[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-king-of-all-manifestations":3,"chapter-king-of-all-manifestations-king-of-all-manifestations-chapter-44":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","King of All Manifestations",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2287880,4474,"Chapter 44: The Grand Exam Approaches","king-of-all-manifestations-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>In a hall of the old residence, Li Luo walked in with excited, quick steps. The first thing he saw was the tall and curvaceous Cai Wei, whose pretty, oval face was more beautiful than any flower, smiling with infinite charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, having seen her for so long, Li Luo had long since become immune to Cai Wei’s allure, so his gaze shifted to an iron box placed on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He darted over in two or three steps and opened the iron box directly. A cold light glinted out, and inside lay two short blades with flowing icy radiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short blades were about a foot long. One was entirely deep blue with faint water patterns flowing on it, while the other was pale white. It was said to be forged from a metal called Sun Spirit Iron, which would bloom with a blinding light under the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both short blades were mixed with metals containing water energy and light energy. When Li Luo used them as weapons, he could maximize the power of his own Water-Light Resonance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hilts of the twin blades were shaped like some kind of beast’s mouth, with fangs faintly protruding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, looking at the blades as a whole, the arc of the blades appeared deeper, the edges were slightly curved, and the cold light flowed, making them exceptionally sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo gripped the twin blades and swung them lightly. Immediately, a faint sound of breaking wind arose, and he then backhanded the blades and slung them at his waist, which looked exceptionally dashing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad.\" Li Luo nodded with satisfaction, then he gave the two blades names quite casually: \"The deep blue one will be called the Water Pattern Blade, and the other one will be called the Sun Pattern Blade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is just a set of qualified Resonance Gear; it doesn't reach the level of a Treasure Tool.\" Cai Wei’s standards were quite high; apart from their slightly unique design, Li Luo’s two short blades were not actually all that precious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resonance Gear also had grades; generally, there was ordinary Resonance Gear, and above ordinary Resonance Gear was what was called a Treasure Tool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, compared to ordinary Resonance Gear, Treasure Tools were much more powerful and rare, and the price of every Treasure Tool was extremely high, far exceeding that of ordinary Resonance Gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Treasure Tools required a stronger Resonance Power to be wielded. Li Luo was currently only at the Seventh Seal stage, so even if he were given a Treasure Tool, he would likely find it difficult to unleash its true power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is enough for now. When I advance to the Resonance Master stage in the future, I'll get a set of real Treasure Tools to try out.\" Li Luo laughed. These two short blades were prepared for the upcoming Academy Grand Exam; they were just a transition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thanks, Sister Cai Wei.\" Li Luo expressed his gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Wei waved her small hand and said, \"Your Academy Grand Exam should be coming up soon, right? Nanfeng Academy has become much livelier these past few days. Elite teams from academies in every city of Tianshu Prefecture have been sent over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every year, the Academy Grand Exam was considered a grand event for every prefecture. When the time came, the fighting in the Grand Exam would attract countless people to swarm in, making it exceptionally lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo nodded and said, \"There are still three days left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hint of worry appeared in Cai Wei’s beautiful eyes as she asked, \"Are you confident?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Li Luo had now awakened a Water Resonance, he was ultimately a bit later than the other students, and Cai Wei did not know if he could really catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Cai Wei knew full well the importance of being admitted to the Astral Sage College. If Li Luo could get in, it would be a huge boost to his own reputation. At the very least, some people in the House of Luolan would no longer dare to ignore him, the Young House Master, which could also help share some of the pressure for Jiang Qing’e.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo slung the twin blades at his waist, his palm stroking the hilts, a smile appearing on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, Sister Cai Wei. I have a reason why I cannot lose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if he couldn't even manage this step, he could forget about \"calling off the engagement\" for the rest of his life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vacation finally ended as scheduled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo returned to the academy, and then he and Zhao Kuo were called out separately by Xu Shanyue to go to where the Dean was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've reached the Seventh Seal?\" During their idle conversation, Li Luo learned that Zhao Kuo had improved again during this vacation, also stepping into the Seventh Seal stage, and he couldn't help but be a little surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Kuo only had a Fifth-grade Resonance. This grade was neither high nor low, and the fact that he could reach the Seventh Seal stage before the Grand Exam was enough to show how hard he worked on ordinary days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly Zhao Kuo scratched his head like a bear and laughed, \"I didn't go home this vacation; I've been practicing in the academy the whole time. Thanks to the academy giving us special training, I managed to make a breakthrough at the last minute.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhao Kuo has been training for his life these past ten days.\" Xu Shanyue, who was leading the way in front, heard the two talking and turned back to say a word. His words clearly showed his approval of Zhao Kuo’s hard work and diligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo also gave him a thumbs up and said, \"Impressive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can I compare to you? You’re handsome, your aptitude for Resonance Arts is high, and now you’ve even awakened a Water Resonance. In the future, you’ll be another legend of Nanfeng Academy after Senior Jiang Qing’e,\" Zhao Kuo said with an honest face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I chose to be friends with you mainly because you are an honest person who never lies.\" Li Luo nodded, sighing with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s a must. Please look out for me during the Grand Exam, Brother Luo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Small matter. When the time comes, I’ll take first place and bring you into the Astral Sage College directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Luo is so domineering.