Everyone's showing off! The Heart-Questioning Ladder test begins!

Early morning, at the foot of Mount Taibai in the Qinling Mountains.

The faint mist had not yet dissipated, veiling the towering mountains like a thin shroud.

At this time, on the huge square at the foot of the mountain, nine hundred and seven young students from all over the country stood with heads held high, their eyes burning as they gazed at the mountain path leading to the clouds.

Although they had experienced various shocks over the past few days, from successful Body Tempering to being transported by fighter jets,

when they truly stood at the foot of the legendary Taibai Academy, the shock in their hearts still could not be calmed.

Deep within the churning sea of clouds, one could vaguely see rows of jade buildings and pavilions appearing and disappearing—upturned eaves and arched brackets, majestic and grand, like the legendary Heavenly Palace fallen into the mortal Realm.

"Good heavens... is this Taibai Academy?"

"Those majestic buildings in the mist... they're exactly like what's filmed in Xianxia TV dramas!"

"So spectacular! Just looking at this grandeur, I feel like this trip wasn't in vain!"

"Is this where we'll Cultivate in the future? I love it, I love it!"

In the crowd, whispers rose and fell.

Everyone carried an indescribable fervor.

However.

Just as this group of students was excitedly pointing and imagining the future.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

A series of sharp sounds of breaking through the air came from above the clouds without any warning!

Then, under everyone's terrified gaze.

Several figures shimmering with flowing light, like meteors chasing the moon, flew straight out from the depths of the mist-shrouded Taibai Academy!

They did not land but hovered uniformly in mid-air dozens of meters above the ground, looking down at everyone!

This scene instantly plunged the originally noisy square into silence.

All the discussions came to an abrupt halt, replaced by countless pairs of eyes wide as copper bells and jaws that dropped in unison!

"Ho... Holy crap!!"

"Fly... they all flew out?!"

"How is this possible? Didn't they say you can only fly once you reach an extremely high Realm?"

"Are there actually so many flying big shots in Taibai Academy?!"

The crowd immediately exploded!

You should know that although they had also come into contact with cultivation over the past few days and became Body Tempering Realm Cultivators,

that was still "low-end maneuvers" hopping around on the ground.

But now, these big shots in front of them were truly hanging in the sky!

This visual impact was simply explosive!

In mid-air.

The leader was Lin Guohui, dressed in a black robe with a solemn expression.

At this moment, with his hands behind his back, he appeared on the surface to be a calm and unfathomable Great Grandmaster.

But in reality, he was panicking inside, his palms drenched in sweat.

"Daughter... daughter, you have to hold me steady!"

"If your old man falls from here, my time as Academy Master will be over; it'll be total social death!"

He was frantically muttering to himself in his heart.

There was no other way; he was only in the Foundation Establishment Realm and couldn't fly at all.

The reason he could hover in the air was entirely because Lin Xiyue, hiding in the shadows, was using her spiritual energy to hold him up!

But this didn't stop him from putting on the air of a peerless master in front of the students.

The next moment, Lin Guohui took a deep breath, channeled his spiritual energy, and his voice rang out like a bell, spreading throughout the field:

"Silence!"

With one command, the entire field immediately fell silent.

"I am the first Academy Master of Taibai Academy, Lin Guohui."

"First, congratulations to you all for standing out among tens of millions and coming here."

"Next, I will introduce the various deans of the academy to you!"

After saying that, he turned to the side and pointed to a middle-aged man beside him who was wearing an ancient robe and had a refined yet majestic face.

"This is the vice academy master of my Taibai Academy, Sikong Yang!"

As the words fell, Sikong Yang nodded slightly.

Boom!

A terrifying pressure, like Mount Tai pressing down, instantly enveloped the entire field!

The students below felt their breathing hitch, as if they were being stared at by an ancient giant beast, and they didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

"Hiss... what a terrifying Aura!"

"This... is this the strength of the vice academy master?"

Everyone was horrified.

After introducing Sikong Yang, Lin Guohui pointed to the other side.

Standing there was a pretty young girl in a pale yellow dress, with mysterious Formation patterns faintly flowing around her.

"This is the Dean of the Formation Academy of my Taibai Academy, Gu Zhiyun!"

Gu Zhiyun giggled and waved her delicate hand.

Buzz!

Complex Formation patterns lit up around her, then turned into a brilliant rain of light that fell, making her look mysterious and profound.

"A Formation Master?!"

"I don't understand this maneuver, but I'm greatly shocked!"

Many students interested in Formations instantly had their eyes glued.

Next was Su Qinghan.

"This is the Dean of the Alchemy Academy of my Taibai Academy, Su Qinghan!"

Su Qinghan, in an elegant long dress, gave a gentle smile.

Beside her, an exquisite and small Pill Furnace was spinning rapidly, and a refreshing fragrance of Medicinal Pills drifted with the wind, making everyone who smelled it feel refreshed.

"So ethereal... is this the legendary Alchemist?"

"I feel like just taking one whiff of that pill fragrance, I'm about to have a Breakthrough!"

Finally, Lin Guohui pointed to the young man carrying an iron sword with a cold expression.

