The other three academies might have weaker cultivation overall, but even their weakest disciples were at least at the early stage of Venerable. Martial Immortal realm cultivators were almost nonexistent among them.
Yet in Beixuan Academy, not only were there plenty of Martial Immortal realm experts, but there were even disciples at the early stage of Martial Immortal.
This comparison clearly showed just how weak Beixuan Academy really was.
However, in Chu Feng’s view, even the disciples from Donglong Academy were not actually that strong.
Chu Feng vaguely remembered that the girl Yu Ting had once told him she was considered a weak disciple in the Lying Dragon Martial Sect.
But in reality, Yu Ting was not weak at all.
When they first met, Yu Ting already possessed fourth-rank Supreme cultivation.
Her barrier techniques had also reached the first level of Dragon Transformation.
Achieving such accomplishments in both martial cultivation and barrier techniques was enough to show how exceptional Yu Ting’s talent truly was.
Within the Holy Light Heavenly River, Yu Ting’s strength placed her among the top geniuses.
If Yu Ting were compared to the disciples present here, she would be an absolute monstrous genius, a dragon among humans.
“It seems that girl Yu Ting is really quite humble.”
Chu Feng could not help but sigh inwardly.
Now that Chu Feng had successfully entered the Lying Dragon Martial Sect, he believed it would not be long before he could meet Yu Ting again and discuss plans to rescue Zi Ling together.
Although the Lying Dragon Martial Sect at this moment was not quite what Chu Feng had expected.
Neither the elders nor the disciples had strength that met his expectations.
But Chu Feng still did not underestimate the Lying Dragon Martial Sect.
Leaving aside the mysterious existence within the Lying Dragon Selection Formation.
And leaving aside Yu Ting.
Just that Li Mu Zhi alone was extremely powerful.
Eighth-rank Supreme cultivation paired with third-level Dragon Transformation barrier techniques.
At least for Chu Feng back then, Li Mu Zhi had been a massive threat.
All sorts of signs had already confirmed that the Lying Dragon Martial Sect’s overall strength was very formidable.
Not every disciple in the Lying Dragon Martial Sect might be an especially top-tier genius.
But Chu Feng was almost certain that within the Lying Dragon Martial Sect, there definitely existed monstrous geniuses.
“Here, take this.”
While Chu Feng was lost in thought, a Beixuan Academy elder walked up to him and handed him a wooden tablet.
The wooden tablet was white, with a rope attached to it.
The elder told Chu Feng to take it.
But when Chu Feng reached out to receive it, the elder did not place it in his hand. Instead, he hung the wooden tablet around Chu Feng’s neck.
Chu Feng noticed that everyone received such a tablet and wore it around their necks.
He knew this wooden tablet was the symbol of their identity.
Because words were carved on the tablet: the character for “lower”.
Hua Xu’s was not a wooden tablet but a blue stone tablet, also inscribed with a character: the one for “middle”.
As for Tu Yuanyuan, her tablet was made of metal. Not only was it purple, but it also shimmered with faint radiance.
And on her tablet was written the character for “upper”.
Tu Yuanyuan already stood out with her striking appearance and had been the centre of attention in the crowd.
After receiving such a tablet, the way people looked at her changed even more.
Without a doubt, Tu Yuanyuan had become the absolute focus here.
After distributing these identity tablets…
The Beixuan Academy elder who had previously stopped Chu Feng and Hua Xu from sparring stepped forward once again.
Through some conversations along the way, Chu Feng had already learned that this elder was named Dao Qinian and held some status within Beixuan Academy.
“First of all, congratulations to all you young friends for joining our Lying Dragon Martial Sect and becoming a part of it.”
“Our Lying Dragon Martial Sect is divided into four academies: Donglong Academy, Xihu Academy, Nanque Academy, and Beixuan Academy.”
“No matter which academy you cultivate in, as long as you work hard, take it seriously, and persevere, you will surely reap rewards.”
“But if you can have a master who is willing to guide you carefully, then without question, it will be like adding wings to a tiger on your path of cultivation.”
“Later, elders will come to select disciples.”
“Those selected by an elder will become their disciple and go to whichever academy their master belongs to.”
“Of course, if the master who wants to take you does not meet your approval, you may also refuse.”
“And those disciples who are not selected by any elder will all enter our Beixuan Academy.”
Elder Dao Qinian explained this to Chu Feng and the others.
As a Beixuan Academy elder, he seemed to have already accepted the fact that Beixuan Academy was inferior to the other three.
Having the unselected disciples assigned to his Beixuan Academy was hardly something honourable, yet he spoke of it without the slightest ripple in his expression.
“Additionally, you can take a look over there.”
Suddenly, Elder Dao Qinian pointed towards the other end of the square.
There stood a fighting platform, and at the top of the platform hung a large bell.
