Chapter 977
Follow me, and your future will be even brighter!
At the Thai Royal Academy, days passed by, and many new disciples entered the plaza. After several months, the bell rang out!
The sound of the bell instantly resounded throughout the entire Kaitai Hall Square and even further afield.
All the disciples who were cultivating, talking, or meditating in the square, regardless of where they came from or their level of cultivation, involuntarily stood up and became solemn under the influence of the bell.
"The entrance ceremony... is finally about to begin!"
Someone whispered, with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Fang Qing and Yang Qi also stood up at the same time and looked at each other.
A blurry beam of light slowly solidified on the high platform directly in front of the square.
As the light and shadow faded, an old man was revealed, dressed in a black Taoist robe adorned with stars, with white hair and beard, an ancient face, and eyes as deep as the starry sky.
He simply stood there, as if he were the center of this world. He did not deliberately exude any pressure, but the aura that perfectly matched the laws of heaven and earth, as if he himself were the embodiment of the laws, made people feel awe from the depths of their souls!
Celestial Realm!
"Dear new students..."
The old man's voice was calm, yet clearly reached the ears of every disciple, devoid of any hint of arrogance: "I am Xuan Xingzi of the Elder Council of the Taihuang Academy, and today I will preside over your entrance ceremony."
"You are all outstanding talents and geniuses selected by the Immortal Realm from the Four Desolate Star Regions and even more distant areas through the most rigorous trials. It is your good fortune to be able to enter my Taihuang Academy today, and it is also the way of the academy to recruit talents."
Elder Xuanxingzi's gaze swept over the dark crowd below, his eyes calm and unwavering: "The entrance ceremony, as you all know from the freshman handbook, is no ordinary ceremony. It is an important occasion for the many elders of our academy's halls, and even some reclusive seniors, to select their personal disciples and closed-door disciples!"
"During the ceremony, you may use all your skills without restraint! Only by displaying the most dazzling brilliance, the greatest potential, and the most unwavering will can you catch the eye of the elders, rise to the top in one step, become their personal disciples, receive special training and resources, and have a limitless future!"
"on the contrary……"
Xuan Xingzi paused slightly, "If you perform poorly, or even 'fall' early, you will only be relegated to the lowest-ranking menial disciple in the academy, where resources will be scarce and advancement will be difficult. Whether you become a dragon or a worm, whether you soar to the heavens or sink into the mire, it all depends on today!"
These words immediately caused a stir among the thousands of new students below.
Although they already knew that the entrance ceremony was of great importance, hearing the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Realm explain it so frankly still made many people's hearts race, their blood boil, and they also felt a lot of pressure!
"Now, the ceremony begins!"
Elder Xuanxingzi said no more, and gently waved his hand towards the void at the end of the square.
Boom!!!
The entire Kaitai Hall Square shook violently.
It was as if some ancient behemoth was turning over underground.
The space at the end of the square began to twist, fold, and collapse wildly, with countless colorful spatial turbulence surging like a storm and emitting a heart-palpitating hiss.
A colossal gate, thousands of feet high and hundreds of feet wide, slowly rose from the void into reality in that chaotic space.
The frame of the portal is made of a strange material that is neither gold nor jade, and is engraved with countless extremely complex immortal runes. Inside the portal, there is a deep gray haze, exuding a strong sense of nothingness, as if it connects to a world completely different from reality.
"The Realm of Nothingness!"
Elder Xuanxingzi's voice rang out again, "This is a special trial world created by an ancient immortal of our Taihuang Academy, using the supreme secret technique of the Shattered Realm, combined with the laws of the void and the path of illusion, between reality and illusion!"
"Enter and fight to your heart's content! Within the Void Realm, besides other trial participants, there are various opportunities, qi seeds, and energy essences left behind by the academy's senior masters, and even... some real magical treasures and elixirs. Whether you can obtain them depends entirely on your fortune and strength!"
"The most important point!"
