The stele used to test soul power is generally used for Mortal State cultivators below the Spirit State.
However, in most other places, cultivation forces do not attach much importance to soul power cultivation, or attach importance but lack corresponding infrastructure. Therefore, this kind of stele for testing soul power is considered a relatively rare item in many people's eyes.
"As everyone knows, the soul is the most important foundation for an alchemist. Only with a sufficiently strong soul can one master more superb soul control skills and burst out more powerful soul power."
Elder Sheng pointed to the center of the stele and explained: "You each input your soul power into it, and the corresponding soul value will be displayed on the mirror disc in the center."
"A value of over 400 is considered passing. The highest record of the Five Great Families assessment in these years is Cao Ying of the Cao family. Back then, her soul value reached 976. I don't know if anyone can break this record this session."
While speaking, Elder Sheng looked towards the Cao family's seats, at the young girl in a black dress.
The girl was beautiful, her eyes naturally exuding charm. She was playing with a jade ball with one hand, looking lazy and calm.
Facing everyone's gazes, she felt no ripples in her heart. As the most outstanding disciple of the Pill Tower, she had seen many such scenes.
Elder Sheng smiled faintly and moved his gaze back to the few people in front of him.
"Alright, since you all know the rules, let's begin. Who goes first?"
As his voice fell, the five fell silent, and no one took the initiative.
After a moment, the man from the Qiu family named Qiu Ji stepped forward.
"I'll go first."
He came to the stele, took a deep breath, and then stretched out his palm. Soul power surged along his arm and rushed in.
With the injection of soul power, the crystal stele emitted dazzling light, and the number on the central mirror disc soared abruptly, instantly breaking through 400, continuing for ten seconds, and finally stopped at the number 707.
Seeing his score, Qiu Ji breathed a sigh of relief.
Actually, before the assessment began, he had already tested it in his family, so the specific soul value was not much different.
As one of the Five Great Families, they all have these basic soul facilities, and they practice frequently on ordinary days, so achieving the score of 707 is not particularly surprising.
Following Qiu Ji, Bai Ying of the Bai family stepped forward. After a burst of soul power, the number on the mirror disc stopped at 785.
Qiu Ji's originally relaxed face became somewhat ugly.
In previous assessments, the Qiu family and the Bai family were evenly matched, with wins and losses. But this time, it seemed he was a notch weaker than the other party.
After the two families finished testing, it was the turn of the Dan and Cao families.
Like the Qiu and Bai families, these two families are also old rivals.
Cao Xiu of the Cao family smiled faintly and stepped forward, "Pardon my incompetence."
Boom!
Turbulent soul power spread. Cao Xiu slapped the stele with a palm, and the value climbed rapidly, directly breaking through 800, and then stopped at the value of 846.
Compared to the Qiu and Bai families, the disciples of the Cao family are indeed more outstanding.
Cao Xiu withdrew his arm and sighed softly.
He originally thought he could perform extraordinarily on the assessment ground, but unfortunately, he failed to break through the 900 threshold. It seems impossible to catch up with Cao Ying now.
"Your turn."
Cao Xiu looked at Dan Xuan and Chen Xiaoyu.
Dan Xuan smiled gently and strolled forward.
His soul power, like himself, was gentle yet powerful.
Not as violent as Cao Xiu's, but extremely pure.
The number on the mirror disc easily broke through the 800 threshold, then continued to climb, faintly reaching the limit of 899.
Dan Xuan narrowed his eyes, shouted in a low voice, and with a sudden surge of soul power at the critical moment, finally broke through the 900 threshold, ultimately stopping at the number 903.
Cao Xiu's pupils shrank slightly, then he shook his head helplessly.
As expected of you, Dan Xuan...
"You let me win."
Dan Xuan nodded to Cao Xiu.
In this competition between the Dan and Cao families, the Dan family slightly won a round for now.
After the four major families finished competing, everyone's gaze fell on the Ye family representative, Chen Xiaoyu.
To be honest, what everyone wanted to see the most today was the Ye family falling from grace, so they could easily take their place.
Dan Xuan looked at Chen Xiaoyu, his gaze pausing on the Rank 7 Junior Alchemist badge on her chest for half a second, then sighed slightly in his heart.
This time, if the Ye family wants to keep its seat, it must enter the top three.
That is to say, in this first round of assessment, Chen Xiaoyu must surpass Bai Ying of the Bai family, surpassing the number 785.
But as early as a year ago, Bai Ying of the Bai family had already become a Rank 7 Intermediate Alchemist. It was almost impossible for Chen Xiaoyu to surpass him.
Chen Xiaoyu also felt heavy pressure at this time.
