Lingxi Academy

After successfully wiping out the Blood Blade Hall, Ye Lingyun's fame spread throughout Lingfeng City, making him a legend among the younger generation of cultivators. Yet he did not lose himself in this fleeting glory. Instead, he devoted himself to cultivation with even greater diligence. The abundant cultivation resources provided by the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild were like fertile soil, nourishing his continued growth.

Day and night, he studied the advanced manuals supplied by the guild, comparing their insights with his existing arts and integrating them. As he cultivated the Nine-Turn Spirit Illusion Art, he gradually grasped deeper mysteries of spiritual power transformation. He could compress his spiritual power into extremely minute forms, unleashing greater force when attacking while more deftly dispersing an enemy's attacking spiritual power when defending. Through constant practice and contemplation of the Star-Splitting Void Sword Technique, he brought its speed and precision to new heights. The transitions between his sword moves grew ever smoother and more natural, like drifting clouds and flowing water.

While Ye Lingyun was immersed in cultivation, momentous news spread through Lingfeng City and even across the entire Lingxi Continent-Lingxi Academy had begun recruiting students. As one of the continent's foremost cultivation academies, Lingxi Academy possessed a long history and countless legendary tales. It brought together the continent's finest cultivation resources, instructors, and cultivation manuals. Every student who graduated from Lingxi Academy became a towering figure on the continent.

Throughout Lingfeng City, from streets and alleyways to cultivation grounds, people eagerly discussed Lingxi Academy's recruitment.

"Have you heard? Lingxi Academy is recruiting from across the entire Lingxi Continent this time. What a rare opportunity!"

"Exactly. If you could get into Lingxi Academy, your cultivation path would be much smoother. Unfortunately, the admission requirements are incredibly strict. Who knows how many people will pass?"

"I heard you not only need to reach a certain cultivation realm, but also have to pass all sorts of complicated assessments. Only true geniuses can get in."

When Ye Lingyun heard the news, his heart stirred. He knew that entering Lingxi Academy would be an enormous help to his cultivation. There, he could gain access to more advanced arts and cultivation principles, as well as meet geniuses from all over the continent, spar with them, exchange insights, and improve himself.

Ye Lingyun immediately began preparing for the entrance assessments. On the one hand, he cultivated even harder, consolidating his strength and thoroughly integrating the spiritual power manipulation techniques and swordsmanship principles he had recently grasped. On the other, he asked around about the specific content and format of Lingxi Academy's entrance assessments. Through the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild's intelligence network and conversations with other cultivators, he gradually learned that the assessments consisted of three stages. The first was a strength test, primarily examining applicants' spiritual power realms, Martial Soul strength, and mastery of martial techniques. The second was a test of mental acuity, using various complex puzzles and illusions to assess applicants' intelligence and adaptability. The third was actual combat, in which applicants would be paired off to fight, testing their practical combat abilities and fighting skills.

After learning these details, Ye Lingyun devised a targeted training plan. For the strength test, he spent long hours each day cultivating his spiritual power and practicing martial techniques, steadily improving his spiritual power realm and proficiency. To prepare for the mental acuity test, he gathered books on formations, puzzles, and breaking illusions, studying them day and night to sharpen his reasoning and adaptability. For the combat stage, he asked the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild to arrange sparring sessions with its experts. During these bouts, he continually reviewed what he had learned, studied his opponents' fighting techniques, and identified and corrected his own shortcomings in battle.

After a period of intensive preparation, Ye Lingyun felt fully ready and set off for Lingxi Academy's recruitment site. It was located in Lingfeng City's central square, which was already packed with a sea of people. Cultivators from all over had gathered there, rubbing their fists and flexing their palms, eager to try their luck.

Ye Lingyun moved slowly with the crowd until he finally reached the registration desk. Two instructors from Lingxi Academy were handling registration. One wore white robes and had a kindly face; the other wore a fitted black outfit and had a piercing gaze.

"Name?" asked the instructor in white robes.

"Ye Lingyun."

"Where are you from?"

"The Ye Family, though I'm currently staying in Lingfeng City."

The two instructors frowned slightly when they heard that Ye Lingyun came from the Ye Family. But after hearing that he was staying in Lingfeng City and learning of his deeds in the operation to wipe out the Blood Blade Hall, a trace of appreciation appeared in their eyes.

"Good. Your registration is complete. The assessments will officially begin in three days. Make sure you're prepared."

Ye Lingyun thanked the two instructors, then found a quiet spot near the square to continue readying himself while he waited for the assessments. Over those three days, he made a final push in his cultivation each day while repeatedly reviewing his strategies for the tests.

At last, the day of the assessments arrived. A massive testing arena had been erected in the square, surrounded by spectators who had come to watch. Ye Lingyun stood in the center with the other applicants, waiting for the assessments to begin.

The strength test came first. One by one, the applicants approached an enormous spiritual power testing crystal and infused it with spiritual power. The crystal displayed the corresponding grade based on the power's strength and purity. Watching the applicants ahead of him take their turns, Ye Lingyun felt a little nervous, but anticipation outweighed his nerves.

When his turn came, Ye Lingyun took a deep breath, stepped forward, and slowly infused his spiritual power into the testing crystal. In an instant, the crystal blazed with dazzling light, far brighter than it had been for many of the previous applicants. The instructors overseeing the test looked surprised.

"Not bad. His spiritual power has reached the peak of the upper-grade yellow tier, and its purity is exceptionally high. Truly rare," said the instructor in the fitted black outfit.

Next came the Martial Soul strength test. Ye Lingyun released his Martial Soul, which shone brilliantly, making the surrounding space tremble faintly. The instructors used a special method to evaluate it and once again gave him exceptionally high marks.

Last came the martial technique demonstration. Ye Lingyun unleashed the Star-Splitting Void Sword Technique infused with Star-Palm Illusion Sword Intent. Sword energy swept in every direction, like stars dancing through the void, drawing waves of astonished exclamations from the surrounding crowd. The instructors nodded in approval, thoroughly satisfied with his mastery of the technique.

Ye Lingyun passed the first-stage strength test smoothly, earning outstanding results. With a confident smile, he prepared to face the more difficult test of mental acuity that awaited him...