The two merely exchanged casual conversation.
The ten arks had already formed into a long line, advancing southward towards Wusheng Academy.
Finally, after passing through countless towering mountains, a huge mountain peak suddenly came into view amid a range of mountains.
Atop this peak, countless palaces and courtyards were visible, among which blue-robed martial artists could be seen everywhere.
At the very center of the mountain peak was a massive complex of palaces, which was exceptionally vast.
There were numerous palaces in this complex, amounting to over a hundred.
This complex of palaces was much more imposing than the royal palace of the Wusheng Kingdom.
Indeed, Wusheng Academy was a major force that transcended the Wusheng Kingdom, and even the royal family of the Wusheng Kingdom could not contend with Wusheng Academy.
For this reason, the palaces of Wusheng Academy were much more massive than those of the royal palace of the Wusheng Kingdom.
It could be said that Wusheng Academy was the true uncrowned king of the Wusheng Kingdom.
The ten arks came to a stop in front of a palace halfway up the mountain.
"It seems we’ve arrived."
Chu Fengmian observed Wusheng Academy in his mind.
Wusheng Academy was located within a huge mountain peak.
It was clearly divided into four sections, at the base of which numerous bustling cities were established and vast fields were opened to cultivate Spiritual Medicine.
These were actually where the servants and miscellaneous disciples of Wusheng Academy lived.
The daily expenses on elixirs for the countless disciples of Wusheng Academy were astronomical. The numerous cities and fields at the base of the mountain were used to cultivate Spiritual Medicine to supply the daily expenses of Wusheng Academy.
Besides these enslaved plantations,
Countless forces within the Wusheng Kingdom also contributed large quantities of Spiritual Medicine to Wusheng Academy every year, all methods to sustain the expenses of Wusheng Academy.
It could be said that every disciple in Wusheng Academy was supported by hundreds or even thousands of people, each naturally possessing extraordinary strength and abundant resources.
Further up the mountainside, there were already many palaces and courtyards; the disciples here were freed from heavy duties, solely focused on martial cultivation.
They were the Outer Sect Disciples of Wusheng Academy. Outer Sect Disciples of Wusheng Academy needed only to complete the tasks assigned by the academy each year to cultivate freely.
Thus, their strength progressed rapidly.
Even further up was an area occupied only by courtyards.
This area was where the Inner Sect Disciples of Wusheng Academy resided. The Inner Sect Disciples of Wusheng Academy no longer needed to do any tasks; their sole objective was cultivation.
The stronger the disciples, the more they could become the foundation of Wusheng Academy in the future.
Closest to the peak were several courtyards and palaces that were restricted to some of the elders of Wusheng Academy, areas regular disciples could not approach.
The four regions perfectly divided the four ranks of Wusheng Academy. Unless commanded, disciples from a lower region were not permitted to enter a higher one.
The place where the arks now docked was actually in front of a palace located in the area of the Outer Sect Disciples.
Some Outer Sect Disciples had already been waiting there early to see the new recruits of this year.
"These new recruits don’t seem very impressive; probably less than four hundred could pass the first trial."
An Outer Sect Disciple of Wusheng Academy disdainfully said.
"I wonder how many will be directly promoted to the Inner Sect this time."
"This batch of recruits, despite being generally weaker, includes four exceedingly talented prodigies. Those four should be directly promoted to the Inner Sect without any suspense."
Another Outer Sect Disciple commented.
The names of the four great prodigies from Jijing City were already well-known within Wusheng Academy.
They wanted to see who these current four great prodigies were.
"Hmph, what ’four great prodigies’? Such ’prodigies’ are just puffed up in a place like Jijing City; everyone promoted to the Inner Sect is a prodigy, a monster."
Another Outer Sect Disciple spoke with a skeptical tone.
"Those so-called four great prodigies, once they enter the Inner Sect, will just be bottom feeders. Even among the Outer Sect, they won’t be considered top-notch."
"Oh? Lin Mozhu and Chu Beige, with their strength, wouldn’t be considered top-notch in the Outer Sect of Wusheng Academy?"
Chu Fengmian was slightly surprised upon hearing the Outer Sect Disciples’ comments.
Qu Wuyin, hearing Chu Fengmian’s words, naturally understood what he was thinking and began to explain.
"The difference between the Outer Sect and Inner Sect of Wusheng Academy isn’t necessarily one of strength. As I know, there are a few extremely powerful and talented individuals in the Outer Sect."
"But because they are proud and arrogant, they refuse to join any common faction, so they continue to stay in the Outer Sect without getting promoted."
"Their strength is certainly no less than some of the Inner Sect Disciples; among them, the most powerful have even reached the eighth and ninth layers of the Body Tempering Realm."
With her status, although she had not yet visited Wusheng Academy, she was already very familiar with it.
Chu Fengmian nodded; he also understood this situation.
Some geniuses, with extreme self-esteem, naturally didn’t want to pledge allegiance under just any common faction; however, the truly powerful factions had extremely high standards to accept disciples.
So it went back and forth, and these individuals simply didn’t take masters, continuing to cultivate in the Outer Sect, waiting for their opportunity.
In Wusheng Academy, resources had always been linked to strength, so some genuine strong experts of the Outer Sect might not receive fewer resources than the Inner Sect Disciples.
Naturally, there was no need to insist on joining the Inner Sect.
"Let’s go, the next destination is the site of the first trial."
Qu Wuyin spoke and leaped down from the ark.
Chu Fengmian also followed suit, descending from the ark.
Heading into that palace,
At the center of this palace was a massive rock situated in the middle.
This rock was engraved with countless Arrays, fortified upon it.
The rock was divided into nine segments; a martial artist stepped forward, extended his hand, and placed it on the rock.
Suddenly, he injected Spiritual Power into the rock.
"Thump, thump, thump."
The nine segments of the rock gradually began to light up with red glimmers, shining up to the eighth segment before stopping.
"Bone Tempering Realm Eighth Layer; trial passed, move along."
An elder, sitting on a chair, glanced at the result and spoke without even raising his eyes.
"This stone is the Martial Trial Stone of Wusheng Academy. Just by infusing Spiritual Power, one can determine their strength."