Everyone was astonished as an Ancient Talent finally made a move. Long Gu'ao from the Tenglong Empire appeared.
He descended before the Trial Gate, openly expressing contempt and disdain for Xia Yang's inability to push open the seventh Trial Gate, not bothering to conceal it at all.
This left many people dumbfounded. After all, among those present, only a handful had managed to push open even the fifth Trial Gate, let alone the sixth, which only Xia Yang had succeeded in opening.
This was undoubtedly a glorious achievement. At the very least, they believed that more than half of the students in the Heaven-tier Academy probably couldn't accomplish it.
It was impossible for all the elites of the Heaven-tier Academy to be at the Martial God realm; less than half were.
But now, this achievement was actually being looked down upon, scorned, and disdained, causing many to frown, feeling it was far too arrogant.
However, upon learning the other party's identity, everyone fell silent. Even the few Martial God realm elders present, and even Elder Ouyang at the Heavenly God realm, remained wordless.
Because the other party had the right to do so.
Every Ancient Talent was the most dazzling of their generation. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been sealed until this era, seeking hope beyond the Divine Spirits.
Faced with this disdain, Xia Yang wasn't angry. He merely furrowed his brows slightly at Long Gu'ao, appearing somewhat displeased, but he didn't retort. Because he too knew the true fearsomeness of these Ancient Talents. Whether in the present age or throughout history, probably only Ye Chen, that peerless monster, could rival them.
Xia Yang's aloofness caught Long Gu'ao's eye, instantly displeasing him. Other Ancient Talents were one thing, but now a mere Martial God dared to act like this towards him? How audacious! With a direct flick of his sleeve, a terrifying force swept out, sending Xia Yang flying sideways, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
He snorted coldly, "Just a Crown Prince of a tiny kingdom. Do you really think you're the Crown Prince of a super empire? And is achieving the Martial God realm at twenty-three so impressive? This lord achieved it at twenty-six."
Xia Yang was sent flying, his whole body shuddering, blood seeping from his lips. He was far from a match for his opponent.
This scene made many gasp in shock. The gap was too vast. The esteemed Xia Yang couldn't even withstand a single move from Long Gu'ao.
But as the other party said, Long Gu'ao had reached the Martial God realm at twenty-six. Seven years had passed since then. With his peerless talent, nurtured by the endless resources of a super empire and personally guided by a Divine Spirit, his strength could rival a super Martial God. How could Xia Yang, who had just stepped into the Martial God realm, be his match?
However, Xia Yang wasn't discouraged. That wasn't his nature. He was the type who grew stronger when facing stronger opponents.
He wiped away the trace of blood from his lips and looked at Long Gu'ao, saying calmly, "Can you push open the seventh Trial Gate?"
These calm words annoyed Long Gu'ao the most. He snorted coldly, "Do you think this lord is trash like you? Ridiculous. Today, I'll let you witness this lord's true power."
Whoosh—
He directly descended before the first Trial Gate. Looking at the ancient gate, he said, "In the ancient era, I failed to truly push open the eighth Trial Gate. Today is a good opportunity to try again."
As expected by the world, he effortlessly pushed open one Trial Gate after another, consecutively opening six. Even the sixth gate, weighing two hundred thousand jin, only slightly hindered his steps.
Truthfully, it wasn't very strenuous for him.
If Xia Yang could do it, he naturally could too, and he could do it better.
Because he was too powerful, exceeding all expectations. This was the true fearsomeness of the Ancient Talents. Each was a peerless genius, achieving the Martial God realm early, nurtured by invaluable resources. How could they be weak?
Their level of power was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
Having successively received the baptism of light rain from the fifth and sixth Trial Gates, Long Gu'ao's aura grew even stronger. He remarked, "So it's light rain containing Primordial Spirit Dao Power. No wonder it can enhance strength. Truly rare. It's said these Trial Gates are prehistoric artifacts, divine objects that have existed since the creation of the Tian Du Continent. They are indeed extraordinary."
A moment later, he arrived before the seventh Trial Gate. Even someone as powerful as him slightly restrained his relaxed expression at this moment, appearing somewhat solemn.
The seventh Trial Gate weighed over three million two hundred thousand jin, but it also possessed a special Dao charm that made its weight far exceed that. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so difficult and strenuous for Xia Yang, who could only push it open a crack without achieving full success.
Although he somewhat disdained Xia Yang's strength, that was merely the feeling of superiority from a higher realm towards a lower one. In truth, he still quite recognized Xia Yang's power.
Reaching the Martial God realm at such a young age was no simple feat. After all, not everyone could be like them, the Ancient Talents, especially one hailing from a tiny kingdom.
