Tian Du City.

Early morning.

Lu Ming woke up lazily.

“Master.

“It’s time to eat.”

A familiar voice rang in his ears.

Lu Ming stretched himself and noticed that Xiaobai had already prepared breakfast.

He got out of bed and washed up.

Lu Ming went to the table to eat.

The morning news was about the usual matters in Tian Du City, as well as The First Academy’s graduation season and the progress of the activities associated with it.

“The events of the millennium anniversary have already begun…

“The on-campus job fair is also in full swing…

“The students participating in the graduation season are in the midst of their assessment…

“A prisoner escaped from prison. Upon investigation, it was found to be a student of The First Academy. This student is involved in damaging public property and is wanted by the police at the moment…”

Prison break?

Lu Ming took a closer look. Yo, this was the young lad who had come and challenged him…

He actually escaped from prison!

Impressive!

Was it for the sake of participating in the graduation season?

Lu Ming’s heart stirred slightly.

Was this year’s graduation season that legendary? This guy had to escape from prison?

As such…

Lu Ming specially made a trip to The First Academy.

He could not get in.

The First Academy was jam-packed at the moment due to the millennium anniversary. Almost all of the students and cultivators from the nearby schools had rushed there!

There were huge crowds of people!

He looked in.

Damn, it’s filled with people!

“Hey, what’s happening?”

Lu Ming grabbed a guy who was also rushing in and asked him.

“Going to the school,” the student hollered furiously.

“I know!”

Lu Ming hollered louder. “Why is it that crowded!”

“Because of graduation season!”

That student shouted back at him, “During the millennium anniversary celebration, The First Academy activates the Energy Condensation Array and the energy density inside the school is more than six times that of outside. Everyone is here to gain some energy!”

“Gain energy…”

Lu Ming was in a daze.

Energy Condensation Array…

He had heard Miss Xiaoqing mentioned this before.

This was a kind of unique array that could condense energy. It was not only much more powerful than ordinary arrays but also had an extremely high energy density! The effect of one such array was awesome and better than that of six arrays combined!

It was no wonder so many people were there.

“Thanks!” Lu Ming yelled.

“Why are you shouting that loudly!” that student hollered again.

Lu Ming was speechless.

…

Not too far in the distance.

The cultivators were still trying to squeeze into the school.

The use of physical violence was forbidden. As such, cultivators, regardless of their standing, had to make their way into the school abidingly. It seemed very tragic.

Lu Ming tried to get into the crowd but did not manage to move half a meter.

At this moment, his only desire was to wear a gem-studded glove and then snap his fingers at the crowd…

World peace.

…

Thankfully, although there were numerous cultivators and the queue was slow, in general, the crowd was advancing…

After a total of two hours, the crowd walked past the main entrance of The First Academy and gradually arrived at an open square in front of the school. All of a sudden, it felt much more spacious and the security officers no longer restricted their pace.

In the square, a huge screen was suspended in the air.

Heads lifted. Everyone was looking at the data on the screen.

Eh?

Lu Ming looked at it and his heart instantly skipped a beat.

——————

This was the real-time ranking of the assessment outcome for The First Academy graduation season.

Nothing was displayed for the time being.

——————

Ranking?

Lu Ming focused his gaze.

These students were not aware of the details of the assessment but Lu Ming knew. They had entered the World of Darkness and Shadows. What did ranking mean then?

What was the evaluation criteria?

“Hey, what’s with this ranking?”

Lu Ming glanced at the student next to him.

“What else can it be? It’s the assessment ranking.”

The student sighed.

“There’s a ranking for the assessment?”

Lu Ming had thought that there was a standard passing criterion and one would be able to graduate as long as they met the mark.

“After all, this is the millennium anniversary…”

The student sighed. Immediately after, he said mysteriously, “I heard that 90% of the cohort was eliminated from the graduation ceremony this time. Almost all of those who were allowed to go to the assessment are six-stars.”

“Exactly.”

Another student beside him smiled bitterly. “I’m one of those who were eliminated. I’m a dignified peak five-star but was booted off after a greeting…

“They gave me something dark and told me to attack it…

“I struck at it but failed. They eliminated me then.”

“Who the hell knows that that thing is? It looked like a shadow. I cast many attacks but they simply passed through it. I couldn’t hit it at all!” the student complained.

Shadow…

Lu Ming’s heart stirred slightly.

Was this the initial assessment to determine who could enter the World of Darkness and Shadows?

