A hazy figure appeared in mid-air, one of the three middle-aged men Shi Hao and the others had seen before, still shrouded in chaotic mist, his form indistinct.
He had come personally to finalize the selection of those who would enter the Celestial Academy.
“Esteemed senior, wasn’t this selection meant for cultivators from our Three Thousand Provinces? Why are there people from Boundless Heaven and even other ancient realms?” someone asked.
After all, if these outsiders participated, they would take away some of the spots meant for the Three Thousand Provinces.
It was clear to everyone that the golden-haired man and his companions were no weaklings—each one was terrifyingly powerful.
“Ah, these individuals missed the selection trials in their own realms due to various reasons—some were in seclusion, others were exploring ruins and lost track of time. But they are indeed exceptional, so we’ve granted them this opportunity and brought them here,” the middle-aged man explained.
His words weighed heavily on the hearts of the Three Thousand Provinces’ cultivators. These outsiders were even stronger than they had imagined, so much so that even a supreme being like this middle-aged man valued their talent enough to give them a second chance.
“Rest assured, though the Three Thousand Provinces have been in decline, I won’t strip away your spots. All who meet the criteria will pass—there will be no quota restrictions.”
This reassurance eased some of their worries.
“Esteemed senior, must the decision be made now?” someone asked nervously, fearing they might miss this opportunity and be eliminated.
“Not yet. Since you’ve come here, you must first understand the Ancient Covenant. To deepen your comprehension, you will engage in battle here!” the middle-aged supreme declared.
“What?”
The crowd erupted in shock. This was no ordinary place—only the mightiest could enter the Imperial City and participate in its battles, defending this land. What qualifications did they have? How could they possibly fight here?
Though they were hailed as geniuses in their respective realms, the truth was, if they entered the Imperial City now, they wouldn’t even qualify as cannon fodder—their cultivation realms were far too lacking.
Before they had fully grown, they had no right to fight here.
“Of course, we won’t send you to your deaths. The borderlands are unstable now—some small fry have begun to appear, even crossing over. Your task is to eliminate them.”
The middle-aged man’s expression turned grave, tinged with helplessness and a hidden pessimism.
“They’ve breached the pass? Creatures from the other side are coming?!” The crowd gasped, unable to remain calm.
“Only low-realm beings are attempting to cross,” the middle-aged man clarified.
The higher one’s cultivation, the harder it was to traverse realms. Only at great cost could weaker beings be sent over to wreak havoc.
Even so, it was an arduous task with immense sacrifices.
According to the middle-aged supreme, only a few individuals might successfully descend. If they were intercepted, all their efforts would be wasted, and their losses would be in vain.
Shi Hao silently agreed. He and the Witch had personally experienced this—the one they encountered had admitted he might be the first young supreme to descend upon the Three Thousand Provinces.
“Now, your task is to hunt down those who have been corrupted. The borderlands are suffused with an inexplicable aura that has driven some into eternal darkness, turning them to the other side. They hide among us, lurking in ancient cities, and only the sharpest divine senses can detect them,” the middle-aged man explained.
This was a crucial test—to determine whether one’s divine perception was truly supreme, while also rooting out unstable elements.
Hearing this, Shi Hao exhaled in relief. It seemed the higher-ups were not unprepared—they had long been aware.
“Hmm, there are still some delayed by unforeseen circumstances. I’ll give them a chance,” the middle-aged man murmured.
“Woo—”
Suddenly, a horn blast resounded from beyond the Imperial City, shaking heaven and earth like the roar of a primordial demonic beast. The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths seemed to tremble in response.
Yet, the Imperial City remained deathly silent, unmoving.
This only deepened suspicions—was it truly an empty city? Otherwise, why would it remain so eerily calm at such a critical moment?
It showed none of the legendary might expected of a fortress guarding the borderlands and protecting the Three Thousand Provinces!
Even the middle-aged man’s expression shifted. Despite his immense power, he could not remain composed. “Is that day finally approaching again? Will the tragedy of the Immortal Ancient era repeat itself?” he muttered.
The other young geniuses paled. Standing before the Imperial City, they could keenly feel the oppressive weight in the air, as if suffocating.
“There’s only the horn—no battle cries. Perhaps it hasn’t reached the most dangerous stage yet,” someone whispered.
“Once you hear the battle cries, it will be too late. Those creatures will likely have already breached the pass,” the middle-aged man sighed, gazing skyward with melancholy.
He knew that day was not far off. The cruelest of events would unfold—but were the beings of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths prepared?
“Are the creatures from the other side truly so powerful? Why do we always lose, unable to hold them back?” one prodigy clenched his fists in frustration.
