Within the Astral River Hall

Within the Astral River Hall

Mo Qingcheng and Qin Wentian entered the Astral River Hall simultaneously. By the time they arrived, most of the first batch had already gathered. They all stood there, their eyes fixed on the space above their heads.

When Qin Wentian stepped into the Astral River Hall, he was taken aback. The space above him wasn't the hall's ceiling; instead, it resembled an actual starlit sky.

The Astral River Hall, borrowing its name from the Nine Astral Rivers of the Heavenly Layers, was divided into nine levels, each entirely covered with starry skies.

Standing inside the Astral River Hall felt like standing under a genuine starlit sky, with countless constellations overhead.

"This feels so real," Qin Wentian exclaimed in awe, feeling a faint pressure descending from above. It seemed to originate from the 1st Heavenly Layer, but those from the first batch entering the hall easily withstood the astral pressure at this level.

"The founder of the Emperor Star Academy must have been an extraordinary genius," Mo Qingcheng commented with a slight smile, and Qin Wentian nodded in agreement.

At that moment, a chilling sensation swept through the hall as Orchon's gaze locked onto Qin Wentian. Orchon's presence was like a pointed spear, icy and sharp, as if he aimed to pierce right through Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian's eyes grew equally cold as he stared back at Orchon.

"Will you participate in the Jun Lin Banquet at the end of this year?" Orchon inquired calmly. His words contained little anger but sent a shiver down the spines of those who heard them.

"I believe so," Qin Wentian replied calmly, keeping his gaze fixed on Orchon.

"In that case, you'd better pray that you don't cross paths with me," Orchon said, taking a step toward Qin Wentian. An intense aura surged around him, and Qin Wentian felt as though numerous spears were closing in on him. Orchon's strength had grown significantly since their last encounter.

"Boom!" Orchon took another step, and Astral Light coalesced into an astral long spear, incredibly sharp. Waves of killing intent emanated from it, rushing toward Qin Wentian.

"What are you doing, Orchon?" Luo Huan snorted coldly, drawing the attention of the surrounding crowd. Mo Qingcheng's expression shifted slightly, and her own indistinct pressure emerged.

"Relax. No matter how foolish I am, I won't take action within the Emperor Star Academy," Orchon replied, sweeping a glance at Luo Huan. Then, he thrust his spear towards the starlit skies. In an instant, the restriction of the 1st level shattered, and Orchon's figure transformed into a beam of light, disappearing from the 1st level of the Astral River Hall.

"He disappeared?" Qin Wentian's expression froze slightly. This was his first time in the Astral River Hall, and he wasn't very familiar with it.

A heavy expression crept over Qin Wentian's face as he recalled the intense killing intent Orchon had shown earlier. Orchon and a few others clearly harbored murderous intentions towards him. If it weren't for the protection of the Emperor Star Academy, he wouldn't be able to cultivate in peace.

"The Jun Lin Banquet." The weight of the upcoming event bore down on Qin Wentian. At his current cultivation level, only at the 6th level of Arterial Circulation, he was far from strong enough.

"You still want to participate in the Jun Lin Banquet?" Jiang Xiu's voice suddenly reached his ears. Qin Wentian turned to look at Jiang Xiu.

Jiang Xiu had assumed that Qin Wentian would skip this year's Jun Lin Banquet, so he couldn't help but be surprised when Qin Wentian agreed to Orchon's challenge.

"Very well." Jiang Xiu chuckled and gazed upward. Piercing through the void with his sword, he too disappeared from the 1st level of the Astral River Hall.

Qiu Mo glanced at Qin Wentian before vanishing from this level as well.

Many eyes were on Qin Wentian now. Most of these onlookers didn't harbor any ill will toward him, but his recent actions had inadvertently made him the center of attention. Even Mo Qingcheng viewed him favorably at the moment.

This attention wasn't limited to those inside the Astral River Hall; even the students outside were watching closely. The focus was now on a select group: Qin Wentian, Mo Qingcheng, Qiu Mo, Jiang Xiu, Orchon, Luo Huan, and Luo Cheng—these were the contenders with the potential to reach the 9th level of the Astral River Hall.

Outside the hall, spectators marveled at its grandeur. The 1st and 2nd levels of the Astral River Hall were already illuminated by constellations, visible from the outside. The spectators could clearly observe the events within.

"Orchon is incredibly fast, the first to reach the 2nd level. Qin Wentian's actions seem to have motivated Orchon, pushing him to his limits. He might be on par with, or even stronger than, Jiang Xiu, one of the 10 prodigies."

"Jiang Xiu, Qiu Mo, and Luo Cheng all ascended to the 2nd level in an instant. Their speed is remarkable; I wonder who will be the first to reach the 3rd level."

The spectators outside couldn't take their eyes off the Astral River Hall. Each time someone reached a new level, the constellations there would manifest and illuminate the surroundings. Even from the outside, they could see it clearly. Qin Wentian stared at the Astral River above him, where countless constellations swirled, forming a complex and beautiful picture, while a faint pressure descended upon him.

However, for Qin Wentian, this level of intensity was easily ignored.

