Lu Yin replied, "For the requirement exam."
Shi Hong was taken aback, and assumed she must have heard wrong. "What did you say?"
Mu Cheng stared at Lu Yin. "You want to take the requirement exam? For the Cyclic School?"
The crowd erupted.
Zuo Yu's mouth fell open in disbelief.
Lu Yin nodded. "Yep."
"Have you learned the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate?" Shi Hong exclaimed.
Lu Yin replied, "I just went through the technique now. It doesn't seem very difficult."
Shi Hong was startled. Not very difficult?
Zuo Yu spent only a few months studying the battle technique before attempting the school’s exam, and that had been because she had received Shi Hong's guidance. It was impossible for a normal cultivator meet the requirements of learning the technique’s First Hand in less than half a year. Even a genius would need at least a month or two. For example, from Mu Mu, He Shu, and their peers, the person who had succeeded the fastest had taken one month. How could anyone challenge the examination as soon as they had arrived?
Mu Cheng was surprised. "Xuan Qi, are you sure you want to challenge the test? Have you even tried to use the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate?"
"I’ll try it right now," Lu Yin said with a smile. He walked past the two people and moved closer to the stone wall.
If this had taken place as soon as Lu Yin had entered the Sixverse Academy, or if the name Xuan Qi were still unknown, everyone would be mocking him at this moment. Moreover, if he were to fail, he would likely end up suffering rather harshly. The other students had already invested a considerable amount of time into mastering the battle technique, so seeing someone claim to have effortlessly comprehended it with a single glance would unquestionably create resentment.
However, Xuan Qi had already established a reputation of being the most talented person in the academy. His rate of progress had been absurd, and so no one tried to stop him from moving for the stone wall. Instead, they all quietly watched him. Since he wanted to challenge the exam, it would not cause any damage to let him do so.
Lu Yin stood in front of the stone wall. Its surface was as smooth as a mirror, but there was also a thin layer of nearly invisible stellular energy spread across the stone in a unique pattern. A person could only leave a mark on the stone by utilizing a special method, which was also why anyone who could carve their name on the stone successfully met the school’s requirements.
Ordinary cultivators would not be able to see what was happening, as only those who possessed a level of strength equal to a peak Envoy, or possibly even the strength of a Semi-Progenitor, could see what was protecting the stone.
There were already many names written on the stone wall. All of the students who qualified to even enter the Sixverse Academy were elites from their own universes. They either possessed impressive talent, or a powerful background. Reaching the Cyclic School’s requirements was not particularly difficult for the students, but simply something that took time.
Lu Yin suddenly looked back at Zuo Yu. "Who met this school’s requirements the fastest?"
Zuo Yu froze, unable to even formulate a response.
Next to her, Mu Cheng spoke up, "The Transcendent Universe’s He Shu. He took only a month and three days."
Lu Yin nodded and looked back at the stone wall. He slowly raised a hand and started using the First Hand of the Stone Gate.
As Lu Yin performed the First Hand of the Stone Gate, everyone stared, watching his smooth and elegant movements. His use of the First Hand gave off a feeling of stability like a mountain, and seemed even more refined that Zuo Yu's First Hand. Everyone was stunned to see that Xuan Qi had truly learned the technique.
Zuo Yu could not believe what she was seeing. Despite spending several months diligently studying, and the praise her talent for cultivating the Cyclic Civilization's power had received, she was unable to compare to Xuan Qi in even the slightest bit. He had learned the technique from just a glance; a single glance! This was true talent.
Mu Cheng's scalp went numb. Was it really possible for anyone to comprehend the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate after by reading it just once?
Shi Hong's hands tightened into clenched fists as she once again experienced the same frustration she had felt when her Dragon Flash had been deciphered in an instance. Xuan Qi had consistently managed to leave her feeling confused, helpless, and astonished, while utterly shattering her understanding of reality.
It did not take Lu Yin long to leave his name on the wall. Xuan Qi could be seen written clearly, marking his success.
The people in the surroundings were lost in awe of his achievement.
Lu Yin's instant success had invalidated the efforts of everyone who had painstakingly studied for so long within the Cyclic School to master the technique. Their tremendous hard work was not enough to compare to Xuan Qi’s talent.
This was an accomplishment that could not be explained by mere talent.
He had established a record that was completely unprecedented. It stood apart from all others.
"This is impossible! He must have learned the technique before," someone murmured.
Someone standing next to the first person reacted. "Xuan Qi, have you learned the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate before?"
"That’s right, he must have learned it before! How could he master it with but a glance?"
Lu Yin’s gaze swept the crowd. He could not be bothered to explain anything to these people. While it was true that he had learned the Fourth Hand before, what of it? Given his current strength, even if the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate was a Progenitor’s battle technique, it would still not be any struggle for him to learn it. In truth, he was simply bullying these students a bit.
They could only blame their bad luck!
Lu Yin continued to raise his hand, "Stone Gate, Second Hand."
His move startled the crowd even worse. Had he really already learned the Second Hand?
Mu Cheng stepped forward and stared as Lu Yin demonstrated the technique. Sure enough, it was the Second Hand. There was no doubt about it. On top off that, Xuan Qi demonstrated a level of skill and proficiency that surpassed anything Mu Cheng was capable of. It appeared to be a flawless and effortless demonstration of the battle technique. How could such a person exist? Compared to Xuan Qi, even Mu Mu, He Shu, and the other geniuses of the Central School could not compare.
Many of the people watching felt had the bitter taste of ashes fill their mouths. They finally understood what the students in the Voidforce School, the Lost Clan School, and the Arboreal School had all experienced. The Cyclic School’s students understood why Xuan Qi was acknowledged as the academy’s greatest genius. There was simply no question about it.
Of course, there was also an increasing number of people who were starting to believe that Xuan Qi had to have already learned the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate before arriving at the Cyclic School. They refused to believe that such a level of genius was possible.
"This is the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate, not some common battle technique! How could anyone learn it from just a glance? Not only does this invalidate all of our efforts, it also diminishes the glory of the Stone Gate and Sage Stone!" someone shouted.
Lu Yin suddenly spun around, instantly moving past the Second Hand. The Third Hand of the Stone Gate appeared along with Lu Yin, right in front of the person who had spoken. The student was not even able to react before he had been slapped ten times in quick succession, each impact ringing crisp and loud. Only after the beating ended did the young man regain his senses. "Xuan Qi, you..."
Lu Yin coldly shouted, "How dare you try to sow discord! I learned the Eight Hands of the Stone Gate because this battle technique suits me, not to diminish the greatness of Sage Stone! If you dare speak another word, I will cripple you."
The student cradled his cheek, not daring to speak another word. Even so, resentment filled his eyes.