“However…”

That student said in a low voice, “I heard that those who are able to pass the assessment will increase their ability by leaps and bounds! According to sources, the academy distributed something to each of them and told them to collect something… That thing can possibly increase their strength and the college will also offer to repurchase the objects at a generous price!”

“Is this true or not?”

“How can this be false? I heard that this is an array jointly activated by a group of big shots! I suspect that this is a super amazing ancient legacy again…”

“Is it that amazing?”

“What do you think? This is the millennium celebration of The First Academy!”

“You’re right.”

The students were discussing quietly.

Lu Ming listened by the side.

This was The First Academy indeed. They could actually find a way to improve one’s ability in the World of Darkness and Shadows! Unfortunately, this event did not have anything to do with him.

Besides…

If these people’s abilities increased further, what was going to happen at the on-campus job fair?

Lu Ming sighed.

Perhaps the Sword Card Master Association should not have insisted in joining the on-campus job fair?

However…

At this moment.

Shush!

The rankings on the screen started to change, resulting in shocked gasps.

“The rankings have appeared!”

“Wow, they finally made their moves?””

Everyone gasped.

——

The real-time ranking of the assessment outcome for The First Academy graduation season:

First place: Ye Liangfei

Second place: Zhang Xukun

…

——

Lu Ming took a closer glance. Both Lu Yan and Zhao Yunshan were not in the top hundred!

To hell with it!

Sister didn’t even enter the top hundred?!

This ranking…

What exactly is this?!

Lu Ming was filled with doubts.

Shush!

Shush!

The data on the screen continued to change.

Things such as state and category appeared…

He could not figure them out at all.

However, undoubtedly, Zhao Yunshan was not in the top hundred. Furthermore, Lu Yan’s ranking was worse than Zhao Yunshan’s. He could not understand this.

What happened to Sister?!

Is it because Sister has not recovered since the last time she re-cultivated?

It is possible!

If that was the case…

Lu Ming’s heart was filled with worries. He had really become a burden to his sister?

…

At this very moment…

Somewhere.

Darkness was spreading in the void.

The entire world was jet black. It was as if countless dark shadows were moving.

Suddenly…

A shadow emerged.

A figure was covered in a long black robe and the hair hidden under their cape fluttered. What was visible to the eyes was a slim and graceful body.

The woman traversed the darkness, seemingly looking for something.

Suddenly…

She paused for a moment and stopped in a certain place.

There was a powerful behemoth shadow. Its humongous body resembled that of a tall building. Its terrifying aura could send chills down one’s spine.

Shush!

She walked to the front of that huge beast and suddenly struck. Shadowy sword gleams flooded the sky at that instant, drowning the humongous monster.

Pfft!

Pfft!

The huge beast was blasted to the ground.

Dead.

The dark shadows that filled the sky dissipated, leaving behind only a jet black core which was less than one centimeter in length. This was the core of the behemoth shadow. It had a unique characteristic.

Well…

She put away the core.

Right then…

If one were to take a closer look, they would discover that she had already stored many cores of huge beasts identical to this one in her arms.

She got up and prepared to leave.

However…

Just at this moment, another faint shadow flashed. A person clad in a similar black robe appeared and blocked her path silently.

“Get lost!”

A cold and chilling thought burst from her black robe.

The lowest rung of this world could not communicate verbally. However, when clad in black robes, they could transmit their thoughts through the black robes.

However…

This was not necessarily a good thing.

“Why bother?”

That person smiled faintly. “If you were at your peak, I would have long left. But, you’re merely a five-star after you re-cultivated!

“Lu Yan…

“Put down that thing and I may spare your life,” he said teasingly, “It feels so wonderful to be able to control destiny.”

“These things won’t be of any use to you.”

Lu Yan sounded very calm.

She recognized him: Zhang Xukun. She had beaten him before.

“I know.”

Zhang Xukun nodded. “This behemoth shadow is not big in size but it’s very troublesome. We have to spend a lot of energy in order to kill it. Attaining the cores is not of any use to us. Therefore, I am very curious as to why you’re collecting them? You even spent an entire day doing so!”

“It has nothing to do with you,” Lu Yan said coldly.

“I don’t believe that you are that senseless.”

Zhang Xukun sneered and said, “I understand you, Lu Yan. You’re very smart and determined. You don’t do things that are unimportant and you also don’t give up easily!”

“Do you really understand me?”

Lu Yan’s expression was indifferent.

