Sacred Body of the Immortals

The Sacred Spirit Academy stood at the center of Sacred Spirit City.

From a distance, it appeared incredibly majestic and magnificent.

Its buildings and pavilions stretched endlessly, shrouded in mists and clouds, presenting a spectacular sight.

There were flowing waterfalls, spiritual mountains standing tall - its beauty and grandeur were beyond compare.

At first glance, it didn't look like an academy at all, but rather a paradise beyond the mortal realm.

"Tsk tsk, truly worthy of being one of the oldest academies in the Immortal Realm - it certainly looks extraordinary."

Many geniuses visiting the academy for the first time couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Indeed. I heard this academy was founded by a Sacred Spirit from ancient times," another genius said.

A Sacred Spirit was a being that had achieved enlightenment through alternative means.

Like Black Dragon-pattern Gold and Purple God-marked Gold, after long years of exposure to natural spiritual energy, they could gradually transform into Sacred Spirits, even gaining physical forms.

For example, it was said that on the fiftieth floor of the Heavenly Dao Tower, there were remains of a Reincarnation Sacred Spirit.

That Reincarnation Sacred Spirit's original form was Reincarnation Dao Gold.

Additionally, various divine stones of heaven and earth could also transform into Sacred Spirits.

A fully realized Imperial Sacred Spirit was an supreme being that could rival Great Emperors and Ancient Sovereigns.

Hearing the praise from visiting geniuses, the academy disciples felt extremely pleased.

"But it's a shame they cowered before the Jun family."

"Yeah, I heard some academy disciples wanted to teach Jun family's divine son a lesson, but ended up making complete fools of themselves."

Some geniuses laughed while discussing these embarrassing incidents.

The academy disciples' faces immediately became uncomfortable.

At this moment, three figures with transcendent auras appeared at the academy entrance.

"Look, it's the two Sacred Sons and one Sacred Daughter of the Sacred Spirit Academy."

"That's the Yin-Yang Sacred Son from the Yin-Yang Sect, along with Prince Xia Lan from the Great Xia Dynasty, and Hua Xiqing the Sacred Daughter from the Hundred Flowers Palace." Although the Yin-Yang Sect, Great Xia Dynasty, and Hundred Flowers Palace weren't immortal forces, they were top powers just below that level.

"Could these three be planning to teach Jun family's divine son a lesson?" some geniuses whispered among themselves.

The Yin-Yang Sacred Son stood with his hands behind his back, saying solemnly: "I want to see if that Jun Xiaoyao can pass those three trials."

"Passing shouldn't be too difficult, it's just a matter of how well he performs," Hua Xiqing said while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hua Xiqing, don't forget that Brother Ji Xuan was crippled by that Jun Xiaoyao - you can't side with the enemy," Xia Lan raised his eyebrows and said.

Ever since returning from the martial arts competition, Hua Xiqing had been absent-minded, often lost in thought.

"Of course I won't, I'm just stating facts," Hua Xiqing smiled while pursing her lips.

At this moment, there came the sound of wind being split in the distance, accompanied by brilliant golden light - a Golden-winged Peng was arriving through the air.

It was the Young Golden-winged Peng King.

As he landed, golden light flashed and he transformed into human form - handsome and martial, with flowing golden hair and sharp eyes like blades.

The surrounding geniuses were intimidated and hurriedly moved aside.

The Young Golden-winged Peng King was known for his bad temper.

Soon after, Ye Xingyun arrived as well. Though not as flamboyant as the Peng King, as a genius from an ancient family, he also drew attention from all directions.

Then came the sound of Buddhist chanting as a handsome bald monk arrived with a group of followers.

"Could that person be from Small Western Heaven?"

"It's the Buddhist Son Fa Hai from Small Western Heaven!"

Some knowledgeable geniuses exclaimed upon recognizing him.

Small Western Heaven was definitely a mysterious and low-key but powerful Buddhist sect with an unbroken lineage stretching back to ancient times.

They were so low-key that the Immortal Realm had almost forgotten their existence.

