As long as he passed this level, he would have completed the Preliminary Trial for the Four Academies and Ten Palaces.
"Too bad the assessment on the fortieth level is the only one that gives you four hours to comprehend a Middle Vehicle Daoist Art of the Qi Refining Realm to the beginner level."
"Otherwise, I could've mastered one more Sword Art."
He glanced down at the scattered figures climbing in the thirties, then soared into the air, riding his Sword Light straight toward the fiftieth-level checkpoint.
"Such an impressive sword bone. I didn't expect there to be such an outstanding Sword Cultivator talent in this year's second- and third-level assessment."
Seated amid the clouds, the White-Haired Youth gazed at Bai Yi as he rode his sword upward, a hint of approval on his face.
To comprehend Swordlight Transforms into a Rainbow in the Qi Refining Realm, and to have such profound insight into the Sword Dao that he could blend the Dao Resonance of two Sword Arts-that was no small feat.
A talent like this would count as an outstanding disciple even among the Nascent Soul Sword Sects of the Outer-Heavens Worlds. In the Immortal Alliance, he was truly a rare genius.
Comprehending the Dao Resonance of a Sword Art in an hour and a half also proved that this little fellow had considerable aptitude for enlightenment and pursuing the Dao.
After all, even the Dao Students who had passed the entrance exams for the Four Academies and Ten Palaces in previous years had, on average, been a little less impressive.
"It's just that his cultivation level is far too low."
"That's all the better. It means there's still a chance for First-Rate Academies like ours."
A faint smile touched the White-Haired Youth's lips. These Golden Core True Persons were principals of First-Rate Academies. Why were they so eager to take part in the Four Academies and Ten Palaces assessments held throughout the Immortal Alliance?
Beyond their gratitude for having come from the Four Academies and Ten Palaces themselves, wasn't it because they hoped to find overlooked gems like this young Sword Cultivator before him?
And hadn't he just found one, shining brilliantly?
"After the assessment ends, I'll have to go talk to him in person. The Four Academies can't match their resources, but if the Ten Palaces grit their teeth, they can still provide for an ordinary disciple."
As the White-Haired Youth considered this, his peripheral vision swept over the sixtieth and highest tier of the Immortal Ascension Stairway, shrouded in clouds.
Fourteen White Jade Statues stood atop the steps, as if suppressing the firmament.
"But he absolutely mustn't go any higher..."
Fiftieth tier of the Immortal Ascension Stairway
Bai Yi rode his sword down. The instant his feet touched the ground, the surrounding sea of clouds churned. Lofty mountains rose all around, iron chains stretched across the landscape, and white cranes cried amid wisps of curling smoke.
The white jade paving beneath his feet vanished, replaced by sturdy, dark-gray stone slabs. Rows of scenic pavilions and stairways gradually solidified around him.
A vast martial arts arena took shape at the center. As clouds gathered, a young man appeared before him, dressed in a long green robe, with locks of hair hanging at his temples and a vigorous, spirited air about him.
"Senior Brother, I'm afraid I can't yield the Inner Sect Disciple position to you."
"Please teach me, Senior Brother!"
The young man cupped his hands in greeting. His Spiritual Power flowed without pause, and the imposing aura of the seventh layer of Qi Refining swept over Bai Yi like a powerful gust.
He held his arms before his chest, fingers forming a seal. His Spiritual Power dispersed, transforming into a White Crane Diagram that flowed behind him. His sleeves fluttered, and his body moved as his will directed.
The White Crane Spirit Image cried out and soared into the air. Countless feathers formed from Dao Resonance spread from its outstretched wings, sweeping down like a storm of arrows.
"This time, it's a Spirit Dao Art..."
Bai Yi's expression turned solemn. The Heart-Questioning Sword left its sheath, its Sword Light drifting and winding as it raised gusts of Clearwind, forming a wall of Sword Shadows above his head.
Clang, clang!
Clang, clang, clang...
The densely packed feathers of Dao Resonance struck the Sword Light, ringing like a storm of metal blows before they were shattered one by one.
The Dao Seal in the young man's hand shifted. A point of spiritual light appeared, and the white crane in midair let out a long cry.
In an instant, the clouds turned to rain. Every raindrop carried a trace of Water Dao Resonance. A drop landed on Bai Yi's arm, and he felt as though he'd been struck by a heavy fist wrapped in Spiritual Power.
Struggling against the downpour, Bai Yi glanced at the white crane overhead and the young man in the distance.
