Chapter 146: Gathering of Heavenly Prodigies: Ascend the Heavenly Staircase, Ring the Ancient Bell, Leap the Dragon Gate

The Holy Spirit Academy is located at the center of Holy Spirit City.

From afar, it appears magnificent and imposing.

Its pavilions stretch endlessly, shrouded in mist and radiant clouds, brimming with grandeur.

Waterfalls cascade, spiritual mountains rise, its beauty beyond description.

At first glance, it seems less like an academy and more like a celestial sanctuary.

"Wow, no wonder it's one of the oldest academies in the Immortal Realm—it truly stands out."

Many young prodigies visiting the academy for the first time couldn't help but marvel.

"True enough—I heard the academy was founded by a Holy Spirit from ages past," another prodigy said.

A Holy Spirit is a being who has attained the Dao in an unconventional way.

Such as Dragon Pattern Black Gold, Divine Scar Purple Gold—over eons, steeped in spiritual energy, they gradually transform into Holy Spirits, even acquiring flesh and blood.

For instance, legend says the fiftieth floor of the Heavenly Dao Tower holds the remains of a Reincarnation Holy Spirit.

That Reincarnation Holy Spirit's original form was Reincarnation Dao Gold.

Moreover, various divine stones of heaven and earth may also evolve into Holy Spirits.

A Great Completion Imperial Dao Holy Spirit is an ultimate existence, equal to an Emperor or Ancient Emperor.

Hearing the visiting prodigies praise the Holy Spirit Academy, its disciples felt immense satisfaction.

"Too bad, they still cowered before the Jun family."

"Yeah, I heard some academy disciples tried to humble the Jun family's divine heir, but ended up making fools of themselves."

Some prodigies laughed, discussing these embarrassing incidents.

The academy's disciples immediately grew uneasy.

Then, three figures of transcendent aura appeared at the academy's gate.

"Look! The Holy Spirit Academy's two Holy Sons and one Holy Daughter."

"That's the Yin-Yang Sect's Yin-Yang Holy Son, the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty's Prince Xia Lan, and the Hundred Flowers Dao Palace's Holy Daughter Hua Xiqing. The Yin-Yang Sect, Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, and Hundred Flowers Dao Palace aren't immortal factions—but they're top-tier beneath the immortal ones."

"Could these three also intend to humble the Jun family's divine heir?" some prodigies whispered among themselves.

The Yin-Yang Holy Son stood with his hands behind his back, his expression solemn: "I want to see if Jun Xiaoyao can pass these three trials."

"He'll likely pass without much trouble—it's just a matter of how well he performs," Hua Xiqing said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hua Xiqing, don't forget Ji Xuan was crippled by Jun Xiaoyao—you can't betray your own side," Prince Xia Lan remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Since returning from the Dueling Arena, Hua Xiqing had been distracted, often lost in thought.

"Of course not—I'm just stating the facts," Hua Xiqing smiled faintly.

At that moment, a rush of wind echoed from afar, golden light blazing as a Golden Wing Great Peng descended from the sky.

It was Jin Chixiaopeng.

He landed, golden light flickering as he transformed into human form—tall, heroic, golden hair flowing, eyes sharp as blades.

A crowd of prodigies around him were stunned and quickly stepped back.

Jin Chixiaopeng had a notoriously bad temper.

Then Ye Xingyun arrived; though not as flamboyant as Jin Chixiaopeng, he was still a prodigy of an ancient clan and drew attention from all sides.

Afterward, chants of Buddhist mantras arose as a handsome bald monk arrived with a group of followers.

"Is that one from Little Western Heaven?"

"It's the Buddha Son, Fa Hai!"

Some well-informed prodigies couldn't help but exclaim.

Little Western Heaven was undoubtedly a mysterious, reclusive powerful sect, with an ancient, unbroken lineage.

And they were so reclusive that the Immortal Realm had nearly forgotten they existed.

But that very silence was the most terrifying thing of all.

No one knew the true depth of Little Western Heaven's reserves.

