In the Great Yu Empire, Huo Qingshan and Jue Lang faced each other. This Xia Luo... also came from the Empire. Just like Yin. When did the Empire become so formidable? The standouts from "Storming the Three Academies," "Storming the Dragon Gate," and "Honoring the Ancestors" all came from the Great Yu Empire. Even the seeded player was Lu Yin. This... was a bit too bizarre.
Thinking of this, the two couldn't help but look toward the Imperial Palace. When Xia Luo was admitted to the Tenth Academy, Crown Prince Duo Lan-Yushan had tried to investigate his background but was told he lacked the authority. Perhaps only His Majesty knew Xia Luo's origins.
Wu Shan looked at his personal terminal. On it was Xia Luo's file, but it contained only two words: "Top Secret." He... also lacked the authority to view it. Xia Luo's identity was a secret across the entire Outerverse.
"It seems the Empire has produced some terrifying people these past few years..." Wu Shan rubbed his head and sighed.
...
In the Afterlife-World, as the Top Students on the high peak stood up, the "Honoring the Ancestors" segment officially began.
Ten people lifted their feet simultaneously, approaching the ancient incense.
The secret of the incense was no longer a secret. The "Field-like" suppressive area had long since been publicized. But even knowing this, experiencing it for the first time was still a shock.
Upon entering the incense's range, Liu Tang's eyes turned bone-chilling. He saw countless sword-qi tearing through the void. This was the battle-intent of ancient predecessors. Sword after sword ripped through space, slashing at him. He walked forward, step by step, facing death, unyielding.
The closer they got, the greater the pressure, and the stronger the battle-intent. At this point, the difference was clear. The woman from the First Academy, Liu Tang from the Second, the White Night clansman from the Third, Xia Ye from the Fifth, and Xia Luo from the Tenth... these five continued to advance steadily. The others had all, more or less, paused.
Xia Luo's performance amazed many. To have come this far with only Melt-realm strength was truly not easy.
Yin, at this moment, had just leisurely strolled out of the valley. He looked up at the screen in the sky, the corners of his mouth curling into an even wider arc. "You couldn't hold back either, huh? Some people are born to be ants, while others... are destined for greatness. Are you and I... the same kind of person? Let me see clearly."
The thousand-meter distance to the incense was like a chasm. When Xia Luo and the others were less than a hundred meters away, they all stopped.
The battle-intent was roaring. The heroic souls of the ancient predecessors were showing them things others could not see. At this moment, even the woman from the First Academy had stopped, her eyes staring at the sky in shock, seeing a scene invisible to others.
...
At the same time, the Nalan family's ship entered the Tenth Academy's space station. As the cabin door opened, Lu Yin walked out first, followed by Liu Xiaoyun. No one else was allowed to enter.
"Aunt, I'll go first," Liu Xiaoyun said her farewell.
Lu Yin thanked Matron Nalan once more.
Matron Nalan smiled, looking at Lu Yin. "I don't know why, but I always feel you're going to shock me."
"I hope so," Lu Yin smiled. He saw Liu Xiaoyun glance over, knew she was in a hurry, and immediately walked toward the transport device.
Soon, the two arrived at the Zone-Domain entrance and saw the Zone-Domain Grandmaster.
The Grandmaster didn't ask much, allowing them to smoothly enter the Zone-Mountain.
Liu Xiaoyun didn't say a word, flying directly to the highest peak. She was the Seventh Academy's Zone Master; her place had always been at the summit.
Lu Yin chuckled. Are all experts this arrogant? His eyes suddenly burned. I wonder what it'll be like... when that arrogance is broken? The power of a Zone Master... I'm looking forward to it.
...
The woman from the First Academy was the first to move, continuing toward the incense. Liu Tang followed closely. Soon after, the others also entered the hundred-meter zone, and without pausing for long, they all walked with firm steps toward the ancient incense.
The battle-intent held no physical harm; it only sought to disrupt the mind. It tested both strength and mentality.
Although there was a gap between the students sent by the Ten Academies, it wasn't huge. In fact, Xia Luo, who had waited the longest at the 100-meter mark, had now synchronized with the others.
At this moment, in a forest within the Afterlife-World, Lu Yin appeared. He scanned his surroundings, saw a figure flashing toward the east, and his body flickered, appearing right in front of the person, scaring them badly.
"Student, may I ask where the tournament grounds are?" Lu Yin asked.
This student had been eliminated during the "Dragon Gate." He was enduring the mental exhaustion after "dying" to re-enter the Afterlife-World. He was in a bad mood and wanted to snap, but then he recalled this person had appeared from nowhere. Must be an expert. He said in a low voice, "Due east."
"Thanks," Lu Yin nodded. His body vanished, leaving a faint fissure in the air that stretched far into the distance.
The student was dumbfounded. Did I just see a ghost? His speed tore the void! What kind of monster is that? Even a Domain Master can't do that! And he's only in the Melt-realm! Do the Ten Academies have a monster like that? Or... is he one of the 'frozen' (cryo-sleep) experts? The student felt lucky he hadn't offended him, or he'd have died again and been unable to return.
...
Liu Xiaoyun's luck was much better. She had appeared not far from the tournament grounds. By the time she appeared on the high peak and walked to the seventh seat, in the distance, the first ancient incense stick (the First Academy's) was lit. Green smoke rose straight into the air. "All students of the Starry Sky First Academy pay respect to the loyal souls of our predecessors. May you be evergreen through the eons!"
