Chapter 184
The old man in black robes flew into a rage.
"You dare to argue!"
"Do you know that if it weren't for Princess Xiao, Qin Prefecture would have long since become food for demons? How could you possibly be alive to spout such nonsense and disrespect Princess Xiao?!"
"What are you standing there for? Quickly kowtow to Princess Xiao and admit your mistake!"
The old man in black robes rebuked him.
The young man in white robes was startled upon hearing this.
Knowing he had caused trouble, he immediately knelt down before Xiao Minghuang and kowtowed to confess his sins.
"Princess Xiao, I'm so sorry, I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness, I offended you!"
The young man in white robes said with trepidation.
"Princess Xiao, I apologize for my rudeness just now," the old man said, bowing respectfully.
Xiao Minghuang glanced at him and said indifferently, "Fine, it's your first offense."
"Yes, Dongyang thanks Princess Xiao," said the white-robed young man.
Li Dongyang truly lived up to his reputation as the young master of a prestigious family. The speed at which he changed his attitude from arrogant to obsequious was far beyond what ordinary spoiled brats could achieve.
In the brief exchange just now, his grandfather had already told him about Xiao Minghuang's feat of slaying Nascent Soul Realm demon in the Southern Border.
This person, who can be described as an unparalleled genius, was almost offended by him!
If his grandfather hadn't arrived in time, he would have been in grave danger of bringing disaster upon the Lineage!
Hearing that Xiao Minghuang didn't hold his offense against him, Li Dongyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was only then that he realized that no matter how much he provoked and angered Xiao Minghuang, the other party had not cast a single unnecessary glance at him!
That's because he's utterly insignificant.
The other party looked down on him!
This made Li Dongyang feel even more remorseful.
He missed a clear opportunity to show his goodwill to Xiao Minghuang.
209. Hundred Sacred States [Please subscribe!]
Princess Xiao, please don't be angry!
Li Yuanfeng, the head of the Li Clan family and Li Yuanfeng Li Dongyang's grandfather, said with a forced smile, "I was just a young and foolish grandson, and I spoke without thinking. I offended you, and I hope you will forgive me for my rudeness."
Xiao Minghuang shook her head slightly and said indifferently, "It's alright. If Patriarch Li Family is willing, he may activate the teleportation array so that we can go to the Holy Academy as soon as possible."
"We will obey Princess Xiao's orders in everything!" Li Yuanfeng replied respectfully.
Under Li Yuanfeng's personal supervision, the teleportation array was quickly set up.
Xiao Minghuang and her group stepped into the teleportation array and disappeared from the main hall.
Li Dongyang and the others did not enter, but stood behind Li Yuanfeng.
"Grandpa, is Princess Xiao of the Southern Border really as powerful as you all say?"
Li Dongyang wiped the blood from his nose and asked in a muffled voice.
Li Yuanfeng looked at his beloved grandson, whom he had punched, and felt a pang of heartache. He quickly took out a rare pill and stuffed it into his grandson's hand.
"A year ago, some people from the Holy Academy passed through Qin Prefecture on their way to the Southern Border, saying that demons had appeared there. However, they returned in less than half an hour. I did not tell them about this at the time..."
"Later, I sent people to the Southern Border to investigate, and finally found out that Princess Xiao of the Southern Border had single-handedly killed a True Demon in the Nascent Soul Realm!"
"You know, she's only at the Spirit Seed Realm right now!"
Even a year later, Li Yuanfeng still speaks with a sense of fear and awe.
To defeat enemies across two major realms in succession—such strength is something even ancient immortals couldn't match, right?
Seeing the shocked look on his grandson's face, Li Yuanfeng sighed softly, "There are no outsiders here, but there's something I need to tell you."
"What's up?"
"Our Li Family's Old Ancestor was severely injured during an outing ten years ago, which greatly shortened his lifespan. I'm afraid Old Ancestor 'll pass away in another hundred years..."
Upon hearing this, Li Dongyang's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock, "How could this be! Our Old Ancestor is Nascent Soul True Lord, who could possibly harm him?!"
Li Yuanfeng shook his head. "In a place like Qin Prefecture, Nascent Soul True Lord is naturally invincible, but in the prosperous Hundred Sacred States, Nascent Soul True Lord is just a slightly stronger cultivator, not a big shot."
