Chapter 976
The Holy King Realm is truly enormous!
The Lion Clan's leader, a powerful figure at the eighth level of the Great Saint realm, whose mere stomp on Mount Suspended could shake the entire region, was thus killed by Fang Qing with a single, effortless slap, as if he were swatting a fly.
Before they could even put up a decent resistance, and before they could even let out a scream, their souls had already been scattered!
This absolute dominance, this terrifying strength that regarded high-level Great Saints as mere ants, completely stunned everyone present.
The three clan leaders of the Horse Clan, Leopard Clan, and Rhinoceros Clan were ashen-faced and stiff-bodied, frozen in their half-finished attack stances, unable to advance or retreat, their backs instantly soaked with cold sweat.
Their gazes toward Fang Qing were now filled with nothing but endless fear, devoid of any of the greed and ferocity they had shown before.
Even the ancient figures sitting high on the deepest part of the suspended mountain, their auras as deep as the ocean, were silent at this moment, their eyes filled with complex emotions.
They could sense that the level of power contained in Fang Qing's slap was beyond their comprehension.
After the initial shock, the sick old man and Jing Zhengang from the Holy Mother's lineage felt an indescribable excitement and a sense of awe.
The stronger Fang Qing becomes, the more advantageous it is for them, but it also means that the future of this "foreign aid" is probably no longer something that the Suspended Mountain can control.
Fang Qing withdrew his hand, his gaze calmly sweeping over the silent crowd. He glanced at the Lion Clan Chief's corpse on the ground before turning away and ignoring him.
"Let's go."
He spoke to Yang Qi and the sick old man, his tone as usual, as if he had just casually brushed away a fallen leaf.
This time, no one dared to stop them, and no one even dared to show the slightest dissatisfaction.
The crowd parted automatically to make way for Fang Qing and Yang Qi as they left the high platform and disappeared over the rainbow bridge leading to the Holy Mother's residence.
Thus, the turmoil surrounding the strongest trial at Suspended Mountain came to an end in the most shocking and bloody way.
Fang Qing became a symbol of awe and even fear in the Suspended Mountain and even the surrounding star field.
a few days later.
With the Holy Mother's arrangement and assistance, Fang Qing and Yang Qi properly handled the results of the trial. Afterwards, they bid farewell to the Hanging Mountain and embarked on their journey to the Thai Royal Academy.
The "Emperor's Decree" was not only a pass, but also contained a celestial map pointing to the academy's location. Following the guidance, the two left the edge of the primordial star field where the Suspended Mountain was located and headed into the depths of space.
Traveling, shuttling.
They transformed into two barely perceptible streaks of light, speeding through the vast and boundless cosmos. With a gentle flap of their wings, the wings of freedom and the wings of angels surpassed the speed of the stars, moving almost as fast as the light itself.
Planets, some lifeless, some dazzling, whizzed past us. Some were enormous, exuding an ancient aura, while others were shrouded in a dense atmosphere, with mountains, rivers, and the lights of civilization faintly visible within.
This starry sky is far more prosperous and magnificent than the area around the suspended mountain where they were before!
They saw ancient cultivation stars rich in spiritual energy and with mineral veins like dragons, where magnificent immortal sects were built and disciples were as numerous as clouds; they also saw demon stars inhabited by monsters and filled with malevolent energy, covered with strange demon civilizations.
They also saw the Star Federation, composed of countless floating continents and huge cities suspended directly in the void, with countless spaceships and cultivators shuttling back and forth like bees, creating a lively scene.
What's even more astonishing is that these inhabited planets or factions are often connected by clear, stable wormholes or giant teleportation arrays, forming a tight and efficient star network, far superior to the closed and scattered state of the primordial star field.
"No wonder they say our star system is the 'countryside'..."
Looking at the dazzling starry sky and intertwined civilizations before him, Yang Qi couldn't help but sigh, "This must be one of the true centers of the universe."
Fang Qing nodded, his divine sense spreading out to sense the activity level of the laws and the energy concentration of this star field, which was indeed far superior to the Primordial Star Field.
"According to the information in the 'Emperor's Decree,' this place is now the central area of the Four Desolate Starfields and no longer belongs to the ancient primordial continent."
In ancient times, the primordial continent was once the center of this starry sky, and it was extremely prosperous. Unfortunately, it suffered a fierce attack from the Hell of Bliss, which shattered the continent, caused widespread suffering, and affected many star fields, leaving them desolate and lifeless.