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shanyue, walking in front, heard the two of them engaging in this shameless mutual flattery. His face couldn't help but darken, and he turned his head to scold, \"Shut up, both of you. We're here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo and Zhao Kuo immediately stopped talking and looked at the courtyard in front. At this moment, more than a dozen figures were already waiting there; they were the top twenty of this year’s Nanfeng Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the crowd, Li Luo also saw familiar figures like Lu Qinger, Song Yunfeng, and Tifa Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this moment, everyone was staring at the two of them with playful smiles. Apparently, they had actually heard their mutual flattery just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, facing the playful gazes of the crowd, Li Luo’s expression was quite calm, revealing no embarrassment. At times like this, as long as you aren't embarrassed, the embarrassment belongs to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Zhao Kuo, he wore a simple and honest smile, maintaining his persona of being straightforward and outspoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd looked at the two of them and eventually all shook their heads and withdrew their gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their skin was really too thick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Li Luo was also getting a bit inflated. Before, he had relied on the competition mechanism to force a draw with Song Yunfeng, and now he actually dared to boast about taking first place in the Grand Exam, without even asking if Lu Qinger agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in front of the crowd was the old Dean. He swept a glance at Li Luo and Zhao Kuo with a smile in his eyes, then smiled at everyone and said, \"It seems everyone is here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I will tell you about this Grand Exam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, everyone tensed up, waiting with rapt attention for the old Dean’s next words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This Academy Grand Exam will begin in three days, and you twenty people will represent our Nanfeng Academy in the battle. I have only one requirement for you, and that is to preserve the signboard of Nanfeng Academy as the number one academy in Tianshu Prefecture.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This time, the total number of admission spots issued by the Astral Sage College to Tianshu Prefecture is fifty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as these words were spoken, everyone pricked up their ears. Fifty spots were clearly a few less than in previous years, and because of this, the competition would be even more intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"According to the regulations of previous years, the top ten in the Academy Grand Exam will each receive an admission spot to the Astral Sage College, and the remaining forty will be distributed to each academy based on the ranking of the top ten.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The academies represented by the eighth, ninth, and tenth places in the Grand Exam will each receive one additional admission spot, and the academies represented by the fifth, sixth, and seventh places will each receive two additional admission spots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The third and fourth places will each be allocated five admission spots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The second place will be allocated six admission spots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first place... fifteen admission spots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This last sentence fell into everyone’s ears, immediately causing a wave of uproar. No one had expected that the weight of the first place in this Academy Grand Exam would be so great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although in every previous Grand Exam, the academy represented by the first place winner received more additional spots than other rankings, it was clearly not as exaggerated as this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of the crowd, Lin Feng, a tutor of the First Court, looked at Lu Qinger with a gentle and encouraging smile and said, \"Qinger, if Nanfeng Academy wants to secure its signboard this time, I’m afraid it will depend on you to take first place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Dean also nodded with an exceptionally kind face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, they both had high hopes for Lu Qinger, but that was normal; after all, she was the pillar of Nanfeng Academy today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing their eager gazes, Lu Qinger’s pretty face was quite calm, and she only said softly, \"I will do my best to compete for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Dean nodded, then instructed, \"However, you must be careful of Shi Kong from Dongyuan Academy. This person’s strength is extremely strong; he might be your formidable rival.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this name, a hint of gravity flashed through Lu Qinger’s beautiful eyes, and she nodded her head seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Starting from tomorrow, you don't need to come to the academy. Instead, you will move into the 'White Spirit Garden'. That is where the academy teams from all over Tianshu Prefecture will gather. After three days, you will enter the 'White Spirit Mountain' from there; that is the venue for this Grand Exam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Dean gave some more instructions before finally concluding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nanfeng Academy has been in my hands for decades, and its honor is more important than my own life. So, I ask everyone to work hard in the Grand Exam and maintain this most important thing for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Dean’s face was solemn as he bowed slightly to the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twenty students were taken aback by his action, then hurriedly bowed in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the old Dean waved his hand, and the crowd began to retreat with different emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo walked out of the courtyard and looked at the cloudless blue sky, his heart surging slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Academy Grand Exam is finally coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a pity that Mom and Dad couldn't be here...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if they were really here, would they watch and shake their heads in disdain: \"This son is too stupid; he can't compare to our good disciple at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that in Jiang Qing’e’s year, the other academies in Tianshu Prefecture were suppressed to the point of having no temper at all, and they didn't even dare to harbor the slightest courage to provoke Nanfeng Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning that she had been admitted to the Astral Sage College in advance, the major academies in Tianshu Prefecture almost celebrated with joy, moved to tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And compared to Jiang Qing’e’s resume, which was so brilliant it could blind people, his, Li Luo’s, was clearly too full of ups and downs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a month ago, the vast majority of people thought he probably didn't even have the qualifications to participate in the Grand Exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of these things, Li Luo’s surging heart cooled a little, and then he sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Meaningless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2125,"2026-06-20T03:27:18.369Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","da855d11774cddf2a71de62e0f07e9aaf2242f32c3cf2d69cb074b7ca6a511fc","king-of-all-manifestations-chapter-45","king-of-all-manifestations-chapter-43",999,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fking-of-all-manifestations-cover.jpg"]