Chapter 451: Kamikawa-kun Didn

They once again revised their understanding of Jixia Academy—it was far more terrifying than they had imagined, and they resolved even more firmly to enter Jixia Academy at all costs.

A place capable of nurturing the Supreme must hold great destiny; even if one cannot achieve the Supreme, one is surely destined to become Immortal or Demon, and perhaps even Undying.

“Thank you for answering my question—then what is your own talent? Supreme potential?”

“What is my talent?”

Qingyun let out a light laugh but gave no reply.

At that moment, a cold, clear female voice spoke.

“Qingyun Senior is not of Supreme potential—Supreme potential emerges only once in ten thousand years; Jixia Academy has produced only two such individuals in all its history. But Qingyun Senior’s talent is still exceptional—he is the strongest among all Jixia Academy disciples below the Undying realm, and he will soon attain Undying, stepping into the Undying Hall.”

Attain Undying!

Merely this title alone was enough to reveal his extraordinary talent.

And just hearing “strongest disciple below Undying in Jixia Academy” made it clear how powerful he must be—nine out of ten, this Qingyun was among the top two figures in Jixia Academy.

It was the ever-carefree Great Saint of Mi Tian who spoke next; in the crowd, only he was blunt and straightforward:

“Jixia Academy produced two individuals of Supreme potential? Can you tell us who they were?”

Everyone, including those watching on television, leaned forward intently.

The Supreme—the pinnacle of existence—each one was the most dazzling figure in all of history and time, shaking the ages, trembling eternity, making the river of time shudder with every step. They were the most revered beings by all life—who would not wish to learn of them, who would not wish to worship them?

Now, to learn of two individuals who might become Supreme—who would not be curious, who would not seek to uncover their identities?

“Who they were—you’ll know once you enter Jixia Academy.”

Her cold, clear gaze swept over them; that calm, detached demeanor was so palpable that viewers across the world could almost feel it through the screen.

At this moment,

Qingyun looked at the crowd and spoke softly:

“To answer your earlier unspoken question—this is the Ninefold Mountain Staircase. How many peaks must you climb to enter Jixia Academy? The answer is the sixth. Whoever reaches the platform of the sixth peak becomes a Jixia Academy disciple. But if your ambition exceeds the heavens and you seek more, you must ascend to the platform of the seventh peak.”

No one showed joy; instead, their expressions grew grim.

From the man’s tone, they sensed this was no simple matter—they had already felt the increasing difficulty of climbing, and if he said this, the seventh peak must be far harder than all the previous ones.

And the seventh peak—he clearly believed almost none among them could pass it.

Someone couldn’t help asking Qingyun how many peaks he had climbed in his time.

Before Qingyun could speak, his junior sister answered.

“Senior Qingyun is the second disciple in a thousand years to have crossed all nine peaks, taken in as a disciple by a Supreme Being, and destined to attain Undying.”

Qingyun showed neither pride nor humility; he merely waved his hand lightly, signaling the girl to stop.

Climbing the ninth peak, destined for Undying—just these two facts sent shockwaves through everyone present and countless others worldwide.

Especially those who had reached the sixth peak were deeply shaken.

Having climbed themselves, having reached the sixth peak, they knew better than anyone how difficult the ascent was.

Yet this young man had climbed all the way to the final, ninth peak.

No wonder he was sent by Jixia Academy to greet them—it was a display of intimidation, telling them: even if you are prodigies in your own worlds, even if you have become Immortals or Ancestors, achieved extraordinary feats…

Beyond the sky lies higher sky; beyond the person stands a greater person. Your strength in your own world means nothing here. In Jixia Academy, you are ordinary. The truth that one mountain towers higher than the next is basic doctrine here.

It was also an encouragement, a motivation.

The second in a thousand years—who was the first?

Zhang Hao, Gao Xianghong, and others murmured.

