A week later at Divine Bird City’s city hall.

The city hall was located at the center of Divine Bird City. It was quite huge compared to other buildings within the city, as it covered almost a dozen acres.

The city hall was a simple building with a stone floor, red wooden pillars, and a brick roof.

The city hall was a place where people used it when there were events, such as martial art tournaments or festivals, as it could fill tens of thousands of people.

Today was another day that the city hall was buzzing with crowds because today was the entrance exam of every school in the city. Although there were only a few big schools, adding up all the schools in the city could number to a few hundred.

There were cultivators forming lines to hand in their application forms for the schools they wished to enter. Cultivators who did not have the confidence to participate in big schools’ entrance exams would of course apply to smaller schools.

Nevertheless, as the most famous school, the longest line eagerly awaiting to hand out the application form belonged to the Peacock School.

Even though they knew that it would be the most difficult exam of all, some cultivators would pretend to believe that with some luck they might be able to pass the exam. And at the very least, failing Peacock School’s exam would not be as embarrassing as failing any other school. That was why they would at least try once. Even if they failed, they would only have to wait for another year to apply for another school.

Those who had handed in their application form were looking forward to participating in the entrance exam, talking with their friends about how they had prepared themselves for the exam, while some others were gossiping about the top candidates for the incoming exam.

“As I expected, Goddess Mei is applying for the Peacock School. It’s good that I picked the Peacock School to take the test. Even though I don’t pass it, I got to see her in action.”

“True!! I bet she’s also aiming for the top ranking this year as well.”

“Yeah!! Although I don’t know what her current cultivation is, who can actually surpass her in this exam?”

“Heh, don’t you know that she’s ranked second in the preschool?”

“Bullshit!! If that’s the case, who’s ranked first then? You tell me!!”

“Aren’t you forgetting the greatest genius of our city?”

“Aah … that’s right. I thought he’s already entered the school by now, giving that he’s awakened his bloodline since he was nine.”

“Yes, I heard that many schools already approached him with countless benefits yet he refused them all.”

“Well, it’s also to be expected from someone from the Ying clan, one of the city’s four great clans.”

The crowd expressed their agreement in unison.

“What about other geniuses from the other two great clans?”

“You mean from the Sikong clan and the He clan?”

The asking cultivator nodded.

“He clan’s third young master, He Chen, should be participating in the Peacock School’s entrance exam as well. He’s not very strong but should be strong enough to pass.”

“What about the Sikong? Their power is only second to the Mei clan. Surely, they can produce a genius who can rival the so-called greatest genius.”

Divine Bird City had four great clans: Mei, Sikong, Ying, and He, listing by their strength respectively. Although the Mei clan was the one ruling the city, the strengths between the four great clans were not that far apart. There were several Wing Realm Masters in every one of the four great clans

“Well, they have their geniuses alright, but they won’t be participating in the Peacock School’s exam.”

“Why?”

“What?! Either you’re dumb, ignorant, or pretending to be asking that question.”

The crowd also agreed with his statement.

“Well, I really don’t know.”

The one asking ‘why’ earlier started to turn red in embarrassment.

One cultivator amongst the crowd answered: “Sigh, I’ll tell you then. Sikong clan has always regarded the Mei clan as their sworn enemy. Although the Mei think nothing of it, they still put up their guard around people from the Sikong clan, so the Sikong would never send their geniuses into the enemy’s territory. One last thing, the Sikong clan has its own school, the Sparrow School. Why would their geniuses come to take the exam of another school?”

While the Ying and the He supported the idea of the Mei clan taking control over the city, the Sikong clan did not think the same. They always thought that they were more suitable in ruling the city and could improve the city’s overall strength to be able to fight nearby cities if they were in charge.

The Sikong clan’s animosity towards the Mei clan had always been conspicuous, but ever since Feng Luotian’s father came, they held themselves back by not antagonizing the Mei clan so openly. Nevertheless, their feeling was still there.

“But anyway, even if someone from the Sikong clan is to participate in the Peacock School this year, there’s no way they can match our Goddess Mei, right, everyone?”

“Yeah!!”

While the crowd entertained themselves with all the ruckus, Mei Yue’er and Sun Wuji, and also Ying Lizhua, were already there and finished handing in their application forms. However, Feng Luotian was nowhere to be found.

Mei Yue’er: “Wuji!! You said he will definitely be here!!” She complained at Sun Wuji with an anxious expression.

Sun Wuji: “Of course!! He promised us he’ll come back awakened!! When has he ever gone back on his words?” Although he firmly replied with confidence, he could not help but feel a little anxiety, because one day he said he would live like a commoner, and on the next day, he was so eager to go out of the city to find a chance to breakthrough.

Hearing such things gave Ying Lizhua a chance to sneer at his rival: “There is no way he can be awakened just like that, don’t you think? Why would you even listen, let alone believe in such jokes, you idiot monkey?”

Not backing at any provocation, Sun Wuji countered with full force: “You know what, Ying Lizhua? I wonder if there is ever a day where your mouth is shut. Your breath is so smelly that I can get this stinking air from a mile away.”

Ying Lizhua: “You!!”

Both of them then engaged in close combat, but no one had the advantage. They were pulling hair, pinching cheeks, tearing clothes like kids. Such a childish scene made the surrounding crowd laughed and wondered whether they were enemies or friends.

At that moment, there came another jeer from the side. It was Mei Hongli: “What?! God’s Cripple Son is not here yet? I remember last time he said something very haughty. But I see that he doesn’t even have the courage to come, he must be a damn coward who was all bark and no bite.”

Another provocation? Sun Wuji sent a similar jab to encounter it: “I should have known that there is another skunk nearby. Aah, so smelly!!”

Mei Hongli: “You!! Hmph!! Sun Wuji, let’s hope that you are more capable than your crippled friend. But even if you are really talented, there is no way you are taking the top in this exam.”

Sun Wuji: “Of course, your highness. Having your father as the exam proctor, I see no reason for you not to take the top. On the other hand, it would be really embarrassing if you can’t take the top, don’t you think?”

Mei Hongli’s expression turned serious as he frowned: “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh? You don’t get it?”

This time the one who replied back to Mei Hongli’s question was not Sun Wuji. It was a newcomer joining the conversation.