On the viewing platform.
Jiang Ye's golden eyes quickly scanned the area, and he shook his head repeatedly.
Observing their bone age and the flow of their Qi,
these so-called contemporary Prodigies were like clouds and mud compared to the ancient Prodigies from before the Dark Ages.
In that era, although Jiang Ye did not participate in battles, it did not mean he was weak.
Just his Eternal Immortal Body, coupled with the Cultivation Technique and Divine Ability he Cultivated, was enough to crush most people.
Only a select few could pose a slight threat to him.
But now, with the System's enhancement and the Radiant God King Body, Jiang Ye couldn't even be bothered to glance at ordinary Prodigies.
At this moment, a series of shouts erupted from the crowd.
"Look quickly, that's the Young Lord of the Immortal Royal Clan, the Wen Clan! He possesses the Heavenly Martial God Body Bloodline! I didn't expect him to come as well."
"Wen Sang is ninety-eight years old, and he has already reached the King Sealing Realm before turning a hundred! He truly lives up to his name as the Crown Prince of the Primordial Royal Clan!"
"Hahahaha! What a joke! Divine Son Jiang achieved the King Sealing Realm before he even came of age! Who can compare? What kind of Prodigy is this Wen Sang? He can only be compared to ordinary Cultivators."
Wen Sang, filled with a righteous Qi, stood with his hands behind his back.
"Hmph... a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well! Only capable of verbal sparring!"
He thought disdainfully.
The Dao Severing Realm was already a top-tier expert in a small realm.
Entering the King Sealing Realm was a difference between heaven and earth.
Ordinary Cultivators, even after a thousand years of arduous Cultivation, might not be able to achieve it.
Achieving the King Sealing Realm within two hundred years was considered a Prodigy.
And he was a top-tier Prodigy.
Wen Sang's expression was composed, yet a hint of gloominess was hidden between his brows as he coldly gazed at the pavilion where Jiang Ye was on the viewing platform.
He said nothing, but a chilling glint flashed in his eyes.
Previously, the Ninth Elder of his clan reported that his younger sister, Wen Jingxuan, was suppressed and killed by a single finger from Jiang Ye, which made Wen Sang extremely displeased.
Deep affection?
Not at all; as a royal descendant, his Heart-Nature had always been ruthless.
What truly angered Wen Sang was this:
After killing Wen Jingxuan, the other party threw a piece of "explanation" to the Royal Wen Clan, which was nothing short of an insult.
On that day, the imperial court was shaken.
However, the Emperor of the Ancient Xuanwu Kingdom had no intention of pursuing the matter; instead, he warned Wen Sang and his descendants not to seek revenge on Jiang Ye.
As the Crown Prince of the Ancient Xuanwu Kingdom, Wen Sang had been educated since childhood that the dignity of the nation superseded everything.
He did not intend to let the matter rest like this.
There had to be some response.
Otherwise, where would the face of his Ancient Xuanwu Kingdom be?
"Jiang Ye, you came to Cloud Top Academy this time, presumably to compete for the position of Dao Child and obtain the Misty Hidden Flowers, right? I am also quite interested in such a divine object."
"You just wait for me. Once I reach the Peak of the Ascension Road, we'll see how you contend with me?"
Wen Sang's eyes were cold, and he constantly imagined the future in his mind.
This trip was actually not at the behest of the Primordial Royal Wen Clan.
However, he held the position of Crown Prince, with countless competitors behind him. If he could become the Academy's Dao Child, he would gain powerful assistance.
Furthermore, he was not a fool.
After arriving at the Sacred Forest Land, Wen Sang had inquired about Jiang Ye's actions over the past few days.
In fact, news of Jiang Ye's deeds had already spread during this period: his unethical beating of Shen Lian, the successor of the Bloodthirsty Demon Emperor, and his bribing of the Academy's people when composing poetry with the Loose Cultivator Chu Nan... A hint of fear arose in Wen Sang's heart.
He had grown up in the deep palace, immersed in the art of emperorship since childhood, and was most skilled in power struggles and calculations.
The more he understood, the more he realized how terrifying Jiang Ye was.
Born with the Eternal Immortal Body, his Cultivation speed was nothing short of Heaven-Defying. Moreover, his actions were unpredictable, he cared nothing for false fame, and he had an unparalleled powerful background supporting him.
This made Wen Sang feel a bit at a loss as to where to start.
"But the Ascension Road... is my only chance."
The Ascension Road did not depend on Cultivation, but on one's will and endurance.
He was very confident in this.