To be honest, as a disciple of the Pill Tower, she actually had no need to get involved in the Ye family's muddy water.
The reason she helped this time was actually because the Eldest Miss of the Ye family, Ye Xinlan, contacted her through the Canaan College system.
Although Ye Xinlan is the granddaughter of the First Elder of the Ye family, Ye Zhong, she chose to go to Canaan College in the Northwest Continent to study. After three years of cultivation, she successfully entered the Inner Academy and also joined the Pill Sect created by Chen Xiaoyu back then, considered her direct junior sister.
These years, the system in the Black-Corner Region has gradually improved, and some welfare measures are more sound.
Han Yue, who also graduated from Canaan College before, because she held an important position in the Black-Corner Region, when her family encountered difficulties, Maple City directly dispatched two Dou Ancestor powerhouses to help solve them.
Under Han Feng's construction, the cohesion of the students of Canaan College is getting higher and higher, and it is very normal to help each other after graduation.
The reason Chen Xiaoyu was willing to agree this time was largely due to the common bond of Canaan College.
Of course, involving a deal, interests are also indispensable.
Bearing the expectations of everyone in the Ye family, Chen Xiaoyu took a deep breath and slowly stepped forward.
In the seats, Chen Yunshu clenched her fists, worried for her sister.
The strength of these disciples of the Five Great Families is extremely formidable. Looking at their clothes and badges, they are all Rank 7 Intermediate Alchemists. Although her sister has good talent, lacking sufficient resources for cultivation on ordinary days, she is ultimately a bit lacking.
Chen Xiaoyu came to the stele, her soul power surged, and she slapped her hand on the stele.
The value began to soar rapidly, quickly breaking through the passing line of 400.
Chen Xiaoyu stared closely at the mirror disc, truly feeling the difficulty of this assessment in her heart.
The further it goes, the harder it is to increase the soul value. Seeing the others complete it easily in their actions before, it was actually the result of countless practices they had gone through.
The Ye family is now declining, and Chen Xiaoyu was pulled in temporarily. She simply hasn't undergone such adequate training.
Seeing the number rapidly slow down after reaching 700, little beads of sweat began to seep from Chen Xiaoyu's forehead.
Ten breaths later, the value stopped fluctuating.
No matter how hard Chen Xiaoyu tried, it didn't increase anymore.
The soul power she released now was no longer as strong and powerful as at the beginning, naturally unable to achieve the effect of improvement.
The final value, 723.
Chen Xiaoyu's eyes dimmed slightly. Although she surpassed the Qiu family, she failed to surpass the Bai family.
The First Elder of the Ye family sighed heavily and lowered his head.
Generally speaking, the specific level of everyone can be seen from the first round of assessment.
Failing to enter the top three in the first round makes it extremely difficult to enter the top three in the following two rounds.
But all this couldn't be blamed on Chen Xiaoyu. If the Ye family had a genius like Chen Xiaoyu before, as long as they could pass the assessment and not hit bottom, there wouldn't be today's dangerous situation.
On the spectator stand, everyone revealed relieved and joyful smiles.
It seems this time, the Ye family won't be able to turn the tables.
Han Feng looked calmly at Chen Xiaoyu on the square below.
A Rank 7 Junior Alchemist burst out soul power comparable to a Rank 7 Intermediate Alchemist.
It seems she has been cultivating properly the basic Soul Art taught to the disciples of Canaan College back then.
Although it's just a basic Soul Art, it was personally improved by Han Feng, a Dou Saint. The foundation effect is incredibly solid.
Fortunately, Chen Xiaoyu didn't give up cultivating that basic Soul Art, otherwise, she would really have to admit defeat today.
Han Feng's lips moved slightly, and sounds of the soul like a loud bell spread in Chen Xiaoyu's mind.
"The extreme of the soul, Yin and Yang merge into one..."
Boom!
A bone-deep shock suddenly hit Chen Xiaoyu's spiritual platform.
This is... the sequel to the basic Soul Art!
Chen Xiaoyu, who had already thoroughly studied the basic Soul Art, quickly understood the meaning in these verses.
She didn't have time to think much, devoting herself entirely to these few verses of the Soul Art. The soul power in her body became active again with the operation of the Soul Art, even bursting out a stronger momentum than before.
Chen Xiaoyu poured all the newborn soul power in her body into the stele.
Elder Sheng, who was just about to announce the result of the first round of assessment, was startled and looked at Chen Xiaoyu in shock.
"Breaking through in battle?!"
The number on the mirror disc soared rapidly, directly breaking through the 800 threshold and rushing to the number 840.
