" Vast Waves Sacred Academy?"
Chu Yunfei repeated the name.
Ling Zhantian nodded slightly.
"Good."
"If the Seven Sects and the Great Qian Imperial Family are considered first-rate forces in the Vast Waves Domain, then the Vast Waves Sacred Academy is a holy land that surpasses all other forces."
His voice wasn't loud.
But the words "holy land" instantly changed the atmosphere inside the hall.
A look of doubt appeared between Ling Xueyao's brows.
As a princess of the Great Qian Dynasty, she was able to consult royal records from a young age and was very familiar with the various forces in the Eastern Continent.
This was the first time she had ever heard of the name Vast Waves Sacred Academy.
"Father, since the Vast Waves Sacred Academy is superior to the Seven Sects, why have we never seen them participate in the Seven Sects' struggle in recent years?"
"Because the Holy Academy never interferes in disputes within the domain."
Ling Zhantian leaned back in the main seat, his pale face regaining some color.
"It is different from the Seven Sects."
"The seven sects vie for spiritual veins, cities, and secret realms, as well as for the offerings from secular dynasties, resulting in deep-seated resentment among them."
" The Holy Academy does not occupy territory, does not establish affiliated sects, and does not interfere in the change of dynasties."
"They only do one thing."
Chu Yunfei seemed to be deep in thought.
"Cultivating prodigies?"
Ling Zhantian glanced at him.
"Exactly."
"However, getting into the Holy Academy isn't that easy."
"Only those with a bone age under twenty-two and a cultivation level reaching the Divine Sea Realm are eligible to be selected as envoys of the Holy Academy."
Ling Xueyao's breath hitched slightly.
"Those under twenty-two years old at the Divine Sea Realm are just the selection threshold?"
This condition sounds like it only has two parts.
Very few people can actually do it.
Each of the seven sects had more than ten thousand disciples in each generation.
However, among them, only the holy sons and daughters, and a few hidden true disciples, are able to enter the Divine Sea Realm before the age of twenty-two.
Looking across the entire Great Qian Imperial Dynasty, those who meet the criteria are few and far between.
Among the seven sects, they were enough to overwhelm the geniuses of their generation, but upon arriving at the Vast Waves Sacred Academy, they only managed to obtain an admission ticket.
Ling Zhantian nodded.
Even receiving an invitation doesn't guarantee entry into the Holy Academy.
All invitees must participate in the assessment.
"With a weak foundation and insufficient combat power, even if they reach the Divine Sea Realm, their memories will be erased and they will be sent back."
Chu Yunfei was not surprised by this.
If the Holy Academy only considered cultivation level, those powerful forces could easily use elixirs and miraculous medicines to forcibly create a batch of the Divine Sea Realm.
Such a person may appear to be of high cultivation level, but in a real fight, they might not be able to withstand more than a few moves from a peerless expert of the same level.
Since the Vast Waves Sacred Academy specializes in cultivating geniuses, it's impossible that it couldn't even distinguish this empty shell.
Ling Xueyao thought for a moment, then asked again:
"Since the Holy Academy only aims to cultivate prodigies, why have we never seen them openly recruit disciples in the Eastern Continent?"
"Because they never recruit publicly."
Ling Zhantian shook his head.
" The Vast Waves Sacred Academy appears in the world once every ten years."
"Those who meet the age and cultivation thresholds will be considered for selection by the Holy Academy's envoys. Whether or not they receive an invitation is up to the envoys themselves."
"If the invitee is willing to participate in the assessment, someone will come to guide them."
At this point, Ling Zhantian turned his gaze to Ling Xueyao.
" Yao'er, haven't you noticed that the most outstanding holy sons and daughters of the Seven Sects throughout history often suddenly disappear without a trace at some point?"
Ling Xueyao was taken aback.
She quickly recalled the seven intelligence reports that the royal family had gathered over the years.
Those once-renowned young prodigies, after serving as holy sons and daughters for several years, would indeed disappear without warning.
