Chapter 79: Into the Examination Hall
The air shifted the moment Lei Feng stepped forward.
A ripple of tension stirred in the room, silent yet unmistakable. No one spoke, but every eye turned toward him—some filled with curiosity, others with caution, and a few with the unmistakable glint of expectation. There was something about him—something subtle, yet powerful. The weight of his presence was like the calm before a thunderstorm, and even those who didn't understand why found themselves holding their breath.
Leo held the door open, his sharp lion-like features unreadable. "Follow me," he said, voice firm and devoid of warmth.
Click.
The door shut behind them, and the noise of the waiting room faded into silence.
The corridor they entered was narrow, its walls lined with ethereal crystals that pulsed with soft mana light. Shadows danced with each flicker, casting fleeting shapes onto the darkened floor. Each step Lei Feng took echoed softly, and the ambient hum of arcane energy in the air felt almost sentient—like the very walls were watching.
"So…" Leo said, still walking ahead without turning around, "how strong are you really?"
His voice was casual, but layered with something deeper—an unspoken challenge.
Lei Feng's lips tugged into a faint smile. "Strong enough."
Leo gave no reply. He simply stopped before a massive obsidian door inlaid with silver sigils, their glow faint but steady. With a single swipe of his hand, the runes began to light up one by one, responding to his mana signature. A resonant hum filled the hallway, and the door slowly creaked open.
FWOOOSH.
A burst of light spilled into the hallway, momentarily blinding Lei Feng. He shielded his eyes with one arm.
When the light finally dimmed and his vision adjusted, he found himself standing in a massive, pristine white hall.
The space was surreal—boundless and seamless, with floor, ceiling, and walls all made from a smooth, polished white stone that shimmered like jade under soft illumination. There were no doors, no visible ceiling beams or support structures—just an endless, flawless cube of stillness. A realm of silence.
Lei Feng blinked. "Where the hell is this place…?" he muttered. "Feels like I've been thrown into some kind of sterile void."
"This," Leo said behind him, stepping into the space with arms crossed, "is the Examination Hall."
"What?!" Lei Feng exclaimed, his voice echoing faintly across the vast chamber. "This empty cube is the exam hall?!"
Leo glanced at him coolly, still holding the sleek digital tab in one hand. "I gain nothing from lying to you. Yes, this is the examination site—but not your actual trial location. This is a pre-exam chamber. It determines whether you are eligible to take the real test."
Lei Feng's brow furrowed. "Eligible? You mean people can fail even before the actual test begins?"
Leo sighed. "The Association only permits Adventurers to take the ranking exam once a year, unless they undergo a significant breakthrough or experience a class advancement. But, as you can imagine, some fools ignore this and attempt it regardless. This pre-screening process ensures we don't waste time—or resources."
Lei Feng nodded slowly. "Makes sense… I guess it's just human nature. Some people know they aren't ready deep down, but they want to test their limits anyway."
"There's more to it," Leo continued, eyes narrowing. "This chamber also allows us to monitor progress citywide. Every registered Awakener leaves a trace in the system—we use that to assess their development over time."
He stepped closer, locking eyes with Lei Feng. "Take yourself, for example. You've surpassed every previous metric on record in less than a week. Your growth—both physically and magically—is beyond anomalous. Almost unnatural. Wouldn't you say… Ling Chen?"
At that name, Lei Feng's expression turned ice-cold.
His aura flared—sharp, oppressive, and thick with warning. Mana stirred in the air like a storm barely restrained.
"Who are you?" Lei Feng said coldly. "And how do you know that name?"
Leo didn't flinch. In fact, he chuckled.
"Relax, boy. I'm not your enemy. If I was," he said, voice hardening, "you'd be unconscious already."
He straightened, his lion-like mane catching the ambient light. "I'm Leo Warwick. An A-Rank Adventurer. Captain of the Awakeners Military in Volaris Sector. As for how I know you—well, you made waves the moment you stepped back into the city."
