Crowned King! The Spirit Crown Holder's Reward! [Please Follow! Happy New Year's Eve!]

A golden pillar of light cascaded down like a waterfall, shrouding the elevated platform on the ninth level in sacred, majestic radiance.

At the center of the pillar of light, Bing Tianxiao seemed to have become a massive vortex.

He sat cross-legged, circulating the Ice Spirit Clan's inherited Cultivation Method, the Ice Spirit Art. The aura around him rose wildly.

His spiritual energy fluctuations, originally only at the Half-Step Divine Soul Realm, instantly shattered that barrier under the infusion of vast amounts of pure spiritual energy.

[Great Ruler Realm: Sensing Realm → Spirit Movement Realm → Spirit Wheel Realm → Divine Soul Realm → Three Heaven Realms (Heaven Integration Realm → Heaven Transformation Realm → Heaven Reaching Realm) Small Three Difficulties (Body Hardship → Spirit Energy Hardship → Spirit Soul Hardship) Supreme Realm...]

Crack!

It was as though something had shattered inside his body.

Immediately afterward, an icy chill erupted from within him, sweeping across the entire ninth-level platform in an instant.

A layer of crystalline frost actually spread through the golden radiance.

The temperature of the surrounding air plummeted, and even space itself seemed frozen, letting out faint creaking sounds.

Heaven Integration Realm!

And it was far from merely entering the Heaven Integration Realm.

Bing Tianxiao's aura continued to rise steadily, reaching the Early Heaven Integration Realm...

It did not stop until it reached the Middle-Stage Heaven Integration Realm.

He slowly opened his eyes. Endless snow seemed to drift deep within his pupils, profound and icy.

The breath he exhaled turned into a stream of white frost that lingered in the air for a long while.

Not far from him, Luo Li was also enveloped in dazzling silver light.

As spiritual energy continued pouring into her, Luo Li's aura surged with unstoppable force. She directly crossed the barrier of the Divine Soul Realm and firmly settled at the Middle-Stage Heaven Integration Realm.

At that moment, she seemed to merge as one with the Luoshen Sword in her hand, her sharpness fully revealed while retaining an aloof, noble grace.

Wen Qingxuan on the other side was unwilling to be outdone as well.

Golden light swirled around her, making her resemble a phoenix reborn from flames.

As a clear phoenix cry rang through the heavens, her aura surged as well, ultimately stabilizing at the Middle-Stage Heaven Integration Realm.

She opened her Beautiful Eyes and shot a provocative glance at Bing Tianxiao and Luo Li, clearly quite pleased that she had not fallen behind them in cultivation.

Compared to them, Mu Chen's breakthrough was somewhat more "low-key."

Though he too possessed extraordinary talent, his foundation was ultimately a little weaker.

After frantically absorbing spiritual energy, his cultivation finally stopped at the Early Heaven Integration Realm.

It was clear that he had stopped there because he had yet to cultivate a Cultivation Method.

As for Ji Xuan, he rose to his feet with a gloomy expression.

Though he had also used this infusion to break through to the Middle-Stage Heaven Integration Realm,

when he looked at the terrifying coldness around Bing Tianxiao, which seemed ready to freeze the entire platform, the flames of jealousy in his heart only burned more fiercely.

"Damn it! Who exactly is this brat?"

Ji Xuan gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly.

He had originally believed that with the Cultivation Method he had obtained from the Sacred Spirit Academy, he would be able to suppress Bing Tianxiao during this infusion.

Yet he had never expected that not only would the other party catch up to him in cultivation, but the quality of that extremely cold spiritual energy would also make his heart pound in alarm.

Looking around the entire ninth-level platform,

there were quite a few people in the Heaven Integration Realm like Mu Chen. Naturally, there were also some who had half a foot into the Heaven Integration Realm.

Looking downward, although the students on the eighth level had also gained considerable benefits, at most they had barely touched the threshold of the Half-Step Heaven Integration Realm.

Most of them had even stopped at the Peak Late-Stage Divine Soul Realm, only one step away from the Heaven Integration Realm, yet unable to cross that gap.

As for the seventh and sixth levels below...

their cultivation levels only grew lower with each level.

At the very bottom, those Early Divine Soul Realm students had also greatly increased their strength through the Spiritual Energy Infusion.

