Chapter 1100: The Abandoned Disciple

Shi Hao rubbed his nose, masking his embarrassment.

The towering mountains were all formed from stars. Over the long passage of time, they had released the essence of heaven and earth, transforming into the rarest and most sacred lands.

Within the Celestial Academy, countless majestic peaks stretched endlessly. It was said that every true disciple possessed vast stretches of spiritual land, incredibly expansive.

At this moment, the group stood outside the mountain gates, already captivated. They beheld jade towers and crystal palaces, cascading waterfalls and flying springs, divine herbs that could run, and an ethereal mist rising like immortal qi.

“Why haven’t they come out yet? We’ve been waiting for so long,” someone complained.

Among these beings were the most outstanding talents of their clans, even royal princesses of great nations. Not only were their cultivation profound and their strength formidable, but their status was also extraordinary.

Naturally, some, like Shi Hao, felt that competing to become followers was beneath their dignity, and they harbored resistance in their hearts.

In their daily lives, they were the elite, treated like stars and moons, guarded and pampered by their clansmen. But today, upon arriving here, they could only wait obediently, subject to the selection of the Celestial Academy.

“Ah, to think that as the heir of my clan, I come here only to become someone else’s follower—it’s truly hard to accept!” sighed a youth in brocade robes, his bearing noble beyond words.

“Keep your voice down. If you’re unwilling, you may leave. Speaking like this only invites trouble,” someone advised.

“Think about those peerless maidens from the ancient imperial dynasties. If they are chosen, they will only be followers—or even maidservants. Wouldn’t that be even more awkward?”

Some were resentful, having come only under the stern warnings of their elders, and thus carried some discontent.

But most were eager to become followers of the Celestial Academy’s disciples, seeing it as a stepping stone to ascend to the heavens, to gain the qualifications to learn the academy’s true teachings and cultivate the strongest legacies.

Strictly speaking, every disciple in the academy was an extraordinary figure. Even if not all had cultivated immortal qi, many had.

Moreover, these individuals already possessed supreme status, being the young supremes nurtured by the greatest sects and races, their future achievements unimaginable.

Thus, though the pride of their clans and the jewels of ancient nations felt reluctant at first, upon careful reflection, they found peace.

After all, in terms of status alone, those disciples would undoubtedly surpass everyone present.

“I hope the heir of an Everlasting Family chooses me!” A young boy clenched his fists, his face still carrying youthful innocence, as he voiced his hope.

Someone immediately laughed. “You don’t actually expect a jewel of an Everlasting Family to take a fancy to a brat like you, do you?”

Others joined in the laughter, causing the boy’s face to flush red.

The Everlasting Families—those were clans whose ancestors had once produced immortals. Even after countless ages, their power remained terrifying and world-shaking.

Even ancient nations, sacred lands, and supreme races had to treat them with respect and courtesy.

No one knew what true immortals had left behind, but it was believed that if such treasures were unleashed, they could shake the heavens, slay supremes, and topple nations and sects.

“Speaking of the Everlasting Families, there are several peerless maidens among them. I’d be willing to become their servant if chosen!”

A man with peach-blossom eyes and a somewhat frivolous demeanor spoke, his smile wide, his purple hair shimmering, his eyes gleaming with light—his strength was indeed remarkable.

Others scoffed and shook their heads. Even if chosen as a servant, the young ladies of the Everlasting Families belonged to a different world, the gap between them too vast.

“Be more realistic. Don’t entertain such thoughts,” someone chuckled, warning him not to speak carelessly and invite disaster.

“Tell me, is the jewel of the Wang Family more extraordinary, or the jewel of the Ning Family?” someone asked.

Though they knew it was inappropriate—even dangerous—to discuss the heirs of the Everlasting Families, they couldn’t resist comparing them.

“Are you comparing their beauty or their cultivation?”

“Both!”

“The Wang Family’s young lady is more stunning, I’d say. Rumor has it she’s cultivated three strands of immortal qi. Such talent could dominate the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.”

“It’s hard to compare. The heirs of the Everlasting Families are all shrouded in mystery. We know little about them.”

…

Outside the mountain gates, the crowd grew larger, the noise overwhelming.

On the ground, savage beasts roared, while in the sky, radiant wings spread, divine birds filling the air.

No one knew just how many geniuses had come, all for the chance to become someone else’s follower. The competition was fierce.

