Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned. Judging by this tone, could this youth also be a disciple of the Holy Origin Academy?
He sized the youth up and down. Around seventeen or eighteen years old, he had a sturdy build, a plump face, large ears, and a nose bigger than most—shaped like a bull’s. His appearance wasn’t much better than Ma Bi’s.
“Hey, how are you so ugly? You look like me!” Unexpectedly, the bull-nosed, big-eared youth exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Ma Bi’s face.
“Hey, fatty, who looks like you? I, Ma Bi, am dashing and elegant, a charming figure admired by all!” Ma Bi retorted with a curse.
“You’ve got a horse face,” the bull-nosed youth said with a simple, honest grin.
“I…” Ma Bi choked on his words, caught off guard by the bluntness.
“Heh heh, brother, you’re called Ma Bi, and I’m called Niu Bi. We’re truly kindred spirits!” With that, Niu Bi gave Ma Bi a hearty bear hug, acting as if they were old friends.
Lin Xiao was left speechless. Niu Bi—had this guy come straight out of the mountains, naming himself after whatever he resembled?
Yet, Lin Xiao had to admit, Niu Bi and Ma Bi really were “kindred spirits.”
“Brother, I feel a bond with you too!” Next, Niu Bi enthusiastically embraced Lin Xiao as well.
“I…” Lin Xiao was baffled, inwardly cursing. I’m not your kindred spirit—I’m normal…
Soon, Niu Bi released him and looked at both Lin Xiao and Ma Bi, saying, “By the way, you said you’re also outer disciples of the Holy Origin Academy?”
“Exactly!” The two nodded. No matter how they looked at it, Niu Bi didn’t seem like an outer disciple of the Holy Origin Academy—they’d never seen him.
“Then how come I, Niu Bi, have never seen you? Plus, my name’s pretty famous. You two don’t seem to recognise me?” Niu Bi asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
“Your name’s certainly bold—on par with mine, Ma Bi. But, brother, what’s your rank in the outer court? I really haven’t heard of you,” Ma Bi said with a touch of disdain, naturally assuming Niu Bi was bragging.
“Me? Heh heh…” Niu Bi chuckled, grinning honestly. “Outer court rank one.”
“Pfft!” Ma Bi nearly spat. “Bloody hell, if I, Ma Bi, don’t claim first, who dares? You, a bull-nosed guy, dare call yourself first? Go on, puff up that brag a bit more.”
“I really am first. Ask anyone if you don’t believe me,” Niu Bi said, exasperated.
“These two guys—neither’s reliable!” Lin Xiao shook his head inwardly. Their claims were about as believable as Ma Bi being “charming and elegant”—utterly dubious.
“Disciples!”
At that moment, an elderly voice rang out, ancient yet carrying an invisible, inviolable authority.
The thousands outside the city walls fell silent, looking up toward the sound. Above the wall, an old man in a brown robe flew through the air, exuding no discernible aura yet radiating an unmatched sovereign presence.
“Martial Monarch!” The crowd’s hearts jolted. Flying freely, this elder was clearly a Martial Monarch.
Everyone quieted down. After much waiting, a representative from the city had finally emerged to speak.
“I am Baili He, the First Core Elder of the Holy Origin Academy and overseer of the Holy City. Welcome, disciples, to partake in the assessment,” the Martial Monarch elder, Baili He, said as he landed atop the wall, addressing the crowd.
Like the others, Lin Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. This was unexpected—the overseer of the Holy City was the First Core Elder of the Holy Origin Academy?
No wonder the Holy Origin Academy’s training led them here for assessment—the Holy City was under their control.
In the Chaotic Lands, for the vast Holy City to be governed by the Holy Origin Academy—how powerful was the academy truly?
Ma Bi and Niu Bi were equally stunned, as was everyone present.
Baili He’s next words nearly made the entire crowd leap in shock.
“Everyone, the Holy Origin Academy has ten outer courts, spread across regions to recruit talents from all over. The Holy City is the true seat of the Holy Origin Academy—what you call the inner court. Only by becoming an inner court disciple do you truly join the Holy Origin Academy,” Baili He declared, his words earth-shattering.
The crowd was dumbfounded.
“Bloody hell…” Ma Bi practically jumped, his face a mask of utter shock. Niu Bi stood dumbstruck, and Lin Xiao was thoroughly floored.
No wonder—no wonder they all claimed to be renowned outer disciples of the Holy Origin Academy, yet he didn’t know them.
The Holy Origin Academy had ten outer courts. Each of their outer courts was just one among the ten.
The true inner court wasn’t in their respective outer courts—it was here, in the Chaotic Lands, the Holy City!
Only by entering the Holy City and becoming an inner court disciple did one truly belong to the Holy Origin Academy. The outer courts were merely a filtering ground for talent.
This revelation upended everyone’s understanding.
The truth was staggering.
If the outer courts, brimming with geniuses, were just a screening threshold, how terrifying must the inner court’s foundation be?
Many in the crowd ahead, like Lin Xiao and his companions, had met others claiming to be outer disciples of the Holy Origin Academy—yet they didn’t know each other. This had puzzled them, sparking guesses, and now it all made sense.
The Holy Origin Academy didn’t have just one or two outer courts—it had ten.
Seeing the crowd’s shock, Baili He remained calm, as if it were expected. He continued matter-of-factly, “Today, all training disciples are gathered here. Present your Holy Origin Academy disciple token, and if your kill points meet the requirement, you may undertake a mission. Complete it, and you’ll enter the true Holy Origin Academy as a disciple.”
“Of course, the top fifty in kill points can skip the mission entirely. The top ten will also receive substantial rewards.”
With a wave of his sleeve, ten one-zhang-wide platforms descended from the air, landing at the crowd’s forefront.
Then, ten youths flew down, standing beside the platforms.
These youths radiated strong auras, descending on wings of elemental energy. In their twenties, some had even reached mid-tier Martial King.
The crowd gasped. Were these the true inner court disciples of the Holy Origin Academy? Each a Martial King in their twenties, some even mid-tier?
“If there are no questions, the kill point tally begins. Submit your identity token and toss your slaughter bracelet into the platform,” Baili He said, gazing at the crowd with a calm tone.
The crowd stirred eagerly. Hearing that the top fifty could join the mighty Holy Origin Academy without a mission, their blood surged. They yearned to showcase their prowess, leap the dragon gate, and earn the academy’s favour.
Lin Xiao’s eyes darted through the crowd. He’d arrived—but had Hu Yue or Ling Hu made it? Were Tianmen’s disciples among them too?