Thinking of this, a thought stirred in Wen Sang's mind.
His entire body's righteous Qi surged like an angry tide, erupting with a roar, and he was the first to step onto the Ascension Road.
Countless Prodigies followed closely behind, rushing towards the towering road bathed in golden light, their faces filled with heroic ambition, and the atmosphere was fervent and exhilarating.
At this moment, a young man in green robes slowly walked into the crowd.
Everyone around him made way.
Lin Chen was also one of the Five Chiefs; his reputation and talent were both top-notch, and many in the Academy considered him the most suitable candidate for the Dao Child position.
As he ascended the mountain, he overheard many of the recent commotions in the Academy.
"Jiang Ye, Divine Son of the Jiang Clan!?
"What immense prestige! How dare he be so arrogant and tyrannical within our Academy!"
Lin Chen's face was grim as he channeled his power, rapidly advancing towards the High Platform of Dao Discussion.
He heard that Jiang Ye's visit to Cloud Top Academy was also to compete for the Dao Child position, which filled his heart with a chill, and he immediately rushed to this place.
Besides that,
a subtle, unexplainable unease weighed heavily on Lin Chen's heart.
He had only been out on an expedition for a few months, and he didn't expect so many things to have happened in the Academy, and his most trusted Master, Li Hongtai, had also not contacted him.
"Where is my Master?"
Lin Chen frowned, his gaze sweeping around, trying to find a familiar figure.
Logically, at such a grand event, the Academy's Grand Elder should have appeared to preside; he would never be absent without reason.
But he looked around and still saw no trace of him.
Finally, Lin Chen's gaze fell on the Ascension Road in front of the Platform of Dao Discussion, that path of golden light soaring to the heavens and divine brilliance filling the sky.
"Never mind Master for now; he is highly respected in the Academy, so he must have another mission and will surely be fine."
"Next, I, Lin Chen, will first reach the Peak of this Ascension Road!"
Lin Chen walked out from the crowd with a righteous aura, revealing his Peak Dao Severing Realm Cultivation.
The surrounding crowd immediately stared in awe.
He smiled slightly, just about to step onto the Ascension Road, when many people nearby began to discuss animatedly.
"It's Chief Lin! He's only been out traveling for a few months and has already reached the ninth level of the Dao Severing Realm!"
"Senior Brother Lin is not even sixty years old yet; such talent is truly beyond reach!"
"Tsk tsk, he's only a bit stronger than that Wen Sang from earlier, but he's still far inferior to Divine Son Jiang!"
Lin Chen's face involuntarily darkened upon hearing the words of the Academy's Disciples.
He had inquired about it when he ascended the mountain.
That nefarious Divine Son of the Jiang Clan had actually reached the King Sealing Realm before coming of age!
His heart was incredibly vexed.
He recalled how, in these years, relying on his talent for sensing fortune and misfortune, he had embarked on the path of Cultivation, and it had been smooth sailing, with no lack of resources or opportunities.
Yet, despite all this,
he had only recently touched the threshold of the King Sealing Realm!
"Why does this Jiang Ye have it so easy?"
"A King Sealing Realm achieved by piling up resources?"
"Even if not, it was his naturally pure Eternal Immortal Body that helped him. Heaven truly is blind, to bestow such a Heaven-Defying Physique upon such a rotten person!"
Lin Chen secretly soothed his inner turmoil.
He knew it was not appropriate to argue with people at this time.
When he reached the Peak of the Heavenly Road later, what more could these people say?
Boom!
Lin Chen's full power erupted, and in just a few breaths, he arrived before the Ascension Road.
His eyes were like swords as he looked at the golden, sky-filling, and surging Qi of the towering great Dao before him, and a mix of awe and ambition involuntarily arose in his heart.
He made a declaration in front of everyone!
"I, Lin Chen, will step onto the Ascension Road today. If I do not reach the Peak, I swear I will not rest!"
After speaking, he was about to register his name.
At this moment,
an Elder suddenly shouted, stopping him.
"Lin Chen! Stop right there!"
Upon saying that, several powerful, mountain-like auras from the viewing platform also cast their gazes, and in an instant, waves of powerful pressure rolled over.
In a flash, Wang Hongtu, the Academy's Headmaster, moved in front of Lin Chen.
"Headmaster!"
Lin Chen quickly cupped his hands in greeting, but a very ominous premonition suddenly arose in his heart.
Wang Hongtu's face was expressionless, and his aura was as cold as frost, instantly making the atmosphere on the field solemn and oppressive.