Beyond that, for some inexplicable reason, those watching on television, in livestreams, and even among the initial-worlders, many found themselves picturing Kamikawa Mitsu’s face.

“I wonder how many peaks Nisan would climb here. Probably the ninth, right? Who would be stronger—Nisan or this guy?”

Kamikawa Sashiko stood in the maid café, gazing up at the television broadcast.

“By the way, Sashiko, where’s Nisan? Why didn’t he go to Jixia Academy? Is he in seclusion training and missed the recruitment? Why didn’t you call him to tell him?”

Iori’s bright eyes darted back and forth across the screen, searching the sixth peak platform—but she found no trace of Kamikawa Mitsu.

She refused to believe Kamikawa Mitsu had been eliminated.

Given how he sacrificed himself to lure alien Immortals and Demons into the depths of space, saving all of humanity—he could never fail to cross the Immortal Bridge.

And given that he reached Immortal realm before turning twenty, his talent was terrifying even in the initial world—he could never have failed the Desert or Wasteland trials, nor failed to reach the sixth peak.

There was only one answer.

Kamikawa Mitsu most likely did not participate in Jixia Academy’s recruitment.

After all, Li Gui was there—right now standing on the sixth peak.

Yes, that was precisely why Matsukaze Shiru, Iori, and the others were gathered in the maid café—they had learned Li Gui had gone to climb the Immortal Bridge.

They weren’t worried Kamikawa Mitsu would fail—they were worried about Li Gui. Li Gui wasn’t a monster like Kamikawa Mitsu; whether she could cross the Immortal Bridge was truly uncertain.

On the sixth peak platform.

Li Gui was also searching for Kamikawa Mitsu. Earlier on the blue-brick platform, the crowd had been too thick to spot him easily; now, with only a couple hundred people, finding him was simple.

Where is Kamikawa-kun?

Li Gui’s stunningly beautiful face showed a trace of worry—she had not found Kamikawa Mitsu’s figure.

“He didn’t participate, did he, Kamikawa-kun?” Li Gui clutched tightly in her hand a plaque—neither iron nor stone.

Two days ago, she had found the plaque appearing out of nowhere in her home. She had gone to ask Kamikawa Mitsu if he recognized it.

She was not from the initial world; the sudden appearance of a mysterious plaque naturally caused suspicion. Though one should not flaunt wealth, Kamikawa Mitsu was not in that category—she trusted him completely, so she went to ask him about the plaque.

At the time, Kamikawa Mitsu told her he did not recognize it, but advised her to keep it, since its appearance at her place meant it was fated to her.

“Senior, I’ll try climbing again.”

Seeing Qingyun prepare to lead everyone directly to the highest immortal mountain, Tianxie Sword Immortal spoke first.

Then others, including the Great Saint of Mi Tian, also spoke up.

Qingyun said nothing; he stepped aside, clearing the path upward—his meaning was obvious.

The next moment,

Those on the sixth peak set their gazes firmly ahead—not a single person chose to remain on the sixth peak; all resumed climbing toward the seventh peak.

The world once again focused its gaze on the contenders—no, more precisely, on this group who had already successfully entered Jixia Academy. Qingyun Senior had said: reaching the sixth peak made one a Jixia Academy disciple.

Whether those on the first five peaks, the townsfolk, or people across the globe, all envied them.

These climbers had entered the mysterious, legendary Jixia Academy—the very place that had nurtured the Supreme. Their futures were bright, their potential limitless.

“No! I must enter Jixia Academy!” Those halted on the fifth peak gritted their teeth, gathered their Qi, and tried to climb again.

Yet only a handful reached the sixth peak. Even those who broke through their limits and improved their strength sometimes overexerted themselves, spitting blood and suffering severe injuries.

This was destined to be a trial of joy and sorrow.

Those who climbed from the fifth to the sixth peak wept with joy; those who failed collapsed in tears.

But most eyes remained fixed on those ascending the seventh mountain.

……