Time flowed quietly as Li Fan continued to familiarize himself with the special characteristics of the Five Elders Council cultivators’ souls.

With the Wraith Hairpin serving as a Curio, his sensitivity to souls was greatly enhanced. Thus, his identification success rate nearly doubled. From one in a thousand, it had become two in a thousand—a monumental leap!

Hmm, it is indeed useful. A pity my original foundation was too poor. To reach a passing standard, I still need to intensify my training.

As he threw himself wholly into the process of examining souls, the density of golden light within the Soul-Gathering Pearl plummeted.

Seven days later, after all fifteen of the previously eliminated “lucky ones” had returned to the Cosmos Branch Academy, the second...