Chapter 456: I Keep Feeling We

Arriving at this ancient palace, everyone stared in astonishment at its plaque.

The Palace of Immortality? Does that mean a hall where one achieves immortality or demonic godhood?

Immortal is the term for the middle three steps of the Divine Realm; those who reach the fourth to sixth steps of divinity may be called Immortals.

This is not the first or third step of divinity—it’s the middle three steps, and even gods and demons cannot be certain they will become Immortals.

But this ancient palace dares to name itself the Palace of Immortality—does it imply that anyone who enters must become an Immortal?

Since ancient times, becoming a god or demon has been exceedingly difficult, let alone becoming an Immortal.

Among billions of beings, even among hundreds of millions of cultivators, one Immortal is hard to produce.

Here, becoming an Immortal seems almost basic.

“This is the Palace of Immortality. The name reveals its purpose: those who have not yet become Immortals may enter to cultivate, but I advise you to achieve god-demon status first before entering this palace. Aiming too high is never a good thing.”

Qing Yun pointed to the left of the Palace of Immortality:

“That palace is the Palace of Godhood—literally, the ancient hall where one achieves god-demon status. My fellow junior brothers and sisters, if you are still within the Nine Realms of Mortals, go to the Palace of Godhood. Once you achieve god-demon status, then come here to the Palace of Immortality.”

Likewise, junior brothers and sisters who have already achieved god-demon status should cultivate here in this Palace of Immortality.

By the way, entering any of these ancient palaces to cultivate is not free—you need merit points, which you can earn on the Initial Battlefield, based on the strength and number of enemies you slay.

I don’t recommend you go to the Initial Battlefield to earn them—not because I look down on you, but because every god-demon who fights there has endured countless battles. Though you are the elite of your realms, there is still a gap between you and those god-demons on the Initial Battlefield.

The sheer brutality of such battles is not something you can adapt to overnight. I doubt any of you have ever experienced hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of god-demon battles.

Everyone, including the Immortals and demons, shook their heads.

Come on—that’s god-demons we’re talking about. Any one of them could live freely in any world; they’re not as common as dirt.

Where would you find tens of thousands of god-demons to fight?

Besides, even if they’re the strongest among god-demons, they still can’t withstand sheer numbers in a mass battle.

And… one-on-one, ambushes, and mass battles are vastly different. All of you here have fought one-on-one, been ambushed, and ambushed others—but none of you have ever fought in a true mass battle, especially not a god-demon-level mass battle, where god-demons are merely the lowest cannon fodder.

If you’ve never been to the Initial Battlefield and rush in blindly, you won’t even know how you died.

No one felt ashamed or insulted by Qing Yun’s blunt words—he was speaking the truth.

“Earning merit points through the Initial Battlefield is just one way—it’s fast, but so is dying.”

Qing Yun spoke patiently, explaining slowly as he led them on a tour of the Ji Xia Academy.

“Besides the Initial Battlefield, there are other ways to earn merit points: first, go to the Merit Hall’s mission board, complete the listed tasks, and receive a set number of merit points based on the task’s difficulty.

Second, go to the Merit Hall and surrender treasures such as divine pills or rare medicines; the value of what you surrender determines how many merit points you receive.

Third, each time you advance in cultivation, you may claim a corresponding amount of merit points.”

“Senior brother, you forgot one—duels.” The talkative junior sister grinned brightly, like a little demon.

Qing Yun replied: “I know. But duels favor the opponents, so I planned to mention it last. Since Little Sister brought it up, listen carefully.

Duels are the fastest way to earn merit points—simple: find someone to duel you, wager merit points, and the winner takes all.”

The Ji Xia Academy forbids private fights but encourages combat.

After all, the Ji Xia Academy exists to supply fresh blood to the Initial Battlefield—combat strength is the foundation.

Therefore, the Ji Xia Academy periodically organizes combat trials to test everyone’s battle prowess.

