The Strongest Generation!

Amid the teasing laughter of the older students, a young man with hair like blazing flames stepped forward. Looking down at the new students below, he spoke coldly.

"Freshmen, I'm Yan Mo. On behalf of all the senior brothers and sisters of Northern Azure Spirit Academy, I welcome you. But no matter what background you have, once you enter Northern Azure Spirit Academy, you'd better behave yourselves. Here, strength is supreme! If you lack ability, no one will think highly of you no matter how impressive your background is."

"Now, let's discuss the final challenge. Anyone with a Level Seven Mark or above may challenge us. Of course, you may also choose to forfeit directly."

"Elder Bai has already explained the rewards for the challenge. The people beside me are not considered outstanding at Northern Azure Spirit Academy. For now, they can only rank within the top fifty on the academy's Divine Soul Ranking. But for most of you, they are still impossible to defeat."

"So I hope you all know your place. Don't ask for trouble, and don't waste our time!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the many freshmen below erupted in uproar. Every one of them looked indignant, clearly displeased at being looked down upon like this. After all, among all those present, who had not been a highly admired prodigy at their former academies?

The older students, however, were already used to such reactions. Hadn't they been just as arrogant back then? Unfortunately, once these newcomers entered the academy, reality would teach them to see things clearly.

"The Divine Soul Ranking? Could it be a ranking that records all the Divine Soul Realm students in Northern Azure Spirit Academy? If so, anyone capable of placing in the top fifty truly cannot be underestimated." Unlike the other freshmen, Su Xuan was not angered. Instead, she had noticed a new term.

Northern Azure Spirit Academy recruited hundreds of thousands, even millions, of students each time. Adding in all the older students, how many people would that make?

With such a terrifying number of students, the vast majority of whom were in the Divine Soul Realm, anyone who could rank in the top fifty among them was obviously extraordinary.

As for the faint disdain in Yan Mo's words, it was because he was clearly even stronger and had the right to look down on the Divine Soul Ranking. But these freshmen did not dare think the same way.

"So, who wants to take part in this challenge?" Liu Bai asked with a smile as he looked at the crowd.

Su Xuan naturally needed no mention. Other than Yan Mo, she was confident she could defeat any of them. Liu Bai would definitely participate as well. After all, there was no reason to turn down an opportunity to earn Spirit Value.

That only left Li Jing, Guo Xiong, and An Ran.

An Ran gritted her teeth. With her current cultivation at the Divine Soul Realm Middle Stage, she was not even among the stronger freshmen, much less a match for those older students.

In truth, if she had not met Liu Bai, she likely would not even have obtained a Level Seven Mark. This time, she could only give up.

As for Li Jing and Guo Xiong, after considering it for a moment, both chose to accept the challenge.

"Now, everyone qualified to challenge us may choose to forfeit. Those who forfeit, take one zhang back."

Inside the great hall, everyone exchanged looks. Then, some of the students who had obtained Level Seven Marks retreated with bitter smiles. Every one of those older students possessed strength half a step into the Heaven Fusion Realm. How could they possibly win?

Likewise, An Ran, Su Ling'er, and Guo Xiong's two lackeys all consciously stepped back.

Before leaving, little Su Ling'er clenched her tiny fists and cheered on her sister, Liu Bai, and the others.

An open space soon appeared in the center of the hall. Only a small group of around ten people remained standing there.

"Your opponents will be determined by drawing lots. However, even after drawing, you still have the right to forfeit." Yan Mo raised a hand, and more than a dozen balls of light floated out.

Seeing this, everyone below beckoned with their hands, each drawing a ball of light toward themselves. When the light balls landed in their hands, they transformed into streaks of light that shot out and finally landed on the bodies of the older students.

Liu Bai likewise caught a ball of light. With a gentle squeeze, it shattered and became a red beam that shot outward.

There was none of that melodramatic nonsense where the protagonist of the original story got matched against the strongest opponent. Liu Bai's opponent was merely an ordinary member among the dozen older students. Yan Mo, the strongest among them, had instead been matched with the strongest freshman of this generation—the Spirit Crown Holder of the Spirit Road, Li Xuantong.

Liu Bai could not help raising an eyebrow at that. If anyone claimed there was no rigging involved, he would not believe it in the slightest.

"Oh? Brother Yan's opponent is actually one of the three Heaven Fusion Realm students in this batch. Looks like we're in for a good show." One of the older students standing beside Yan Mo immediately laughed.

After all, his own opponent looked like nothing more than an ordinary kid at the Divine Soul Realm Late Stage. The gap between them was enormous, and he was even the weakest cultivator among the dozen challengers. Naturally, he was in the mood to watch the excitement.

The two older students who had drawn Zhou Fan and Su Xuan, however, wore grave expressions. Clearly, they were deeply wary of those two freshmen whose cultivation levels exceeded their own.

Yan Mo's expression did not change at all. He said calmly, "Your opponents have been decided. Is anyone withdrawing? Or, if you want to switch opponents, that is also allowed, so long as both parties agree..."

The freshmen said nothing.

"Since that is the case, let the challenge begin!"

As his voice fell, the older students immediately flew toward their respective opponents.

The one who landed before Liu Bai was precisely the older student who had spoken with Yan Mo earlier. Seeing the "weakest" opponent before him, he immediately unleashed a mighty aura of Spiritual Energy, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

"Junior Brother, my name is Li Ling. I think you should just admit defeat. After all, I'm ranked twenty-fifth on the Divine Soul Ranking. There's no shame in losing to me."

Liu Bai's gaze flickered. Someone ranked twenty-fifth on the Divine Soul Ranking possessed cultivation half a step into the Heaven Fusion Realm. It seemed Yan Mo had not exaggerated earlier—these older students were all very strong.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but I'd still like to personally experience the strength of Northern Azure Spirit Academy's senior students."

The young man, Li Ling, merely shrugged indifferently. "Fine, then. You can make the first move."

"Oh, really? Then thank you, Senior Brother..." Liu Bai smiled.

Seeing that smile, Li Ling immediately felt uneasy. For some reason, he felt there was a deeper meaning behind it.

But he soon understood exactly what Liu Bai's smile meant...

As Spirit Seals continuously flew from Liu Bai's hands, forming a dazzling golden array in midair, Li Ling's heart sank. "You... you're a Spirit Array Master?!"

This joke had gone too far!

He had actually allowed a Spirit Array Master to strike first. Wasn't that simply courting death?

He did not know what level of Spirit Array Master Liu Bai was, but anyone who could pass the Northern Cang Realm's examination could not possibly be merely a Level 1 Spirit Array Master...

Buzz!

A humming sound rang through the air as five enormous golden wheels formed. Just from the terrifying energy fluctuations they emitted, Li Ling knew he was in serious trouble!

"Go!"

Liu Bai's hand seals changed swiftly. The five golden wheels let out piercing shrieks and instantly arrived above Li Ling's head.

Li Ling's expression darkened as he cursed inwardly. Then his figure shot forward, his fists clenched as he threw a devastating punch. Golden light surged out like a brilliant ribbon, carrying astonishing fluctuations as it struck one of the golden wheels with lightning speed.

Bang!

The two streams of golden light collided fiercely. A deep sound rang out as Spiritual Energy clashed, and amid the blinding radiance, both attacks dissipated.

Liu Bai's expression did not change in the slightest. It was not surprising for someone in the top fifty of the Divine Soul Ranking to possess such strength.

His hand seals shifted again, and the remaining four golden wheels instantly continued their pursuit.

After destroying one golden wheel, Li Ling no longer looked nearly as relaxed.

Though he had shattered one wheel with a punch, its spinning edge had still left injuries on his fist. In particular, a peculiar sharp force had invaded his palm, causing unbearable stabbing pain throughout his hand. He could not even gather his Spiritual Energy properly.

"Damn it, they're this terrifying? These Spirit Array Masters..."

Li Ling's face turned green with regret. Had he known this fellow was a Spirit Array Master, how could he possibly have been so arrogant as to let him complete the array? If not for that, he would not have fallen into such a passive position.

But...

"It won't be that easy to defeat me!"

Li Ling swiftly suppressed the unease surging in his heart and let out a sharp roar. Black Spiritual Energy poured out like a raging tide, dark radiance spreading across his body. Finally, amid an earth-shaking roar, it transformed into a massive black beast standing upon the void.

The gigantic beast was pitch-black, as though forged from black ice. A stream of black water coiled around its enormous body, while a dark golden horn stood atop its head, engraved with golden spiral patterns. Powerful waves of Spiritual Energy spread continuously from within the black beast.

"That is... the Northern Nether Blackwater Beast, ranked eightieth on the Earth Ranking of the Myriad Beast Record?" Many people could not help crying out in shock.

