Reborn with the SSS-Rank Creator System-Chapter 24: First Test

Arlen's face lit up with satisfaction as the instructor nodded toward him. "You may proceed to the next ground and wait for the others," the instructor announced, his tone steady but firm. Arlen straightened his posture, a confident grin spreading across his face. Without looking back, he strode toward the designated path leading to the next area, the faint glow of the azure stone behind him, his satisfaction palpable as he moved with confidence toward the next stage.

Selene's name was called next. She walked forward with deliberate steps, her auburn braid swaying slightly as she moved. Her sharp blue eyes were calm, exuding a quiet confidence. The instructor sent a pulse of Spirit Energy into her body, verifying her age and cultivation. "Age 12 verified. Cultivation—6th muscle forging stage. Proceed to the imprint test," the instructor said. Selene gave a brief nod and approached the azure stone.

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She paused, her hand hovering just above the glowing stone. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and struck downward with her palm. The sound of impact echoed as her hand connected with precision. When she removed her hand, the instructor stepped forward to measure. "Imprint depth: 1.1 centimeters. Power control: precise. You pass."

Selene glanced back at the group briefly, her expression neutral, before following Arlen toward the next ground.

Eryk was next. The stocky boy rolled his shoulders as he stepped forward, his shaved head gleaming under the faint light. The instructor's Spirit Energy swept over him. "Age 12 verified. Cultivation—6th muscle forging stage. Proceed to the imprint test," the instructor declared.

Eryk adjusted his stance as he approached the stone, his hand hovering just above its surface. His face set with determination, he let out a grunt and slammed his palm down, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface of the stone. The instructor stepped in to measure. "Imprint depth: 1.1 centimeters. Power control: normal, You pass."

Eryk let out a small laugh and turned toward the path. "Guess that's how it's done," he said, his voice booming as he walked away.

Finally, it was Lyra's turn. Her silver hair shimmered faintly as she stepped forward, her movements almost soundless. The instructor's Spirit Energy enveloped her briefly. "Age 11 verified. Cultivation—8th muscle forging stage. Proceed to the imprint test," he stated.

Lyra approached the stone with a quiet intensity, her piercing green eyes fixed on the task. Her hand hovered over the stone for a moment as she steadied her breath. With a sharp, precise motion, she struck. The impact was clean, and when she pulled her hand away, the instructor stepped forward to measure. "Imprint depth: 1.5 centimeters. Power control: Perfect. You pass."

Without a word, Lyra turned and headed toward the next ground, her expression as unreadable as ever. Her gaze flicked briefly toward Xiphos as she passed, her eyes lingering for a moment before she disappeared into the mist.

The group on the current ground began thinning out as more names were called and participants passed their tests. Theos and Xiphos exchanged a glance, their turn drawing ever closer.

"Lyra has good power and control," Xiphos remarked softly.

Theos grinned, leaning closer. "Good power and control, huh? Seems like she's got an interest in you too. Didn't you notice how she was looking at you?"

Xiphos shook his head slightly "I don't care about that. My only focus is becoming stronger."

Theos chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, whatever you say."

Xiphos ignored him, his attention shifting back to the task ahead. "That 'power control' thing—what exactly do you think it means?"

Theos scratched his chin, thinking. "Well, I think if the imprint is crisp and without any cracks, like Lyra, its perfect but if there are a lot of cracks and the imprint is not clear then it is bad. How you handle your strength is the main part. Did you notice the levels? It's like they rank it."

Xiphos nodded. "Bad, normal, good, precise, and perfect. Lyra's was perfect. That would not be easy to achieve."

Theos's grin widened. "Not easy for most people, sure. But hey, I am sure you can do it. Let's see what we I can do. He He"

Xiphos smirked mockingly, "You? I haven't seen many other cultivators, but based on what I've seen so far, I know how strong you are. You might just invent a rank above perfect." He let out a low chuckle, his tone both teasing and amused.

Theos replied, "Don't sell yourself short. You're only behind because you are still in second round of bone forging. Once you're done with the third round of bone forging, you won't be any weaker than me in terms of pure power Even now, if we fight I barely can win because your understanding of the sword is so good."

Xiphos hesitated for a moment before speaking. "To be honest, I'm thinking of not doing the third round of forging."

Theos's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why?"

Xiphos continued calmly, "There are two reasons for that. First of all, it would take too much time. And secondly, I'm a sword cultivator. My main power comes from the sword, not my body. From what I understand from the my cultivation technique's basic principles, sword cultivators primarily cultivate to increase their endurance and lifespan. Otherwise, a mortal sword cultivator with great understanding of the sword can easily kill anyone with any level of cultivation. But the backlash from such a feat would be so severe it would kill them back. So, I think it's best if I stop at two rounds of bone forging."

Theos listened intently, the initial shock fading into understanding. After a moment, he nodded slowly. "Alright. That makes sense. You're not wrong to prioritize what works best for you."

They continued talking, their conversation easing the tension between them. In the flow of their discussion, they completely forgot about the cultivation level issue looming over the test.

As Theos and Xiphos continued their conversation, a call for Theos broke their focus, sending a jolt of nervous energy through him. Despite the rising tension, Theos forced up a fake smile, a faint panic flickering across his face. He steadied himself with a deep breath and walked toward the instructor.