Oh, and remember one thing: the Ji Xia Academy’s combat trials are not without casualties. These are real battles—life and death are inevitable. Unless one surrenders, you may fight to the death. If you kill your opponent, you may take everything they own, including their merit points.”

A chill ran through everyone’s hearts.

People could die?

This wasn’t just “organized combat”—it was a death match.

They said nothing, only frowned, but quickly understood the intent.

Qing Yun’s next words confirmed their thoughts.

“On the Initial Battlefield, there are only enemies—no mercy. Once you step onto that battlefield, you must keep winning to survive; if you lose, you die there.”

The Ji Xia Academy’s combat trials are meant to make you understand the brutality of the Initial Battlefield—combat is life itself: win, and you live; lose, and you die. There are no other excuses. So, junior brothers and sisters, work hard. Win every Ji Xia Academy combat trial.

Otherwise, the next time we meet, it’ll be at your funeral.”

As he spoke, Qing Yun smiled faintly.

He appeared relaxed and casual, yet that chill sent shivers down their spines, making their bones ache.

“I feel like we’ve walked into a wolf’s den,” Zhang Hao said, half-laughing, half-crying.

They came to the Ji Xia Academy to study, yet now faced mortal danger. But then again—when has the heavens ever dropped a free bun?

“By the way, some of you should have received the Ji Xia Academy admission token, right? That can be exchanged for merit points. That’s all I have to say. If any of you have questions, ask now.”

Afterwards,

One by one, the others asked questions, and Qing Yun answered them all.

Gao Xiang Hong, the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou, and others showed quiet excitement—they now realized how valuable the Immortal Source Stones were, as they could be exchanged for vast amounts of merit points.

Clearly, the group leader had ties to the Ji Xia Academy—and had even opened a small backdoor for them. Giving them the Immortal Source Stones was the best backdoor possible, sparing them the need to scramble for merit points after enrollment.

Immortal Source Stones originated from the Ji Xia Academy alone; only the Ji Xia Academy possessed them.

“Then, junior brothers and sisters, welcome to the Ji Xia Academy. I’ll go now to cultivate. If you have questions later, contact me or my fellow junior brothers and sisters beside me.

Also, don’t venture into other palaces unless your strength is sufficient.”

With that, Qing Yun and the other junior brothers and sisters departed, heading to the Highest Immortal Palace to report the new students’ enrollment status to Kamikawa Mitsu.

Watching Qing Yun and the others leave, everyone stood uncertain for a moment.

“How is the Ji Xia Academy’s teaching style so… college-like? Say your piece, then just leave—don’t care if you understood or not. And those scheduled battles? They’re just like midterms and finals.”

Zhang Hao rubbed his chin.

Beside him, Gao Xiang Hong picked up the thread.

“There’s a difference—midterms and finals might just get you scolded if you fail. But the Ji Xia Academy’s ‘midterms and finals’? Fail, and you lose your life—or lose merit points.”

As he spoke, Gao Xiang Hong glanced around.

“Senior brothers, senior sisters, junior brothers, junior sisters—now it’s time to do what you came here to do. I’m not going to the Palace of Godhood yet. I’ll just wander around here first. Anyone want to join me for company?”

The Ji Xia Academy’s laissez-faire teaching style seemed to offer little direct help—but from another angle, it granted true freedom.

Who here wasn’t a prodigy, a supreme force from another realm? Who could tolerate being tightly controlled? This teaching method suited them well.

Want to study? Go to the Scripture Hall, or exchange merit points at the Merit Hall to hire a master for instruction, or attend the Lecture Hall for periodic teachings by powerful masters.

Want to cultivate? Go to the Palace of Immortality, the Palace of Godhood, or the Undying Palace.

Want to fight? Go to the Battle Hall.

Want merit points? Go to the Merit Hall.

Then everyone dispersed according to their own intentions—some to cultivate, others to explore…

…