"This is the Dean of the Sword Dao Academy of my Taibai Academy, Li Fan!"

Clang!

Li Fan didn't make any extra moves, just a thought.

A sharp and peerless Sword Qi soared into the sky, turning into an invisible Sword Domain around him, slicing through the air and making a piercing sharp sound!

Although he hadn't reached the Spirit Sea Realm and couldn't fly,

he had Elder Jian!

Under Elder Jian's support, his move of hovering in the air was even steadier than a real Spirit Sea Realm, full of style!

"Holy crap!"

"A Sword Cultivator! I want to be a Sword Cultivator too!"

Watching these big shots take turns showing off, the students below were already dazed, their eyes overflowing with admiration.

Is this the foundation of Taibai Academy?

Too strong!

Simply outrageously strong!

Being taught by such experts, how could one not achieve Immortal Ascension?!

Seeing that the timing was right, Lin Guohui smiled slightly and dropped the final bombshell.

"Hehe, I assume all of you have now been introduced to us."

"Now, please welcome the Honorary Academy Master of Taibai Academy, the General Commander of Great Xia's dao ancestor plan..."

"Immortal Master Lin Xiyue, to give a speech!"

Boom!!!

As soon as this name came out, the crowd below completely boiled over!

Who was that?

She was the faith of the entire Great Xia now!

The peerless goddess who cut a mountain with one sword!

The idol that countless people dreamed of meeting!

Under everyone's fanatical gaze.

Without any warning.

The Void Realm high in the sky suddenly rippled.

Then, Lin Xiyue, dressed in a shimmering palace-style long dress,

surrounded by sacred and brilliant divine light, like a goddess from the Nine Heavens descending to earth, walked out from the Void Realm step by step!

With every step she took, a spiritual energy lotus grew under her feet,

blooming at every step, extraordinary and divine!

At this moment, only her figure seemed to remain in heaven and earth!

That nobility, that majesty, that otherworldly temperament made everyone feel a sense of self-deprecation the moment they saw her.

"Is... is it Xiyue Fairy?!"

"I knew it! I knew that as long as I got into Taibai Academy, I would definitely see her!"

Seeing Lin Xiyue appear, some were so excited they had tears in their eyes.

While Lin Xiyue stood above the clouds, looking down at those young and vibrant faces,

she put away her usual playfulness, her face showing a majestic yet approachable smile.

"Students, welcome to Taibai Academy."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it rang clearly in everyone's ears.

"Standing here proves that you are already geniuses among tens of thousands."

"But, this is only the beginning."

"The path of cultivation is long and arduous; only those with great perseverance, great wisdom can reach the top."

"I hope that in the days to come, you will not forget your original intention and forge ahead bravely."

"The future of Great Xia, the chapters of this new era, will be written by your own hands!"

"I will be waiting for you at the top of the mountain!"

These words, though brief, were like a stimulant injected into every student's body.

Everyone felt the blood in their bodies burning, wishing they could prove themselves to this goddess right now!

"Good!"

Immortal Master Xiyue has finished her speech.

"Now, the vice academy master will announce something to you!"

Seeing that the atmosphere had been built to its peak, Lin Guohui took over the conversation at the right time.

Then, he stepped back slightly, giving his position to Sikong Yang.

Sikong Yang stepped forward, his face, which had weathered many storms, now full of seriousness and majesty.

His gaze was like lightning as he scanned the field and shouted in a deep voice:

"Silence!"

The scene fell silent again.

"Although you have passed the preliminary selection, this does not mean that you are already official students of my Taibai Academy!"

"If you want to truly step into this immortal gate and receive the best resource training..."

"You still need to pass one final assessment!"

"What?!"

"There's still an assessment?!"

"No way? This ten-day devil training isn't the end?"

"What else do we have to test? It's not going to make us fight monsters, is it?"

Hearing that there was another assessment, the students who were originally immersed in joy suddenly became a bit restless, many showing looks of surprise and worry on their faces.

But soon, confident voices rang out.

"What's there to be afraid of!"

"We even made it through a hellish start like entering Body Tempering in ten days; what the Hell are we afraid of an assessment for?"

"Exactly! Since we can stand here, it means we are the strongest!"

"Whatever tricks you have, just bring them on! We can handle it!"

After becoming Cultivators, the blood and confidence in these young people had already far surpassed ordinary people.

After a brief commotion, the way they looked at Sikong Yang was no longer with fear, but with soaring Battle Intent!

"Very good!"

Looking at this group of students who were not intimidated, a flicker of satisfaction flashed in Sikong Yang's eyes.

"The assessment rules are simple."

He raised his hand and pointed to the mist-shrouded stone steps behind him that stretched out of sight.

"This is the 'Heart-Inquiry Heavenly Staircase', totaling nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps!"

"There is a Formation on it that will test your will, Heart-Nature, and Dao Heart!"

"I announce that the assessment officially begins!"

"You are limited to two hours to climb the ten-thousand-step heavenly staircase and reach the Mountain Gate of Taibai Academy!"

"Those who do not arrive in time..."

Sikong Yang's voice suddenly turned cold.

"...will be considered to have failed the assessment! Go back to where you came from!"