Chapter Forty: Ye Bai? Ye Bai!!!

Main City of the Furious Sea. A girl in blue nestled in the arms of a woman dressed in a cheongsam, her head gently rubbing against the tall woman’s flat stomach.

“Ning’er, you did very well this time. Don’t worry about the final result. Your Uncle Xiao will explain everything to you soon.”

The tall woman reached out her slender fingers to wipe away the tears on the girl’s face.

“Mother, why was it so difficult? I’m already at the Advanced Entry Level, but in the end, the Dragon Armored Man surpassed all limits. This was simply an impossible exam.”

The woman lifted her gaze to the rankings before her, her eyes flickering as if recalling the days when it was just her and them at the beginning.

“Long’er, why do you think you placed second this time?” In the Main City of the Raging Sands, a dignified man in a yellow robe descended the steps, his eyes fixed on the Sand Dragon below.

“Father, I’ve now broken through to the Foundation Level. Next time, I won’t fail again.” The Sand Dragon kept his head down, his body surging with earth energy.

Sha Mo gently patted his shoulder, suppressing the restless force within him. “Long’er, haven’t you realized yet?”

On the screen before them, the last battle in the City of Snow played on repeat.

“Long’er, no matter if you were at the Entry Level or the Foundation Level, the outcome would have been the same. Strength is important, but luck is also part of one’s power.”

Sha Mo’s eyes reflected the battle scenes. “At the dawn of the Dark Age, there were countless warriors stronger than me, your Uncle Xiao, and Aunt Xing. Yet only the three of us survived to forge a new era.”

“That’s luck. Perhaps it’s fate’s design, but as long as you put your heart into things, everything happens for a reason.”

In his heart, Sha Mo wondered if this setback would help his son understand that strength isn’t the only solution.

Before the Technology Building of Purple Star Academy, Xiao Ma gazed at the top ten names displayed, his eyes landing on Ye Bai’s name. Although Ye Bai’s plaque wasn’t as regal or commanding as Xing Qingning’s purple one, the pale yellow plaque carried the unique majesty of royal blood—a charm all its own.

Xiao Ma stood on tiptoe, searching for Ye Bai among the candidates. He remembered hearing Ye Bai tell Fan Xiang back in the Snow Valley that he, too, was from Purple Star Academy. Xiao Ma had wanted to say he was from the same place, but the avalanche came too quickly, and as he was only at the peak of Body Refinement, he didn’t have much say.

“Ye Bai? Ye Bai!!”

Finally, at the back of the crowd, Xiao Ma spotted Ye Bai. At first, he wasn’t sure, as that area was where those eliminated congregated. But drawing closer, he confirmed it was indeed Ye Bai.

“Ye Bai?”

Everyone in the crowd turned at the sound of his voice, following Xiao Ma’s pointing finger.

At that moment, Ye Bai’s eyes were tightly shut. At the critical moment of his breakthrough, fire, water, earth, and wood energies surged to his head. In his consciousness, four pillars of colored light stretched from earth to sky, piercing the heavens.

To the other candidates, Ye Bai’s face merely flushed, his eyes darting beneath his lids as if searching for an escape in a nightmare.

Soon, his eyes stilled, his complexion returned to normal, and Ye Bai opened his eyes, letting out a long breath. He had reached the Early Entry Level, but immediately glanced behind him.

‘No one’s there. Why are they all staring? Did I embarrass myself just now? But judging by their serious faces, that’s unlikely.’

“Ye Bai, it’s me, Xiao Ma—from the Snow Valley!” Squeezed to the back, Xiao Ma waved his arm.

Hearing the voice but not seeing the face, Ye Bai smiled and threaded through the crowd to pull Xiao Ma out. The others made way, leaving a path for Ye Bai—true strength commands respect at all times.

“Xiao Ma, you’re here at Purple Star Academy too? Why didn’t you say so in the Snow Valley?” Ye Bai pulled Xiao Ma from the crowd. Xiao Ma’s face was flushed, his eyes shining as if he were meeting a celebrity.

“Ye... Ye Bai, look, you ranked seventh in the Three Cities Joint Exam!” Xiao Ma pointed at the topmost plaque, so excited he stuttered.

