The reckoning is about to begin! Lin Mo and Lei Jingxiao's frenzied slaughter!

As the melodious chime of a bell spread, Sikong Yang's majestic voice resounded in every corner of Mount Taibai.

"The time has come!"

"The assessment is over!"

As his voice fell, the mist and red light enveloping the ten-thousand-step stone staircase receded instantly like a tide.

Hum!

The grand array activated, and a gentle yet irresistible repulsive force suddenly arose.

Those students who were still struggling on the stone stairs, failing to reach the top, or deeply trapped in illusions they couldn't escape from,

felt their vision blur as their bodies rose uncontrollably into the air.

When their feet touched the ground again, they were shocked to find themselves back in the square at the foot of the mountain.

At this moment, those who could still stand before the grand gate of Taibai Academy

numbered only a little over three hundred!

These were the final qualifiers of this assessment!

For a moment, the two groups of people at the top and bottom of the mountain looked at each other across the long stone staircase, their reactions being completely different.

"I... I was teleported down?"

"I lost... I lost..."

"How can this be?!"

"I was clearly just a bit short! Why!!"

At the foot of the mountain, the eliminated students' faces were as pale as death.

Some slumped on the ground, weeping uncontrollably.

Others stood frozen in place, their faces filled with resentment.

They knew they had missed the greatest Opportunity of their lives; this was a true failure to leap over the Dragon gate, falling back into the mundane world.

Meanwhile, atop the mountain peak.

After a brief moment of daze, the three hundred-plus students who successfully reached the top erupted into earth-shattering cheers!

"Hahaha! I'm still up here! I didn't go down!"

"I passed! I passed!"

"Mom! Did you see that? Your son succeeded!!"

The ecstasy of surviving the ordeal made them embrace and weep.

Even Ye Hao, who had just gathered with them, watched his classmates' reactions, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Silence!"

Just then, Sikong Yang spoke again. The pressure belonging to a Golden Core True Person spread out, instantly silencing the noisy scene.

His gentle gaze swept over the hundreds of students on the mountain peak, and he nodded slightly:

"First of all, congratulations!"

"With your extraordinary perseverance and firm Dao Heart, you have successfully passed the Heart-Questioning Heavenly Staircase!"

"You have proven that you are qualified to step through this gate!"

Hearing this affirmation, the students on the mountain peak were all flushed with excitement, their chests puffed out high.

However, in the next moment, Sikong Yang changed his tone and turned his gaze toward the group of failures at the foot of the mountain.

The gentleness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold indifference.

"As for those who failed to reach the top..."

"Regrettably, you are not fated for Taibai Academy."

"There will be special vehicles later to repatriate you to your original high schools to continue your studies."

As soon as these words were spoken, wails broke out at the foot of the mountain, and the light in many people's eyes was completely extinguished.

"However..."

Sikong Yang's voice suddenly became low, carrying a chill that made one's heart turn cold.

"Among you, there is also a small 'special group'."

"You cannot leave for the time being; you must stay to undergo a special investigation!"

As he said this, Sikong Yang's sharp, knife-like gaze swept over several corners of the crowd, intentionally or otherwise.

In particular, he paid special "attention" to Kong Mingjie, who was wearing gold-rimmed glasses and shrinking back into the crowd.

"W-what?!"

"Undergo an investigation?!"

Hearing this, Kong Mingjie, who had still been harboring thoughts of luck and felt he was only eliminated due to bad fortune,

saw his face turn as pale as paper in an instant, devoid of any color.

His body began to tremble violently and uncontrollably, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

The scenes from the illusion replayed in his mind like a nightmare.

He had thought it was just a dream and that he would be fine once he woke up.

But looking at it now... that was no damn dream!

Every single move he made in the illusion, that ugly, treacherous face—it was likely seen by these big shots long ago!

"It's over..."

"I'm exposed... it's all exposed..."

Kong Mingjie's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

He knew very well what the word "traitor" meant in Great Xia.

What awaited him was definitely not as simple as repatriation, but... eternal damnation!

High in the sky, Sikong Yang naturally took in Kong Mingjie's guilty and terrified appearance.

