Liu Bai's response clearly shocked the dozens of youths present.
"Senior? That cannot be real, right? Does that not mean he is only three or four years older than us? But why does his aura feel so terrifying?" Many harbored such thoughts in their hearts.
The burly youth who had asked the question scratched his head as well, though deep within his eyes a thick sense of dread flickered.
"Goodness, he is really a senior? How did you cultivate? How did you end up being chosen by the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy as the main overseer here?"
Clearly, this burly youth was not ordinary. He knew quite a bit about the workings of the Spiritual Road, so he already had a rough guess about Liu Bai's strength.
But it was precisely this guess that left him even more shaken.
"Senior, could you perhaps reveal your current realm?"
Someone else could no longer hold back and asked.
"This? Hehe, if you want to know, you can choose to join the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy afterward. When that time comes, I will personally welcome you there."
Liu Bai had appeared here largely to recruit new students for his academy, so he did not hesitate to make a move on these youths now.
As for whether this violated the rules… the Saint Spiritual Academy had more than one internally decided candidate. What rules were left to follow? As long as such actions were not displayed openly, who would bother caring in private?
"Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy…"
The spear wielding youth who had been the first to be rescued by Liu Bai clenched his fists. He had already made up his mind. When the time came to choose an academy, he would select the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy.
Many others shared the same thoughts. After all, with this "senior" standing here as a living banner, the quality of the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy's teaching clearly seemed excellent.
To most youths, the Five Academies were all on the same tier. While there were rumored differences among them, none of that could compare to what they had seen with their own eyes. So now many began reconsidering their original goals.
Just as the youths were discussing Liu Bai, the sky suddenly tore open and a spatial passage formed. A voice drifted out from within.
"All participants, enter the passage and proceed to Crown Peak…"
Upon hearing this voice, the ten King title holders trembled in spirit. Next would be the contest between all fifty King title holders.
The numerous youths who had failed to obtain King title qualification were not eligible to join the final battle, but even they could not help feeling excited.
"All right, since the time has come, let us go."
Liu Bai swept his gaze over the group and waved his hand.
A multicolored cloud rose beneath their feet and carried the dozens of youths directly into the spatial passage.
They felt the world spin and in the next moment found themselves standing upon a massive plaza.
This plaza lay beneath a towering mountain. Many people had already gathered here. When Liu Bai's gaze swept across, he immediately noticed the black robed elder from the Saint Spiritual Academy. The number of students behind that elder was the largest. The few youths standing at the very front were impressive, and even the youths behind Liu Bai whispered softly when they saw them.
"So that is Ji Xuan…"
From their whispers, Liu Bai noticed a refined youth in white. He instantly recognized him as the person who had once nearly driven Mu Chen and Luo Li into a desperate situation.
His outward appearance truly did not resemble that of a villain.
Soon, five majestic light shadows appeared in the sky. The entire plaza instantly fell silent.
"Two years on the Spiritual Road. Today is the final trial. Those who have obtained the King title may enter Crown Peak. The first to reach the summit shall become the Spirit Crown Holder and will receive a perfect Spiritual Energy Empowerment. The others will receive a King level Empowerment. The remaining rewards will diminish in order…"
The Dean of the Saint Spiritual Academy spoke first, as usual.
"All fifty King Title holders, step forward."
At the command, fifty youths stepped into the center of the plaza, excitement covering their faces.
The remaining youths gazed at them with envy, their hearts filled with heat and longing.
The Five Academy Deans looked down at the fifty geniuses, smiles appearing on their faces. Both the quality and quantity of those who had passed the Spiritual Road assessment this year far surpassed previous generations.
This time, each of the Five Great Academies would receive promising talents.
As the five deans exchanged glances, they acted simultaneously. With a flick of their fingers, five streams of spiritual light spread outward and enveloped the mountain that had already become the center of all attention.
Hissing sounds filled the air.
Within that spreading radiance, everyone saw the space above Crown Peak begin to twist.
Boom.
