Chapter 857: Who Is the Dean?

Inside the Hongyuan Imperial Palace, two richly dressed young men walked side by side.

Both were around twenty years old, with cultivation around the Unity Realm.

"Fifth Brother, how come you have time today to attempt the trial?" the younger one asked with a smile.

"Sixth Sister broke through and cleared four whole levels in one go. I'm older than her; if I can't clear as many, Father will surely scold me. A man can't lose to his younger sister!"

The one called Fifth Brother's eyes flickered.

He was the Fifth Prince of the Hongyuan Empire, Yu Hong, and the younger one was the Eighth Prince, Yu Zheng.

"Among all our siblings, Third Brother has the highest talent. Even at the Unity Realm, he only reached the third level. Sixth Sister actually made it to the fourth—amazing! I want to try too, to see if I can go even further!"

Yu Zheng nodded.

"The Thousand Hammer Soul Path greatly benefits soul tempering, but it's extremely difficult. If your mind wavers even slightly, you'll fall unconscious. You've been stationed at the border lately and probably haven't had time to cultivate your soul. If you can't hold on, leave early!" Yu Hong said.

"Don't worry, Fifth Brother. Even at the border these days, I haven't been idle. I've been meditating and training. Even if I can't reach the third level, I should come close..." Yu Zheng said confidently.

"Good!" Yu Hong said no more. The two soon arrived at the passage Zhang Xuan had walked through earlier.

"Let's begin!"

They exchanged a glance, then stepped inside with solemn expressions. Just a few steps in, an intense pressure surged toward them. Both princes involuntarily swayed, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

"Hold on!"

They exchanged another glance, gritted their teeth, and pressed forward. The deeper they went, the more violently they swayed.

"Pfft!"

Yu Zheng was the first to give out. He spat a mouthful of blood, his body going limp as he sat down. "Fifth Brother, I can't hold on. I'm still at the second level... it's up to you."

"Alright!" Yu Hong's face twisted, his teeth grinding audibly as he continued forward.

The walls around them bore techniques for cultivating the soul, and the passage itself contained a corresponding pressure on the soul. Each level was about five meters long. The entire passage had nine levels. For a Unity Realm cultivator, reaching the third level meant their soul cultivation was decent.

Pfft!

After a few more steps, Yu Hong could no longer endure. His face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground.

Though he had been diligently training his soul recently, he still hadn't managed to enter the third level.

"Still no good..."

The two princes exchanged a glance, shook their heads, and smiled bitterly.

They had thought that since the Sixth Princess had broken through to the fourth level in one go, they might have a chance. Unexpectedly, they couldn't even reach the third. This passage was simply too difficult!

After resting in place for a while until the stabbing 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.

"Probably. Let's go check..."

Nodding, Yu Hong walked to a wall outside the passage and pressed his palm lightly against it.

The record wall displayed the records left by challengers for each level.

Hum!

With a clear chime, a line of numbers appeared before them—Record: First Level, Two Breaths!

"Two breaths? Sixth Sister is too amazing! She passed the first level in just two breaths?" Yu Zheng's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Impossible... Even if she reached the fourth level, she couldn't have passed the first in just two breaths. Let's check the second level's result..."

Yu Hong was startled, frowned, and continued to stroke the wall.

Hum!

Another line appeared—Record: Second Level, Two Breaths!

"Two breaths again?"

They exchanged a glance, startled, and quickly moved their hands downward.

Hum!

Third Level, Two Breaths!

Fourth Level, Two Breaths!

Fifth Level, Two Breaths!

Sixth Level, Two Breaths!

...

On the record wall, a row of numbers showed the challenger's records. Up to the ninth level, each took only two breaths.

"Someone passed all nine levels... and used only two breaths for each?"

The two princes trembled uncontrollably. They exchanged a glance, seeing intense fear in each other's eyes.

Was this real?

They couldn't even reach the third level. Who on earth was this person, not only clearing all nine levels but using exactly two breaths for each, no more, no less?

This was no longer a trial but... a stroll!

"The person who left the record didn't leave a name..."

After reading the records without seeing a name, both stiffened.

"Let's go get Uncle Bai. He's in charge of this passage; he must know who left it."

After a moment, Yu Hong couldn't help saying.

"Alright."

The two hurried away. Before long, a middle-aged man followed them back.

If Zhang Xuan were here, he would surely recognize him as the Saint Domain First Layer peak expert who had attacked him in that courtyard.

"What's the matter, so urgent?"

The middle-aged man, Uncle Bai, frowned.

He was in the middle of investigating that soul-like thing from before and had no time to waste with the two princes.

"Uncle Bai, did you or Father come to attempt the trial these past two days? How are we supposed to break this record?"

Yu Hong said with a bitter smile.

"Clear the trial? Impossible!" Uncle Bai shook his head.

He had been studying ancient steles all this time; how could he have the leisure to come here and clear the trial?

