Northern Cang Realm

Liu Bai held a gleaming Jade Mirror in his hand and looked at the cold-faced youth reflected within. He could even see faint traces of blood-red light in his pupils, like a blood cloud churning inside them.

"Is this... me?"

Liu Bai touched his cheek. Even he found the person in the mirror unfamiliar. No wonder everyone he had encountered along the way had looked so terrified.

Liu Qingtian sighed inwardly, his heart aching as well.

"Bai'er, rest well for the next few days. Killing may lead one down the demonic path, but if you can take this opportunity to master that killing intent and control it at will, it will be a great thing for you."

Liu Bai nodded coldly, then turned and left.

It was not that he had any issue with his father. Rather, ever since entering this room, his face had remained like this. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have noticed it himself.

After Liu Bai disappeared from sight, Liu Qingtian sighed again. At that moment, Liu Zong returned...

"Second Brother! Come, tell me—what exactly happened to Bai'er during this time..."

Back then, Liu Qingtian had asked Liu Zong to secretly protect Liu Bai. Though Liu Zong had only followed from afar, he had witnessed everything that happened along the way. Several times, he had nearly been unable to stop himself from intervening, but he ultimately held back. Liu Bai's displayed methods had left him deeply shocked.

"Big Brother, you have no idea. Our Bai'er is truly... truly..." Liu Zong thought for a moment, but did not know how to describe him.

Liu Qingtian immediately grew anxious. "Truly what? Second Brother, hurry up and tell me!"

Although Liu Qingtian had appeared calm just now, he was actually extremely worried about his son's current state.

After thinking for a while, Liu Zong finally said, "Let me put it this way. From what I have seen of Bai'er now, even you, Big Brother, may not necessarily be his match!"

Liu Qingtian's eyes widened. "Is that true?!"

Liu Zong nodded, then carefully recounted everything he had seen and heard along the way to his elder brother.

Meanwhile, Liu Bai had returned to his own small courtyard and sat cross-legged on his bed with his eyes closed.

To be honest, he had never expected this pursuit of the Blood Wolf Bandits to bring him such enormous changes. Along the way, he had watched his Experience Points and Spirit Vein Awakening Points steadily rise, unintentionally overlooking the changes accumulating within him from all that killing.

Only after thinking it over carefully did he realize that ever since massacring the Blood Wolf Bandits Valley Lair, his actions had become extremely aggressive. His temperament had gradually turned impatient and violent. At first, seeing blood had made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable, but he slowly grew accustomed to it, and eventually even began to enjoy it...

Especially those Blood Wolf Bandits members he had hunted down in the end. Every one of them had nearly collapsed, with no strength left to resist when they saw him. Yet he had still slit their throats with his dagger, and watching blood spray from their necks filled him with an inexplicable joy.

At that thought, Liu Bai suddenly shuddered from head to toe.

When had I become such a pervert...

"Phew!"

Liu Bai let out a long breath, as though he wanted to expel all the oppression in his heart.

"Fortunately, I noticed it early. If this state continued for too long, it really could cause some irreversible consequences..."

Having crossed into this world, Liu Bai had no desire to become a bloodthirsty fiend. Would it not be better to enjoy life properly? If he had the chance in the future, he could travel throughout the Great Thousand World and see all kinds of beautiful young ladies from its countless races...

Thinking of that, Liu Bai felt much more at ease. He then silently circulated his spiritual art, using cultivation to wear away the hostility in his heart.

Before long, the sun set beyond the western hills, and night fell.

Liu Bai, already in a state of calm concentration, suddenly heard footsteps outside his door. A gentle knock followed.

Frowning, Liu Bai said, "Come in."

At this time, it was usually someone bringing him dinner.

However, Liu Bai had not expected that while the visitor had indeed brought a lavish dinner and even wine, she was a young girl dressed in only a thin layer of gauze. Her jade-like body beneath the sheer fabric was almost visible at a glance. Liu Bai suddenly felt that this dinner was a little too lavish.

"You are..." Liu Bai withdrew his gaze and looked at the unfamiliar girl before him, unable to hide his confusion.

