At the summit of Xuanqing Peak, Eastern Xuan Academy.
The tower ship slowly descended. The moment Lu Xuanchen led Xuanyuan Che and the other three onto the plaza, they felt countless gazes converging upon them.
The academy's elders and disciples had long received the news and had gathered here in force. Their eyes burned with fervor, while the young disciples brimmed with youthful vigor.
What Xuanyuan Che had done in the Myriad Races Battlefield was simply too shocking, already far beyond the bounds of their understanding.
"Welcome back, Academy Lord! Welcome back, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, triumphant from your return!" No one knew who took the lead, but earth-shaking cheers finally erupted, shattering the silence.
The champion of the grand competition had come from Eastern Xuan Academy! This was an honor the Eastern Wasteland Domain had never seen in all its history!
Xiao Chen and the others at the side had benefited from the reflected glory as well. No matter what they thought inwardly, Xuanyuan Che and the other three had won unprecedented honor for Eastern Xuan Academy this time. That was an indisputable fact.
What was more, Xuanyuan Che had saved their lives.
Lu Xuanchen smiled and pressed down with his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down. His gaze swept over the crowd as he said solemnly, "In this Myriad Races Grand Competition, the disciples of Eastern Xuan Academy, led by Xuanyuan Che, displayed the might of our academy, overwhelmed all rivals, and shattered the Netherworld Clan's scheme. Their merits are outstanding! The academy will certainly reward them generously!"
The scene erupted once more.
"Che'er, come with me. Mengyao, you three should return to your cave residences and rest first. Your rewards will be delivered shortly," Lu Xuanchen said to Xuanyuan Che, his tone particularly solemn.
Xuanyuan Che nodded, gestured to Yun Mengyao and the other two, then followed Lu Xuanchen. The two turned into streaks of light and flew toward a forbidden area deep within the academy.
The valley was tranquil, ancient trees soared into the heavens, and an ancient Dao aura permeated the air.
Before an ancient stone hall stood three elderly men with white hair and beards, dressed in plain hemp robes, as though they had been waiting for a long time. No powerful Spiritual Power fluctuations emanated from them, yet they seemed fused with heaven and earth, unfathomably deep.
These three were the true foundation of Eastern Xuan Academy—the patriarchs who had lived for who knew how many years! Their cultivation had all reached the Supreme Realm!
"This disciple, Lu Xuanchen, brings disciple Xuanyuan Che to pay respects to the three patriarchs!" Lu Xuanchen bowed respectfully.
Xuanyuan Che also cupped his hands slightly. "Xuanyuan Che greets the three seniors." His manner was neither servile nor overbearing.
The three patriarchs' gazes instantly focused on Xuanyuan Che, as though they intended to see through him inside and out. Their expressions were calm at first, then stirred with ripples, before finally turning into undisguised shock.
Xuanyuan Che did not stop the patriarchs from examining him, nor did he intend to conceal his physique.
The lean-faced patriarch in the middle slowly spoke. His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a certain Dao aura. "The Innate Chaos Dao Body... And not one grafted or imitated after birth, but a truly flawless innate body! That bloodline... is so noble that even our Divine Souls tremble... Child, where exactly do you come from?"
At their realm, they could better sense the vast power hidden within Xuanyuan Che, as boundless as a sea of stars, as well as that supreme Bloodline Pressure. Such things could never exist in the mortal world.
Xuanyuan Che had long expected this question. He answered calmly, "This junior comes from the Taichu Immortal Domain, the Xuanyuan Imperial Clan."
No more hiding it. He laid all his cards on the table.
"An Imperial Clan?!" The three patriarchs cried out at once. Though they had suspected as much, hearing the words "Imperial Clan" still sent their minds reeling!
An Imperial Clan! A colossal existence towering above countless Immortal Domains, a supreme Lineage said to possess Immortal Emperors! Its bloodline descendants were born close to the Dao, incomparably noble!