But as they looked at those few dazzling figures above them, who resembled gods, the envy and reverence in their eyes nearly overflowed.

This was the Spirit Road!

Cruel and realistic.

One step ahead meant staying ahead every step of the way.

At the very top of the pyramid, Bing Tianxiao slowly rose to his feet. Feeling the vast spiritual energy within him surging like a mighty river, a satisfied smile curved his lips.

He turned to Luo Li beside him and asked softly,

"How does it feel?"

Luo Li lightly swung the longsword in her hand, sending out a sharp streak of sword energy.

"Better than ever."

"That's good."

"Hey, Bing Tianxiao!"

Just as Bing Tianxiao and Luo Li were speaking quietly, a delicate shout rang out at an inopportune moment.

Wen Qingxuan stared straight at Bing Tianxiao with her phoenix-like eyes.

"You only won by a fluke this time on the Spirit Road, so don't get cocky too soon. Next time, I'll definitely win it back!"

She raised her chin, proud as a peacock, yet her confidence was not unpleasant.

Faced with her provocation, Bing Tianxiao merely shrugged lazily, looking utterly unconcerned.

"Sure. You're welcome anytime. Just don't cry when you lose next time."

"You!" Wen Qingxuan choked with anger and was about to flare up when an immense, majestic aura interrupted her.

Five figures of light descended into the great hall once more.

They were the deans of the Five Great Academies.

Dean Tian Sheng stepped forward, his towering figure standing before everyone.

Amid the surging spiritual energy, he exuded awe-inspiring might that made all who saw it yearn for it.

"Now, the ceremony to crown the holders of the Nine-level Tokens as kings shall begin."

Dean Tian Sheng's majestic aura spread outward as he pointed at those holding Nine-level Tokens.

Then, the tokens in their hands burst into radiant light, causing the crimson glow within them to shine and form pillars that connected heaven and earth, as though the entire universe were celebrating.

At the same time, each person in the void had their original name appear above their heads.

"Ji Xuan, title: King Xuan."

"Luo Li, title: King Luo."

"Wen Qingxuan, title: King Qing."

"..."

"Wu Ling, title: King Ling."

"Mu Chen, title: King Mu."

Those in the Heaven Integration Realm could be crowned kings. Those below the Heaven Integration Realm could only be considered to possess the qualifications to become kings.

Of course, the prerequisite was possessing a Nine-level Token.

As one kingly title after another appeared, every Spirit Road trial participant below seemed to share in the honor.

"Spirit Crown Holder, Bing Tianxiao!"

Their discussions continued to rise.

"I wonder which spiritual academy they'll go to. I think I might have to avoid them."

"Heh, do you really need to fear them that much? Following behind them might give you even more motivation."

"No, I think that could be a disaster. It means the academy's resources will be tilted toward them."

Quite a few people shared that view, but others believed that attending the same spiritual academy as them might bring unexpected gains instead.

Only by witnessing geniuses and recognizing the gap between oneself and them could one spur oneself onward and strengthen one's resolve.

"Silence!"

Dean Tian Sheng's voice, carrying supreme authority, rang out again and instantly suppressed the noisy discussions below.

"Bing Tianxiao."

Dean Tian Sheng's voice boomed like a bell throughout the great hall.

"As the sole 'Spirit Crown Holder' of this Spirit Road, you not only overwhelmed all others, but also displayed wisdom and strength beyond the ordinary."

"According to the rules, you may make one request of our Five Great Academies."

The moment those words fell, the entire hall erupted.

Countless envious, jealous, and resentful gazes immediately focused on Bing Tianxiao.

Making a request of the Five Great Academies!

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

One had to know that the Five Great Academies possessed deep foundations. Anything they casually brought out would be enough to benefit an ordinary person for life.

"Whether it is a top-tier Divine Art or Cultivation Method, or a Divine Weapon of limitless power..."

Dean Tai Cang beside him added with a smile,

"As long as it is not excessive, we will do our best to satisfy it."

Though Dean Tian Sheng was somewhat displeased over Ji Xuan's matter, he nodded in acknowledgment at this moment.

After all, rules were rules. No matter how much he favored Ji Xuan, he could not go back on his word in front of so many people.

Everyone held their breath and stared at Bing Tianxiao, guessing what request he would make.

Would he ask for a Divine Art...

Or perhaps claim a legendary Divine Artifact?