"Can you sense the pressure coming from the constellations on the first level?" Luo Huan asked.

"I can feel it," Qin Wentian nodded. The constellations in motion emitted a subtle pressure, challenging his spirit and willpower.

"Break through it, and you can ascend to the 2nd level," Luo Huan said with a smile, her aura clashed with the astral pressure, then Astral Light engulfed her, and she disappeared from Qin Wentian's view.

For Luo Huan, this wasn't a significant challenge.

"Junior Brother Qin, I'll be waiting for you on the next level," Mountain, too, appeared behind Qin Wentian. He punched upward, disappearing from this level.

Soon, all the students on the first level ascended, leaving only Qin Wentian, Mo Qingcheng, and Fan Le silently gazing at the Astral River above.

"Boss, do you see anything?" Fan Le's eyes held a peculiar gleam as he looked at Qin Wentian.

"Runic lines of divine imprints," Qin Wentian said in a hushed tone. He observed the revolving constellations; their paths were constructed from countless runic imprints. The faint sense of astral pressure originated from there.

"Mm, you really are a genius when it comes to divine inscriptions. But I see an innate technique. The astral pressure seems like a fist, created by some kind of fist-type innate technique, aimed at us," Fan Le responded in a hushed voice. What Qin Wentian saw differed from Fan Le's perspective.

"I also see an innate technique," Mo Qingcheng nodded. She continued, "The Astral River Hall holds many mysteries, most of which students won't comprehend. I can't decipher them either. Dumbo, I'll be going ahead. Do your best to gain some insights."

With those words, Mo Qingcheng's form vanished from the 1st level as she ascended to the 2nd level.

"I'll make my move too," Fan Le laughed. With a mere thought, it was as if an arrow pierced through the void, and his figure disappeared from the level.

Qin Wentian remained alone on the 1st level.

This turn of events bewildered many spectators. Confusion filled their expressions as they realized that Qin Wentian was the sole student still on the 1st level.

"Qin Wentian condensed his Astral Souls from the 3rd and 4th Heavenly Layers. The 1st level shouldn't pose any challenge to him, right?"

"Perhaps he just wants to explore the mysteries of the 1st level."

These were the assumptions made by many.

Meanwhile, the crowd's attention shifted to the 2nd level, where sounds of excitement echoed. Orchon had reached the 3rd level with astonishing speed.

Subsequently, Qiu Mo, Jiang Xiu, and Luo Cheng also ascended to the 3rd level. The constellations' radiance bathed the area, making the spectators feel as though they were bathed in Astral Light.

"These individuals condensed their Astral Souls from the 3rd Heavenly Layer. I wonder if they can make it to the 4th level. If they do, it means they have a high likelihood of establishing an innate connection with a constellation from the 4th Heavenly Layer." Such thoughts circulated silently among the onlookers.

As time passed, more than ten individuals reached the 3rd level of the Astral River Hall. Their talents were evidently superior to the others.

Yet, there was something that puzzled everyone—the fact that Qin Wentian was still on the 1st level.

No one knew what he was doing.

At this precise moment, Qin Wentian sat cross-legged, silently scrutinizing the constellations' intricate pathways. These beautiful patterns, composed of runic imprints, coalesced into a fist that surged towards him.

"Boom." Qin Wentian's mind trembled intensely, but a gleam of excitement lit up his face.

"Divine Imprint, Innate Technique. They're flawlessly merged in this astral space. This is an opportunity," Qin Wentian thought fervently as he observed the fist formed by the innate technique.

With that realization, he closed his eyes, immersing himself in deep contemplation. In the formless void, countless fist-shaped lights, products of the innate technique, pummeled towards him. Each impact sent tremors through Qin Wentian's consciousness, but it only fueled his excitement. He needed to see clearly and understand this golden opportunity.

Three days passed in this intense mental struggle. Among the first batch of students, several had already left the Astral River Hall, replaced by a new group.

As these fresh students ascended to the 2nd level, Qin Wentian remained seated, his activities hidden from view. It raised questions among the observers—who would've thought that Qin Wentian's Astral Soul had been condensed through such mysterious means? Was Qiu Mo's statement true? Did Qin Wentian rely on extraordinary luck rather than his own abilities?

Five days later, as the students cycled in and out of the Astral River Hall, Qin Wentian still sat in deep meditation, shrouded in a veil of mystery.

Doubts began to fester among the crowd. How, exactly, had Qin Wentian condensed his Astral Soul? Could it be, as Qiu Mo had suggested, that he stumbled upon a miraculous stroke of luck?

Then, a radiant burst of light emanated from the Astral River Hall, casting its brilliance across the entire vicinity. Observing from outside, the students couldn't help but shudder in amazement.

"Qiu Mo has reached the 4th level. It appears that upon breaking through to Yuanfu, his 3rd Astral Soul had the potential to be condensed from the 4th Heavenly Layer," the crowd murmured in admiration. "No wonder he's ranked 4th among the 10 prodigies. He's an absolute monster."

"Boom." Just at that moment, another figure appeared on the 4th level. It was Orchon.

The spectators outside were enthralled, feeling as if they were witnessing the emergence of a brilliant genius rising to the heavens.