"Are you ready?"
"Don't worry! We've allied with fifteen geniuses and arranged for two assassins to lie in wait! This time, we'll ensure Zhuang Zhou doesn't leave the entrance exam alive!"
In a secret chamber of the Northern Heaven Academy, a disciple dressed in green reported to a haughty-looking man in purple.
If anyone were present, they would be shocked by the identities of these two.
The hierarchy at Northern Heaven Academy is strict!
Disciples wear different colors based on their status: gray, blue, green, purple, and white.
Gray represents Battle Servants, who are new to the academy, responsible for menial tasks, and hold a low status.
Blue represents Outer Court Disciples, who can take on certain sect tasks, acquire resources, and pay spirit stones for individual tutoring from academy teachers.
Green signifies Inner Court Disciples, who hold a higher status, receive focused training from the academy, and can lead a certain number of Battle Servants into battle, representing the academy in wars!
As for purple, it signifies Elite Disciples. Purple represents nobility, and Elite Disciples wear purple attire, symbolizing their esteemed status.
White is for the Holy Son and Holy Maiden, the backbone of the academy and its future successors!
These two, one in green and one in purple, are both significant figures in the academy!
Each one wields great power and influence!
"I owe the Sovereign of Grand Yong a favor! This time, dealing with the Northern Guardian Prince's heir will settle that debt! Needing someone like me, Long Aotian, to personally deal with an eight-year-old child—this Sovereign of Grand Yong really undervalues my favor!"
The purple-clad disciple, Long Aotian, spoke arrogantly. He didn't even regard Zhuang Zhou, a mere heir, let alone the Northern Guardian Prince.
The white-clad disciple, Liu Yukun, flattered, "Lord Long Aotian is right. This time, I'll make sure everything is done without a trace, and Zhuang Zhou's death won't be linked to you in any way!"
"Good! As long as you understand!"
On Zhuang Zhou's side, at first light, he donned the Mysterious Heaven Armor, equipped the Gloves of Myriad Phases and Flowing Cloud Wings, and was fully armed and ready.
The Mysterious Heaven Armor was already spiritually aware and could adjust its size according to the wearer's physique.
Zhuang Zhou was so solemn because he had long heard that the entrance exam for Northern Heaven Academy was different every year but always perilous.
On average, out of ten participants, seven would die in the exam, two would fail, and only one would truly pass!
Zhuang Zhou's cultivation was still weak.
Facing this exam, he felt an immense sense of danger.
"The Northern Guardian Prince is a hero, but it's a pity his son is a coward! He even needs external help to face a mere exam!"
These prodigies from the Grand Yong Dynasty thought they were still in their homeland, unaware of the exam's peril.
Each one was arrogant, treating it like a game!
Zhuang Zhou glanced at them and couldn't be bothered to respond.
A dragon and an ant will never intersect.
"Alright, are you all ready? The exam is about to begin! To select outstanding talents and infuse the academy with fresh blood, the academy has specially opened a third-grade Secret Realm at the Body Refining Realm level as the exam venue!"
The gray-clad man appeared again.
He personally led Zhuang Zhou and the others.
"The exam requires you to survive in the Secret Realm for one day! As long as you survive, you pass! Any resources or wealth you obtain in the Secret Realm are yours to keep! There are also ten Beast Remains in the Secret Realm. Each one you bring out can be exchanged for one hundred Academy Contribution Points, which will aid your life and work in the academy. A friendly reminder: Academy Contribution Points are extremely precious. If you miss this opportunity, it will be incredibly difficult to earn them again!"
The gray-clad man finished his instructions.
Zhuang Zhou curiously asked.
"Are we the only ones in this exam? Why haven't I seen anyone else?"
"How could that be! For every Northern Heaven Academy exam, dozens of surrounding countries send anywhere from ten to a hundred geniuses! It's just that the Secret Realm has thirty-six entrances! To prevent candidates from different countries from killing each other right from the start, your entrances are different!"
The gray-clad man patiently explained to Zhuang Zhou.
Zhuang Zhou had already gained the favor of Nangong Xueri upon arrival and had helped Lin Xuerou significantly.
Both were significant figures in the academy, and thanks to their influence, the gray-clad man's attitude towards Zhuang Zhou was particularly friendly!
Hearing this, Zhuang Zhou nodded, appreciating the academy's thoughtful arrangements.
"Is killing not prohibited in the Secret Realm?" Beichen suddenly asked, looking at Zhuang Zhou with hostility.
"Fortune is in the heavens, life and death are fated! Killing is not prohibited in the Secret Realm exam!"
The gray-clad man's attitude towards Beichen was much colder.
Beichen sneered, making a gesture with his little finger, his provocation clear!
The gray-clad man led the ten prodigies from the Grand Yong Dynasty to a silver portal.
"Enter the portal, and you can begin the exam in the Secret Realm! Who's first?"
"Me!"
Beichen eagerly said.
"I'll be waiting for you in the Secret Realm, Zhuang Zhou. This time, you won't escape!"
Beichen strode into the Secret Realm.
Zhuang Zhou smiled faintly, unconcerned.
After two more people entered, Zhuang Zhou was the fourth to enter the Secret Realm.
The scenery around him changed.
Zhuang Zhou found himself in an ancient forest, where the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth was about twice as abundant as outside, making it extremely suitable for cultivation!
"Secret Realms are classified into nine types based on the maximum level of those allowed to enter, such as Body Refining Realm and Profound Passage Secret Ground. The number of treasures in a Secret Realm determines its grade, with the lowest being first-grade and the highest being ninth-grade. Northern Heaven Academy actually opened a third-grade Secret Realm at the Body Refining Realm level for the exam. Truly extravagant!"
Zhuang Zhou greedily absorbed the surrounding Spiritual Qi, scanning the area but not seeing any other prodigies from the Grand Yong Dynasty.
"Ah, that's right! When the Secret Realm gate opens, it performs a small-scale random teleportation. Each Secret Realm gate has a fixed teleportation range, but not a fixed location!"
Zhuang Zhou carefully observed the terrain. The higher the grade of the Secret Realm, the more dangerous it was. Such a rich Spiritual Qi environment could easily nurture terrifying beasts with pure bloodlines!
He needed to proceed cautiously, step by step.
"Roar!"
Zhuang Zhou hadn't taken more than two steps.
A beast's roar echoed.
A two-meter-tall saber-toothed tiger slowly approached, its fangs as sharp as swords.
Seeing the saber-toothed tiger, Zhuang Zhou's expression changed slightly.
This was a beast at the seventh level of the Body Refining Realm, but its massive size and vigorous vitality meant that even ordinary eighth or ninth-level Body Refining Realm warriors might not be its match!
"Zhuang Zhou, your time has come!"
From behind the saber-toothed tiger, Beichen slowly emerged.
He was actually a Beast Tamer!