As Xena Xiao turned her gaze to Liana Xiao, she noticed Liana was looking right back at her.
"Xena Xiao... She's already reached the ninth stage of the Physical Body level? That was fast!" Liana was taken aback. Just a dozen days ago, Xena had barely reached the seventh stage, and while she could battle at a higher level, there had been no mistaking her actual realm. For her to jump from the seventh to the ninth stage in such a short time—it was astonishing!
Liana knew she couldn't match Xena in strength. Not only was Xena's power superior, but her Guardian Spirit was also stronger than Liana's. Now that they were at the same stage, and with the ability to merge with their Guardian Spirits for combat, Liana felt she stood no chance against Xena if Hunter Li demanded a strength test. All she could do was hope to secure one of the ten coveted slots. She clenched her fists, silently praying.
"Forty-three students at the ninth stage of the Physical Body level. Impressive!" Hunter Li remarked approvingly. Feilan City was a relatively small place, with few students qualifying for university each year. In his own time, Feilan High had barely seen ten students qualify for college annually. But now, with forty-three students at the ninth stage, and several months left before the college entrance exams, at least ten, if not twenty, could potentially advance to the Purification Stage. Based on these projections, this year Feilan High might have up to twenty students passing the university entrance exams—a considerable improvement, which made Hunter genuinely proud.
Clearing his throat, Hunter continued, "I'll explain the criteria for the ten slots. Since my time here is limited, we'll rely on Milanar Corporation's specially developed Strength Testing Pillar, widely used on many planets. This device measures strength, with a unit equal to the force of an average person. The minimum standard for ninth-stage Physical Body level attacks with Guardian Spirit fusion is 30 units. Each of you will attack the pillar in turn, and the ten students with the highest scores will win the slots and have the opportunity to visit Milanar's headquarters."
As Hunter finished, the students in the ninth stage grew tense. The test would focus solely on raw attack power, which disadvantaged those with Guardian Spirits specializing in defense. However, as this was Hunter's decision, none dared to object.
With a wave of Hunter's hand, a towering white pillar materialized from the air and landed firmly on the stage. The Strength Testing Pillar stood around ten meters high and two meters in diameter, decorated with carvings of the milana flower, the symbol of Milan Star. While Earth's universities had similar devices, they were far too costly for a high school like Feilan High, which explained the students' lack of familiarity with it.
"Proceed in order, one by one!" Hunter gestured to the student standing first in line.
The student stepped forward, fused with his Guardian Spirit, and unleashed a martial attack on the pillar.
With a loud boom, the pillar glowed, and a number appeared in the air: 38. This meant his attack strength registered at 38 units—a respectable but ordinary score for a ninth-stage Physical Body level.
One by one, the students took their turns, showcasing a range of strengths. The strongest attacks reached up to 50 units, while the weaker ones barely managed 34 units. With each turn, those at the back grew increasingly anxious, hoping to avoid any missteps.
In the Guardian Spirit Space, Ethan Lin asked, "Xena, are you planning to go all out?"
After a moment's thought, Xena replied, "No. If we reveal our full strength, it might draw Hunter Li's attention. If he suspects that I'm training with a Divine Skill, it could be problematic."
Ethan nodded in agreement. "Makes sense. Let's aim for a score around 70 to 80 units."
Soon, it was Xena's turn. She stepped up to the pillar, ready to merge with Ethan for her attack. At the ninth stage, she could summon Ethan directly, but in combat, summoning counted as an extra entity, which was against the rules for the test. However, merging with her Guardian Spirit allowed her to channel Ethan's power directly.
"Xena, take control and strike at full force," Ethan's voice merged with hers, creating a unique sense of unity as they fused.
As she felt her strength surge, Xena took a deep breath and focused, delivering a powerful, straightforward punch!
With a resounding boom, the pillar emitted a dazzling light, and a number emerged: 76.
The entire crowd gasped.
"76 units! That's an incredibly powerful strike!"
"This has to be the highest score so far. I can't believe the Xiao family's eldest daughter has risen to the top of Feilan High's ninth-stage Physical Body level in such a short time!"
"It looks like Xena Xiao is all but guaranteed a slot!"
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