A short while later.
All one thousand plus new students gathered in a large square.
At the center of this square stood a colossal stele that soared into the clouds.
This massive stele was none other than the famous Epiphany Stele of Hudao Academy.
Elder Ma was already standing beside the Epiphany Stele, waiting.
"Students, your task for the coming period is to achieve enlightenment before the Epiphany Stele," Elder Ma said clearly.
"This is something every student must do upon entering Hudao Academy.
Before you begin your enlightenment, I must first tell you the origins of our academy and this stele."
Every new student listened with rapt attention.
"In ancient times, our Tianxuan Continent was suddenly invaded by extraterritorial enemies.
The martial artists on the continent rose up in resistance, engaging in a fierce war against the invaders.
During that war, a powerful expert emerged named Hu Dao Shangren.
Hu Dao Shangren was originally a solitary cultivator on the Tianxuan Continent who remained in seclusion year-round, detached from worldly affairs.
Only until that war broke out did he suddenly appear, displaying astonishing strength, and became one of the main experts resisting the extraterritorial invaders.
In the end, the extraterritorial enemies were driven back, and the Tianxuan Continent was preserved.
After the war, Hu Dao Shangren, lamenting the severe internal strife, division, and consequent weakening of the continent's overall strength caused by all the different sects and factions fighting among themselves, established Hudao Academy to recruit and train young geniuses from all regions.
That is the origin of Hudao Academy," said Elder Ma.
"So that's how it was."
The new students listened with great interest.
"Hu Dao Shangren once said that the extraterritorial enemies would surely make a comeback one day. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every student of Hudao Academy to protect the Tianxuan Continent.
If the extraterritorial invaders ever attack the Tianxuan Continent again, every student of our academy will participate in the battle and become the main force repelling the foreign enemy.
Do you all understand?" Elder Ma continued.
"Understood!"
All the students drew on their energy to lift their voices, answering loudly.
After hearing Elder Ma's words, a feeling of admiration for Hu Dao Shangren arose in the hearts of the many students.
"Alright. Now, I will explain the origin of the Epiphany Stele.
About fifty years after founding the academy, Hu Dao Shangren mysteriously disappeared.
No one knows where he went.
Before his disappearance, Hu Dao Shangren placed his most powerful magic treasure, the Hudao Stele, to guard the academy.
At the same time, using a secret method, he imprinted all the cultivation techniques and martial skills he had collected throughout his life into the Hudao Stele.
Every student of Hudao Academy is qualified to attempt enlightenment before the Hudao Stele.
As long as one's talent is good enough and comprehension high enough, it is possible to gain insight into the cultivation techniques and martial skills within.
Later, the Hudao Stele came to be known as the Epiphany Stele," Elder Ma said.
"So that's how it is."
"To think this Epiphany Stele is actually Hu Dao Shangren's most powerful magic treasure..."
...
Upon hearing Elder Ma's words, many students looked up at the towering, majestic stele before them and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Hu Dao Shangren was one of the top three strongest experts on the Tianxuan Continent in his time.
Furthermore, he loved collecting all kinds of cultivation techniques and martial skills throughout his life. It's said the number exceeded five hundred!
Even now, less than two hundred have been comprehended from the stele."
"Alright.
Next, you will now achieve enlightenment before the stele.
How many techniques you manage to comprehend depends on your destiny.
Furthermore, any techniques you comprehend must first be copied and submitted to the academy.
If you can comprehend any techniques that have not yet been discovered, that is a great merit, and you will become key candidates for focused training by the academy," Elder Ma declared.
"Therefore, this enlightenment session, like the freshman ranking competition one month from now, is part of the freshman assessment.
I hope you all take it seriously."
This was Elder Ma's final remark.
After that.
Over a thousand new students all sat cross-legged, forming a circle around the Epiphany Stele, and began their enlightenment.
Elder Ma then sat cross-legged in a corner of the square.
Silence enveloped the square.
The students each sat as if in deep meditation, like old monks entering a trance.
At the same time.
Startling news spread rapidly throughout Hudao Academy.
The headquarters of the Xiao Sect had been razed to ruins by a new student who had just entered the academy!
"Nonsense!
An organization founded by Xiao Ziyang actually dares to have someone cause trouble?
Who would have the guts?"
"A freshman razing the Xiao Sect?
When did the Xiao Sect become so weak?"
...
Upon first hearing the news, the first reaction of senior students was disbelief.
However, as more and more specific details were spread, described clearly and convincingly, everyone gradually had no choice but to believe it.
Thus, it caused a sensation.
"How utterly arrogant!
Just a freshman, yet he dares to challenge the Xiao Sect!"
"Well, this will be an interesting show.
I heard Xiao Ziyang and the truly powerful members of the Xiao Sect are either in seclusion or away on training missions, so the overall strength was quite weak.
Once those truly powerful members return, that freshman is done for!"
"Exactly. That freshman has stirred up a hornet's nest.
A classic case of a reckless hothead who doesn't understand the severity of his actions."
...
Throughout Hudao Academy, senior students were engaged in heated discussions everywhere, most holding an unfavorable view of Ye Yunfei.
After all, the strength of the Xiao Sect was deeply ingrained in the minds of these senior students.
Especially Xiao Ziyang, the leader of the Xiao Sect, who was a prominent figure in the academy, his reputation awe-inspiring and no one dared to provoke him.
At this moment.
Within Hudao Academy.
On a certain tall mountain peak.
Inside a cultivation grotto.
Students in Hudao Academy were divided into three grades: Junior Student, Intermediate Student, and Senior Student.
Treatment differed between the grades.
Junior Students owned a small courtyard.
Intermediate Students owned a small mountain peak.
Senior Students owned a tall peak, and moreover, were provided with cultivation grottos.
This cultivation grotto belonged to a Senior Student!
Inside the grotto.
More than a dozen students were present.
"Did that Ye Yunfei really challenge the Xiao Sect headquarters single-handedly?" a yellow-robed man asked.
"Correct.
I witnessed it with my own eyes.
Ye Yunfei's combat power is indeed quite remarkable.
Especially his physical strength and movement speed.
One could say his combat power is enough to defeat most True Manifestation Realm cultivators," one student said.
"No wonder he caused so much stir in the Eastern Region. It seems he possesses a certain level of strength," another student commented.
"Humph!
This way, Ye Yunfei has thoroughly offended Xiao Ziyang.
Even if we don't act, Xiao Ziyang won't let him off.
Xiao Ziyang has been away on training missions these past few years, but it's said he will return soon.
When that time comes, it will be Ye Yunfei's end," a man shrouded in flickering lightning arcs sneered coldly.
"I can't wait that long. Ye Yunfei caused heavy losses to our Chen Clan. I want to take revenge with my own hands!" a man in a cyan robe said, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"There's no need to be too hasty.
The new students only just entered the academy today.
Send people to monitor Ye Yunfei closely and wait for an opportunity.
That kid is a scourge of the Eastern Region. We don't need to wait for Xiao Ziyang to act; we can kill him ourselves," the yellow-robed man said slowly.