In the spotlight

At last, that ethereal toll became a long, lingering hum from the hundred and twelfth ancient bell.

"One hundred and twelve tolls." Even the silver-robed deacon's voice trembled.

Atop the cliff, tens of thousands of prodigies wore expressions of utter shock.

One hundred and twelve tolls!

One hundred and twelve might have seemed only a dozen or so tolls beyond the previous ninety-eight.

But those who understood knew better.

The farther along Zhenhai Cliff's ancient bells one went, the power required did not merely double—it soared geometrically!

Beyond ninety tolls, every additional bell represented a gulf as vast as a heavenly chasm.

One hundred and twelve tolls?

Such power already lay beyond what anyone in the converging stream realm could comprehend. Even an ordinary mid-stage rushing river realm greater demon would probably have been reduced to dust in an instant by that strike.

Inside the Cloud-Sea Hall.

"Excellent! What a Zhou Luotian!"

An elder from the Tai'e Sword Academy's eyes blazed. "Such mastery of spatial laws, such foundations—he belongs in our Tai'e Sword Academy!"

"That's where you're wrong."

Beside him, a Purple-Robed Elder from the Divine Firmament Thunder Academy snorted. "A monster like Zhou Luotian may cultivate space, but all arts share one source. He could soar to the heavens just as easily in our Thunder Academy. As for Little Thunder God, he was practically born for us."

"Bullshit!"

"Our Celestial Star Dao Academy will have one of those two!"

For a time.

At the front of the hall, the heads and elders of those first-rate Dao academies, usually so lofty and untouchable, argued until their faces flushed red, like common folk bickering in a marketplace.

They understood all too well.

Little Thunder God with his ninety-eight tolls, and Zhou Luotian with his hundred and twelve.

Provided they did