NOVPUBThe dim gray incense was slowly burning, and the other youths around were barely able to muster the use of Vein Skills.
Meanwhile, Yue Qingli was struggling just to memorize the contents.
As he watched the nine other youths competing with him learn one after another, his heart grew more and more anxious.
And the more anxious he became, the easier it was for him to make mistakes.
"Time’s up," the elder sitting at the head of the room said in a calm voice, slowly opening his half-closed eyes.
The ten students hurriedly ceased trying to comprehend the skill.
After all, if they were to continue after time was up, they would be directly disqualified from the test.
"Show me the Vein Skills you’ve comprehended."
Upon hearing this, a few exchanged glances.
Determination was evident in their eyes, each quietly competing with the others.
As the few demonstrated the "Geng Blade Slash", the elder at the head of the room remained expressionless.
Unless he encountered one of the Talented Disciples that could move him, these youths were too common a sight for him.
When it was Yue Qingli’s turn, he stood there, seemingly at a loss.
The elder frowned slightly, looking at Yue Qingli.
"Teacher, I didn’t learn it," Yue Qingli hesitated a bit before finally saying with difficulty.
"Everyone from the Third-Eye Demon Clan is useless, where did you get the confidence to take the Holy Institute’s test?"
"Maybe he just wanted to try his luck, no harm in that."
The surrounding students, who were originally tense and seeking a sense of superiority, started mocking him one after another.
They were already predisposed to looking down on those from the Third-Eye Demon Clan.
The elder was taken aback, having assessed so many students before.
They typically only varied in their proficiency with Vein Skills, but this was the first time someone had failed to learn the skill at all.
"Alright, next group," the elder said, waving his hand.
He signaled for the murmuring youths to quiet down, unwilling to waste any more time.
"Teacher, please give me another chance, I’m certain I’ll succeed."
Yue Qingli looked distraught as he begged the elder.
"Everyone is treated fairly, there are no second chances," the elder said flatly.
"Teacher, I beg you to let me into Vermilion Academy.
I swear, I will work hard."
Yue Qingli continued to shake his head, pleading.
"I believe you would work hard, and I believe that given another chance, you could learn this Vein Skill," the elder said calmly.
"But you must understand, we’re not just recruiting those who can learn Vein Skills.
We are looking for the best of the best."
Hearing the elder’s words, Yue Qingli fell silent.
He remembered his clan, his youthful ignorance, and his noble yet shocking ambitions.
Vermilion Academy was his only chance.
Only by joining the academy could he have a broader world to explore.
Becoming a Loose Cultivator made the likelihood of growth too low.
He lifted his head; the sky was misty.
Ominously gloomy.
Transparent raindrops started to fall one by one.
Landing on his face, a cooling sensation spread throughout his body.
"Teacher, I really have no other path.
I am willing to stake my life and everything I have on the effort of cultivation, please just give me one chance."
Yue Qingli was still pleading desperately.
Even though he knew the chances were slim, he refused to give up as long as there was a glimmer of hope.
The elder at the head of the room had been expressionless from the beginning to the end, as there were too many who wanted to join Vermilion Academy.
He had seen all sorts of people.
This was a line that could not be crossed.
Once crossed, it could never be closed again.
"Kid, if you didn’t pass, then leave—don’t waste the opportunity of others who are here to be tested."
People waiting in line behind began to discuss amongst themselves.
"People from the Third-Eye Demon Clan are so disgusting, with such poor aptitude and still playing the victim here.
"If it were me, I would have lost face and been unable to stay here."
"Pity is born from a place of sadness."
"Grab two people and pull him aside; don’t let him interfere here." 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝖕𝖚𝖇.𝖈𝔬𝔪
As the mixed praise and criticism sounded all around, two students directly grabbed Yue Qingli’s clothes.
They threw him to the side.
His body fell heavily to one side,
Yue Qingli rubbed his eyes, tears indistinguishable from the rainwater.
The downpour from the sky grew heavier, and the others around him all raised spiritual energy shields to protect their bodies.
He, however, was almost soaked through like a drenched chicken.
He lay on the ground as if his soul had left him, lying there in silence.
"Wang Xin, passed."
"Zhou Haoran, passed."
......
The elder on the side was announcing the names of those who had passed, while the people around him pointed and commented.
He turned a deaf ear to it all.
In his heart, there was only one thought: the opportunity he had long awaited had slipped away.
The people of the Third-Eye Demon Clan were born simple-minded, and without their third eye opened, almost every other race ridiculed them.
Despite his best efforts, he still hadn’t been able to change his destiny.
In history, among the ancestral records of the Third-Eye Demon Clan, there were ancestors who had opened their third eye.
Regrettably, even those ancestors didn’t know how they had opened their third eye.
It just opened suddenly, one day.
Therefore, for the current Third-Eye Demon Clan, the opening of the third eye is still a mystery.
The cold feeling of rain washing over his face seemed to make him even more lucid.
Don’t fantasize about breaking destiny; perhaps being a salted fish isn’t so bad.
The "pitter-patter" of footsteps reached Yue Qingli’s ears.
Suddenly, he felt the rain from above stop falling.
Yue Qingli slowly opened his eyes, only to see a young man standing in front of him.
The young man blocked the rain, standing over his head.
As he was lying down, he looked up at the young man expressionlessly.
"It’s you."
He knew this young man; he had stolen his wallet just a few days ago.
"What do you want?" he asked Xu Zimei, in a flat tone.
"There are countless paths in the world; do you really want to join Vermilion Academy that much?" Xu Zimei asked.
"For a loose cultivator, what better choice is there than joining an academy?"
Yue Qingli said with self-mockery, "Especially for someone from the Third-Eye Demon Clan."
Xu Zimei understood what he meant; aside from the all-teaching academies, it was very difficult for people from the Third-Eye Demon Clan to join any other faction.
It was still because of prejudice.
"Keep it up," Xu Zimei said with a light smile.
"I believe that one day the Third-Eye Demon Clan will rise and break the world’s prejudice against them."
After speaking, Xu Zimei left.
He wasn’t just comforting the young man before him; if the course of his previous life hadn’t changed,
a Divine Person would emerge in this generation of the Third-Eye Demon Clan.
That Divine Person would quickly lead the then-weak Third-Eye Demon Clan to become one of the reigning powers.
Renowned by everyone!
At that time, the Third-Eye Demon Clan could even truly contend with the thirty-six kingdoms.
Who would dare to look down on them then?
"Thank you; I guess we know each other now," Yue Qingli took Xu Zimei’s words as mere consolation.
But at this moment, the fact that someone was willing to offer consolation was already rare.
Watching Xu Zimei’s retreating figure, he sat up, smiled bitterly, and said,
"My name is Yue Qingli!"
"What the hell, the Divine Person Yue Qingli?"
Xu Zimei’s departing steps suddenly halted, and he turned around in surprise.
