Chapter 875: Who is the Dean?

Within the Hongyuan Imperial Palace, two magnificently dressed young men walked side by side. Both appeared to be around twenty years old, with their cultivation at the Integration Realm.

“Fifth Brother, what brings you here to attempt the trial today?” asked the younger one, smiling.

“Sixth Sister broke through this time, clearing four entire stages in one go. I am older than her, and if I can’t surpass that, Father Emperor will surely scold me. As a dignified man, I certainly can’t lose to Sixth Sister!”

The eyes of the one addressed as Fifth Brother flickered. He was precisely the Fifth Prince of the Hongyuan Empire, Yu Hong, while the younger one was the Eighth Prince, Yu Zheng.

“Among our many siblings, Third Brother has the highest talent. Even he only reached the third stage when he was at the Integration Realm. Sixth Sister actually reached the fourth stage directly; that’s incredibly impressive! I also want to try and see if I can push further!”

Yu Zheng also nodded.

“The Thousand Hammer Soul Path is incredibly beneficial for tempering the soul, but it’s also extremely difficult. If your mind wavers even slightly, you’ll fall unconscious within it. You’ve recently been dispatched to guard the border, so you probably haven’t had time to cultivate your soul, have you? If you can’t endure it, leave early!” Yu Hong said.

“Don’t worry, Fifth Brother. Although I’ve been at the border these past few days, I haven’t been idle. I’ve been meditating and refining my soul. Even if I can’t reach the third stage, I should be close...” Yu Zheng said, full of confidence.

“That’s good!” Yu Hong said no more. The two quickly arrived at the passage Zhang Xuan had walked through earlier.

“Let’s begin!”

Exchanging a glance, both stepped into the passage with solemn expressions. After only a few steps, they felt a powerful oppressive force suddenly wash over them. The two princes involuntarily swayed twice, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

“Persevere!”

They looked at each other, gritted their teeth simultaneously, and continued forward. The deeper they went, the more violently they swayed.

“Pffft!”

Yu Zheng was the first to collapse. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body went limp, and he sank to the ground. “Fifth Brother, I can’t hold on anymore. I’m still at the second stage. It’s up to you now...”

“Alright!” Yu Hong’s face contorted fiercely, his teeth grinding with a ‘clack clack’ sound as he continued forward.

The surrounding walls contained soul cultivation techniques, and correspondingly, the passage also exerted a soul-pressuring force. Each stage was approximately five meters long, and the entire passage had nine stages. Reaching the third stage at the Integration Realm was considered good soul cultivation.

After a few more steps, Yu Hong could no longer bear it. His face turned pale, and he too collapsed to the ground. Although he had diligently cultivated his soul every day during this period, he still couldn’t clear the third stage!

“Still no good...”

The two princes exchanged glances, shook their heads, and forced wry smiles. They had thought that since Sixth Princess had broken through to the fourth stage in one go, they would also have a chance. Unexpectedly, they couldn’t even reach the third stage. This passage was simply too difficult!

They meditated for a while on the spot, and once the stinging pain in their minds subsided, they stood up and walked out together.

“It seems our strength isn’t enough. The current record should be Sixth Sister’s, right?” Yu Zheng said.

“It should be. We’ll know once we go check...”

Nodding, Yu Hong walked a few steps to a wall outside the passage and gently pressed his palm against it. The record wall displayed the records left by trial-takers for each stage.

With a clear chime, a line of numbers appeared before their eyes: Record: First Stage, two breaths!

“Two breaths? Sixth Sister is too amazing, isn’t she? She cleared the first stage in just two breaths?” Yu Zheng’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“That’s impossible... Even if she could reach the fourth stage, the first stage definitely wouldn’t be passable in just two breaths. Let’s check the second stage’s result...”

Yu Hong was startled, his brows furrowed, and he continued to swipe his hand forward. Another line of text appeared: Record: Second Stage, two breaths!

“Still two breaths?”

They exchanged a bewildered glance, then quickly swiped downwards.

Third Stage, two breaths!Fourth Stage, two breaths!Fifth Stage, two breaths!Sixth Stage, two breaths!

On the record wall, row after row of numbers displayed the trial-taker’s records, showing that only two breaths of time were used for each stage, all the way up to the ninth stage.

“Someone cleared all nine stages... and took only two breaths for each stage?”

The two princes trembled incessantly. They looked at each other, and intense fear was visible in each other’s eyes.

Is this real or fake?

They couldn’t even reach the third stage. Who could have cleared all nine stages, taking exactly two breaths for each, no more, no less? This probably isn’t a trial anymore, but rather... a stroll, wouldn’t you say?!

“The person who left the record didn’t leave a name...”

After finishing reading the records, and seeing no name, both men froze.

“Go invite Uncle Bai here. He’s in charge of this passage; he must know who left this!”

After a moment, Yu Hong couldn’t help but say.

“Alright!”

The two hurried away. Before long, a middle-aged man walked in behind them. If Zhang Xuan had been there, he would certainly have recognized him as the peak Saint 1-dan expert who had attacked him in that courtyard.

“What’s the matter, why so urgent?”

Uncle Bai, the middle-aged man, frowned. He was currently investigating the witch soul-like entity from earlier and didn’t have time to mess around with the two princes here.

“Uncle Bai, did you or Father Emperor come to attempt the trial these past two days? How are we supposed to break this record that was left?” Yu Hong said with a bitter smile.

“Attempt the trial? How could that be!” Uncle Bai shook his head. He was currently researching the ancient stone tablet; he had no time to come here and attempt trials. His Imperial Majesty, of course, was even less likely to.

“Then... if it wasn’t you or Father Emperor, who left this?”

Hearing his denial, Yu Hong was startled and quickly swiped his palm across the record wall. The previous records appeared line by line.

“Two... two breaths?”

Uncle Bai’s body involuntarily swayed, almost causing him to faint. “Even His Majesty and I, with our current strength, can only reach the eighth stage. And... after the sixth stage, every step takes a long time. One stage can even take half an hour to clear. To clear a stage in two breaths... this, this... who could it be?!”

He was also dumbfounded.

The Thousand Hammer Soul Path was specially created by the Yu Clan’s ancestors to temper the souls of their descendants. It contains intense pressure that can be used to refine souls... Because of this, the Yu Clan is exceptionally proficient in soul cultivation and is renowned among many first-tier empires. For countless years, numerous astonishingly talented descendants have emerged from the Yu Clan. Unfortunately, no one has ever managed to clear the ninth stage and enter the main hall... So how is there a record now?

And it only took two breaths?

When Yu Feier emerged from her cultivation yesterday and attempted the trial, this record wasn’t there yet...

“Could it be...” His pupils contracted. He suddenly remembered the witch soul-like entity he encountered today.

“Let’s go check the main hall...”

Unable to restrain himself any longer, he hurriedly bypassed the passage and walked straight towards the main hall behind it. As the manager of the Thousand Hammer Soul Path, he had the authority to enter the main hall even without going through the soul path.

Pushing the door open and stepping inside, Uncle Bai’s face immediately twitched violently as he looked up. The previously abundant spiritual energy within the main hall had completely vanished. The four ancestral statues, used for tempering souls, were now dim and lifeless. With a light touch of his palm, they crumbled to the ground with a ‘crash!’, becoming a pile of rubble!

“Damn it... who was it?!”

Uncle Bai was almost going crazy. This hall contained the oppressive aura of the ancestors, so powerful that even he couldn’t enter it. Who on earth not only entered but also left it in such a state? How incredibly powerful must one’s soul be to achieve this?

“No, I must report this to His Majesty...”

Unable to contain himself any longer, he swayed and rushed straight towards the emperor’s main hall.

The most majestic hall in the imperial palace. Yu Shenqing had just finished reviewing memorials and was rubbing his eyes to rest.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Master Teacher Academy has sent a notification: the new dean’s inauguration ceremony will be held in three days, and they request Your Majesty’s personal presence to observe the ceremony!” The old eunuch walked over.

“Understood. Tell them I will certainly attend!” Yu Shenqing nodded.

Although the Master Teacher Academy was located in the Hongyuan Empire, in terms of status and influence, he couldn’t compare to the academy’s dean. To become the dean, one could say, was to truly be the foremost person within the entire Hongyuan Empire. Even he wouldn’t dare to refute that.

“Yes!” the old eunuch acknowledged, and someone immediately left.

“By the way, who is the new dean? Did they say?” Yu Shenqing suddenly remembered and couldn’t help but look over.

“They didn’t say, only that Master Mu, who came from headquarters, would personally preside!” The old eunuch thought for a moment and said.

“Master Mu? The Seven-Star Master Teacher, Mu Yuan?” Yu Shenqing’s eyes lit up.

“Precisely!” the old eunuch nodded.

“For him to personally preside, it seems it’s either Lu Feng or Zhao Bingxu. In that case, send someone to inquire about the details. If we know in advance, we can prepare the gifts!” Yu Shenqing waved his hand.

If it’s Lu Feng, they would prepare valuable medicinal herbs. If it’s Zhao Bingxu, they would probably need to prepare rare ores. Their main auxiliary professions were different, so their preferences would naturally vary. As the emperor, he was well-versed in such matters. It was crucial to prepare in advance and strive to win the favor of the new dean. That way, the imperial power of their Yu Clan would be solidified forever.

“Since they didn’t say... I’m afraid we won’t be able to find out by asking...” The old eunuch frowned. Since they didn’t specify who the new dean was, they surely wouldn’t tell. Asking again probably wouldn’t yield any results!

“Just say that I personally inquired. I presume those elders will give me face! Moreover, it’s just knowing the dean in advance, not some major secret.” Yu Shenqing waved his hand. As the supreme ruler of the Hongyuan Empire, even if he wasn’t as powerful as the Master Teacher Academy’s dean, he was comparable to the Ten Grand Elders. If he truly inquired, the other party wouldn’t refuse to tell him.

“Yes!” The old eunuch nodded in affirmation.

“By the way, has Feier’s birthday banquet started yet?” Suddenly remembering the banquet, Yu Shenqing couldn’t help but ask.

“Oh, how could it begin without Your Majesty present...” The old eunuch chuckled awkwardly.

“Alright then, I promised her I’d go check now...” Yu Shenqing stood up. “By the way, has that Master Teacher named Zhang Xuan arrived?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Master Zhang has arrived!” The old eunuch nodded.

“Has he caused any trouble?” Yu Shenqing’s eyebrows rose, radiating an aura of natural authority without anger.

“As soon as he arrived, he remained seated and didn’t move. He should know this is the Imperial Palace and wouldn’t dare act recklessly...” The old eunuch had his own dedicated intelligence channels and had already made thorough inquiries.

“That’s good!” Yu Shenqing nodded. “Let’s go take a look!”

With that, he led the way towards the banquet hall.