Xiphos, watching from the sidelines, felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. His usually composed demeanor betrayed an unease as his mind raced with thoughts of the test.

"He dont know why his master didn't say anything about the requirement, otherwise they both could have broken through."

The instructor looked at Theos with a sharp, evaluating gaze and gestured for his hand. Holding Theos's hand firmly, the instructor sent a thin string of Spirit Energy into his body. Theos's senses heightened immediately as he felt the Spirit Energy wrapping around his bones, probing for information. It was an unfamiliar sensation, almost invasive, and Theos couldn't help but feel exposed.

Outside, the instructor's expression shifted to one of shock and barely concealed anger. "Bone forging?" he muttered under his breath, disbelief evident in his voice. His frustration began to build, and he opened his mouth, ready to berate Theos for wasting his time.

Just as the reprimand was about to escape his lips, a calm yet commanding voice resonated in his mind. "Let both of them pass."

The instructor froze mid-thought, his eyes widening in recognition. The voice carried a weight he couldn't ignore, and his anger was replaced with disbelief and a touch of reverence. He turned back to Theos, his tone now composed but curt. "Age 11. Muscle forging, 1st stage. Proceed to the imprint test."

Theos blinked, caught off guard by the result. A wave of relief and confusion washed over him. "Muscle forging?" he thought to himself, his mind scrambling for answers. He considered the possibility that his multiple rounds of bone forging had obscured the reading. Whatever the reason, he wasn't about to question it now.

Theos forced a grin, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead as he stepped toward the azure stone. "Guess I got lucky," he muttered under his breath, his confidence returning as he readied himself for the next part of the test.

Theos reached the stone, holding his hand out just above its surface. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, his entire being focusing on the task ahead. An imaginary ripple seemed to emanate from him, making the entire world go silent in his mind. When he opened his eyes, the world was dark except for the glowing stone in front of him. His concentration was absolute, far beyond what anyone expected.

With full force, Theos struck the stone while keeping his power perfectly controlled, directing all the energy inward rather than sideways. Any power escaping sideways would create cracks and reduce the clarity of the imprint. The moment his hand hit the stone, a resounding "Boom" echoed through the ground.

Theos's vision returned to normal, and he blinked as he realized everyone had stopped to look in his direction. An unbelievable scene unfolded before their eyes. Even the instructor stood frozen, his expression one of utter shock. This level of power... it's something only core disciples achieve. How can someone without any affiliation do this? the instructor thought, his mind racing. Then he remembered the voice that had spoken to him earlier. "Could he be connected to that person?"

Breaking the stunned silence, the instructor stepped forward, his voice steady but carrying a hint of awe. "Imprint depth: 30 centimeters. Power control: Perfect. You pass."

Theos's heart swelled with pride and disbelief. "Thirty centimeters?" he thought, struggling to process the result. He knew that he would do much better than 1 cm but not this much.

The others could not believe it and started complaining.

"How is it possible?"

"He's cheating!"

"I'll call my family to your sect if you don't call him out for cheating right now!"

A cacophony of voices echoed across the ground, their discontent growing louder.

"Silence!" a loud voice resounded, creating a sonic boom that silenced the crowd instantly. It was the voice of the main instructor who had first explained the details of the test.

Hearing him, everyone grew quiet, though their expressions betrayed their inability to accept the results. Still, none dared to say anything further.

"Move to the next ground," the instructor commanded.

Theos didn't care about the murmurs or accusations. He started walking away, his gaze briefly landing on Xiphos, who was genuinely happy for his friend's success. However, Theos's face was unusually serious, a sight that felt unnatural for him. He stopped and pointed toward Xiphos.

"You better not disappoint me," Theos said, his tone firm.

Xiphos felt a chill run down his spine, goosebumps prickling his skin. He knew Theos's words were meant to motivate him, but they carried a weight that was hard to ignore. Smiling with a mixture of determination and emotion, Xiphos replied, "Just wait for me on the other side."

Theos nodded and moved on.

Next, it was Xiphos's turn. He walked toward the instructor, his steps steady despite the tension radiating through him. The process began, the instructor sending a string of Spirit Energy into Xiphos's body. For a moment, there was shock on the instructor's face, but he quickly remembered the voice's command to let both of them pass.

"Age 11. Muscle forging, 1st stage. Proceed to the imprint test," the instructor announced.

Xiphos exhaled deeply, relief washing over him as he approached the azure stone. Placing his hand above it, he closed his eyes and focused. Though he couldn't match Theos's level of concentration, his resolve was unwavering. After a few seconds, he struck the stone with precision.

"Boom!"

The instructor stepped forward, his expression a mixture of surprise and respect. "Imprint depth: 15 centimeters. Power control: Perfect. You pass. Move to the next area."

Once again, the crowd erupted in disbelief.

"What?"

"How is it possible?"

Their voices rose again, but before they could gain momentum, both the person who voiced their opinions disappeared from the ground.

"If anyone says anything again, I will remove them from the test premises," the head instructor's voice resounded, silencing any further dissent.

Xiphos, now moving toward the next ground, smiled to himself. When he had blinded himself, he never imagined he would become this strong. The negatives of not having sight were mostly gone, replaced by his heightened senses that allowed him to perceive everything around him. Gratefulness swelled in his chest as he thought of his master and his system who had given him the chance to achieve such strength.