After the laughter faded, and the elders resumed sipping their spirit tea, the hall returned to its dignified calm. Conversation turned, as it inevitably would, toward the future.
First Elder Yun stroked his flowing white beard thoughtfully. "The Immortal Dao Academy will open its gates in two weeks. All eligible disciples must begin preparations. Young Master Wu," he said, turning to me with sharp eyes that missed nothing, "as the Wu Clan's youngest prodigy—and now the Yun Clan's son-in-law—we expect you to participate in this year's entrance trials."
I met his gaze without hesitation. "Of course. I'll be ready."
My mother, Wu Yun, didn't speak at first. But her look was more pressing than words. "You'd better be," she finally said. "The entrance trial isn't a stroll through spirit fields. Even talented young masters have failed. If you embarrass the Wu Clan and Yun Clan…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
I swallowed dryly, offering a short nod. "Understood."
Across the hall, Yun Ling'er sat beside the Yun Patriarch. Her gaze flicked toward me—briefly. There was something unspoken in her eyes, something tangled in uncertainty. When she noticed I'd caught it, she turned away quickly, cheeks just a touch too pink.
Still thinking about last night, huh? I thought with a crooked smile.
Suddenly, the familiar chime of the system echoed in my mind.
---
Ding!
New Quest: Enter the Immortal Dao Academy
Objective: Secure a spot among the Top Ten during the entrance trials.
Reward: Skill Upgrade – Heavenly God's Palm → Supreme Divine Palm
Bonus Reward: Unknown Technique of the Evil God
Penalty: Loss of Evil God's Eyes Authority for 7 days
---
Top ten, huh?
The system really wants to keep things interesting.
After the meeting dispersed, I returned to my room. Waiting for me on the table was an elegant scroll, sealed with a shimmering golden rune. The moment I touched it, the rune flared and dissolved, allowing me to unroll the parchment.
Invitation to Immortal Dao Academy
Entrance Trial: Rules and Details
Location: Heaven-Breaking Valley
Time: Two weeks from today
Eligibility: Cultivators under 30 years of age
Minimum Cultivation: Primordial Saint Master Realm
Trial Format:
First Round: Spiritual Combat Arena
Final Round: Illusion Heart Trial
I exhaled slowly. So this is what I'm up against…
That evening, as the sky turned golden, Yun Ling'er stopped by my room. She said nothing, only placed a small box on my table.
Inside were high-grade Qi-refining pills, soul-nurturing spiritual herbs, and a single pale-blue talisman pulsing faintly with defensive energy.
"No words," she muttered, avoiding my gaze. "Just… don't die out there."
I leaned against the table, watching her with a grin. "I won't. After all, I still haven't made you fall for me properly."
She flushed, her glare weak and confused—but she didn't argue. She turned and left in silence.
For the next two weeks, I poured myself into training like never before. I refined my Qi, enhanced my body using spirit-forged techniques, and even unlocked the first layer of the Immortal-Devouring Evil Art—a secret technique that allowed me to absorb a portion of an opponent's cultivation upon defeating them.
And on the final night, beneath a star-scattered sky, I stood alone on the Yun Clan's celestial viewing platform. Wind rippled through my robes. The stars above shone like watchful eyes.
"I've got two clans watching my every move… an academy filled with geniuses waiting to crush me… and a hidden identity that would see me executed if revealed."
I clenched my fists, feeling the Evil God's Eyes pulse faintly with crimson light.
I grinned.
"Perfect."