Time flowed by inexorably.
Finally, after what amounted to several years within the tower, all nine beast images on the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel had been fully lit once. Every pattern had solidified considerably, no longer transparent. At this point, all the spirit pills and heavenly treasures had been completely absorbed by those nine divine beast patterns!
Boom…
As Ye Yunfei circulated the technique's formula, the totem wheel behind him began to slowly rotate. Brilliant divine light bloomed simultaneously from the nine beast patterns, exuding an aura of sacred indestructibility.
Roar…
Nine divine beasts roared at the sky in unison, their imposing might shaking the heavens. A vast, peerless surge of energetic power swept outwards. At that moment, Ye Yunfei felt his entire body churn with endless torrents of spiritual power! He felt an overwhelming sensation of boundless dharma strength, as if he could sweep all realms before him!
"This technique has not disappointed me. Its power is indeed formidable," Ye Yunfei revealed a satisfied smile.
Ye Yunfei had always possessed extremely discriminating standards regarding cultivation techniques and martial skills. For the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel to earn such praise from him meant it was truly extraordinary. The Nine Palaces Totem Wheel was an ancient martial skill he had stumbled upon in a prehistoric ruin during his previous life. He had never cultivated it then. Now was his first attempt at training it.
"Although my spiritual power realm is only at the early stage of the True Manifestation Realm," Ye Yunfei mused to himself, "once I deploy this Nine Palaces Totem Wheel, fighting across realms against Yuan Foundation Realm martial artists shouldn't be a problem at all."
"Counting the time, there should only be two or three days left before the New Student Ranking Tournament. I'll spend this remaining time cultivating the fifth form of the Eighteen Soul Immortal Art."
The Eighteen Soul Immortal Art consisted of eighteen forms in total, each with its own unique set of postures and hand seals. Moreover, each subsequent form increased in difficulty. Next, Ye Yunfei began cultivating the fifth form of the Eighteen Soul Immortal Art.
Meanwhile, within the new student zone of Hudao Academy…
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Everyone was rolling up their sleeves, eager to make their mark, soar to prominence, and shoot straight to the top during the upcoming Ranking Tournament!
In the small courtyard belonging to Feng Yun'ao…
Boom…!
Suddenly, a tremendous roar of energy erupted from the cultivation chamber, the powerful energy fluctuation causing the entire courtyard to shake violently.
Inside the chamber…
"Finally, I've broken through to the early Yuan Foundation Realm! I can contend with late Yuan Foundation practitioners now," Feng Yun'ao said coolly, his hands clasped behind his back, his tone brimming with immense confidence.
"Ye Yunfei, you'd better hope you don't run into me during this New Student Ranking Tournament. Otherwise, I'll make you understand who the true genius is!" Feng Yun'ao snorted coldly.
At that very moment…
Feng Yun'ao's expression suddenly changed, and he hurriedly strode out of the chamber.
A slender young man of noble and ancient bearing stood outside.
"Cousin, when did you arrive?" Feng Yun'ao approached the youth and spoke respectfully.
Facing this cousin, the usual superior and lofty expression vanished from Feng Yun'ao's face, replaced by deference and compliance. This was because Feng Yun'ao understood that this cousin of his was far, far more powerful! Moreover, this cousin was one of Hudao Academy's Seed Students!
"Cousin Yun'ao, I've received reliable information," the youth said, hands clasped behind his back, his tone indifferent. "This New Student Ranking Tournament offers the top three ranking disciples the prospect of becoming Academy Seed Students. Every Seed Student is a key focus of the Academy's nurturing efforts. To put it simply, Hudao Academy has over ten thousand disciples. But there are less than a hundred Seed Students. One can say that every Seed Student who graduates from Hudao Academy is destined to become a major figure dominating a part of the Tianxuan Continent. Cousin Yun'ao, with your aptitude, you have a real chance of placing in the top three and becoming a Seed Student."
"I understand, cousin. I will strive to become a Seed Student of Hudao Academy!" Feng Yun'ao promptly assured him.
"Cousin Yun'ao, your talent is not bad. Work hard and bring honor to our Fengyun Family," the youth said.
"Please rest assured, cousin. I will do my utmost," Feng Yun'ao said.
"Good." The youth nodded, then with a slight shift of his body, shot up into the sky.
At the same time, within the cultivation chamber of another small courtyard in the new student zone…
Boom…!
A loud noise sounded, shaking the entire small courtyard.
"Hahaha…!
I, Qin An, have endured humiliation and bided my time for so long! Finally, today, I have broken through to the early Yuan Foundation Realm! From now on, Qin An no longer needs to hide his true cultivation, nor slink around with his tail between his legs!
I, Qin An, possess a Heavenly Spirit Body. I will never willingly stay beneath others!
Ye Yunfei, you just wait. I will make you repay my Qin Family's blood debt in kind, sooner or later!" Qin An threw back his head and laughed wildly, triumphant and smug.
Due to his Heavenly Spirit Body, Qin An's realm breakthroughs were exceptionally rapid. However, back in the Eastern Region, he had remained extremely low-key, deliberately avoiding Ye Yunfei's notice, so he had always concealed his true spiritual power realm. After entering Hudao Academy, he had entered closed-door cultivation for a month and finally broke through to the early Yuan Foundation Realm, feeling he no longer had any reason to fear Ye Yunfei!
"In the New Student Ranking Tournament, Qin An will definitely secure a spot!" Inside the chamber, Qin An stood with hands clasped behind his back, radiating confidence.
At almost the same moment, in Xiao Hui's small courtyard…
A high-pitched phoenix cry suddenly rang out. A faint projection of a True Phoenix shot up from the cultivation chamber, soaring and dancing through the high sky.
Inside the chamber…
Boom!
A massive burst of energy erupted.
"I've broken through again! I'm at the middle True Manifestation Realm! This is the third time I've broken through in just this month!" Inside the chamber, Xiao Hui's lovely face was filled with delight and surprise.
During this period, her spiritual power realm had broken through consecutively three times!
"Master really did help activate my True Phoenix Physique! This is amazing! I feel like I might be able to… break through another level? Good, let's continue breaking through!" Xiao Hui muttered excitedly to herself before settling back into closed-door cultivation, striving for the next spiritual power realm.
Apart from Xiao Hui, many more talented individuals in the new student zone also made breakthroughs during this time.
"Hmm, not bad at all. It seems there are quite a few genuine talents among this batch of new disciples," several high-ranking members of Hudao Academy remarked, sensing the activity in the new student zone with their Soul Power and nodding approvingly.
"Haha, good, good, excellent! The quality of this year's new students is high! This bodes well indeed!" Receiving the reports, the two Deans couldn't help but laugh heartily, immensely gratified.
At this moment, there was only one day left until the New Student Ranking Tournament!
Within the Phantom Tower…
"The fifth form of the Eighteen Soul Immortal Art… finally mastered," Ye Yunfei slowly opened his eyes and muttered.
"The range I can perceive with my current Soul Power is roughly 200,000 meters. That's still passable, I suppose," Ye Yunfei said after probing his capabilities.