Soul Emperor Martial God

Deacon Youu finished speaking, glared at Xiao Yi, and then leaped off the mountain peak.

A group of heavenly talents followed.

The Xuan Lock Chain had disappeared long ago, the surrounding formations were gone, and everyone's cultivation had also recovered.

Even though this was the mountain peak above the Cloud Sea, returning below was not difficult for this group.

Xiao Yi descended by controlling the air.

Suddenly, a figure flew to his side.

"Brother," the figure said playfully in a low voice, "I knew early on that the final reward was the Sky-reaching Jade, and if you didn't want it."

"You might as well give me the first place, and I'll give you hundreds of times the cultivation items."

Xiao Yi smiled, "Even if I wanted to let you have it, you couldn't beat Sikong Yu."

"True," the figure laughed, "By the way, I'm Fang Shushu of the Fang Family from the Four-direction Domain."

"Fang what?" Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Shushu, like in reading books," the figure, who was Fang Shushu, laughed, "To be honest, I have read extensively. I won't say I'm all-knowing, but at least I'm knowledgeable through the ages."

"Uh." Xiao Yi nodded, "I'm Xiao Yi."

It was clear that this Fang Shushu wanted to befriend him.

These 11 people were not very old, around 22 or 23, all of them supreme heavenly talents.

It wouldn't hurt to make some connections.

"By the way, Xiao Yi," Fang Shushu suddenly asked, "the 12 of us entering the Heavenly Hidden Academy is a definite matter."

"Which peak are you planning to go to?"

"Which peak?" Xiao Yi began to ponder.

The Heavenly Hidden Twelve Peaks are well-known as the strongest disciples' cultivation grounds in the Heavenly Hidden Academy.

The Sky-reaching Peak is one of them, known for its formations.

"Perhaps the Sky-reaching Peak," Xiao Yi said lightly, "or maybe another peak."

"That's just like not answering at all." Fang Shushu rolled his eyes.

"I haven't really decided yet," Xiao Yi smiled.

"Why are you asking?"

Fang Shushu pouted and said, "I want to join the same peak as you, being new disciples together, it's good to have someone to rely on."

"Which peak do you want to go to?" Xiao Yi asked.

"Tianxuan Peak," Fang Shushu replied, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Tianxuan Peak," Xiao Yi muttered and nodded.

...

Swoosh... swoosh... swoosh...

In just a moment, Deacon Youu and the 12 people had already descended from the mountain peak and entered the Heavenly Hidden Academy.

In front of them was a grand hall.

The place where everyone stood was a gigantic plaza.

If guessed correctly, this was truly the interior of the Heavenly Hidden Academy.

The plaza was already filled with countless heavenly talents.

However, it seemed there were fewer people than expected.

Xiao Yi glanced around; the remaining heavenly talents numbered only about twenty thousand.

It seemed that, after the second difficulty, out of the hundred thousand heavenly talents who arrived here, only about twenty thousand remained.

Xiao Yi couldn't help but shake his head. The heavenly talents who came to take the test were initially in the millions, but now only about twenty thousand remained.

The assessment of the Heavenly Hidden Academy was indeed difficult.

However, these twenty thousand people were already quasi-disciples of the Heavenly Hidden Academy.

Moreover, compared to the previous mix of good and bad, with varied cultivations, the overall level of these twenty thousand was much higher than before.

Except for a few heavenly talents, the weakest here was at least in the Heavenly Extreme Third Layer, with nearly all above the Heavenly Extreme Fourth Layer.

The difference between the Heavenly Extreme Fourth Layer and the Heavenly Extreme Third Layer was vast, a significant gap between mid-stage and early-stage.

Xiao Yi sought out Lih Fengxing and others.

To his surprise, Lih Fengxing and the others had all passed again.

At this moment, each of them looked haggard, their faces tired.

But on their faces, they couldn't suppress their smiles, for they had passed all the assessments.

"Xiao Yi."

"Young Master Xiao Yi."

Seeing Xiao Yi, the group was filled with joy.

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "The four challenges after that, not so easy, right?"

"Indeed tough," Lih Fengxing laughed, "but barely manageable."

Cheng Suyan laughed, "As you said, Young Master Xiao Yi, as long as there's no fear in the heart, passing these tests isn't too difficult."

"Exactly," Lih Fengxing agreed, "I found that the assessment of Heavenly Hidden Academy isn't that difficult in terms of testing our strength."

"It's more about aptitude and intelligence."

Xiao Yi nodded, having anticipated this.

The Heavenly Hidden Academy, as the First Academy of the Central Region, its ability to teach disciples is evident.

Their requirements for disciples have only two criteria: talent and intelligence.

With good talent but poor intelligence, even if cultivation progresses rapidly in the short term, the martial arts dao future would be hard to go far.

With superior intelligence but low talent, although the martial arts dao path might progress steadily, future achievements would be limited.

If both talent and intelligence are lacking, then there's nothing more to say.

As long as talent and intelligence meet the standards, then even if the cultivation is low and strength weak now, the Heavenly Hidden Academy has the ability to cultivate you into a supreme expert.

This is the true meaning of the Heavenly Hidden Academy's assessment.

"Xiao Yi, what might the next assessment be?" the Eldest Prince asked.

Xiao Yi shook his head, "There should be no more assessments; next should be the three battles."

"Oh?" The crowd showed confusion.

At this moment, Deacon Youu shouted loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, congratulations, from now on, you are already disciples of the Heavenly Hidden Academy."

"However, only servant disciples."

A crowd of heavenly talents initially rejoiced, but then their faces darkened.

What is called a servant disciple is the lowest status disciple within the academy.

Still considered academy disciples, they can receive cultivation items from the academy periodically and guidance from strong figures within the academy.

However, in daily life, all miscellaneous tasks in the academy are done by servant disciples.

Or more simply put, their status here is no different from that of servants, but they have the chance twice a month to join outer disciples in the Martial Halls of the academy to learn martial arts knowledge.

There are over a hundred Martial Halls within the Heavenly Hidden Academy, places where elder figures teach disciples.

"I know you might be dissatisfied," Deacon Youu said loudly.

"After all, this is the evaluation the academy has given you, an assigned status after passing the assessments."

"But you do have the opportunity to change your status and even your destiny."

Deacon Youu paused and said, "In three days, you will have the chance to challenge the outer disciples."

"If you win, you will have the opportunity to enter the Outer Sect."

"Challenge the outer disciples?" the group of heavenly talents' faces changed, "How is that possible."

"The outer disciples have already cultivated in the academy for many years; how can we compare?"

"Calm down," Deacon Youu said loudly, "As a reward for passing each assessment, you will have one opportunity for a baptism in the Spirit Pond."

"This is also your last chance to enhance your strength and shorten the gap with the outer disciples."

"Now, no more words, no noise, follow me."

After saying that, Deacon Youu led the way in front.

A crowd of heavenly talents quickly followed.

...

Second update.