself with great solemnity.

“Greetings. I am the head of Fengyue Academy. I sincerely invite all three of you to join our institution. I guarantee you will receive excellent resources.”

Shen Yan paused, immediately recalling what Zhuge Youlin had told her yesterday.

There were seventy-eight academies throughout the Pingze Western Region.

Those inferior to Western Region Academy took advantage of its recruitment period to poach candidates—or pick up the ones it passed over.

Shen Yan replied politely, “Headmaster, we intend to apply to Western Region Academy first. If we are eliminated, we will consider your institution.”

The headmaster of Fengyue Academy immediately became excited. “Then it’s settled! If you don’t pass, you must consider Fengyue Academy!”

“All right.”

The headmaster departed in satisfaction, then approached other young geniuses and began making the same offer.

Zhuge Youlin snorted at the sight.

“Let’s get in line.”

While the three waited, thirty or forty academy heads personally came to speak to them, along with countless elders and instructors from other schools.

One youth marveled, “Western Region Academy actually lets all these other academies come here to steal candidates. How magnanimous.”

Another replied, “That’s because Western Region Academy has absolute confidence. It’s the finest institution around. Every student there either possesses status and influence or genuine talent and strength. Anyone studying there naturally sees a much wider world. Those small academies can’t compare.”

“True enough.”

“I heard Qi Lingxuan, the daughter of the Imperial Dragon Sect’s master, will be taking this entrance test. She’s only twenty, but she’s already a fourth-grade alchemist. How incredible!”

“A fourth-grade alchemist? Heavens! Her talent for alchemy is terrifying.”

Shen Yan listened quietly to the youths’ discussion. At the word *alchemist*, Jiang Xianyue came to mind.

Had Jiang Xianyue registered yet?

Zhuge Youlin turned toward Shen Yan, eyes curving with amusement. “Are you scared? There are so many favored geniuses applying. Forget first place—even making the top hundred will be difficult.”

“I’m not afraid,” Shen Yan said evenly.

Zhuge Youlin sighed. “Good. All you need to do is give it everything you have. You’ve only cultivated for a few short months, and you’re already this strong. Give yourself another year, and I believe you’ll crush every genius here.”

His words quickly reached the surrounding youths.

Many turned to look at them, studying Shen Yan and the Zhuge brothers with inquisitive gazes.

The brothers’ red hair was exceptionally conspicuous. Coupled with their handsome faces, it made many young women glance their way with bashful expressions.

Shen Yan was no less attractive, but her cold demeanor made people afraid to approach. Several young men stared at her, only to shrink back in alarm when they met her indifferent gaze.

Their hearts thudded uneasily. Her eyes seemed to contain killing intent.

Just then—

A commotion erupted at the end of the line.

Everyone looked over. Eight burly men carrying a sedan chair had taken their place at the very rear, occupying an enormous stretch of open ground. Two rows of guards stood on either side.

The crowd was stunned.

One youth frowned, anger faintly coloring his voice. “Who are you people? This is the line to apply to Western Region Academy.”

One of the bearers replied, “Our young master is waiting to register.”

At those words, everyone’s eyes drifted toward the sedan chair. Layer upon layer of white gauze concealed its occupant, who appeared to be… sleeping.

An arrogant youth rebuked them. “What gives you the right to take up so much space?”

The guards flanking the sedan chair abruptly drew their swords in unison and leveled them at the speaker.

The youth’s expression froze.

One of the bearers softened his tone. “We may occupy a large space, but only our young master is actually in line. If everyone gives a little ground, there is no need to make things unpleasant.”

Then he ordered, “Put away your swords.”

The guards on either side sheathed their weapons.

The youth no longer dared say a word.

Someone soon recognized the faction behind such an extravagant procession.

“That’s the emblem of the Spirit-Plant Chi Clan.”

“That man said it was their young master… Doesn’t that mean the person inside is Chi Yue, the Chi Clan’s young master? Chi Yue actually came!”

“Chi Yue has always been mysterious. No wonder he came to register in a sedan chair and refuses to show his face.”

“Do you think he’s hideously ugly? Why else would he never reveal himself?”

“Hah. What a pretentious display!”

The crowd buzzed with speculation.

Shen Yan withdrew her gaze.

Zhuge Youlin regarded the sedan chair thoughtfully, a smile touching his lips. “The Chi Clan’s young master is a spirit-plant master, and I hear he’s extremely powerful. Anyone who tried to see his true face was killed. He must be strong—quite possibly close to the Earth-rank realm already.”

Shen Yan quietly committed him to memory.

They had joined the line in the morning. By the time it was their turn, the sky was nearly dark.

A stern-faced middle-aged woman sat at the registration desk, her manner forbidding.

From the conversations around her, Shen Yan learned that the woman was Instructor Zhu Hua of Western Region Academy.

A pillar used to test cultivation stood before her. When Zhuge Youlin’s turn came, Instructor Zhu Hua motioned him forward.

“Place your hand on it.”

Zhuge Youlin hesitated, then stepped up and pressed his hand to the pillar.

It soon lit up.

When Instructor Zhu Hua saw the cultivation it displayed, shock crossed her face.

Zhuge Youlin’s cultivation had actually reached…

Mystic-rank level nine!

He possessed the highest cultivation of anyone who had registered over the past several days!

The crowd stared, dumbfounded.

How was that possible?!

The red-haired youth looked only sixteen or seventeen, yet he had already reached Mystic-rank level nine?!