The once peaceful mountain range suddenly shook as if struck by an earthquake. The ground and cliffs trembled violently. Deep within the mountains, countless spiritual beasts raised their heads and roared toward the heavens.
A fierce and overwhelming aura surged from the entrance, causing every youth on the plaza to change expression.
"This vicious aura… it is no weaker than the Golden Armored Tiger Beast from before."
Beside Ji Xuan, the black clothed Qiu Beihai paled at the memory of their previous brush with death.
Although they were now fourth grade spirit bodies and would not be as miserable as they once were if they fought that beast again, fear still surfaced instinctively in their hearts.
"Brother Yang, Beihai, this Crown Peak will not be easy to break through. I will rely on you two once again."
Ji Xuan's expression remained calm. That terrifying killing aura seemed no different from a breeze brushing past him.
Yang Hong and Qiu Beihai had struck a deal with Ji Xuan long ago. They would help him seize the position of Spiritual Crown Holder in exchange for benefits Ji Xuan had already paid.
"Do not worry. Since I promised, I will not go back on my word."
The green robed youth spoke proudly.
His gaze drifted toward the group of girls in the distance. More precisely, toward the two girls surrounded protectively in the center.
"Luo Li… Wen Qingxuan…"
Ji Xuan's trio had crossed blades with the two girls countless times over the past year. Though they were female, whether in strength or temperament, they were no weaker than Ji Xuan's side. Yang Hong had even suffered multiple defeats at their hands.
They were old rivals by now.
The other youths were not as entangled as these two opposing sides. For example, there was Wu Yingying, whom Mu Chen had accidentally seen bathing before. She was a fierce girl who once chased Mu Chen across the Spiritual Road with a massive blade. Now, she too was one of the King Title holders and had already been internally chosen by the Martial Spiritual Academy.
Most people on the Spiritual Road were well aware of the grudges between Ji Xuan's trio and Luo Li's side, but many still believed Ji Xuan held the advantage.
After all, he had more people and was male, so first impressions naturally made him seem stronger. Moreover, if Wen Qingxuan had not firmly supported Luo Li all this time, Luo Li might have already been driven off the Spiritual Road, or worse, died.
"I am sorry for dragging you into this."
Feeling the gazes from afar, Luo Li apologized softly to Wen Qingxuan.
She herself did not understand why Wen Qingxuan insisted on helping her so stubbornly.
Wen Qingxuan wrapped an arm around her again, smiling. "You say that again and I will stop being your friend."
Luo Li still felt it strange that Wen Qingxuan liked to cling so close to her, but as they were both girls, she did not overthink it. She only felt that this older girl was too enthusiastic.
Since Luo Li was naturally cold and not good at dealing with overly passionate people, she could not reject her outright. Wen Qingxuan was not her enemy, so she simply endured it.
What she did not know was that Wen Qingxuan had already completely grasped her personality. Bit by bit she had closed the distance, until now the two were already extremely close…
Seeing the intimate closeness between the two girls, Ji Xuan, who normally carried himself with a calm and aloof demeanor, could not help the gloom that surfaced across his face.
From the very first time he had seen Luo Li, he had already labeled her as his woman. Based on what he knew of her, he had believed that no one would be able to compete with him.
Yet he had not expected Mo Chen to suddenly interfere. After he had finally dealt with Mo Chen, although he had not killed him, the latter had been expelled from the Spiritual Road and no longer posed any threat to him.
But just when he thought everything was in his grasp, another girl suddenly appeared and was now competing with him. What was this situation? A girl trying to steal a girl from him? Was there no order left in the world? Was there no law anymore?
Among everyone present, only Liu Bai understood the situation clearly. Or maybe not. Even among the three involved, Luo Li, that little innocent white lotus, still had no idea what predicament she had fallen into.
Watching this scene, Liu Bai felt an inexplicable urge to laugh. Although Ji Xuan was arrogant and even excessively conceited, his current circumstances were undeniably ironic.
Soon, after the five Academy Dean jointly dissolved the Spirit Crown Peak barrier, the fifty King Titles surged forward, each of them charging into the perilous Spirit Crown Mountain.
