Chapter 170

"Shen Yue."

"Your disciple is present."

"You may step forward first."

"Understood."

As the leader of ChengTian Academy and the undisputed top genius among the dynasty’s young cultivators, Shen Yue immediately drew all eyes when he moved forward.

Yang Lingrui stared intently at him.

He needed to observe someone who could transcend the Path of Cultivation to gain opportunities.

Shen Yue approached the Enlightenment Stone and pressed his palm against its surface.

This wasn’t his first encounter with the stone. During his initiation when he’d displayed golden talent, his master – the Master of ChengTian Academy – had brought him here before.

Now returning, Shen Yue’s mental state differed completely from that initial visit.

Whoosh—

A faint sound echoed as Shen Yue’s body began dissolving into translucent mist before the crowd.

A special phenomenon manifested behind him simultaneously –

A majestic green mountain piercing the clouds.

Wei Kangping nodded approvingly.

Generating such phenomena proved one’s exceptional comprehension through resonance with the Enlightenment Stone.

Though Wei Kangping had witnessed many talents trigger similar visions, all required prolonged meditation first.

Shen Yue achieved it instantly.

"This disciple of senior brother truly inspires helpless envy," Wei Kangping thought.

The young disciples stared with shocked expressions.

"He… entered enlightenment state immediately? With a phenomenon too!"

"Incredible! He skipped the mental preparation phase entirely!"

"Maybe Senior Brother Shen maintains that enlightened state constantly."

"Is that even possible?"

Murmurs of amazement spread through the crowd.

Other top-tier geniuses watched with wariness.

Wu Zhao from the martial institute openly glared with hostility.

The competition between royal martial academy and ChengTian Academy needed no pretense.

He Shenglai observed Shen Yue’s fading form and asked: "Yize, how do you measure against him?"

Xiao Yize shrugged. "We’ve sparred several times. Never won once."

"Exchanges like this don’t really count."

"Um…"

Xiao Yize lowered his head and thought for a moment. "If it comes to a life-and-death fight, I could probably exchange lives with him, but I’m not entirely certain—about seventy percent sure."

As the two individuals spoke, Shen Yue’s form solidified once more, returning from his Enlightenment state after barely a dozen breaths.

Enlightenment isn’t about how long it takes—sometimes a sudden realization strikes within ten breaths.

Shen Yue withdrew his hand, face still calm though his brows carried faint contemplation.

Only he knew what he truly gained from this Enlightenment.

Next came other academy disciples who’d attended the ceremony. Most entered Enlightenment states,

but only Su Lixue and Li Qingwan triggered special phenomena upon touching the Enlightenment Stone.

Su Lixue’s phenomenon showed an endless realm of ice and snow.

Li Qingwan’s revealed a mighty warrior astride a warhorse, steel spear in hand and dark iron armor cladding his form.

When other disciples followed, many achieved breakthroughs through their insights.

Yet among them, only Feng Linghua entered true Enlightenment without manifesting any phenomenon.

The rest merely received scattered Dao of cultivation insights from the Stone.

He Shenglai’s group proved why they were Tiger-Chasing’s top talents—every one triggered special phenomena.

He Shenglai’s displayed a towering ancient tree.

Su Lingyun’s became an boundless sea of clouds.

Xiao Yize’s showed a roaming dragon’s faint silhouette.

Qiu Ran’s swirled with thunderclouds.

Wu Zhao’s roared with a lion’s image.

Yang Lingrui and other second-tier candidates followed, matching expectations—most achieved Enlightenment but no phenomena.

Only Chu Hao and Zi He stood out past the halfway mark.

Chu Hao manifested a crimson-flamed broken wooden piece.

Zi He revealed a golden figure seated mid-air.

"Sigh… Felt so close, just that tiny gap…"

Xu Jianan kept shaking his head as he rejoined the group.

He’d clearly sensed the opportunity during his attempt, yet couldn’t grasp it—leaving him thoroughly dejected.

"Brother Xu, don’t lose heart. Entering Enlightenment itself is remarkable."

"Brother Yang, you’re right. Coming here today is a great opportunity. We should be content."

"Next, Songshan Yang Family, Yang Lingrui."

When Wei Kangping called his name, Yang Lingrui stepped forward.

After bowing to the senior high-level cultivator, he turned to compose himself briefly before pressing his palm against the Enlightenment Stone.

Whoosh!—

The world around him shifted instantly, transporting Yang Lingrui from the painting realm to an ancient yellow earth road.

The scenery gave him strange familiarity. After struggling to recall, he remembered seeing this exact view when entering the inheritance land at Mayfly Treasure Land!

"Could what I saw in that inheritance space have been my future?"

The thought struck Yang Lingrui suddenly.

"If that vision was real, what comes next?"

"Purple lightning bolt… Lady in Green… and then…"

"Does this mean I’ll die by a sword through my heart?"

Once these thoughts emerged, they multiplied wildly.

Yang Lingrui’s resolve faltered.

Meanwhile, observers in the painting realm noticed Yang Lingrui’s brief Enlightenment state already fading.

Zi He frowned. Enlightenment duration varied, but less than a breath’s time seemed absurdly short.

Li Qingwan clenched her fists unconsciously, desperately hoping Yang Lingrui would manifest a phenomenon.

On the yellow earth road,

Panic overwhelmed Yang Lingrui as disturbing emotions corroded his mind and soul.

The harder he tried suppressing the thoughts, the clearer his death vision became—until actual heart pain stabbed through him.

At the crucial moment, the spirit pearl’s fortune surged wildly within him.

Rather than vanquish his inner demons directly, it awakened buried memories through their mental connection.

"The Yang Family’s rise begins now! I’ll become our sharpest blade!"

"Kill whoever blocks us! Slay whatever ghosts interfere!"

"We cultivators gamble with fate itself!"

Crash!—

Memories flooding back, Yang Lingrui’s eyes cleared. His renewed aura shattered the dark thoughts.

"Close call. My thanks, Immortal Master."

Steady again, Yang Lingrui saw only determination where fear had been.

To defy fate meant never surrendering!

"Come then! Heavenly lightning or murderous swords—I’ll face them all!"

Fearlessly now, he marched down the yellow earth road’s length.

At road’s end sat a small altar bearing a sandy Treasure Pearl.

When Yang Lingrui reached for it, yellow winds exploded around him!

"Hah! Who knows how many years I’ve waited here!"

"Superb talent! Worthy heir to Wind Path!"

"My Yellow Wind Taoist tradition passes to you now!"

"Guard it well, boy!"

The inheritance memories flooded Yang Lingrui’s sea of consciousness instantly.

Back in the painting realm, gasps erupted.

As Yang Lingrui gained the inheritance, roaring yellow winds manifested behind him!

While Zi He and Chu Hao triggering phenomena seemed expected given their top-tier talents,

Yang Lingrui—merely competent before—now conjured the Enlightenment Stone’s special phenomenon!

More shocking still: gale winds erupted around him,

Scouring away his facial disguise as they roared upward.

Yang Lingrui’s true face—of Extraordinary Appearance—stood revealed to all.