Meanwhile, the other three "wilderness" star regions—the Great Wilderness, the Savage Wilderness, and the Desolate Wilderness—were fortunate to have avoided the ravages of war, allowing them to continue to develop and prosper for tens or even hundreds of thousands of years, ultimately forming the magnificent scene that far surpasses the Primordial Wilderness Star Region.
The Four Desolate Continents are all under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Realm's "Taihuang Heaven". And at the very center of the Four Desolate Starfields lies the Taihuang Academy.
Without the specific safe star path and wormhole shortcut guided by the "Thai Emperor's Decree," even with Fang Qing's current speed, which far surpasses that of an eighth-order Great Sage and is comparable to that of a ninth-order Epic Sage, it would probably take an extremely long time to fly directly from the Suspended Mountain to the Thai Emperor's Academy, enough to exhaust an ordinary Great Sage to death along the way.
Only those who have cultivated to the eighth level of the Boundless Realm or above, possessing nearly infinite true energy and a long lifespan, could possibly support such a long-distance flight across star regions.
Of course, this was not a difficult task for Fang Qing.
A journey is also a form of spiritual practice and a source of new experiences.
They witnessed many wonders that were extinct or rare near the Hanging Mountain.
Each ancient space tree has roots that reach into the void and canopies that cover the stars, forming its own little world, inhabited by countless races.
They witnessed "nebula lifeforms" composed of pure energy roaming the sea of stars, encountered caravans piloting enormous celestial ships and engaging in interstellar trade, and even caught a glimpse of a space war between different races and civilizations, with warships clashing, supernatural powers filling the sky, and laws intertwining, the scale and intensity of which far exceeded the battles on the lower continents.
The world's great wonders.
The universe is far more vast than we can imagine.
As Fang Qing and Yang Qi traveled together, their horizons broadened, and their minds became more settled and open.
They were not only on their way, but also reading this wordless book called the starry sky, absorbing nourishment from the vast universe.
Finally, after traversing dozens of ultra-long-distance wormholes and crossing countless billions of miles of starry sky, they finally succeeded.
They arrived at the very core of this central star system.
Centered on the indescribably vast and brilliant "Central Galaxy" in front, looking in the four directions of east, west, north, and south, the visual perception presents completely different scenes.
In the east, west, and south, the Milky Way spun slowly like a giant vortex, its ancient life-bearing stars radiating countless rays of light, their civilizations burning fiercely, representing the prosperous Great Wilderness, the Savage Wilderness, and the Desolate Wilderness star regions, respectively. To the north, the direction they had come from, lay a star region belonging to the ancient primordial era, now dim and desolate, with few life-bearing stars, vast areas shrouded in deep darkness and remnants of demonic energy, like a massive, unhealed scar stretching across the starry sky.
The Four Desolate Starfields, like four giant flower petals, guard the most precious and mysterious place in the center—the central star river where the Taihuang Academy is located.
What's even more awe-inspiring is that the countless ancient life-bearing stars in this central galaxy, densely packed like jewels embedded in velvet, are not randomly distributed, but are connected to each other by energy bonds according to some extremely profound laws, forming a vast and unimaginable "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Da Zhen" that covers the entire galaxy.
As the formation operates, it draws energy from the four wastelands and even more distant stars, converging here and making the cultivation environment here reach an outrageous level.
Just standing in the void at the edge of the formation, Fang Qing could feel that the concentration and quality of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth were more than ten times higher than those in the core area of the suspended mountain, and it was also mixed with wisps of immortal spiritual energy.
"Is this the grandeur of the Thai Royal Academy...?"
Yang Qi was also deeply shocked and murmured.
Guided by the "Royal Decree" and with their identities verified, they passed through the outer barrier of the "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array" without any hindrance and officially entered the sphere of influence of the Thai Royal Academy.
The academy is not located on a single planet, but rather is centered around the "Academy Continent," a continent comprised of countless floating immortal mountains, temples, plazas, towers, and special secret realms at the very core of the central star system. It radiates and influences hundreds and thousands of ancient life-bearing planets around it, serving as subordinate, testing grounds, or resource planets.
They landed at a giant plaza called "Kaitai Hall" on the outskirts of the academy continent.
The square is paved with pure white, warm stones that exude a subtle Taoist charm, and it is so vast that it seems to stretch as far as the eye can see.
On the plaza stand hundreds of massive stone pillars, each hundreds of feet tall, covered with mysterious runes.
At this moment, many figures, in groups of three or five or alone, are sitting under these stone pillars, eyes closed and mind focused, seemingly meditating and cultivating.
Their auras varied in strength, and they came from different races, including humans, demons, and even some rare special races. Without exception, they all wore or hung "Taihuang Decrees" similar to those worn by Fang Qing and his companions.
