The Commotion After Exiting the Sacred Academy

The Commotion After Exiting the Sacred Academy . . . 

The lecture on dao had stretched into a profound journey, guiding them from the brink of death back to their cultivation.

The Sky Connecting Realm was their conduit to the starry heavens. When they closed their eyes to meditate, they could keenly sense the overpowering law energies emanating from the constellations.

It felt as though they were leisurely drifting through space, caught in a reverie where time held no dominion.

After fifty years of dwelling within the sacred academy, the geniuses finally opened their eyes. The starry expanse had vanished, replaced by the boundless Immortal Sea.

They sat atop boats formed from immortal energy, gently navigating the tranquil waters. An intangible breeze wafted around them, ferrying them to the opposite shore.

This was the same spot where they had congregated before embarking on their journey into the Immortal Sea, taking them to the four sacred academies.

Qin Wentian's eyes fluttered open, a contented smile gracing his lips. Qing'er and Mo Qingcheng sat beside him.

"That dream felt so long, as if several years had slipped by," Qin Wentian murmured. Qingcheng had ascended to the third level, while both he and Qing'er had broken through to the seventh level. Their immortal foundations brimmed with energy, adorned with a crystalline radiance. Their inner immortal energy had also matured, marked by a higher quality than before.

Their time within the academy had not merely elevated their cultivation levels. It had been a profound journey of self-discovery.

As they gazed ahead, the Immortal Sea's waves crashed upon the shore, resonating with a thunderous rumble. The numerous geniuses rose to their feet and proceeded forward, their hearts stirred by the experience.

These fifty years had felt like a dream.

In this dream, they had reaped immense benefits, particularly those who had entered the academy with lower cultivation levels. Their progress was evident. Conversely, those at higher levels found advancement more challenging. Experts at the ninth level, for instance, could only strive to grasp a hint of insight into immortal-king might, managing to control a trace of it at best. Regrettably, not many had succeeded.

That threshold was exceedingly elusive.

However, during the final dao lecture, several ninth-level immortal-foundation cultivators had achieved a breakthrough. The life-and-death battle and their voyage through the starry heavens had awakened something within them, bridging the gap to the realm of immortal kings.

The forces from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire, the White Tiger Race, and their allies remained unusually quiet. None were inclined to start a fight. They silently traversed the Immortal Sea, seeking their exit.

Outside the Nine Tripod City, near the sacred academy's entrance, the once-bustling crowds had gradually dispersed as time flowed on. It had been a long while since the academy's recruitment phase. Yet, major powers had stationed experts to stand guard, anticipating the return of the geniuses.

To those at the immortal king realm or higher, even a century felt like a fleeting moment. They considered their time within the Nine Tripod City as an ephemeral interlude. Nevertheless, some experts lingered near the sacred academy's exit, ever watchful.

As the moment ripened, a brilliant beam of light pierced the exit, and a figure strode forth with an aura of unparalleled arrogance. This resplendent individual was none other than Jia Nantian. His arrival instantly seized the attention of the crowd, compelling their hearts to tremble.

Finally, the first wave of graduates was emerging from the sacred academy.

Following a series of energy ripples, more figures followed suit, and all eyes fixated on this unexpected spectacle. From far and wide, experts sensed the fluctuations resonating from this location, hastening to converge upon it.

A violent gust of wind cascaded through the scene, heralding the appearance of a fearsome Great Roc in the sky. The creature turned its attention to Jia Nantian and his fellow sky rocs, greeting them with a grin. "Nantian, you lot are finally back."

The surrounding space writhed under the surge of energy, causing a commotion as numerous figures materialized one after another. These newcomers were the elder guardians of the young talents who had just graduated, their immortal senses sweeping across the Nine Tripod City to locate the juniors from their respective sects and clans.

"Ha! Children, you've returned at last!" A thunderous voice boomed from the heavens as a white tiger king of intimidating stature, marked with the character '王' on his forehead, exuded an aura that could dominate the world. He was none other than the mighty white tiger king from the White Tiger Race.

Elsewhere, a human emperor figure appeared, emanating a commanding air of regal authority. Crowned and imposing, this supreme expert hailed from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire.

"Shatian, Wudi," he greeted with a smile, casting a watchful eye over Huang Shatian and Huang Wudi, while more representatives of the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire materialized nearby.

In another direction, Nanfeng Guhong stood serenely, a smile gracing her lips as she observed her clan members emerging from the sacred academy.

All the major powers of the immortal realms had dispatched emissaries to welcome their prodigies.

When Qin Wentian and his companions exited, their eyes scanned the gathering, eventually landing on the Thousand Transformations Immortal Emperor, who returned their gaze with a warm smile.

The Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect, a rapidly ascending power, had sent only a handful of disciples to the sacred academy, with the majority hailing from the Heavenly Talisman Realm. Though immortal kings like Bai Wuya had also entered the academy, they remained in a distinct dimension and were yet to emerge. Therefore, the Thousand Transformations Immortal Emperor had come personally to receive the graduates.

"So many eminent experts," murmured those who had rushed from the Nine Tripod City. Over 20,000 prodigies from various corners of the immortal realms, each backed by formidable immortal powers, now stood before them. The cream of the crop, representing the mightiest forces.

"These are true titans," they whispered in awe.

"Emperor Lord," Qin Wentian and his companions approached the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord.

"Excellent," the emperor lord acknowledged with a smile. Qin Wentian's ascent to the seventh level of immortal foundation in just 50 years was nothing short of astounding. Such rapid progress was truly remarkable.

