Chapter 1168: The Holy Academy and the Immortal Academy

The Sacred Academy and the Immortal Academy were not entirely unfamiliar to Shi Hao, Qing Yi, and the others.

Back when the three supreme beings were selecting talents from the Three Thousand Provinces, they had mentioned that only the most exceptional geniuses could join the Celestial Academy, the Sacred Academy, or the Immortal Academy.

However, later on, only the Celestial Academy was emphasized, and the other two were no longer mentioned. In the end, they all ended up at the Celestial Academy.

As for people from other realms, some were completely unaware, while others had heard a little, their reactions varying greatly.

“Some of you have heard of them—how much do you know?” The Fourth Elder narrowed his eyes.

“Please enlighten us, Elder. We know very little about those two academies,” one person replied.

“So you do know something. Then speak,” the Fourth Elder said with a smile.

“I’ve heard that those two academies are rather special—only the most extraordinary can enter. Their selection process is extremely strict, and they are nearly reclusive,” Princess Yao Yue said.

“As expected of someone from the Eternal Imperial Dynasty. You do know more.” The Fourth Elder nodded. To others, those two academies might be shrouded in mystery, but for the ancient families of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, they were not entirely secret.

“Those two academies have endured through the ages, existing for an unfathomably long time. But they’ve always remained secluded. Are the people within finally emerging?” Princess Yao Yue added.

These words caused an uproar, leaving everyone astounded. The origins of those two academies were far grander than they had imagined!

Even Shi Hao, Yue Chan, and others from the Three Thousand Provinces, who had heard of the two academies before, were greatly surprised. This contradicted their previous understanding.

They had assumed the academies were newly established. Who would have thought they had existed for countless ages?

Some shared the same thought and couldn’t help but ask, “How could such reclusive academies exist without ever revealing themselves?”

“Whether you call them reclusive or newly established, both descriptions are correct,” the Fourth Elder said.

For while they had indeed existed since ancient times, they remained hidden from the world. Only when they reopened did a select few learn of them, and even then, they were often presented as newly founded.

The crowd was astonished as they listened to his explanation.

Generally, the two academies did not recruit outsiders. Their disciples were the personal students of ancient recluses from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, making them extremely isolated from the world.

“By ‘ancient recluses,’ I mean people like us—those who have long remained hidden—and even our predecessors,” the Fourth Elder said.

“What?!” The crowd was truly stunned, for this revelation was beyond shocking.

After all, the elders of the Celestial Academy were all legendary figures who rarely appeared in the world. Any one of them could command immense respect and fear from major factions.

If the disciples of those two academies were the successors of even older and more formidable figures, the implications were staggering.

“The Immortal Academy is the most ancient. It is said that some of its recluses are as old as this era itself—their age terrifying, their seniority unimaginable. We’ve only heard of them, never seen them,” the Fourth Elder sighed.

The Immortal Academy, as its name suggested, was related to immortality. It housed many techniques from the previous era, guiding disciples on the path to becoming immortals.

However, whether anyone had truly reached the end of that path and ascended to immortality remained unknown. After all, the world had changed, and the conditions for achieving immortality were no longer the same.

The Sacred Academy, though established later, was no less glorious.

According to the Fourth Elder, it was a place for peerless geniuses. Ordinary talents had no right to enter—doing so would be an insult to its sanctity.

These words did not sit well with the crowd, for everyone present was a prodigy, a leader in their own right.

“Do you know where the holy land of the modern cultivation system lies?” the Fourth Elder brought up the topic of modern cultivation, as the Celestial Academy had recently allowed them to choose between ancient and modern methods.

“Breaking through barriers, surpassing limits in the Cave Heaven and Formation realms, achieving transcendence—that is the Sacred Academy’s purpose. Its disciples are all peerless figures, walking the path of ultimate sublimation, mastering the modern cultivation system!”

The crowd gasped. That place was indeed extraordinary—a forge for those pushing the boundaries of modern cultivation, a gathering of its greatest masters.

Such individuals had every right to be proud, far surpassing ordinary geniuses. For others to enter might indeed be seen as an insult.

At this moment, Wang Xi’s eyes flickered with an unreadable light, lost in thought.