"These must be the new students who arrived before us and also hold royal decrees."
Yang Qi looked around and whispered.
He could sense that the stone pillars emitted a peculiar fluctuation, faintly connecting with the plaza ground and even the entire "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array," forming tiny energy focal points.
Sitting under the stone pillar to cultivate seems to allow for a better absorption of the incredibly rich spiritual energy and laws of this world, resulting in a cultivation speed far exceeding that of ordinary people. No wonder some people appear to have been meditating here for quite some time; they may be waiting for the formal enrollment ceremony.
Just as Fang Qing and Yang Qi were surveying the plaza, a hearty, somewhat unrestrained laugh came from the side:
"Haha, two more new junior brothers have arrived! Looks like you've come from a rather remote star region, haven't you? You must have had a long journey!"
The two turned their heads and saw a young man dressed in simple, close-fitting clothes, with a handsome face and an unusually strong and powerful aura, walking towards them with a smile.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Jian Shiqi, and I am a disciple of the 'Invincible Hall'."
The young man spoke enthusiastically, his gaze sweeping over Fang Qing and Yang Qi. Especially after sensing the unfathomable, solid foundation, and astonishing potential of the two, a subtle glint flashed in his eyes.
"Invincible Hall?"
Yang Qi asked curiously.
“That’s right! Within our Thai King’s Academy, in addition to the public teaching system, there are many ‘halls’ that are spontaneously organized by students or established with the support of the academy’s senior management. They are similar to the peaks or factions in a sect.”
Jian Shiqi explained with a hint of pride, "Our 'Invincible Hall' is one of the top and most powerful halls! The hall is full of experts, and there are even peerless powerhouses guiding us! Every year, countless new students are eager to join! I see that you two junior brothers have extraordinary temperaments and solid cultivation, which are exactly the talents that our 'Invincible Hall' needs. So, are you interested in joining us? I can introduce you!"
His words were enticing, and his eyes were very sincere.
Joining a powerful sect can undoubtedly help newcomers establish themselves more quickly and gain access to resources and protection.
Yang Qi was somewhat tempted. He was new to the Thai Royal Academy and unfamiliar with the place. Having a powerful organization to rely on would indeed make things much easier.
Moreover, the name "Invincible Hall" sounds very imposing, which suits his personality.
However, Fang Qing shook his head slightly, a faint smile on his face, and cupped his hands to Jian Shiqi, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother. However, I am used to being a carefree person and like to cultivate alone and enjoy the scenery. I am new here and do not know much about the academy yet. I would like to look around first and learn more about the situation of each hall before making a decision."
Fang Qing's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of composure.
He wasn't afraid of challenges or afraid to stand out; rather, he was simply choosing a different way of life.
Upon hearing this, Jian Shiqi's eyes flashed with surprise, but his smile remained unchanged, as if he was not surprised by Fang Qing's reaction.
He laughed heartily: "Haha, it's only natural for Junior Brother to be cautious. There are many halls within this academy, each with its own characteristics. Besides our 'Invincible Hall,' there's the 'Hall of Punishments' which governs the law, the 'Hall of Merit' which issues tasks and exchanges resources, the 'Hall of Weapon Forging' which specializes in forging magical artifacts... in all sorts of ways, no less than a hundred. Junior Brother can certainly learn about them first. However..."
He changed the subject, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of sincerity.
"Although our 'Invincible Hall' acts in a high-profile manner, we value loyalty above all else and are extremely protective of our own brothers! Moreover, we allocate resources to them lavishly, and each member is an unparalleled genius. We don't want anyone who isn't a genius. No matter how many people want to join our Invincible Hall, we are unwilling to accept them."
Yang Qi looked at Fang Qing, his eyes questioning.
Fang Qing pondered for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, "Thank you for your frankness. The conditions offered by the Invincible Hall are indeed tempting. However, we are new here and are not yet familiar with the rules of the academy or the depth of each hall. Making a hasty choice may cause inconvenience."
His words were perfectly worded, leaving room for maneuver without outright rejection, while also indicating his stance of not joining for the time being.
Seeing that Fang Qing had made up his mind, Jian Shiqi did not force him, after all, geniuses all have their own pride and ideas.
He laughed heartily: "Very well! It's good that Junior Brother has his own opinions! Then you can rest and cultivate here in the 'Kaitai Hall' square. This is my communication talisman. If you encounter any trouble in the academy, or change your mind, you can contact me at any time!"
As he spoke, he handed Fang Qing and Yang Qi each a small jade talisman.
Fang Qing and Yang Qi accepted the gifts and expressed their gratitude.
"It's a new beginning again!" (End of Chapter)