Within the Tianxuan Continent, a legend concerning the Hudao Stele circulated.
In his early years, Hu Dao Shangren was but a lone cultivator, of humble origins and quite weak strength.
Later, however, he suddenly rose rapidly, displaying astonishing power and becoming the mightiest expert on the Tianxuan Continent.
All of this was because Hu Dao Shangren had accidentally entered an Ancient Ruins and reaped many benefits, allowing his strength to increase swiftly.
And the Hudao Stele was precisely the treasure artifact that Hu Dao Shangren had brought out from those Ancient Ruins.
Within the Hudao Stele were also hidden clues concerning those Ancient Ruins.
Moreover, even more tantalizing was the fact that the benefits Hu Dao Shangren obtained constituted only a small fraction of what was contained within those Ancient Ruins.
In other words, many more treasures still lay waiting to be unearthed within those Ancient Ruins!
This legend was already deeply ingrained across the Tianxuan Continent, filling countless martial artists with yearning.
Just think: Hu Dao Shangren only acquired a small portion of the benefits from those Ancient Ruins, yet he became the strongest expert on the Tianxuan Continent.
Thus, one could barely imagine just how precious the treasures within those Ancient Ruins must be!
Therefore, for a long time, many martial artists had coveted the Hudao Stele.
It was just that Hudao Academy was one of the most elite forces on the Tianxuan Continent.
No one dared to casually make a move to seize the Hudao Stele!
"Pass down the order; for this period, enhance our defenses.
Exercise caution in all matters," Xie Changkong said.
"Understood," Dean Shangguan nodded.
These high-ranking members of the academy were all worried and anxious.
The academy's seven strongest experts were all severely injured.
Once experts from other forces came to seize the Hudao Stele, the consequences would be unthinkable.
The Hudao Stele was the treasure artifact left behind by Hu Dao Shangren and also a symbol of Hudao Academy; its significance was too great.
At this moment.
Ye Yunfei was quietly sitting and resting within a private chamber.
Suddenly.
A figure descended into Ye Yunfei's courtyard. It was Su Qingluo.
"Qingluo!"
Inside the chamber, Ye Yunfei sensed her arrival. His face lit up with joy, and he immediately rose to walk out.
"Ye Yunfei!"
As soon as Su Qingluo saw Ye Yunfei, she couldn't help but step forward, drawing close to him.
Her beautiful eyes gazed at Ye Yunfei, appearing infinitely tender.
Since leaving Yuanyue City until now, this was the first real meeting between the two.
Throughout this period, she had missed Ye Yunfei dearly.
"Qingluo, I never expected you've actually broken through to the later stage of Foundation Establishment Realm."
Sensing Su Qingluo's spiritual energy aura, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but praise her.
"I practiced a secret family technique from a very young age, forcibly suppressing the spiritual energy within my body and not allowing a breakthrough.
Therefore, my previous spiritual energy realm was very weak.
Not long ago, after returning to my family, I underwent a cleansing ritual of the family's secret method and achieved successive breakthroughs.
Later, upon the family's recommendation, I directly became a Seed Student of Hudao Academy," Su Qingluo explained.
"So that's how it is," Ye Yunfei nodded.
There indeed existed quite a few such techniques in the world.
During the early stages of cultivation, one forcibly suppresses and prevents breakthroughs. Only later, when sufficient accumulation has built up, is it suddenly released for a breakthrough, allowing astonishing potential to be unleashed.
"You are the truly formidable one.
I estimate your current combat power could already challenge late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm opponents," Su Qingluo said.
"Barely," Ye Yunfei laughed.
"By the way.
Today, you offended Fengyun Chi, Xiao Qianfeng, and Wei Wuji. You must be more careful in the future.
All three of them are Grotto-Heaven Realm experts.
Moreover, behind each of them stands one of the most top-tier major powers in the Central Continent," Su Qingluo said with concern.
"I understand," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"This is my Su Family's token.
Our Su Family holds many enterprises in various regions of the Central Continent.