Some say they entered the sect's forbidden area for secluded cultivation.
Some also claim that they have left the Eastern Continent to travel to the outer realms for training.
The Seven Sects have always remained tight-lipped about this matter.
As time went on, the outside world stopped asking questions.
In retrospect, most of those claims were merely cover-ups.
There is only one real answer.
They went to the Vast Waves Sacred Academy.
"I see."
Ling Xueyao finally understood.
"No wonder every ten years, a group of top geniuses from the Seven Sects suddenly disappear."
But then she realized something was wrong.
"But why haven't any of those who passed the assessment and actually stayed at the Holy Academy returned?"
"Even if the Holy Academy is located deep in the Domain Sea, and decades have passed, not a single person should have returned to the sect."
The hall fell silent.
Ling Zhantian paused for a moment, his hand resting on the armrest.
"I am not aware of this matter either."
His answer was flawless.
However, Chu Yunfei noticed that after Ling Zhantian finished speaking, he never looked at Ling Xueyao.
This Emperor Great Qian may not have known the whole truth.
But they certainly weren't as ignorant as he claimed.
What's even more intriguing is that the seven sects clearly knew where their disciples had gone, yet they all chose to remain silent.
The fact that the seven sects, who have been fighting each other for years, could all remain silent shows that the waters of the Vast Waves Sacred Academy are clearly deeper than imagined.
Chu Yunfei did not press the matter further.
With his current strength, he is not qualified to forcibly uncover this secret.
Ling Xueyao was unaware of her father's avoidance.
She quickly remembered something else.
"Father, since the Seven Sects have had disciples enter the Holy Academy throughout history, what about our Great Qian Imperial Family?"
"The royal family has a history of ten thousand years, and many outstanding talents have emerged throughout the ages. Surely someone must have received an invitation from the Holy Academy?"
Ling Zhantian looked at her.
After a brief silence, he uttered two words.
"No."
Ling Xueyao was stunned.
Not a single one?
Not a single one.
Ling Zhantian's tone softened slightly.
" The Vast Waves Sacred Academy does not accept members of the Great Qian Imperial Family."
Ling Xueyao's brows furrowed even more deeply.
Since the Holy Academy does not participate in the power struggles within the Vast Waves Domain, it should only consider age, cultivation level, and talent when recruiting disciples.
What's the difference between royalty and disciples of a sect?
Moreover, she has already entered the Divine Sea Realm, and her age also meets the requirements.
If it weren't for this, she would also be eligible to be selected by the Holy Academy's envoys.
"Why?"
Ling Zhantian did not answer immediately.
After a moment, he raised his hand to interrupt the conversation.
This matter involves an old treaty between the royal family and the Holy Academy.
You don't need to know too much right now.
"Just remember, members of the Ling Imperial Clan are not allowed to enter the Vast Waves Sacred Academy."
The hall fell silent once more.
Ling Xueyao opened her mouth, but ultimately suppressed her questions.
Chu Yunfei, however, sensed something was wrong.
Entry is prohibited.
This is completely different from the statement that they do not accept members of the royal family.
The former resembles a rule established within the royal family.
The latter, like the Holy Academy rejecting the royal family, is analogous to this.
The fact that Ling Zhantian gave two versions of events one after the other is clearly an attempt to obscure the real reason.
Moreover, the Great Qian Imperial Family family has been passed down for ten thousand years, so it is impossible that there has never been a Divine Sea Realm under the age of twenty-two.
Unless in recent years, the royal prodigy has had no chance to take that final step.
The thought flashed through Chu Yunfei's mind, but he didn't show it.
Deep within his consciousness, Xiaoxiao Dragon lazily said:
"You brat, this emperor only ever says half of what he means; it's exhausting to listen to him."
"He's making a mere Holy Academy sound like some forbidden immortal realm."
Chu Yunfei responded in his heart:
"The fact that the seven sects' prodigies could enter and then disappear without a trace, and that the seven sects could keep the secret, suggests that the Vast Waves Sacred Academy is not as simple as it seems."