“Seventh?” Ye Bai was surprised. He hadn’t expected to place so high. After Xiao Ma and Fan Xiang were eliminated, he had benefited in the Snow Valley, but his ranking was only around 300. He hadn’t contributed much in the final battle. How could he end up among the top ranks?

He looked up at the ranking, still in disbelief.

Ye Bai smiled at Xiao Ma. “And you? How did you do?”

Xiao Ma’s bright eyes dimmed momentarily, but he quickly regained his confidence.

“Me? Still at Advanced Body Refinement. I didn’t pass, but that’s alright. I have another shot next year.”

The exams in the three main cities stipulated that candidates must be between sixteen and eighteen, with at least Advanced Body Refinement. Xiao Ma was only seventeen this year, so he was just testing the waters.

Ye Bai was about to offer some words of encouragement when Senior Song Aoyang called everyone to order.

“Those who passed, stand to my left, in order by exam number. Make up any gaps quickly. If you didn’t pass, head back to your dorms. You’ll be sent home tomorrow.”

Xiao Ma glanced at Ye Bai, made a cheering gesture, and left with red-rimmed eyes—never expecting this would be the last time they met.

“Line up properly! Hasn’t the school taught you how to behave? With this laziness, are you fit to meet the King of Heavenly Wood?”

Song Aoyang’s voice was sharp, her usually playful face now stern, showing none of her earlier mischief.

“What? The King of Heavenly Wood?”

The candidates erupted in surprise, hastily tidying their clothes, the girls even trying to fix their makeup with their hands, though only making it worse.

Everyone tried to look their best, hoping to leave a good impression on the King of Heavenly Wood. Ye Bai did the same, though part of his mind was focused on sensing the changes in his body.

The ranking plaques atop the Technology Building remained for less than fifteen minutes. As the hour neared four, all the purple, yellow, and pale yellow intelligent wooden plaques began to fade to black, shifting across the building’s facade like puzzle pieces.

Soon, the plaques formed the silhouette of a man—pure black at first.

At exactly four o’clock, the plaques flickered with color: yellow like skin, green like leaves, blue as jade. Gradually, these hues animated the black figure, making him appear even more lifelike than a 3D movie—standing before the Technology Building as if truly present.

A face with black eyes and yellow skin, the stoic countenance of a man from Yan, unwavering and resolute, his posture upright, a subtle smile at his lips.

The King of Heavenly Wood began to speak: “Candidates, don’t lose heart. Each year, the exam is a trial by death.”

On the platform, the King of Heavenly Wood addressed the students. Only the man in the sleeping robe remained unfazed; all others were visibly shocked. An impossible exam?

He cleared his throat. “You weren’t sent into the exam to die. You’ve lived under our protection, never witnessing the savagery of mutant beasts. The loss of a city pains you, but at the dawn of the Dark Age, entire nations—far larger than any city—vanished without a trace. Those were real lives, with no second chances. I want you to feel the shadow of death, to remember the feeling you had when you returned. I hope you never have to experience it for real.”

His voice rose and fell, warm one moment, stern the next. The King of Heavenly Wood looked upon the students, knowing that every year, some would die after leaving their guardians’ shelter. These were the elite of humanity.

“In every exam, you are not the protagonists. Each scenario conceals opportunities, and this year is no exception. Whether you succeed or fail, if you seize those opportunities, even those not from the four great academies may soar.”

‘Opportunities?’ Ye Bai pondered these words, reflecting on his every move during the exam. The past days had been spent hunting mutant beasts—nothing strange, nothing that could be called an opportunity.

If anything stood out, it was the King’s Five Elements Formation. Though he didn’t know the King’s rank, the Dragon Armored Man’s prowess was undeniable, and the Five Elements Formation could wound or nearly kill him. Its power was evident. Mastering it would surely allow one to challenge those above their level.

“Mother, what did Uncle Xiao mean by ‘opportunity’?” Xing Qingning’s eyes sparkled with renewed vigor.

“What do you think was the most unusual aspect of this exam?” The Sea King did not answer but asked a question in return.

Xing Qingning bowed her head, recalling scenes from the exam. Suddenly her eyes lit up. “The Five Elements Formation!”

At the Heavenly Wood Academy, the King of Heavenly Wood spoke again: “Every exam offers a second chance. Every real battle could be your last. In this life’s examination, I hope you go farther than we ever did.”