The azure light of the Eye Ability Verification Arrays gradually faded until the intricate formations disappeared beneath the polished stone floor. One by one, the eye-shaped runes dissolved into countless specks of light before vanishing completely, leaving the massive platform spotless as though no examination had ever taken place.
Silence settled over the reception hall.
Hundreds of candidates remained seated, each immersed in their own thoughts after completing the first three assessments. Some wore expressions of quiet satisfaction, others struggled to hide their disappointment, while a few simply stared blankly ahead, still trying to process everything that had happened since entering the Origin Tower.
The Spirit Origin Monoliths had measured their cultivation talent.
The ancient formations had confirmed their Bloodlines.
The Eye Verification Arrays had revealed whether they possessed one of the rarest gifts in existence.
For many, their fate had already been decided.
The elderly examiner slowly stepped forward, his silver-embroidered robes swaying gently as his calm gaze swept across the remaining candidates. Despite his advanced age, his posture remained perfectly straight, and the moment his eyes moved across the hall, every whisper disappeared.
"The preliminary assessments," he began, "have officially concluded."
His voice was neither loud nor forceful, yet every word reached the ears of everyone present with perfect clarity.
"You have now completed the Cultivation Talent Assessment, the Bloodline Verification, and the Eye Ability Verification. These examinations exist for one purpose alone: to determine whether a candidate possesses the minimum qualifications required to continue participating in Star Realm Academy's recruitment."
He paused briefly, allowing his words to sink in before continuing.
"As explained earlier, candidates possessing Common Rank Cultivation Talent or higher automatically satisfy the Academy's minimum cultivation requirement. Candidates below Common Rank may still qualify if they possess either an awakened Bloodline or an awakened Eye Ability. Those who possess none of these qualifications... can proceed no further."
No one protested.
The rules had been made clear from the very beginning.
Still, hearing the final judgment caused the atmosphere to grow noticeably heavier.
Several candidates quietly lowered their heads. Others clenched their fists so tightly their knuckles turned white. They had crossed mountains, forests, and cities with dreams of entering the greatest academy in the Galaxy, only to discover that talent alone could not be created through determination.
Around the hall, the silver-robed officials began moving among the candidates, comparing names against the jade records in their hands. Their expressions remained professional, showing neither sympathy nor indifference. They were simply carrying out the Academy's rules.
After several minutes, one of the officials approached the elderly examiner and respectfully handed him a jade tablet.
"Elder, the results have been finalized."
The examiner accepted it with a nod before glancing at its contents.
"This year's regional recruitment began with six hundred and forty-eight candidates."
A ripple spread through the crowd.
Everyone instinctively straightened.
"Following the completion of the first three assessments, two hundred and ninety-six candidates have failed to satisfy the Academy's minimum requirements."
The words struck like a silent hammer.
Nearly half of the participants...
Eliminated before the true examinations had even begun.
"The following names will now be called."
One after another, names echoed throughout the enormous hall.
Those whose names were called stood silently before making their way toward the exits under the guidance of several officials. Some accepted the result with remarkable composure, offering respectful bows before leaving. Others struggled to conceal the disappointment written across their faces. A few looked back toward the platform one final time, unwilling to believe their journey had ended so quickly.
Zion watched them quietly.
None of them were weak.
Every single person who had entered this hall had already completed an Awakening Trial back on their home world. Every one of them had awakened Origin Essence and reached the minimum cultivation realm required for admission. Yet even that wasn't enough.
For the first time, he truly understood what Granny Iya had meant when she told him that the world beyond Blue Star Village was unimaginably vast.
Compared to the Academy...
Their little village was nothing more than a drop of water in an endless ocean.
Beside him, Kellan scratched his cheek before letting out a long whistle.
"I knew the Academy was strict..."
"...but I didn't think they'd eliminate almost three hundred people before the real tests even started."
"They have to," Mira replied softly, her eyes following the departing candidates. "An academy with limited resources can't afford to nurture everyone. They're searching for the people with the greatest potential."
Kellan sighed.
"I know..."
"...it still feels cruel."
"It is," Zion answered quietly.
Both of them looked at him.
"But that's reality."
Neither Mira nor Kellan responded.
But deep down They knew he was right.