"Even the Buddha Son of Little Western Heaven has emerged—truly, the Age of Great Struggle is beginning," many cultivators sighed.

Fa Hai glanced at Jin Chixiaopeng, pondered briefly, and made no move.

He had intended to subdue a mount, but realized Jin Chixiaopeng might be difficult to tame.

Though he wasn't afraid, he still needed to prepare for the Heavenly Dao Tower.

Jin Chixiaopeng also noticed Fa Hai and snorted, saying nothing.

He deeply disliked Little Western Heaven.

After all, his ancestors had once seen a Golden Wing Great Peng subdued by a Living Buddha of Little Western Heaven, becoming a guardian deity.

"I've heard one must pass three trials to enter the Holy Spirit Academy—let me try," Jin Chixiaopeng stepped forward and waved his hand.

At that moment, from deep within the academy, a long staircase descended from the void—ninety-nine steps in total.

Each step bore countless engraved runes.

"There it is—the first trial: Ascend the Heavenly Staircase!"

The Heavenly Staircase has ninety-nine levels; generally, reaching halfway is considered excellent.

Climbing above eighty steps qualifies one as top-tier.

Reaching above ninety steps marks one as an absolute young sovereign.

The record of ninety-nine steps was broken only by a legendary figure in ancient times.

Jin Lie didn't hesitate—he charged forward.

He climbed dozens of steps without pause, shocking all the prodigies around.

Around the seventieth step, pressure began to build, as if mountains weighed upon his shoulders.

Finally, Jin Lie stopped at the eighty-ninth step.

The Heavenly Staircase faded into the void.

Jin snorted, clearly dissatisfied.

Then came the second trial: Ring the Ancient Bell eighteen times.

The ancient bell was as large as a small hill, simple and heavy, steeped in the weight of time.

Moreover, this bell had a special ability: it nullified magic power and force fluctuations.

Thus, making it ring was extremely difficult.

Eighteen rings was the highest recorded achievement.

Jin Lie struck again, unleashing a punch brimming with overwhelming magic power.

It was the pinnacle technique of the Golden Wing Great Peng clan: Golden Mystery Divine Art.

Dong! Dong! Dong…

Deep, resonant bell tones spread across the entire Holy Spirit City.

Countless figures gathered around the academy, watching in awe.

In the end, the bell rang fifteen times—an astonishing feat.

The faces of the Yin-Yang Holy Son and others changed slightly.

Even they would likely have been slightly weaker.

The final trial was Leap the Dragon Gate.

It was a brilliant, crystalline lake, with a Dragon Gate appearing across its waters.

Countless golden-horned jiao dragons circled within the lake.

"Those are… golden-horned jiao dragons with traces of dragon blood!" Many prodigies eager to attempt the trial felt their scalps tingle.

For a young prodigy, crossing this lake was as hard as climbing to heaven.

"No wonder it's called Leap the Dragon Gate—no ordinary person could pass," one prodigy thought, instantly abandoning any thought of trying.

Jin Lie took a deep breath, his golden wings flaring behind him as he unleashed Great Peng Supreme Speed, like a streak of golden lightning.

Instantly, the golden-horned jiao dragons surged into the air, their horns releasing magical energy to block Jin Lie.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

After a fierce battle, Jin Lie, relying on his speed, passed through the Dragon Gate despite minor injuries.

"Incredible!"

All the cultivators present stared in stunned silence.

Is this the true strength of the youngest generation's top prodigy of Jialou Sacred Mountain?

Jin Lie's lips curled into a rare smile.

His performance was dazzling.

Next, Ye Xingyun, Fa Hai, and others attempted the trials, each drawing gasps and murmurs from the crowd, their performances outstanding.

"I wonder how the Jun family's divine heir will fare?"

"Will he break the records?"

All the cultivators present suddenly grew curious.

How would Jun Xiaoyao, the peerless prodigy with unmatched talent in the Immortal Realm, perform in these trials? Would he rival the legendary figures of ancient times?