Upon hearing this, Li Dongyang's expression became complicated. His Old Ancestor, who was like a god in his heart, was actually just a slightly stronger cultivator.
"Don't worry too much. Our Old Ancestor still has a hundred years left to live and can still protect our Li Family. After you go to the Holy Academy, you must cultivate diligently and not disappoint us elders!"
Upon hearing this, Li Dongyang nodded emphatically.
"Grandpa, don't worry, I definitely won't let you down!"
Teleportation arrays are special arrays that use specific runes to trigger the resonance of specific Dao principles of heaven and earth. Setting up such an array requires at least the Nascent Soul Realm, and each activation requires a large number of spirit stones as a catalyst.
Within the teleportation array, there is no concept of time; no matter how much time passes within the array, it is only a fleeting moment outside.
Therefore, when Xiao Minghuang and the others came out of the teleportation array, it only felt like a moment had passed.
Beneath their feet lay an extremely vast square, stretching for countless kilometers, its end seemingly unseen.
"Such abundant Spiritual Qi, is this the Hundred Sacred States?"
The Hundred Sacred States is the collective name for one hundred states radiating outwards from the Holy Academy. It is also the place with the richest Spiritual Qi in the easternmost region and the foundation of many holy lands and aristocratic families.
Ye Ruoshui stood on the golden-paved plaza, and couldn't help but jog a few steps, looking around and wandering in circles.
Although the Great Xia was also a powerful empire, it paled in comparison to even a single teleportation plaza of the Holy Academy.
Xiao Minghuang nodded slightly in agreement, saying, "It does indeed have a very rich Spiritual Qi."
She had a feeling that people born in the Hundred Sacred States, even without actively cultivating, would have a much stronger physique than those from the Southern Border.
"It is said that the Spiritual Qi concentration in the Hundred Sacred States is more than a hundred times that of the Southern Border, which is why so many geniuses are born there."
As Ye Ruoshui looked around, she said that although she knew about the Hundred Sacred States from many books and rumors, this was the first time she had ever seen it.
Just then, a disdainful voice rang out.
"Hmph! A bunch of country bumpkins. Every time the Holy Academy recruits students, there are always some ignorant fools who run to Hundred Sacred States, dreaming of rising to the top in one step. Don't they even take a piss and look in the mirror to see if they're worthy?"
Upon hearing this voice, everyone turned to look.
He was a tall and imposing man whose cultivation level was indiscernible. He wore luxurious brocade robes, a jade belt around his waist, and leather boots inlaid with dark blue spirit jade. His high-grade Magic Robe made him appear extremely noble.
At this moment, he was looking at the people of Xia Kingdom with a mocking expression.
"Among you three, only the three of you seem to be any real geniuses, with a chance of making it into the top 100,000 in the second round!"
"As for the others, they're not worth mentioning; they probably won't even get past the first hurdle."
The man spoke with disdain, as if he didn't take the people of Xia Kingdom seriously at all.
"You..." Ye Ruoshui's pretty face immediately turned cold.
The people of Great Xia frowned, disliking this person's attitude.
"Who are you, and what makes you say that?"
Lin Wanqiu cupped his hands in greeting and asked.
"Hmph! You're not worthy to know!"
The man snorted coldly and turned to leave.
"... This person is incredibly rude!"
Looking at the tall man's retreating figure, Ye Ruoshui said indignantly.
"There's no need to stoop to his level. Once we make a name for ourselves in the trials, such people and such voices will cease to exist."
Xiao Minghuang patted Ye Ruoshui's head and comforted her.
Ye Ruoshui nodded obediently, not dwelling on what had just happened.
Let's go!
In the square, there were many road signs guiding the cultivators from various states who had been teleported there to the Holy Academy.
Next, following the signs, Xiao Minghuang and the others arrived at a city gate that was as huge as a mountain.
An information board floats in mid-air.
"Cultivators participating in the Holy Academy's recruitment should enter their respective groups according to their cultivation levels. The recruitment period will end in ten days. Cultivators from all states are urged to hurry and enter the city within ten days. Latecomers will not be accepted!"
