Exam

A tall youth man with black hair wearing good quality white robe entered the enormous building walking with confidence that he is not really feeling, where a packed crowd of young people waits to take the exam. The number of people was not unexpected, as people from various surrounding cities came to take the exam here.

The stress in this room is so high that you can almost see it. People are shaking their feet, snapping fingers, and still, others biting their lips or biting nails and even those who keep focused on the corner while others try to calm themself talking with each other.

The buzzing is so loud that people have to yell to speak with each other, but there is only one topic of conversation here: the exam yet to be taken and which academy they want to join. Of course, everyone wants to join a big and respected academy, but the reality is not always that generous.

There are quite a few known faces here, none that he would like to approach now. Not that he is a reclusive person, it's just that he is one of those that prefer to stay at the corner, trying to concentrate before the test, this behavior will not improve his grade or the possibility of going to a better academy, but it works to control the anxiety.

Then he walked to a table, placed in the middle of the hall, where three middle-aged men, dressed in light blue robes, register the candidates. The one on the left raised his head, looking at the youth that has just reached and ask mechanically: "Name, age, and graduation certificate."

"I am Ryu Sei, age 18, and my certi-fi - ca - te..." only people who completed the basic school cycle can take this exam to guarantee that the disciples have the basic knowledge that every cultivator must have "...is here." Ryu Sei says while handing a paper to the man in front of him.

The man completed the registration procedure and returned the paper to Ryu Sei, adding: "The exam will start soon, they will call you when it is your time.".

Half an hour passed when a door on one of the sides of the hall opened, a man passed through it with a gong in his hand, and one strike, the instrument release a strident metallic sound covering the whole hall. Dead silence instantly filled the room, and the man with the gong scan the room as if he was enjoying the anxious gazes directed towards him, until a brief moment later, he started to talk.

"We are beginning essence affinity test. When you hear your name, present yourself."

"Behind this door, there is a pillar made of glowing stone, when it is your turn to enter, you will go to the pillar, and put your hand on top of it, and extract essence out of the stone. The stone will shine in different colors according to the quality and rate that essence flows through it. An examiner will analyze the results and read it."

"There is a stage at the back of the room with 20 seats lined up, occupied by one overseer of one each academy. If they are interested in you, they will manifest, and the overseer will ask if you want to join that academy."

After a brief pause, "Is there any question?" he said, scanning the room without getting any response.

"Ari Nue." the man suddenly declares the first name as if there is no time to waste.

A short young man struggles to pass between the crowd and reach the door, is immediately conducted inside to the pillar placed in the middle of the room. The door was left open, and people could see from afar what was happening inside.

While the candidates outside squeeze themself trying to get a peek at what is happening inside, a red light emerges.

"RED, intensity forty five." one of the examiners right next to the pillar declares.

After a brief commotion, the examiner speaks again

"Two academies have shown interest in you: Mountain gate academy and Martial Sect; do you want to join one of these?"

The candidate's answer was left unheard, but after his choice, he exited the room, conducted by one overseer, and the next candidate called.

As the examination process went the audience keeps its focus

"Brown, intensity 54.", "Blue, intensity 61", "Red, intensity 57", one of the candidates managed to produce a bright light that illuminated the role room

"WHITE, intensity 88"

When the overseer announced the result, a burst of talking exploded; "88, that's a genius result.", "Wow, I never thought that I would see a result like that; do you know who she is? someone remembers her name?", "It's Carla Ritz.", "You said Ritz? As expected from that family.".

Ryu Sei looked at the woman, a peerless beauty with light brown hair and a beautiful face, the robes revealing her immature yet alluring curves that could make a man lose their mind, however, the air of nobility around her completely inhibited anyone to try to approach her.

Sixteen academies expressed their resolve to take her in, but which one she picked, Ryu couldn't hear.

After many candidates, a person produced a weak blue light and the examiner

"Blue, intensity 18" and "No academy offer, you can go.". Even though the possibility of failure exists, it is somewhat rare, and no one thought about it, so see it happening before their eyes made the atmosphere rather gloomy.

The relaxed mood that the candidates had been was gone, and for each failure that appeared, more the tension raised. They came here today with a dream, become a cultivator, failing this test, and there is no other alternative to achieve that.

There is the possibility of training via a cultivating method like the old days, but there is no one that does this nowadays, even finding a master is impossible. So they have to succeed here, otherwise, they could forget about cultivating.

The sun was approaching the horizon when the examiner's voice echoed the name "Ryu Sei.".

Tired of waiting, he woke up from his trance state and went right to the room where his new life was about to begin.