The vortex spinning above the examination square drew everyone's gaze.
Such a bizarre phenomenon was truly beyond comprehension for the young people of the Great Chu Dynasty.
The Imperial Family had arrived.
Led by Chu Yang, a group of scions of the powerful and influential families also stared unblinkingly at the vortex in the sky.
Chu Yang's expression was calm as he said, "This is a secret-realm spatial passage. The secret realm contains a world of its own, and there are also some special rules within it. Clearly, Azure Star Academy's third practical battle examination this year will be held inside the secret realm."
"The Sixth Prince is indeed knowledgeable and well-informed. He saw through the secret of this vortex at a glance. We're truly impressed!" someone immediately flattered him.
"With the Sixth Prince's heaven-bestowed talent, and having broken through to the eighth layer of the Primal Energy Realm yesterday, this practical battle examination will surely be the place for the Sixth Prince to display his prowess!"
"That goes without saying. Among everyone taking the third examination, my Sixth Brother has the highest cultivation realm. After him comes me, at the fifth layer of the Primal Energy Realm. This examination tests individual combat strength. Combat strength is the foundation of a martial artist, unlike the flashy tricks of the first two examinations!" Chu Jue's voice was loud.
He deliberately raised his voice as he spoke, looking toward Xia Wuji in the distance. He wished he could swallow Xia Wuji alive, but after letting out a cold snort, he did not say anything else.
Once they entered the secret realm and the practical battle examination began, he would settle the score!
He would take Xia Wuji's life outright!
At that moment.
A mighty pressure swept across the entire area. A middle-aged man from Azure Star Academy flew over with several disciples from the academy, landing on the high platform.
This middle-aged man was an elder of Azure Star Academy named Ouyang Sheng.
He had not appeared during the first two examinations.
He would personally preside over this final examination!
Lin Piaoxue was also standing behind Ouyang Sheng. She looked at Xia Wuji and blinked, an encouraging expression appearing on her face.
Xia Wuji gave a faint smile, taking it as his response.
Ouyang Sheng's expression was cold as he swept his gaze across the entire area. His eyes lingered on Xia Wuji for a moment. After all, Xia Wuji had come first in both of the previous examinations, making him worthy of a little extra attention.
Then Ouyang Sheng announced, "You have all seen the vortex in the sky. Passing through this vortex will take you into the secret-realm world."
"The secret-realm world is the location of your third practical battle examination. You will all remain inside the secret realm and hunt the Rock-Swallowing Behemoths generated by the rules of the secret realm."
"The Rock-Swallowing Behemoths have three levels: one-eyed, two-eyed, and three-eyed."
"Hunting a one-eyed Rock-Swallowing Behemoth will earn you two points; hunting a two-eyed Rock-Swallowing Behemoth will earn you ten points; hunting a three-eyed Rock-Swallowing Behemoth will earn you one hundred points!"
"The examination will last seven days!"
"This year, Azure Star Academy has decided to expand its admissions. There are thirty places available in the Great Chu Dynasty. After seven days, you will be ranked from highest to lowest according to your points."
"In theory, the top thirty will become disciples of Azure Star Academy. But don't be so naive. If anyone among the top thirty has fewer than sixty points after seven days, Azure Star Academy will not accept them!"
"There are thirty places, but that doesn't mean we have to accept exactly thirty people!"
"Additionally, just like in the previous two examinations, the person who ranks first will receive an extra reward. After joining Azure Star Academy, they will receive the opportunity to enter the Pure Origin Secret Realm and cultivate there for three days!"
"Do you have any other questions?"
"Elder Ouyang, may I ask whether people from Azure Star Academy will secretly protect our safety during the practical battle examination in the secret realm?" someone asked from below the high platform.
At once, many people's eyes filled with anticipation.
Ouyang Sheng shook his head and said, "No."
"Every year, there are casualties during the practical battle examination."
"If anyone can no longer continue during the examination, they can crush the identification token they received when registering and wait where they are. Someone will enter and bring them out."
"Other than that, there is no protection. So anyone who wants to give up now can leave directly!"