Holding this token, any consumption at our family's businesses will receive a seventy percent discount. Furthermore, many things will even be free of charge."
Su Qingluo took out a token and handed it to Ye Yunfei.
"Also, take these cultivation resources."
Su Qingluo then produced a spatial ring, saying.
This spatial ring was quite high-grade, its interior space vast and filled with all kinds of spirit crystals, spirit pills, spirit herbs, and heavenly treasures.
"This...
Qingluo, you need these cultivation resources as well. Keep them for your own use," Ye Yunfei said, feeling somewhat grateful.
"If I'm giving them to you, you should just take them!"
Su Qingluo grabbed Ye Yunfei's hand and stuffed both the token and the spatial ring into his palm.
Their skin touching caused Su Qingluo's fair face to blush slightly, yet she felt rather sweet inside.
"Alright then," Ye Yunfei said, unwilling to reject Su Qingluo's kindness, and so he accepted.
Su Qingluo spent quite a while in Ye Yunfei's small courtyard, staying together with him.
For Su Qingluo, this was a rare warm moment. Being together with Ye Yunfei seemed to fill her heart with joy.
Only after a long while did she finally leave.
"Students ranking in the top six of the New Student Ranking Tournament, report to the Merit Hall immediately."
Right after Su Qingluo left, Ye Yunfei's identity token suddenly received a message.
"Gathering the top six students; it should be for entering the Heavenly Dragon Pond to cultivate," Ye Yunfei thought with some anticipation.
"Ye Yunfei, the academy is summoning us to the Merit Hall," Xiao Hui said excitedly as she walked into Ye Yunfei's small courtyard.
Dugu Huan arrived almost simultaneously.
"Let's go," Ye Yunfei said, then took the lead, soaring into the sky and flying toward the academy's Merit Hall.
Xiao Hui and Dugu Huan also exerted their movement techniques, following Ye Yunfei.
The Merit Hall was a majestic palace.
Inside the palace, Dean Shangguan was already waiting.
Feng Yun'ao, Qin An, and Wen Zi, the other three, had also arrived.
As soon as he saw Ye Yunfei, Feng Yun'ao's gaze was filled with intense resentment, locking fiercely onto Ye Yunfei.
His injuries seemed to have fully healed, restored to their original state.
To Ye Yunfei's surprise, despite Fengyun Chi's intrusion and disturbance at Hudao Academy, the academy's leadership had actually allowed Feng Yun'ao to continue staying at the academy.
From this, one could see that Hudao Academy truly lived up to its reputation as the top academy on the Tianxuan Continent; this level of magnanimity alone set it apart.
As for Qin An, it was as if he hadn't even seen Ye Yunfei, showing no fluctuation in expression whatsoever.
Qin An's injuries had also recovered.
Probably, some high-ranking academy figure had personally intervened to treat him.
Regarding Feng Yun'ao and Qin An, Ye Yunfei merely swept his gaze over them once before paying no further attention.
If they dared to provoke him again, he would simply strike and kill them with a fist.
Wen Zi, however, brightened up as soon as she saw Ye Yunfei and immediately walked over.
"Who would have thought? Your strength is actually this impressive.
Winning first place!
And helping me get revenge by beating that guy over there. Not bad at all," Wen Zi said, even pointing at Feng Yun'ao.
Back on the arena stage, she had been sent flying by Feng Yun'ao's palm, tumbling off the stage. Even now, she still harbored a grudge about it.
Hearing Wen Zi's words, Feng Yun'ao's face involuntarily darkened.
"Truly worthy of being the man I've taken a liking to.
I said before that I'd permit you to pursue me, and I stand by my word," Wen Zi continued, tilting her little face up.
"Alright.
All of you, as winners of the competition's top six positions,
you are qualified to enter the Heavenly Dragon Pond to cultivate for three days.
I will now take you to the Heavenly Dragon Pond."
Dean Shangguan, seeing that everyone had arrived, spoke up.