"Where in the world could Youdi and Dangtian be?" In this pivotal moment, a profound and formidable figure hailing from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire couldn't resist voicing his concern. The absence of Huang Youdi had not gone unnoticed, and he was well aware of Youdi's propensity to shadow Huang Shatian. However, as the entire entourage of the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire emerged into the open, Huang Youdi remained conspicuously absent, leaving him perplexed and anxious.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted, resonating through the air like a primal force sweeping all in its wake. Over at the White Tiger Race camp, White-eye and his comrades were locked in heated discourse with their race's elders. The white tigers who had failed to return were now confirmed to have met their demise at the hands of humans.

Meanwhile, in the vicinity of the gathering Southern Phoenix Clan, the holy maidens retrieved precious droplets of nirvanic blood and entrusted them to Nanfeng Guhong. A chilling intensity flickered in Nanfeng Guhong's eyes, and an icy blanket descended upon the surroundings, casting an eerie shroud over the entire space.

Before long, numerous experts were emanating formidable auras, engrossed in animated conversations with the juniors from their respective sects and clans, sharing their experiences within the sacred academy. The prospect of these peak-level experts engaging in a brawl in this locale threatened to reduce the grand Nine Tripod City to mere rubble.

In the midst of it all, an imposing baleful energy surged forth from the direction of the Southern Phoenix Clan. Nanfeng Guhong strode forward, her aura shielding the holy maidens. She fixed a disdainful gaze on the white tiger, which exuded a domineering aura, and uttered with icy scorn, "A bunch of wretched creatures."

"YOU DARE!" The white tiger thundered, its gravelly voice reverberating throughout the space, causing the eardrums of many to quiver.

Turning his attention toward Qing'er and Qin Wentian, the human emperor from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire spoke with an icy edge, "The daughter of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor? Are you the one responsible for Youdi's demise?"

"He met a fitting end," Qing'er responded, her tone as frigid as the air.

The human emperor's eyes gleamed with a menacing intent. Youdi deserved to die?

"Do you realize who you're addressing?" The aura of the human emperor surged, enveloping Qing'er.

"The sacred academy was originally intended for the younger generation to hone their skills. Do you intend to meddle in their affairs and risk becoming a laughingstock?" A voice resonated from the void, instantly subjecting many experts from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire, including the human emperor, to a formidable pressure.

The human emperor turned his head to survey his surroundings, yet even with his acute senses, he couldn't discern the source of the voice.

"Indeed, he deserved his fate." The same voice echoed, and a formidable female cultivator materialized. Matriarch Ji's experts all converged around her, offering their respects, "Second senior sister!"

In the grand tapestry of the immortal realms, this remarkable woman stood out as one of the most formidable disciples under the esteemed Matriarch Ji's tutelage. She had ascended to the illustrious rank of an immortal emperor-level disciple, a position that had granted her widespread fame and prestige throughout the immortal realms, long before the events that were about to transpire.

At the threshold of the academy's exit, a chaotic spectacle unfolded, as the who's who of prodigious talents clashed in an intricate dance of alliances and rivalries. In this realm, every genius boasted formidable connections. If a full-fledged war were to ignite, the collateral damage would inevitably claim the lives of countless junior talents.

The mere whimsy of an immortal emperor could spell the end for an immortal-foundation character, dispatched with casual ease by the wave of a hand. None had the power to shield their protégés from such a dire fate, and the chilling reality hung heavy in the air.

A palpable aura of power descended upon the assembly, rendering them momentarily mute. For the preeminent forces gathered here, entering into a war was no trifling matter, for both sides harbored their own reservations. This was especially true for those individuals who had ascended to the immortal-emperor echelon.

"It's one thing if it were a battle of life and death. But there's someone among us who had the audacity to desecrate the remains of my tribe members, even in their death. How can we possibly let such an affront go unanswered? This individual, none other than Qin Wentian, issued the vile command, instructing everyone to partake in the feasting upon white tigers. We have an obligation to see him meet his end," White-eye asserted, venom lacing his words. Among the White Tiger Race, there was no figure more reviled than Qin Wentian.

With the assembly of experts present, dealing with all of them was a daunting task. Consequently, they fixed their sights on a single target—Qin Wentian.

"Indeed, this man is utterly reprehensible and devoid of honor. He was the mastermind behind the killings, and without him, many promising talents within the academy might still be alive. Today, we must exact vengeance," declared a representative of the Skymist Immortal Empire, accusingly pointing a finger at Qin Wentian.

"Gu Xiao, a member of my Paragon Sword Sect, perished under his relentless assault," added another figure from the Paragon Sword Sect, their tone reeking of falsehood.

Qin Wentian's eyes narrowed, discerning the depth of their enmity.

It seemed that everyone harbored an unrelenting desire to see him dead.

"Allowing individuals like you to step foot in the sacred academy has been the gravest insult to me, Qin Wentian. None of you deserve to be hailed as the chosen," Qin Wentian retorted with a measured calmness.

"You all failed in your attempts to kill my senior brother, and instead, you met your own demise. Yet now, you seek to tarnish his reputation, branding him as despicable? Did he not engage in fair and honorable combat with all of you?" Jun Mengcheng thundered with fiery indignation. "Remember, back then, Huang Shatian, who had reached the pinnacle of immortal-foundation, fought against my senior brother, who was a mere sixth-level cultivator. Yet, they battled to a draw. Does my senior brother even need to rely on us to deal with the rabble who tried to hunt him down?"

"The white tigers have long harbored ill intentions toward our clan sisters. Their vile words and deeds were a testament to their malicious intentions. If any of our maidens fell into their clutches, one can only imagine the unspeakable horrors they would endure. Many of our clan sisters chose to transform themselves into droplets of nirvanic blood, awaiting rebirth, and to evade falling into the clutches of these fiends. These beasts deserved nothing less than death," a holy maiden from the Southern Phoenix Clan conveyed to Nanfeng Guhong.