A mocking sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Afraid now?"

"Too late!"

"Since you dared to harbor such treacherous thoughts, you must be prepared to bear the consequences!"

However, Sikong Yang did not expose him in public, nor did he spare another glance at such trash.

That kind of character would be handled by specialized personnel; it wasn't worth wasting everyone's time.

He turned his gaze back to the mountain peak and, looking at the vibrant freshmen, loudly announced:

"From this day forth, you are the first batch of official students of Taibai Academy!"

"The future of Great Xia will bloom in your hands!"

"As for the opening ceremony and admission ritual, they will be officially held tomorrow!"

"Now, the academy gates are open to you; you may enter at your leisure to visit and head to your assigned dormitory areas to rest!"

"This is your glory!"

"Thank you, vice academy master!!"

The students shouted in unison, their voices filled with infinite longing for the future.

"Mhm."

Sikong Yang nodded with satisfaction.

Then, he said no more, and his figure flickered slightly.

Swish!

He vanished from the spot into thin air.

At the same time, Lin Xiyue, Lin Guohui, Gu Zhiyun, and the others who had been standing high in the sky also flickered,

disappearing without a trace like Immortals.

"Holy crap... they just left?"

"That's so cool! Is this the style of big shots?"

Seeing the sky that was filled with big shots just a moment ago suddenly become empty,

the group of excited students looked at each other, momentarily at a loss.

"This... they just left us here?"

"Not even a guide to lead the way?"

"What are you still standing there for?"

"Charge! Go grab the dorms!"

Someone shouted, and everyone finally snapped out of it.

Then they erupted in cheers and scrambled toward the towering mountain gate!

...Meanwhile.

Cangxuan Great Realm, Aurora Domain, Zhenyuan Pass battlefield.

Just as Lin Xiyue's side was busily conducting the admission assessment,

Lin Mo's side was equally swamped!

One could even say... they were "slaughtering" in full swing!

"Hahaha! Refreshing! Refreshing!"

"Brother Lin, let's see who can kill more?!"

On the battlefield, a figure surrounded by violent purple lightning was charging through the Demon Race army with a thunder spear in hand.

Lei Jingxiao was like a god of thunder; wherever he passed, tribulation lightning poured down, and countless low-level demons were instantly turned to charcoal.

Not far from him,

another figure in snow-white robes appeared even more elegant and deadly.

Lin Mo held a longsword, his body enveloped in a terrifying Sword Qi storm.

The storm was black and white, and it was mixed with heart-palpitating spatial fluctuations.

"Compete?"

"Brother Lei, you'd better save your strength."

"I've already reserved those two Dao Integration demon generals over there."

Lin Mo smiled faintly and took a step forward.

Rip!

The Void Realm cracked open, and his figure vanished instantly.

When he reappeared, he was already behind the two Dao Integration demon generals who were about to besiege Lei Jingxiao!

"What?!"

The two demon generals were pale with fright and about to defend.

But they saw a cold, clear moon rising above their heads.

Taibai Eclipse Moon!

Puchi! Puchi!

Two hideous heads soared into the sky, demon blood gushing like a fountain!

Two Dao Integration Realm experts were instantly killed without even getting a chance to scream!

"Huh?!"

"Damn it, Brother Lin, you stole my prey again!"

Lei Jingxiao shouted in anger, almost throwing his thunder spear.

"Is this what a human does?"

"What happened to fighting side by side?"

"Why are you killing all the mobs by yourself now?"

"Stop shouting!"

"Whoever kills it gets the credit."

Lin Mo skillfully collected the spoils of war, looked at the rapidly soaring numbers on his battle merit token, and curled his lips slightly.

"Can't be helped. For the sake of making a living, I'm forced to work here."

With that, Lin Mo's figure merged into the Void Realm and dashed toward the next target!

The terrifying performance of the two, which was like mowing down enemies like grass,

made them leap to become the most eye-catching guys on the entire Zhenyuan Pass battlefield!

Not only were the Human Race Cultivators dumbfounded and their morale greatly boosted,

but even the bloodthirsty Demon Race, looking at these two killing gods, began to show a trace of undeniable fear in their eyes!