Everything happened in a flash of time, so fast that people's thinking couldn't keep up.

  Xue Changqing wanted to react, but his brain was in a state of chaos and did not respond to his commands.

  Watching the knife flash down, his neck felt a chill, the blade's energy entering through his bone seams, the sound of blood vessels bursting, rushing into the soul sea, his consciousness suddenly became extremely clear, the intense pain transmitted from the soul sea was no longer so intense.

  Gulu!

  His head rolled into a thicket ten meters away, his eyes frozen in death.

  Both eyes bulged out, as if staring at Liu Wuxie, the headless corpse was dry and shriveled, in the midst of washing the marrow and tempering the body, containing extremely strong vital energy, all absorbed by the Tianyan Cauldron, transformed into a few drops of liquid, flowing into the Taihuang Dan田.

  The boundary has been greatly enhanced and is heading straight for the late stage of Xiantian Fifth Layer.

  Before dawn broke, the battlefield was swept clean. The city lord's great army had all been thrown off the cliff of ten thousand zhang. Everything was done, and the sky was already bright.

  There shouldn't be any more ambushes ahead, let's get back on the official road and speed up our advance.

  It's the day when the Imperial Academy recruits new students, and the entire city of Emperor is bustling with excitement. Thirty-six major cities, countless talented disciples gather here, hoping to be favored by the Imperial Academy and become one of them.

  Liu Wuxie arrived just in time for registration day, and the entire registration venue was packed with people.

  Thousands of people attended this year's Imperial College entrance examination, but only one hundred people are qualified to join the college every year, which means nearly ninety percent of them just came to make up the numbers.

  The registration office was set up on a square ten miles outside the Imperial Academy, with people packed like sardines, and it was impossible to see the end of the crowd at a glance.

  Liu Wuxie looked exhausted, with the registration deadline approaching and not many people around. According to the requirements, he filled in his name and birthplace, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

  Next, wait for the Imperial College examiners to arrive and conduct the assessment. Those who succeed will be shortlisted, while those who fail will return to their hometowns.

  Each went their separate ways. The geniuses who came to participate in the assessment were all accompanied by family members, and very few came alone. Liu Wuxie was relatively exceptional.

  The square is very large and can accommodate tens of thousands of people without feeling crowded. Everyone chooses their own area, some sit down, others stand up, discussing loudly.

  "I don't want to join Tianmu College, please leave!"

  A loud shout rose from the crowd, and Liu Wuxie was about to turn around and leave, planning to find a quieter place to wait. Following the source of the sound, he looked forward, only tens of meters away from him.

  "Tianmu Academy?" Liu Wuxie's eyebrows furrowed, he had never heard of this academy in his information.

  It wasn't just Liu Wuxie who was confused, as many people around him also looked bewildered, having no idea what the Tianmu Academy was.

  "I'm familiar with the Tianmu Academy, which has been around for decades and has gained popularity in recent years. It was founded by King Yongxian himself. Today is the day of the Imperial College's recruitment, what are they doing here?"

  A young man of about twenty whispered something and a crowd quickly gathered around him, all inquiring.

  "What you're referring to is the younger brother of the current Emperor, Prince Yong of Yan, who commands a million-strong army. Half of the people in the imperial court are already leaning towards him, and there's a subtle trend of him replacing the current Emperor."

  Another young man came over, lowering his voice so as not to be heard.

  "That's right, it was him. This man had grand ambitions and established the Tianmu Academy with the goal of cultivating talent for himself. Over the years, many people have chosen to join, and although its foundation is not as good as that of the Imperial Academy, the quality of teaching in various subjects has already surpassed that of the Imperial Academy."

  The voice is getting smaller and smaller, this kind of thing about plotting for power, doesn't dare to be said openly.

  "If I were to be eliminated by Imperial College, I would be willing to join Tianmu College, at least there is one more way to choose."

  There are also many people who are willing to choose to join Tianmu College, on the condition that they were eliminated by Imperial College.

  The Imperial Academy represents the Great Yan Dynasty, while the Tianmu Academy seems to be a private one. There is no difference between the two, but there are some differences after all. At least, the status of Tianmu Academy is far inferior to that of the Imperial Academy.

  "You think it's easy, you think Tianmu College accepts all kinds of trash? It also goes through layers of assessment, and only those who succeed can join. Compared to the Imperial College, it's a bit more relaxed."

  Some people sneer at it, two universities, neither of which recruits mediocre talents, but only those with exceptional talent.

  "Let's just say, they're coming for them. Every year, they select those lone examinees with not much of a background. People like that are the most suitable for Tianmu Academy. If you have a deep background or aren't from the same faction as Duke Yong, no matter how high your talent is, they won't want you."

  The crowd gradually dispersed. The Great Yan Imperial Court is now divided into several factions, with some supporting the current imperial family, some being wooed by King Yongxian, and many choosing to remain neutral.

  These neutrals are the focus of Tianmu College's recruitment efforts, trying to win them over as much as possible.

  For example, many small families in big cities have nothing to do with the royal family, and this kind of person is most easily recruited by Tianmu College.

  The crowd dispersed, far away from Tianmu College, and Liu Wuxie was isolated in an instant.

  It's also an unavoidable thing, Canglang City is ranked very low among the 36 cities, with a small population and even fewer geniuses. This time, apart from him, only the Song family might have come to participate in the assessment.

  Yong Xiang Wang had a heart of rebellion, many people were unwilling to participate in it and kept their distance, which was also normal.

  Liu Wuxie wanted to avoid them, but it was too late. The three of them rushed towards him, having already discovered that he was alone.

  The assessment instructor of Imperial Academy has not arrived yet, so everyone can only wait on the spot. This is the best opportunity for Tianmu Academy to poach students.