Liu Bai did not believe that the girl had come to seduce him on her own. Although Liu Qingtian, as his father, would not mind his son producing heirs for the Liu Family early and strengthening the family, in the eyes of those in the Great Thousand World, that was absolutely not the first choice for making a family prosper.

Only those destined to achieve nothing in cultivation would marry and have children early. A heaven-blessed genius like Liu Bai, who was destined to shoulder the entire family in the future, would never be allowed by the Liu Family to waste his time on women.

Moreover, Liu Bai was still technically underage. At a time like this, it was even less possible for him to indulge in women.

"Who sent you?"

Though it was merely a calm question, combined with Liu Bai's cold killing intent, it nearly made the girl collapse to the floor.

"It... it was the Domain Lord..." The girl's voice trembled uncontrollably with fear.

But Liu Bai quickly understood his father's intentions. Was he trying to let Liu Bai vent the hostility in his heart on this girl? His father was underestimating him far too much.

"Alright, you may leave first. I will speak to Father about this."

Liu Bai waved his hand and directly dismissed her.

He liked girls too, especially beautiful girls, but he would not indulge himself merely to vent his desires. If he did, then even with all his cheats, he would eventually become nothing more than an empty shell controlled by desire and power.

After sending away his father's well-intentioned gesture, Liu Bai did not leave his courtyard for the next several days. Other than eating and sleeping, he spent all his remaining time cultivating.

Regardless of how effective that cultivation was, over those days, the hostility in Liu Bai's heart gradually wore away.

Liu Bai, who had originally seemed wrapped in a hard shell, returned to his former self. His smile became gentle again, and the chill that seemed capable of piercing one's bones vanished completely. Yet the occasional flash of scarlet deep in his eyes revealed what kind of power lay hidden beneath that mild smile.

"Bai'er, we will set off tomorrow. Once you leave, you may not be able to return for quite some time. You must cultivate well at the Northern Azure Spirit Academy. Though that place is full of geniuses, your father believes you are inferior to no one!"

After learning from his second brother what his son had done over the past month or so, Liu Qingtian knew that his son was no ordinary person. Perhaps the Northern Azure Spirit Academy was his opportunity, one that could allow both him and the entire Liu Family to soar into the skies!

Liu Bai smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, Father. The next time we meet, I'll definitely give you a huge surprise!"

"Haha, then I'll be waiting for it."

The next day, Liu Bai rose early. After bidding farewell to the relatives and friends at Willow Manor, he traveled directly to Northern Spirit City through the Teleportation Array, then headed straight for the Northern Spirit Academy.

Northern Spirit Academy, a spacious training ground.

At that moment, the training ground was almost completely surrounded by Northern Spirit Academy students, all of whom watched the center with envious looks in their eyes. Five enormous light arrays had appeared there, faintly radiating powerful spiritual energy.

This was the Northern Spirit Academy's greatest change over the past two months: five specially constructed Teleportation Arrays. Only by passing through these five arrays could one leave the Northern Spirit Realm and enter the assessment spaces already prepared by the Five Great Academies.

At the center of the training ground, Liu Bai and five others were already fully prepared. Feeling the envious and jealous gazes of the surrounding students, several among the six stood even taller.

After all, they were only teenagers. It was natural for them to feel proud and pleased in such a situation. Even the Mentors and the academy head merely smiled knowingly when they saw it, and would not lower their opinion of them because of it.

"Listen carefully..."

Mr. Lin, standing nearby, suddenly looked at everyone and spoke.

"I have told you before that although you have passed the Northern Spirit Academy's test, in a sense, that test merely granted you the qualifications to enter the Five Great Academies. It does not mean that you are already students of the Five Great Academies."

"The Five Great Academies have their own assessment standards for you. That will be the true test from the Five Great Academies! Pass it, and you will become students of the Five Great Academies with boundless prospects ahead of you."

"If you fail, you will not be sent straight back, but neither will you be able to enter the Five Great Academies. At that time, you will be assigned to other large Spiritual Academies..."

"So if you want to become true students of the Five Great Academies, work hard."

"Yes!"

Liu Bai and the others all grew solemn at those words.