“Of course.”

Zhang Xukun sighed. “Do you know that you were once our idol? Your talent, determination, abilities as well as bust, waist and hip circumferences…”

Shush!

The dark shadows moving in the surroundings seemed to have frozen.

Lu Yan was speechless.

Zhang Xukun changed the topic awkwardly. “However, you didn’t take the usual path that a Swordsman does! You re-cultivated constantly and have destroyed yourself!

“All for the sake of that damn brother of yours!”

Zhang Xukun was filled with rage.

Lu Yan was their most powerful opponent! She was also their idol!

They were filled with fear and admiration toward her.

Lu Yan possessed all the talent and powers that they dreamed of. However, she wasted them like that!

It was simply a shame!

“Oh.”

Lu Yan merely nodded calmly.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Zhang Xukun also calmed down quickly.

He was ultimately a six-star. He quietly watched Lu Yan, who was merely a five-star now after she re-cultivated. “Since you’re abandoning yourself, you can pave the way for me.

“I’m very curious about what you’re trying to do with those cores!

“I very much want to know what you, Lu Yan, heaven’s pride and merely a five-star, have thought of as a solution to achieve victory?!

“The things in your arm…

“What is their use?”

Shush!

Cold lights flashed.

He closed in toward her gradually.

“You don’t understand me,” Lu Yan merely said these words.

“I don’t understand you?”

A ferocious smile emerged on Zhang Xukun’s face. “I understand you too well. You have all the talent and are near perfect. Your only weakness is that brother of yours!

“Over here, without him, you’re perfect!

“You must be collecting these because they are of great use!

“Also…

“Given your character…

“If you were Lu Yan at her peak, you wouldn’t waste that much breath with me! She would have killed me domineeringly!

“Even though it’s just a few words, why are you willing to waste your breath on me? Because you’re too weak! You’re too weak after you re-cultivated and can only listen to me talk nonsense! Lu Yan at five-star level…

“Hehe.”

He pounced on Lu Yan.

“Let’s end this!”

She was once their idol…

Swoosh!

A terrifying shadow shrouded Lu Yan.

However…

Lu Yan merely looked on coldly as that shadow closed in on her. When it dashed in front of her, she sighed and sword gleams suddenly flooded the sky.

Pfft!

Cold lights flashed.

The huge shadow dashing toward her suddenly came to an abrupt stop. A hollow appeared in Zhang Xukun’s chest.

“You…”

Zhang Xukun looked at Lu Yan and then at the huge hollow in his chest in disbelief.

How could that be possible…

Lu Yan was merely a five-star…

If…

If he had known that this was the case, he would definitely not have been that rash!

No!

This is wrong!

Was Lu Yan powerful as a five-star? He had mulled over this question before but eventually rejected the notion. This was because a powerful Lu Yan would never listen to him talk nonsense!

Otherwise, he would have long fled!

“Before I came here.”

Lu Yan cast a cold and aloof glance at him. “The dean came and looked for me. He warned me not to kill all of our people. I already gave you a chance.”

Zhang Xukun suddenly fell silent.

After a long time…

He mocked himself and smiled bitterly.

Lu Yan…

She was still the same Lu Yan!

“Cheez—”

His figure floated in the air.

After his black robe was pierced like a deflated balloon, the shadow figure condensed by the robe began to transform into countless particles and dissipate.

However…

Just as he was about to dissipate, he glanced at Lu Yan and was shocked to discover that Lu Yan had taken out all the beast cores and condensed them.

Bang!

There was a crisp and clear sound.

Dozens of precious cores were tempered into one by Lu Yan. Afterward…

Click!

Lu Yan installed the small piece of crystal on her communication device.

Buzz—

Her wristband communication device vibrated.

Under a vaguely visible black robe, a trace of smile seemingly emerged at the corners of Lu Yan’s mouth while she stared at the mobile signal at the top right corner of the communication device satisfactorily.

Zhang Xukun was completely baffled.

Damn!

This was the reason why Lu Yan was collecting the cores?

Why?

If Lu Yan hadn’t changed… If she was still the same Lu Yan whom he understood very well in the past… He was afraid that there was only one reason why Lu Yan was doing this…

He suddenly figured it out.

Lu Yan killed those huge beasts and collected these cores merely because she wanted to have service for her communication device! Was it because she wanted to remain contactable for Lu Ming at any point in time?!

Damn!

She would help her brother at all costs!!!

…