They knew Xuanyuan Che had an extraordinary background, but they had not expected it to be so extraordinary that it could punch a hole through the heavens!
No wonder! No wonder he possessed such a physique and strength!
Lu Xuanchen was utterly dumbfounded. He only knew that Xuanyuan Che's origins were mysterious; he had never imagined they would be this astonishing!
The short, plump patriarch on the left took a deep breath, his tone turning incomparably grave. "Young friend Xuanyuan... Since you are a disciple of an Imperial Clan, why have you come to Eastern Xuan Academy in our Lower Realm?" This was practically like a Divine Dragon diving into shallow waters.
"To temper my heart amid the mortal world and experience cultivation," Xuanyuan Che answered concisely. "My Lineage has permitted it. You need not worry that I will bring disaster upon the academy. Ordinary troubles, I will handle myself. If some existence beyond expectation truly disregards all shame and takes action..." He paused, a cold gleam flashing through his eyes. "My Xuanyuan Family is not merely for show."
He spoke calmly, yet his words carried unparalleled confidence and dominance.
The three patriarchs looked at one another before slowly nodding. They understood now. This Imperial Son had come down to "experience life." In a sense, Eastern Xuan Academy had been touched by a heaven-defying opportunity, but it was also accompanied by immense risk.
This was a massive karmic entanglement.
"Since that is the case, we understand." The patriarch in the middle became far more amiable. "During your time in our academy, all resources will be provided according to the highest standard. The academy's scripture repository and cultivation secret realms will all be open to you. We only hope that you, young friend... will remember this bond of shared incense and flame."
They were investing in him—investing in a future supreme giant! Even if they gained only a trace of goodwill, Eastern Xuan Academy would benefit without end.
"Of course." Xuanyuan Che smiled and nodded. "Since I have joined Eastern Xuan Academy, I am an academy disciple. I will not shirk what I ought to bear."
The three patriarchs all smiled upon hearing this.
After speaking for a while longer, learning some details about the battlefield and the Netherworld Clan's movements, Xuanyuan Che took his leave.
The three patriarchs watched his departing back in silence for a long while.
"An Imperial Son has descended into the mortal world... The Three Thousand Dao Domains are about to face a changing sky," the short, plump patriarch sighed.
"Blessing and disaster depend upon each other. What happened today is to be classified as the academy's highest secret. No one may reveal Xuanyuan Che's true origins. Any violator—have their cultivation abolished and their Divine Soul erased!" the patriarch in the middle ordered, his tone exceptionally stern.
"Yes!" Lu Xuanchen answered solemnly.
When Xuanyuan Che returned to Xuanqing Peak, he found Yun Mengyao already waiting for him.
"Second Senior Sister, what is it?" Xuanyuan Che asked.
Yun Mengyao said, "Little Junior Brother, do you know of the Heaven Ranking?"
"Of course. Where there is an Earth Ranking, there is naturally a Heaven Ranking. First Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Sister should be prodigies on that ranking, right?" Xuanyuan Che nodded, then revealed a puzzled expression. "Why have neither you nor Third Senior Brother made the ranking, Second Senior Sister?"
"Third Junior Brother's physique was strong before, but it still fell just short. Yet after this grand competition, he has undergone a complete transformation, so entering the Heaven Ranking should be beyond doubt. As for me, my physique is rather special. I am inherently close to the Great Dao, incompatible with the Heaven and Earth Rankings."
Yun Mengyao patiently explained, then continued, "The greatest difference between the Heaven Ranking and the Earth Ranking is this: if the Earth Ranking guarantees one will become Supreme, then every prodigy on the Heaven Ranking possesses the potential to become an immortal."
"The potential to become an immortal... Then I should go inspect the goods." A sly glint flashed through Xuanyuan Che's eyes. Crushing those of his generation was certainly satisfying, but only clashing with the foremost monsters could better temper himself.
Though to him, there were no monsters at all.
Oh, right. Except for those older brothers and sisters of his back home.
Before you continue