With the third spiritual platform, Nan Gong Huan could use her authority for a longer time, effectively immobilizing the leader’s arm and greatly reducing his attack power.

  Nan Gong Huan leaped into the air again, simultaneously throwing her Radiant Gold Blade toward the leader’s head. The leader reacted quickly, tilting his head to dodge the blade’s thrust, but the sharp edge still grazed his ear, leaving a shallow cut.

  "Hmph, cheap tricks!" The leader bared his teeth, about to raise his head for another attack when Nan Gong Huan jumped directly above him, aiming a deadly blade strike at his head!

  This was her signature move, one she had never missed. The Radiant Gold Blade, which had flown out earlier, suddenly reversed direction and returned to her feet!

  Nan Gong Huan stepped on the blade with her left foot, changing its direction to point straight down. With her right foot, she stomped on the hilt, unleashing a piercing force that exploded with 200% power. Like a thunderbolt, the blade plunged through the leader’s forehead with a soft thud!

  The leader’s eyes widened, his pupils gradually losing focus. His massive body toppled backward.

  "The Divine Blood Hall... the Supreme Sovereign!" With the last of his strength, he shouted a slogan before collapsing heavily to the ground, his eyes wide open in death!

  Nan Gong Huan flipped backward, landing lightly on the ground. She watched as the leader’s body gradually returned to its human form, then stepped forward to retrieve her Radiant Gold Blade.

  "Master, you’re amazing!" Xiao Jiu spun around excitedly, a pile of snow on his head, looking utterly adorable.

  "Huan Huan is so awesome!" Dong Yan Cuo immediately clung to her, completely mesmerized. He wanted to claim the reward for immobilizing the leader, but Nan Gong Huan stuffed a stick of candied hawthorn into his hand.

  "Good job, everyone. Let’s go. There’s going to be an avalanche soon," Nan Gong Huan said, sending Xiao Jiu back into the Di Ming Ring and pulling Dong Yan Cuo away quickly.

  Just as the two left, the snow peak reached its breaking point. Massive waves of silver snow cascaded down, burying the trees halfway up the mountain and sweeping away the corpses on the ground as it rushed toward the base. The valley echoed with thunderous roars.

  Ye Sang and Ye Wan Jun, on the other side of the mountain, also felt the ground tremble clearly.

  Nan Gong Huan returned in time and found the two.

  "Ah Huan, are you okay?" Ye Sang asked with concern. With such a commotion, it was clear Ah Huan had caused it.

  "We’re fine. This place might be a bit dangerous. Let’s find another spot to absorb the spirit vein," Nan Gong Huan nodded, leading the group to a new flat area.

  From now on, they could enjoy this large spirit vein in peace.

  ...

  Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye, and the group finally arrived at the academy on the day of the assessment.

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  Everyone had made significant progress—except for Nan Gong Huan.

  During these days, she had absorbed many spirit veins, but the spiritual energy in her third spiritual platform showed almost no sign of increase. Her cultivation was still at the early stage of the Third Spirit Life.

  Elder Ling had mentioned that as her Spirit Life increased, the capacity of all her spiritual platforms would expand. Thus, the spirit veins she had absorbed these days were all used to replenish the deficits in her first two platforms.

  Nan Gong Huan didn’t dare imagine how much energy she would need to fill all her platforms once she reached the Eighth or Ninth Spirit Life.

  However, there was a benefit. After reaching the Third Spirit Life, as long as she stood on the ground, earth spiritual energy would continuously flow into her body, meaning she could cultivate even while walking.

  Before her eyes was a vast square, with a tall archway standing in front. Exquisite flame patterns coiled around it, and in the center were the six elegant, gilded characters: "Feng Xuan Royal Academy." Ten thick dragon-carved pillars stood on either side, majestic and fierce. In the center of the square was a delicate three-tiered carved fountain.

  At this moment, tens of thousands of disciples gathered here, waiting for the assessment to begin.

  From the sky, the crowd looked like a sea of heads, bustling with activity.

  The Cui Gu Heavenly Bird landed outside the square. As soon as the group stepped off, a familiar voice rang in their ears.

  "Fragrant sister!"

  Nan Gong Huan was startled. She looked up and saw a cute little girl standing beside her, staring at her with a big smile, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

  The little girl was about to give Nan Gong Huan a big hug, but just as she opened her arms, the back of her collar was grabbed, and she was lifted off the ground.

  Dong Yan Cuo glared at her coldly, a sense of crisis rising in his heart. Who was she? How did she know Huan Huan was fragrant?

  Thus, the two stared at each other, one gloomy and the other defiant, sparks flying in the air as neither backed down.

  Ye Sang and Ye Wan Jun inwardly exclaimed, "This is bad! A love rival has appeared!"

  After spending these days together, they had realized that Dong Yan Cuo liked Ah Huan without even knowing it—perhaps due to his amnesia—but his affection for her was unique and genuine.

  As for the little girl, it was obvious. She had only met Ah Huan once before but had chased her all the way to the academy.

  A line of crows flew over Nan Gong Huan’s head. What were these two doing...

  At that moment, the air turned cold, and Yun Qingqing’s lungs filled with icy air.

  "You’re a bad guy! You can’t play fair!" Yun Qingqing’s eyes widened even more.

  "You’re the bad guy!" Dong Yan Cuo retorted without hesitation, his childish behavior clashing with his cold, handsome face.

  "I can protect sister!"

  "I’ll beat up anyone who bullies Huan Huan!"

  "Sister likes me, not you!"

  "Huan Huan only likes me!"

  ...

  The two bickered endlessly, giving Nan Gong Huan a headache.

  Just then, a vigorous voice echoed in everyone’s ears: "Welcome to the Feng Xuan Royal Academy for this year’s entrance assessment."

  The noise in the square immediately died down as the disciples looked toward the source of the voice with anticipation. They saw a white-robed elder riding a crane, arriving with an air of immortality.

  "I’ll keep it brief. The assessment has two stages. The first stage is to climb these thousand steps. Those who reach the summit by You hour today will proceed to the second stage."

  Behind the archway was a wide, long staircase leading up the mountain, almost endless.

  Although there were only a thousand steps, no one dared underestimate them. Like in previous years, the pressure increased with each step, requiring more spiritual energy to resist. Otherwise, one misstep could send them tumbling down the mountain.

  Every year, countless people rolled down the mountain.

  "The second stage is a group elimination battle. Everyone will be divided into two groups, and the last hundred remaining in each group will become the official disciples of the Feng Xuan Royal Academy."

  "The assessment is limited to those aged sixteen. Intentional harm is prohibited during the assessment. If the rules are violated, don’t blame me for being harsh. The assessment begins now!"

  The elder recited the rules mechanically. As soon as he announced the start, the disciples at the front surged forward in a rush!

  But two figures were faster than everyone else, darting through the crowd and racing toward the summit, leaving a trail of dust and afterimages!

  "Whoever reaches the summit first, sister will like them the most!"

  "Huan Huan likes me the most! Loves me the most! Only has me in her heart!"