There would be no one to preserve their lives this time. Everything depended on their own strength and their own luck.
If their strength was insufficient or their luck poor and they fell on this final path toward the summit, they could only blame their own misfortune and bear all consequences themselves.
"Liu Bai, little friend. Among these individuals, who do you believe will become the Spiritual Crown Holder this time?"
Suddenly, the black robed elder of the Saint Spiritual Academy turned and asked him.
The five Academy Deans remained high above, overlooking everything. Those below did not need to maintain the same level of formality, so a few casual conversations naturally arose.
Liu Bai heard the question and smiled lightly. "There are many monstrous talents in this Spiritual Road. Ji Xuan, Yang Hong, Wen Qingxuan, Luo Li, and even Wu Yingying all have the qualifications to contend for the final Spiritual Crown."
His answer immediately drew the interest of several Academy elders, who all joined the discussion.
A burly old man from the Martial Spiritual Academy laughed heartily and said, "I support Wu Yingying. That girl has the bearing of a champion."
Everyone rolled their eyes at him. They all knew Wu Yingying had some connection to the Dean Wu Tianwang. His words carried no weight.
As for Wu Yingying seizing the Spiritual Crown, not a single one of the five believed it.
Not even the burly old man who said it believed it himself.
"There are many geniuses this time, but I believe only one can truly be called a monstrous talent, and that is Ji Xuan. The Spiritual Crown Holder can only be him." The black robed elder snorted with confidence.
Ji Xuan was the one personally invited by the Saint Spiritual Academy Dean and had received a guaranteed spot. Whether in talent or in his performance on the Spiritual Road, he indeed lived up to this status.
So even though his words were bold, the others had no real grounds to refute him.
Only Liu Bai smiled softly. "I do not think so."
"Oh? Then what brilliant insight does the prodigy of the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy have?" The black robed elder sneered. He believed Liu Bai was simply trying to stand out by voicing a differing opinion.
Typical youth. Perhaps he possessed strength, but his eye for judging people and experience in dealing with the world were still far too lacking.
The other three elders also turned to look, curious to hear his reasoning.
"Though Ji Xuan indeed possesses outstanding talent and strength, he has drawn upon himself a major enemy. If he wants to reach the summit, that person will certainly obstruct him. By then, someone else may reap the rewards."
"Tch."
"Do you mean Luo Li?"
The black robed elder gave a mocking chuckle.
Not many people currently knew Luo Li's true identity. Although they thought she was an exceptional talent, they believed she alone could not stop Ji Xuan.
Even with Wen Qingxuan's assistance, Ji Xuan had more people and stronger support.
"I believe the Spiritual Crown Holder this time might be unexpected. If I must choose one person, I would place my bet on Wen Qingxuan."
His words caused the beautiful elder from the Myriad Phoenix Spiritual Academy to show a trace of surprise.
Wen Qingxuan was already an internally confirmed recruit of the Myriad Phoenix Spiritual Academy, and the beautiful elder had heard some details about her background from Dean Tang Qiu.
Yet Liu Bai should not know any of this. If he had said this, then he must genuinely believe Wen Qingxuan had the greatest chance.
"This little fellow cannot possibly be planning something improper, right?" the beautiful elder thought suspiciously.
She could not help it. Liu Bai was too young. His age was only three or four years different from Wen Qingxuan and the others, and they were of the same generation. Combined with Wen Qingxuan's exceptional beauty, such a possibility could not be dismissed.
"Should I remind this little fellow not to harbor certain thoughts?"
It was not an issue of looking down on him. She truly meant it for his sake. The youth was handsome and monstrously powerful, and his future was already bright and predictable. If he made one wrong choice and ended with regrets, she would feel sympathy.
....
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (40 chpaters)
Made In Hollywood (60 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(40 Chapters)
The Great Ruler(30 Chapters)
Btth: Ascend to Pinnacle (30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: My Martial is Tyranitar (30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu