Amid the teasing remarks from the senior students, a youth with flame-like hair stepped forward. Gazing coldly at the group of new students below, he spoke in a stern voice.
"Fresh rookies, my name is Yan Mo. On behalf of all the senior brothers and sisters of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, I welcome you. But no matter what background you may have, once you enter the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, you must act with humility. Here, strength reigns supreme. Without strength, no one will respect you, no matter how great your background is."
"Now, let me explain this final challenge. Anyone who has obtained a Grade Seven Spiritual Imprint or higher qualifies to challenge us. Of course, you can also choose to forfeit."
"The reward for this challenge has already been explained by Elder Bai. The people standing beside me aren't considered elite within the academy. At most, they rank within the top fifty of the Spirit Ranking. But for most of you, defeating them would still be impossible."
"So I advise you to know your limits, don't go looking for trouble, and stop wasting our time."
As soon as these words fell, the new students below immediately erupted. Each wore an expression of indignation, clearly upset at being looked down on like this. After all, weren't all of them once regarded as proud sons and daughters of heaven before arriving here?
The senior students, on the other hand, were already used to this scene. Thinking back, they had been just as arrogant back then but reality would soon teach these newcomers a harsh lesson.
"The Spirit Ranking? Could it be a ranking within the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy that records all the students at the Divine Soul Realm? If that's the case, then anyone in the top fifty definitely can't be underestimated." Su Xuan didn't respond with indignation like the other new students. Instead, she took note of this new term.
Every recruitment round of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy brought in hundreds of thousands of students. If the senior students were included, how vast would that number be?
With such a terrifying number of students, and the majority being at the Divine Soul Realm, anyone who could make it into the top fifty would undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.
As for that senior named Yan Mo, he seemed dismissive because he was clearly even stronger and had the qualifications to look down on the Spirit Ranking. But the new students obviously didn't have the luxury to think like that.
"So, who wants to take part in this challenge?" Liu Bai smiled as he looked around and asked.
Su Xuan would certainly participate. Aside from Yan Mo, she had confidence in defeating anyone. Liu Bai would also surely take part after all, there was no reason not to earn spiritual Value points.
The remaining question was whether Li Qing, Guo Xiong, and An Ran would join.
An Ran bit her lip. With her current cultivation only at the mid-phase Divine Soul Realm, she didn't even rank high among the new students, let alone when compared to the seniors.
In truth, if she hadn't encountered Liu Bai, she likely wouldn't have obtained a Grade Seven Spiritual Imprint in the first place. So this time, she could only withdraw.
As for Li Qing and Guo Xiong, after some consideration, the two of them chose to participate in the challenge.
"Now, all those qualified to challenge, you may choose to forfeit. Anyone forfeiting, step back one foot."
Inside the great hall, everyone exchanged looks. Some of the students who had received Grade Seven Spiritual Imprints gave bitter smiles and stepped back. After all, each of the senior students possessed strength nearing Heaven Fusion Realm how could they possibly win?
Likewise, An Ran, along with Su Ling'er and Guo Xiong's two followers, also sensibly stepped back.
As she left, the little girl Su Ling'er pumped her small fists and cheered on her older sister and Liu Bai's group.
Very quickly, the center of the great hall cleared out, leaving only a dozen or so individuals still standing.
"Your opponents will be chosen by drawing lots. After the draw, you may still choose to forfeit." Yan Mo raised his hand, and a dozen or so light orbs floated into the air.
The challengers each extended their hands and summoned a light orb. Once the orbs landed in their palms, they burst apart and transformed into streaks of light that shot toward the senior students.
Liu Bai likewise grabbed one of the orbs. With a light squeeze, it split open and turned into a red streak of light that shot forward.
There was no cliché twist where the main character ends up matched against the strongest senior. Liu Bai's opponent was just one of the ordinary senior students. The strongest among the seniors, Yan Mo, was instead matched with the strongest new student of this cohort—the Spiritual Crown Holder of the Spiritual Road, Li Xuantong.
Seeing this, Liu Bai couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. If anyone said there was no manipulation behind this match-up, he wouldn't believe it for a second.
"Oh? Brother Yan was actually matched with one of the three new Heaven Fusion Realm students this year. Looks like we're in for a good show." One of the senior students standing beside Yan Mo chuckled.
His own opponent appeared to be just an ordinary youth at the late-phase Divine Soul Realm the weakest among the dozen challengers so naturally, he was in the mood to enjoy the show.
In contrast, the other two seniors matched with Zhou Fan and Su Xuan wore grim expressions. It was clear they were wary of their opponents, who had higher cultivation levels than themselves.
Yan Mo, however, remained expressionless and said calmly, "The matchups have been made. Anyone want to withdraw? If you'd like to switch opponents, that's fine too as long as both sides agree."
None of the new students responded.
"In that case, let the challenge begin."
As his words fell, all the senior students flew toward their designated opponents.
The one who landed before Liu Bai was the very senior who had been joking with Yan Mo earlier. Now, facing what he believed to be the "weakest" opponent, a powerful spiritual energy surged from his body like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
"Junior brother, my name is Li Ling. I think you'd best admit defeat. After all, I'm ranked twenty-fifth on the Spirit Ranking. There's no shame in conceding."
Liu Bai's eyes narrowed. Rank twenty-five on the Spirit Ranking meant Li Ling had likely reached the half-step Heaven Fusion Realm It seemed what Yan Mo had said earlier was true—these seniors were indeed powerful.
"Thank you for the advice, senior brother. But I'd still like to experience the strength of the senior students of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy firsthand."
Li Ling shrugged indifferently. "Suit yourself. You can make the first move."
"Oh, really? Then thank you, senior brother..." Liu Bai smiled as he responded.
Seeing that smile, Li Ling suddenly had a bad feeling. Something about that expression felt... off.
He soon understood what Liu Bai's smile truly meant.
As Li Ling watched spiritual seals continuously fly from Liu Bai's hand and form a dazzling golden array in midair, his expression immediately changed. "You... you're a Spiritual Array Master?!"
This had to be a joke!
He had actually let a Spiritual Array Master take the first move wasn't that basically asking for death?
Although he didn't know what Rank Spiritual Array Master Liu Bai was, anyone capable of passing the Northern Heaven Realm's trial was definitely no Rank One novice...
Buzz!
A low hum rang through the air as five enormous golden wheels fully formed. The terrifying energy fluctuations emanating from them told Li Ling that he was in serious trouble.
"Go!"
Liu Bai's hand seal changed swiftly, and the five golden wheels shrieked through the air with ear-piercing screeches, arriving above Li Ling in an instant.
Li Ling's expression darkened, cursing inwardly. His figure abruptly shot backward, both fists clenched tightly. With a sudden roar, he punched out, and golden light surged forth like a fierce torrent, crashing toward one of the golden wheels with lightning speed and explosive power.
Boom!
Two golden lights collided violently. A deep, muffled sound spread out from the clash of spiritual energy. The brilliant golden light flared before both forces were annihilated simultaneously.
Liu Bai's expression remained completely unchanged. For someone ranked in the top fifty of the Spirit Ranking, this level of strength was not surprising.
His hand seal shifted once more, and the remaining four golden wheels surged forth again in hot pursuit.
After destroying one of the golden wheels, Li Ling no longer appeared as composed.
Although he had shattered a wheel with a single punch, the spinning energy from the wheel had left injuries on his fist. That strange, sharp aura had penetrated his palm, causing intense pain and making it difficult to gather spiritual energy.
"Damn it, this is way too terrifying. These Spiritual Array Masters…"
Li Ling's expression turned green with regret. Had he known this guy was a Spiritual Array Master, he never would have let him complete the array. Now he had fallen into a completely passive state.
But...
"If you want to beat me, it's not going to be that easy!"
Suppressing the unease rising in his heart, Li Ling let out a furious roar. Black spiritual energy surged like a tidal wave, enveloping his body in a dense black glow. Then, amidst a thunderous roar, the energy transformed into a massive black beast that tread across the air.
The beast was pitch-black all over, as if cast from obsidian ice. Its massive body was encircled by a flowing black current, and atop its head was a single black-gold horn etched with golden spiral patterns. A mighty wave of spiritual energy rippled continuously from its body.
"That's... the Nether Blackwater Beast, ranked eightieth on the Earth Ranking of the Myriad Beast Record?" many onlookers couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
As soon as the Nether Blackwater Beast appeared, black water surged around its body, transforming into a vast river that surged toward the four golden wheels in an attempt to drown them.
"Oh? Interesting."
Liu Bai's eyes lit up. The Nether Blackwater Beast was rarely seen, said to live only in the Northern Nether Sea. The Blackwater it naturally possessed was considered a formidable type of elemental spiritual water.
Sure enough, once the wheels were caught in the great river, even their sharp power was unable to break free. They could only drift helplessly within the mighty current.
"Truly, the highest virtue is like water. Though soft, water can subdue the strongest steel."
Liu Bai mused inwardly before a flash of fire ignited beneath his feet.
Whoosh!
A blurred figure suddenly ghosted through the river like a wraith, appearing above Li Ling. He then threw a punch, releasing three Death Seals that howled through the air with frightening spiritual fluctuations as they descended upon Li Ling.
Li Ling's expression changed drastically. With a thought, the Nether Blackwater Beast surrounding him roared and raised a paw, swatting toward the three Death Seals.
Boom!
The fierce attacks clashed head-on, and a spiritual shockwave visible to the naked eye erupted. The two black forces of spiritual energy writhed against each other, both trying to obliterate the other.
"Break!"
Seeing the stalemate, Li Ling's eyes turned cold. His spiritual energy exploded completely, and with a fierce palm strike, a surge of dark light erupted. At last, he managed to suppress and scatter the spiritual force of the three death seals with a bang.
Unfortunately, though the attack was neutralized, the spiritual body of the Nether Blackwater Beast that had been shielding Li Ling was also weakened. At that moment, Liu Bai's figure, like a phantom, appeared again.
"Starshatter Fist!"
The meteor-like punch landed directly on Li Ling. A terrifying force of destruction erupted, instantly shattering the spiritual energy around his body. A mouthful of fresh blood spewed from his mouth.
"Thank you for the match, Senior Li Ling," Liu Bai landed back in his original position, smiling as he cupped his fists.
Li Ling's face was bitter.
Among the senior students who had come here today, his strength was considered one of the highest. If he hadn't been overly confident and allowed his opponent to complete the array first, he didn't believe he would have lost.
But now, no matter how much he regretted it, the result was already decided. A loss was a loss. He couldn't even make excuses.
"Junior brother, your strength is impressive, and your talent in Spiritual Arrays is even more outstanding. I lost this time." Leaving behind this bitter acknowledgment, Li Ling retreated behind Elder Bai with no further mood to jest.
Elder Bai watched all this unfold and couldn't help but smile inwardly.
As the one responsible for recruiting talents to the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy, he was well aware of the performance and background of the outstanding students. This seemingly average-looking youth was actually a genuine Rank Three Spiritual Array Master. In terms of true strength, he might not even be inferior to Li Xuantong and could very well rank among the top five of all new students.
In the fight just now with Li Ling, he probably hadn't even used half of his full strength.
But of course, Elder Bai couldn't say any of this aloud. Otherwise, the fellow next to him might be so upset that he'd cough up blood.
"Young one, very good. Here's your reward."
Elder Bai flicked his finger, and the crystal tablet in Liu Bai's hand began to glow. The spiritual points displayed on it surged from 3,000 to 8,000.
Liu Bai looked at the number with satisfaction and respectfully bowed to Elder Bai.
Very soon, the other battles also concluded. The senior students indeed held the advantage. Aside from Liu Bai, all the other Divine Soul Realm newcomers, including Li Qing and Guo Xiong, were unfortunately defeated.
Even so, Li Qing, who had obtained the Snow Demon Beast, was not someone to be underestimated. She fought her opponent to a stalemate for quite some time and only lost in the end due to a lack of spiritual energy.
As for Guo Xiong, the defensive prowess of the spiritual art he cultivated gave his opponent a major headache. Though he lost, his strength and talent were both clearly outstanding.
As everyone's eyes turned toward the sky, a loud explosion of spiritual energy rang out. Two figures slowly descended from the air.
"I lost..." Yan Mo, with his flame-like long hair now scorched, spoke these words with a pale face.
Across from him, Li Xuantong was also covered in burn marks. Though he had won, it was clear his victory had not come easily.
.....
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