Dragon Ruins Domain.
This was a vast world where many powerful factions existed. The righteous sects included the Feather God Sect, the Celestial Sound God Sect, the Formless God Sect, the Hundred Flowers God Sect, the Primordial God Sect, and the Fire God Sect. The evil sects included the
These factions had endured for countless ages, brimming with experts beyond number, and none could shake them.
The eastern reaches of the Dragon Ruins Domain.
This vast stretch of territory belonged to the Feather God Sect, one of the six great righteous god sects.
No one knew just how long the Feather God Sect had been around. It governed hundreds of cities and a staggering population of several hundred million. The outer disciples alone numbered in the millions. No one knew exactly how many powerhouses existed within the Feather God Sect.
The sect was divided into the Minor Heavenly Realm, the Inner Sect, and the Outer Sect. For ordinary people, even the Outer Sect was an unattainable dream. The Inner Sect was far more mysterious, and as for the Minor Heavenly Realm, it was the stuff of legends.
In addition, there was a place within the Feather God Sect called
Tian Ling Academy lay deep within a mountain range. Through the lush forests, sprawling clusters of buildings could be glimpsed, stretching endlessly in a magnificent display.
Along a forest path,
The hint of arrogance between Guan Yu's brows rubbed Nie Li the wrong way. Even though they were both disciples of the Underworld Domain Lord, the two barely exchanged a word.
All around them, students of Tian Ling Academy passed to and fro. It was the once-a-decade period when the academy recruited new students, so the area was swarming with fresh arrivals.
Xiao Yu walked ahead and explained as they went. "Tian Ling Academy is divided into five sections, with a strict hierarchy. The Central Academy is the strongest, followed by the East Academy, then the West Academy. The South and North Academies are at the bottom. You'll need to take a placement test first to determine which academy you'll be assigned to."
Xiao Yu glanced at Guan Yu and added, "There's one more thing I should tell you. Regardless of whether you're Legendary or Sub-God-level, you need to set aside your pride. In the Dragon Ruins Domain, you haven't even reached the threshold of cultivation. The Dragon Ruins Domain has five major realms—Destiny, Star, Revolution, Dragon Path, and War Sovereign—each with nine sub-levels. Anyone below Destiny is classified as being at the Earth Destiny stage. Until you've condensed a Life Soul, you have no right to call yourselves cultivators!"
Guan Yu's expression stiffened at Xiao Yu's words. In the Underworld Domain, a Sub-God cultivator was considered a regional powerhouse who could dominate entire territories. But here in the Dragon Ruins Domain, he was merely a lowly Earth Destiny cultivator. So what, though? With my cultivation talent, I'll surely stand out.
Guan Yu shot a glance at Nie Li. He harbored a fair amount of resentment toward him. Though they were both disciples of the Underworld Domain Lord, Nie Li had clearly been favored far more. On top of that, Nie Li had grown close to Xiao Yu, the Domain Lord's adopted son, leaving Guan Yu feeling like the odd one out.
Nie Li vaguely sensed Guan Yu's hostility, but he didn't care. His true enemies were the
Under Xiao Yu's guidance, the three entered a courtyard where several powerful instructors were checking registration rolls. The instructors wore long robes and carried an air of imposing authority, their auras radiating at least Destiny-level power.
"Here are the recommendation letters for three new students," Xiao Yu said, approaching one of the instructors.
The instructor was a young man in his thirties wearing a silver robe. He looked up upon seeing Xiao Yu, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. "So it's Xiao Yu!" At the young instructor's words, several other instructors turned their gazes over as well.
The young instructor glanced at Nie Li and the other two, then turned to another instructor. "Recommendation letters received. Take them inside."
Xiao Yu nodded and said to Nie Li and the others, "Follow me."
Nie Li swept a glance over the instructors. They all seemed somewhat surprised to hear Xiao Yu's name—it seemed she had some reputation in Tian Ling Academy, even though her cultivation hadn't yet condensed a Life Soul.
They passed through corridor after corridor and entered a grand hall where several thousand students had gathered, engaged in some activity.
Xiao Yu turned to Nie Li and the others. "Before geniuses from various cities and minor worlds join Tian Ling Academy, they must first undergo a test to assess their Spirit Root grade. Spirit Roots are divided into three tiers—heaven, earth, and human—each further divided into nine grades. The higher a person's Spirit Root grade, the greater their talent and the faster they can cultivate Heavenly Dao power."
"Then what grade is your Spirit Root?" Lu Piao asked curiously from the side.
"I have a Heaven Spirit Root, seventh grade," Xiao Yu said quietly.
Nie Li glanced at Xiao Yu with a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected her talent to be this strong. Yet for some reason, she hadn't condensed a Life Soul. A seventh-grade Heaven Spirit Root was truly extraordinary. Normally, anything above seventh grade was already impressive. A fifth-grade Earth Spirit Root or above could be called a genius. As for Heaven Spirit Roots, they were exceedingly rare—in the entire Feather God Sect, there probably weren't more than a thousand people who had one.
"Is a seventh-grade Heaven Spirit Root really that powerful?" Lu Piao asked, turning to look at Nie Li in puzzling.
At Lu Piao's question, everyone nearby cast bizarre glances his way. Was this guy an idiot? How could he ask such a question? Heaven Spirit Roots were already incredibly rare—anything above third grade was an absolute super genius. Seventh grade was practically defying heaven itself!