Chu Feng had noticed that bell long ago, because the two words “not convinced” were engraved upon it.
Those two words already indicated that the bell and the fighting platform beneath it served a special purpose.
“The elders select disciples based on your talent.”
“But talent tests are not always absolute.”
“If any of you feel that the disciples the elders select later are inferior to you, you may go and ring that bell.”
“You can issue a challenge to the person you believe is not as good as you.”
“However, I must remind you: first, the other party may refuse to fight. Even if they accept and you win, the elder can still choose whom to accept as their disciple.”
“Ringing the bell can prove your own worth, but whether it can change your future remains uncertain.”
“Therefore, if you wish to ring the bell, you must proceed with great caution.”
“Of course, for those who cannot be selected by any elder later, do not lose heart.”
“The Lying Dragon Martial Sect is vast, and the road ahead of you is still long. This elder selection is merely a beginning.”
“In the future, you will still encounter elders who take a liking to you. It will not be too late to take them as your master then.”
“Moreover, even without a master, you can still cultivate.”
Elder Dao Qinian continued.
In fact, elders from Nanque Academy and Xihu Academy had already been present for some time.
But they had not yet stepped into the square to select disciples.
They were waiting, waiting for the Donglong Academy elders to select first.
Although in theory the four academies were equal.
Over time, due to the imbalance in strength, the relationship between the four academies had long since become vastly different.
Now, within the Lying Dragon Martial Sect’s four academies, Donglong Academy stood supreme.
Even most elders from Xihu and Nanque yielded to Donglong Academy elders, let alone Beixuan Academy.
The reason was simple: fear.
Of course, there were also a few individuals who were not from Donglong Academy yet did not fear Donglong Academy elders either.
But those were no ordinary people.
Finally, three figures flew over.
The eagerly awaited Donglong Academy elders had finally arrived.
These three elders did not conceal their auras.
Therefore, Chu Feng and everyone present could clearly sense their strength.
All three were Martial Venerable realm experts.
Although they were only at the early stage of Martial Venerable, this cultivation level was already quite impressive, far stronger than the elders from the other three academies.
Before their arrival, the strongest aura present had only been at the peak of Supreme.
This once again demonstrated that Donglong Academy was indeed superior to the other three academies.
“Why only three elders?”
Although these three elders were strong, their arrival caused some disciples present to panic.
Among the disciples here, there was one with a purple tablet, three with blue tablets, more than fifty with grey tablets, and over two thousand with white wooden tablets.
Those with wooden tablets did not matter; they were destined for Beixuan Academy anyway.
But those with grey tablets still harboured some hopes, wishing that Donglong Academy elders would select them.
Now, with only three Donglong Academy elders arriving, their dreams were clearly about to be shattered.
The three elders flew over and landed directly in the square, beginning to select disciples.
There seemed to be some rule in place, so each of the three elders selected only one disciple and then looked no further.
Among them was a grey-haired old woman, the strongest of the three, possessing second-rank Martial Venerable cultivation.
The other two, though also Martial Venerable, were only first-rank Martial Venerable.
Therefore, the old woman selected Tu Yuanyuan first.
As for the remaining two elders…
One selected Hua Xu as his disciple, while the other chose a burly male disciple who also wore a blue tablet.
After the three Donglong Academy elders finished selecting, the Xihu Academy elders began their selections.
After the Xihu Academy elders finished, the Nanque Academy elders began theirs.
Surprisingly, not many elders came from Xihu Academy or Nanque Academy to select disciples either.
As a result, in the end, not only the large group of wooden tablet disciples but even some grey tablet disciples were headed for Beixuan Academy.
After the disciple selection concluded, Chu Feng and the others left the square temporarily at the indication of the Beixuan Academy elders.
Only the elders from Donglong, Nanque, and Beixuan Academies remained on the square, along with the disciples who had been selected by elders.
It turned out that after selecting disciples here, the formal master-disciple ceremony would be held right on this square.
Only after the ceremony concluded could everyone disperse.
Fortunately, the master-disciple ceremony was quick.
However, after the ceremony ended, Hua Xu suddenly began to complain to his master.
“Master, someone has shown disrespect towards this disciple. What do you think this disciple should do?”
Hua Xu asked his master.
“You are now my disciple. If someone disrespects you, that is the same as disrespecting me.”
“If someone has bullied you, feel free to tell me. I will stand up for you.”
Hua Xu’s master was a gaunt old man with a vicious-looking face.
As he spoke, he deliberately glanced towards the Beixuan Academy elders, subconsciously assuming that it was one of them who had troubled Hua Xu.
And he would back Hua Xu up.
“Master, the one who bullied this disciple was not an elder, but a fellow disciple who has just joined the Lying Dragon Martial Sect like me.”
As soon as Hua Xu said this, Chu Feng already understood his intention.
This move by Hua Xu was clearly directed at Chu Feng.