After the last eliminated candidate disappeared through the massive doors, the hall suddenly felt much larger than before. Empty seats stretched across the chamber, serving as a silent reminder that the recruitment examination had only just begun.
The elderly examiner looked toward the remaining candidates before giving a small nod.
"Congratulations."
A few relieved smiles appeared throughout the crowd.
"You have passed the preliminary screening."
The smiles widened.
Then the examiner continued.
"Do not misunderstand."
Instantly, every smile froze.
"Passing the preliminary screening does not make you students of Star Realm Academy. It merely grants you the right to continue competing."
Those simple words erased every trace of celebration.
The examiner slowly clasped his hands behind his back.
"The remaining examinations are far more important than those you've completed today. Talent can determine how quickly a cultivator grows, but it cannot determine whether they will survive the countless dangers awaiting them on the path of cultivation."
His gaze became noticeably sharper.
"The Academy is not searching for flowers raised inside a greenhouse."
"We seek individuals capable of standing even after being tempered by blood, hardship, and despair."
The atmosphere immediately turned solemn.
Even Darius Flamecrest unconsciously straightened his posture.
The confidence many candidates had gained from their outstanding cultivation talents quietly faded.
The true examination...
Had yet to begin.
For several moments, the examiner simply observed the crowd before the sternness in his expression softened ever so slightly.
"You have all endured a long morning."
At that exact moment...
Grrrrrrr...
A loud rumble echoed through the perfectly silent hall.
Every head instinctively turned toward the source.
Zion froze.
His expression remained calm.
His ears, however, were beginning to turn slightly red.
Beside him, Kellan immediately covered his mouth with both hands, desperately trying not to laugh, while Mira quickly looked away, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly.
Even a few of the silver-robed officials failed to hide faint smiles.
The elderly examiner looked directly at Zion.
For several long seconds...
The hall remained completely silent.
Then, for the first time since the examinations had begun, the old man smiled.
"It would appear..."
He cleared his throat.
"...that someone has reminded this old man of an important detail."
A ripple of laughter spread through the hall.
The examiner continued without the slightest embarrassment.
"The Academy test will now recess for one hour."
His eyes briefly drifted toward Zion before adding,
"Use this time to eat... and recover."
This time, even more candidates laughed openly.
Kellan finally lost the battle.
"Hahaha! Brother, your stomach just made the Elder rewrite his announcement!"
Even Zion couldn't help smiling helplessly.
"...I skipped breakfast."
"And the whole hall knows it now," Mira said with a quiet laugh.
The examiner raised his hand once more, restoring order.
"Dining halls have been prepared within the Origin Tower. Return before the bell sounds."
His smile gradually disappeared.
"When you return the Battle Talent Assessment will begin."
The laughter instantly died away.
Every remaining candidate felt their heartbeat quicken.
Unlike the previous examinations, Battle Talent could not be measured by a crystal or verified by a formation. It could only be revealed in battle itself.
---
The enormous hall slowly emptied as hundreds of candidates made their way toward the dining pavilion located within the Origin Tower.
Unlike the tense atmosphere that had dominated the previous assessments, the mood had noticeably relaxed. Conversations that had been held back for hours now burst forth from every direction. Some discussed the results of the Cultivation Talent Test, while others exchanged opinions about the only rare Eye Ability that had unexpectedly appeared during the verification.
Naturally, Zion had become one of the hottest topics.
"...Did you see the reaction of the formation?"
"I'm telling you, something definitely happened."
"But the elders didn't seem concerned."
"Maybe it was just an old array acting up."
"Even if it was... he still possesses an Eye Ability."
"Dual awakened..."
"I've only heard stories about people like that."
The whispers followed Zion wherever he walked.
He could hear almost every word.
Yet he paid them no attention.
He had long since accepted that standing out would inevitably attract attention. As long as nobody knew the true nature of his powers, the rumors meant very little.
Kellan, on the other hand, looked as though he had grown several centimeters taller.
Every few steps he would puff out his chest before glancing around proudly.
"I can't believe it..."
"Our Blue Star Village actually produced one Legendary genius and two Epic geniuses."
He laughed loudly.
"If Old Boro could see this, he'd probably faint on the spot."
Mira smiled helplessly.
"He'd probably start bragging to every neighboring village before we even returned home."
"I would too!"