  Many who thought they were unqualified to take the Imperial College entrance exam, had second thoughts, and under the persuasion of Tianmu College, actually agreed to join Tianmu College and give up the Imperial College examination.

  Retreating and yielding is also acceptable.

  After all, the Imperial Academy only recruits a hundred students every year, and many people will eventually be eliminated. Choosing to join the Tianmu Academy is also a helpless move.

  An old man, accompanied by two young men, went around preaching everywhere. Apart from them, people from the Tianmu Academy also appeared in other areas.

  "This young brother, I don't know what to call you, where are you from?" The old man's eyes were stern, with a hawk-like nose, walked up to Liu Wuxie and asked aloud.

  This look, at first glance, gives people a fierce and invincible illusion, this person is a ruthless and cunning individual.

  Liu Wuxie had met countless people and no matter whether the other person was good or bad, his mouth always hung with a faint smile, making it impossible for others to grasp.

  "My name is inconvenient to reveal, from a small town in a remote area." Liu Wuxie said slowly.

  Don't want to get too close with Tianmu College, nor do I want to offend them.

  He had no heart for this struggle, especially the fight among the royal family, and he couldn't muster up any interest.

  He came to Imperial City, joined the Imperial Academy, mainly in order to find more resources, strive to break through cultivation, and quickly ascend to the Lingyun Immortal Realm.

  The struggles in the secular world are like ants fighting for land in his eyes.

  "Kid, now there's a great opportunity in front of you. As long as you nod your head, you'll immediately be exempt from the assessment qualification and join our Tianmu Academy. Not only will you receive a third-grade elixir reward, but you'll also enjoy excellent resource support."

  The young man standing on the right side walked out with an arrogant attitude, in their eyes, ordinary innate realm was like pigs and dogs.

  He came over and actively invited him, had already given enough face, Liu Wuxie was also a single person, this kind of person just needed to be slightly intimidated, and he would obediently surrender.

  Indeed, there is proud capital, only a few years older than Liu Wuxie, yet he broke through to the Washing Spirit Realm early on. Unexpectedly, the students of Tianmu Academy have extraordinary talents, and he underestimated Tianmu Academy.

  "What if I refuse?" Liu Wuxie showed no signs of anger.

  Firstly, he had no malice towards Tianmu College, nor did he have any hatred. The reason why he didn't agree was because Xu Lingxue was in the Imperial College.

  At the time of farewell, his father-in-law repeatedly instructed him that after arriving at the college, he should take good care of Lingxue. His father-in-law's instructions, he did not dare to disobey.

  Secondly, most of the information he knew came from the Imperial Academy, and he didn't know anything about the Tianmu Academy, not even their background. It wasn't his style to join recklessly like this.

  These two reasons ruled out the possibility of Liu Wuxie joining Tianmu College.

  "Little kid, do you know what the consequences are of refusing Gǔ Yún Péng's request?!"

  The man on the left let out a cold shout, his tone very unfriendly, and his eyes revealed a thick murderous aura, as if he was about to kill him.

  "Ah!"

  Liu Wu Xie was taken aback and refused to join the Tianmu Academy, but he would have to bear the consequences. This was also too overbearing.

  "What serious consequences could there be?" Liu Wuxie smiled.

  Whether it was the Imperial Academy or the Tianmu Academy, Liu Wuxie didn't take them seriously. As long as he could break through to the Washing Spirit Realm, in the entire Great Yan Dynasty, the number of people who could harm him could be counted on one hand.

  "Since you refuse to join Tianmu College, then I'll have no choice but to eliminate you and make you unqualified to join the Imperial College as well."

  The student called Gu Yunpeng suddenly said with a gloomy tone, indeed ruthless.

  As for the old man with a hooked nose beside him, he had been silent all along and was still searching for his target everywhere.

  "Do you plan on making a move?" A thread of cold light burst out from Liu Wu Xie's eyes.

  This is the territory of Imperial College, they dare to make trouble here, aren't they afraid that people from Imperial College will come.

  "Since you refuse to agree, I'll have no choice but to cripple one of your arms and make you a useless person from now on."

  Gu Yunpeng didn't hesitate, and with a swift palm strike, he attacked Liu Wuxie's right arm at an incredible speed.

  The sudden fight startled everyone, and they all turned to look over here.

  "Alas, someone else is going to be unlucky. Refusing the invitation from Tianmu Academy will result in having their arm broken. Several people have already had their arms crippled earlier. Why hasn't the instructor from Imperial Academy arrived yet to stop them?"

  Many people have complaints about the Imperial Academy, and since they came to participate in the assessment today, their instructor has not arrived yet, allowing the instructors of the Tianmu Academy to do whatever they want here, greatly discounting the impression of the Imperial Academy.

  Such things rarely happened in previous years, and even when Tianmu College came to invite them, they were carried out secretly.

  This is the first time this year that it's so blatant.

  There must have been some problems within the Imperial Academy that caused the assessment to be delayed and the mentor didn't show up.

  Overwhelming momentum, directly pressing down on Liu Wuxie, this disciple named Gu Yunpeng was only at the first level of the Washing Spirit Realm, and Liu Wuxie didn't know how many he had killed.

  This is Imperial City, Liu Wuxie didn't want to reveal his true strength too early.

  The opponent was pressing in, with no room for retreat. The First Heaven of the Innate Five Realms was not considered high compared to the talents present, and many geniuses who came to participate in the assessment had already broken through the Peak of the Innate Realm.

  "Stop!"

  At the critical moment when everything hung in the balance, three figures flashed over from a distance, their earth-shaking shouts interrupting Gou Yunpeng.