Chapter 76: Who Truly Never Fails, Who Dares Claim Invincibility

Lin Yi’s gaze swept over the banners as he entered the campus. He wanted to see for himself what these so-called sects and factions were all about this time. Had anyone from the Starry Sect come as well? And since these sects had arrived, could the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation also be present?

He wondered, too—what about Daoist Zhang Ruofeng, whom he’d encountered before? His injuries hadn’t been too serious. Or Zhang Qiang, though his wounds were worse—would they show up as well? And then, faintly, Lin Yi recalled how the Little Thunder Monastery had surfaced when he’d fought the Tiger Demon. Would someone from Little Thunder Monastery appear? Perhaps even someone from Great Thunder Monastery? The hundred flowers are in bloom, and a thousand gates have opened—who, in the end, were these sects and factions?

Lost in thought, Lin Yi made his way through the front gates of the school, greeting a few familiar upperclassmen as he passed. Before long, he happened to run into his dormitory’s “boss,” Lin Tianwen, and the second-in-command, Ma Si, among others, all boisterously gathered together. It was said that the whole lot of them were notorious lechers; right now, they’d surrounded a group of upperclassmen and freshmen hostesses, giggling and pestering them for contact information.

Lin Yi couldn’t help but feel a twinge of contempt. Just moments ago, the “boss” had called him, waxing poetic about his lofty ambitions, about how troubled times produced heroes, and how he would become the most promising one of all—training for the benefit of humanity. Yet here he was, already prioritizing personal gain, flirting shamelessly with the hostesses.

Lin Yi was speechless. He strode quickly up to Lin Tianwen and chuckled, “Boss, didn’t you say you wanted to test your invincible potential and become a hero? What’s this, then—benefiting yourself instead of all humanity?”

“And just where is your hand reaching? Take it off our junior’s smooth shoulder—right now.”

Lin Tianwen grinned sheepishly at Lin Yi’s words. As the ponytailed junior rolled her eyes, Lin Tianwen called out, “You little punk, the tests haven’t even started yet! Besides, you’re in no position to talk. You disappeared all day yesterday, and the night before as well. So, what were you up to for two whole nights? Does it have anything to do with Goddess An? You’d better give us a full explanation later! Brothers, am I right?”

At this, not only did Ma Si, but also the rest—Bai Qi and the others—nod in agreement. Even the youngest, Zhao Wuji, number eight among them, piped up, “Exactly! Seventh Brother, you’re just unreasonable. You’re the one who’s been out all night, and now you’re shifting the blame. Our relationship with these upperclassmen is pure—absolutely pure!”

Lin Yi was exasperated. Zhao Wuji’s words were the epitome of shamelessness. Pure, indeed—perhaps for now, but who knew how long that would last?

Shaking his head, Lin Yi quickly inquired about the situation. He learned that this time, no fewer than ten major sects would be coming to Shengjing College to select disciples.

The reason for this honor, he heard, was that Shengjing College’s venerable president had, just yesterday, been appointed the president of the City’s Spirit Master Association. That was why the school had such clout, and why this selection of disciples by senior figures from various sects would be held here.

However, this was not a public, open selection—rather, owing to the president’s connections, it would be a smaller, private affair. Shengjing College would serve as a pilot site. After all, the college was a university, and there weren’t many under-twenties eligible for cultivation; the event was more symbolic than substantial.

Watching his dorm mates, the rest of the school, and the hostesses for today’s grand occasion, Lin Yi felt this all the more. If they were truly recruiting disciples, who would choose youths nearly twenty, whose potential was already nearly set? Wouldn’t it make more sense to take in children?

Cultivation should begin in childhood! It was clearly a matter of form over substance.

“I wonder which ten sects these are,” Lin Yi mused inwardly.

He and his seven dormitory brothers made their way toward the sports field. From the main gate, it was a short distance, but today, with banners strung everywhere, word had spread among students and faculty alike: real luminaries were coming.

Once spoken of only in legends, these figures could now be seen in the flesh. Excitement was palpable—people crowded in, the atmosphere boiling like a pot on the verge of spilling over. Never, not even on holidays, had the campus seen such a dense, surging mass. It was a veritable sea of people, as dark and packed as an anthill.

Some among the crowd clearly weren’t students, though no one knew how they’d slipped in.

Lin Yi and his dorm mates were searching for their class’s assembly point.

“Hahaha! This time, victory belongs to me, the truly invincible Pang Wudi! As the saying goes, who dares claim to be undefeated, who dares call themselves invincible? Only I, Pang Wudi, am worthy of that title!”

Lin Yi and his brothers had just spotted their class gathering when raucous laughter erupted nearby. The tall-poppy principle was well known, yet still there were those so brazen as to proclaim themselves unbeatable.

Following the sound, Lin Yi and Lin Tianwen saw it was Pang Wudi from the neighboring class—a towering, strapping man, a basketball magnet for admiring girls. Pang Wudi was famous not only for his size—he stood nearly two meters—but also because he’d passed the martial artist’s exam and was officially recognized as one.

Lin Yi had a bit of a grudge with Pang Wudi. There’d been previous spats over basketball courts, mostly because Pang Wudi, relying on his massive frame, had shoved Lin Tianwen and Zhao Wuji to the ground. Neither of them, despite their own strength, could stand up to that giant. Lin Yi and his friends had naturally banded together to fight back; only the arrival of security had put an end to the brawl. Ever since, the two groups had exchanged both victories and defeats on the court.

The martial artist’s exam could be passed by anyone with superior physical strength and health, and Pang Wudi had earned his title through sheer physical prowess. Still, it was only the lowest rank—a mere F grade. Coincidentally, Lin Yi’s own potential had also been rated F.

“Tch—I wondered who it was, and it’s just Pang Wudi bragging again. That guy’s only F rank; what’s he got to show off about? The only reason we lost the court was because he had more people than we did,” Lin Tianwen muttered with a frown.

No sooner had he spoken than Pang Wudi, on the other side, burst out laughing and glanced over. Lin Yi’s eyes sparkled—despite the noise and the distance of more than ten meters, Pang Wudi had heard them. Clearly, his physical abilities had improved.

Pang Wudi exchanged a few words with his sycophants, then strode over.

“Lin Tianwen, did I just hear you say I’m only F-ranked among martial artists? Ha! And what rank are you, exactly? You don’t even have a martial artist’s title, do you?”

He was arrogant and domineering, curling his lip in disdain.

“Haha, Pang Wudi’s right—Lin Tianwen, you’re just a nobody. Pathetic! I’m ashamed on your behalf—couldn’t even earn a martial artist’s title!”

“Exactly! What right have you to criticize Pang Wudi? Who do you think you are?”

“Jealousy, that’s all—Pang Wudi, don’t bother with him. Soon we’ll be chosen as disciples, and he’ll die of envy!”

These were true sycophants.

Pang Wudi nodded in satisfaction. “With the red mist shrouding the sky, energy is everywhere—anyone can become a dragon or a phoenix now, and I, Pang Wudi, am one of them. Yesterday, I awakened my ability. I’m no longer just an F-ranked martial artist!”

As he finished speaking, faint golden energy began to coalesce and swirl around him.