Kellan declared without shame.
"For the next hundred years Blue Star Village will have enough stories to tell around the campfire."
Even Zion couldn't suppress a smile.
For a brief moment, it almost felt like they were walking through the village again instead of one of the greatest academies in the Galaxy.
The dining pavilion itself was enormous.
Long rows of polished stone tables stretched throughout the vast chamber, capable of seating thousands at once. Crystal lanterns floated gently beneath the ceiling, illuminating the hall with a warm golden glow while Formation Arrays hidden beneath the floor kept the temperature perfectly comfortable despite the massive number of people inside.
Servants dressed in white robes moved efficiently between the tables, carrying trays filled with fragrant dishes.
Freshly roasted spirit beast meat.
Steaming bowls of aromatic rice.
Vegetables infused with faint traces of Origin Essence.
Warm soup that released a soothing herbal fragrance.
Even simple fruits glistened with fresh dew.
The quality of the food far surpassed anything Zion had ever eaten in Blue Star Village.
Kellan's eyes widened.
"...This..."
"...This is all free?"
One servant nodded politely.
"Meals are provided for every candidate throughout the recruitment examination."
Kellan turned toward Zion with an expression that bordered on reverence.
"I think..."
"...I already love this academy."
Mira shook her head while trying not to laugh.
"You haven't even been admitted yet."
"I know."
Kellan picked up another piece of roasted meat.
"But my heart has."
The three found an empty table near one of the windows overlooking Stone River City.
For a while...
None of them spoke.
Not because they had nothing to say.
But because they were far too busy eating.
After hours of examinations, even Mira had abandoned her usual elegance, though she still managed to eat far more gracefully than Kellan, whose plate somehow emptied almost as quickly as it was filled.
Halfway through the meal, Kellan suddenly looked up.
"You know..."
"I've been thinking."
Mira raised an eyebrow.
"That's unusual."
He ignored the comment.
"The Academy said Battle Talent can't be inherited."
"Which means the next assessment will probably be the hardest one yet."
Zion nodded.
"Cultivation Talent measures potential."
"Bloodline and Eye Ability measure gifts."
"But Battle Talent..."
"...measures us."
Mira rested her chin lightly against one hand.
"And unlike the previous tests..."
"...it's something we can actually improve."
The conversation naturally drifted toward the upcoming examination.
Around them, other candidates were discussing the exact same thing.
"I heard they'll make us fight Spirit Beasts."
"No."
"My cousin said they use illusion formations."
"My brother told me they force candidates to survive against enemies much stronger than themselves."
"I've even heard they test your state of mind."
Rumors spread across the dining hall like wildfire.
Yet no one truly knew what awaited them.
Only the academy officials remained calm, quietly observing the candidates from various corners of the pavilion.
High above, on one of the upper balconies overlooking the entire hall, the elderly examiner stood silently with several academy elders.
One elder stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"After today's eliminations..."
"...three hundred and fifty two candidates remain."
Another elder nodded.
"Nearly half were removed."
"As expected."
The elderly examiner's gaze slowly swept across the dining hall before eventually stopping on one particular table.
Zion.
Mira.
Kellan.
Three youths laughing together while sharing a meal.
"They still smile."
One elder followed his gaze.
"They're children."
"They haven't yet seen the true difficulty of entering Star Realm Academy."
The elderly examiner remained silent for several moments before finally speaking.
"The Battle Talent Assessment has always separated the gifted from the truly worthy."
His words carried quiet certainty.
Because unlike talent...
Battle Talent could not be inherited.
It could not be borrowed.
And it could not be awakened through the Void.
When the next assessment began...
Many of those smiling below would leave the academy forever.
Only a select few would continue walking the path toward becoming students of Star Realm Academy.
Far below, Zion unknowingly looked out through the crystal windows toward the distant mountains surrounding Stone River City.
A gentle breeze drifted through the open pavilion.
For some reason...
His instincts stirred.
Almost as if something ahead was quietly waiting for him.
Not danger.
Not opportunity.
Simply...
A challenge.
And somewhere within the Origin Tower...
An old janitor slowly swept an already spotless corridor.
His cloudy eyes remained fixed upon the floor.
Yet beneath those aged eyelids...
A faint smile appeared.
"The real examination..."
"...is finally about to begin."