"I still have three weeks before the selection."
"Should I go for missions, or should I just cultivate?" Grim started thinking
Taking on missions would let him earn both Evo and points for exchanging resources. However, he wouldn't be able to gather much in such a short time.
"Alright, it's decided."
"I'll just cultivate. If I can break through, I'll get a small boost in the competition." Grim had made up his mind.
He sat in the cultivation area and started gathering Qi.
While Grim was cultivating, other disciples were also busy making their preparations.
Some were cultivating just like Grim, some were honing their skills, some were grinding points to get new skills, and some were busy making new pills.
Time kept flowing.
The day of registration had arrived.
Although he cultivated diligently, he could not make the breakthrough before the selection.
There was a long queue of disciples trying to register for the selection.
Grim was in the middle of the queue.
Registration had ended in the evening. There were around 250 disciples that had registered.
Instructor Hua announced, "Everyone can return now. Selection will start tomorrow. Disciples ranked within the top 20 don't need to take the selection exam"
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Everyone gathered the next day.
"Dear disciples, the first test of the selection is to withstand pressure from me for half a minute." Instructor Hua announced the details of the selection.
Instructor Hua started releasing the pressure slowly. He was at the peak of the archon/evolution stage.
Initially, everyone was able to endure the pressure. However, the pressure increased every second.
Everyone was trying their best to endure the pressure. However, one of the disciples tapped out at 8 seconds.
Then, other disciples followed suit. Ten disciples had been disqualified at 10 seconds.
Twenty more followed suit at 15 seconds.
A total of 100 disciples had been disciples disqualified by the time the test was over.
"Congratulations to the disciples that have passed the first test."
"Your next strength is to measure your strength. Your attack must be at peak-mutation realm to pass the test."
"Use your most powerful technique and attack this pillar." Instructor Hua pointed at the dark pillar.
Everyone looked at the pillar. It was engraved in runes and gave off a strong aura. There were 6 levels in the pillar.
The first three levels represented entry-mid-peak for the mutation/refiner realm and the last three levels represented entry-mid-peak for the archon/evolution realm.
"All of the remaining disciples form a queue, then come one by one."
Soon, a queue was formed.
Instructor Hua ordered, "You at the first, come and attack."
The disciple went near the pillar and attacked the pillar with full force.
The aura started climbing on the pillar. But, it abruptly stopped at level two.
"Middle of the refiner realm. Disqualified."
"Next."
The next disciple went and attacked the pillar. But, he was also disqualified.
The test kept progressing.
It was finally Grim's turn.
He went in front of the pillar.
"Thew" He strengthen his body 20 times and then punched.
The aura started climbing. It passed level one, and level two, and reached level three. However, it was still rising.
It finally stopped after reaching above level three and below level four.
"Quasi evolution realm. Pass."
"Next"
The second test was completed by the evening.
An academy could select up to 50 students for the competition. But, by the time the second test was over, there were only 45 disciples left.
"Congratulations to the disciples who have passed the second test. You are qualified to take part in the friendly competition."
"The competition will start in 5 days. Go and make preparation."
"Quality of disciples has gone down." Instructor Hua sighed and left.
All the disciples returned.
[Evo points left: 32,750]