Xiaoxiao Dragon gave a soft snort.
"You don't even know which way the Holy Academy's doors open, yet you're already thinking about the secrets inside."
Let's break through to the Divine Sea Realm first before considering anything else.
Chu Yunfei did not refute.
After this morning's dual cultivation with Ling Xueyao, he has broken through to the Sixth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm.
There are still three minor realms and one major realm barrier separating us from the Divine Sea Realm.
For ordinary martial artists, this distance can take anywhere from a few years to more than a decade.
Some people even spend their entire lives without being able to transform their spiritual energy into a sea.
However, Chu Yunfei possessed the Dragon and Phoenix Dao Emperor Scripture and the Divine Cauldron of Heavenly Mandate.
With sufficient resources, breakthroughs will naturally follow.
He looked up at Ling Zhantian.
"Does Your Majesty know where the Vast Waves Sacred Academy is located?"
"I don't know."
This time, Ling Zhantian answered very decisively.
" The Holy Academy is neither in the Eastern Continent nor in the Western Continent."
"Some speculate that it is located in the Domain Sea, while others believe that the entire Holy Academy is built within a separate grotto-heaven."
"Each time an envoy from the Holy Academy appears, an array is used to guide the invited person."
"For thousands of years, no one has ever been able to find the Holy Academy by following the traces they left behind."
Chu Yunfei pondered for a moment before asking the most crucial question.
"How long until the Holy Academy reappears in the world?"
Ling Zhantian looked at him, seemingly having already guessed his plan.
"Six months."
"Based on past timelines, the Holy Academy's envoy should appear in the Vast Waves Domain in about six months."
"At that time, young martial artists who meet the age and cultivation level requirements will have the opportunity to receive an invitation."
Half a year.
Chu Yunfei's hand slowly landed on the hilt of the Abyss-Devouring Sword.
He is currently eighteen years old by bone age, so his age naturally meets the requirements.
The only thing it lacks is the cultivation level of the Divine Sea Realm.
But six months is enough.
Ling Zhantian took in his reaction and continued:
" Luo Wuxu's last public appearance was on the day the Holy Academy's envoys arrived in the Eastern Continent."
"According to Emperor Taizu's notes, he spoke for a long time with the people from the Holy Academy."
After the conversation ended, Luo Wuxu followed the other party away.
"For a full thousand years after that, no one in the Vast Waves Domain ever saw him again."
Chu Yunfei gripped the Abyss-Devouring Sword.
Luo Wuxu traversed the Domain Sea to reach the Vast Waves Domain, defeating all the powerful figures of the Eastern Continent, and then ventured deep into the Western Continent to slay the Demon Emperor.
Given his strength, it's impossible for him to have left with the Holy Academy envoy without a reason.
What he came to the Vast Waves Domain to seek might be within the Holy Academy.
Those within the Holy Academy might also know the whereabouts of that item.
Why was the Abyss-Devouring Sword left outside?
Is Luo Wuxu alive or dead?
All the answers may very well be hidden within the Vast Waves Sacred Academy.
"It seems I'll have to make a trip to the Vast Waves Sacred Academy sooner or later."
Chu Yunfei said in a low voice.
Ling Xueyao turned to look at him.
"You wish to enter the Vast Waves Sacred Academy?"
"It doesn't necessarily mean joining."
Chu Yunfei smiled faintly.
"Now that the Abyss-Devouring Sword has fallen into my hands, I must find out where its previous owner went."
Ling Zhantian looked at him without saying a word.
He remained silent for a few moments, then suddenly coughed lightly.
Ling Xueyao quickly went to his side.
"Father, you have just woken up and your body has not yet recovered. You should rest first."
Ling Zhantian raised his hand to stop her.
It's alright.
"I have a few more words to say to young friend Chu privately."
Ling Xueyao paused.
She subconsciously turned to look at Chu Yunfei.
Ling Zhantian took in her reaction, his gaze darkening almost imperceptibly.
" Yao'er, you go to the side hall first."