The moment the Northern Nether Blackwater Beast appeared, black water surged around it, transforming into a torrential river that swept toward the four golden wheels.

"Oh? Interesting!"

Liu Bai's eyes lit up. The Northern Nether Blackwater Beast was rarely seen. Rumor had it that it only lived in the North Sea, and the Northern Nether Blackwater it was born with was an exceptionally potent spiritual water of heaven and earth.

Sure enough, after being trapped within the great river, even the golden wheels' sharpness could not free them. They could only drift along with the roaring current.

Water is the gentlest, yet it can overcome hardness.

Liu Bai thought to himself as firelight flashed beneath his feet.

Whoosh!

A blurred figure suddenly passed through the river like a ghost and appeared above Li Ling. Then Liu Bai threw a punch, and three Senluo Death Seals howled forth, carrying astonishing Spiritual Energy fluctuations as they enveloped Li Ling.

Li Ling was greatly alarmed. With a thought, the Northern Nether Blackwater Beast outside his body roared and raised a claw, slapping toward the three Senluo Death Seals.

Boom!

The two fierce attacks collided head-on, and visible Spiritual Energy shockwaves swept outward. The two masses of black Spiritual Energy confronted each other, writhing madly as each sought to destroy the other.

"Break for me!"

Seeing the two forces deadlocked, Li Ling's gaze darkened. The Spiritual Energy within him erupted completely as he struck out with his palm. Dark light blazed, finally suppressing the Spiritual Energy shockwaves formed by the Senluo Death Seals. With a bang, they were forcibly scattered.

Unfortunately, although he had blocked the attack, the Spiritual Energy form condensed from the Northern Nether Blackwater Beast that had been protecting Li Ling was now damaged. At that moment, Liu Bai's ghostlike figure appeared once again.

"Star Shattering Fist!"

A meteor-like fist struck Li Ling's body. A terrifying shattering force erupted, directly breaking apart the Spiritual Energy around him, and blood spurted from his mouth.

"Senior Brother Li Ling, thank you for letting me win." Liu Bai returned to his original position, smiling lightly as he cupped his fists.

Li Ling wore a bitter expression.

Among the older students who had come this time, his strength was even considered among the higher ranks. If he had not been too arrogant and lost the initiative, he did not believe he would have lost.

Unfortunately, it was too late to think about such things. A loss was a loss, and there was no way for him to argue otherwise.

"Junior Brother, your strength is impressive, and your talent in Spirit Arrays is even more extraordinary. I lost this time." After leaving behind those bitter words, Li Ling immediately retreated behind Elder Bai, having lost all interest in joking around.

Elder Bai watched everything unfold and could not help smiling inwardly.

As the guide of this Northern Cang Realm, he knew very well which young people had performed brilliantly. He also knew that this seemingly ordinary young man was a genuine Level 3 Spirit Array Master. In terms of pure strength, he was probably not much weaker than Li Xuantong. He was absolutely among the top five freshmen of this batch.

In that battle against Li Ling, he probably had not even used half his strength.

Of course, Elder Bai could not say that aloud. Otherwise, the fellow beside him would probably become so depressed he might spit blood.

"Not bad, little fellow. This is your reward."

With a flick of Elder Bai's finger, the crystal card in Liu Bai's hand flashed. Its original three thousand Spirit Value immediately became eight thousand.

Liu Bai looked at the number with delight and bowed respectfully to Elder Bai.

Before long, the battles came to an end one after another. The older students truly were much stronger than the freshmen. Other than Liu Bai, among the remaining Divine Soul Realm challengers, even Li Jing and Guo Xiong were defeated regretfully.

However, Li Jing, who had obtained the Snow Demon Beast, was not to be underestimated. She remained locked in combat with her older opponent for quite some time and only lost in the end because her Spiritual Energy had run out.

As for Guo Xiong, the spiritual art he cultivated possessed unparalleled defense, giving his opponent quite a headache. Though he lost, he had still displayed considerable strength and talent.

Then, beneath everyone's burning gazes, a violent explosion of Spiritual Energy sounded in the sky. Two figures slowly descended to the ground.

"I lost!" Yan Mo, his long flame-like hair disheveled, said with a pale face.

Across from him, Li Xuantong's body was also covered in charred burn marks. Though he had won, it was obvious that victory had not come easily.

Happy New Year!