After reading the information board, Xiao Minghuang looked around and saw three more large gates inside the city gate.
The names of the three realms—Divine Sea, Spirit Seed, and Primordial Embryo—are clearly written on the list, indicating that only cultivators at these three realms are eligible to participate in the selection process.
This does not mean that the Holy Academy rejects cultivators from other realms.
In a place as rich in Spiritual Qi as Hundred Sacred States, if one cannot even reach the Divine Sea Realm, then one basically has no chance of achieving immortality.
However, young geniuses who have not yet reached the Divine Sea Realm due to their short cultivation time can be recommended for admission by the Holy Academy's branch offices in various states or by local powerful forces.
In the Southern Border, the Spirit Sword Sect and the Pill Pavilion each have one spot.
If a cultivator is above the Primal Embryo Realm, they do not need to participate in the enrollment selection; they can participate in the selection of stewards or elders and still enter the Holy Academy.
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210. Service Fee [Please Subscribe!]
Among Xiao Minghuang's group, only she, Ye Ruoshui, and Lin Wanqiu possessed the cultivation Spirit Seed Realm.
Therefore, they temporarily separated from the others when entering the city gate.
In that year, Xiao Minghuang broke through from the third level of the Spirit Seed Realm to the fifth level.
Ye Ruoshui broke through to the second level of the Spirit Seed Realm, while Lin Wanqiu was slightly behind, remaining at the first level of the Spirit Seed Realm.
It wasn't that Lin Wanqiu wasn't working hard enough, but rather that she had to handle state affairs in place of Xiao Minghuang, which already left her with much less time for cultivation. In addition, Ye Ruoshui's cultivation speed advanced by leaps and bounds after fusing with the Innate Fire.
During this year, Ye Ruoshui received help from the Innate Pure Yang Fire Dragon Fruit Tree, completely merging with the Innate Fire. Her physique also underwent a further transformation, becoming the Innate Fire God Body.
This physique is at a higher level than a spiritual body, and it has comprehended an innate divine power and a natal spiritual seed divine power.
The former leans towards combat, while the latter is a heterodox supernatural power that helps her refine elixirs, magical artifacts, talismans, and the like.
Innate supernatural abilities are the unique, innate abilities of each divine body. Even if they appear similar, their core is completely different.
With the help of unorthodox supernatural powers and Innate Fire, Ye Ruoshui successfully refined Earth-grade pill and even crafted new earth-grade magic treasures for the three of them.
What she crafted for herself was naturally a new alchemy furnace.
A pair of precious swords were forged for Xiao Minghuang and Lin Wanqiu.
All three are of the middle grade of the Earth rank.
Xiao Minghuang's set of Lesser Celestial Circuit Star Charts was originally just two fragments pieced together, which was like a useless piece of cake for her after she advanced to the Spirit Seed Realm.
However, under Ye Ruoshui's refinement, it successfully advanced to the upper-grade Earth rank, and when fully activated, it can unleash the Power of Stars.
With the system's compensation, this Lesser Celestial Circuit Star Chart was fully activated, possessing the Power of Stars. Together with the three Big Dipper stars, it bloomed, instantly raising Xiao Minghuang's realm to the peak of the Spirit Seed Realm!
Although Xiao Minghuang also fused with the Innate Fire, because she transformed into a composite spirit body, she only had the Innate Fire but lacked an innate pure yang substance of the same level. Therefore, she was only a spirit body and could not transform into a divine body.
In addition, during this year, Xiao Minghuang imparted all his swordsmanship experience to Lin Wanqiu and taught him the "Twin Swords Fusion Sword Technique," which led to the latter's rapid advancement in swordsmanship.
Although only a year has passed, Lin Wanqiu has actually reached the Great Perfection of Sword Intent!
With Xiao Minghuang's strength alone, he could fight against ordinary cultivators at the Primal Embryo Realm.
If Lin Wanqiu were to join forces, the two of them, with their Twin Swords Combination, would likely be virtually invincible within the Primal Embryo Realm.
However, Xiao Minghuang did not dare to be arrogant or careless, after all, Hundred Sacred States was not like the Southern Border.
There are many geniuses here, and it's hard to guarantee that there aren't some who can challenge those of higher levels.