Princess Yao Yue, sharp as ever, caught her fleeting expression and smiled. “I’ve heard that someone connected to you is training there—a supreme genius with unfathomable strength.”

The others exchanged glances.

Recently, rumors had spread that the Wang Clan might form a marriage alliance with another ancient family, one whose mysterious powerhouse was said to be unrivaled in the Nine Heavens, though his whereabouts were unknown.

Now, it seemed that person might be in the Sacred Academy.

“The Immortal Academy focuses on ancient methods, the Sacred Academy on modern ones. Both possess profound legacies and produce countless experts. Any one of their disciples emerging would be an unimaginable force!” the Fourth Elder said gravely.

For their disciples were not recruited openly—they were the personal students of ancient recluses, hidden geniuses of unparalleled talent.

As he spoke, he glanced at the Banished Immortal, sensing that this young man might have inherited the teachings of one such recluse, tied to an ancient existence.

“The two academies have few disciples, but each is a supreme genius. Soon, they may engage in an exchange with our Celestial Academy. I hope you will not disappoint,” the Fourth Elder sighed.

He was uncertain. Though they had recruited many outstanding talents, the two academies were too mysterious. Who knew what monstrous disciples those recluses had trained?

For those recluses had been conducting all manner of experiments. Some even sought to revive corpses from the Immortal Ancient Era, hoping to take them as disciples.

Others performed trials, forcibly shattering the cultivation of accomplished disciples with supreme power, forcing them to rebuild from scratch—all in pursuit of transcendence.

These methods were extreme, chilling to the bone just to hear of them.

And yet, there were rumors of success.

“When the exchange comes, I hope you will fight with everything you have!” the Fourth Elder said, clearly burdened by the thought of being overshadowed by the two academies.

“Rest assured, Elder. We will surely defeat their disciples,” someone declared confidently.

The Fourth Elder’s face darkened at this blind arrogance.

“Do your best,” he said simply.

Then, after a pause, he added, “If you prove exceptional enough, those cultivating ancient methods might be taken by the Immortal Academy’s recluses, while those mastering modern methods could enter the Sacred Academy.”

“Huh?” The crowd was stunned, then erupted into discussion.

Now they understood—the two academies were coming to select elite disciples. No wonder the Fourth Elder seemed uneasy, his reluctance rooted here.

This sparked heated debate.

Clearly, the two academies held higher status than the Celestial Academy, daring to come and handpick disciples directly.

People realized just how formidable those recluses were, to command such respect even from the Celestial Academy’s elders.

“Are the seniors there truly that powerful?” Lü Tuo asked.

“Is the Grand Elder not formidable? There, he would not be alone—there are others like him!” the Fourth Elder replied.

“But how strong are their disciples?” That was their real concern, fueling their defiance.

“I don’t know the strength of their current disciples, but there’s one name you might recognize,” the Fourth Elder said.

“Who?” the crowd asked curiously.

“Yuan Qing.”

While others reacted with normal surprise, Shi Hao’s brows furrowed in anger. He harbored deep hatred for Yuan Qing, who had once tried to suppress him for ten years upon his arrival in Boundless Heaven, nearly killing him by exiling him to the Primordial Ancient Mine, severing his path of cultivation and cutting off his survival.

Though it was said the Feng Clan had instigated this, Yuan Qing was still detestable!

“Lord Yuan Qing is undoubtedly powerful. It’s said he’s already a Supreme Being!”

“I heard he’s only half-stepped into the Supreme Realm—but even that is astonishing!”

Some murmured among themselves.

“What if I told you Yuan Qing was a disciple abandoned by the two academies? Would you believe it?” the Fourth Elder sighed.

“What?! Even Lord Yuan Qing wasn’t deemed worthy by them?” The crowd was shocked.

“Indeed. Back then, he failed their trials and was cast out,” the Fourth Elder confirmed gravely.

Boom—

This revelation sent waves through the crowd. If even Yuan Qing, so formidable, had been rejected, how terrifying must those academies be?

“Of course, though he was abandoned, the academies weren’t entirely heartless. They granted him many scriptures, and some recluses even offered guidance during their travels. That’s how he reached his current level.”

As he spoke, the Fourth Elder glanced at Shi Hao—a clear warning. Yuan Qing was not to be trifled with, for he still had ties to the two academies and their recluses!