The middle-aged man fell silent, chaotic energy swirling around him. After a moment, he spoke, “If the Imperial City falls one day, I hope you will either fight heroically or retreat to other regions—but never betray your kind, inviting the wolves into the house. Do not become eternal sinners, turning your blades on your own people.”
“Kill those who guide the enemy in? How despicable! We would never!”
“Are there truly such traitors?”
The young cultivators seethed with indignation.
The middle-aged man said, “When the end comes, many will think only of survival. Nothing is unexpected. I merely warn you now—hold fast to your principles. Do not become sinners.”
All fell silent. Such a scenario was all too possible.
Dying in battle against the enemy would be a heroic end.
But to perish at the hands of one’s own? What greater tragedy could there be?
“They’ve had ample time to prepare. They truly are coming,” the elder who had earlier dissuaded Shi Hao from fighting the golden-haired man remarked.
“The silence has lasted too long. I fear that when they strike, it will be cataclysmic—perhaps not through conventional means,” the middle-aged man sighed.
Shi Hao recalled the eyeball’s words—that those beyond the borderlands might employ a second strategy.
This was of grave importance. He felt compelled to inform the middle-aged man.
Without hesitation, Shi Hao sent a mental transmission, recounting not only the slumbering eyeball but also the destruction of an altar capable of bridging the two realms.
Indeed, the middle-aged man was visibly shaken. He pondered for a long while before responding discreetly, urging Shi Hao to keep these secrets to himself to avoid spreading panic.
“Very well, you may now act as you see fit!”
The middle-aged man’s instructions were surprisingly lax, granting them considerable freedom to resolve matters independently.
“You may form teams, but no more than five members!” he added.
The crowd pondered—was this another test?
To assess their teamwork? Or to see if any among them could single-handedly defeat five opponents? Given that everyone present was exceptionally powerful—some even cultivating multiple strands of immortal energy—such a feat would be nothing short of mythical.
“Woo-hoo!” With a shout, the little fatty Cao Yusheng rushed over to stand beside Shi Hao.
Those who understood the situation were envious—Shi Hao’s reputation was beyond reproach.
Soon, Chang Gongyan and the Dragon Girl joined as well.
Shi Hao glanced at the Witch, but she merely waved with a faint smile, indicating she would accompany the Banished Immortal.
“Hey, just running off like that? Have you forgotten all the times we faced life and death together?” Shi Hao shamelessly called out.
“Spare me the melodrama!” The Witch rolled her eyes before vanishing with the Banished Immortal, whose pristine robes fluttered untouched by dust.
“Tsk tsk.” Cao Yusheng sighed dramatically, teasing Shi Hao.
“What do you know?” Shi Hao shot back.
“Oh, I know plenty. That girl is anything but simple,” Cao Yusheng retorted.
“Hey, Brother Dragon-Dung Luck, care to join us?” Shi Hao cheerfully called out.
The Heavenly Demon Ge Qian, who had been considering forming his own team, scowled and immediately fled, unwilling to endure Shi Hao’s relentless mockery.
“Chanchan, coming with us?” Shi Hao turned to Yue Chan.
The onlookers exchanged odd looks—this guy truly dared to provoke anyone, even the Holy Maiden of the Heaven Mending Sect. Were the rumors true?
Clad in snow-white robes, her raven hair gleaming, Yue Chan exuded an ethereal grace. Her serene eyes, like autumn waters, did not so much as glance at Shi Hao, ignoring him entirely.
“Hey, Chan’er, where’s my Qingyi? You didn’t ambush her, did you?” Shi Hao pressed on shamelessly.
Yue Chan remained aloof, her saintly aura undisturbed, her jade-like skin glowing as she turned away.
“Where’s our kid? Where did you give birth?”
This earth-shattering question made Yue Chan stumble, her fists clenching. Her saintly composure shattered, her face flushing with anger.
Fortunately, she realized the scoundrel had used a mental transmission this time—not a public declaration.
Still, her reaction was plain to all, stripping away her usual tranquility and divinity, as if dragged into the mortal realm by sheer irritation.
Just as the crowd was about to disperse, the other two supreme beings arrived, their voices resonating in everyone’s minds.
They announced that near a certain ancient city, a young White Qilin had been spotted. Whoever could bring it back would receive the Celestial Academy’s full resources for cultivation.
Of course, everyone understood—those resources would undoubtedly include the Qilin itself.
Instantly, no one could remain seated. All were eager to investigate.
In truth, whispers of this had circulated on their journey, but none had lingered to search. Now, it was time to act.
As the crowd scattered, the three supremes exchanged words.
“Even we couldn’t detect that Qilin cub. It must possess an immortal treasure!”
“Do you think it’s truly waiting for that maiden from the past? This is a test of reincarnation!”
“I suspect this White Qilin survived precisely because the Reincarnation Immortal King of old left it behind—to validate his theories.”
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