About twenty minutes passed, and a faint light flickered at the end of the path in the Secret Realm. A boy suddenly appeared.


    The boy looked exhausted, his breath slightly chaotic, indicating significant spiritual power expenditure.


    "Someone’s out!" As soon as someone appeared, the crowd outside immediately focused their attention.


    Just as the boy walked out of the path through the barrier, a small, gray-white Stone Man apparition with wide eyes suddenly floated above his head.


    This Stone Man had two exquisite leaf marks on its forehead, and as it appeared, it exuded a rather powerful aura.


    "Two-leaf Essence, Mountain Ridge Stone Man." A bespectacled teacher from the South Pole Academy who was in charge of registration said.


    "Mountain Ridge Stone Man? Although it’s an Elite Star Beast, it seems pretty good?"


    "I remember the Mountain Ridge Stone Man is a Star Beast that only exists in the north of the continent. I didn’t expect to find one here."


    "Yeah, the Mountain Ridge Stone Man is adept at defense. I wonder how this Essence will enhance him."


    ...


    As the crowd discussed, several more people came out of the Secret Realm one after another. Each person’s Essence would manifest as they passed through the barrier.


    Apparently, this was one of the barrier’s functions at the entrance.


    Every year, a large number of Essences are produced from the Ten Thousand Demon Sleeping Ground. Apart from the students of the South Pole Academy, nearly half of them are distributed to other academies. The South Pole Academy, of course, had to keep a detailed record.


    "Two-leaf Essence, Snow Cloak Wolf."


    "Two-leaf Essence, Rolling Ball Beast."


    "One-leaf Essence, Forest Elf."


    ...


    Students from various academies continued to pay close attention, but the longer they watched, the more uneasy they felt.


    Because so far, over twenty people had come out, yet all they had were one- and two-leaf Essences. Not a single three-leaf Essence had been seen.


    The rarity of high-grade Essences seemed to be much higher than everyone had expected.


    Just then, another student slowly walked out. As he crossed the barrier, a large black dog Essence with three heads—red, blue, and green—appeared above him.


    This black dog scanned its surroundings and let out roaring growls. Its aura and spirit were much stronger than those of the earlier one- and two-leaf Essences.


    On its central green head was a prominent mark of a three-leaf Essence!


    The bespectacled teacher in charge of ranking showed some interest and announced:


    "Three-leaf Essence, Three-headed Netherworld Dog!"


    The appearance of the three-leaf Essence immediately attracted everyone’s attention, and they couldn’t help but scrutinize this three-headed black dog Essence.


    "There it is, the first three-leaf Essence!"


    "Thank goodness. I was starting to think that so many people went in without finding a single three-leaf Essence."


    "I know this person. His name is Lu Han. Among the freshmen at Yongzhou Academy, he’s one of the most renowned, second only to Tang Huamei."


    After all, they were all young people, eager for a chance to shine.


    Lu Han crossed his arms proudly and slowed his pace, showing off his Three-headed Netherworld Dog Essence.


    It wasn’t until his academy’s teacher repeatedly signaled to him that Lu Han reluctantly walked out of the barrier and returned to his team.


    "How many are still left?"


    "About five, I think. Could the remaining ones all be three-leaf Essences?"


    "I doubt it. Even if their spiritual power is sufficient and they stay long enough, it doesn’t guarantee they’ll find a three-leaf Essence."


    ...


    As the crowd murmured, another four people came out one after another.


    However, among these four, the first two had two-leaf Essences, the third had a three-leaf Essence, but the last girl didn’t have any Essence at all!


    While everyone was puzzled, the girl suddenly teared up and started to sob softly.


    "What’s going on? How can there be no Essence?"


    "5 three-leaf Essences and 1 four-leaf Essence. Liu Zhou Academy is amazing!"


    ...


    "A four-leaf Essence... Zhou Hao from Liu Zhou, that’s impressive!" Shang Baiyu couldn’t help but voice his admiration.


    Su Yuan nodded. "A strong talent and strength."


    Shang Baiyu smiled. "At least a four-leaf Essence appeared. Otherwise, it would have been truly disheartening."


    "Not disheartened now?" Su Yuan smiled, glancing at Shang Baiyu. "Baiyu, you seem quite confident."


    Shang Baiyu chuckled and said no more.


    Time passed, and it was Wanzhou Academy’s turn.


    One by one, Wanzhou Academy’s students emerged from the Secret Realm.


    Among the 28 students, there were 4 three-leaf Essences, and the two yet to come out were Chen Jiujun and Ling Long!


    Chen Jiujun was the first to come out, drawing everyone’s attention.


    Chen Jiujun looked calm, revealing nothing.


    As he took a few steps from the path to the barrier, a monster with the head of a cow, antlers of a deer, and surrounded by purple lightning leaped out above his head. It looked fierce and extraordinary!


    "Four-leaf Essence, Purgatory Thunder Beast!"


    "The second four-leaf Essence!"


    "Wanzhou Academy, Chen Jiujun!"


    "Yesterday’s battle showed Wanzhou Academy’s Chen Jiujun isn’t simple. He first defeated Demon Capital Academy’s Zhang Tai, then nearly won against Xiang Dingqian..."


    Chen Jiujun glanced at Su Yuan before stepping down.


    Shortly after, Ling Long also emerged from the Secret Realm, but his expression wasn’t very good.


    "Three-leaf Essence, Radiant White Tiger!" The bespectacled male teacher announced as he looked at the White Tiger above Ling Long’s head.


    Shang Baiyu pondered, "Chen Jiujun got a four-leaf Essence, but Ling Long only got a three-leaf Essence? It seems his Element doesn’t match. His Purple Crystal power seems to be an Earth Element variant, right?"


    Su Yuan nodded. "Yes, so luck is still a crucial factor when entering the Secret Realm."


    "Haha, our turn is coming soon. Hope my luck is good."


    After the South Pole Academy, Yongzhou, Qing Province, Liu Zhou, and Wanzhou, it was now Demon Capital Academy’s turn, followed by East Pole.


    Soon, 50 more students from the South Pole Academy went in, but none of them got a three-leaf Essence.


    Shang Baiyu laughed. "Looks like the South Pole Academy saved their top students for last."


    Su Yuan nodded.


    With the South Pole Academy students all out, all the academies looked towards Demon Capital Academy.


    Now, it was time for Demon Capital Academy to take the stage!


    The bespectacled male teacher announced, "Next, it’s time for the students from Demon Capital Academy to enter the Secret Realm."


    He Yanan raised her fists and cheered, "Go for it, everyone!"


    "Yes, Teacher Xiao He!"


    After the resounding response, led by Su Yuan, they each stepped into the Secret Realm!


    Seeing Su Yuan and the others disappear into the path of the Secret Realm, the crowd began to speculate.


    "How many three-leaf Essences will Demon Capital Academy have?"


    "It could be in double digits. The key is how many four-leaf Essences there will be. Want to make a guess?"


    "I guess two four-leaf Essences, Su Yuan and Xiang Dingqian!"


    "I guess three, including Xia Yue."


    "Who is Xia Yue?"


    "She’s the Bronze Middle Stage pigtail girl from Demon Capital Academy. She didn’t take action yesterday, but she’s a well-known talent from Demon City, with over a million followers!"


    ...