But this kind of situation was actually the most terrifying.

Because no one knew just how deep Small Western Heaven's foundations truly were.

"Even Small Western Heaven's Buddhist Son has emerged from seclusion - the era of great competition is truly beginning," many cultivators sighed.

Fa Hai glanced at the Young Golden-winged Peng King and pondered briefly, but didn't make any moves.

He had originally thought about converting a mount, but realized the Peng King might be difficult to handle.

Though he wasn't afraid, he needed to save energy for the Heavenly Dao Tower challenge.

The Peng King also noticed Fa Hai and coldly snorted, but said nothing.

He was very hostile toward Small Western Heaven.

After all, among his ancestors, there had been a Golden-winged Peng who was converted by a Small Western Heaven Living Buddha to become a dharma protector.

"I hear one must pass three trials to enter Sacred Spirit Academy. Let me try first," the Peng King stepped forward and declared.

At this moment, deep within the academy, a long stairway extended down from the void, with ninety-nine steps.

Each step was inscribed with countless mystical patterns.

"It's appeared - the first trial, climbing the Heavenly Steps!"

The Heavenly Steps had ninety-nine levels. Generally, reaching halfway was considered excellent.

Reaching above eighty steps would be top-tier.

Getting above ninety steps would mark one as an absolute young supreme being.

As for the record of ninety-nine steps, it had only been broken by heroes in ancient times.

Jin Lie began the challenge without hesitation.

He took several dozen steps without pause, shocking the watching geniuses.

Around the seventieth step, he began feeling pressure as if carrying a mountain on his shoulders.

Finally, Jin Lie stopped at the eighty-ninth step.

The Heavenly Steps faded back into the void.

He snorted coldly, clearly unsatisfied.

Then came the second trial - ringing the ancient bell eighteen times.

The ancient bell was as large as a small hill, ancient and heavy, carrying a sense of time's passage.

Moreover, this ancient bell had a special ability to dissipate both magical and physical force.

Therefore, making it ring was extremely difficult.

Eighteen rings was the highest record.

Jin Lie attacked, throwing a punch carrying immense magical power.

It was the supreme technique of the Golden-winged Peng clan - the Golden Mystic Divine Art.

Dong! Dong! Dong...

Deep, heavy bell sounds spread throughout Sacred Spirit City.

Countless figures gathered around the academy to watch.

In the end, the ancient bell rang fifteen times - an extremely impressive feat.

The expressions of the Yin-Yang Sacred Son and others changed slightly.

Even they would likely do slightly worse.

The final trial was leaping through the Dragon Gate.

It was a brilliant crystalline lake with a Dragon Gate appearing on the opposite shore.

Within the lake, golden-horned flood dragons coiled about.

"Those are... golden-horned flood dragons with some dragon bloodline!" Many geniuses who had been eager to attempt the trials felt their scalps go numb.

It was incredibly difficult for young geniuses to cross this lake.

"No wonder it's called leaping through the Dragon Gate - it's not something ordinary people can pass." One genius thought fearfully, immediately extinguishing any thoughts of attempting the trial.

Jin Lie took a deep breath, spread his golden wings, and used the Peng's extreme speed technique, becoming a golden lightning bolt.

Immediately, the golden-horned flood dragons on the lake surface rose into the air, their horns releasing magical power to block Jin Lie.

Boom!

After a fierce battle, Jin Lie relied on his speed to pass through the Dragon Gate while only suffering minor injuries.

"Too powerful!"

The watching cultivators were dumbstruck.

So this was the strength of the number one genius of the younger generation from Mount Garuda?

Jin Lie's lips showed a rare smile.

His performance had been very impressive.

Afterwards, Ye Xingyun, Fa Hai and others also attempted the trials, all showing excellent results that drew waves of exclamation from all directions.

"I wonder how the Jun family's divine son will do when he arrives?"

"Will he break the records?"

All the cultivators present suddenly became curious.

How would Jun family's divine son, unmatched in talent and crowned the number one in the Immortal Realm, perform in these trials? Would his performance rival those ancient heroes?