12 The Big 5

In front of the grandiose gate of the Divine Royal Academy.

There are rows of stone as big as a head on top of a long table.

"Those name that will be called, please step forward and put your hand on one of these Stones."

Adris put his hand on top of a stone, the stone then emitted white light so bright that the enrollees have to close their eyes to avoid it.

"Those who can make it glow like this will pass the test and move to the next stage. If you can produce even the smallest amount of glow, then we will deem that you pass if are worthy of it."

Adris took off his hand from the stone, the light then dissipated. The enrollees opened their eyes again and listened to Adris' instruction.

Adris opened the scroll containing the list of the enrollees names. He then started calling names one by one.

"Okay the first one is, Aries of the Light Red Family."

Aries, one of the three boys who beat up Chase a month ago. They heard Chase's shriek of writhing in pain in a forest then saw him cultivating with a Stone Essence.

Aries who was infuriated by Chase having two Stone Essence despite him having none, he beat up Chase and even tried to end his life. But the tables turned, Chase suddenly entered a demonic form and fought them back, the three of them became helpless and lost conciousness. Chase then woke up Drake and made him take the other two back home.

Chase who was among the crowd, mysteriously don't or can't remember this event. It's like his memories were missing or sealed.

"Light Red Family? Isn't that one of the branch family of the Red Diamond Family?"

"Oh? That family? I heard that they are the closest branch family of the Red Diamond Family."

"So, Senior Adris may know him? That guy is lucky."

Bunch of chattering started again talking about the background of the first guy whose name was called.

The Light Red Family is the closest branch of the main family, the Red Diamond Family. Each main family has about 3-5 branches family, and the purpose of these branches is so that someone can do the chores that the main family think is lowly for their reputation.

But of course that is not the only reason, the other is that the main family scouts children with potential and give them oppurtunity to bring honor for the main family. Aries is one of those so called scouted children, because of he posses potential and most of all, talent, he is backed up by the main family.

"Aries, please step forward in front of the stone."

Adris called the name again and instructed to go in front of the stone.

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Aries leaved the crowd and stepped forward while smiling confidently. As he walk forward, Adris stealthly whispered something to Aries.

"You know what to do, right?"

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Aries then passed by Adris and is now standing in front of one of the stones. Adris who seems satisfied by Aries' reply, looked at the scroll again.

"Alice of the Blue Crystal Family, please step forward."

"June of the Green Emerald Family, please step forward."

"Tasha of the Elven Moonstone Forest, please step forward."

"And Prince Taylor of the Royal Palace, please step forward. "

Adris read the names of the first examinees one by one. All of them immediately responded to Adris' call.

"Wow, the prince is enrolling this year?!"

"That girl is beautiful."

"An elf! Hell yeah!"

"Senior Adris, let's combine our sword."

Ignoring the last one who shouted again, kinds of hooting can be heard from the crowd.

So this is the Big 5 of this year, huh. All of them seems to have Royal Type Nerve, and on top of that 2 of them had already advaced to Mortal Rank, Adris thought as he observe the first examinees to come forward.

Once all of them is in front of Adris, especially the prince. The prince has blonde curly hair, a tall slim but not thin build, and a pretty face that seems to surpass that of Adris'. Adris moved in front of the prince and bowed.

"It's an honor to observe the prince's examination. After all, his highness has already reached 2 Star Mortal Rank in such a young age."

As if sucking up to the prince, Adris blurted out praises smoothly as if his used to it.

"No need for Senior to be polite and praise me. After all, Senior's rank is much higher than mine and it's no joke to reach that height."

The prince slightly smiled to Adris'. His smile is not exactly a smile, it seems to be just a curved lips and has hollow meaning.

"His highness praise me so much, then shall I start the first stage?"

Adris turned to all the 5 examinees in front of him. All of them nodded in agreement.

"Then I want you all to put your hands above the stone in front of you. If you are able to make it glow then you pass, then let's begin."

The 5 examinees one by one put their hands above the stones in front of them.

Hmph, I won't be defeated by these guys. I will make the stone glow first, Aries who looked at the other 4 beside him thought. Since he's one of the geniuses of this year, then how can he let himself fall behind just because the others have powerful background.

Senior Brother didn't mention how to make this stone glow but thanks to my father, he taught me how, Aries thought.

He controlled his Spirit Energy then slowly directed it to his hand that's on top of the stone. Reacting to the Spirit Energy from Aries' hand, a feeble light then was produced by the stone.

"Senior Brother, is this enough?"

Aries excitedly asked Adris. He seems to want to keep the first place for himself, not that there's a competition. It's just his own desire to be on top of those weaker than him.

"Hmm.. Good enough, you passed."

Adris slightly smiled on the result on Aries' stone. He then looked at Aries and whispered.

"Goodjob."

Aries smiled on Adris' praise. His smile seems to say that it's inevitable for him pass. While indulging in self-praise, the crowd made a scene.

"Woah! Look at that elf's stone!"

"Holy! That's June guy is also awesome!"

"It's not the same as Senior's but this is also bright!"

"The Prince's stone is also emitting a beautiful warm light."

Praise-filled words were said by the crowd. Adris and Aries who were not paying attention looked at the other examinees.

Lights from each one of their stones were twinkling, it's like the lights are dancing.

'This is... just how powerful is their control on their Spirit Energy?' Adris who saw the emitted lights was stunned.

Control on the Spirit Energy is one of the basic part of cultivating, but controlling a very precise amount of Spirit Energy demands great concentration.

Even Adris who was watching them needed years of strict meditation so he could achieve his current level of control.

Just how much talent does this guys have? But their concentration is still wavering according to the unstable lights the stone is emitting, Adris observed.

Aries who was self-praising earlier has his eyes and mouth widened in shock. Compared to the lights the other examinees' stones emitted, his light seems to be a light from an old exhausted firefly whose just a second away from kicking the bucket.

"Alright, these guys all pass the first stage with great ease."

Recovering from being stunned, Adris announced the result of the first batch.

"Since these guys looked like they just breath their way forward, then I'll tell you in advance. These guys are the Big 5 of this year, so don't expect that you will also easily pass the first stage."

Adris did not reveal their identity as the Big 5 earlier, that is because he wants the other enrollees to know the difference in their ability and convey that they shouldn't think that they can do what the Big 5 can.

"I purposedly called the Big 5 first because I know that they will easily pass the first stage. Now that they have passed it, then I will now call your names randomly."

Adris explained to the crowd, and started reading names in the scroll again but this time, it's random.

"Then the next batch is... Chase of the Violet Family, please step forward."