Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

Ye Wufeng walked to the front of the stage, his gaze sweeping over the sixteen contestants before finally settling on Lin Ran, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He took the first tray, lifted the silk, and revealed a pale blue jade pendant underneath.

The front is carved with layers of continuous clouds and clouds, with fine star patterns between the clouds and a pale golden cloud texture flowing inside.

The edges are surrounded by a ring of fine, crackled patterns, and polished to a smooth, rounded finish.

Paired with a silk cord and strung with two small silver jade spacer beads, the overall design is simple and understated, and at first glance, it seems to be just an ordinary antique jade ornament.

"The Nine Heavens Pendant has a storage space inside, and the cloud patterns on its surface have a spirit-gathering effect. Wearing it can increase cultivation speed."

Ye Wufeng handed the jade pendant to Lin Ran: "This item comes from an ancient ruin. I wore it with me in my younger days, and today I'm giving it to you!"

"Thank you, senior!" Lin Ran accepted the Nine Heavens Pendant with both hands, his expression solemn.

The moment the fingertips touched the pendant, the Xuanhuang Cauldron in the sea of ​​consciousness emitted a long hum.

He resisted the urge to immediately put the Nine Heavens Pendant into his mind's sea, but instead solemnly hung it on his waist.

Ye Wufeng then picked up an honorary medal and a pair of alloy longswords and handed them to Lin Ran: "You can try to store these items into the Nine Heavens Pendant."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ran tried to communicate with the Nine Heavens Pendant using his divine sense and immediately sensed the vast space within it, which was dozens of feet wide.

He tried to put the alloy longsword and medal of honor into it, but the two items vanished from his hand instantly.

Ye Wufeng nodded: "Not bad, it seems you've already learned how to use it."

After saying that, he moved his feet, walked up to Ye Chen, and took a silver ring from the tray.

"The Spirit Ring can amplify mental power. Your spatial talent is one in a million, and this ring can enhance your perception of space."

Ye Chen accepted the ring, his indifference finally softening slightly, and he solemnly bowed to Ye Wufeng.

Immediately afterwards, Ma Yiming received a spirit-gathering bracelet, while the remaining dozen or so people each received an honorary medal and an alloy longsword.

Every time Ye Wufeng handed out a prize, he would add a few words of commentary, each one hitting the nail on the head.

After presenting the last prize, he stepped back two steps to take in the entire queue of the top sixteen.

"Children, after several days, the martial arts exam has come to an end. You've worked hard."

"It's not hard work!" the sixteen people responded in unison.

"Good! Young people should be energetic!" Ye Wufeng's smile deepened. However, he quickly suppressed his smile and his expression became serious.

"However, rankings on the field are meaningless. Remember not to be arrogant in victory or discouraged in defeat. Only by staying true to your principles can you go further."

His smile gradually faded, and his tone became serious: "The rifts are increasing year by year, high-level alien beasts are appearing frequently, and foreign forces are eyeing us covetously."

"Sparring in the ring is only for honing your skills; the real battlefield lies in the cracks and fissures. You all should broaden your horizons while diligently cultivating your combat prowess."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of each contestant.

"I do not ask that you be invincible, but only that you all have a sincere heart. In the future, when humanity is in trouble, you will be able to step forward and protect the land and its people."

"Let me say a few more words," Ye Wufeng said, raising his voice a few decibels.

"There is more than one path to enlightenment. What limits one's level is never talent, but the stubbornness of being stuck in one's ways."

"You are still very young, and you have a long road ahead of you. Never give up easily. Remember, where there's a will, there's a way!"

There was a two-second silence, then thunderous applause erupted.

People in the stands started to stand up, and then everyone stood up.

The host announced the official end of the martial arts exam, and the crowd began to surge towards the exit.

Lin Ran and Chu Xining walked off the stage side by side. Ye Wufeng stepped to his side, a mischievous glint in his deep blue eyes: "Let's go, I'll take you to the Special Affairs Bureau."

After saying that, without waiting for Lin Ran's reply, he walked towards the side door of the training hall.