At this moment, all eyes were on Long Gu'ao. Everyone wanted to see if the Ancient Talent could open the seventh Trial Gate, or even the eighth, to unveil a mysterious new passage to another realm.
Long Gu'ao made his move. One after another, golden dragon auras appeared around him, each resembling a real, existing True Dragon, soaring and roaring as if truly alive. Even someone as powerful as him had to be serious now. A golden dragon aura roared and howled in each of his hands as they landed on the stone gate, beginning to push.
Boom—
It was as if he were pushing open two gates leading to another world—immensely heavy. The rumbling thunderous sound was incessant, shaking the Tian Du Academy and also the Tian Du City, drawing the attention of many within the city.
Even many ancient recluses in secluded cultivation were startled at this moment, extending their divine senses to investigate the situation, making the onlookers shiver in awe. This was the terrifying foundation of the Tian Du Academy.
Under Long Gu'ao's push, the two Trial Gates, each sixty-four zhang tall, slowly began to open.
"It's opening! It's being pushed open!"
Someone exclaimed, drawing even more people's rapt attention to this scene.
Would the seventh Trial Gate, which throughout history only a handful of people had ever opened, be pushed open again today?
Undoubtedly, an Ancient Talent could accomplish it.
Boom—
Finally, the seventh Trial Gate was fully opened. A vast expanse of divine radiance completely engulfed Long Gu'ao, who was pushing the gate. The brilliant, hazy light even gave people a feeling of ascending to immortality, igniting fiery gazes in many.
Even the Supreme Elder's eyes changed, focusing intently.
Long Gu'ao's aura grew significantly stronger, showing faint signs of a breakthrough, which was utterly shocking.
This power was simply too divine and formidable.
Finally, Long Gu'ao completely absorbed and refined this hazy power into his body, undergoing sublimation. His entire being was elevated, becoming stronger than before, astonishing everyone with this transformation.
The Trial Gates were truly miraculous, actually bestowing such special gifts. Even an Ancient Talent as powerful as him could receive an enhancement.
Taking a step forward, Long Gu'ao suddenly arrived before the final Trial Gate. It stood one hundred twenty-eight zhang tall, towering into the clouds, completely vanishing into the sky above.
Compared to this ultimate Trial Gate, Long Gu'ao seemed as insignificant and incomparable as an ant.
At this moment, he naturally began to push. Even six golden dragon auras manifested. His most powerful strength surged forth, swelling, fully pushing against the eighth Trial Gate.
Boom—
Under the astonished gazes of countless people, the eighth Trial Gate was indeed pushed open a tiny crack. Brilliant, radiant light streamed out, capturing everyone's attention.
"Is the final Trial Gate also going to be opened? Could this be a passage to a brand new world?"
Everyone watched nervously.
From the deepest parts of the academy, several terrifying divine senses swept over, covering this area, attempting to probe into the eighth Trial Gate to see what lay within.
But several muffled grunts sounded in succession. They came from those hidden powerhouses who had extended their divine senses. There was wariness and apprehension because endless brilliant light shone from the crack in the stone gate, blocking the divine sense investigation. It even burned, causing several of them to be injured one after another.
Clearly, what lay within the eighth Trial Gate was far from simple. Divine senses couldn't fully penetrate; they would be burned and blocked.
"Old Yan, can you clearly investigate what's behind the Trial Gate?" Ye Chen inquired.
Old Yan's figure drifted out. The fluctuations here were intense, and the Supreme Old Academy Head wasn't present, allowing him to appear opportunistically. With his supreme and potent divine sense, he quietly probed inside.
However, his expression showed great astonishment, also some bewilderment and peculiarity. He couldn't help but murmur to himself, "What lies behind the Trial Gate is actually that realm... Extraordinary, truly extraordinary."
Ye Chen was shocked. Old Yan could actually recognize the mysterious realm behind the gate? Could it truly be a gate leading to the myriad realms?
"We can't let Long Gu'ao steal all the glory. I have a feeling something incredible might emerge from the eighth Trial Gate."
"Indeed, I share that feeling. It's long been rumored that the eighth Trial Gate is a passage to a new realm, a peerless secret treasure trove. It might truly be so."
"The prehistoric Trial Gates are extraordinary. We can't let Long Gu'ao seize the opportunity alone!"
Three Ancient Talents directly shot up from their carriages. Yang Wushuang, Li Taixu, and Wu Yunyan—three great Ancient Talents—appeared, descending before the Trial Gate. A pillar of divine light shot into the sky from the crown of each of their heads, their presence astonishing, their Dao might shaking mountains. They too began pushing the Trial Gates.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three loud booms. Visible to the naked eye, divine radiance blossomed from the Trial Gates. In that instant, three additional rows of identical Trial Gates appeared, with only the topmost eighth gates merging together, emanating a hazy chaotic light.