Xuan Xingzi's tone became more serious, "In the Void Realm, you will fight each other, and even if you 'die,' you will not truly perish! The Void Realm will transmit the consciousness and a portion of the energy of the 'dead' back to reality. However, once you 'die,' it means that this trial has been completely failed, and you will directly lose the qualification to be accepted as a personal disciple by the elders, and can only become the lowest-level menial student!"
"Do you understand everything?"
Xuan Xingzi's gaze swept over the crowd once more, sharp as lightning.
"understand!"
Thousands of new students responded in unison, their voices deafening.
"it is good!"
Xuan Xingzi said no more, his body slowly rose into the air, and waved his hand again at the huge void gate!
Boom!
The gray void in the center of the portal suddenly began to spin, forming a huge vortex that emitted a powerful suction force.
"Charge!"
"Seize the opportunity! Seize the magic treasure!"
"A meteoric rise to power begins today!"
In an instant, the thousands of freshmen, who had been gathering their strength and were filled with enthusiasm, roared like a flood bursting its banks, urging their true energy into streaks of light of various colors and astonishing power, rushing towards the void gate.
The scene was chaotic yet spectacular, like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, or a hundred boats racing against each other.
Fang Qing and Yang Qi exchanged a glance, then blended into the crowd, inconspicuously following the flow of people, and disappeared into the gray vortex together.
The world spins and time and space are out of order.
It felt like passing through a viscous film of water, or like falling into an endless dream.
When her vision and senses returned to normal, Fang Qing found herself standing alone on a desolate, gray landscape.
The sky was a perpetual leaden gray, devoid of sun, moon, and stars, with only faint patches of light, seemingly formed from condensed energy, drifting about.
The earth was a deathly gray-black, with rolling hills and jagged rocks in the distance, and occasionally some dry, twisted tree remains could be seen.
A faint sense of emptiness permeated the air, spiritual energy was scarce, and the laws seemed slightly different from those of the outside world, giving it an illusory and unreal feel.
"Sure enough, after entering, I was randomly teleported to different locations."
Fang Qing's divine sense spread rapidly in all directions like a spider web. He could sense that this "Void Realm" was extremely vast, with a spatial structure like a honeycomb, layered upon layer, forming countless independent yet potentially interconnected small worlds.
Each participant is separated and must explore on their own, seeking opportunities and gradually encountering other trial participants.
Roar! ! !
Suddenly, a roar of a colossal beast, filled with violence and greed, came from the distant sky! It shook the earth slightly!
Fang Qing looked up and saw a colossal, mountain-like, and ferocious ancient beast on the distant horizon, its maw wide enough to swallow a city, sucking fiercely at a human kingdom below, formed from energy.
Countless humans, composed of specks of light, screamed as they were swallowed whole by the giant beast like ants.
That land quickly became gloomy and dilapidated, as if all life had been drained from it. A scene of utter devastation, like a living hell, was laid bare before our eyes.
However, Fang Qing's face remained completely unmoved. He didn't even furrow his brow.
His gaze swept across the scene, and a divine glimmer of insight into the essence of all things flashed across his eyes.
In his vision, the seemingly terrifying ancient behemoth, the human kingdom that had been devoured, and even the screaming humans, all transformed into the purest stream of energy data.
Their existence, actions, and emotions are all simulated and evolved by countless complex energy runes according to specific procedures.
What the behemoth devoured was not real life, but streams of energy containing specific information!
"A virtual world, virtual lives, virtual storylines..."
Fang Qing remained unmoved. He pierced through the layers of virtual energy mist and looked into the depths of this void, into the areas with the most complex and solid energy structures.
In his perception, the depths of this vast virtual world resembled a giant maze, concealing many "special" energy nodes. The fluctuations emanating from these nodes were distinctly different from the surrounding virtual energy, being more condensed and pure, even possessing concrete material or informational attributes such as magical treasures, elixirs, and cultivation techniques.
This was clearly placed in the Void Realm by a senior master from the Thai Royal Academy as a "real" reward and opportunity for outstanding disciples.
Ok?
Fang Qing's gaze suddenly fixed on an energy node not too far from him, where an immense, heart-pounding energy pulsed slowly like a heart. At the core of this energy, the phantom of an object was enveloped. It was a ship!