Lin Ran caught up, quickening his pace to walk alongside him: "There's no need for you to make the trip yourself, senior, is there?"

"That won't do." Ye Wufeng didn't even turn his head. "I vouched for you, so naturally I have to personally escort you there. What if you run away halfway?"

Lin Ran's forehead creased with annoyance: "How could that be? I'm a law-abiding citizen!"

"I don't know if you abide by the law or not." Ye Wufeng finally turned his head to look at him, a meaningful smile on his lips: "But you're quite good at fooling people."

Lin Ran paused, then quickened his pace to catch up: "I'm innocent! I'm known for being an honest person."

Chu Xining followed Lin Ran and whispered, "Brother Lin Ran, let me go with you."

"No need, go back and wait for me. I'll be back soon," Lin Ran casually refused.

Chu Xining pouted: "But..."

"Listen to me." Lin Ran's tone was gentle, but brooked no refusal.

Chu Xining swallowed the rest of her words, her eyes filled with resentment, but she finally nodded: "Oh."

Seeing this, Ye Wufeng raised an eyebrow: "Don't worry, he'll be fine. I'll personally deliver it, and the Special Affairs Bureau won't make things difficult for him."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xining pondered for a moment: "Alright then, Senior Martial Saint, you must keep your word!"

"Hahahaha..." Ye Wufeng laughed loudly, "Don't worry, it will definitely be true!"

The three parted ways at the entrance of the training hall.

Chu Xining stood on the steps and watched the two walk towards a black sedan parked by the roadside until the vehicle drove away.

Bai Ruolin came up from behind and whispered in her ear, "Still looking?"

Chu Xining snapped out of her daze and pouted, "I'm willing."

"Okay, then you can continue watching." Bai Ruolin turned and left.

The rear seats of the sedan are spacious, and the leather seats exude a faint scent of pine.

The driver was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in black casual clothes, and a pair of wary eyes could be vaguely seen in the rearview mirror.

As the vehicle started, Ye Wufeng spoke again: "You've already reached the Transcendent Realm, haven't you?"

The driver's hand slipped on the steering wheel, and the eyes in the rearview mirror widened slightly. Their gazes briefly met Lin Ran's before quickly shifting away.

Lin Ran was slightly startled, then grinned, revealing an embarrassed smile of being caught red-handed: "Hehe, I thought I was doing a pretty good job of pretending."

"You've certainly disguised yourself well; even I can't see through your true level." Ye Wufeng nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "But you made a mistake."

Lin Ran looked puzzled: "What mistake?"

"Your strength and speed in the ring are so well-balanced. Every fight is a double crushing of power and speed."

Ye Wufeng looked at Lin Ran and said seriously, "A normal Innate Realm martial artist is either a Strength type or a Speed ​​type; it's impossible for them to reach the same level in both."

"This is due to innate talent, and has nothing to do with cultivation level. There's only one possibility that can achieve both of these simultaneously..."

He paused briefly, a smile playing on his lips: "Your true realm has already surpassed the innate level. The so-called all-around crushing is nothing more than a high-level attack on a low-level one."

Lin Ran was silent for a moment, then nodded seriously: "I see. Thank you for your guidance, senior!"

"It's not a matter of giving guidance."

Ye Wufeng waved his hand, leaned back in his chair, and said with a touch of emotion, "An eighteen-year-old at the Transcendent Realm is unprecedented throughout history. Truly a formidable young talent!"

"You flatter me, senior." Lin Ran put on a humble expression.

"Just telling the truth." Ye Wufeng changed the subject: "According to Chen Yicheng, you fought a Tongxuan Realm martial artist yesterday and not only did you not lose, but you also held out until the Special Affairs Bureau arrived."

He looked at Lin Ran with a scrutinizing gaze: "The other party ultimately chose to run away, while you were completely unharmed."

"I barely managed to exchange a few blows," Lin Ran said casually. "When that person saw the Special Affairs Bureau personnel arrive, he quickly left."