The crowd sank into absolute silence. Everyone was blanking out as they stared at the arena, their hearts raging with shock at the sight of the blood, a chill creeping up their spines. They were all geniuses from all around the dominion, each possessing the combat prowess to battle someone of a higher cultivation level.

Even so, they were still filled with disbelief when they saw a seventh-stage Skysoar Realm youth kill a peak King with the combat prowess of a War Emperor. As for the youth on the arena, he behaved like he had done something negligible as he nonchalantly leaped off the arena. He then beckoned at his friends before heading back to the restaurant. Where he walked, the crowd split to open a path for him. Only when the youth and his friends vanished from the crowd's vision did a massive commotion erupt.

"Dead! Da Zixuan is dead! T-that Xiang Shaoyun is too scary!"

"With that strength, it is impossible he isn't a special-recruit!"

"Yet another freak has appeared! He is indeed worthy of being one of the geniuses here to join the Dragon Phoenix Academy. Just looking at him fills one with a sense of inferiority."

"That Da Zixuan is Feng Xiaosha's loyal follower. Feng Xiaosha will not let this matter rest. Looks like a massive conflict is about to erupt."

...

Many people present had suffered a blow to their confidence after witnessing that battle. Of course, there were also some who had secretly compared their strength with Xiang Shaoyun's and were still filled with confidence. Regardless, Xiang Shaoyun's name was starting to spread.

After all, he was only a seventh-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator. Since he could kill a War Emperor with his cultivation level, it only served to prove that he was a Super War Emperor. Someone with his strength would attract attention anywhere.

Within a certain building in the city, when Feng Xiaosha heard what happened, his angular face turned gloomy. In his anger, wind energy spiraled out of his body and sliced everything in the room into powder.

"I will ensure they can't reach the academy's gates alive!" Feng Xiaosha declared coldly to his followers.

The followers nodded, thick murderous intent forming in their eyes. By the time Xiang Shaoyun's group returned to the restaurant, the gazes laced with mockery were gone, replaced by fear. As for Tang Longfei, he happily ordered some food and liquor from the waiter and started celebrating Xiang Shaoyun's victory. In the Dragon Phoenix Academy, apart from the medicinal cuisine, regular food and liquor were still available for sale.

"Come, come, Shaoyun, a toast to you!" said Tang Longfei as he poured himself a big bowl of liquor. He then downed it.

"You are too polite, Big Brother Tang. Since we arrived here together, it is natural that we need to help each other. In any case, I see you as my big brother!" said Xiang Shaoyun after downing a bowl of liquor as well.

"That's right. Working together, we will all be able to enter the academy," Ning Wenhuang agreed with a smile. She finally recognized how dreadful Xiang Shaoyun's strength was and no longer doubted him.

"Young Master Xiang, I wonder if we still have the chance to join your faction?" said Shou Xie longingly.

"Yeah, we will follow Young Master Xiang from now on!" offered Jin Shui as if they had known each other forever.

"If Young Master Xiang does not mind, we are willing to be your follower," said Ling Lin.

Xiang Shaoyun sank into a short thought before saying, "Since everyone is so passionate about it, let's work hard together from now on!"

Joyful smiles bloomed on the faces of Shou Xie, Jin Shui, and Ling Lin. They then started feasting on the food and liquor served. Time passed, and soon, there was less than a day before the test. During the previous two days, Xiang Shaoyun's group had spent most of their time in the restaurant, listening to the rumors and news the various young geniuses were talking about.

There were a few freaks whose reputation had spread before the test had even started. Among them, eight particular freaks attracted the most attention, and all eight were acknowledged as the strongest special-recruit disciples this batch.

One of them was Baili Yixiao the Smiling Swordsman of Eastern Pass's Baili Clan, a true genius in swordsmanship. He had comprehended sword intent before 16 years old, killing nine powerful Kings with a single slash, stunning the world with his brilliance. He was currently in his early twenties, yet he had slain a number of Emperors. It was rumored that the Smiling Swordsman had a compassionate heart and those he killed were all criminals who deserved death.

One of them was Zhan Wushuang, a genius of a top organization from the Southern Wasteland, League of War. With his two fists, he fought numerous cultivators of the same cultivation level at the Southern Wasteland and had never suffered defeat. He was known as the Fist Emperor and was 25 years old this year, yet he was already a Dragon Ascension Realm expert. He was a person of dreadful talent.

There were also the two geniuses of the ancient Yu Clan from the Western Desert, Yu Ziyang and Yu Caidie. The former was the clan's Holy Son, and he was also an Emperor below 30 years old. The latter was the clan's Holy Maiden, and she possessed remarkable talent and was a true Super War Emperor. She was breathtakingly beautiful and was known as the prettiest disciple of this batch.

There was also Han Chenfei, the Holy Maiden of Northern Border's top organization Glacier Palace. She possessed a natural Icefrost Physique with extreme talent in cultivation. Her beauty was comparable to Yu Caidie's, and she was known as the number two beauty of this batch.

There was also Huang Tianji from the Central Region's Dusk Dynasty. He was born with an innate draconic aura and was heralded as the new generation's Imperial Son. Not much of his battles were known, but all the known opponents he had defeated were Dragon Ascension Realm experts.

Finally, there were ancient Ouyang Clan's Ouyang Chuanqi and Severing Saber Manor's young master, Xiao Xie. The former was near 30 years old and had been an Emperor for a few years. It was clear how great his talent was. The latter was a self-proclaimed descendant of the Saber Devil, a remarkable saber user no weaker than Baili Yixiao.

For now, the eight were not ranked in any particular order, but it was undeniable that each of them was an exceedingly outstanding talent in cultivation. Apart from them, the other well-known freaks were Ye Linshan the Green Youth, Feng Xiaosha the Squall, An Lulu the Lady Violence, Gui Mochou the Young Master Ghost, and so on.

These were all the freaks among the young geniuses here. Of course, there were also a lot of hidden freaks whose strength was still unknown. Nobody dared to proclaim the title of the strongest among these young freaks. Perhaps more would be known after the test.

Apart from all that information, Xiang Shaoyun had also heard that a lot of young geniuses had already started pursuing Yu Caidie, trying to become the Yu Clan's son-in-law. One could say that before he had even reunited with Yu Caidie, he had gotten himself a large number of love rivals. It gave him a sense of pressure.

Although he was confident he could capture Yu Caidie's heart, he was still worried that someone else would do it before him. No matter what, he had to distinguish himself as quickly as possible and do the deed with Yu Caidie so it would be too late for others who wanted her as well. Only then would he feel safe. If others found out he had such thoughts, he would most likely invite a massive amount of hatred.

The agreement between me and Caidie is for me to become a core disciple before I am qualified to be her man. Although I am a special-recruit now, that only guarantees my entry. It won't help me become a core disciple. Looks like I have to try my best during the test, thought Xiang Shaoyun.