"Agreed.
Let's deal with this little thief ourselves!"
The green-robed man spoke through gritted teeth.
* * *
The square in front of the Epiphany Stele was currently a scene of quiet concentration. Over a thousand new students sat cross-legged, like ascetic monks in deep meditation, focusing their minds on comprehension.
"Indeed, it is a magical artifact," Ye Yunfei thought to himself, his Soul Power having probed the stele for a few moments, allowing him to grasp its nature completely. "And a high-grade one at that. It's likely the most advanced artifact on the entire Tianxuan Continent."
At the same time, his perception detected numerous points of light within the stele—roughly over five hundred of them. A slight touch with his Soul Power revealed that each point of light concealed a martial technique or cultivation method. These were all enveloped by a layer of spiritual energy, and to see their specific contents, one had to penetrate this barrier. This layer was, in fact, a rather ingenious Soul Restriction. Only students with sufficiently high martial talent could comprehend and break through this restriction to read the contents.
"It seems these points of light are the techniques collected by Hu Dao Shangren," Ye Yunfei mused internally.
However, he had absolutely zero interest in these techniques. As a former Heavenly Emperor who had traversed countless worlds and realms, Ye Yunfei's personal collection was immense. Any technique deemed worthy of his collection had to be among the very best in the myriad worlds. How could the collections of Hu Dao Shangren, formidable as he was on the Tianxuan Continent, compare? After all, to a Heavenly Emperor, such power was negligible.
At this moment, all the new students in the square were earnestly and intently comprehending the Epiphany Stele. Only Ye Yunfei found it somewhat tedious.
Suddenly, his wandering Soul Power brushed past one particular point of light, and he paused.
"Hmm? 'Tianxuan Continent Secret Realm Guide'? What's this?"
This point of light didn't seem to contain a martial technique out of curiosity, Ye Yunfei directed his Soul Power into the point and began to read the contents.
Sure enough, it wasn't a technique but a guidebook—a record detailing the locations and specific conditions of various secret realms and Small Worlds across the Tianxuan Continent. Places like the Sky Shadow Small World in the Eastern Region and the Ancient Battlefield used for Hudao Academy's entrance exams were all recorded here.
"Well, this guide is actually quite good," Ye Yunfei nodded inwardly, unable to help but think to himself. "Worth a look."
He then began to spend time reading through the guidebook in detail. With his level of Soul Power, a single read-through was enough to imprint the information permanently in his soul sea, never to be forgotten.
* * *
Time passed slowly in the square.
About an hour later.
BOOM!
A resonant roar suddenly erupted from the towering Epiphany Stele. A beam of white light spewed forth from its surface and fell upon a student in the square.
Everyone was jolted awake at that moment, turning their gazes towards the illuminated student. It was a youth clad in white robes.
Him!
All the students recognized him. This white-robed youth was an extraordinary genius from the Central Continent. Back when they first arrived at Hudao Academy, he had injured a student from the Western Wastelands with a mere glance.
"Senior Brother Fengyun has comprehended a technique!" the students from the Central Continent looked at him with a mixture of respect and envy.
"Hmm, not bad," Elder Ma, watching from a distance, nodded approvingly.
The white-robed youth remained motionless, eyes closed, continuing his comprehension, completely ignoring the stir he had caused. Soon, silence once again descended upon the square.
Approximately another half hour passed.
BOOM!
Another beam of white light shot from the Epiphany Stele, landing on the body of the white-robed youth.
"Senior Brother Fengyun has comprehended another technique!"
"Truly worthy of Senior Brother Fengyun!"
...
A small wave of excitement rippled through the square.
"As expected of a Central Continent genius," Elder Ma praised with a nod.
Time crept on.
Another half hour later.
BOOM!
Yet another white beam of light erupted from the stele, illuminating Senior Brother Fengyun.
"Ah!
Incredible!
Senior Brother Fengyun has comprehended yet another technique!"
"With such monstrous talent, his reputation is well-deserved!"
...
Gasps of astonishment constantly sounded throughout the square.
"Hehe, impressive. For this young man to comprehend several techniques in such a short time shows truly remarkable talent," Elder Ma looked at Senior Brother Fengyun with a sense of gratification. "Our Hudao Academy has recruited a true genius this year."
The youth, Senior Brother Fengyun, still didn't move a muscle, nor did he open his eyes, continuing his meditation.
After that, three more beams of white light shot out from the Epiphany Stele in succession, all landing on Senior Brother Fengyun.
The square erupted in wave after wave of commotion.
Nearly every student looked at Senior Brother Fengyun with immense admiration.
One gaze of envy after another settled upon him.
* * *
Following Senior Brother Fengyun, other new students began to successively comprehend techniques.
Students from all regions were having breakthroughs. However, the students from the Central Continent had comprehended the most by far. In particular, Senior Brother Fengyun, in just one day, had managed to comprehend over twenty techniques!
"Haha, excellent, truly excellent!" Elder Ma watched with great delight, unable to suppress a hearty laugh. "Although we have many students this term, their talent is remarkably high!"
"Students, push yourselves, continue striving with your comprehension!" Elder Ma addressed the crowd in a clear voice, encouraging them. "This session of stele comprehension, like the freshman ranking competition a month from now, serves as a form of assessment for you. Those who perform exceptionally will receive the academy's focused nurturing. If any of you manage to comprehend a technique that has *never* been comprehended before, the academy will grant you a substantial reward!"
* * *
Another day passed.
By now, nearly every student had comprehended at least one technique, though the numbers varied greatly. The highest was still Senior Brother Fengyun, who had comprehended over sixty different techniques! The fewest were some students who had only managed to comprehend one.
Regionally, the new students from the Central Continent had comprehended far more techniques on average. Clearly, their innate talent was indeed superior to the new students from the other four regions.
The ranking, in descending order, was Central Continent, Southern Frontier, Western Wastelands, Northern Barrens, and finally, the Eastern Region. The performance of the new students from the Eastern Region was the worst overall.
However, there were two exceptions from the Eastern Region: Xiao Hui and Qin An!
Xiao Hui had astonishingly comprehended over fifty techniques, surpassing even many Central Continent students, coming very close to the level of Senior Brother Fengyun! Qin An had also comprehended over fifty techniques, matching Xiao Hui.
"Hmm, who would have thought," Elder Ma couldn't help but nod with satisfaction as he looked at Xiao Hui and Qin An. "Despite the overall poor performance of the Eastern Region students, two promising sprouts have emerged."
* * *
"Ye Yunfei!"
A voice suddenly rang out across the square.
"I truly never expected... that you wouldn't comprehend a single technique. How disappointing."
It was actually Senior Brother Fengyun speaking.
"In the past two days, you've been the most talked-about among the new students. You've hogged the spotlight," he continued, his tone shifting to scorn. "I initially thought you might have some capability. Little did I know your talent would be so poor. It seems your only redeeming qualities are your physical strength and movement speed. With such inferior martial talent, your path on the martial way is destined to be short."
His gaze, filled with utter disdain, settled on Ye Yunfei.
"You're nothing more than an ant."