The Emperor, of course, was even less likely.

"Then... if it's not you or Father, who left this?"

Hearing his denial, Yu Hong was startled, and quickly swept his palm over the record wall.

Hum!

The previous records appeared line by line.

"Two... two breaths?"

Uncle Bai's body involuntarily swayed, nearly fainting: "With our current strength, the Emperor and I can only reach the eighth level, and... after the sixth level, every step takes a long time; a single level even requires half an hour to pass. To clear a level in two breaths—this, this... who is it?"

He was also dumbfounded.

The Thousand Hammer Soul Path was specially created by the Yu ancestors to temper the souls of descendants, imbued with intense pressure to refine the spirit... For this reason, the Yu family excelled in soul power and was renowned among many first-rate empires.

For countless years, the Yu family had produced innumerable brilliant descendants, yet no one had ever managed to clear the ninth level and enter the main hall... How could there be a record now?

And in only two breaths?

When Yu Fei'er emerged from seclusion yesterday and attempted the trial, this record did not exist...

"Could it be..."

His pupils contracted, and he suddenly recalled the fellow he had encountered today who resembled a witch soul.

"Let's go to the main hall and see..."

Unable to restrain himself any longer, he hurriedly bypassed the passage and strode straight toward the main hall at the rear.

As the administrator of the Thousand Hammer Soul Path, even without using the path, he could still enter the main hall.

Pushing open the door and stepping inside, Uncle Bai's face immediately began to twitch wildly.

The once rich spiritual energy in the hall had vanished completely; the four ancestral statues used to temper souls were now dim and lusterless. With a light touch of his hand, "crash!" they shattered into pieces, becoming a heap of rubble!

"Damn it... who is it?"

Uncle Bai was about to go mad.

This hall, imbued with the pressure of the ancestors, was inaccessible even to him. Who could have not only entered but also reduced it to such a state?

Just how powerful must one's soul force be to accomplish this?

"No, I must report this to His Majesty..."

Unable to hold back any longer, he flickered and dashed straight toward the emperor's main hall.

...

The most majestic hall in the palace.

Yu Shenqing had just finished reviewing memorials and was massaging his eyes to rest.

"Your Majesty, the Master Teacher Academy has sent word that the inauguration ceremony for the new dean will be held in three days, requesting Your Majesty's presence to observe the rites."

The old eunuch approached.

"Mm, I understand. Tell them I will certainly attend." Yu Shenqing nodded.

Although the Master Teacher Academy was in the Hongyuan Empire, in terms of status and influence, he could not compare to the academy's dean.

To become dean was to be, within the entire Hongyuan Empire, the de facto foremost person; even he dared not contradict him.

"Yes!" The old eunuch gave an order, and someone immediately went out.

"By the way, who is the new dean? Did they say?" Yu Shenqing suddenly remembered and turned to look.

"They did not say, only that it would be presided over personally by Master Mu from the headquarters."

The old eunuch thought for a moment and replied.

"Master Mu? The seven-star master teacher, Mu Yuan?" Yu Shenqing's eyes lit up.

"Exactly." The old eunuch nodded.

"For him to preside personally, it must be either Lu Feng or Zhao Bingxu. In that case, send someone to inquire in detail. Knowing in advance will allow us to prepare gifts accordingly." Yu Shenqing waved his hand.

If it were Lu Feng, they would prepare precious medicinal herbs; if it were Zhao Bingxu, they would need to prepare rare ores.

The two had different auxiliary professions, so their preferences naturally differed.

As emperor, he was well-versed in this and needed to prepare in advance to win the favor of the new dean, thereby securing the Yu family's imperial power.

"Since they didn't say... I'm afraid asking might not yield an answer..."

The old eunuch frowned.

Since they hadn't revealed the new dean's identity, they surely wouldn't say; asking again would be futile!

"Just say that I am personally inquiring. I believe the elders will grant me face. Besides, knowing the dean in advance is hardly a great secret."

Yu Shenqing waved his hand.

As the supreme ruler of the Hongyuan Empire, even if he was not equal to the dean of the Master Teacher Academy, he was on par with the ten elders. If he truly inquired, the other party would not refuse to answer.

"Yes!"

The old eunuch nodded in acknowledgment.

"By the way, has Fei'er's birthday banquet begun?"

Suddenly remembering the banquet, Yu Shenqing couldn't help asking.

"Oh, since Your Majesty hasn't arrived, how could it start..." The old eunuch gave a dry laugh.

"Very well. Since I promised her, I'll go over 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?" Raising an eyebrow, Yu Shenqing exuded authority without anger.

"He sat in his seat as soon as he arrived and hasn't moved. He should know this is the imperial palace and wouldn't dare act recklessly..."

The old eunuch had his own intelligence channels and had already gathered the information.

"That's good." Yu Shenqing nodded: "Let's go and see."

With that, he took the lead and walked toward the banquet hall.