Tian Kui had already crossed the long staircase with Old Immortal Jiang Liu. With a flick of his spiritual power, he dragged Shen Yi and Yuwen Yue up behind him as well. The two looked utterly bedraggled, clearly having endured tremendous pressure.
"Being able to climb this sky-reaching staircase with Golden Core cultivation through my assistance shows that the two of you are not weak. It is a pity you were born at the wrong time. Had you entered the Nascent Soul Realm earlier, you would not have been in such a sorry state."
Tian Kui helped Shen Yi and Yuwen Yue to their feet, speaking earnestly like a seasoned elder. Even Old Immortal Jiang Liu could no longer stand the sight of it and kicked him in the backside.
"Cut the nonsense. Go see what other trials lie ahead."
Following Old Immortal Jiang Liu's gaze, Shen Yi and the others noticed a man standing not far beyond the end of the sky-reaching staircase. He exuded majesty and wore luxurious robes, but his face seemed to bear bruises, as if he had been struck by fists. Though he had tried his best to conceal them, the traces were still visible upon close inspection.
"Congratulations to the four fellow cultivators for passing the trial. I am Song Jiangshan, Dean of Xuanyi Academy."
It was actually Song Jiangshan. After being beaten by two Spirit Transformation cultivators for mishandling matters, he had been punished and sent here to receive the cultivators who passed the sky-reaching staircase. Though unwilling, faced with the gap in cultivation, Song Jiangshan could only submit.
"You may rest here for a while and wait for the fellow cultivators behind you to arrive. Then you will enter our Immortal Academy together."
Upon hearing Song Jiangshan's words, Old Immortal Jiang Liu