Suddenly, chaos erupted. All the savage beasts on the ground grew restless, howling at the sky, struggling and neighing as if desperate to flee.

In the sky, divine birds flapped their wings anxiously, their gazes fixed in one direction, as if yearning to escape.

A six-winged ancient beast descended. It wasn’t particularly large—only a few zhang long—but its aura was mountainous, suffocating to behold.

This ancient beast had the body of a horse and the head of a flood dragon, resembling a qilin but clearly not one. Its body shimmered with violet light, its scales sharp and gleaming, with six crimson vermilion wings.

It was extraordinarily majestic, like the mount of a supreme being, causing the other beasts and birds to tremble in fear.

“The six-winged ancient beast—truly extraordinary. It practically suppresses all other mounts,” someone marveled.

“Pity its body hasn’t fully transformed into a true qilin, nor its wings into flawless vermilion wings. Otherwise, it would truly be a supreme mount,” another murmured.

Upon the beast sat a man with hair as red as blood, blazing like fire.

His heroic aura was undeniable, clearly no ordinary figure. His bearing was extraordinary, especially with the strand of immortal qi coiling around him, a testament to his supreme talent.

“It’s him again!”

“He comes every month, yet he’s still not chosen.”

Shi Hao listened to their discussions, astonished. This man wanted to join the Celestial Academy but had been rejected?

“They say it’s his own fault. The academy had already selected him, but when it was time to report, he didn’t show up. He only appeared dozens of days later, so his qualification was revoked.”

Hearing this, Shi Hao froze. He had done worse—arriving only today, months overdue.

The red-haired youth atop the six-winged beast transmitted his voice, stubborn and unyielding, demanding entry into the Celestial Academy, challenging them.

“Such a pity. Every month, when the core disciples choose their followers, he comes, trying to force his way in and challenge them.”

This man didn’t want to be a follower—he wanted to challenge the true disciples, hoping to be recognized and accepted as a core disciple.

Yet, the Celestial Academy, to make an example of him, refused to take him in.

“Isn’t this too harsh? He’s a fine seedling, just abandoned like this?” Even Shi Hao felt indignant on his behalf.

Of course, he was also worried for himself. If he were to charge in and be turned away, unrecognized, how utterly humiliating would that be?

Some said the academy was doing this deliberately, intending to temper certain students. Even if they weren’t allowed through the gates, they wouldn’t be left with nothing.

“Roar—!”

The six-winged beast roared, shaking the heavens. The very void split apart—such was the might of this ancient beast, let alone its master.

“Who dares cause a disturbance?” Finally, figures emerged from within the mountain gates to investigate.

Several young men appeared, one of them sneering, “Zhao Gang, you’re here again. You didn’t cherish your chance, and now it’s too late. Leave!”

Clearly, these were students of the Celestial Academy, all having cultivated immortal qi, blocking Zhao Gang atop his six-winged beast.

A battle was inevitable. Zhao Gang was strong, and his six-winged beast was extraordinary, but against several opponents, he was at a disadvantage.

“Ah, defeated again. Why does Zhao Gang keep doing this? Coming every month to fight, yet never accepted into the academy,” someone sighed.

The six-winged beast roared, wounded, and fled into the distance, carrying Zhao Gang away.

The void trembled as a green-robed woman appeared, wielding a jade sword. Sword radiance arced like rainbows, hissing through the air as she single-handedly fought the group of students.

Shi Hao was stunned. This woman had cultivated two strands of immortal qi, her strength supreme. In a fierce battle, she defeated the combined efforts of her opponents!

“Meng Yun, Meng Yun! She, too, was delayed and missed her chance to join the Celestial Academy. Resentful, she often comes to provoke them!” someone explained.

Hearing this, Shi Hao’s expression darkened. He was in trouble.

If even such a peerless woman was rejected, how strict was this academy? His own chances of entering seemed slim.

“Are there many like them?” Shi Hao asked.

“Not many. Only a handful were delayed by circumstances and rejected for being too late—three or four at most, labeled as ‘discarded disciples,'” someone replied.

“Discarded disciples?” Shi Hao was stunned, his expression grave. Was he one of them, doomed to rejection?

“Some say the academy is tempering them, not truly abandoning them,” another added.

“But that’s still harsh. Being called a ‘discarded disciple’ is no honor. And without the academy’s resources, their cultivation suffers,” another sighed, unconvinced.