Chapter 18: Peerless

At this moment.

The proctor from Divine Gift University walked over, his gaze filled with admiration as he patted Li Huhai on the shoulder.

“Director Li, your Guangling City truly surprises us!”

The other Divine Gift University proctors all nodded in agreement, their expressions approving.

Suddenly.

One proctor’s face changed, saying, “Trouble!”

“Outside Anhezhou, other Divine Gift Universities from Linjiang Prefecture have heard the news and are rushing toward Guangling City!”

“No!”

“These two Level 3 talents must stay within our three schools!”

This Guangling City examination brought three Divine Gift Universities.

Anhezhou: Anhe College.

Neighboring Linchuanzhou: Linchuan University.

Neighboring Luoyingzhou: Luoying College.

The three proctors exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and made their decision.

Each turned away, pulled out their identity devices, and began reporting to their respective schools!

No matter what.

These two Level 3 talents cannot be snatched away by any other school!

On the ritual stage.

Du Fang flipped his palm lightly, and the illusory sword dissolved into light.

He smiled warmly at Song Ling: “Sorry, I’m just a little stronger than you.”

Song Ling snorted and leapt straight off the stage.

Instantly.

Dozens of students from Shenzhao Middle School surrounded Song Ling, shielding him tightly.

At this very moment.

Viewers watching the live stream had already erupted in chaos!

The last time Guangling City produced a Level 3 talent.

Was over a decade ago!

Now.

In this Guangling City examination, not only did a Level 3 talent appear.

But two at once!

Among them, an immensely powerful Level 3 “Martial” talent!

Du Fang’s “Myriad Forms Sword Art!”

Even within Linjiang Prefecture, it was a prize fiercely contested by multiple Divine Gift Universities!

Remember, Linjiang Prefecture has seventeen states.

Anhezhou is one of those seventeen.

Guangling City is merely a remote corner of Anhezhou.

Level 3 talents are exceedingly rare!

Even among Level 2 talents, none are useless.

But Level 3 talents.

Even the weakest “Body” type can unleash unimaginable potential!

Even if you have no desire to cultivate.

You can still go to the State’s Prayer Hall.

Strip the talent into a light orb and sell it on the trading market.

The cheapest Level 3 talent, regardless of type or strength.

As long as it reaches Level 3, it starts at no less than one million Alliance Coins!

“Second place, Zhao Jianxue, ascend the ritual stage!”

“First place, Jiang Jian, ascend the ritual stage!”

The great array roared as it rotated, their names echoing across Feiguang Stage!

Through live broadcast and relay.

Millions of eyes focused here.

“Du Fang and Song Ling, two Level 3 talents ahead.”

“The first and second place winners are likely to be overshadowed.”

“With Du Fang and Song Ling’s pearls before them, even if they earn a Level 2 talent, it hardly matters.”

On Anhezhou’s forum, a flood of comments rapidly scrolled.

Tens of thousands of comments flashed past every second!

Zhao Jianxue stepped onto the ritual stage, glanced at Jiang Jian, and said nothing.

Jiang Jian walked alone to beneath the giant mirror and closed his eyes.

Boom!

The giant mirror rotated!

Two blinding beams of light descended!

Zhao Jianxue was bathed in the stream of light.

Her black hair flowed like a waterfall, her robe fluttering.

After several seconds.

She suddenly opened her eyes.

Her gaze held unmistakable disappointment.

At the same time.

The chief examiner’s voice rang out across Feiguang Stage!

“Zhao Jianxue, Level 1 ‘Art’ talent, Flowing Flame!”

“Divine Gift Score: 29!”

“Theoretical Score: 49!”

“Total Score: 78, listed immediately!”

Zhao Jianxue stood frozen for a moment, staring at the flame dancing at her fingertips.

Yet deep inside, she could not summon a single spark of joy.

Level 1 “Art,” Flowing Flame.

Normally, this would already be rare.

To call it one in ten thousand might even be an understatement.

Her Divine Gift Score, moreover, achieved the maximum possible for a Level 1 talent: 29!

“Du Fang, Level 3 ‘Martial,’ Myriad Forms Sword Art...”

“Song Ling, Level 3 ‘Heart,’ Heart Healing...”

Zhao Jianxue recalled the previous scenes, standing motionless, lost in daze.

Level 1 versus Level 3.

The gap was immense.

Like a chasm.

Like a heavenly barrier.

Especially Song Ling, from the same Shenzhao Middle School.

“Before this, I was always Shenzhao Middle School’s top prodigy.”

Zhao Jianxue lifted her gaze, biting her lip.

She looked down at Song Ling, surrounded by adoring crowds on the ritual stage.

Now.

Song Ling had seemingly replaced her entirely.

“Zhao Jianxue scored 49 in theory but only a Level 1 talent—what a pity!”

“Level 1 ‘Flowing Flame’ is already quite strong!”

“But those two Level 3 talents were simply too shocking!”

“Zhao Jianxue’s Level 1 ‘Art’ is rare, but compared to Level 3 talents, it’s vastly inferior!”

“Look at her expression—she’s clearly been badly shaken!”

“The Divine Gift Ritual is always this intense!”

“I heard Zhao Jianxue is the Zhao family’s Young Lady!”

“The Zhao family runs array businesses—wealthy enough to buy an expensive second talent easily!”

“Even the best second talent can’t match your original innate talent!”