Cao Xiu's eyelids twitched violently, his heart in his throat.
Does it have to be so exciting? Only 5 points short of surpassing me!
Fortunately, the number ultimately just stopped at 845, not surpassing 846.
Cao Xiu breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Chen Xiaoyu with complex eyes.
Amazing, truly amazing...
Actually able to break through in battle.
Chen Xiaoyu's performance shocked everyone present.
Especially those families who had already prepared how to seize the Ye family's power, their joyful expressions froze on their faces.
Elder Sheng was the first to recover his calm. He stepped forward and checked Chen Xiaoyu's situation, confirming she didn't take any forbidden drugs and it was indeed a breakthrough in the soul realm, then nodded appreciatively.
"Not bad, very good. Being able to break through one's limit under high pressure, this is my first time seeing it in the Five Great Families assessment."
Chen Xiaoyu wiped the sweat from her forehead, somewhat flattered.
Elder Sheng in front of her is one of the Eight Great Elders of the Pill Tower, a true high-level member of the Pill Tower.
Being praised like this now is an honor she never received during her studying days in the Pill Tower before.
In the seats, the First Elder of the Ye family looked at the scene in front of him in disbelief, thinking he was dreaming.
Is this real?
Chen Xiaoyu surpassed Bai Ying of the Bai family, and almost surpassed Cao Xiu of the Cao family?
Ye Xinlan on the side pinched her thigh hard. The clear pain made her cry tears of joy.
Senior Sister succeeded!
The Ye family is saved!
While everyone had different thoughts, Chen Xiaoyu looked around, seemingly looking for something.
That voice just now was Elder Han!
It must be him!
He also came to the Pill Region and is at the scene!
There were many people in the spectator seats. Chen Xiaoyu couldn't find Han Feng hidden in the crowd for a while and could only let it go for now.
But her heart was excited at this moment, unable to calm down for a long time.
Elder Sheng quickly announced the results of the first round of assessment.
Regarding Chen Xiaoyu's breakthrough, although the Bai family had objections, since it was the result announced by Elder Sheng, they endured it.
"Next is the second round of assessment, named Soul Control."
Elder Sheng looked at Chen Xiaoyu and the others with a smile, then took out a pitch-black iron bead from his storage ring.
"This is a bead refined from Soul Steel, named Soul Measuring Bead. This thing is quite light when held in the hand, but if supported by soul power, it feels as heavy as a thousand catties."
Soul Steel is the basic material for refining soul weapons. It looks light, but if it acts on the soul, the power can be multiplied a thousand times.
This is the formidable aspect of ancient soul cultivators. If their soul power is strong, they practice an offensive soul skill, and also possess a high-grade soul weapon, cultivators of the same realm generally wouldn't dare to fight them. A slight carelessness would result in the outcome of both body and soul being destroyed.
"When the assessment begins later, many Soul Measuring Beads will fall from the ceiling. You need to use only soul power, without using Dou Qi, to catch as many Soul Measuring Beads as possible. Whoever catches the most Soul Measuring Beads will be the best in this assessment."
Elder Sheng said.
"The best record for this assessment is still Cao Ying of the Cao family. She once caught 89 Soul Measuring Beads at once."
After introducing it, Elder Sheng specially gave the five people fifteen minutes to rest and adjust their status.
Chen Xiaoyu, who had just completed the realm breakthrough, was carefully reviewing the Soul Art she just learned.
Soul power and soul control are different. Soul power can rely on an outburst to complete, but soul control cannot use brute force.
If she cannot grasp the broken-through soul power in time, her soul control skills won't necessarily see much improvement.
Now she only temporarily possesses the qualification to enter the top three. Whether she can maintain it in the subsequent rounds still requires hard work.
On the spectator stand, Han Feng watched Chen Xiaoyu cultivating with her eyes closed and nodded secretly.
Although he refused to take her as a disciple before, Han Feng still looked favorably upon Chen Xiaoyu in his heart.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to the Chen family to save her sister because of her back then.
This time, consider it making up for the regret back then, not in vain of knowing each other.
The second round of assessment finally began.
This time, the five people carried it out together. Everyone used their own skills, either sticking or turning, trying to hold as many Soul Measuring Beads as possible.
Chen Xiaoyu learned on the spot, using her solid foundation to imitate everyone's techniques, and finally held fifty Soul Measuring Beads, winning third place again. This time, the Bai family no longer thought about targeting Chen Xiaoyu. This girl's strength is indeed formidable; being able to have such strong ability to learn and apply on the spot shows her solid foundation.
With winning third place in both competitions, the Ye family's crisis was completely resolved.