His combat prowess skyrocketed.

His Dharma Aspect and power completely crushed Xia Tianzhong and the others.

Even if his Dantian Power was somewhat inferior, there was no way Chu Lingguang would lose to them in terms of Qi Power.

And as his Zhenyuan Technique proficiency reached Perfection, coupled with his round-the-clock bitter training and the guidance of several instructors from the Learning Palace, Chu Lingguang’s Dantian Small Vortex had also, without him realizing it, begun to transform.

「Early the next morning.」

On the fifth to last day, the Small Vortex finally became a large vortex.

Although the Zhenyuan Technique wasn’t a top-tier Inner Power Heart Method, and certainly couldn’t compare to the Mixed Element Skill, the fact that the Trial Ground instructors used it to teach the students showed just how extraordinary this Cultivation Technique was.

With his proficiency at Perfection, his Thoughts Reaching Far and Wide, and the guidance of multiple instructors, it was almost laughably easy for Chu Lingguang to use it for Opening the Dantian and Qi Sea.

On the fifth to last day, he continued to use the Zhenyuan Technique to strengthen his Dantian Qi Sea, training day and night. In the eyes of others, he was trying to catch up, but it looked more like a final, desperate struggle.

Yun Hong, Xu Zhongguo, and the others just watched in silence, not wanting to disturb Chu Lingguang. Since he had already made his choice and walked a different path, they could only let him continue on his way. They believed that even if he didn’t become the best candidate, Chu Lingguang probably wouldn’t have any regrets.

「Time flew by.」

「On the final night.」

"HAHAHAHA!"

A burst of laughter echoed throughout the Trial Ground.

Xia Tianzhong was exceptionally talented. He had accomplished what others thought impossible, transforming his Dantian’s large vortex into a Dantian Qi Sea in just twelve days.

He watched as the large vortex expanded relentlessly, finally filling his entire Dantian and circulating within it like a boundless ocean.

He was so excited he burst into joyous laughter.

In the dead of night, his laughter was extremely jarring and made people feel a bit uncomfortable. However, when Yun Hong, Xu Zhongguo, and the others learned that he had broken through at the last moment, they didn’t reprimand him for disturbing the peace. Instead, they encouraged him to keep up the good work.

’A Qi Sea?’

Chu Lingguang and a group of A Class students lived in luxurious single rooms. This area was right next to the courtyard where Xia Tianzhong and the others were staying.

Chu Lingguang had also heard that unrestrained laughter.

He used Introspection to examine his own Qi Sea.

Although his large vortex had just dispersed and his Dantian didn’t quite look boundless yet, whether it was a small Qi Sea or a large one, it was still a Qi Sea.

With the aid of his Zhenyuan Technique at Perfection, Chu Lingguang had evolved his large vortex into a Qi Sea within five days, successfully stepping into the Qi Sea Minor Achievement realm. However, as he was a master of the Heart Guarding Skill, he remained incredibly calm about his increase in strength. While his heart stirred, he remained outwardly expressionless.

「The next day.」

The three months of training came to an end.

After everyone finished eating in the dining hall, they were not summoned to the Martial Arts Arena. Instead, they were called to a remote area of the back mountain.

There was a cave up ahead.

From within the cave, a rhythmic, thunderous snoring could be heard.

Every now and then, two red dots would flash.

Xu Zhongguo stood before the crowd and said, "The three months of training are over. For today’s assessment, you must give it your all, because this will determine whether or not you can become the best candidate and receive the Washing Marrow reward."

A clamor erupted among the students.

Everyone had long known that the best candidate would receive the Washing Marrow reward.

They just hadn’t expected that it seemed everyone had a chance to become the best candidate, and that the selection wouldn’t be limited to the existing shortlist.

"Quiet! Let me finish."

Xu Zhongguo spoke again. "Anyone who has opened their Dantian and Qi Sea, possesses a Small Vortex, has mastered the True Dragon Power, and has activated their fourth-level Dharma Aspect is eligible to be on the shortlist for the best candidate."

"Now, those of you who are not yet on the shortlist but wish to compete for a spot, please step forward for one final assessment."

"Ah, so it’s a final screening!"

"Even if we get on the shortlist, there’s no way we can beat Xia Tianzhong and his group in the end."

"Even if we can’t win, we have to give it a shot!"

"That’s right! Even if we can’t win, we have to fight for it!"

The crowd murmured amongst themselves.

In the end, a dozen or so students who believed they met the criteria stepped forward for the assessment. Sima Army, Jin Huang, and even Fatty Qin were among them.

All of them were students with A-grade Talent.

Chu Lingguang and Zhao Rushuang stood off to the side.

He and Zhao Rushuang were already on the shortlist, so they didn’t need to undergo this final screening. His gaze drifted toward the dark cave entrance.

The thunderous snoring from within and the two red dots that flashed intermittently... no matter how he looked at it, he felt that something terrifying was hidden inside.

’The competition for the best candidate among those on the shortlist will probably have something to do with whatever is in that cave. Otherwise, why would we have been summoned here?’

For now, he, Zhao Rushuang, and the others could only wait and see what would happen.

In the end, every single A-grade Talent member who came forward for the screening passed the assessment without exception. They were no ordinary individuals to have been able to enter the Trial Ground in the first place, and since they also ranked among the top, how could their strength be lacking?

In total, nineteen people now had the right to compete for the title of best candidate.

"GURK!"

The strange sound had come from Poisonous Snake.

Inside the pitch-black cave, the snoring suddenly stopped. The next moment, a fiery red beam of light shot out from its dark depths.

Everyone saw it.

On either side of the cave, a line of fire ignited, illuminating the dark interior as if it were day.

「At the same time.」

An unknown creature emerged from within. It had a pair of ox horns on its head, and its ears were as large and thin as banana leaves, with a single blood-red vein running through them. The creature’s body was over three meters long, its fur covered in blood-colored patterns. Its eyes, like crimson fireballs, were soul-stealing to behold.