The testing area was a massive round platform, equipped with several stoves and pill cauldrons, plus many iron basins filled with water—these were all tools for the candidates to showcase their abilities.
"All participants, please step up in order—alchemists to the left, smiths to the right. The first test is tool-fire: if you can use tool-fire to boil the water in the iron basin within ten minutes, you pass this round."
"What exactly is tool-fire?" Evan Chu whispered to Gabe Goldstone.
Gabe Goldstone rolled his eyes at Evan. This kid really was a frog at the bottom of the well. "Tool-fire is a special flame unique to smiths and alchemists. Some people can never become smiths or alchemists precisely because they can't produce tool-fire."
By now, dozens of people had stepped onto the platform, each facing an iron rack with a water-filled basin. The first round of testing began.
Evan stared wide-eyed, determined to see for himself what this tool-fire was all about.
He watched as one candidate formed hand seals in front of his chest, channeling stellar force. With a flick of his right hand, a red flame jumped out from his fingertip.
"See that? That's tool-fire. But his tool-fire is way too small—there's no way he'll boil the water in the iron basin." Gabe laughed.
In no time, dozens of people on stage were burning their basins with tool-fire. Evan noticed four or five who couldn't produce any flame at all—they just stood there, helpless.
But one person's flame was strange—it was actually blue, and the fire was ferocious. In less than a minute, the water in his basin was already steaming.
Roxanne Lin didn’t say a word, but her eyes, like Evan’s, were glued to the people on stage.
"That guy’s tool-fire is impressive—he’s reached blue rank. Out of all these people, he’s probably the only one who’ll advance." Gabe laughed, clearly unconcerned about the first round.
Ten minutes passed quickly, and just as Gabe predicted, only the youth with the blue tool-fire advanced.
Several judges on the platform gathered together, seeming to discuss something. After a few breaths, an elder in a gray robe spoke up:
"It seems many of this year’s candidates can’t even produce tool-fire. Heavenly Dragon Academy will never accept such people. If you don’t have tool-fire, leave now—don’t waste everyone’s time. Otherwise, face the consequences."
Evan understood the elder’s meaning—many people came here gambling on luck. While these two professions couldn’t compare to frontline warriors, they were definitely lucrative. People came for survival.
At that, many in the crowd began to move—those unable to produce tool-fire. Heavenly Dragon Academy’s punishments were notoriously harsh; killing the useless was considered normal.
More than half left in one sweep, leaving fewer than two hundred participants. The result surprised Evan.
Gabe saw Evan’s surprise and laughed, "Fewer than fifty will clear the first round. You think anyone can have tool-fire? If so, smiths and alchemists would be everywhere!"
The testing continued, tense as ever. Some started with blazing flames, but before the water boiled, their fire guttered out—their stellar force was spent.
Others, afraid of burning through too much stellar force, held back and didn’t use tool-fire at full strength. When time ran out, their water still hadn’t boiled, and they stomped their feet in frustration on stage.
Gabe’s performance was deliberately average; the tool-fire he produced was neither too big nor too small, and he finished the task in about eight minutes.
After several hours of testing, only fifty-seven people cleared the first round, almost exactly as Gabe predicted.
"Today’s testing is over. Those who passed, please head to the rest area. Tomorrow we’ll test smithing and alchemy. If you failed, leave now," an elder announced.
"Evan, this academy is really heartless. Look, it’s already so late—those who leave now will be out in the dark. Where are they supposed to stay?" Roxanne asked worriedly.
"Heavenly Dragon Academy only recruits elites—the rest don’t matter. In this world where the strong prey on the weak, nobody cares about losers’ lives."
"Congrats on advancing, big bro! Let’s go—there are more tests tomorrow!" Evan said, seeing that many people had already left.
The so-called rest area was just a few dozen temporary wooden huts, but there were plenty of rooms. Each room had four small beds, fully made with bedding—sleep wouldn’t be a problem.
The women’s quarters were on the other side—naturally, men and women were kept separate. In the back was a larger temporary canteen for these soon-to-be Heavenly Dragon Academy disciples to eat.
Roxanne, being a girl, didn’t want to linger in the men’s area. After eating a simple meal with Evan and Gabe in the canteen, she returned to the women’s rest area.
Evan and Gabe were assigned to the same room. That night, Gabe, exhausted from days of travel, fell asleep early.
Evan slipped out alone to a quiet spot and continued absorbing stellar force.
The night passed uneventfully. The next day, the testing began again; everyone who had passed stood early in the Martial Testing Ground, waiting.
When the sun was high, the Vice-Dean’s voice finally rang out: "Today is the Literary Gate. Show everything you’ve learned—elimination here will be just as cruel as before.
So be mentally prepared—Heavenly Dragon Academy only ever recruits elites."
The rules are simple: the screen will show a written couplet. Use your stellar force to write your answer on the screen. If you’re correct, the screen will glow; otherwise, you’re eliminated. Now, line up and pick your queue."
"Roxanne, how many do you think will make it through this time?" Evan asked, feeling uncertain. He’d always hated poetry and essays, never had any interest in them.
"Hard to say—probably fewer than a hundred. Honestly, the Literary Gate isn’t strictly necessary, but with so many people, it’s a must. The real worry is that some truly gifted disciples might get eliminated—that would be a shame." Roxanne replied.
Roxanne smiled, "What, you’re not confident? That’s not like you at all!"
"I’m honestly a bit worried. I hate this stuff—if I had to memorize an ancient essay, I’d rather practice martial arts all day."
"Heh! Same here. Maybe this Literary Gate is where I get chopped—I feel bitter!" Gus Bullard chimed in, appearing beside Evan without anyone noticing.
"You, you, you—can’t you say ‘I’ less? It grates on the ears." Evan teased, seeing Gus’s frowning face.
"Line up—save the chat for after the test. Have some confidence!" Roxanne urged, seeing others already queuing up.
Evan, Gus, and Roxanne naturally ended up in the same group, though Lily Tang was nowhere to be seen—she was probably with her friend.
This time, Evan was second in line. No one wanted to be first—the pressure was too much.