A colossal celestial vessel, entirely gleaming in crimson gold, its hull covered in fine, ornate dragon-shaped scales. Its prow resembled a dragon's head held high, and its sails spread like outstretched wings, exuding a vast and majestic aura, as if capable of traversing the universe and breaking through countless realms.
Its grade is absolutely that of a genuine immortal artifact, and the energy fluctuations and law aura it emits are even slightly stronger than the "Burial Heaven Bow" and "Death Heaven Arrow" in Fang Qing's hands.
With a thought, his figure transformed into a faint five-colored streak of light, speeding toward the energy node where the immortal artifact ship was located.
In this world where reality and illusion intertwine, his speed was not greatly affected. With a slight flap of his Wings of Freedom, he traversed spatial folds that were unimaginable to ordinary people.
However, the appearance of a celestial artifact caused such obvious energy fluctuations that Fang Qing was able to detect it, and naturally, other top geniuses who entered the Void Realm also sensed it.
Just as Fang Qing set off, from all directions around the node where the immortal artifact ship was located, several equally powerful and swift auras erupted almost simultaneously, rushing toward the same target.
Clearly, these people either possess special perception techniques or were extremely lucky to be teleported nearby, and they are all attracted by this incomparably precious immortal artifact!
A battle for immortal artifacts is brewing even before it has officially begun!
Fang Qing was the fastest and arrived near the energy node first.
Before them lay a distorted, seven-colored halo, as if different fragments of space had been forcibly fused together to form a bizarre entrance. The crimson-gold dragon-scale immortal ship hovered at the very center of the halo, slowly rotating and radiating an alluring, precious light.
Without the slightest hesitation, Fang Qing stepped into the seven-colored halo.
boom!
Upon entering, the surrounding scenery immediately changed drastically, as if entering an independent little world. The sky was filled with burning fire clouds, the earth was filled with flowing lava, and the air was filled with violent fire-elemental laws and a heavy dragon's might.
The celestial vessel was now visible even more clearly. It trembled slightly, as if it possessed its own spirit, resisting the approach of outsiders.
Surrounding the celestial ship was an energy shield composed of pure flames and dragon-shaped runes, radiating scorching heat and powerful repulsive force.
"Charge!"
Fang Qing's eyes narrowed, and he stretched out his right hand. Power surged in his palm, transforming into a giant hand of light covered with sacred runes, seemingly capable of encompassing all things. Ignoring the scorching flame shield, he grabbed at the hull of the immortal ship!
hum!
The celestial ship seemed to sense the threat and shuddered violently. The surrounding fiery dragon-shaped runes instantly shone brightly, condensing into a lifelike, scaled, and clawed crimson-gold fire dragon that roared and lunged at Fang Qing's luminous hand.
At the same time, an even more terrifying dragon's might and the power of the immortal artifact's own laws suddenly erupted, attempting to shake off Fang Qing's power.
"A mere unclaimed immortal artifact dares to act so arrogantly?"
Fang Qing snorted coldly, and the light in his palm shone even brighter, with the divine purification power and the five elements suppression power erupting simultaneously.
sizzle.
The mighty crimson-gold fire dragon, upon contact with the great hand of light, melted away like snow meeting boiling oil, sizzling and rapidly dissolving. The power of laws unleashed by the immortal ship was also forcibly suppressed by the all-encompassing, law-suppressing power of the "Pure Land of the Gods."
With unstoppable force, Guangming grabbed the hull of the immortal boat and began to refine it.
And just then...
"Stop! The immortal artifact is mine!"
Leave the treasure behind and I'll spare your life!
"This item is destined for me!"
Several sharp shouts came almost simultaneously from the entrance of the seven-colored halo. Immediately afterwards, several powerful attacks, carrying a chilling killing intent, came fiercely from different directions towards Fang Qing's back!
Fang Qing didn't even turn his head, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. He swung his right hand backward!
A five-colored light screen, formed from the five elements of true energy, unfolded behind him like a peacock spreading its tail.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Those fierce attacks struck the multicolored light screen, only creating ripples before disappearing without a trace, like mud sinking into the sea.
