Soul Emperor Martial God

The elder solemnly gazed at Elder Tianjian.

In his aged eyes, there was not the slightest hint of murkiness; instead, they were incredibly deep, exuding a sharp glint.

Elder Tianjian exchanged a glance with him, quickly lowered his head, and dared not meet his gaze.

The elder's gaze shifted to Elder Tongtian.

Elder Tongtian, too, dared not look directly, but after lowering his head, he cupped his hands and said, "Old Dean, from where do you judge that Xiao Yi is exceptionally talented?"

"At the very least, I don't believe Elder Tianjian's actions were inappropriate in the slightest."

"Xiao Yi's comprehensive evaluation is inconsistent, with several aspects even failing to meet our Heavenly Hidden Academy's entry requirements."

"Letting him be a gatekeeper for a year, and if he passes the test, return him to Elder Tianjian's tutelage, is already a great favor to him."

"Does the Old Dean believe our academy's assessment could be wrong?"

"Or perhaps, does the Old Dean want to question the six assessments perfected by our predecessors?"

Despite lowering his head and cupping his hands, Elder Tongtian's words were obviously fearless.

The surrounding academy experts immediately frowned.

"Elder Tongtian, mind your attitude."

"The Old Dean naturally has his own standards and reasons."

The other Ten Peak Elders spoke one after another.

The elder waved his hand, signaling the Ten Peak Elders not to say more.

"Tongtian." The elder looked directly at Elder Tongtian, "You asked if I believe the assessment could be wrong and if I question our predecessors."

"Indeed, I am questioning it now."

"Old Dean." The surrounding experts were slightly surprised.

The elder again waved his hand, this time, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"The world is eternal; nothing in this world is infallible."

"Including our Heavenly Hidden Academy, including the academy's assessments, and including our predecessors."

"This is why the six assessments have been continually revised and perfected over the academy's million-year inheritance."

"The doubts and changes from descendants regarding their predecessors have led to today's nearly perfect six assessments."

"Of course, it's only nearly perfect."

"Similarly, nothing in the world is perfect."

"The six assessments will continue to be refined in the future; all martial arts experts present, including myself, will likewise be questioned and corrected by academy juniors."

After speaking, the elder paused, fixing his gaze on Elder Tongtian.

Elder Tongtian's face was unsightly, saying, "Even so, I still don't think Elder Tianjian and I made a wrong judgment."

"Old Dean, perhaps you can continue to perfect the six assessments."

"But Xiao Yi's situation is right before our eyes, with his qualifications exceedingly poor, a wasted martial soul, daoless body, no bloodline, and weak cultivation; this is an ironclad fact."

"Fact?" The elder nodded, his expression neither joyful nor sad.

"The fact is that even with weak cultivation, even as a wasted martial soul, daoless body, no bloodline, he has achieved more outstanding accomplishments and strength than other supreme geniuses."

"Furthermore, who told you that martial soul, taoist body, and bloodline are the standards for how far one can go on the Martial Arts Dao?"

"And who told you that contemporary supreme experts all possess heaven-defying martial souls, taoist bodies, and bloodlines?"

"Or do you know whether achieving the position of Martial God requires martial soul, taoist body, bloodline, and such criteria?"

The elder asked three questions in succession.

The surrounding experts, including Elder Tongtian and Elder Tianjian, were left speechless.

Even with their current cultivation, the position of Martial God was still something they could only look up to and not dare to imagine.

How would they know if there were such requirements?

The elder paused and continued, "Martial soul, taoist body, and bloodline are indeed one of the standards."

"But these standards represent whether a martial artist can walk more effortlessly on the Martial Arts Dao."

"As for whether one can go far, who dares to claim there is an absolute standard?"

"And who dares to definitively determine a martial artist's future?"

"The world is unpredictable, the martial arts are vast and varied, and changes in the world are unfathomable. It is precisely with these illusions that martial artists have their path against the heavens, daring to contest with the heavens and this world's rules."

"Longing to one day surpass this world and achieve Martial God."

The elder's words were as resonant as a great bell.

The surrounding experts immediately showed realization and bowed to receive his teachings.

"Let's go." The elder turned around and glanced at Deacon Youu alongside him.

"You mentioned that Xiao Yi once battled Wang Yue, right?"

"Yes." Deacon Youu nodded, saying, "But that was several days ago."

"Let's go have a look." The elder folded his hands behind his back and proceeded forward.

Beside him, a young girl followed sullenly.

A group of elders and reclusive great powers of the academy followed in succession.

Arriving before the Twelve Peaks, the traces of battle from that day were long gone.

The elder looked at Deacon Youu and asked, "Youu Xian, on the day of the battle, were only you deacons watching?"

"Yes." Deacon Youu nodded, saying, "The battle was just a competition between two young talents, naturally not alarming the elders."

"The Twelve Peak Elders and the seniors on the Heavenly Hidden Mountain Peak did not watch."

"Hmm." The elder lightly hummed and looked at the academy's experts, saying, "Then let's take a look now."

"It will also prove whether my judgment is wrong."

Elder Tianjian asked in confusion, "But the battle has passed, and it was days ago. How do we look..."

Elder Tianjian hadn't finished speaking.

The elder waved his large hand, and mysterious Heaven and Earth Power descended from the sky, instantly enveloping an area of several kilometers.

Images appeared out of thin air.

Within the images, people and things continuously moved backward, continuously flickered.

The surrounding academy experts were immediately astonished, "This… Heaven and Earth Retrospection?"

The academy experts looked at the elder in shock, "Old Dean, have you broken through?"

The elder nodded.

In the next second, everyone promptly bowed, "Congratulations to the Old Dean, felicitations to the Old Dean, this breakthrough is truly a blessing for the Central Region."

The elder did not respond, just continued to watch the retreating images before him seriously.

Minutes later, the images stopped reversing, revealing the scene of the battle between Xiao Yi and Wang Yue.

When the academy experts saw Wang Yue losing easily, all were in astonishment.

"Amazing, a novice martial artist, yet to receive guidance, easily and thoroughly defeated Wang Yue."

And when the image reached the point where Xiao Yi turned and left, his desolate yet insolently proud back moved everyone deeply.

The presence of academy experts naturally understood the loneliness and complex emotions such a martial prodigy felt when being oppressed to leave dejectedly.

After a while, the images completely dissipated.

The elder frowned slightly, "It's actually his inheritance. If I'm not mistaken, that's the Star Illusion Sword Formation and Starlight Power."

"Star Illusion Sword Formation?" Deacon Youu beside him asked in surprise, "Could it be Senior Xinghuan from the Ancient Times?"

"Starlight Power?" The surrounding experts suddenly realized, "From the Ancient Times, the legendary supreme expert who could control Starlight Power?"

...

End of the first chapter.