High above this world, four figures stood suspended in the void.
They looked down.
The aura of this land was shockingly turbid, and in midair, countless fragments of the Power of Law swirled in chaos!
This was the shattered Heavenly Dao!
One of the men said, "You mean there's an unfathomable powerhouse in this desolate land who has grasped the power of Dao Law?"
"Yes." A green-faced man nodded, "But I suspect it's someone from a higher-dimensional world."
If Lu Chang'sheng were here, he would surely recognize him.
This was the very person he faced off against above the Blood Prison Mystic Realm!
"It can only be someone from a higher-dimensional world. After all, the Heavenly Dao of this wilderness region has collapsed, the Power of Law lies broken into pieces, and it's impossible to comprehend Dao Law here!"
"Only, there are still two doubts."
A woman's voice rang out, "Oh? What doubts?"
The green-faced man glanced at her, speaking gravely, "First, why would someone from a higher-latitude world be interested in this wilderness? The secrets of this world can't possibly have leaked out—don't forget, the four of us swore on the Heavenly Dao that nothing here could be revealed."
"Second, how did they enter? Right now this world is sealed off—you can't get in, you can't get out. Even for us, projecting ourselves here costs a tremendous price."
One of the men shook his head, "That, we just don't know. But with the four of us projecting in, we should be able to deal with that person."
The woman nodded in agreement, "He's an unstable element, we can't let him disrupt our plans."
"Fine."
A figure clad in black, silent until now, finally spoke, "Then let's get ready. We move out now—eliminate him."
With that.
The four vanished from the spot, as if they'd never been there at all.
...
A day passed.
The Four Regions Academy exchange officially began.
Ye Qiubai and the others headed to the competition grounds.
Netherworld King repeatedly cautioned them along the way, his face grave: "Remember, whatever happens, don't get eliminated. I'll hold off the enemy's team leader myself."
He then turned to Ye Qiubai and casually said, "Ye Qiubai, your task is to hide yourself as much as you can, and rack up points from the shadows.
Now that your strength's been exposed, the enemy will definitely devise strategies to target you."
Netherworld King was a disciple of the academy master, so naturally he knew the flow of the exchange.
The first round of the martial arts exchange was by points system.
All participants would be teleported to the Green Flame Mountain Range.
Defeating magical beasts earns you points.
Of course, if you run into an enemy and get beaten, they'll take all your points—and you'll be eliminated.
Xin Hongyi stood beside Ye Qiubai, jesting, "Looks like you're being underestimated?"
Ye Qiubai didn't argue, just shrugged his shoulders.
They arrived at the venue.
All the Four Regions Academy disciples had gathered here too.
Northern Region's Hidden Dao Academy was led by Jian Chaomian.
Liao Meisheng stood behind him, face dark and hostile; when he saw Ye Qiubai arrive, killing intent flashed in his eyes.
Ye Qiubai paid him no mind.
"The Eastern Region's leader is Shi Sheng—his raw physical power is terrifying, pure divine strength."
"The Western Region has Zhang He, cultivated the Buddhist Vajra Body—nobody can break his defense, and his palm techniques are outright domineering."
Zhong Wu chimed in with explanations.
He wouldn't compete in the martial contest—he was slated for the later Confucian Dao matches.
"As for the Northern Region, that's Jian Chaomian leading."
Just then, high above, four figures arrived together.
Among them was Qin Tiannan.
The other three, of course, were the deans of the other regions' academies.
Everyone present bowed respectfully in their direction.
Of the four, one stepped forward.
He was Northern Region's Hidden Dao Academy dean—Wu Deshi.
Also ranked twelfth on the Ranking Of The Four Regions!
Fourteen spots higher than Qin Tiannan.
This was proof enough—Wu Deshi was leagues stronger than Qin Tiannan.
Wu Deshi waved his hand, and suddenly a surge of formless power lifted everyone lightly off the ground.
"Today marks the grand exchange between the Four Regions' Hidden Dao Academies. All the prodigies are gathered here—an auspicious event for our Hidden Dao Academy."
"First, we begin with the martial arts exchange. You all should know the first-round rules. The four deans will teleport you to the Green Flame Mountain Range."
He finished, and the four academy heads stepped forward. Beneath them, a teleportation array slowly rose from the ground.
As the four poured spiritual energy into the array, the space around it began to warp.
Wu Deshi declared, "All participants of the martial exchange, enter the teleportation array."
With that, the Four Regions' disciples began stepping in one after another.
And just as Ye Qiubai took his first step, a voice called out to him.
"I'm counting on you."
It was Qin Tiannan's voice.
Ye Qiubai looked over and saw Qin Tiannan watching him.
He nodded in response.
Not just for Hidden Dao Academy, not just for Qin Tiannan...
For his master, for The Cottage—he would ensure Qin Tiannan kept his seat as dean.
If a new dean took charge, could The Cottage remain aloof as it always had?
Ye Qiubai would allow no such mishap.
Thinking of this, Ye Qiubai stepped into the teleportation array!
The world spun.
What greeted his eyes was a sea of lush greenery.
Countless towering ancient trees stabbed skyward.
But Ye Qiubai could keenly sense—
This place was laced with a barely-perceptible trace of demonic qi!
Suddenly, the Dark Demon Sword began to tremble.
Ye Qiubai could feel the Dark Demon's excitement.
Evidently, the demonic qi here was exceptionally pure.
No doubt, in this place, Ye Qiubai's Nine Heavenly Demon Sword would be even more potent.
At that moment, a stone appeared in Ye Qiubai's hand.
On its surface, a number was inscribed.
For now, the number was zero.
This must be for keeping score…
To get points, you could either slay magical beasts or… steal from others!
Just then, Ye Qiubai turned—nearby, a deafening roar raced toward him!
A great cloud of dust!
Within it, a blurry silhouette of a four-legged magical beast charged toward him!
Roar!
Its bellow caused a sonic boom in the air!
Even a Golden Core Pill Realm cultivator wouldn't be able to withstand that shockwave—they'd be shattered instantly!
Ye Qiubai gripped his wooden sword, slowly slashing forward!
Sword qi burst out.
It neutralized the sonic boom.
And at the same time, countless currents of sword qi swirled around Ye Qiubai!
They coalesced into massive qi swords, hacking toward the advancing four-legged magical beast!
That beast seemed to possess a hint of intelligence—when the sword qi slashed in, it felt mortal danger and didn't take the hit head-on!
Instead, its four legs slammed into the ground, bringing its charge to a sudden halt.
Then, with a powerful leap to the side, it dodged the oncoming blades of destruction!
But in the next instant, Ye Qiubai's figure vanished from where he stood!
In a blink, he was right before the beast.
He swung his sword—one strike!
Its head hit the dirt—dead before it could even cry out!
Ye Qiubai glanced at his Point Accumulation Stone.
The zero had risen to ten.