CHAPTER 18 — "DIVINE & GOLD"
The announcement stage shimmered beneath the morning sunlight as the floating crystal monolith hummed softly above the crowd. The atmosphere had grown razor sharp — everyone who remained carried at least some confidence in their talent.
This was where dreams died or ignited.
A line began forming in front of the glowing sigil scanner, and the exam officially started.
The instructor raised a hand.
"Step forward. Reveal your Talent Sigils."
A shaking boy — barely sixteen — approached first.
He swallowed hard and lifted his palm.
A Silver High-Rank Sigil flickered weakly.
The scanner pulsed once.
"Silver tier — rejected. Next."
The boy froze.His eyes trembled.Then he bowed deeply and walked away, devastated.
The crowd murmured:
"Poor guy…""He came all the way from West Ridge…""Silver is still strong, but Azure Dragon Academy is too brutal."
Next came a group of three girls, all slightly confident.
The first revealed a Silver Mid-Rank.
"Rejected. Next."
The second revealed Silver High-Rank.
"Rejected."
The third revealed Silver Peak — the highest form of Silver.
Whispers surged.
"Oh! Silver Peak!""That's impressive!""She must pass— right?"
The instructor didn't blink.
"Rejected."
The girl's face collapsed.
"What?! But— But I'm Silver Peak!"
The instructor's voice was cold.
"You are not Gold. Move aside."
She sobbed and ran out of the plaza.
Long Hao watched quietly.Xue'er sighed softly beside him."This stage crushes most people."
"And that's before the academy even begins," Long Hao replied.
Next came a bulky man with arms thicker than tree trunks.
He slapped his palm on the scanner.
"Gold Low-Rank — passed."
The crowd cheered.
Another stepped up.
"Gold Mid-Rank — passed."
Then:
"Gold High-Rank — passed."
Cheers continued, filling the plaza.
Dozens of Gold talents stepped forward — some excited, some proud, some trembling with relief.
"Passed!""Passed!""Passed!"
These were the elites among elites.The best of commoners.The pride of clans.
And yet…
Xue'er stood there like she belonged on a throne above all of them.
Long Hao simply looked bored.
When the instructor called,"Next!"Xue'er stepped forward gracefully.
Instant whispers erupted.
"Isn't that—?""No way…""Is that the Ouyang Princess?!""The divine-blooded girl? She wouldn't take an exam here—would she?!"
She lifted her palm.
A soft, icy light bloomed.
The sigil appeared — shaped like a frost lotus, glowing with celestial radiance, pulsing gently like a heartbeat of the heavens.
The scanner trembled.
Then exploded in blinding light.
The instructor's voice cracked in disbelief:
"Divine Rank — PASSED!"
The plaza detonated.
"WHAT?!""A Divine rank? Here?!""She doesn't need to take ANY exam!""A Divine is rarer than S-class beasts!""No way—no way—no way!""This is insane!"
Participants backed away in fear and awe.
Even instructors whispered among themselves.
Long Hao watched her calmly.
She turned and flashed him a shy smile — completely unlike the ice-cold princess everyone else saw.
"You're next," she whispered.
Long Hao stepped forward.
The crowd buzzed:
"He must be something too!""That guy walked beside a Divine like they were friends—!""Maybe he's Divine Rank as well?""At least Mystic Rank, right? He walks too confidently!"
Long Hao placed his palm on the scanner.
A golden sigil shone brightly.
The instructor checked the reading…
"Gold Rank — passed."
Silence.
Then—
"HAAAAA?! ONLY GOLD?!""I thought he was Mystic!""Bro walked up like he owned the academy!""Dude strutted beside the princess and he's JUST Gold?""What arrogance!""HAHAHAHAHAHA!""Gold acting like he's above all of us!"
Mockery exploded across the plaza.
Xue'er's eyes widened.She turned toward him, shocked.
But Long Hao?
He didn't flinch.Didn't blink.Didn't even bother looking at the crowd.
He simply lowered his sleeve and walked back with the calmness of a god disguised as a mortal.
Xue'er moved beside him, face full of worry.
"Are you… okay?"
Long Hao shrugged."It's noise."
She bit her lip."But they're mocking you…"
"They mock because they don't know," he said softly.
Xue'er froze.Her heartbeat skipped.Something about him felt ancient, heavy, powerful — even scarier than her divine aura.
She nodded slowly.
"…Then let them remain ignorant."
Long Hao smirked.
"Exactly."
Hours passed.
Participants scanned their sigils.Most were rejected.A few elites passed.
The sun crept higher.The plaza emptied dramatically.
Finally, the instructor returned to the stage.
"ATTENTION!"
Silence.
He raised a scroll glowing with azure light.
"These are the final statistics for those who passed Stage One."
The crowd leaned forward.
The instructor's voice rang out:
"Total Gold Rank Passers: 7,820"
Cheers erupted.
"Total Epic Rank Passers: 2,012"
Gasps followed.
"Total Mystic Rank Passers: 3"
Silence.Shock.Mystic Rank was legendary in itself.
"And…"He paused for effect."The highest talent this year…"
Everyone already knew.They held their breath.
"…1 Divine Rank."
The plaza BOOMED with chaos.
"ONE?!""Impossible!""Who is it—?!""It's the Ouyang Princess, obviously!""A Divine is taking the exam with us…?!""Is this even fair?!"
Xue'er lowered her head shyly.Long Hao smirked at her.
She elbowed him lightly."Don't look at me like that…"
"You're the center of the world right now," he teased.
Her cheeks turned pink.
"And what about you?" she asked softly.
"What about me?"
"You walked past them like you were untouchable."
Long Hao shrugged.
"Because I am."
She stared at him.
Hard.
Long.
Not with mockery.
With curiosity…
And something warmer.
But the instructor's voice interrupted.
"All passers — prepare for Stage Two: Monster Hunting!"
The crowd roared.
Long Hao stretched his fingers, eyes gleaming faintly crimson.
Xue'er smiled at him with excitement.
The exam…was just beginning.
[CHAPTER ENDS]