Bai Ran walked onto the competition stage at a leisurely pace.
From the high platform, Bai Yunzheng watched Bai Ran with a sigh.
When he had left the Bai family to take up a position at the Star Picking Academy, she was just a child who barely reached his knees. In the blink of an eye, she had grown so much, and was even a quota student personally recruited by Elder Hong?
He watched Bai Ran's movements motionlessly.
The crowd began to stir.
"Is that Bai Ran? The famous new student?"
"It's her, her looks completely outshine Senior Sister Shangguan!"
"Shh, keep it down! Don't you see Senior Sister Shangguan is here?"
Shangguan Xi heard the murmurs and clenched her fists, staring intently at Bai Ran.
Bai Ran! Soon, the rumors will be shattered, and then! You'll have to scurry out of the academy!
Everyone watched Bai Ran with curiosity, their gaze fixed on her hands as they gradually touched the pillar for testing spiritual talent.
Instantly, the pillar flared with a brilliant light, cycling through red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and finally settling steadily on purple.
The stage and the audience fell into complete silence.
Purple? Purple?
Elder Hong shot up from his seat, staring at Bai Ran in disbelief!
He swallowed, purple?
Purple had never appeared in ten thousand years! And now, young lady Ran possessed it?
Bai Ran remained calm and walked towards the next pillar.
The Dean, jolted from his shock, waved his hand, and a massive spiritual energy barrier enveloped the entire testing grounds.
The surrounding disciples could no longer see Bai Ran or the testing pillars. The previously silent crowd erupted into a clamor, some even trembling with excitement.
"Did you see that!"
"Was it purple!"
"That's incredible! It was purple!"
Fang Tianhui blinked, still trying to process what had just happened when a group of people surged forward, completely surrounding her.
"Junior Sister, who is this Bai Ran from, what's her strength!"
"Junior Sister! Do you think I'm suitable to be Bai Ran's friend!"
"Get out of the way! I was here first!"
"Why aren't you moving!"
Fang Tianhui was so squeezed that her head spun.
"I, I only met Sister Bai today too."
At the same time, Bai Ran's brother, Bai Qingyu, was also being squeezed to the point of being unrecognizable.
Within the spiritual energy shield.
The elders, and even the Dean and Vice-Dean, descended from the platform, surrounding Bai Ran with gazes burning like fire.
Elder Hong was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes.
"Young lady Ran! Continue!"
Bai Ran glanced at them and then placed her hand on the pillar for testing alchemy.
The pillar's color changed drastically, finally settling steadily on purple!
Those nearby quietly watched as Bai Ran proceeded to test formations and beast taming. Just like the previous two, the results were all purple!
Bai Ran looked at the purple light emanating from the beast taming pillar, a seed of doubt growing in her heart.
Did she also have a talent for beast taming?
The crowd surrounded Bai Ran, their hearts pounding with excitement!
All four pillars showed purple!
This talent! It was like she was favored by the heavens!
Elder Hong felt like his mind was no longer his own. A large hand patted his shoulder; it was the Dean.
"Well done, Old Hong." The Dean's eyes were filled with fervent hope.
Elder Hong knew that the Dean was referring to recruiting Bai Ran, and he felt immensely honored to have met Bai Ran, someone who constantly surprised him.
Bai Yunzheng approached Bai Ran, his eyes moved but filled with affection.
"Second Uncle," Bai Ran called out.
"Ran Ran, what is your current strength?" Bai Yunzheng asked.
Bai Ran unleashed her spiritual energy, revealing her strength of Golden Core stage one to everyone.
"Golden Core stage!" The crowd was astonished once again.
The disciples within the academy were mostly in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages. Even those with better talent were only at Foundation Establishment stage five. To think that a new student, just entering the academy, had surpassed all the senior students!
Recalling the rumors from earlier, the crowd now felt it was all understandable.
"Which academy should this girl go to?"
Elder Hong's question caused the atmosphere to freeze instantly. The elders remained rooted to the spot.
Indeed, which academy should Ran Ran go to? More importantly, which academy could teach her?
"Young lady Ran will be personally tutored by the elders. This is a pass for the Library, and here is the key to the Treasury. Take whatever you need, and the academy will do its utmost to cultivate you," the Dean declared.
Access to the Library and Treasury at will!
The elders were shocked by the Dean's generosity. However, on second thought, even if the girl took everything, they would still worry if it was enough.
Bai Ran raised an eyebrow and accepted the pass and the key. "Thank you."
"You all may leave for now. I have something to discuss with young lady Ran," the Dean said, looking at everyone.
The elders and Bai Yunzheng nodded and departed.
The Dean turned to Bai Ran, his expression becoming serious.
"Young lady, you are still the Guardian."
Bai Ran was taken aback and looked at the Dean, Xuan Yuan. "How can the Dean judge this?"
Seeing Bai Ran's guarded gaze, Xuan Yuan nodded with satisfaction.
She knew how to hide her strengths and was not ostentatious; she was a promising candidate for great things.
"Young lady, there's no need to be so wary. A highly respected elder once predicted that Star Picking Academy would face a great calamity, and only when a Heavenly Maiden appears can it be averted."
Xuan Yuan looked into the distance, his gaze filled with distress and worry.
Bai Ran's brow furrowed. Another prophecy.
Ever since Ying Yi recognized her as its master, no matter how Bai Ran asked, she could not discern the meaning of that prophecy.
"At that time, I was overcome with sorrow and traded a hundred years of my lifespan to learn the three words: Guardian."
Xuan Yuan looked at Bai Ran, his eyes filled with anticipation and fervor. "The moment you appeared, I knew you were the Guardian, the Heavenly Maiden."
Bai Ran's eyes darkened as she recalled what Long Jin Han had said.
"Dean, have you heard of demonized humans?" she asked Xuan Yuan.
"Demonized humans?" Xuan Yuan's beard twitched. "How do you know about demonized humans?"
"Bai Ran suspects that the academy's great calamity is related to demonized humans."
"Why do you suspect that?" Xuan Yuan stroked his beard, asking Bai Ran in confusion.
Demonized humans appeared at the border. Even if the border defenses were breached, Star Picking Academy, located in the center, would have ample time to escape.
"Because there is someone in the academy who is about to be demonized," Bai Ran stated, looking directly into Xuan Yuan's eyes.
What! There is someone in the academy who is about to be demonized!
Xuan Yuan almost tugged out his beard in shock. "Young lady, are you sure?"
Bai Ran nodded.
Xuan Yuan's weathered face was etched with worry. If there were demonized humans within the academy, the country would disintegrate from within, and a nation could perish.
However, a person not yet demonized could not be judged. After all, they were living beings. To kill someone without reason, with no evidence, would only incite the anger of others. Alas, this was a difficult situation.
Bai Ran watched Xuan Yuan's pained hesitation.
"Dean, it is enough that you believe Bai Ran."
Xuan Yuan looked at Bai Ran's composed eyes and suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of peace.
"Fine. Be careful. If you need anything, come to me anytime."
As Bai Ran departed, her figure like a blazing sun, Xuan Yuan's heart was uneasy.
Who could have foreseen that in this era of turmoil, this girl, barely in her teens, would stand out and become a pillar of strength.