Following the First Academy's tribute, everyone from the Starry Sky Academy became solemn and turned, including all the Top Students and the spectating Grandmasters.
"All students of the Starry Sky Second Academy pay respect to the loyal souls of our predecessors. May you be evergreen through the eons!"
"All students of the Starry Sky Fifth Academy pay respect to the loyal souls of our predecessors. May you be evergreen through the eons!"
...
Xia Luo was the last to arrive before the incense. He was about to light it, but suddenly paused, looking into the distance. At the same time, many people saw a small black dot approaching in the sky. The speed was not fast. It was Lu Yin. He had intentionally slowed down as he approached.
Lu Yin landed directly on the high peak.
The Fifth Academy's Zone Master, Kuang Wang, frowned and waved his hand. "Get lost! You think just anyone can come up here?"
A gale swept out, carrying an irresistible force toward Lu Yin.
Lu Yin also casually waved his hand, easily dissipating the wind. "I am the Tenth Academy's Top Student, Lu Yin. Greetings to all the senior students."
Kuang Wang was stunned. "You're the Tenth Academy's Top Student?"
The other Top Students also looked at Lu Yin.
Right at this moment, Xia Luo's voice rang out, "All students of the Starry Sky Tenth Academy pay respect to the loyal souls of our predecessors. May you be evergreen through the eons!"
As ten plumes of green smoke rose, it was as if a Buddhist seal had revealed countless ancient experts. Everyone seemed to hear the roars of battle-intent in their ears.
This was a phenomenon of the Afterlife-World, one that couldn't be transmitted to the universe via the screens.
At this moment, all the countless people in the universe saw were ten plumes of smoke and... nine figures on the high peak.
Wu Da stared excitedly at Xia Luo. He succeeded! That Melt-realm cultivator successfully lit the incense! In the future, he'll be my biggest resource! Oh right, and Yin! The Tenth Academy is definitely a goldmine! What a great place!
The spectating Academy students bowed to the incense again, then looked at the high peak, especially at Lu Yin in the tenth seat. Many scoffed, "The Tenth Academy really thinks everyone is an idiot. Propping up a weakling. The truly strong ones are Da Pao, Xiao Pao, Yin, Lulu Mebis, and Xia Luo. But... come to think of it, the Tenth Academy isn't weak at all."
"I wouldn't underestimate him. He did beat the Fire Realm's second-ranked Ranuk. Even Xi Yue lost out to him. A lot of people were extorted by him."
"He obviously had help. It was at the Tenth Academy, after all. A Grandmaster probably stepped in."
...
Behind the Fifth Academy's drum, Hart Phoenix stared at the screen. "He's here. He's finally here. Just wait... I will tear you apart."
Not far from Hart, a man carrying an ancient-style longsword looked at the screen. "So that's Senior-Sister's fiancé? He can't be too weak, I guess... he is a seeded player."
Behind the Sixth Academy's drum, Karon gritted his teeth. That bastard... isn't dead?
Van Kleed's face darkened. The man he had killed with one spear thrust... was now standing at the same height as the academy Zone Masters. Unforgivable!
Uro felt like coughing up blood. This was the guy who ambushed me first!
Behind the Eighth Academy's drum, Gall's eyes were dark, his fists clenched.
Xi Yue's eyes widened. Pervert! Just you wait! I'll make you pay! Unconsciously, she glanced down at her chest. "Hmph! It's not a washboard..."
...
In the Great Yu Empire, Wu Shan watched Lu Yin with relief. That kid actually stood at that height. I hope he can bear it. But... it's difficult. So, so difficult. To try and compare to the academy Top Students after only a year... it's almost impossible.
At the Ona family, Snomo Ona and the others looked at the screen, then glanced at Jenny Ona. The girl was truly shaken. That... was a height she couldn't even imagine. He's actually an academy Top Student.
Tao Xiang clenched her fists. "Good luck, my friend!"
On Earth, Zhou Shan and the others were breathing heavily. That's right! That was Lu Yin! It had only been a year, and he was already standing at the pinnacle of the entire universe's highest institution, representing Earth!
Not many on Earth knew Lu Yin personally, but very, very many had heard of him. Because of him, Earth had avoided the fate of being exiled to the frontier. Countless evolved humans could continue to live on their planet. Lu Yin's reputation had long surpassed the "Seven Saints" of the past. Today, for the first time, countless people intuitively felt the terror of the universe's top-tier experts. And up there... Lu Yin was one of them.
On the vast continent, at the edge of the Sky-City, Wendy Yushan stared at the screen, her thoughts unknown.
...
"Storming the Three Academies" eliminated half the participants, leaving 362. Adding the students from the Third, Seventh, and Tenth, the total was 598. But "Storming the Dragon Gate" eliminated over a hundred more, leaving 434 people. The Ten Academies Tournament draw... would be decided from these 434.
The ancient incense vanished into smoke. Everyone's gaze shifted south. Below the high peak of the ten Top Students, there was a massive plain. From the sky, a gale transformed into countless blades of wind, "cutting" the plain, dividing the vast expanse into 217 arenas. Each arena was surrounded by an invisible barrier, preventing attacks from spilling over. The tournament draw... would be held here.
And the high peak not far away... was their goal. The Ten Academy Top Students.
The Ten Top Students. They represented the Zone Masters of the Trial-Realm-Domains. They represented the Starry Sky Academy's Student Council. And even more... they represented the Ten-Arbiters-Council, possessing the qualification to directly submit topics for discussion to the Council.