A small commotion arose among the crowd, but in the end, no one withdrew. Everyone had made it through the first two examinations, and becoming a disciple of Azure Star Academy was only one final step away. No one was willing to give up just like that.
"Who else has questions?" Ouyang Sheng asked again.
No one asked anything else.
Ouyang Sheng immediately said, "Then let's begin entering the secret realm!"
As his voice fell, he formed hand seals with both hands. A mighty force instantly struck the vortex in the sky.
The vortex immediately stopped spinning. A passage of light extended from within it and descended to the ground.
Chu Yang instantly charged toward the passage of light. In the next moment, his figure vanished from everyone's sight.
The others also stepped forward one after another.
"Big Brother Huang, Young Master Xia, do your best, but be careful too."
Xu Lan spoke to Huang Hu and Xia Wuji.
Huang Hu gave an affirmative grunt and said, "Brother Xia, you go first."
Xia Wuji nodded. "You two be careful as well."
As his voice fell, Xia Wuji entered the passage of light. In an instant, the spatial force contained within it sent him into the secret realm.
After appearing in the secret realm, Xia Wuji looked around.
Everything here seemed extremely desolate. The aura of life was faint, and only a few sparse, withered yellow plants grew nearby.
Yet he could not see a single person who had entered the secret realm before him.
"Looks like entering the secret realm means being teleported randomly," Xia Wuji muttered. He then casually chose a direction and set off to find one of the so-called Rock-Swallowing Behemoths.
But he had not gone very far.
Suddenly, loud laughter rang out.
"Hahaha!"
"I ran into you so soon!"
"Heaven is helping me!"
A man holding a long spear appeared extremely excited as he rushed toward Xia Wuji at top speed.
He flicked up the spearhead, pointing it straight at Xia Wuji.
"The Twelfth Prince said that if I report your whereabouts to him, I can obtain three Yuan Crystals!"
"If I suppress you and deliver you to him, I'll not only receive ten Yuan Crystals, but after joining Azure Star Academy, I'll also receive cultivation resources from the Great Chu Imperial Family!"
"Ten-layer Sea of Qi Realm?" Xia Wuji glanced at him, disdain flashing in his eyes.
The man laughed heartily. "You have a decent eye!"
"I remember that when you registered for the examination, you recorded your cultivation realm as the fifth layer of the Sea of Qi Realm!"
"Xia Wuji, Xia Wuji, so what if you have a good temperament and good comprehension? Your cultivation realm is ultimately too low, and you even offended the Imperial Princes of the Great Chu Dynasty!"
"Don't blame me. If there's anyone to blame, blame yourself for being too arrogant and for being too weak. Hahaha!"
The next moment, the man at the tenth layer of the Sea of Qi Realm suddenly lunged forward. His wrist jerked around the spear shaft, and the spearhead instantly transformed into a dense array of spear shadows that stabbed viciously toward Xia Wuji.
Xia Wuji simply raised his arm and reached toward the dense spear shadows with his five fingers.
In an instant, all the spear shadows shattered!
Xia Wuji's hand directly seized the spearhead!
The spearman's expression changed drastically. No matter how much strength he exerted, his long spear could not move another inch!
"You... you're not at the fifth layer of the Sea of Qi Realm?" he cried out.
"You can only blame yourself for being too weak." Xia Wuji returned his words to him. He exerted force with his palm, and the spearhead of the top-grade treasure weapon snapped cleanly under his strength!
He flicked his wrist.
The spearhead shot out and instantly pierced through the man's head!
Expressions of terror, pain, unwillingness, and despair intertwined across his face. His body fell straight backward, struggled twice, and then completely breathed his last.
Xia Wuji stepped forward, collected an underfilled Yuan Crystal and two bottles of treasure pills, tossed them into his Storage Ring, and then set the corpse ablaze.
Just as he was preparing to leave.
"Rumble!"
The ground began to tremble. Cracks spread in every direction, and then a gigantic stone figure more than three zhang tall drilled up from beneath the earth!
The target of Azure Star Academy's third practical battle examination—the Rock-Swallowing Behemoth—had appeared!
Before you continue