Chapter 44 (1/2)

Chapter 44: Usual Failure, Sudden Success III

Ling Xiaoting was up next. He clambered onstage full of confidence. There were quite a number of people trading whispers about him in front of the stage.

“Elder Brother Xiaoting will definitely be able to pa.s.s the a.s.sessment.”

“That is a given. Aside from Elder Brother Yichen, Elder Brother Xiaoting is the strongest.”

“I think only the two of them will pa.s.s this year. Sigh, it’s hopeless for me.”

“He’s so admirable…”

Ling Xiaoting felt good when he overheard such talk from where he stood onstage. He already had it all planned out. After he aces the a.s.sessment, he’ll attend White Stone Academy. Though he would have to be apart from Qin Xiruo, he would return during the holidays to see her. Once he graduated and became a strong warrior, he was sure Qin Xiruo would look at him in a different light and might even accept his affections. Ling Xiaoting felt heartened by these thoughts of his.

If Ling Chunxi were privy to his thoughts, she would have laughed herself to death. What a high-level fantasy Ling Xiaoting was entertaining.

Faint smiles appeared on the five elders’ faces. They harbored much hope for Ling Xiaoting’s chances at pa.s.sing the a.s.sessment. Though they would never say otherwise, the elders also held the opinion that only Ling Yichen and Ling Xiaoting would pa.s.s this time.

Ling Xiaoting a.s.suredly placed his hand into the monument’s groove. He pulled his attention into focus and began to release his Battle Qi into the monument. There was a smile on his face as he waited for the monument to light up.

However…

The monument didn’t light up. Just as it was for the partic.i.p.ant before him, the monument remained as it was without even the slightest ray of dim light emanating from it.

Ling Xiaoting’s expression s.h.i.+fted and he became fl.u.s.tered. He concentrated harder and desperately channeled more Battle Qi into the groove. Alas, his face paled the very next moment as there was still no reaction from the monument! Ling Xiaoting began to panic and release huge amounts of Battle Qi into the monument… but it was to no avail. Though he was already at Battle Qi Level 4 Pinnacle, he did not possess any innate talent for cultivation.

The rules of this realm were indeed cruel.