Although any large Spiritual Academy would certainly be better than remaining at the Northern Spirit Academy, none of the six wanted to end up that way. Everyone knew that the Five Great Academies were the best Spiritual Academies in the Great Thousand World. Who would not want the very best?

"The assessments of the Five Great Academies are all different, so even I do not know what you will encounter next. However, after you pass through the Teleportation Spirit Array, someone over there will receive you. How far you can go will depend on yourselves."

"Alright, these Teleportation Arrays are nearly ready as well..."

At once, everyone grew nervous, and Liu Bai was no exception.

"Those going to the Sacred Spirit Academy, go to the second Teleportation Spirit Array on the left." Mr. Lin waved his hand and said.

At those words, Xu Ling strode forward. However, just before entering the spirit array, he still turned to look at Liu Bai and said gravely, "Liu Bai, it is a pity that I did not get to fight you this time. But I think we will meet again. I hope you will not disappoint me then!"

With that, he walked into the spirit array without looking back.

Liu Bai was instantly speechless. Who are you? Do I even know you? You're leaving already, yet you still had to put on an act in front of me. Was that necessary?

One after another, it was soon Liu Bai's turn.

"Northern Azure Spirit Academy, the fourth Teleportation Spirit Array."

Liu Bai stepped forward at those words, then heard someone shouting beside him.

"Big Brother, work hard when you reach the Northern Azure Spirit Academy! I'll come find you in three years!"

It was Liu Mubai. Watching his elder brother step into a Teleportation Array capable of changing his life, his blood also boiled with excitement.

"Big Brother Liu Bai, I'll work hard to catch up to you too!"

It was Hong Ling. Her clear voice trembled faintly, as though that one shout had already taken all her strength.

Liu Bai turned back and waved at them both, then stepped directly into the range of the spirit array.

"Steady your minds. The teleportation is about to begin!"

Mr. Lin shouted in a low voice. With a sweep of his sleeve, several light seals shot into the Teleportation Spirit Arrays. Brilliant light then bloomed atop the arrays, gradually enveloping the figures within.

The brilliant light gradually obscured Liu Bai's vision. He looked toward Liu Qingtian, Liu Mubai, and even Hong Ling, who had come to see him off in the distance...

After this departure, who knew what things would look like when they met again?

This was a vast and boundless land...

The sky was azure blue, with white clouds drifting overhead. Below lay an ancient forest whose end could not be seen.

Within the forest stood enormous trees thousands of feet tall, their terrifying height comparable to mountain peaks. A desolate and ancient aura spread out from this woodland of giant trees.

Above the forest, flocks upon flocks of Spirit Beasts flew past, their sharp cries echoing through the heavens and earth.

Going deeper, one could occasionally see enormous Spirit Beasts fighting in the far distance. Their earth-shaking roars traveled afar, shaking the heavens and the land.

This land was steeped in ancient savagery, like a primordial wilderness untouched by human feet.

However, the absence of human presence was quickly broken. High in the air, an enormous bluestone platform roughly a thousand feet wide floated in midair. Clouds and mist curled around it, making it look like an immortal realm.

At that moment, pillars of light appeared out of nowhere atop the mist-shrouded bluestone platform. Each time a pillar of light emerged, figures appeared on the platform alongside it.

Before long, more and more people appeared. Accompanied by noisy chatter and cries of surprise, this world became lively.

Liu Bai surveyed his surroundings and watched the growing crowd. Recalling memories from his past life, he knew that he had arrived at the Northern Azure Spirit Academy's specially established assessment ground for new students: the Northern Cang Realm!

And the platform where he stood should be one of the many platforms in the Northern Cang Realm.

"Counting it out, I'm one class ahead of Mu Chen and the others from the original story. I wonder what monstrous new students this year has, how many have passed the Spirit Road, and how many have been crowned kings."

Liu Bai tried hard to search his memories for useful information. Unfortunately, though nearly a thousand people now stood across the entire platform, none caught his attention.

Moreover, while these people differed in clothing and temperament, they all shared one trait: their cultivation was not high. There were only a few even in the late Spirit Wheel Realm. Thus, Liu Bai was currently the strongest cultivator on this platform!