On the way to the academy, Ye Xuan learned from Ji Xueyao that Wan'er did not have many points, so she had left Cloud Palace Pond after cultivating there for half a month.
After that, she had been helping Lin Churan's alchemy shop refine pills. Now, she was charging toward the Hundred Refinements Tower to prepare for her next entry into Cloud Palace Pond.
Ye Xuan was not surprised by this.
Wan'er's Emperor Blood had entered her body. As long as she slowly refined it, her talent would become even more terrifying. Moreover, her dantian was not as vast as his, so she did not need many resources to break through in cultivation.
As a member of the Eternal Imperial Clan, Wan'er's skill in alchemy was actually no weaker than his. With her overseeing Wan'er's alchemy shop, it was absolutely foolproof.
"You?"
Ye Xuan suddenly asked with a smile.
Ji Xueyao was the Tianshu Tower Master herself, yet she seemed to have plenty of free time.
"Me!?"
Ji Xueyao froze for a moment, then hurriedly hooked her arm around Ye Xuan's shoulder and pouted. "Husband, I haven't been idle!"
Then she sent him a voice transmission. "Recently, I've been helping my cheap disciple break formations."
"Break formations?"
Ye Xuan was stunned. He knew that Xueyao's disciple was Mu Tianchen.
But wasn't that legendary figure traveling outside?
"Yes. He traveled across mountains and seas, and a few months ago, he discovered a secret realm. The formation inside was ancient and profound. He couldn't break it, so he sent it back to the academy, and I broke it!"
"But..."
At this point, Ji Xueyao's expression suddenly grew solemn.
"But the formation he discovered is indeed a little strange. Although it isn't particularly difficult, it's something even I've never seen before!"
"You've never seen it?"
Ye Xuan was stunned. Ji Xueyao was the Imperial Daughter. Within the Outer Heavens, the Ji Family's formation arts were peerless. What Imperial formations had she never seen?
"That's right. I even suspect that formation doesn't belong to this era!"
Ji Xueyao nodded heavily.
"Doesn't belong to this era?"
Ye Xuan's expression changed abruptly.
It reminded him of the ancient relic Sword Palace. The formation in that Sword Hall was also something he had never seen before!
Ye Xuan raised his hand and casually sketched several Formation Patterns from the Sword Hall with his fingertip.
"Hmm?!"
"Husband, you've seen this formation too?"
Sure enough, Ji Xueyao was shocked the moment she saw the formation!
"Yes, I have!"
Ye Xuan nodded, then said solemnly, "This world isn't as simple as you imagine!"
As for the information about the Primordial Realm, Ye Xuan would find a chance to tell Wan'er and Ji Xueyao.
Ji Xueyao fell into thought as well. Before she could ask again, everyone had already arrived at the academy square.
This freshman assessment had already attracted considerable attention because of the participation of Ye Xuan, Chu Wan'er, and the others.
Especially Ye Xuan.
Not only had he become the academy's target by having two beauties at his side, but on his very first day after entering the academy, he had comprehended the Fourteen Absolutes and Seven Secrets as well as a Dao Treasury, shaking the entire academy. He had even obtained several million points and forcibly charged into the top ten among the direct disciples.
Many people were waiting to see Ye Xuan's performance in the freshman assessment.
No one had expected that before Ye Xuan even appeared, Danyang Academy would come to pay a visit.
And the moment they made their move, they had won eighteen consecutive victories. Not a single Cloud Palace freshman could fight them!
When Ye Xuan arrived, Qin Yan, his entire body wreathed in flames, also flew off the arena. His battle axe flew from his hand, leaving him in an utterly battered state.
"Heh heh, Young Master Ling, you've offended me!"
At that moment, on the arena, a young man holding a black-gold spear cupped his hands and said with a smile.
Although he appeared respectful, his words were filled with mockery.
"You!"
Ling Yan's face flushed red, but just as he opened his mouth, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
He had cultivated with all his might, but he still had not managed to advance to the Myriad Manifestation Realm within a month.