“But your original talent cannot be changed—that’s common knowledge.”

"Divine Gift Level 1 is Level 1—forever unchangeable!"

"What a pity..."

On the Anhezhou forum, countless comments flooded the screen, nearly obscuring everything.

Suddenly.

Someone noticed.

Jiang Jian had not yet received his Divine Gift result.

"Look!"

"Jiang Jian, ranked first in theoretical score, hasn’t received his Divine Gift!"

"But that light column hasn’t vanished!"

"What’s going on?!"

Without warning,

all around,

silence gradually settled.

In Guangling City’s Shenzhao District, the Shadow Zone.

Even across Anhezhou, Luoyingzhou, and surrounding regions,

more and more people held their breath.

Watching the Feiguang Stage through live streams.

Jiang Jian was unaware of the outside situation.

His entire body was bathed in a warm beam of starlight.

Yet his consciousness suddenly vanished!

At the moment his consciousness dissolved,

Jiang Jian’s spirit trembled—he realized he was having a seizure, but had no time to think further.

His vision went black—he collapsed into unconsciousness!

He did not know how long had passed.

Jiang Jian opened his eyes.

What he saw was suffocating darkness.

"Am I dreaming?"

Jiang Jian frowned in confusion.

"To have dreams while unconscious... this is new."

"Never happened before."

In the darkness, Jiang Jian groped forward.

All around was a lifeless, empty silence.

No direction, no time, no space.

Even the ground beneath his feet was pitch black.

Jiang Jian bent down and reached out to touch it.

The ground suddenly collapsed.

Impossible to touch.

"What is that?!"

Suddenly,

Jiang Jian caught a flicker of light in his peripheral vision.

His spirit trembled.

He walked toward the light.

Closer and closer.

After walking for what felt like an eternity, Jiang Jian finally reached the source.

It was a flame.

The flame danced.

Its color was transparent ice-blue.

Around its outer edge, moon-white auroras swirled.

Exquisitely beautiful.

"This is..."

Suddenly, Jiang Jian’s spirit clarified.

"This darkness is within my divine soul."

"So my unconsciousness brought my consciousness into the divine soul’s origin."

"Then this ice-blue flame..."

Jiang Jian extended his finger and gently touched it.

A faint sound echoed.

The ice-blue flame curled upward.

Wrapping around his pale finger, brimming with sentience.

The next instant,

the flame passed through his fingertip and vanished into his body.

"That flame!"

Jiang Jian’s pupils shrank sharply!

In the instant the flame merged with his consciousness,

he instantly knew its name!

A name that made even Jiang Jian’s spirit tremble!

"Pureworld Divine Fire!"

Bearing the character "Divine,"

enough to drive the world mad.

On Earth,

the highest Divine Gift ever recorded was Level 7.

Even so,

it never bore the character "Divine."

"What level is this thing...?"

Jiang Jian extended his finger.

A strand of ice-blue flame curled out.

It burned quietly there.

Even the surrounding darkness slowly receded, warping as it did.

Suddenly,

Jiang Jian felt a wave of dizziness.

The flame at his fingertip vanished.

"Its rank is unknowable."

"Controlling this flame is already pushing me."

As Jiang Jian’s thoughts churned, his spirit naturally understood.

Pureworld Divine Fire, rooted in the origin of his divine soul, burned quietly.

One strand separated from it.

Reformed upon his fingertip.

Its color was no longer the beautiful, transparent ice-blue.

But a blinding crimson!

"PureSpirit True Fire..."

Jiang Jian gazed at the flame—he knew.

It was merely a fragment of the ice-blue flame.

Named "PureSpirit True Fire."

PureSpirit True Fire was the maximum he could currently summon.

CRACK!

The surrounding darkness shattered abruptly!

In mere seconds,

the shards of darkness faded, and Jiang Jian’s gaze sharpened.

The scene of the Feiguang Stage grew clear!

And at this moment,

a dazzling, blazing golden light column erupted skyward!

Countless people surged to their feet, staring fixedly at the ritual platform!

“Another Level 3 talent!”

“Guangling City has produced another Level 3 talent!”

Li Huhai sat where he was, eyes vacant, voice hoarse, “And his theoretical score is perfect—50 points!”

Meanwhile.

Under countless gazes,

an examiner strode forward, trembling with shock, leaping down and landing heavily on the ritual platform!

His body shook as he fixed his gaze on Jiang Jian and roared out:

“Jiang Jian!”

“Level 3 ‘Art’!”

“Pure Spirit Flame!”

“Divine Gift Score: 50 points!”

“Theoretical Score: 50 points!”

“Total Score: 100 points!!!”

BOOM!

The grand ranking scroll spanning the heavens suddenly shuddered!

Countless streams of light converged and wove together at breakneck speed!

Before the eyes of all,

Jiang Jian’s name erupted in ten thousand rays of radiance, tearing through every other name and shooting straight into the heavens!

Towering above thirty thousand examinees, seated at the very top!

Song Ling and Du Fang’s names also glowed with golden light.

But before Jiang Jian’s dazzling name, they paled into obscurity!

“A Level 3 ‘Art’...”

“In my lifetime, I actually saw a Level 3 ‘Art’...”

“My god...”

On Anhezhou’s forum, one hundred thousand comments poured in every second!

The Divine Gift Examination discussion board had completely exploded!

(End of Chapter)