The attackers' expressions changed, and they revealed themselves, landing at the edge of this world of fire and lava, surrounding Fang Qing and the immortal boat.
There were five people who came, each with a powerful aura. The lowest level was the fifth level of the Great Saint, and the highest level was even the seventh level of the Great Saint. They came from different races, some were humans, some were demons, and some had special physiques.
At this moment, their eyes were fixed on the struggling, weakening crimson-gold dragon-scale immortal ship in Fang Qing's hand, their eyes filled with greed and fear.
Fang Qing's ability to suppress the immortal artifact so easily and effortlessly neutralize their combined attack made them hesitant to make a move.
Just as the two sides were locked in a standoff and the atmosphere was tense—
Another group of people stormed in through the entrance with an aggressive air.
The leader was a burly man who stood nine feet tall, with muscles as if cast in brass, radiating a scorching aura, and his hair like burning flames.
His aura was clearly that of a seventh-level Great Saint, and he exuded a unique metallic texture and the scent of true solar fire.
"Taicangyi of the Sun True Copper Clan!"
Someone recognized the newcomer and exclaimed in a low voice.
The Sun Copper Clan is an extremely rare life form, naturally drawn to the laws of fire and metal, possessing incredibly strong bodies and astonishing combat power.
Behind Tai Cang were more than a dozen experts whose auras were equally strong; they were obviously companions he had met or subdued during the trial.
The appearance of this group immediately complicated the situation on the field.
Tai Cang's gaze swept across the arena intently, finally settling on the immortal boat in Fang Qing's hand, a fleeting glint of greed in his eyes.
"Hand over the immortal artifact; this is not something you can control!"
Tai Cang let out a powerful voice.
"Oh, the Sun True Copper Body, the Ice Jade Extreme Cold Body, and that one over there, seems to be the 'Thick Earth Profound Yellow Body'? Hmm, and there's also the aura of the 'Azure Wood Longevity Body'..."
Fang Qing muttered to himself as if he were commenting on goods.
Then, a subtle change occurred in his aura.
A vast and magnificent aura, containing the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, yet seemingly transcending the five elements, carrying a supreme, sacred, and commanding aura, quietly spread out from him!
This is a manifestation of the pure, original essence of one's constitution.
Five Elements Divine Body!
As soon as this aura appeared, the scorching solar copper aura on Tai Cangyi's body, the icy ice jade extreme cold aura of the silver-haired youth, and the source fluctuations emitted by the other special physiques all uncontrollably paused slightly.
It was as if I had encountered some source or superior being, which gave rise to an instinctive feeling of closeness and suppression!
"This...this is..."
Tai Cang's expression changed. He felt that the True Copper Bloodline of the Sun within his body was slightly boiling, as if it was expressing some kind of respect to the other party.
"The five elements are gathered together, and the supreme divine aura is present. Could it be the legendary 'Five Elements Sacred Body' or an even higher-level 'Chaotic Divine Body'?!"
The silver-haired youth was also a very knowledgeable person, and an expression of disbelief appeared in his eyes.
There are often mutual reinforcement or restraint, or hierarchical suppression, between special constitutions.
The Five Elements are the foundation of all things. Among the many special physiques, the Five Elements Sacred Body is definitely among the top and closest to the origin. It has a natural affinity and a certain degree of dominance over most other attribute physiques!
This is exactly the kind of aura that Fang Qing is displaying right now!
"Gentlemen."
Fang Qing spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable power: "Is it worth fighting to the death, even risking death and losing the chance to become a disciple, for a mere immortal artifact?"
His gaze swept over Tai Cangyi, the silver-haired youth, and the others: "I observe that you are all prodigies with special physiques or bloodlines, possessing boundless potential. Rather than fighting here, it would be better to..."
He paused slightly, then said, "Why not follow me? I can guide you in developing your physique, share my insights into the Five Elements, and even take you to see a wider world in the future, granting you opportunities far greater than this mere immortal artifact. Follow me, and your future will be boundless!"
"Hmm?" (End of Chapter)