Although this Danyang Academy disciple was not from a great clan, he possessed Myriad Manifestation Realm cultivation. Even though Ling Yan had unleashed the Kaiyang Slash, one of the Seven Secrets of the Kaiyang Tower, he had only comprehended it recently, so its power was still insufficient!
As the young tiger of the Ling Family, being crushed in defeat was unbearably humiliating.
"Heh heh, why don't you let that so-called top freshman come out and fight?"
"The rest of you, don't come up and waste time!"
The spear-wielding youth on the arena swept his gaze across the entire field, arrogance radiating from him.
"This man's name is Chu Chen. He ranks fifth among Danyang Academy's freshmen and possesses a Dao Body. His cultivation is at the Myriad Manifestation Realm!"
The Yaoguang Tower Master introduced him from behind Ye Xuan.
"A freshman disciple at the Myriad Manifestation Realm?"
Ye Xuan was somewhat surprised. There was not a single freshman in Cloud Palace Academy who had advanced to the Myriad Manifestation Realm, yet this person was merely a freshman disciple with such high cultivation?
"That's right. Among the three academies, Cloud Palace is the weakest. Danyang and Tinglei Academy are both much stronger!"
The Yaoguang Tower Master nodded and continued, "Danyang and Tinglei Academy have cultivated more experts for Great Gan. Their resources and inheritances are also stronger, so disciples from great clans and Super Grade Sects are actually more willing to attend those two academies."
"Danyang isn't even the strongest. I heard that among Tinglei Academy's freshmen, as many as seven have reached the Myriad Manifestation Realm. The strongest is Xuan Zheng, the Sword Prodigy among the Four Prodigies of the Xuan Family. He is already in the late stage of the Myriad Manifestation Realm!"
"I even suspect that he may charge into the Nirvana Realm before the Great Gan Peak Competition!"
"Nirvana?"
Ye Xuan could not help frowning slightly.
The Xuan Clan truly deserved to be the foremost great clan. He was only a freshman, yet he was already preparing to charge into the Nirvana Realm!
It seemed that the Central Region was indeed hiding countless crouching tigers and hidden dragons.
Moreover, he had made an enemy of Xuan Zhou. At the Peak Competition, he would inevitably fight the other prodigies of the Xuan Clan as well.
He could not afford to slacken in improving his cultivation.
"So, Chu Chen isn't the strongest among the disciples who came this time. The two behind him still haven't made a move!"
The Yaoguang Tower Master frowned again.
Danyang Academy had clearly come prepared. Even without bringing its two strongest freshmen, Chu Chen and the other two were already enough to crush Cloud Palace Academy.
"Hmph, why wait for him? I'll fight you!"
At that moment, a figure suddenly rushed onto the arena.
When the light faded, Zhuo Jing, with an ancient zither strapped to his back, appeared opposite Chu Chen.
He had hurried over as soon as he heard that someone had come to pay a visit.
Now that he saw Ling Yan had also been defeated, he knew his opportunity had arrived!
As someone who did not come from a great clan, he had always wanted to prove himself.
"You?"
Chu Chen narrowed his eyes, then sneered. "You come from a Super Grade Sect, yet your cultivation hasn't even reached the Myriad Manifestation Realm..."
"Forget it. Make your move."
His words were filled with contempt for Zhuo Jing.
"Hmph, since we both come from sects, you're merely a little earlier than me in advancing to the Myriad Manifestation Realm!"
Zhuo Jing was humiliated and enraged inside, but he forcibly calmed himself. He rose into the air, placing the ancient zither on his knees.
His ten fingers touched the strings. The moment the music began, it transformed into endless sharp edges that swept out in a raging torrent!
"It's the Yuheng Melody, one of the Seven Secrets of Cloud Palace!"
"Zhuo Jing comprehended the Seven Secrets before Young Master Ling Yan. Judging from this momentum, his attainments are clearly greater!"
Everyone cried out in astonishment at the sight.
