Thus, everyone’s gaze fell on Dong Yan Cuo, and Nan Gong Huan couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.

  She didn’t know Dong Yan Cuo’s age either. If he was over sixteen, wouldn’t he be kicked out?

  Wei Yu Gong immediately called over a nearby assessment mentor to evaluate him.

  A white-robed mentor with a serious expression walked over, scrutinizing Dong Yan Cuo from head to toe. Though his eyes showed doubt, he still said, "The guardian formation at the mountain gate can identify age. If he’s not sixteen, he wouldn’t even have been able to enter the first stage of the assessment."

  Perhaps he’s just well-nourished and tall.

  The mentor had also seen the three of them ascend the steps earlier, easily passing the first stage of the assessment, so there was no problem with them. The mentor had full faith in the guardian formation. Previously, someone had tried to sneak in but was directly blasted ten miles away by the formation.

  "Congratulations on passing the first stage of the assessment. Wait here until You hour, and the second stage will begin," the mentor said before turning to leave, continuing to guard his post and watch for any cheating or rule-breaking among the other children climbing the mountain.

  Although the mentor said so, Nan Gong Huan still doubted Dong Yan Cuo’s age. With his divine power, it couldn’t be that simple.

  Dong Yan Cuo remained cold-faced, glaring even more fiercely at Wei Yu Gong. This scoundrel wanted to separate him from Huan Huan. He’d have to find a time to teach him a lesson!

  Nan Gong Qian’er also glanced at Dong Yan Cuo a few more times, feeling even more jealous that Nan Gong Huan had found such a handsome companion.

  "I hope we’ll meet at the Dragon and Tiger Competition," Nan Gong Qian’er finally snorted coldly and left. Seeing Nan Gong Huan at the academy put her mind at ease. She was determined to defeat this wretch openly at the competition!

  With the remaining month, Nan Gong Qian’er planned to focus on cultivation, using her remaining resources to break through to the Third Spirit Life as soon as possible. Then she would make a name for herself and not disappoint her master’s expectations!

  "Qingqing, I’m going to freshen up. I’ll come find you tonight," Cui Zhejian winked at Yun Qingqing, but she was completely indifferent, not even sparing him a glance.

  With their goals achieved, the three left with their own thoughts.

  Nan Gong Huan gave Yun Qingqing a strange look, worried the young girl might go astray, and said with compassion, "That guy doesn’t seem like a good person."

  "You mean Cui Zhejian? He wouldn’t dare do anything to me. I’m not close to him either. We met by chance on the street that day. He asked me what I liked, and I said spirit veins. Then he said his family had some, so I followed him. Luckily, I met you, sister," Yun Qingqing blinked her eyes, innocent and pure.

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  The candied hawthorn was finished, and the bamboo stick in her hand was crushed into powder.

  "......" Nan Gong Huan was speechless. Indeed, she had overthought it. With the girl’s monstrous strength, ten Cui Zhejians probably wouldn’t be a match for her.

  "Ah Huan, you’ve already reached the summit," Ye Sang’s voice came as she scanned the empty mountaintop, still shocked by their speed.

  This might set a new academy record!

  "For the second stage melee, you’ll definitely breeze through. Although there are only a hundred spots, as long as you stick together, it’ll be easy to win," Ye Sang shared her experience.

  While waiting, Ye Sang also gave them an overview of the academy’s general structure.

  The entire academy was divided into five major districts. The central district was the Order District, where members of the various Order Teams resided. Only Order Team members could enter.

  The other four districts each represented a major department, where all disciples studied: the Magic Department, Spirit Martial Department, Summoning Department, and Instrument Department. Each major department was further divided into three minor departments.

  Ye Sang’s department was the Sky Department within the Summoning Department.

  "What’s this Order Team?" Nan Gong Huan heard it for the first time. A district was specifically set aside for them, so it must be significant.

  Ye Sang explained, "Every three years, the academy holds an Order Assembly. Disciples within their third year can freely participate. Participants need to form a six-person team for a group competition. The top three teams can establish an Order Team. Coincidentally, this year’s assembly will be held in six months."

  "The Order Team is a joint force of the seven great empires. Their existence is to maintain peace, punish evil, and quell riots. Of course, they also have many special privileges and access to more cultivation resources. For example, the Order Team established in our academy can directly enter the higher-level Three Great Academy Sanctuaries for further study. There are more geniuses there, a place many aspire to."

  Nan Gong Huan roughly understood.

  "What are the Three Great Academy Sanctuaries?" Nan Gong Huan, like a curious baby new to the world, was intrigued by the unfamiliar terms.

  "There are many academies in the world, divided into three levels. Our Feng Xuan Royal Academy is a second-level academy. The Three Great Academy Sanctuaries are the only three first-level academies in the world, known as the Academy Sanctuaries. They are the Seven Nations Royal Academy Sanctuary, the Zhixing Academy Sanctuary, and the Continental Tales Academy Sanctuary. You know about the Moon Sovereign; he’s a mentor from the Zhixing Academy Sanctuary."

  Nan Gong Huan nodded in understanding. It seemed this world was even more vast than she had imagined.

  Time flew by, and soon it was dusk, You hour.

  The sunset was red, and the sky was filled with rosy clouds.

  The thousand steps were not difficult for Ye Wan Jun. He reached the summit in just one hour, reuniting with everyone.

  Out of the tens of thousands of disciples who came for the assessment, only a little over two thousand passed the first stage.

  Next, everyone would be randomly divided into two groups for a team elimination match.

  The mentor in charge of the assessment stood on the high platform. In his hands appeared a black light sphere and a white light sphere. He announced, "Next, I’ll randomly assign you to groups. Those chosen by the white light sphere will stay in the first training ground. Those chosen by the black light sphere, please proceed to the adjacent second training ground."

  As the mentor finished speaking, the two light spheres in his hands instantly released countless small black and white light spheres.

  These small light spheres were completely randomly assigned, landing on everyone’s heads.

  Nan Gong Huan looked up and saw a black light sphere above her head. She glanced at the others... and fell silent.