The Azure Edge Sword, which had lain dormant behind him for a long time, trembled violently. Beneath its clear ringing, it transformed into a streak of azure light and pierced through the curtain of rain.
Countless streams of Sword Qi gathered, condensing into a streak of rainbow Sword Light. Like an arrow loosed from its string, it cleaved through the rain and feathers in its path.
As the white crane cried out in alarm, the sword pierced through the chest of the Spirit Dao creature.
The Sword Light was sharp and cold. With the rain no longer in his way, Bai Yi's eyes flashed. He pressed down with his Sword Seal, and the Heart-Questioning Sword flew from his hand.
The Sword Light transformed into a streak, meeting the long wind head-on. One white and one azure stream of Dao Resonance wound around the sword-rainbow like two dragons fighting over a pearl, punching through the void and suddenly appearing before the young man.
"As expected of Senior Brother. Forgive me for the offense!"
The young man's expression turned solemn. His right-hand Dao Seal took the shape of a crane, and the White Crane Diagram appeared behind him once more. His left-hand Dao Seal took the shape of a tiger. Amid a tiger's roar and crashing sound waves, his Spiritual Power spread and transformed into a gigantic Striped Fierce Tiger that pounced down.
Light glinted across its claws as streaks of Dao Resonance claw marks swept toward the Heart-Questioning Sword.
Bang!
Amid the surging Spiritual Energy, the solid body of the Spirit Dao Tiger turned hazy. It filled out again in an instant, roared, and knocked the Heart-Questioning Sword aside before leaping into the air to attack.
As the Sword Light scattered, Bai Yi's chest tightened. He retreated two steps, then looked up at the pouncing tiger and the white crane circling overhead once more, rain clouds gathering around it.
"Two Dao Resonances at Major Accomplishment, forming a complementary Spirit Dao Diagram..."
The Five Elements Qi Vortex in his Dantian spun rapidly. Spiritual Power surged through his Dantian like a river. Bai Yi exhaled a breath of Turbid Qi, with the Heart-Questioning Sword and Azure Edge Sword hovering at either side of him.
Against a young man who excelled in cultivating Daoist Arts and whose cultivation was two layers higher than his own, the two Sword Arts he'd revealed earlier clearly wouldn't be enough to finish the fight cleanly.
Bai Yi's gaze sharpened. Before the Secret Realm, defeating this opponent would have taken some effort.
But now, aside from the Iron-Slashing Sword Art and Snowfall Sword Art, whose Dao Resonance he had revealed only to the level required by the checkpoints, he still had one more sword that he hadn't drawn.
Above the cloud peak
The White-Haired Youth's Divine Sense swept over Bai Yi on the fiftieth tier, where his Sword Light had been shattered for the first time. A hint of amusement showed in his eyes.
The scene chosen for the fiftieth tier depicted the promotion of an inner sect disciple in a top Golden Core Sect, the foremost sect of a domain in a Medium-Thousand World.
Whether it was their foundations in cultivation or their mastery of protective Magic Arts, those disciples far surpassed the Rogue Cultivators and ordinary sect disciples from earlier levels.
Only Immortal Alliance Dao Students who passed an assessment under such conditions could take part in the entrance exams for the Four Academies and Ten Palaces. It was easy to imagine how much that was worth.
"This little fellow will probably have to work hard to pass."
As the White-Haired Youth thought this, his expression suddenly changed slightly. His Divine Sense immediately enveloped the fiftieth tier.
On the martial arts arena, Sword Qi ran rampant around Bai Yi. The Heart-Questioning Sword and Azure Edge Sword flew together, rainbow light flashing as Clearwind followed. Layer upon layer of clouds hung behind the two streams of Dao Resonance, like twilight descending across the sky.
Azure Cloud Sword Art appears!
In an instant, soaring clouds, Clearwind, and rainbow light intertwined around the Two Flying Swords. Their Sword Light flickered, like two coiling dragons.
They spiraled aside, dodging the tiger's pounce. The two dragons spat out pearls, one on either side, tearing through the void and instantly slaying the Spirit Dao Tiger.
Next, the Azure Edge Sword soared upward into the Azure Netherworld, smashing through the rain and feathers with irresistible force before piercing through the white crane's body.
Meanwhile, the Heart-Questioning Sword drove straight down. It deftly evaded the young man's defensive Magic Arts and Talismans before cutting apart the Spirit Dao Tiger that had gathered once more. In an instant, its Sword Light passed through the young man's neck.
The Sword Light descended, and the young man's body vanished along with the surrounding scene.
Before you continue