"Su Ye, do your best. Our Heavenly Dao Academy needs talents like you."
Elder Tang was extremely enthusiastic towards Ye Yunfei, speaking with a beaming smile.
As a Heavenly Dao Academy elder, this level of warmth towards a young man who had just taken the entrance exam and not even officially entered the academy was exceedingly rare.
This also demonstrated just how highly he regarded Ye Yunfei.
The other examinees watched on, each filled with envy.
"That honor should have been mine!"
Liu Fei gnashed her teeth, her once-delicate face contorting severely.
As the eldest young lady of the Tianzhou Liu Family, she had always been accustomed to being the center of attention!
But now, another person's brilliance had completely overshadowed her, a feeling she simply could not accept.
In the distance, the blue-shirted youth who had been sent flying by Ye Yunfei's slap earlier was also secretly grinding his teeth, filled with resentment.
However, he understood that this kid called Su Ye before him was stronger, more talented, and had even earned the favor of a Heavenly Dao Academy elder. Under these circumstances, if he dared to provoke him again, he would be seeking death.
So, he didn't even dare to look directly at Ye Yunfei anymore.
After Elder Tang finished speaking to Ye Yunfei, his figure flickered as he soared into the air, disappearing in an instant.
"Alright, the examination continues!"
Steward Xie announced clearly.
Those who hadn't yet attempted the ladder stepped forward for their assessment one after another.
The blue-shirted youth who had been slapped away by Ye Yunfei actually managed to barely stand firm on the third step of the stone ladder, successfully passing.
In the end, including Ye Yunfei and Da Di Daozhang, a total of ten young people passed the first trial.
But there was still a second trial!
"Follow me."
Steward Xie said, then rose into the air, leading the ten successful youths as they flew out of Heavenly Dao City.
A moment later.
Steward Xie descended before a mountain range.
"If you ten can traverse this mountain range on foot and reach the gates of the Heavenly Dao Academy, you can become official students of our Heavenly Dao Academy.
This is the second trial."
Steward Xie stated.
"These jade slips are for your protection.
When you encounter life-threatening danger, or wish to withdraw from the examination, simply crush the jade slip and you will leave safely."
Steward Xie waved his hand, and ten jade slips flew from his sleeve, landing before the ten youths.
"Well then, I will await you at the academy's main gate."
After speaking, Steward Xie's figure moved, vanishing into the distant sky in moments.
"This mountain range surely holds great danger.
However, I don't know the specifics."
One youth gazed at the mountain range ahead and said gravely.
"How ignorant!
I can tell you, the greatest danger within this mountain range is the large number of demonic beasts roaming throughout.
It's said that the strongest among them possess strength at the Great Mystic Pill Realm!"
Liu Fei suddenly spoke up.
Hiss!
The other young people couldn't help but draw in sharp breaths upon hearing this.
Demonic beasts at the Great Mystic Pill Realm were simply not something they could handle; encountering one meant certain death!
"Scared, aren't you?
But don't be too afraid.
Those Great Mystic Pill Realm demonic beasts probably won't participate in the examination.
After all, we aren't even official students yet; we're not qualified to be tested by those.
However, encountering Minor Mystic Pill Realm demonic beasts at the late-stage would still be enough to give us a serious headache.
Especially some people who are merely at the Grotto-Heaven Realm. With such pitiful strength, entering this mountain range is a guaranteed death.
Moreover, aside from demonic beasts, this mountain range is also filled with many illusion arrays.
Those arrays have a disorienting effect. If your will isn't firm enough, it's easy to get trapped within and unable to escape.
So, don't think climbing a few steps higher on a ladder makes you special.
This second trial is the real deal, with no room for shortcuts or trickery.
Those whose strength is lacking should leave now, before you end up dead without even knowing why."
Liu Fei said with a cold laugh.
Her words were clearly aimed at Ye Yunfei.
"Demonic beasts, plus illusion arrays..."
Upon hearing Liu Fei's words, the other youths finally understood the contents of the second trial.
"As long as those Great Mystic Pill Realm demonic beasts don't act, we still have a chance to pass," someone said.
"Exactly!"
The other young people's spirits lifted.
After all, they were all at the Minor Mystic Pill Realm, and their combat power wasn't weak.
"Lady Liu Fei, can we form teams for this second trial?" someone asked.
"Of course.
No matter what method we use, as long as we traverse this mountain range, it's fine," Liu Fei replied.
"Excellent!"
The young people couldn't help but rejoice.
"Lady Liu Fei, please allow me to follow by your side!"
Immediately, a clever-minded young man spoke up with an ingratiating expression.
Among these ten youths, Liu Fei was considered the most powerful. Following her would undoubtedly be the safest.
"I too wish to follow Lady Liu Fei!"
"With Lady Liu Fei's strength, she is certain to lead us successfully through this mountain range!"
The other youths quickly caught on, clustering around Liu Fei, each trying to flatter her.
"Good, I permit you all to stay by my side."
Liu Fei thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being surrounded and flattered, nodding smugly.
"Only those two are not allowed to follow me!"
Liu Fei pointed at Ye Yunfei and Da Di Daozhang.
"Let's go."
Ye Yunfei didn't even glance at Liu Fei, lifting his foot to walk towards the mountain range ahead.
"Even if you begged us to follow, we wouldn't want to tag along with an arrogant girl like you," Da Di Daozhang said to Liu Fei with a scornful tone, then hurried to catch up with Ye Yunfei.
"Damn them!"
The attitudes of Ye Yunfei and Da Di Daozhang made Liu Fei's face turn ice-cold.
"Don't think passing will be so easy for you!"
Liu Fei gnashed her teeth.
Then, she quietly produced a transmission jade slip from her hand and sent out a message.
At the same time.
In Heavenly Dao City, within a certain mansion, inside a hall.
An old man sat upright at the center of the hall.
Several men stood respectfully before him.
"That guy who helped Tang Xue and Li Zhong is highly likely to be Ye Yunfei," one of the men spoke up.
After finishing, this man took out a jade slip and directly activated it.
Immediately, a series of scenes projected from the jade slip, playing out continuously in the hall.
These scenes were precisely of Ye Yunfei helping Xue'er and Li Zhong, and killing those burly men.
"With Grotto-Heaven Realm strength, able to kill Minor Mystic Pill Realm cultivators so easily—it's him, Ye Yunfei."
The old man stared at the scenes, concentrating for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Just as I guessed, Ye Yunfei has finally entered the Heavenly Dao Academy," the old man continued.
"Ye Yunfei merely went to take the Heavenly Dao Academy's entrance exam today; he isn't a student of the academy yet," one man said.
"Ye Yunfei will undoubtedly pass the exam effortlessly and become a Heavenly Dao Academy student," the old man stated.
"What should we do then?
Go demand him from the Heavenly Dao Academy directly?" another man asked.
"Not for now.
To demand someone from the Heavenly Dao Academy, we ourselves lack the qualifications.
Only the three Demon Kings or the higher-ups of the Heavenly Secrets Sect possess such qualifications.
We shall first use all available means and forces to capture Ye Yunfei and bring him back; that would be a major accomplishment.
The order Demon King Ao Yue gave us was to capture or kill Ye Yunfei; either is acceptable.
Do you understand?"
The old man said.
"We understand."
Hearing the old man's words, the several men in the hall bowed respectfully and replied.