He tapped the tab in his hand. "The Surveillance Grid registered your little scene and mana signature. That triggered an automatic alert and—well—it didn't take long to unearth your entire file. Took my team just 24 hours."
Lei Feng's jaw clenched. "Then… everyone in the military knows?"
Leo shook his head. "No. Only a handful. You're a sensitive existence, and the last thing we want is panic—or worse, enemies targeting you before you're ready."
He stepped beside Lei Feng, voice low. "I'm overseeing your exam personally to make sure nothing leaks."
Lei Feng released a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Then why help me at all?"
A bitter smile crossed Leo's face. "Let's just say… a certain elf wants you hidden."
Lei Feng blinked. "You mean—Senior Eira?"
Leo smirked faintly, but nodded. "I don't know what she's doing in the Ling Family, but she's no ordinary elf. That woman… could sway the entire City if she wanted."
Lei Feng's mind reeled. "Just who is she?"
Leo didn't answer directly. Instead, he shifted the conversation.
"There's another reason," he said. "The head of the Awakeners Military doesn't do favors. Ever. But this time… it seems he made an exception."
He looked directly at Lei Feng. "You know the name Orion Vale?"
Lei Feng's eyes lit up. "Of course. He's a boy I saved during my training in Whispering Hollow—"
Leo cut him off. "That's the one. Orion is the son of Lord Vale. An S-Rank Adventurer, and the current Head of the Federation's Awakeners Military."
Lei Feng fell silent, piecing everything together.
"I never imagined that small act would of kindness ripple this far," he murmured.
Leo clapped a hand on his shoulder. "So consider this your free pass. But don't get cocky. We'll still be watching."
"I understand."
Leo stepped past him and into the center of the chamber. His hand swiped through the air—and a large blue holographic screen materialized, suspended in front of him like floating glass.
"Time to begin."
ZRRRMMM!
The interface hummed to life as Leo tapped a few commands. Seconds later, a high-pitched mechanical whirr echoed through the space.
SHHHHHK!
Three circular platforms on the floor slid open with a hydraulic hiss. From each, a sleek device rose upward, gleaming under the ambient light.
The first looked like a high-tech CT scanner, smooth and silver with pulsating blue runes carved into its sides. The second was a tall jade pillar, its surface etched with arcane inscriptions. A glowing orb hovered atop it, humming with latent mana. And the third was a sleek pedestal with a biometric scanner and a digital interface panel.
Lei Feng's jaw dropped. "Whoa… This place is like a mana-tech marvel!"
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Try not to drool. These are standard in the Federation's core cities. Let me explain."
He gestured to each machine in turn. "The first assesses your bone age and growth potential. It'll tell us how compatible your physical development is with your magical advancement."
"The second," he pointed at the jade pillar, "measures your talent, elemental affinity, mana count and quality."
"And the third scans your current level, stat distribution, and magic class."
Leo folded his arms. "If you're ready, step forward."
Lei Feng grinned. "This is freaking amazing."
He stepped into the bone-age analyzer. The machine whirred softly as a curtain of blue holographic light descended over him, scanning him from head to toe.
A few seconds later, the display turned green and printed a result.
Leo nodded. "Eighteen years old. Growth potential: optimal. Bone age and magical compatibility... perfect."
"Not bad," Lei Feng said, stepping out.
"Now the mana pillar," Leo instructed.
Lei Feng approached the jade monolith and placed both hands on it.
BOOM—WUMMM!
The orb atop the pillar pulsed. First green… then blue… then violet… then a radiant gold. It didn't stop. It turned crimson… then black… and finally—
CRACK—BOOM!!
The orb exploded in a flash of light, shards dissolving into particles of raw energy that scattered harmlessly through the room.
Leo's mouth fell open.
"…Supreme-Grade Platinum-ranked talent?!" he exclaimed. "You… You shattered the orb?!"
Lei Feng blinked. "...Was it not supposed to do that?"