The Yuheng Melody was an esoteric musical art. Invisible and intangible, it was extremely difficult to defend against!
"Heh heh, musical arts are nothing but a minor path!"
Yet Chu Chen merely sneered. He thrust his long spear into the ground and stood it before him. Spear intent spread out, transforming into a hardened ripple that revolved around him.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Thus, no matter how Zhuo Jing urged the Yuheng Melody, it was never able to break through Chu Chen's spear intent.
"Damn it!"
Gradually, Zhuo Jing could not help growing anxious. His shoulders shook, and his Dharma Idol rose into the air. It was clearly the phantom image of an ancient zither.
With the augmentation and manifestation of a quasi-Dao Soul, the power of Zhuo Jing's Yuheng Melody surged instantly!
The zither music raised a dense rain of blades. The Yuheng Melody even carried the power of Divine Sense within it. This was the confidence that allowed Zhuo Jing to challenge across realms!
As long as he defeated Chu Chen's Divine Sense, he could win!
"Heh heh, it's over!"
But Chu Chen naturally would not sit around waiting for death. He suddenly swung the black-gold spear in his hand. A Myriad Manifestation Dao Soul erupted, and the phantom image of a ferocious tiger threw back its head and roared.
The tiger's roar instantly overwhelmed the zither music. At that moment, the black-gold spear in Chu Chen's hand was like a fierce tiger leaving the mountain, stabbing out explosively!
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, wherever the Spear Light passed, the sound waves shattered one after another.
"Tiger Roar Sky Breaking Strike!?"
Zhuo Jing was greatly shocked at the sight.
"It's Danyang Academy's secret technique!"
"And its level is clearly higher!"
The Yaoguang Tower Master and the others all shook their heads at the sight.
Zhuo Jing was in trouble!
Boom!
Sure enough, in the next moment, Zhuo Jing was swallowed by the tiger-shaped manifestation formed from the black-gold Spear Light.
Zhuo Jing's musical arts were powerful, but once the enemy closed in, his defenses were extremely weak.
His final protective sonic barrier exploded amid a deafening boom, and Zhuo Jing's figure fell from the arena like a kite with its string cut.
"Zhuo Jing!"
The Yuheng Tower Master was greatly shocked and hurriedly rushed over.
Although this spear had not taken Zhuo Jing's life, his injuries would require at least several months of recuperation!
That meant Zhuo Jing no longer had any chance of breaking through to the Myriad Manifestation Realm before the Great Gan Peak Competition!
"Chu Chen, your attack was too vicious!"
The Tianxuan Tower Master raised the cane in his hand, his white hair bristling with rage.
"Heh heh, he's nothing but trash. Even if he went to the Peak Competition, he would only embarrass himself. It was better for him to lose to me!"
At that moment, on the arena, Chu Chen lowered the black-gold spear in his hand, a mocking smile curling his lips.
"I say, why are the freshmen of Cloud Palace Academy so weak this year?"
"Wasn't there supposed to be a prodigy who entered the top ten among the direct disciples on his first day at the academy and even had a statue erected?"
"Where is he?"
A Danyang Academy elder burst into laughter as he asked.
"I saw his statue. A mere Heavenly Gang Realm cultivator can have a statue erected? What a joke!"
"Why not tear down his statue and replace it with one of me, Chu Chen? Hahaha!"
Chu Chen laughed even more wildly, then turned around and prepared to leave the arena.
"You're only worthy of kneeling before my statue!"
But at that moment, a cold voice suddenly rang across the square from behind the crowd.
Everyone froze. Chu Chen also spun around abruptly.
He saw a figure walking out from the crowd with his hands behind his back and stepping through the air, landing steadily on the arena.
"You are?"
Chu Chen frowned.
"Tianshu Tower, Ye Xuan!"
Ye Xuan spoke calmly. His gaze moved away from Chu Chen and turned toward the group of Danyang Academy disciples behind him.
"Come up together. I, Ye Xuan, will deal with all of you at once!"
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