The Art of Chaotic Divinity-Chapter 1304: I Am Ni Ba

"Senior Uncle Qingxuan Zi, may we begin?"

Ning Guichen bowed toward Qingxuan Zi. Qingxuan Zi gave a slight nod, and Ning Guichen announced in a loud voice, "The Five Spirit Hall qualification assessment officially begins."

He stepped forward and continued, "First, everyone participating must register at the registration desk to record your information and collect your number plates, then proceed in order to the various tests."

In barely a quarter of an hour the officials finished registering almost everyone. Ling Feng and Tuoba Yan received numbers three hundred sixty-six and three hundred seventy-seven respectively, so they still had some time to wait before their turn.

Ling Feng used that time to look around and listen for gossip.

"I heard this assessment will test not only cultivation level but also physical physique, innate talent, and elemental force properties. They will combine all that information to decide who gets a qualification token."

"The numbers this year are more than past years. It really is an era of rising geniuses!"

"Mhmm!" A nearby swordsman nodded. "Who will stand out in an era like this is anyone's guess."

"Look, look. Isn't that Princess Qian Ling from the Tiansheng Imperial family? I didn't expect even someone like her to fail to get into the Three Divine Halls."

"Tsk! Don't talk nonsense, Princess Qian Ling is a rare thunder-born talent who was already preselected by Profound Thunder Hall and likely made an inner disciple. Three Divine Hall may be more prestigious, but the right fit matters. Once she enters Profound Thunder Hall she'll soar even higher."

"Wow, you really know your stuff!"

"Hehe, you can ask me anything."

Princess Qian Ling?

Ling Feng followed their gaze and saw a graceful, breathtaking woman standing among the crowd, a single bright bloom amid a sea of green.

She carried an aura that made everyone instinctively give her space. From her posture and bearing it was clear she was no ordinary talent.

A thunder-born physique? Interesting.

Ling Feng rubbed his nose. From her physique she would be comparable to Yan Jinghong. Yan Jinghong was legendary in the Tianbai Empire, yet across the whole Dongling Region he was not unique.

"Over there's the Mu family, rising fast these years." Someone nearby said. "They already had a genius join the Blazing Sun Divine Hall. Today another of their heirs is here for Five Spirit Hall. If this keeps up the Mu family may become one of the top forces in the region." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"I heard the Mu prodigy here is called Mu Feiyang. His swordsmanship is reputedly so strong he could cut a Human Emperor even while at king tier. Whether that's true I do not know."

"Regardless, a token for him is practically guaranteed."

"Bah, the Mu family!"

Mo Sanqing, who was standing nearby, snorted coldly and glared at Mu Feiyang. His face showed clear resentment.

Ling Feng raised an eyebrow. Mu Feiyang was probably one of the former branch families that once served Moxue Manor, the very family Mo Qingfeng had mentioned.

Over the centuries Moxue Manor declined while the Mu family rose. It made sense that Mo Sanqing was bitter.

Ling Feng's eyes swept toward Mu Feiyang. The boy stood tall and proud, a long sword cradled in his arms. Even sheathed, the blade seemed to hum with intent. He closed his eyes, calm as if meditating, yet anyone who came within several dozen feet of him felt an almost physical tension pressing against them, as if invisible thorns pressed against their back.

"His sword will is fierce and domineering! His sword dao must be grand and aggressive."

Ling Feng mused. From that alone Mu Feiyang already seemed far superior to Mo Sanqing.

Mo Sanqing relied on flashy dual-weapon techniques, which often sacrificed true power for spectacle.

Sensing the attention, Mu Feiyang's eyes sharpened and a resolute sword will shot from him toward Ling Feng.

A faint smile curved Ling Feng's lips. His sword force rippled outward, instantly dissolving the sword will without leaving a trace.

Mu Feiyang's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Such an impressive technique. Could this person also be a master of the sword dao? That aura just now... it was strange, truly strange!

He sensed that Ling Feng's move had something to do with sword will, but he dared not speculate boldly.

After all, someone of Ling Feng's age could hardly have comprehended sword force.

Normally, sword force could only be derived after reaching great perfection in sword will. Mu Feiyang considered himself exceptionally gifted in the sword dao. He had been training since the age of six, honing his skills for over thirty years. Even now, having ascended to Human Emperor, his own sword will had reached advanced only.

"Feiyang, what is it?"

A purple-robed old man asked, noticing Mu Feiyang's distraction.

"Hmph, that kid again!"

Mu Renjie said, narrowing his eyes. "Feiyang, did you sense something abnormal in that boy?"

"Mhmm." Mu Feiyang nodded slightly. "That boy... he is probably a master of the sword dao as well."

"Sword dao, you say?"

Mu Renjie nodded slightly. "It seems he is a disciple of Mo Qingfeng. No wonder he carries such confidence coming to take the assessment. Still, that poses no real problem."

Mu Renjie gave a cold smile. "Feiyang, your talent is as good as any sibling of ours. Getting into Dongling Immortal Pool won't be a problem. Elder Zuo Hanjiang of Tempest Wind Hall already wanted you as an inner disciple. Once you join, a direct disciple's path will be open to you. A few inner disciples from Moxue Mountain Manor cannot compare."

"Hehe, Moxue Mountain Manor will only fall further behind the Mu family. Mo Qingfeng is struggling to keep it afloat."

Upon hearing this, Mu Feiyang's eyes brightened with a hint of delight. As for the slight oddness he had sensed from Ling Feng earlier, he had already dismissed it from his mind.

While Ling Feng waited quietly in line, a young man in a golden robe approached him with a fist-and-palm salute and said, "May I know your name, brother? I am Lu Tianyi, a disciple of the Lu family from Xuechuan."

Lu Tianyi tried to make friendly conversation with Ling Feng, but his eyes wandered restlessly, sizing up Tuoba Yan with obvious interest.

"My surname is Ni, name Ba. I'm Ni Ba!"

Ling Feng pushed Tuoba Yan slightly in front of him. His tall, imposing figure instantly blocked Lu Tianyi's view.

Tuoba Yan couldn't help but stifle a laugh, a soft warmth blooming in her chest. This wooden-headed Ling Feng, at times, could be unexpectedly endearing.

"So it's Brother Ni..."

Lu Tianyi forced a smile, but his eyelid twitched. His gaze sharpened on Ling Feng and he spat through gritted teeth, "You brat, how dare you mock me!"

Ni Ba, literally "your father", was a name Ling Feng had made up on the spot, a blunt, teasing way of saying, "I'm your dad!"